Lenten Brunch - Feb 24, 2008

The UMW ladies pulled out all the stops on Sunday with a wonderful brunch with breakfast caserole, muffins and fruit. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the food, fellowship and the chance to share in the spirit of Lent together with their church family.

February Ad Board Minutes

Sidney First United Methodist Church Administrative Council
February 13, 2008 (unofficial)

Opening Prayer Pastor Charles
Review of Minutes Dan Rowan

NURTURE MINISTRIES - Julie Armbruster

Worship
*Girl Scouts will be in worship at 8am on Mar. 9th.
*Maundy Thursday – Mar. 21st, 6pm.
*Sunrise service on Mar. 23rd will be at 6am. Other Easter services at 8/10am.
*One worship service on Mar. 30th (Confirmation Sunday).

Christian Formation
*Ten girls will be attending the Revolve Tour event in Denver, Feb. 15-16th.
*The spring education materials for children’s program have been ordered and plans are being made for those graduating in May.
*Seven youth will be confirmed on Mar. 30th.

Finance/Stewardship - Ron Jessen
*6% of the budget has been received and it should be at 8%.
*Tom Millman, Sue Trollier & Shirley Swanstrom were commended for the work on the church audit.

AGE-LEVEL & FAMILY MINISTRIES - Brenda Jessen
*Bishop Sheerer has accepted our invitation to 130th Church Anniversary (Sept. 2009). This is tentative based on her being re-appointed to Nebraska in July 2008.

OTHER NURTURE MINISTRIES

UMYF - Whitney Armbruster No report.

UMM - Mitch Muhs
*The men will serve the Lenten brunch on Feb. 17th, help is needed. *Re-organizational meeting on Feb. 24th at 9 am in the chapel

UMW - Bea Dinkel
*The UMW will soon be starting on UMCOR kits. Lists are on the bulletin board, at the Welcome Center, on the church web site and church blog. Last year the church members made 98 kits.
*World Day of Prayer @ 1st Christian Church on Mar. 7th at 1:30 pm.

OUTREACH MINISTRIES - Kerrie Sheldon
*Jan. loose change offering amounted to $151.47. Possible use of Feb. loose change offering for victims of the Kimball house fire. *One Great Hour of Sharing will be Mar. 2nd – Jordon Sukup will give a report about the offering on Feb. 24th *First Lenten brunch served 75.

WITNESS MINISTRIES - Edie Baumbach
*Girl Scout will be sleeping over on Mar. 8th and attending worship on Mar. 9th.
*The committee is soliciting names for Lay Speaking course. A course will be conducted at FUMC.
*Don & Edie Baumbach and Rilla Draper will speak to the confirmation class on Feb. 17*Valentine’s dinner served 134. The funds were split between the UMYF and the Gloribells.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Trustee Committee - Don Gustafson
*Bea & Bill painted the south entrance and the storage room behind the chapel.
*Carpet replacement for the south entrance is being considered.
*Bids are being sought to replace the stairwell covering.
*A work day has been scheduled for Mar. 15th.
*The Gloribells requested permission to take the bells to a workshop in Fort Collins, CO. Request approved.


Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (S/PPRC)- Donna Bahr - No report.

Membership - Marilyn Wiles
*Leaders needed to speak to new members on Mar. 2nd - At least five new members will be joining on Mar. 16th (Palm Sunday).

Lay Leader - Dan Rowan - No report.

Pastor - Pastor Charles
*Wednesday Supper Club – First one will be on Feb. 27th @ 5:30 pm.
*Hospice Memorial Service at St. Patrick’s RC Church, Feb. 24th at 2pm *Good Fri. @ Evangelical Free Church, noon
*Pastor to attend Walk to Emmaus, Feb. 14-17.
*Pastor & Belinda have bought a digital picture frame to display church events. More pictures are on web site.


2008 Ad Board Members:
Age Level & Family Ministries - Brenda Jessen
Membership - Marilyn Wiles
Ad Board - Cynthia Phillips
Nurture Ministries - Julie Armbruster
Benevolence Treasurer - Tom Millman
Outreach Ministries - Kerri Sheldon
Church Treasurer - Bruce Hauge
S/PPRC- Donna Bahr
Finance - Ron Jessen
Trustees - Don Gustafson
Financial Secretary - Judy Rosenbaum
UMM - Mitch Muhs
UMW – Bea Dinkel
Lay Leader - Dan Rowan
UMYF – Whitney Armbruster Lay Member - Rilla Draper
Witness Ministries - Edie Baumbach

Walk to Emmaus - the Women from FUMC

Donna Bahr and Belinda Alkula joined 18 other pilgrims on the Walk to Emmaus at Camp Comeca (near Cozad) Thursday evening. They will be there through late Sunday afternoon.

Rilla Draper is the Lay Director for the retreat and Courtney Shabram-Beach is there in a support role.

Please remember all those attending and supporting this exciting ministry.

The UMW at work

This morning, the women of the FUMC UMW came together to prepare treats for those in our fellowship who are limited in their abilities to get out into the community. What a great bounty the ladies arranged on plates and took out to over thirty very appreciative folks!

Sunday - Feb 17, 2008

Thank you, Rilla Draper, for conducting our worship services this morning and delivering a wonderful message about the Sermon on the Mount! And Carrie Reynolds did a wonderful job as our lector this morning: Thanks, Carrie! And our Glori-bells bell choir members were as amazing as always!

The United Methodist Men returned to FUMC with the serving of the Sunday Lenten brunch after the 10:00 a.m. service. Parishoners filled the fellowship hall and enjoyed the pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit compote and juice/coffee/ water... YUMMY! And the fellowship was, of course, appreciated by one and all!

Valentine's Dinner 2008

Over 140 attended the 2008 Valentine's Dinner held on February 10th. The Gloribells provided the crack wait staff and the UMYF provided the kitchen staff. The result was a superb effort!

The meal consisted of a tossed salad, ham steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, and cheesecake for desert. The beautiful decorations transformed the Fellowship Hall in a romantic grotto for the evening and a wonderful time was had by all!!!

Lenten Brunch 2008

Our first Lenten Brunch went very well with a bumper crop of folks enjoying the food and the fellowship following the 10:00 service. These brunches are a terrific way to share the journey that is Lent with our fellow members and friends!

Thursday Night Bible Study

Thursday night at the Jones' home is the place to be for some of the FUMC faithful. Currently we're studying Handel's oratorio, "Messiah." Good music, good conversation and more is held each Thursday night. Even Dexter and Murphy (the dogs) are into the actions!

January Ad Board Minutes (abridged)

Nurture Ministries (Julie Armbruster, chair):

Worship Committee
1. Imposition of Ashes will be held on Ash Wednesday (Feb 6th) from 11:30 to 12:30 with services for that day starting at 6:30p.m.
2. Last Wednesday of the month from 5:30 – 6:30 there will be a brown bag supper and communion.

Christian Formation
1. We are working on something special for the children at Easter, possibly an egg hunt.
2. Janet Rosenbaum will be doing Safe Sanctuary training. Everyone who works with youth are required to take this training course.
5. A sleep-over with kids will be held at the Church Apr. 4-5. The Youth would help in conjunction with their 30-hr famine.

Finance/Stewardship Committee
1. Mission Share was paid in full for 2007.
2. The church adudit will be completed by the end of January. Tom Millman will head up the committee.

Parish Worker/Member Care
1. The Care/Share delivery count varies from 32 to 40 people.
2. The kitchen renovation project is paid in full. Dedication of the new kitchen has been done.
3. Rummage Sale has been set for April 24, 25, 26 & 28.

Age-Level & Family Ministries(Brenda Jessen, Chair)
1. Lois Thayer and Brenda Jessen will begin work on the FUMC 130th anniversary celebration in 2009. This may be incorporated with the fall kick-off in September of 2009.

UMYF
1. The Valentine dinner has been scheduled for Feb. 10th.
2. Feb. 15 and 16 are the dates for the Revolve Tour in Denver which the Youth girls will be attending.
3. The 30-hour famine will be the weekend of April 4 - 5.
4. The Youth are planning their mission trip to St Louis , MO in July 2008.

UMM
Pastor reported that he will be working with Mitch Muhs to re-form the United Methodist Men.

UMW
1. The UMW will soon be starting on UMCOR kits.

Outreach Ministries (Kerri Sheldon, chair):
1. The loose change offering for Jan. and Mar. will go to the Gudahl family. In February the loose change will go to Epworth Village.
2. Report on Adam Davenport as the recipient of our Timothy fund was confirmed with Pastor Alan Davis.
3. A list of college students is needed so that the Church can stay in touch.

Witness Ministries (Edie Baumbach, chair):
1. An article concerning our Hospitality Award was in their newsletter and we are listed on their web-site.
2. Also it was suggested that we put our web-site address on the sign outside.

Administrative Ministries:
Trustee Committee
1. A work day has been scheduled for March 15 to do the ceilings downstairs hallway and east side (spray on coating).
2. They will be getting more people trained on the heating and air conditioning system.
3. Maintenance Issues: All treads on all stairway steps are being checked for replacement. Will check with John concerning the front door to the Parsonage. Bill Walter has volunteered to continue doing the grounds. Mark Bickford will be contacted concerning cost of cleaning the acoustic panels in the Sanctuary.

Staff/Pastor Parish Relations committee
1. The new custodian Jody Elkins has begun work.

Membership
1. There are 487 members listed on the computer. This figure is members only and does not include the count of constituents or baptized list.

Lay Leader
1. There is a Lay Speakers School coming up. Dan stressed the important of having qualified Lay Speakers in our Church.

Pastor’s report
1. Ash Wednesday and Lent are a spiritual disciplines. Everyone should be participating in a Lenten study. Each of us should be involved in faith formation.
3. Pastor encouraged more utilization of the Prayer Room.
4. Our wedding coordinator is Christine Gudahl.
5. Our Church needs to be more pro-active in our calendar by planning further ahead on the happenings and activities of our Church. This is needed in order to get the information in the local newspaper, in the Chamber packets to newcomers, and on the Chamber web site.
6. The Discipleship Plan that was approved at the 2007 FUMC Conference shows specific and measurable goals to be reached. All committees have been reorganized because we are following the plan of the NE. Conference. We need to be United Methodists all the way.

There is a lot of positive energy in our Church. Two questions we need to ask ourselves (1) Are you growing in your faith, and (2) Are you sharing the Good News?

United Methodist Men Returning to FUMC

Mark your calendars now for an important gathering of men here at First UMC. On February 24th at 9:00 (between services) we will meet to organize the re-certification effort for the United Methodist Men unit at the church.

What makes this an activity that you should take a long, hard look at joining? Take a look at The Purpose of the UMM and decide for yourself:

The Purpose
United Methodist Men shall be a creative, supportive fellowship of men who seek to know Jesus Christ, to grow spiritually and to seek daily his will. [Our] primary purpose is to declare the centrality of Christ in the lives of men and in all their relationships.

If this sounds like something you'd like to make a part of your life, then we look forward to seeing you on the 24th!

FUMC is a member of the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce

Request for Prayers

Your prayers are requested for the following persons in our community of faith:

Deborah P. (Marilyn's daughter) serving as a missionary teacher in Africa
Carolyn D. (troubles with neighbors)
Judy R.'s granddaughter-in-law's baby-to-be's name is Sadie
Belinda K.'s dad is recoving from an illness
Marilee's wrist isn't broken
Don L. with serious illness in Omaha
Don B. struggling with cancer
Beulah L. (health)
Beth's neighbor needing a liver transplant
Elva L. (respitory issues)
Elva A. (bad fall last week)

Prayers are also sought for: Those attending the Cabela's H.R. conference here in Sidney. Also for the young women trying to raise funds to attend the Revolve Tour in Denver next month.

Researcher analyzes State of the Church report

Researcher analyzes State of the Church report
(As printed in the GOOD NEWS magazine for United Methodist Renewal and this article may be reprinted without change and in its entirety for non-commercial purposes without prior permission of GOOD NEWS Magazine.)

The United Methodist presence is the United States today is the same as it was in 1820. And, if trends in aging and membership losses continue at their current rates, the church will shrink to its size at the time of the Christmas Conference in 1784.

The analysis came from the Rev. Lovett Weems, a United Methodist researcher, speaking on November 6th to the denominations Council of Bishops in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, after examining the State of the Church report released in June.

The report provides a baseline of the thoughts, feelings, values, and judgments of a cross-section of United Methodist leaders and members, said Ohio East Bishop John Hopkins, president of the Connectional Table, the leadership entity that coordinates the mission, ministries, and resources for the denomination.

The Connectional Table commissioned the report in 2005 and asked Rev. Weems to review the resulting data and feedback and identify emerging questions, contradictions, and implications.

Weems is professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Weems provided his analysis in the form of questions related to ten area: 1) theological grounding and spiritual vitality; 2) a global church; 3) church structure; 4) the aging church; 5) finances; 6) young clergy recruitment; 7) diversity; 8) the church’s future; 9) large churches; and 10) pastoral effectiveness.

The questions “lead us to wonder if we can have a future worthy of our past,” said Weems, adding that “without a new vision, the future does not look bright.” However, he also told the bishops that new visions often emerge in times of hardship. Church leaders have been struggling for decades to understand the gradual decline of the denomination’s reach in the United States, where membership is less than 8 million, and a decline of 19 percent since 1974. Forty-one percent of United Methodist churches in the U.S. did not report a single profession of faith in 2005.

Weems said the denomination has a future in the U.S. only if it can reach younger and more diverse people. “As the last century unfolded, the nation changed and the church did not,” he noted. Today, the U.S. church is smaller and older and less diverse than the country’s population, he said, noting the denomination has steadily grayed since 1975.

Weems said the issue of race and ethnicity is not as prominent in the State of the Church report as would be expected given that the U.S. is undergoing one of the most dramatic racial and ethnic shifts in its history. He said all mainline churches have statements about inclusiveness, but “there is not a single mainline denomination in the United States that has shown that it can reach any group of people other than white people as well as it can reach white people.”

The United Methodist Church is most effective at reaching whites and African Americans but is even struggling today to reach those groups, according to Weems. “The need for a renewed spirit of inclusion of people is crucial today,” he said. The church’s future will be shaped by “its willingness and ability to respond to the changing face of America.”

Weems called the lack of young United Methodist clergy both a crisis and a “complex, multidimensional phenomenon” and asked if they should be declared an endangered species. Over the last 20 years, the denomination’s U.S. clergy under the age of 35 has dropped below 5 percent.

Youth News from the Conference

2008 Peace with Justice Contest for UM Youth
The Board of Christian Ministries is offering this opportunity to all youth, grades 9-12. There are two contests: a speech contest and an “alternative” contest. Contestants will compete at the District level with the winners going on to judging at the Conference level. The first and second place winners
present at Annual Conference in Lincoln in June and receive scholarship monies for higher education.

Each youth can choose from one of the following three topics:
Topic One: The significance of the 1908 Methodist Social Creed
2008 marks the 100th anniversary of this creed. Contestants can address various aspects of the creed, such as the social circumstances which prompted the creed; evolution of the creed and the Social Principles over the
years; comparison of the first creed with the one we have today and why the changes were made; comparison of the 1908 creed with the proposed new creed to be voted on at General Conference, 2008.

Topics Two & Three: How people of faith can help cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 by working on goal one or two of the Millennium Development Goals. Background: At General Conference, 2004, our denomination voted to support the Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. Our Nebraska Conference has voted to include these goals in our
three year emphasis on Children and the Poor, 2008-2010. For the 2008 contest, youth can address either goal number one or goal number two.

Topic Two: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
* Reduce by half the proportion of people who live on less than one dollar a day.
* Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. (This is the first goal of the MDGs)

Topic Three: Achieve universal primary education *Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling. (This is the second goal of the MDGs)

More details will be provided by February 1st at www.umcneb.org, click on the Board of Christian Social Witness in the “groups” box, upper left. Please get this information to your youth ASAP.


Youth Group Opportunity
Your Youth Group is invited to become a “Steppin’ Out Youth Group!"

Walking with Jesus means we walk on two feet of Christian service. One foot represents doing acts of charity and the other represents working for justice to change structural causes of suffering. Peace with Justice Ministries is offering a model to involve youth groups in steppin’ out in faith with both feet of Christian service; doing acts of charity and acts of justice. After completing the model, which involves selecting four issues to learn about, pray about, and act upon within a year. The youth group will be recognized as an official steppin’ out youth group and will receive the Golden shoes of Charity and Justice.

For more information, go to www.umcneb.org & click on Youth Ministries Council under the “groups” box.

Great West District News

Administrative Corner
*Local Church Audit Due in District Office February 15: The 2007 Audit Report should be sent to the Great West District by February 15, 2007. Audit guidelines and the audit form may be found on the Conference website (www.umcneb.org) by clicking on the ‘Administration’ tab. There is a column
of icons (black and white) on the right-hand side of the Administration screen. The Audit information is at the bottom of the column, entitled Local Church Audit – Guide and Report Form.

Laity Convocation on - March 28- 29 At Kearney First UMC
Join laity from around the conference for two days of leadership and ministry development. This convocation is intended for those who want to learn how to enable lay leaders to thrive in leadership in the local church. Members of lay leadership committees in particular will benefit from learning how to identify and nurture spiritual gifts. Attendees will also learn how to enlist congregational involvement and engage the congregation in ministry. Laity leadership sessions will be led by Bishop Bruce Blake and the Rev. Janice Japp. Nebraska United Methodist Foundation Executive Director Jim Heller will lead a session on stewardship as a lifestyle—helping congregations understand the Biblical concept of tithing. Registrar for the event is Donna Holland, 402-228-0720 or hollandfarms@alltel.net. (Due 24 March)

UNITED METHODIST MEN’S WINTER RALLY
The link below offers the registration and program information for the 2008 Nebraska United Methodist Men Winter Retreat at Camp Fontanelle, Feb. 15-17, 2008. The year 2008 is also the centennial celebration for UMMen. This year’s featured speaker is retired Major General Roger P. Lempke (Ret.), Adjutant General, Nebraska National Guard, and former Prayer Advocate-Nebraska United Methodist Church.
http://www.umcneb.org/pages/umconnect/pdfs/010408_UMMRally_registration.pdf
Laity Convocation March 28- 29 At Kearney First UMC
Join laity from around the conference for two days of leadership and ministry development. This convocation is intended for those who want to learn how to enable lay leaders to thrive in leadership in the local church.

Members of lay leadership committees in particular will benefit from learning how to identify and nurture spiritual gifts. Attendees will also learn how to enlist congregational involvement and engage the congregation in ministry. Laity leadership sessions will be led by Bishop Bruce Blake and the Rev.
Janice Japp. Nebraska United Methodist Foundation Executive Director Jim Heller will lead a session on stewardship as a lifestyle—helping congregations understand the Biblical concept of tithing.

An email including an attachment with detailed information and registration form (due March 24th) was sent to all the Pastors in the District. Registrar for the event is Donna Holland, 402-228-0720 or hollandfarms@alltel.net.

Basic Lay Speaking Ministries Training
Friday evening and all day Saturday, February 29-March 1, 2008
BASIC COURSE – Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course

The Basic Course includes a study of what it means to be God’s called people and how we may be at work for God in our own communities. The guide for this course is practical, including check list, outlines, and step by step plans. Exercises draw on the individual’s personal experiences and on what they know about their communities. The course provides learning opportunities in three areas of service for Lay Speakers: leading, caring, and communicating.

Where: Archer Zion UMC, 1998 7th Road, Archer, NE Phone: 308 946-3578 or 946-3958
Time: Friday – 6:00 – 9:00PM (Supper on your own),
Saturday- 8:30AM – 4:00PM (Lunch is provided)
Cost: $30 -includes textbook and lunch Saturday
Leaders: Denice Dietz, CLS and Rev. Rich Savage
Lodging: Super 8 Motel in Central City (308 946-5055)
or call for staying with a host couple if needed.
Please register by February 18th (We need a count to plan snacks, meal, and so we can mail the texts.)

Marriage Encounter Weekend
Want a better marriage in the New Year? Say these little words to your spouse. "I'm really glad I married you." Those simple words will let them know that you still value and cherish them. If they're feeling insecure or undesirable, it will give
them confidence in your love. If you and your spouse are in a rough patch, give it a try anyway. You can say it over candlelight at a nice dinner or in the van on the way to an event. The place isn't important but the words are!

A perfect place to say these words would be at a Marriage Encounter Weekend. Sign up for one now and give that special gift of love to each other. Marriage Encounter United Methodist winter/spring weekends are scheduled in Nebraska for: Feb. 29-March 2 in Omaha and April 25-27 in Lincoln.

To register or for more information, contact Russell and Lanita Evans, Box 125, Mullen, NE 69152, 308-546-2745, lanita@nebnet.net. Marriage Encounter is the official marriage program of the United Methodist Church and is affiliated with the General Board of Discipleship.

Administrative Board Minutes

The digest of the January Ad Board minutes will be posted here when it is received.