Our Vision Statement:
We are a welcoming community FIRST UNITED in proclaiming FAITH in Jesus Christ, sharing HOPE for the future, and inspiring LOVE of our neighbors.
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The Christmas Store Comes Next Week!
Thanks to everyone who's donated gifts or money for the upcoming D.P.C.O. Christmas Store to help roughly 175 local families including an estimated 500 children!
While many have signed up to assist, we still need more volunteers to help. The store set up will be this Saturday (12/4) (click here), but we could especially use more help with stocking and loading areas next Tuesday and Wednesday (12/7 & 8) (click here). Please click the links for the details and to sign up for specific shifts that are still open. Thanks so much to everyone for your help with this wonderful project!
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Pastors in the Gathering Area
After visiting with church friends in the parking lot on the first Thursday of each month, Pastors Luke and Meggan have now moved inside. Today (12/2) at 10am, it's time for the warmer surroundings of our Gathering Area inside the church. Hope you can stop in for a visit!
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Presbyterian Women Christmas Tea
This Sunday (12/5) at 3pm, the Presbyterian Women are reviving the traditional P.W. Christmas Tea in the Koinonia Lounge for everyone! There will be Christmas music and refreshments, plus attendees will assemble "Mental Health Kits" for donation. To help on the day of the event, please bring small scented candles, snack-size chocolate, nice writing utensils, colored pencils, and/or a hand-written poem or quote about caring for yourself. Contact Julie Mackey at 920-337-0890 for more information. You're invited!
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This Sunday's Plans
Join us for worship this Sunday (12/5) when we'll celebrate the theme of PEACE for the second Sunday of Advent. Our scripture readings will be Malachi 3:1-7 and Luke 1:68-79 (click to read) as we contemplate how God's promise of peace is available to us all even in the midst of challenges and hardships. We'll discover how God's Son Jesus Christ "Emmanuel" is always our source of comfort in the most trying times. You can join us Sunday at 9am in person, by live stream on our Facebook page, or by audio only. You can also watch a recording whenever it's convenient for you on our website or on Facebook. (*find details later in this newsletter)
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Sunday School for All Ages at 10:30am
*Pre-K to 2nd grade (Room 5)
*3rd to 5th grade (Room 6)
*6th - 12th grade Youth (Middle High Room)
*Adult Class (Koinonia Lounge) - Join Pastor Luke for a discussion of how an attitude of worship can work wonders in our "Because of Christmas" study! How do you make room (or fail to make room) for Christ in your everyday choices? Join us in the K-Lounge at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday following worship. See you there!
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Youth Group Returns!
Our CORE/JAM Youth Group (6th - 12th grade) will return this Sunday (12/2) from 6-7:30pm in the Youth Media Room. Also, remember to mark your calendars for Bell Ringing at the mall on Monday, December 13, from 6-8pm. Meet in the food court just before six.
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New Bible Studies Begin Next Week!
Next Tuesday (12/7), two new Bible Studies will begin meeting every first and third Tuesdays. The goal is to not only educate you, but to also provide a chance for discussion and application in today's world. Pastor Luke will lead a morning group on from 10 to 11:30am. For those wanting an evening time, Tom Bayer and Rev. Paul Jensen will lead another meeting from 6:30 to 8pm with live call-in available. Contact Pastor Luke or Tom Bayer with questions.
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Dead Reformers Return for December
We look forward to another inspiring excursion into the erudite at Zambaldi Brewery. Join Pastor Luke and the gang next Tuesday (12/7) at 7pm to discuss how the influence of a small group of English Protestants (Puritans) of the 16th and 17th centuries continues to resonate today in the 21st century. Discover and discuss how "puritanism" is alive and well in shockingly diverse forms in the United States and throughout the world.
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Sharing the Love with Agape!
Last evening we hosted another wonderful Agape Drive-Thru Dinner for our church family and neighborhood friends. Cars lined up clear around our parking lot to see our giant lighted tree and pick up some free meals. As always, a great big THANKS goes out to all our amazing Agape volunteers for sharing the love on behalf of our church! Mark your calendar for the first Agape Drive-Thru Dinner of 2022 coming Wednesday, January 5!
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Living Nativity Celebration
Mark your calendars for our Living Nativity Celebration on Saturday, December 11, from 3-6pm. You'll enjoy the Living Nativity outside in our new gazebo, view various live animals, sing carols around the fire pit, and warm up with warm beverage and cookie. Inside you'll be able to view a collection of many different nativity sets displayed by our church family and friends, create some crafts, and enjoy delicious soup - beef vegetable or vegan chili.
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We're looking for individuals - adults, youth, or children - to play several parts in the Nativity presentations to help tell the story during this event. You'll be in costume (provided), but don't have to speak. Also you won't have to be outside very long. Please reach out to Pastor Luke or Pastor Meggan soon if you're willing to volunteer for a part. We could also still use lots of behind-the-scenes helpers for a number of duties. Please click HERE to sign up for a specific job at a specific time.
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Also, if you'd like to add your Nativity set to our display, bring it to the church office next Monday-Thursday from 9am until 1pm, next Friday (12/10) from 6 to 7pm, or Saturday morning (12/11) from 9 to 11am. You'll be asked to fill out a display card with your name and any thoughts you'd like to share. Your Nativity sets may be picked up after the event on Sunday (12/12) after worship or in the church office the following week. Thank you for making this a beautiful Christmas event!
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More Upcoming Christmas Season Plans
Our annual Children's Christmas Pageant will be live during worship on Sunday, December 19, at 9am. If your child/grandchild would like to be an animal in the pageant, please make sure they attend Sunday School on Sunday, December 12 at 10:30am. We'll be doing a run-through and handing out costumes for the pageant. Please contact Pastor Meggan or Scott McPherson with questions.
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Christmas Eve Worship plans are underway. We'll be offering the same live service content at two different times to allow for more safe distancing and comfortable seating. You're invited to join us on Friday, December 24 at either 5pm or 7:30pm. More information will be shared as the wonderful holiday approaches.
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Pledge Campaign Update
Our 2022 Pledge Campaign continues with more than half our pledge cards returned reaching more than two thirds of our goal for 2022! Thanks to each of you who've already returned your pledge cards. We're grateful for your generosity and support of our Ministries’ plans for next year.
If you have not returned your 2022 pledge yet, please complete it and mail it to the church office or bring it to worship on Sunday. Everyone’s commitment is needed for First United to come back stronger in Christ.
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Presbyterian Women Activities
Our P.W. Mission Sewing Circle recently made donations to Tank Elementary School and Fort Howard Family Resource Center to help some area students keep warm, and they made dish clothes and pot holders to support the D.P.C.O. Christmas Store. Join them for their next monthly gathering TODAY (12/2) at 10am in the Koinonia Lounge.
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A Special Celebration for the Presbyterian Pantry
You are cordially invited to join us for a Burns Night Dinner coming on January 15 at St. Norbert. It'll feature a hearty feast, Scotch tasting, bagpipes, poems, songs, and tributes to the great Scottish poet Robert Burns - all for the benefit of the Presbyterian Pantry. Check our website or just click here for details and to purchase your tickets for this unique special event and fundraiser. Don't wait. Get your tickets reserved now!
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Where's Jesus?
Have you joined in our fun weekly challenge? An adorable Jesus doll will be placed somewhere within our church each week. This Sunday, he was sitting on the drum kit up front. He'll be in a new spot each week, so keep looking for Jesus!
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Special Thanks!
We'd like to offer a special thank you to the people who kindly volunteered to help out in our church office during the month of November. They are Judy England, Marilyn Heim, Becky Nyberg, Melissa Rusk, Barb Ryan, and Debbie Spiegel.
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A New Author You May Have Heard Of...
Congratulations to our Clerk of Session, Dawn Picard, who recently had her book Witness to Christmas published just in time for Christmas! Everyone's heard of the Christmas story, but have you ever thought about those experiencing it firsthand? In the book, we have the opportunity of hearing from the innkeeper, the Christmas star, the lamb at the manger, and "Stinky," the camel master, as they recount what they saw that glorious night. If you'd like to purchase a copy, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dawn at dpicard2@new.rr.com or 920-246-3279.
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Here's How You Can
Join Us for Our
Sunday Worship Services
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> In Person - Enter only on the Webster side. A mask is recommend if you're not vaccinated. Singing is allowed only with a mask on. The right side is open seating, while the left side and balcony provide social distancing for those who want it.
> Live Online - If you're not comfortable in person yet, you can join us by live stream on our church Facebook page available ten minutes before the listed start time.
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> Sound-only connection - Call Zoom at (312) 626-6799 within 10 minutes before the service start time. Enter meeting ID: 206 385 039 followed by the # symbol.
> Watch Service Recordings Anytime - You can always watch recordings of our recent services on our Facebook page (right after the live stream is completed) or on our website (roughly an hour after the service is completed).
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Thanks for Your Continuing Support
> Smart Phone Giving: GivePlus app
> Mail your checks to:
First United Presbyterian Church
605 N Webster Ave
De Pere, WI 54115
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THIS WEEK
Sunday (11/28) - Rita Coffey-Kilmer
Tuesday (11/30) - Diane Batson
Wednesday (12/1) - Dan Thorpe & John Herber
Thursday (12/2) - Debbie Renier
Friday (12/3) - Lora Warner & Maxine Gaber
Saturday (12/4) - Barb Ryan
NEXT WEEK
Monday (12/6) - Jennifer Wirtanen & Jamie Tank
Tuesday (12/7) - Carol Pointer
Wednesday (12/8) - Cassie Griffin
Saturday (12/11) - Adam Longton
Why not email, give them a call, or send them a card?
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> D.P.C.O. Christmas Store Sorting (Rooms 8-10) - TODAY (12/2) 9am
> Pastors in the Gathering Area - TODAY (12/2) 10am
> P.W. Mission Sewing Group (Koinonia Lounge) - TODAY (12/2) 10am
> D.P.C.O. Christmas Store Set-up (Family Life Center) - Saturday (12/3) 8am-5
> Men's Club Fruitcake Sale continues (while supplies lasts)! - Sunday 8:30-10:30am & Monday-Thursday 9am-1pm in church office
> Sunday Worship & Communion - Sunday (12/5) 9am (in person at church, live stream on our Facebook page, or view a recording after the service on our website
> Youth Coffee Shop (Gathering Area) - Sunday (12/5) after worship (*Next few Sundays will be free Coffee Fellowship in the Family Life Center)
> Sunday School for all ages (various rooms) - Sunday (12/5) 10:30am
> P.W. Christmas Tea (Koinonia Lounge) - Sunday (12/5) 3pm
> CORE/JAM Youth Group (Youth Media Room) - Sunday (12/5) 6pm
> D.P.C.O. Christmas Store (Family Life Center) - Tues./Wed./Thurs. (12/7-9) 7:30am-7:30pm
> New Morning Bible Study - Tuesday (12/7) 10am
> New Evening Bible Study - Tuesday (12/7) 6:30pm
> Dead Reformers Society (Zambaldi's) - Tuesday (12/7) 7pm
> Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) - Wednesday (12/8) 6:30pm
> "Joyful Noise" Praise Band Rehearsal (Sanctuary) - Wednesday (12/8) 7:30pm
> Living Nativity Celebration (outside & Family Life Ctr.) - next Saturday (12/11) 3-7pm
*Please contact the church office to schedule a meeting or make changes so we can keep everyone up to date. Thank you!
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"Changing Lives Through God's Love in Christ"
Contact us with your questions and needs...
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