Faith Handed Down - Mission Carried Forward

Watch a relay race at the Olympics or a high school track meet and you’ll notice the baton as it slaps from the hand of one runner to the next.

Have you ever considered that a baton is being passed to you, too?

For 151 years, generations of people at First Presbyterian Church have received the gift of faith and carried Christ’s mission forward.

They worshiped, taught, served, prayed, welcomed, and gave—each generation doing their part so that the next could inherit a living community of faith.

Now the baton is in our hands.

This year’s generosity campaign, Faith Handed Down. Mission Carried Forward invites us to think about stewardship in a personal way.

We’ll begin with our stories:

• Who handed faith to us?
• How are we carrying that faith today?
• What do we hope to pass on to those who come after us?

Those questions will help us consider an important question for our own time:

What is our part in carrying Christ’s mission forward?

One opportunity to begin that conversation will be a luncheon following worship on Sunday, November 1.

We’ll gather around the table for a conversation about our faith—where it came from, the people and experiences that shaped it, and what we hope the next generation will receive from us.

No preparation is necessary; simply come ready to share as much or as little of your story as you wish and to listen to the stories of others.

Over the weeks that follow, we’ll continue exploring what it means to receive faith, live it, and pass it forward. Ultimately, generosity is about more than supporting the church’s budget.

It is about recognizing that each of us has a role in the mission God has entrusted to us.

The baton has been handed to us. How will we carry it?

Honoring Shirley

Achieving the amazing age of 90 years is certainly something to be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate than a service of thanksgiving to God for a life and legacy of faith?

Please join us on Sunday October 11 as the Schoffelman family leads us in a worship service celebrating:

Shirley Schoffelman’s 90^th birthday.

Tom and Teresa Schoffelman have planned a full Sunday morning worship service with extended family that will feature Shirley’s favorite hymns, special prayers and liturgy to highlight her years of faith, and guest preacher Sharon Foote, Shirley’s daughter.

Stay after worship for a special birthday reception as well.

Celebrating Leah Mott

Join us on Sunday, October 4, 2026, as we honor Leah Mott's remarkable 20 years of service as our church's Administrative Assistant, with a special recognition during worship followed by a celebratory luncheon in Banner Hall.

Leah will be formally recognized during the worship service, which includes a special presentation of a gift in appreciation for her 20 years of dedicated service.

Immediately after the service, everyone is invited downstairs to Banner Hall for a light luncheon in Leah's honor. The menu includes finger sandwiches, salads, chips, and a special cake to mark the occasion.

Please plan to join us on October 4 to say thank you and God bless to Leah for her many years of faithful, behind-the-scenes work that helped our church run smoothly.

Her presence will be missed, and this is our chance to celebrate her well-deserved retirement together as a church family.

Growing Together at the Table

This month, our Sunday School is diving into one of the richest traditions of our faith: Communion.

As part of our new format—children now spend the entire service with our leaders on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Our kids will be exploring the history and meaning behind the Lord's Supper in a way that's both meaningful and fun.

Communion has roots stretching back to the night before Jesus' crucifixion, when He shared a final Passover meal with His disciples, breaking bread and sharing the cup as a lasting symbol of His body and blood given for us.

Ever since, the church has gathered around this table as an act of remembrance, gratitude, and unity.

As Presbyterians, we hold Communion as a means of grace—a tangible way God nourishes our faith. We believe Christ is spiritually present in the sacrament, and we open the table to all who trust in Him, making it a beautiful picture of the family of God gathered, young and old alike.

Our children will explore this history, ask questions, and experience hands-on activities that bring the story to life—all while building friendships and having fun with their leaders and peers.

It's faith, fun, and fellowship rolled into one, as our kids learn what it means to belong to the body of Christ.

We're excited for this journey and can't wait to see what God does in the hearts of our children this year!

Pastor Appreciation Sunday

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, we invite the entire congregation to join us in honoring Pastor Katie for Pastor Appreciation Sunday—a day set aside to say thank you for the countless ways she pours her heart into our church family.

Pastor Katie gives so much of herself to this congregation—through Sunday sermons that challenge and comfort us, through hospital visits and quiet phone calls during hard seasons, through weddings and funerals, through late nights preparing for worship, and through the everyday moments of guidance and care that so often go unseen. Her steady presence, her wisdom, and her genuine love for this church family have shaped who we are as a community of faith. This Sunday, we want her to know just how deeply she is valued, respected, and loved.

We will take time during the service to recognize all she does for the congregation with her leadership and constant support.

A Note of Thanks

Throughout the month of October, notecards and envelopes will be available at the back of the Sanctuary. We encourage everyone to take a moment, pick one up, and write something special to Pastor Katie—a favorite memory, a word of encouragement, or simply a heartfelt thank you for all she's meant to you and your family. Please bring your completed notecard back before October 25, so we can gather them together and present them to Pastor Katie as part of our celebration on Pastor Appreciation Sunday.

It's a simple way to make sure she hears, in our own words, just how much she is loved and appreciated.

Pastor Katie has given so much of herself to this church, and October 25 is our chance to give something back—our presence, our appreciation, and our love.

Come ready to celebrate a pastor who has truly made a difference in all our lives.

Ballots & Baked Goods

Deacons are charged with care of the congregation and community, so what better way to care for all the voters who enter our building on Tuesday, November 3 to vote in the mid-term elections than a bake sale?

Help us by contributing your homemade baked goods on Sunday, November 1 or Monday, November 2 for this sale.

There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board, so please let us know what you’re planning to bring so we don’t have too many duplicates.

We can plate and wrap your contributions, or you can do that yourself—our preference is for individual servings so voters can ‘grab & go’ that day.



Thanks!

End of Life Planning

Join us on Sunday October 25 for a Fourth Sunday Forum on end-of-life issues for all ages.

Maybe you’d rather not think about it, but one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones when you die is a plan for what they should do to remember you.

Pastor Katie will share resources for planning your own funeral/memorial service and Hospice Chaplain Gina Struensee will provide information and lead discussion on what palliative care and hospice can do for us all as we live out our final days.

Come with your questions and talk about all this before it’s needed!

Annual Fall Clean Up

It’s that amazing time of year when summer has faded into the crisp, beautiful air of fall. And you know what that means? It’s time for our Annual Fall Clean-Up!

Join us Saturday, October 17th, from 9:00 AM to 11:30am for a fantastic morning of community and care for our shared space.

We truly can’t do it without you!

Please sign-up on the Happening Now bulletin board!

A small lunch will be provided afterwards for all participants!

We have a FUN-filled day planned, because work isn’t work when you’re surrounded by friends and fellowship.

Spread the word and bring your family, friends, and neighbors—the more, the merrier!

Fall Choir Kick-Off

Enjoy singing?

Looking for a way to get involved at Church?

Ready to be a more active participant in worship?

Come and join us this Saturday.

We are having our Fall Choir Kick-Off on Saturday October 3, 2026 from 9:00am-11:45am, spots are open for anyone who would like to join.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.



-Colossians 3:16

Great news!

Upcoming church events are now available right in the Instant Church Directory app.

To see what's happening at the church, simply open the app and click the Events button.

You'll find everything upcoming, all in one place, at your fingertips.

No more searching through emails or bulletins to figure out what's coming up.

Check the app today and stay in the loop!

Church Calendar Upgrade

We've made another improvement to how you can stay connected at First Presbyterian Church: our online Church Calendar now includes much more detail for each Sunday worship service.

What's New

Simply click on any Sunday service on the calendar, and you'll now see exactly who is serving that week, including:

• The Scripture reader
• Greeters
• Ushers
• Coffee hour hosts
• The streaming team

Why We Made This Change

We know it can sometimes be tricky to keep track of who's signed up for what each week, or to spot an opening if you'd like to get involved. This update is designed to make it easier for everyone to see the full picture at a glance and find opportunities to jump in and serve.

How to Sign Up

The Happening Now bulletin board is still available for sign-ups as always. But now, you also have the option to check the calendar online first. If you spot a role that's open and you'd like to fill it, just reach out to the church office, and we'll get you added to that spot right away.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and willingness to serve each week. It's your participation that makes worship at First Presbyterian such a warm and welcoming experience for everyone!

We found this article on another Church’s Facebook page and wanted to share it with everyone because it represents how we all feel as a staff at First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay, credit for these virtuous words goes to “unknown.”



If your kids are loud, please still come to church.

If you’re running late because getting everyone out the door was a battle, please still come to church.

If your toddler won’t sit still, please still come to church.

If your baby needs to eat, please still come to church.

If your child asks questions at the least convenient time, please still come to church.

If someone cries, drops a toy, needs a snack, or must make their third trip to the bathroom, please still come to church.

If your child doesn’t know all the words, all the prayers, or exactly when to sit and stand, please still come to church.

If you feel like you spent the entire service managing your children and heard approximately 12% of the sermon, please still come to church.

If Sunday morning feels messy instead of peaceful, please still come to church.

If you’re worried your children are distracting the people around you, please still come to church.

Because children do not learn how to be part of the Church by staying home until they can sit quietly.

If your child has a disability, please still come to church.

They learn by being here.

They learn the hymns by hearing us sing them.

They learn the prayers by hearing us pray them.

They learn to worship by watching us worship.

They learn that church is home because we make room for them here.

The wiggles, whispers, dropped crayons, crying babies, and little voices are not interruptions to the life of the Church.

They are evidence that the Church is alive.

Bring the babies. Bring the toddlers. Bring the big kids.

Come late.

Sit in the back. Sit in the front.

Step out when you need to and come right back in.

Just come.

Children are not simply the future of the Church. They are part of the Church right now.

We love seeing our church community thrive through photos! If you've snapped any pictures during worship services, church events, or fundraisers, please consider sharing them with us. Your photos help us capture the spirit of our congregation and preserve cherished memories.

Please email your favorite shots to info@firstpresgreenbay.org. Thank you for helping us tell our story!