The MethodistThe MethodistThe Methodist

A Publication of The Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5th Street � Seward, NE � 68434 June 2013 Vol. 9, Issue 6

Risk Taking Missions

KNIT WITS

The Knit Wits will be meeting once a month, every third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Please notify a member if you have a need for a shawl or you know of someone who can use a shawl for extra comfort. Call Sarah Shively with questions. (402-643-3036)

Heartwarming Worship CAN’T BE IN WORSHIP?

Watch us on Cable 13 at 9:30

p.m. on Sunday and 10:00 a.m.

on Thursday mornings.

Worship Schedule 8:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Worship Summer Sunday School following Children’s Time 11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Rides to worship are

Available to those who are unable

to drive. If you would like a ride,

please call the church office (402-

643-4156) and we can have a

driver contact you to make

arrangements.

BLUE VALLEY COMMUNITY

ACTION PANTRY

Collection Items for

May 26 - June 2

Peanut Butter

SAVE THE DATE

October 19, 2013

Seward United Methodist Womens’

All-Seasons Bazaar!

Details to Come!

Miscellaneous Scheduled Meetings

In June June 3 - Nurture 7:00 Mission/Outreach 7:00 June 5 - UMW Exec Mtg. 10:30 June 10 - Foundation 7:00 June 11 - Finance 7:00 June 13 - Trustees 7:00 June 19 - Knit Wits 11:30 June 21 - Newsletter Deadline June 22 - UMW Workday 8:30 AM June 24 - Bright Beginnings 5:30 June 27 - Fold Newsletter

*ATTENTION* There is a NEW “Walk In Faith” form in this months newsletter. Please take a few minutes and com-plete the form and return it to the church at your earliest convenience. We are trying to get all of our re-cords updated so that you can get the information that is important to you. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at 402-643-4156. Thank you so much for your time. Jessica Secretary/Financial Administrator

Summertime frequently means a drop in attendance at worship as well as at Sunday School, and also a drop in giving. God does not take the summer off, and neither should we. Many folks travel during the summer—and I’ll bet the towns we visit have churches as well. If you are going to be gone, please remember to remember the church’s financial needs this summer. If you are going to be out of town this summer, please consider mailing or dropping your offering off at the church office. Even though many folks take the summer off from church ac-

tivities, the missions and ministries of the church continue—not to mention the operational expenses. Thanks for your continued support!

Miscellaneous Special Sunday Offering ‘NIGERIA / NEBRASKA PARTNERSHIP’ Sponsored by Mission-Outreach Committee and UMW

Prayerfully consider a financial gift to NE/Nigeria Partnership!

UMC Nebraska Conference is the primary source of funding for the UMC orphanage in Jalingo, Nigeria. There are currently 98 children living and learning at the orphanage. In addition to the costs of running the orphanage, approximately $2,000 per child, per year is needed to provide for the resident orphans. Your contributions provide a future for these young people.

Library Corner

Many of you know that I have been working in the church library since early 2013. So far I have completed an inventory and matched books to the card catalog. There are many books that have not been cataloged and there are many cards for which there are no longer matching books. I intend to gradually add the former and delete the latter. As I read some of the books and watch some of the videos, I’m discovering that there are very good resources in the library. To create a controlled flow of materials, if what you want to borrow already has a check-out card, put the card in the box by the library window when you take the material. If there is no card, use the check-out sheet. Return materials to the box when you have finished using them. I will return them to their appropriate spots in the library shelves. - Cliff Lowell

Another note about contributions: In addition to the categories we described in a recent newsletter, people often make memorial gifts. In those situations, the donor can simply write "Memorial - Jane Doe" in the memo line of their check (or on the cash giving envelope) and the money will be used as designated by the family of Jane Doe. - Finance Committee

Only a dad, but he gives his all To smooth the way for his children small, Doing, with courage stern and grim, The deeds that his father did for him. This is the line that for him I pen, Only a dad, but the best of men. —Edgar A. Guest

WALK IN FAITH

Opportunities for Enrichment 2013-2014

Name: ____________________________________________________ Spouse: ___________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________________ Receive Newsletter by: Mail ______ E-Mail _____

Service Opportunities at

Seward United Methodist Church

WORSHIP SELF SPOUSE TIME Usher _____ _____ _____ Liturgist/Reader _____ _____ _____ Greeter _____ _____ _____ Nursery Volunteer _____ _____ _____ Communion Steward (set up) _____ _____ _____ Welcome Center Greeter _____ _____

OFFICE SELF SPOUSE Answer Phones _____ _____ Fold Bulletins, Newsletters _____ _____ Computer Work _____ _____ Attendance Folders _____ _____ Straighten Pews _____ _____

YOUTH SELF SPOUSE Provide snack supper (UMYF) _____ _____ Attend Mission Trip _____ _____ Help with Fundraisers _____ _____ Teach Sunday School _____ _____

MUSIC SELF SPOUSE Chancel Choir _____ _____ Adult Bell Choir _____ _____ Youth Bell Choir, youth name __________________ Special Music - Vocal _____ _____ Special Music - Instrumental _____ _____ Tech Crew Staff _____ _____ Run Camera to tape service _____ _____ Run Sound Board _____ _____

GROUPS SELF SPOUSE United Methodist Women _____ _____ Dinner Groups _____ _____ Knit Wits _____ _____ Quilters _____ _____ JUST4THEFUNOFIT! _____ _____

SPECIAL EVENTS SELF SPOUSE Easter Egg Hunt _____ _____ Last Supper Drama (Easter) _____ _____ Seasonal decorating of Church _____ _____ Fourth of July Float _____ _____ Trunk & Treat _____ _____

EDUCATION SELF SPOUSE Lead Children’s Worship _____ _____ Teach Sunday School (Adult) _____ _____ Teach Sunday School (Children)_____ _____ Assist with Sunday School _____ _____ Substitute Teacher _____ _____ VBS Volunteer - Coordinator _____ _____ Teacher _____ _____ Crafts _____ _____ Snacks _____ _____ Music _____ _____ Recreation _____ _____ Helper _____ _____ Lead Bible Study _____ _____ Library Volunteer _____ _____ Small Group Ministry _____ _____

OUTREACH/MISSIONS SELF SPOUSE Rides for Homebound - Worship_____ _____ Doctor _____ _____ Errands _____ _____ Attend Mission Trip - Local _____ _____ Out of Town _____ _____ Out of Country _____ _____ Snow Removal - Church _____ _____ Elderly _____ _____ Phone Calls to absent members _____ _____ Prayer Chain Member _____ _____

FINANCE SNAPSHOT - THRU APRIL 2013

YEAR TO DATE GIVING TOWARD OPERATING BUDGET $90,858 YEAR TO DATE BUDGETED EXPENSE ($29,321 PER MONTH) $117,284 AMOUNT OVER/(UNDER) BUDGET ($26,426) PERCENT OVER/(UNDER) BUDGET (22.5%)

Miscellaneous

MEET & GREET SESSIONS WITH PASTOR DALE LAMBERT

Sign up at the Welcome Center to join

one of the Meet & Greet sessions to

become better acquainted with Pastor

Lambert. They will be held the weeks of

June 17th & June 24th at various host

homes. Call the church office if you are

unable to sign up at the Welcome Center, but would like to join.

In 2012 the Seward United Methodist Church Foundation Board created a scholarship, funded by donations to the Foundation, to be given each year to youth who are graduating from high school and have ties to our congregation. The Foundation Board discussed a variety of criteria for awarding the scholar-ships. In the end, we decided that the best way to fulfill the mission of the Foundation was to award a scholarship to every graduating senior who is a member of or active participant in the activities of the SUMC. The students don’t have to demonstrate need, talent or scholastic ability to receive this gift from their church family, just as they receive God’s love and the love and sup-port of their church family without demonstrating need, talent, or special abili-ties. The certificate the graduates received reads, “This $500 scholarship represents, but cannot equal, the hopes and prayers your Seward United Methodist Church community has for you as you continue your journey in the Christian faith and life.” The members of the Foundation Board congratulate all of the 2013 graduates on their high school graduation and wish them the best as they begin the next phase of their lives and education. We hope that they and their fami-lies will remember that the prayers and support of their church family are al-ways with them. The recipients of the Seward United Methodist Church Foundation Scholar-ships for 2013 are: Bailey Barry Seth Fitzke Brandon Fletcher Margaret Gaskins Grace Halder Whitney Lavelle Erin Miller Sarah Moody Lindsay Placke Lauren Shepherd

Vacation Bible School Where? Seward United Methodist Church

When? June 10-14, 2013

What Time? 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Ages? Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 6 Duplicate registration form as needed and return to: Seward United Methodist Church; VBS Leader 1400 N. 5th Street Seward, NE 68434 For more information, call 402-643-4156

VBS Registration Form Child’s Name _________________________________________________

Age ________ Last School Grade ______________________________

Parent’s Name ________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Phone: Home __________________ Cell _________________________

Emergency Contact _________________________________________

Emergency Phone ___________________________________________

Name of Person(s) who may pick up this child from VBS

_______________________________________________________________

Phone: 402-643-4156; Fax: 402-643-4159 Email: sewardumc@windstream.net Website: www.sewardumc.org Doug Griger, Pastor; Every Member, Minister

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Seward, NE

Permit No. 62

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5th Street Seward, Nebraska 68434

Seward United Methodist Church

and

Bright Beginnings JUNE MAILBOX DEADLINE IS JUNE MAILBOX DEADLINE IS JUNE MAILBOX DEADLINE IS JUNE MAILBOX DEADLINE IS

Friday, June 21.Friday, June 21.Friday, June 21.Friday, June 21.

Submit your news by June 21. You can e-mail articles to the church at

umcseward@gmail.com, or drop it off at the church office.

Local Church Activities

Chair persons for

June are:

Jeanne Gee (643-6878)

Sue Imig (643-9747)

REMEMBER…Call the

Church (643-4156) if you are going to be hospitalized and wish to have the Pastor visit. Due to privacy laws, hospitals cannot disclose information.

Phone: 402-643-4156; Fax: 402-643-4159 Email: umcseward@gmail.com Website: www.sewardumc.org Doug Griger, Pastor; Every Member, Minister