A meditation for the New Year

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A New Year Commitment

(from the Littleton UMC, Colorado website)

A new year is a great time for new beginning -- a clean slate -- an opportunity to learn from past mistakes -- and to accomplish goals which weren't possible in 2008. Don't fall into the trap of letting 2009 be a pity party, but let it be God's party as we celebrate our return from the far country. You know, even a calculator has an important button called a "clear" button, which allows it to solve the next problem on paper. Forget what is behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal with persistence and progress.

Here's a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth G. Phifer, from a book titled A Book of Un-Common Prayer. It was written for New Year's Eve and is a perfect prayer for each of us as we begin 2009 with all of God's wonderful possibilities before us:

"Eternal God, before whom we are creatures of the day and children of the hours, I did not expect the sorrow that was thrust upon me. I was surprised by the turn of events that changed my life. I look back. I remember how different life a year ago was. The slow, quiet erosion of the days has gone on, and I am not quite the same person I was, for better or for worse. I have had a whole year to grow in love or to fall out of love, to turn my hands to constructive tasks, or to turn away in idleness. I have had a whole year, no matter what I have done or failed to do, O Lord, Keep me from dwelling on it too much. If I have failed, help me put my failure behind me. If I have done well, help me to be glad but not complacent. There are other hills to climb and new hopes to be realized. I know, O God, You understand my need to look back for a while, wistfully peering at the past. But start me looking forward. I do not know what events are ahead, but I do know You are there, and I am grateful. Amen."


This prayer will help you to keep living and connect you to the power that will enable you to keep on keeping on. It is the truth and it awaits your discovery. It is 100% guaranteed. Because the Lord is faithful, there can be a new you in a new year!

Christmas Eve 2008

It was a perfect evening, a holy evening at the First United Methodist Church in Sidney, Nebraska! The sounds of Wayne Phillips on the French Horn by the fireplace provided a welcome that really set the tone (no pun intended) for the service to come.

Lauri Beach (mother of Courtney Shabram-Beach) sang two lovely solos, "O Holy Night" and "One Small Child," and she helped lead the singing. A special treat following the offering was the vocal trio of Jaide, Kaci and Aleigha Wachtel who beautifully shared the love of God in the quiet of the December evening. Carolyn Hays played most of the music tonight, and she was really put through her paces with all of the extra singing in tonight's service: Thank you so very much, Carolyn!. (The service bulletin can be found on the church web site at this link.)

In the place of the typical Christmas eve sermon, Pastor Charles introduced the "Christmas Pageant in-a-bag" which was a unique telling of the Christmas story. The cast was comprised of members of the congregation and they really got into their roles!

The service ended with the singing of "Silent Night" and the passing of the light of Christ amongst the congregation. Into the night, we departed with the sounds of hope ringing in our ears and the light of Christ burning within our hearts.

Merry Christmas!!!

All of tonight's pictures can be found at this link.

Christmas Eve at the First UMC

Please join us tonight for the celebration that is the birth of the Messiah. Our worship of the new-born king begins at 6:00 p.m. and will include the first-ever offering of the "Christmas pageant in-a-bag."

If you can't make it to worship tonight, we invite you to see the service bulletin at this link.

Going crackers with prayer

The Tuesday Lunchtime Study Group met today and celebrated the coming of the Messiah with prayer, fellowship and Christmas crackers (provided by Belinda).

It was a wonderful time of coming together in the midst of the whoosh of the season to give thanks to God for the Son and for the time to share it with one another.

Carrie Balfour sent over a plate of "Famous Balfour Fudge" which amazingly was not eaten in one sitting! Thanks Carrie!

Thanks to our children

A "thank you" again to the children who led us to the manger this morning:

Joseph and Mary - William Draper and Bailey Bagnell

The angels - Chasity Brown, Alex Biberos, Aleigh Wachtel, Lani Kuhns

The shepherds - Seth McMillen, Kord McMillen, Brian Atkins, Quintin Brown

The Star of Bethlehem - Kaci Wachtel

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, and the energy felt throughout the church was palatable to one and all!

The Sukup family came together to light the Advent candles during the early worship service, and Michael Sukup was suberb as the lector. Pastor Charles used Sandro Botticelli's painting, "Madonna and Child with the Young John the Baptist" as an illustration during the sermon. This painting may be familiar to some as this year's religious Christmas stamp.

Martha Walker, Paul and Carolyn McMillen shared the Advent wreath's candle lighting during the family worship service at 10:00 a.m. The glowing fourth candle served as a reminder that Christmas is near! Matt Gudahl's voice stirred the congregation as lector, and the children's pageant was presented with their timeless message of the first Christmas which was very well received. Lisa Bickford and Elizabeth Draper did an excellent job in teaching our children; thanks to both of them for everything they do for the church!

Following the family worship service, a hungry crowd gathered in the fellowship hall for the annual turkey dinner. There are some very happy (and full) tummies in Cheyenne County this afternoon!

To see all the pictures from this morning, please see this link.

The First Blue Christmas Service

The first Blue Christmas service was celebrated tonight, and it offered an intimate experience for all who came out on the frigid evening.

From the service:

A Liturgy of Remembering

This first candle we light to remember those whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember their names, their faces, their voices, the memories that bind them to us in this season. (Pause while the first candle is lit)

May God's eternal love surround them.

This second candle we light is to redeem the pain of loss; the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss of health. (Pause while the second candle is lit.) We pause to gather up the pain of the past and offer it to God, asking that from God's hands we receive the gift of peace.

Refresh, restore, renew us O God, and lead us into your future.

This third candle we light is to remember ourselves this Christmas time. We pause and remember these past weeks and month; the disbelief, the anger, the down times, the poignancy of reminiscing, the hugs and handshakes of family and friends, all those who stood with us. (Pause while the third candle is lit.) We give thanks for all the support we have known.

Let us remember that dawn defeats darkness.

This fourth candle is lit to remember out faith and the gift of hope which the Christmas story offers to us. (Pause while the fourth candle is lit.) We remember that God who shares our life promises us a place and time of no more pain and suffering.

Let us remember the One who shows the way, who brings the truth and who bears the light.

The children are ready!

This afternoon the children, led by Lisa Bickford and Elizabeth Draper, prepared for the annual pageant that will be offered during the 10:00 worship service tomorrow.

The children were really putting their hearts into the practice and everyone who braves the cold in the morning will be in for a real treat.

Blue Christmas Service - Dec 20th

For many of us, Christmas is a bittersweet time of year. It is a time for remembering both persons and events that have been a part of our lives in the past, but that are now changed or gone.

This is the time of year with the longest nights, so around this time we will offer a quiet, meditative worship service that makes time for remembering, sharing our hurting places with God and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ.

Please join us on Saturday, December 20, at 6:00 p.m., for a time of special music, scripture, stories, silent reflection and healing prayer.

Please come, and bring a friend.

Morning UMW Circle's Christmas Potluck

On a chilly morning in Sidney, the ladies of the UMW's morning circle gathered in the "round table" room for the annual Christmas "No host" Christmas potluck. What a wonderful assortment of food that was on hand for us to enjoy including three types of pie!

Morning circle chair, Kathleen Edwards, read from The Christmas Box and shared some of the story behind the Angel of Hope begun in Salt Lake City and now with our very own Angel of Hope in the Legion Park.

We give thanks to God for the wonderful year the morning circle enjoyed and anticipate 2009 with joy!

Evening UMW Circle Christmas Potluck

The ladies of the evening circle met tonight for their annual Christmas potluck. We enjoyed wonderful fellowship,a terrific assortment of treats and other food and a reading of "The Little Drummer Mouse" (by Mercer Mayer) by Bonnie Thompson.

It has been a great year for the Evening Circle and we look forward to an awesome New Year! This was also Bea Dinkel's last meeting with the Evening Circle as she and Bill are moving to Hay Springs in January. Bea has been the UMW Unit president this year.

Prayer Shawl for Karen Morrison

Karen Morrison was stopping by the church this morning when it was decided to present her with a prayer shawl. Karen, who lives on 11th Ave. here in Sidney, was surprised by the gesture and really appreciated the love and concern of her church in the form of a lovely blue shawl.

Tuesday at First UMC

While the weather was still cold outside the inside of the First UMC continued to be warm and inviting!

The Son-rise Bible Study met as usual at 6:30 a.m. and the Tuesday Lunch Fellowship & Study gathered for fellowship and study at 11:00 a.m.

Rilla Draper and Marilyn Wiles were hard at work this morning on the membership records, trying to whip them into shape for the year-end reports. Thanks to both of these ladies for their efforts.

Tonight the Toys For Tots program has their final evening of toy distribution. We have been blessed to have them this month and they have been a blessing to everyone who came into the church!

The last night for Toys for Tots at the First UMC!

The church basement was alive with a wonderful spirit tonight! More families turned out to select special Christmas presents for their children. Toys for Tots program volunteers were eager to help them.

All the Toys for Tots pictures may be found at this link.

Praise be to God for generous folks who have donated toys, gift cards and their time in organizing and running this program for families in Cheyenne County and beyond! Everyone's efforts will make this Christmas a lot brighter!

Organizers say that over 200 children were helped this year. Thanks to everyone who helped share the joy of Christmas with a child.

Piano Recital at the First United Methodist Church!

There was piano recital at the church tonight. Talented children and youth and their parents turned out on this very cold night to celebrate all that had been learned this year!

Holiday music rang throughout the chapel; it was a beautiful, joyous sound! Thanks be to God for Valerie Hoekema and Belinda Westfall for their loving patience in sharing the gift of music with their students!

More shoes for the Navajo Nation

What a blessing this effort has been! Since the first shipment of 615 pairs were sent to the Four Corners Ministry two weeks ago, more shoes and boots have come in to the church! This morning we were amazed when Jan Luehrs (formerly of Sidney) brought donations of an amazing amount of footwear from the good people of the First UMC in Ogallala!!!

Bea and Bill Dinkel and Shirley Oilverius were hard at work for several hours today in getting the footwear sorted and boxed for shipment.

As of December 15th, 663 pairs of shoes, boots and other footwear (in 42 boxes) have been sent!!! Thanks to everyone who contributed to this much needed ministry.

The first shipment of shoes arrived at the Four Corner’s Ministry on Friday, December 12th and they are very appreciative of all the donations. It has snowed there and is very cold, so all the boots will be put to use right away. Lorena Lynch [manager of the thirft store in Shiprock] called and said to tell all of you “Thank you very much and may God bless you!”

All the photos from this effort are available at this link.

UMYF Soup Supper - Dec 14 08

A frigid day here in Sidney came to an satisfying conclusion with the UMYF soup supper (which followed the bell concert).

The fellowship was as warm as the wonderful variety of soups that were being offered. The youth and their leaders did another fantastic job in providing hospitality to one and all.

Please see this link for more pictures from the soup supper.

2008 Nativity Display

The annual display of nativity scenes took place this afternoon in the Welcome Center. Though the weather kept some scenes from being brought to the church, those that were presented offered a wide-range of artistic expression and gave the crowd gathered to hear the bell concert a warm reason to come in from the cold.

All together, the 127 sets ranged from the tiny to the very large. Sets were made from glass, porcelin, terra cota, corn husks, wood of all sorts and much more.

Thanks to the following for sharing these expressions of the season with us:
Kelsey Arrington, Pam Arrington, Alan Aurich family, Carrie Balfour, Bea Dinkel, Valerie Hoekema, Brenda Jessen, Lorraine Lafler, Kord McMillen, Seth McMillen,Dan & Marilee Rowan, Marge Sabin, Marva Schiessler and Margie Surber.

To see the complete collection of photos from the display, please visit this link.

Ringing in the Season Concert

Not deterred by the sub-zero weather, a small, but appreciative audience gathered in the sanctuary this afternoon to listen to the annual "Ringing in the Season" concert.

Offered by the Gloribells, with the assistance of the Chancel Choir and the children's "Bells R Us" group, this annual event offers a treat for the holiday season.

Third Sunday of Advent

A galant band assembled in the chapel this morning for worship and fellowship. Greg and Marci Jenkins assisted with the lighting of the Advent Candles and Marci also served as lector. Thanks to Loren Hoekema who brought Valerie to play the piano, Loren also braved the elements and shoveled the blowing snow away from the from door.

In between services many took advantage of the UMYF bake sale to stock up on holiday goodies. There was also a lot of interest in the nativity sets already on display.

In the second service, Janet Rosenbaum did double duty - as a member of the Gloribells and by sharing in the Time with God's Children during the service. We are certain that those who braved the elements in order to worship God this day were glad they did!