CROSSROADS NEWSLETTER
Greetings! we are pleased to present your 2020 December First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay newsletter!
Pastoral Note
by Pastor Katie Estes

Top Ten Things You Should Know About Your New Pastor
  1. She would like you to call her Katie. Not Pastor Katie (unless you are under the age of 12 and have been taught by your parents to use titles with adults as a sign of respect) and not Pastor Estes unless it is a formal introduction, and not just “Pastor” as that feels like you think she’s not a real person. And she is!
  2. She really does live in Green Bay now, and while the pandemic won’t allow it yet, she will eventually be delighted to have you visit her new home, as she loves to entertain.
  3. Chocolate, especially Raisinets or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Sour Patch or Mike & Ike’s Mega Mix Sour.
  4. Even though she’s been in ministry for more than 30 years, she still can’t seem to read minds! Please call her, email her, text her with your concerns and questions. Don’t assume she knows what’s going on yet—she doesn’t.
  5. She’s a cat person, much to her children’s dismay. But she’s happy to hear about, see pictures of, and even pet your dog. And if you happen to have reptiles…she grew up with an iguana named Richard Burton.
  6. She likes change, especially if there is a good reason for it. But sometimes that reason is not immediately obvious, so be patient with her. We’ll figure it out together.
  7. Water, lots of water. Iced tea, with lime instead of lemon if possible. Decaf coffee only, no matter what time of day. Adult beverages we’ll leave for another column!
  8. On Sunday mornings, if you have a prayer request, or an announcement to make, or just want to comment about something in the worship service, five minutes before the service begins is a difficult time to communicate it. Please let her know in advance if at all possible, and limit discussion of things other than worship-related until after the service is over. Thanks!
  9. She loves to read, and collect books, and talk about books. It is hard for her to get rid of books. And yes, she’s read all those books in her office.
  10. She believes that faith is a verb, something we do, not a noun, something we have. Questions and doubts and struggling are very much a part of the picture, and she sincerely appreciates any and all who will join her in the journey rather than deferring to some assumed higher level of spirituality.          
Prayer Basket Collection
November 20 - December 13

Each year, First Pres, as a Ministry, provides a complete Christmas for 3 families from Tank School, and we collect all the items needed from November 20 - December 13.

Each family receives blankets and a complete Christmas dinner. We will have 3 trees in the back of the sanctuary with tags identifying special gifts for our Baby Jesus, Star, and Angel families. We also have an online way to choose tags this year: www.signupgenius.com. Please feel free to choose as many tags as you'd like - just put the tag on an UNWRAPPED gift and return it to the church by December 13, 5 pm.
Advent Season Opportunities
All December 1-24
Advent in a Box
Sign up ASAP

Another opportunity is geared toward our families in the congregation. We’ve put together Advent in a Box packages. Any family who’s interested, will receive a box of goodies
before Advent begins. Each box will have 4 envelopes in it, one for each week of Advent. Each week’s envelope will have a bible verse with reflection questions. Also included will be an Advent wreath with candles and a prayer, a craft, a recipe, and a list of fun family activities. A perfect way to prepare young hearts for Jesus’ birth!

If you think you and your family would like to receive an Advent in a Box, please email Brenda Hubbard to add your name to the list. Include your name and mailing address to ensure you’ll receive a box before Advent.
Gospel of Luke Advent Study

One Advent opportunity is our Gospel of Luke Advent Study, geared toward the adults in our congregation. Beginning December 1st, we will be reading one chapter from the gospel of Luke a day, every day, all the way through December 24. There are 24 chapters in the gospel, one for each day of Advent. Luke’s gospel leads us from Jesus’ birth through his ascension into heaven, a perfect study to remind us why Jesus was sent to earth. The CE committee will be hosting some discussion meetings (dates and times to be determined), to share thoughts about what we’ve read.
Advent Devotionals

You will also be receiving in your email box on a weekly basis, Advent devotional material from the Presbyterian Outlook, "Discerning God’s kairos in the midst of our daily chronos." Each week has seven days of daily devotionals for you.

Kairos means an appointed time, an opportune moment, or a due season. Chronos refers to minutes and seconds. It refers to time as a measurable resource.
Reverse Advent for Pantry

This year, we would like to suggest a Reverse Advent – instead of members of our congregation GETTING a small gift for every day of Advent – we set a goal of GIVING a gift to the Pantry, filling a box with Pantry supplies. We’ve created a list of specific needs the Pantry has, and included it here so that you can purchase more than one when you are shopping, but perhaps it could be an Advent ceremony in your household to each day add that day’s specified item to the box.
Presbyterian Pantry
December 8 & 22, 10 am - noon

The Pantry is open for on December 8 as well as December 22 from 10 am to noon. All are welcomed, however masks MUST be worn, as well other precautions taken to help prevent the spread of COVID.

The Presbyterian Pantry of Green Bay is a united effort by three area churches - besides First Pres, the First United Presbyterian Church De Pere, and Wequiok Presbyterian. Through their efforts, and the many, many donors who provide funds and product to fill the shelves, the Pantry is able to provide for Tank/Seymour Park area residents in need. Thank you to all who make it possible!
No Toy Shop This Year

It is with great regret that the Pantry will not be able to have a Toy Shop open this year because of the risks involved with the spread of the virus. The pandemic and the greatly increased incidences of COVID infections and deaths, it has been deemed unsafe to have this great addition to Pantry as in past years, but God willing, it will be back next year.
Blue Christmas Service
December 21, 6:30 pm

There is much on all our minds as we prepare for Christmas this year that is not pleasant: wildfires out west that have killed so many and left many more homeless, the tragic plight of almost 80 million refugees around the world, fears about climate change and its potentially devastating impact on our planet, and our own personal tragedies of lost loved ones, friends or relatives with terminal illnesses, and other losses mean that our hearts are grieving. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified and exacerbated every one of these, and many are struggling like never before. So why do we try to cover our pain and grief with so much Yuletide cheer?

Many churches have begun to recognize that Festivals of Carols, celebrations of Christmas, and children’s pageants do not meet everyone’s needs. To recognize and acknowledge the darker side of our Advent preparations this year, we have planned a Blue Christmas service for Monday, December 21 at 6:30 pm. You may participate in the sanctuary in person (masked and distanced) or via our livestream online. Sometimes called a “Longest Night” service because it usually falls on or close to the Winter Solstice which is the longest night of the year, this contemplative service of music, candles and prayer goes back many years, in many different Christian practices. All who would care to sit with the family of faith in a liturgy that reminds us of the love of God through times of grief and isolation even as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child are welcome and encouraged to attend.  
Christmas Pageant!
December 24, 5 pm

GOOD NEWS! We will be having a Christmas Pageant this year for our children and youth…however, it will be very different from past years. This year’s pageant will be completely virtual. The pageant we are doing is “Tell Me the Story of Christmas.” It has narrators reading the Christmas story with children asking them questions and acting out the parts. We will have speakers, characters (animals, shepherds, angels, etc.) and possibly musicians.

The pageant will be a combination of Zoom recordings and parents recording their children acting their parts. A bag will be put together for each family which includes the speaking parts, costumes, props (if necessary), and instructions, which will be available for pick up at church. The pageant scenes will be recorded ahead of time and incorporated into the early Christmas Eve worship service. This service will be streamed online at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve on Facebook. More information will be provided as this process moves forward.

At this time, we need to know who will be participating in the pageant. This is open to all children and youth. Please let us know if your family will be participating. Also, if they would like a speaking/reading part. We may also be looking for some music to put with this…singing, or instrumental (this could be any Christmas song) and could be performed by any members of your family! We are very excited to have a pageant and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Even though we cannot be together in person, we will be able to get together online! Please e-mail or call Mary Steeno to let us know if you will be participating or if you have any questions at mesteeno@new.rr.com or 469-0923 or 619-4510.
Christmas Eve Worship Services
December 24, 5 pm and 6:30/7 pm
5:00 pm online only: An informal service including carols, scripture, prayers and a Children’s Pageant with participation of families in pre-recorded clips.

7:00 pm in person and online: A traditional service of Lessons and Carols featuring the narrative in scripture and poetry, instrumental music, and candle-lighting. An extended prelude of music of the season will begin at 6:30 pm.
New Banners created by
Grace Cox-Johnson

In May 2018, Grace Cox-Johnson held an art workshop at First Pres as part of a Winnebago Presbytery meeting. Since that time, the Worship Committee has taken a great interest in Cox-Johnson's work. The first banner purchased for the church is a dyed sarong featuring four Advent candles. This banner will reappear in the sanctuary for the First Sunday in Advent. 

Recently, Cox-Johnson's mosaic quilted Pentecost banner was donated to the church. This banner is currently hanging in the sanctuary. The craftsmanship of the banner construction of her banners is stunning and features much more detail than is visible from the pews. If you have a chance, take a closer look. 

In celebration of Pastor Katie's accepting the call to lead our congregation, members of the PNC donated another Cox-Johnson banner to the church. Pictured with this article, the banner is currently hanging in the sanctuary. There are several other Cox-Johnson designs under consideration. Anyone interested in donating toward purchase of another banner should contact Bob Nickel (920.493.0821). 
Generous Giving

Thank you so much for those generous donors who have made their pledges to help First Pres provide services for our ministry in 2020/2021. Your gifts make it possible, and are very much appreciated.

If you have not had an opportunity to return your pledge to First Pres yet, please consider doing so now, to help continue our mission to serve with Christ. Blessings on all.
Help the Pantry with AmazonSmile

As the holiday shopping season is approaching (as well as Toy Shop items, etc.), a reminder to all who use Amazon for their online shopping - you can help the Pantry by shopping through AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. The Presbyterian Pantry of Green Bay is one of the Charitable Organizations listed. Last year we received about $70 for the Pantry through this program. Help us increase that amount by using AmazonSmile. Simply go to smile.amazon.com when you purchase through Amazon! Thanks to all!
Financial Report
Connie Retiring in March

Dear First Pres congregation: I have given notice that as of March 5, 2021, I will be retiring as the Director of Communications. The people at First Pres have become a big part of my life, and I shall miss my interaction with you all. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of what is a very welcoming and loving group of individuals dedicated to the missions of First Pres, as well as Inspiring All to Love and Serve with Christ.

I will always be thankful for the time I have spent here, and appreciative of the kindnesses that have been offered to me. Thank you also to those who have provided me with feedback, encouragement, and support over the past four and half years. The knowledge that I have been an asset to this organization is important to me, and I appreciate that I have gotten that input. I look forward to spending more time with my 91-year old Mom, and the possibilities for travel that retirement will bring. I thank you for the opportunity to work with such a fine group of individuals – it has been informative and enjoyable and you have brought joy to my life.
December Birthdays
1st - Deb Shober

2nd - Joshua Kabacinski

5th - John Early; Eleanor Gauthier;
Kathyrine Gauther

6th - Patcee Bucher; Russell Hansen

7th - Tracie Davis

8th - Jay Rietz

10th - Pat Piaskowski

11th - Kelly Charapata; Debbie Gauthier
12th - Russ Christensen; Beth Ryder

15th - Gary McNitt

21st - Jessica Gauthier; Ashley McCormick

22nd - Kirke Ryder

24th - Barbara Leicht; David Nero

26th - Peggy Wolfe

29th - Kenneth Solper

30th - Wyatt Laughrin