First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE

During this time of heightened political angst and divison, we are trying something different at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE.

Join us for our sermon series "Building the Beloved Community in an age of polarization."

Here is the sermon from week 2 of the series entitled "Bearing the Image of God."

Building the Beloved Community in an age of polarization - Sermon 2: Bearing the Image of God How can the stories of the Bible, our belief in Jesus Christ, and our faith help us to become builders of the beloved community in an age of polarization?Joi...

This morning promises to be a GLORIOUS morning in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

It's kick-off Sunday, so we are back on our regular Sunday schedule with 2 worship services and SUNDAY SCHOOL along with an ice cream social following worship.

-8:30 Contemplative Worship in the Chapel with Communion

-9:15 Sunday School for all ages

-10:30 Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary with our Chancel Choir, Chancel Bell Choir, Calvin/Westminster Youth Choir and our amazing organist Linda Vollweiler! If you can't join us in-person, you can participate via Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/dx538t3er1X6nhiB/

-11:30 Ice Cream Social in the Fellowship Hall! Join us for fun and fellowship and tour the capital campaign project renovations that we completed over the summer!

We are continuing our sermon series, "Building the Beloved Community in an age of polarization" with a sermon entitled "Bearing the Image of God" based on Genesis 1

You won't want to miss this very special Sunday in the life of our church!

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Join us for a seven week sermon series entitled "Building the Beloved Community in an age of polarization." Here's the first sermon in the series:

Building the Beloved Community in an age of polarization. Sermon 1: They'll know us by our love How can the stories of the Bible, our belief in Jesus Christ, and our faith help us to become builders of the beloved community in an age of polarization?Joi...

A prayer for Labor Day:

This morning promises to be a GLORIOUS morning in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

Due to the Labor Day Holiday, there is no early service and no Sunday School hour.

Join us at 10:30am for worship in our sanctuary!

Our music will be led by Hannah Jensen on the piano and Sarah Wolf will lead our hymns.

The sermon is based on James 1 where we are called to be "doers" and not merely "hearers" of God's word. It is entitled "They'll know we are Christians by our..."

We will be sharing communion this morning as well!

If you can't join us in-person, you can participate via Facebook Live at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/m7mfwkeF24PuyQPr/

You won't want to miss worship this morning!

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A prayer to do one thing:

Inspire us, God,
To do one thing.
One thing for justice.
One thing for peace.
One thing for love.
Inspire us, God,
by doing one thing
to do more,
more for justice,
more for peace,
More for love
This day.
Every day.
Through Jesus, we pray.
Amen.

Prayer by Mark Koenig, inspired by the Guns to Garden panel, James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage

We've had a lot of prayer requests coming our way this week at the church and among some dear friends. Join us in prayer this evening for all in our families, our community, and our world who are in need of prayer:

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones.
Bless Your dying ones.
Soothe Your suffering ones.
Pity Your afflicted ones.
Shield Your joyous ones.
And all for Your loves sake. Amen.

Evening Prayer by St. Augustine of Hippo

It was Sunday School Orientation at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE this morning! Our Director of Christian Education, Rosalie Koepp, did a great job sharing about all the exciting things happening at the church.

This morning promises to be a GLORIOUS morning in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

There is no early service and no worship in the park this morning.

Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary.

It is Go and Serve Sunday and our worship will be led by the high school youth and adult sponsors who went on the mission trip this summer to Charlotte, North Carolina. You will hear their stories and how that connects to Micah 6:8 where we are called to "Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God." The youth will also help serve communion this morning.

If you can't join us in-person, you can participate via Facebook Live at the link below, and if you want to share in communion, have your elements ready: https://www.facebook.com/share/su6TyUwKuWGFGgnT/

You won't want to miss this very special Sunday in the life of our church!

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Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir resume TONIGHT at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

Choir rehearses each Wednesday from 6:45-7:30 p.m.

Bells rehearse each Wednesday from 7:30-8:15 p.m.

ALL are welcome!!

***Due to the forecast of rain, the 9am worship service will be in the SANCTUARY***

This morning promises to be a GLORIOUS morning in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

9am Worship in the SANCTUARY (due to rain forecast)

10:30am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary. Our music will be led by our amazing organist Linda Vollweiler with special music provided by our youth Vivian Fong.

We will sing some classic hymns and reflect on the phrase, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" that is found in Proverb 9 and Psalm 111 with a sermon entitled: 'Fear' and Praise

If you can't join us in-person for the 10:30am service, you can participate via Facebook Live at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v1yShb6MtkiaPPyJ/

You won't want to miss worship this morning and we hope to see you!

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We have been hard at work on our capital campaign projects all summer, but a lot of it is not visible like plumbing and flooring. This week, many projects had high visibility progress!

-We have completed the new bathrooms off the sanctuary, and they are beautiful with a lot of details to tie in to our sanctuary including salvaged stained glass windows and matching trim work

-We have finished the flooring and walls in the kitchen remodel and today the island was reinstalled and the new countertops were put in

-Our church offices have been in CHAOS for a month. The painting was finished last week and the new carpet was laid today

-The PEACE Center got its first new big window. Two old window openings were prepped a month ago and today the first of 15 new windows went in

It's a busy and joyful time at First Presbyterian Church and we are excited to share these renovations with our members and our community. We are hoping many of these are done by Labor Day so we can start our school year with beautiful and welcoming spaces!

Yesterday, Rosalie Koepp and I recorded the "First Thoughts" podcast! It's like a fun bible study with two fun people.

This podcast is based on the scripture that will be preached on Sunday 8/18, in this case it is Psalm 111, Proverbs 9:7-12 and Psalm 34:9-14.

Have you ever been stumped by the idea repeated in the Old Testament that we are supposed to "Fear the Lord?" This podcast looks at that phrase, and does some reflection on it. Enjoy!

First Thoughts on... Psalm 111, Proverbs 9:7-12 and Psalm 34:9-14 Pastor Greg and DCE Rose talk about "the fear of the Lord" as the beginning of knowledge. What do we mean by "fear"? And what does Hallelujah mean?

***WORSHIP AT 9AM WILL BE HELD IN THE SANCTUARY***

This morning, Sunday, August 11 promises to be a GLORIOUS morning in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE!

Due to the forecast of rain, the 9am service will be held in the SANCTUARY and not in the Park.

We have some very special music planned for our worship service, and we hope you can join us at 9am or 10:30am.

Worship this morning will include sections of the “Misa Criolla,” a musical worship setting of and Argentine folk music mass written by Ariel Ramírez. It will include the 20 voice Spiro Spero Singers choir as well as classical guitar, bass, Argentine drums, and piano. The music will be interspersed throughout the worship service. We will hear a sermon entitled “Good music, good Samaritan, good neighbor” based on the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10.

Just over a year ago, our Chancel Choir director, Dr. Brett D Epperson, gathered a group of outstanding singers from central Nebraska (and beyond!) together for the first time for the “Bach and Bluegrass” project last summer. We call the group the Spiro Spero Singers - from the Latin phrase "Dum spiro spero,” which means: While I Breathe, I Hope. Their music brings hope and joy to our worship service and I am very excited to have them join us again this morning. This will be Spiro Spero's fourth project!

We hope you can join us at 9am or 10:30am in the sanctuary for what promises to be a GLORIOUS worship service this morning!

If you can't join us in-person, the 10:30am service will be on Facebook Live at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/oRDs7U25JFkhiTEV/

First stop on the First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, middle school and high school zoo trip to Omaha? Costco for lunch! We fed 12 people for $40 with drinks! Now on to the zoo!

Spending the day with an awesome group of middle and high school students from First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE on our way to the Zoo in Omaha. Pray with us for safe travels and a whole lotta fun!