Baptism on February 1st

Anderson Ryder Smelley will be baptized at the 10:00 a.m. service tomorrow. Please join the family of God in welcoming our newest brother to our fellowship!

Covenant Group West meets again

Pastor Charles took to the road on Thursday to attend the meeting of his covenant group meeting at Camp Comeca (near Cozad). This group, an off-shoot of the Five-day Academy for Spiritual Formation, meets throughout the year to support the members' faith walks.

The February E-Newsletter is available

Please share the Good News and the First UMC E-newsletter with everyone you know!

The link is found here!

January 25 - a snowy Sunday in Sidney

With the snow falling at a steady clip this morning, the faithful gathered for worship, study and more at the First UMC in Sidney.

This morning, the congregation dedicated NINE more prayer shawls to be shared with those in need. A rainbow of color was present on the communion table for blessing. These shawls will be placed in the Prayer Room, awaiting distribution. where a newly installed "eternal light" (in honor of Don Baumbach) will burn in witness to the eternal love of our Lord.

More shoes have been contributed for the "Shoes for the Navajo's" project, and food was contributed for the community food pantry.

Following the second service, the faithful (and hungry) assembled in the fellowship hall for a wonderful witness to the bounty the Lord has placed in our midst.

More pictures are at this link.

Coming to First UMC - Sidney

This coming Sunday will provide several opportunities to share in fellowship and ministry with your neighbors and with the community.

Sunday morning, following the 10:00 service, our "last Sunday" potluck resumes. This is a fabulous opportunity to share the warmth of the church with your friends who may not have a church family with whom to share the breaking of bread.

The last Sunday of the month is also our opportunity to share of the bounty that God has placed in our hands. The food pantry will be accepting non-perishable items that will be shared with the Community Food Pantry here in Sidney.

Finally, at 3:30 the chapel service offered to the residents of the Memorial Health Center will be held. At 4:15, the chapel service offered to the residents of the Golden Living Center is held. Having others present to share the worship and fellowship means so much to everyone present.

United Methodist Clergy Session, Lincoln, Nebraska

The United Methodist clergy session of the Nebraska Annual Conference began today. It is being held at St. Mark's United Methodist Church here in Lincoln.

St. Mark's is in the middle of an amazing expansion project. They are building a 2000-seat sanctuary, in addition to the buildings they already have on their land. Since they are located on the corner of Pioneers Boulevard and 84th Street, they call the project "Miracle on 84th Street." In one of their parking lots, they have about 10 basketball hoops posed and have painted basketball lanes on the parking lot surface. They have great signage outside the buildings. It is an awesome church!

(NOTE: Double-click on any picture, and the picture will triple in size.)

To learn more about the ministries of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Lincoln, check out their website at http://www.stmarks.org/.

Anna Hammond memorial service

The family and friends of Anna Gwendolyn (Slice) Hammond gathered in the chapel this morning for the memorial service of this long-time member of this church.

Requests for copies of the memorial service message may be sent to the pastor at this link. The memorial service photos may be found at this link.

Sunday, January 18th

The gusty conditions outside didn't stop the faithful from assembling inside for worship and fellowship!

The worship services centered on the call of the child Samuel and how we as spiritual heirs are called to listen not just for our own call but to the words the Lord has for us sent through other people.

(The picture is “Nathaniel Under the Fig Tree,” by James Tissot)

Human Relation's Sunday at the FUMC

“It doesn’t matter where we work, what we do, how many degrees we have or where we grew up. What matters is having the willingness to serve God in the most unusual places.”

She is called to help other realize their potential. It is where the homeless find a bed, where the hungry find a meal, where the vulnerable find safety. It’s also where 25-year-old Delia Ramirez works – and once called home. For the first 6 years of her life, Delia lived in the homeless community that is a ministry of Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, Chicago. Today, as executive director of The Center for Changing Lives, she conducts business in the same room her parents used as a bedroom when they lived in the facility and exchanged work services for rent. “I have always known my calling in life was to work with the oppressed,” she said.

The Human Relations Day offering makes it possible for Delia and other community developers to turn lives around and make a change for the better. The Human Relations Day offering helps church-based community developers work in racial- and ethnic-minority communities in the United States and Puerto Rico. The offering also ensures a second chance for youth offenders.

“My passion for this work lives because I understand I cannot call myself a Christian if I live blinded by the [situations] that surround me,” Delia adds.

Why do we celebrate this offering on the Sunday before the observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday? Because as United Methodists we believe in the development of better human relations and we seek to empower others to become the whole persons God intended.

The 1972 General Conference established Human Relations Day to “recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other.” Every one of God’s children deserves justice and equality. Every one of God’s children deserves to open doors to success.

Winter is still here in Cheyenne County!

Much of the county woke up this morning to a blanket of snow which served as a reminder that winter still has a way to go before all is said and done. We are fortunate not to have the frigid temprature that the Dakotas are having, but the wet weather prevented the UMW's morning circle from meeting today.

UMW members are reminded to stop by the library area and pick up a 2009 Reading Program brochure and enjoy the selection of books from this year's program.

We were blessed this afternoon when Keri Sheldon stopped by with three more prayer shawls she had made. These will be dedicated during an upcoming worship service.

The UMW 2009 Reading Program

Please stop by the library area today and check out some of the books that are available.








From The UMW Reading Program web page:

The purpose of the Reading Program is to encourage United Methodist Women:

to expand understanding of and participation in God's mission;
to increase sensitivity to all human beings-their needs, interests, and concerns;
to encourage critical thinking about issues facing humanity today;
to grow in understanding of Scripture as it relates to Christian faith in contemporary life;
to enhance self-knowledge and to act from that knowledge;
to strengthen involvement in local and global Christian mission.

The Women's Division recommends a diverse range of books with the intention of broadening exposure to a variety of concepts. The division does not intend that United Methodist Women accept each word or idea contained within each volume. Some books you may agree with. Some you may not. Either is all right. At the least you know the Women's Division cares and wants you to be a knowledgeable and caring Christian about the issues of the day.

New prayer shawls

The Prayer Ministry at the First United Methodist Church has continued where it left off in 2008 with more prayer shawls being dedicated and presented.

Helen Hiner was presented with a shawl on January 7th in honor of Helen's 100th birthday.

On Sunday, January 11th, three shawls were offered during the early worship service and dedicated to the Lord. One shawl was presented to Paula Gudahl for her mother, Shirley Collamore who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Jan. 11th

PRAYER FOR BAPTISM OF THE LORD (UM Hymnal, #253)











Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Grant that all who are baptized in His name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess Him as Lord and Savior, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, One God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS WEEK

TODAY 8:00 am Early Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 am Confirmation Class, Room 311
9:00 am Church School
10:00 am Family Worship Service, Sanctuary
6:00 pm UMYF Night
MON 7:00 pm S/PPRC
TUE 6:30 am Son-rise Bible Study, Fireplace
11:00 am Tuesday Bible Study, Library
WED 8:00 am Quilters, Room 314
10:00 am Ministerial Association, St. Patrick’s
10:00 am Great West District Clergy Meeting,Room 202
- 2:30 pm
7:00 pm Committee Meetings
8:00 pm Ad Board
THUR 9:00 am UMW Morning Circle
7:00 pm Thursday Bible Study, Jones’ Home
SUN 8:00 am Early Worship Service, Chapel
9:00 am Church School
9:00 am Confirmation, Room 311
10:00 am Family Worship Service, Sanctuary
6:00 pm UMYF Night


Lectionary Readings for January 18th, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany:
1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, I Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:49-51.

Winter Alpha Course begins next Sunday, December 18th at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The classes will meet each Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Contact Mike Bird, (507) 330-3268, with any questions.

Happy New Year

"I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours."

Happy New Year! To celebrate this fresh start United Methodists all over the country will be taking part in a Covenant Service.

This unique piece of Methodist liturgy is a nice 'grounder' after all the frivolities and commercialism of Christmas and New Year. It throws the individual open to the workings of God in their life.

This year I've included the 'traditional' version. With the economic crisis continuing the phrase 'let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you" gathers new and permanent meaning.

Whatever the year ahead brings may you find peace and joy while forever challenging yourself and others to life a life extolling the gospel values of peace, love and joy for all.

Every blessing,
Pastor Charles Alkula