Weekly Church Announcements
OFFICER NOMINATIONS
Officer Nominations: The Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for church officers. If you are a member interested in serving as an officer such as Deacon, Elder, or member of next year’s Nominating Committee, or if you want to nominate another member for the same, please request a form from the church office, and return it in a sealed and labeled envelope. Please prayerfully consider serving the church in one of these offices. The deadline for submissions is February 12, 2023. If you have questions, please contact Carolyn Krebs or Heidi Schulenberg.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Awards: Each year we award the Church and Society Distinguished Service Award in memory of Elaine I. Wareham, who showed all of us that the witness of a Christian should extend beyond the local church and be a compelling force in daily life. We are seeking nominations, submitted in confidence, to the committee. Nomination forms and an explanation of the award, along with previous recipients, may be requested from the church office. Please return your completed form to the church office in a sealed and labeled envelope. The envelopes may be placed in the white labeled box in the church office until the deadline. The deadline to turn in your nomination is Sunday, February 19, 2023.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SCHOLARSHIPS
First Presbyterian Scholarships: The 2023 selection period for First Presbyterian scholarships is now open. Scholarships in the amount of up to $1,000 are made available to qualifying members and children of members to provide financial assistance in pursuit of post-secondary education. Scholarship recipients may be of any age, as long as they are/will be full-time students taking degree-directed courses. No one can receive the scholarship more than four times.
If interested, contact Steve Weissner (stevewwmew@gmail.com/260-348-5347) in the Financial Office for more information and an application. Completed applications, along with a carefully edited essay, a listing of church participation and activities, and a cumulative high school or college transcript, must be received by April 1, 2023.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Tough Talk: Dr. Rev. Patricia K. Tull on the Ecological Crisis: Join us as we start the year with this Tough Talk exploring the growing ecological crisis and what we can do as Christians. In this talk, we will host Dr. Rev. Patricia K. Tull, Professor Emerita of Old Testament, at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. Dr. Tull will focus on her discussion based on the writings from her book, Inhabiting Eden, which focuses on ecological justice and the connections between faith and the environment. This Tough Talk will be held on February 8th at 7 PM via Zoom. Contact Rev. Dr. Annie Epling or Resident Pastor Maxwell Michaels for more information.
FELLOWSHIP-STUDY
Table Talk 1: (Women’s Book Study) Wednesdays @ 10:00 am via Zoom. We are reading Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman. We take turns “reading around the table”, so no homework is assigned.
Meeting ID: 241 730 827. Passcode: 2604267421.
Call-in Number: 312-626-6799.
Contact Marj Sapp at (260) 413-2639 or Marcie Weissner at (260) 312-5733.
THE ARTS
New Gallery Exhibit: The third exhibit of the 2022-23 FPC Gallery Series, Knife’s Edge— Papercutting, congregational reception is today at 1:00 PM. The exhibit features the art of Lou Hii, originally of Brunei, Borneo, now living in Indianapolis, and Janice Furtner of Fort Wayne, Indiana. A selection of photographs from Taizhou, China, a Fort Wayne sister city, will also be on exhibit.
Theatre: Season Tickets are now on sale for First Pres Theater’s 2023/24 Season of Love! The ambitious productions include four Fort Wayne premiers, and a collaboration with Fort Wayne Youtheatre. FPT will present “Bedroom Farce”, “Head Over Heels”, “Almost Maine”, “The Prom” (with Fort Wayne Youtheatre), and “The Father.” Season tickets available through ArtsTix by calling 260-422-4226 or online by visiting www.artstix.com.
FELLOWSHIP – DINNER GROUPS
Downtown dinner Group: It’s that time again! Dinner Time! The Downtown Dinner Group will meet on Monday, February 13, 2022, at 5:30pm at Hall’s Guest House (305 E.Superior St.). Please RSVP to Joyce McGiffin at (260) 409-2426 or by email at krinks52@hotmail.com. All are welcome and we hope to see you there!
North Dinner Group: Call me, but don’t call me late for dinner! Be sure to join the North Dinner Group on Monday February 6, 2022, at 5:30pm for dinner at The Factory Restaurant (5811 Coldwater Road). Please RSVP to Sondra Mergenthal at (260)437-9892 or by email at lisoninc@aol.com. We look forward to seeing you!
South Dinner Group: Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the dinner bell! The South Side Dinner Group meets the second Monday of every month. Please join us for dinner at Hall’s Tavern at Coventry (5747 Coventry Lane) on Monday, February 13, 2022, at 5:30pm. We look forward to fellowship with you!
CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
Nursery Available for Infants thru Pre-School: Jesus loves the little children, and we do, too! Should you decide that today would be a good time to explore the nursery, your child is always invited to drop in. Ask the office volunteer for a key fob and directions, and our skilled childcare employees will be excited to welcome your child while you worship.
GREEN TEAM
Fair Trade Chocolate Sales: On Feb 6 and Feb 13th, the Green Team will be selling Fair Trade chocolate bars for $5.00 each at the Green Team Cart. We support Fair Trade because the farmers are paid a fair wage and the chocolate is sustainably grown and harvested. Please consider giving a gift of Fair-Trade chocolate to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Cash or check accepted. Proceeds are used to purchase food for the Food Banks we support.
MISSIONS
Rescue Mission Meal Cookie and Cornbread Collection: The reservation book is in the front office to sign up for the Rescue Mission cookies and cornbread. Please bring your contributions to the church by the third Sunday. We are also in need of volunteers to help serve the meal. Please see Bill Patterson for information.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Office Volunteers: Have you been considering how you can serve your community but just don’t have a lot of extra time? We understand, the world is a busy place. Sunday office volunteering might be a good option for you! We are looking for smiling faces, to assist in the office at least one Sunday a month. Training is provided, and support materials are provided in the office during the volunteer time. It’s a joyful way to use a few hours to give back. If you are interested stop by the office or call Tiffany Butler (260) 426-7421 ext. 100, or you can email at tbutler@firstpresfortwayne.org.