The Methodist. OPERATION OVERBOARD Vacation Bible School June :00-11:30 a.m.

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1 The Methodist A Publication of The Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5 th Street Seward, NE June 2012 Vol. 8, Issue 6 OPERATION OVERBOARD Vacation Bible School June :00-11:30 a.m. Sign up sheets are located at the Welcome Center or in the church office. Dive in and discover God s underwater universe! Kids journey miles below the water s surface into God s Word to find what true faith is all about.

2 Radical Hospitality Welcome our newest members! The Quist Family Sophia, Maggan, Jim, and Samantha The Methodist Mailbox CHURCH CONFERENCE JUNE 24, 2012 FOLLOWING THE 10:30 SERVICE OF WORSHIP Our district superintendent will be here to lead our meeting as we receive the preliminary drawings and preliminary cost estimate from the Building Improvement Committee. We will then vote on whether or not to take the next step which is to proceed with detailed drawings and a capital campaign. This vote will not be the deciding factor of whether or not we build. The motion full members will vote on is: The Building Improvement Committee presents these preliminary architectural plans, preliminary cost estimate, and preliminary financial plan. The committee recommends and moves that we proceed with a capital campaign, and development of detailed plans and specifications to include a reliable and detailed estimate of cost for presentation to a future church conference which may or may not approve construction. The Building Improvement Committee is very happy to have reached the completion of a master plan for our facility (copies of which are available for your perusal at the church we prefer they don't leave the building), and we are very excited about the possibilities God has in store for our future! Carole Briggs Judy Rojewski Sharon Clowser LeAnn Lowther Marion Fosler Maxine Moore Sue McHugh John Moody Jed Rojewski Vern Curtis Rudy Hentzen Tom Hanson Jim Lee, Chair

3 Radical Hospitality NEW FELLOWSHIP HOURS For the months of June and July, Fellowship Time will be held between services from approximately 9:15 to 10:15. We are hoping that this will encourage the folks who attend the 8:15 service to stay for Fellowship Time, and give them a chance to visit with the folks who attend the 10:30 service. It will also give parents a time for fellowship while their kids are at Sunday School. Another thought was that especially during the summer, it seems that folks want to get home as early as possible...and moving Fellowship Time will allow for everyone to be on their way immediately following worship. Risk-Taking Mission Saturday, October 20, 2012 Mark your calendars! The annual bazaar will be Saturday, October 20, Here is some information for those who are new to our congregation. For over 50 years we have had a bazaar in this church. Though sponsored by the United Methodist Church Women, it is an all church bazaar. The Chapel-parlor becomes the Coffee Shop, the Fellowship Hall becomes the Gift Shop and the Kitchen becomes the Kountry Kitchen. Items with a suggested price are brought on Friday. Suggested items are: Coffee Shop...to be announced Gift Shop...afghans, quilts, baby items, crafts, Thanksgiving items, Christmas gifts, ornaments, etc. Kountry Kitchen...cookies, candy, breads, muffins, pickles, jams, jellies, cakes, etc. Start your projects now and wait for announcements. For questions call Virginia Cattle at

4 Vital Faith Formation Where Do The Children Grow Christy R. Dawson When you see a smiling face Their happiness all over the place Singing, laughing, cries of glee, Come they say, Play with me The slide, the swing, the monkey bars. Look at them close to see who they are. Lots of races, Ready, Set, Go. This is how the children grow. Come and see all of the smiling faces at Bright Beginnings. We have many activities planned for the summer months. We are planning trips to the library, to the swimming pool, grocery stores and other fun places. We are going to hear from the quilters and they are going to teach us how they quilt. We are also going to do science experiments with a friend of Bright Beginnings. If you have anything that you think the kids will like to see or learn about please see Shannon at the daycare. Certificate of Hope This certificate entitles a first time camper to attend camp at Comeca, Fontanelle, or Norwesca for a 2012 camp session at half price. Contact the office if your are interested. ( ) VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Save the Dates!! June 18-22,2012 VBS for children entering K through 6th grade. Helpers needed too. We are able to give rides to and from VBS if needed. Forms are in the office or at the Welcome Center. If you are interested in a church camp this summer but need help with the camp fee please call the church office for a Campership! We have more than one available. ( ) Camp is such an awesome experience. We are working on getting a van full of 3rd and 4th grade girls for a fun camping experience at Camp Comeca. The camp is from July 5-July 8. I can take four more girls. Call Cindy in the church office if interested. ( )

5 Heartwarming Worship JOYS AND CONCERNS Please remember those with on-going health concerns through the month of May: Connie Atkinson, Cletus Bender, Dick Hagemoser, Harlam Gahm and Willis Bloyd. Congratulations and welcome to our new members: The Quist Family: Jim and Maggan and Samantha and Sophia. The Confirmands of We hold the family and friends of Hulda Campbell in our thoughts and prayers. Hulda passed away Friday, May 18, 2012, with services on Tuesday, May 22, The rose on the altar is to celebrate the birth of Zander Ensor. Rod and Wanda Bruce are the proud grandparents. Our church family holds Tylor and Pamela Higgins along with Wesley, Alex and Tara up in prayer at the loss of Tylor s father, Leroy Higgins. Praise Worship Service June 17, 2012 at the 10:30 service. Join the Praise Team in worship focusing on The Parable of the Mustard Seed. It is also a time to celebrate and thank the fathers in our lives. Worship Schedule 8:15 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Fellowship for all Watch us on Cable 13 at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and 10:00 a.m.

6 Gracious Generosity May - BY THE NUMBERS Offering Received in May to General Funds: $25, Trustees Funds: $7, Average Worship Attendance for May: 259 Mission Share/Apportionments remaining in 2011: $32, The members of the Foundation Board were pleased to give all of our graduating seniors a $500 award to put toward their school expenses after high school this year. It is a special thing to be able to give our young adults these gifts as they start this next stage of life. When a child is baptized or confirmed in our church, our congregation makes commitments to them. The ceremony and celebration surrounding graduation is different, but it should also remind these young adults that they are part of a community in their faith journeys into adulthood. The awards also symbolize the hard work and sacrifice others have made to be able to share gifts with others through our church. The Foundation board is appreciative of this opportunity. Once more, we congratulate the recipients of the Class of 2012 awards: Karlee Bourke, Sam Brauer, Chase DeBoer, Abigail Hanson, Katie Hughes Kyrie Knickerbocker, Holly Luff, Sidney Marker, Evan Reeder, Joslyn Rojewski Delaney Schult, Joey Smith, Alex Thompson, Marissa Wergin, Taylor Wissing Miscellaneous Jammin With Jesus is back with a full summer concert series at the Seward Band Shell. Area Churches and Christian groups sponsor the band or use their own band. Snacks are provided and everyone is welcome!!! Wednesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. June 6~Sounds of a New Generation; Hope Center Beaver Crossing June 13~Andrea VonKampen and friendsgretchen June 20~Seeking Kingdom; Kyle Soflin & Ciara Philben July 18~Apprentice Ministries; Gretchen Jester July 25~Great Plains Community Church Praise Band August!~Ambience August 8~We Three Strings

7 June 24th will be an important day in the life of our church. On that day we will gather (or stay gathered) in the sanctuary following the 10:30 service to vote whether or not to take the next step toward building expansion. This will not be a vote about to build or not to build...it will be about moving forward with more detailed plans and a capital campaign. As per our Book of Discipline, another church conference will be held many months from now to vote on whether or not to begin construction. Having been here for almost two years, I have seen the many space constraints we have all over our building. Believe it or not, I have spent a great deal of time praying for our church, and specifically about the possibilities for expansion of our building and I hope you have too. I am fully convinced that now is the time. Our building has remained largely untouched for the last forty years. God is calling us to act, and to plan for future generations. We need to grow our space to accommodate the growth of our church as Seward grows. Our church membership is growing faster than the population of Seward, according to the 2010 Census. I have heard some rumblings of folks who say things like I ve got room on Sunday mornings, we don't need more space or I am not giving a dime if they touch the parsonage. My hope and prayer for all of us would be that we consider the larger picture and pray about what God is calling us to do that will benefit the greatest number of people. The south property was bought for one purpose expansion. The parsonage is great, but the house of God is far more important than the house for the pastor. I would hope that our collective mindset can move beyond what s in it for me and settle in a place that sounds much more like what s in it for everyone. This project isn t just about adding seats in the sanctuary, it isn t just about adding meeting rooms, it isn t just about a larger fellowship hall. It is about enlarging our space, and making it more efficient so that every child of God will know that they are welcome here, and that we have room for them in our family of faith. We have been a mainstay in this community for years, and we want to ensure that doesn t change because we don t have the room. See you in church! Summer Sunday School begins Begins June 2! 3! One One room Sunday School for for the summer months. 9:15 a.m. Volunteers Needed We need one or two volunteers each week to teach Sunday School. Team up with a friend and volunteer!!

8 Risk-Taking Mission UMW MISSIONS WORKDAYS Please save the following dates: June 17 and July 21 Join the UMW from 8:30 a.m. until??? for fun, fellowship and sewing!! BLUE VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PANTRY Collection item for June 3rd Peanut Butter Food Net Food Net will accept any excess garden produce!! Give LaQuita McKibbin a call for questions or donations!! ( ) Knit Wits If you would like to knit or crochet, join us on the 3rd Wednesday of June, (June 20th.) Be ready to make some fun items for yourself, friends or an item for the bazaar. The shawl ministry continues making shawls and baby blankets for baptism and someone who may be going through a rough time and in need of comfort. Call Sarah Shively, , or Ruth Downing, , with questions. MISSION IS EVERYWHERE The word mission often implies traveling to another country to teach and work. The work done in foreign missions is important, of course, but we can t all make the trip. What we can do, however, is be faithful servants where we live. Mission is about putting the face and name of Jesus in front of those who don t know him. We can do that in many ways any place and any day. The Methodist Mailbox

9 Vacation Bible School June 18-22, a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

10 Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5th Street Seward, Nebraska Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Seward, NE Permit No. 62 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Phone: ; Fax: Website: Doug Griger, Pastor; Every Member, Minister REMEMBER Call the Church ( ) or Pastor Doug if you are going to be hospitalized and wish to have the Pastor visit. Due to privacy laws, hospitals cannot disclose information. JULY MAILBOX DEADLINE IS Monday, June 25, 2012 Submit your news by Monday, June 25. You can articles to the church at or call Cindy, office administrator, at Seward United Methodist Church and Bright Beginnings Local Church Activities Chair persons for June are: Sue Imig Jeanne Gee