True or False (#1)

Let's see how well you know your United Methodist Heritage.

True or false

1. John Wesley was born in Epworth, one of 19 children of Samuel and Susanna Wesley.

2. The official collection of hymns for United Methodists is called "The Book of Hymns."

3. Clergy in the United Methodist Church are required to move every five years.

4. The General Conference of the United Methodist Church meets once every four years.

5. The name of the resident Bishop of the Nebraska Annual Conference is Rev. Dr. Ann Sherer.

Answers:

1. True! John Wesley, known as Jackie to his family, was born in 1703 at the Old Rectory (his father was rector of the Epworth Parish) in the English town of Epworth, North Lincolshire.

2. False - The United Methodist Hymnal (1989) is the hymnal used by United Methodists around the world.

3. False - United Methodist clergy are appointed annually and are moved as directed by the bishop and can serve any number of years at any one location.

4. True - Every four years, known as a quadrenium, United Methodists gather for the General Conference. The next such gathering will be in Fort Worth, TX in 2008.

5. True - Our bishop is the Rev. Dr. Ann Brookshire Sherer. She was appointed to serve in the Nebraska Annual Conference, after serving as bishop of the Missouri Annual Conference.

SO... how did you do with this quiz? Want to learn more? In September, we will be having a taster course at the church called "United Methodist 101." If you want to learn more, come and join us!

Great Time at the Youth Gathering This Afternoon!

Pastor Charles had a great time at the church youth get-together at Beau's farm this afternoon. About 30 fun-loving folks gathered for good food and fellowship!

Thanks, Beau, for inviting folks to your home and making everyone feel welcome!

New Church Kitchen Cabinets Arrived Today!

Today our new kitchen cabinets arrived!

Praise God!

Remaining Events & Announcements for this week

Wednesday 8:00 Quilters, Quilting Room
9:00 Prayer Circle
10:00 A.S.A.P. @ 10:00
Thursday 7:00pm PPRC Training, Chapel
Saturday 9:30 Educator’s Training, North Platte
Sunday 8:00 Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 Fellowship Time
10:00 Family Worship Service, Sanctuary
4:00pm UMYF BBQ, Beau Matthewson’s Home

FIRST UMC WELCOME TEAM: Do you have a heart for welcoming visitors to the Church? Are you passionate about your faith? Does being creative come naturally to you? Then the Welcome Team ministry may be just the thing for you. Please contact the Pastor right away to begin working in this important ministry.

PPRC TRAINING: First UMC in Sidney will serve as host for an evening of training for PPRC members from several UMC congregations. If you are a member of the PPRC, please plan on attending this important training event, Thursday, 23 August, starting at 7:00 pm.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR’S WORKSHOP: "What Every Teacher Needs to Know" is the name of the workshop for leaders in Christian education scheduled for August 24, 2007, at First United Methodist Church, North Platte.
This workshop is intended for all those working with education in the church setting and those who want to teach others and become more skilled. Sessions will cover United Methodist theology, Christian heritage, Safe Sanctuaries, teaching techniques, resources and more. For more information or to register contact Cheri Kneifel at or by calling 308-532-1478.

Lectionary Readings for August 26th, Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Isaiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, Hebrews 12:18-29 and Luke 13:10-17.

A Wonderful Sunday at FUMC!

We had a wonderful Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Sidney, Nebraska!

At both services, we had a grandfather and his grandson provide a beautiful medley of music that the grandfather had arranged especially for that morning's worship experience!

The day was a very special day for Edie and Don Baumbach, who were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary! Family and friends all worshipped together and celebrated this special milestone for this beloved couple. After the 8:00 a.m. worship service, family members provided a beautiful cake for all to enjoy. There were some lovely pictures displayed of the couple in years past. They had a card shower for the couple; the basket of cards overflowed.

The "Wesley Four" male quartet provided lovely music at the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Their musical offerings are always so very inspiring!

During the 10:00 a.m. worship service, more prayer shawls and baby quilts were blessed and dedicated for use in the church's prayer shawl ministry. A prayer shawl was given to Nate Cox, who is back home on leave from his duty station in San Diego, California. The church family was all a-buzz because Nate was back home amongst us once more!

What an amazing church family we have here at Sidney FUMC. Praise God!!!

A fresh look for our signs...

After the church cleaning day on Saturday, Pastor Charles had one more project: Revamping the handicapped parking signs by the church.

He painted the stakes with a fresh coast of black metal paint, and then he applied brand-new signs to them.

The picture shows the difference between the faded old signs and the new signs.

More about the Church Cleaning Day!

Folks worked SO hard yesterday at the church cleaning day!

Thank you, God, for such faithful folks who give of their time and energy to improve Your House!

Church Cleaning Day Yesterday

Our church had an amazing cleaning day yesterday. However, truth be told, there were some folks who did a lot of clearing and cleaning before then.

Yesterday around 30 people were at the church between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Cupboards were turned out; shelves were cleaned. We filled our rented dumpster three times. We found some more things for our upcoming rummage sale.

We even unearthed some treasures. We located THE cornerstone from a previous church that was hidden away in a back room! Double-click on that picture, and you can read its inscription, which includes the date 1924. We moved it to a special place of honor: Underneath the cross on the southern side of the church.

Praise God for faithful folks who love and care for God's House!

UMYF Discount Cards

The First United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) group still has discount cards available. They don’t expire until April of 2008, so there is still plenty of time to enjoy big savings. The cards are only $10, and many of the discounts provide a pay-back with only one use.

Unlike some other cards, more than 50% goes directly to the youth. 13 of the 15 discount sponsors are local Sidney businesses, including: Runza, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, Perkins, Becky’s Health Hut, Mackie’s Maui Tanning, Budget Tapes & CD’s, Buffalo Point, Big Wally’s Pizza, The Black Mug, Sue’s Hallmark, Shirt Tales, and House of Flowers. Other discounts are Sonic in Scottsbluff and Claire’s in all 50 states. Support the youth by buying a card for yourself or a friend!

Cards are available at the church office, 2622 11th Ave, during regular office hours of 8 AM-1 PM, Monday-Friday, or by calling 254-4505.

Church Kitchen Renovation Project has Begun!

It is SO exciting! The church kitchen renovation project has officially begun!

Last Thursday and Friday mornings, some of the ladies in the church gathered in the kitchen and cleared the things out of it, in preparation for the demolition crew. "Kitchen Renovation Project" team captains Bea Dinkel and Marilee Rowan led the way!

Last night, "Demolition Bill" Dinkel guided nine faithful folks in the demolishing of the "old kitchen," making things ready for the renovation to begin. They worked very hard, indeed!

Praise be to God for people who faithfully commit their time to make things better in God's House!

Youth BBQ At Beau's

August 26th @ 4pm @ Beau's Home!

We're kicking off the new youth year with a BBQ at Beau’s!

Bring your family and join us For good food & fellowshipBurgers, fixin’s, drinks & table service provided. Please bring a side dish to share & your lawn chairs. We’ll have cake for our summer birthdays, maybe even play some games.

We'll be welcoming our incoming 6th graders, discussing upcoming activities and getting your ideas for the coming year.We need an accurate burger count!

If you need a ride, let Janet know when you R.S.V.P. Please R.S.V.P to Janet Rosenbaum @ 308-249-4149

Church Kitchen Renovation Night TONIGHT

We need extra hands tonight to help get the lower-level kitchen ready for the builders. If you can spare an hour or so, come by the church at 7pm and lend a hand!

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WEEK of 12 AUGUST

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS WEEK

Today 8:00 Early Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 Fellowship Time
10:00 Family Worship Service, Sanctuary
Tuesday 8:30 Ladies Bible Study, Gurley/Dalton
Wednesday 8:00 Quilters, Quilting Room
9:00 Prayer Circle
10:00 A.S.A.P. @ 10:00
Saturday 8:00 Church-wide Cleaning Day
Sunday 8:00 Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 Fellowship Time
10:00 Family Worship Service, Sanctuary


CHURCH-WIDE CLEANING DAY: Are you ready to get clean? Saturday morning starting at 8am, we’ll gather in the chapel for a word of prayer and then spread throughout the church, giving God’s house the sparkle it deserves!

PPRC TRAINING: First UMC in Sidney will serve as host for an evening of training for PPRC members from several UMC congregations. If you are a member of the PPRC, please plan on attending this important training event, Thursday, 23 August, starting at 7:00 pm.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR’S WORKSHOP: "What Every Teacher Needs to Know" is the name of the workshop for leaders in Christian education scheduled for August 24, 2007, at First United Methodist Church, North Platte.
This workshop is intended for all those working with education in the church setting and those who want to teach others and become more skilled. Sessions will cover United Methodist theology, Christian heritage, Safe Sanctuaries, teaching techniques, resources and more. For more information or to register contact Cheri Kneifel at or by calling 308-532-1478.

Lectionary Readings for August 19th, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19, Hebrews 11:29-12:2 and Luke 12:49-56.

A Wonderful Night in Sidney!

Tonight we attended the town's "Newcomers Picnic" down at the town park. It was a lovely night; we had a beautiful breeze. We enjoyed good food and fellowship. They had some wonderful entertainment. Two fellows with amazing singing voices blessed us with their musical offerings. We met some great folks who, like us, had arrived sometime within the last 18 months.

Afterwards, we walked down to the gazebo in the park, where we participated in the "Night of Hope" observance. Pastor Charles gave the opening and closing prayers. Two luminaries were lit (bags with a light in each one): One light honored those surviving with cancer, and the other light honored the memory of those who have fought the disease.

Some folks gave their testimonies about what it means to be involved in this wonderful support group. There was a woman who sang so beautifully, and her musician friend played the keyboard really well. Their music added a really festive flair to the evening.

Each year, the group facilitates the walk to raise awareness and to raise funds for the research to find a cure. (Each year except this one, that is, since the Cattlemen's Ball at the beginning of the summer raised a huge amount of money for cancer research within the state of Nebraska.)

It is a really worthwhile effort! It was such a joy to spend time with folks who genuinely care about the health and well being of their neighbors and friends.
Praise be to God for people who volunteer their time, energy and passionate commitment to being in service to others!

----------------------------------------
Pastor Charles' Opening Prayer...

Holy God, You are the source of our life.

We thank you that we have this day to remember the joy that comes from sharing the gift of life.

We thank you also for those who care for us when we are ill, for those who love us when we feel unlovable and for each new day we are given to share the love we have been given.

We ask for Your blessing on this night and on this fellowship.

Surrounded by Your love, we pray.

Amen.
--------------------------------------
Pastor Charles' Closing Prayer...

Loving God,

Grant that we never forget what we have shared this night.

In our journey through this life, we are blessed with people such as those with whom we have shared this celebration. We leave here, having been touched by others.

It is our hope that our lives would reflect the spirit of community that we have experienced tonight and that, in the days to come, others may know that there is hope in abundance.

In Your hopeful name,

Amen.
------------------------------

There is an amazing ministry going on at the Sidney First United Methodist Church. It is called the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Throughout the week and on Sunday morning, faithful folks crochet and/or knit special "prayer shawls," which are blessed and then presented to folks, so that the Love of Christ can be wrapped around these people, no matter what joys and/or concerns they may have at any particular time.

This morning, like most Sunday mornings in the summertime (when there are no formal Sunday School classes going on), the people creating these prayer shawls and their family and friends congregate to visit, to laugh, to pray.

When I walked into the room this morning, I could feel such a positive energy; I could feel the presence of the Lord in that place!

Praise God for faithful followers of Jesus Christ, who love and nurture and support one another... who are willing to use their hands to create visible reminders to people that the Love of God is wrapped around them, come what may!

"I'm a Methodist," she proudly proclaimed!

Yesterday, Pastor Charles and I had the priviledge of meeting one of the members of Sidney's First United Methodist Church: Ms. Helen Hiner, who claims she is 98, but I find that very difficult to believe!

Here is the picture she allowed me to take. She is sitting in her living room, amidst all her family treasures. She is a beautiful lady, inside and out. God's light really does shine in her.

Behind her, you can see one of her many paintings that she, herself, painted. What an amazing artist she is! The detail in her paintings... and her choice of colors... all I can say is "wow!"

It was so easy to talk with her. She is very knowledgeable about a host of topics. In particular, I was facinated with her recounting the days when her family just moved to the Sidney area. Her husband was responsible for helping to get the Sioux Ordinance Depot up and running, in preparation of the arrival of the rest of the folks assigned to it.

"With the outbreak of World War II, a military presence once again took a stronghold in the community with the construction and operation of the Sioux Ordinance Depot being established 10 miles northwest of Sidney. This resulted in great influx of people to Sidney and Cheyenne County and the local economy once again was busting at the seams." This information if from a great website, which talks about some of Sidney's history:
http://www.cityofsidney.org/index_files/Page306.html.

Several times throughout our visit, she proudly proclaimed "I'm a Methodist!" Each time she said this, she has such a lovely smile on her face. She really had a glow about her!

Ms. Helen is one interesting lady! We have so much to learn from our living historians and faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

I feel that we were really blessed by the time we spent with her. Praise God for such inspirational people who treasure life and who are willing to testify about the many ways God's love, mercy and grace touches their lives, each and every day!

Every blessing,

Belinda Alkula

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WEEK of 5 AUGUST

Today 8:00 Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 Fellowship Time
10:00 Family Worship Service, Sanctuary
Tuesday 6:30 Son-Rise Bible Study, Lobby
8:30 Ladies Bible Study, Gurley/Dalton
Wednesday 8:00 Quilters, Quilting Room
9:00 Prayer Group, Prayer Room
10:00 ASAP @ 10:00
7:00 p.m. Council Meeting
8:00 Ad Board
Saturday tba Care/Share
8:30 Worship Workshop, 1st UMC,
Scottsbluff
Sunday 8:00 Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 Fellowship Time
10:00 Family Worship Service, Sanctuary

WORSHIP WORKSHOP: Next Saturday, August 11th, First UMC in Scottsbluff will be hosting Rev. Marcia McFee. This is an exciting opportunity to learn and grow as we grow into the church God has in mind for us to become.

CHURCH-WIDE CLEANING DAY: Calling all hands! Everyone is needed for this day of cleaning God’s house. August 18th, starting at 8:00 a.m. we need to help the church get ready for the coming school year!

CONFIRMATION CLASS: Time to sign up for the 2007-08 Confirmation class. Please see the pastor if you are interested.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION: Anyone interested in joining the First UMC fellowship is asked to contact the pastor. Classes begin 9 September at 11:00 in the Parsonage (1142 Alvarado Rd).

VIRTUAL BOOKSTORE: Please remember to visit your on-line virtual bookstore at http://www.sidney-firstumc.org/.

Lectionary Readings for August 12th, Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 and Luke 12:32-40.

It was a great day today!

We had the lovely surprise of being visited by a former pastor of Sidney First United Methodist Church: Rev. Dr. Julian Miguel. He is currently serving a pastor to a Filipino-American worship community at a United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, NV. Their website is http://www.universityumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=32001&PID=338100 .

Pastor Charles and Belinda met him and his wife and five folks from their congregation. They stopped by for a vist, en route to Omaha, where they will attend the wedding of the pastor's son this weekend.

Some of the church members who live on Alvarado Road, to the side of the church, were able to meet and greet them. It was a wonderful reunion!

Praise be to God when we are able to be reunited with our brothers and sisters in Christ!