BILL SWITZER,

Pastor

Sunday School @ 9 am

BETHEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

2400 CENTRAL AVE. NEBRASKA CITY, NE 68410

THE BETHEL BEACON

MARCH 2017 Church Telephone #: (402) 873-6218

Emergency: (402) 639-0842 (Pastor Bill)

Email: betheluccurch1887@gmail.com

Website: www.bethelucchurch.com

Bethel United Church of Christ is pleased to

announce that Rev. Del Neumeister has been

called to be our new pastor! Del, and his wife

Sue, will be moving here from Belle Fourche,

SD. They will be living in the parsonage.

Del’s first Sunday preaching for us will be May 7,

2017. Please be sure to come to worship that

day to welcome them to our church family!

IN OUR PRAYERS IN FEBRUARY:

Justin Williams, Betty Blankenship, Logan Drabek, Mason Wieckhorst, Ella Mathisen, John Ensign, Alice Oelke, Don Grundman, Roy Murphy, Tim Worcester,

JoAnn Weible, the family and friends of Gerald Jensen, and all who struggle with chronic illness, including those who reside in their homes and long-term care facilities.

World Day of Prayer is Friday, March 3rd, and will be held at

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Nebraska City at 1:30 pm.

The theme will be “Am I Being Unfair to You?”

The service has been written by the church women of the

Philippines and is based on the Scripture of Matthew 20: 1-16,

about the laborers in the vineyard.

Vacation Bible School will be Monday,

June 12th through Friday, June 16th.

First Christian Church will be hosting this

year here at Bethel.

Times have not been announced yet.

Be sure to mark your calendars!

Women’s Fellowship is having a

brown bag lunch meeting on

Tuesday, March 14th at Noon in

Fellowship Hall.

All Bethel Women are invited!

_______________________________

Daylight Savings

Time begins on

Sunday, March 12th.

Don’t forget to

“spring forward” one hour!

_______________________________

Ash Wednesday service will be at

7 pm on Wednesday, March 1st

here at Bethel. Our choir will be singing!

Thank you to everyone

who brightened our

sanctuary with flowers,

and who sponsored

bulletins during the

month of February.

Congratulations to Bill and Jane Kreifels on the birth of their Granddaughter, Kimber Rose,

born February 15th at Superior Hospital. She was 7lbs. 7 oz.

and 20 inches long. Proud parents are Brad and Tammy (Kreifels) Bargen of

Nora, Nebraska.

LOOKING AHEAD TO APRIL

Sun. 2nd: Communion, food pantry

Tues. 4th: Board of Christian Ed. Meeting 6pm

Sun. 9th: Palm Sunday/Confirmation

Tues. 11th: Spiritual Council meeting 5:45 pm, Church Council meeting 7 pm

Thurs. 13th: Maundy Thursday ~ Seder meal @ 7pm in Fellowship Hall with First Communion

Fri. 14th: Good Friday

Sun. 16th: Easter

Tues. 18th: Ministerial Association meeting 9 am

Fri. 21st: Wedding rehearsal 5 pm

Sat. 22nd: Tyson/LaFollette Wedding 4 pm

Mon. 27th: Meals on Wheels 11am

Sat. 29th: AA Banquet in Fellowship Hall

Sun. 30th: Youth Fellowship Elevator Fundraiser Luncheon, Pastor Bill’s last Sunday

*Choir practice every Wednesday at 7pm

BEST WISHES TO THOSE CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAYS & WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES IN MARCH

Jamie & Ashley Mayer

~ March 5, 2011 ~

Norman & Nancy Brown

~ March 5, 1983 ~

Dean & Sue Griepenstroh

~ March 17, 1978 ~

Chad & Danielle Barrett

~ March 21, 2008 ~

Mark Francis 1st Suzanne Briley 6th Noah Hamilton 7th

Dan Hamilton 10th Mary Redelfs 13th

Amy Hauberg 14th Laurene Bando 19th

Jessica Ferguson 21st Jan Pummel 21st Carol Biere 22nd

Georgia Teten 23rd Landon Ferguson 25th

Laura Andersen 27th

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

The Board of Christian Education met February 7th, 2017. Present

at the meeting were Carrie Ferguson, Jaime Horstmann, Jen Tietz,

Kassie Holman, Pastor Switzer and Sara Horstmann.

Reading of the January minutes were read and approved.

We talked about the upcoming events, which include Easter sunrise

service and senior recognition. The members discussed and decided

on the menu for both days.

The meeting closed with the Lords Prayer. Our next meeting is set

for March 7th at 6pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Carrie Ferguson

CHURCH COUNCIL The Church Council met Tuesday, February 14, 2017. Present were John Vock, Jane Kreifels, Connie Jensen, Loren Myleynek, Chip Johnson, Norm Brown, Margaret Brust, Sarah Bando, Burt Weible, Pastor Bill. The meeting was called to order by President John Vock. Pastor Bill opened the meeting with a prayer. Secretary Norm Brown read the minutes from the January 10 meeting. Motion by Chip Johnson and seconded by Jane Kreifels. The minutes were approved as read. Burt Weible gave the Spiritual Council report. 42 letters were sent out to inactive members. 8 members have responded that they want to continue their membership at Bethel UCC. Financial Treasurer Sandy Ried was not present to present the financial report.. Loren Mleynek made a motion and Chip Johnson seconded to authorize Sandy to pay the bills. Pastor Bill gave the Board of Christian Ed Report. The Board will be serving the breakfast at the Easter Sunrise Service and the 2018 Confirmation Class will be conducting the Sunrise Service at the outdoor worship area. Senior Recognition will be Sunday, May 7. May 21 will be the last day of Sunday School. Vacation Bible School will be June 12 - 16 at Bethel UCC and hosted by The First Christian Church. Pastor Bill presented a video of Inspector Clouseau trying to get into a castle. What were the four ways Inspector Clouseau tried to get into the castle? He presented this to the Confirmation Class 2018 and the confirmation class came up with ways to not attend church, and how to attend church. Secretary Sarah Bando sent out the introduction letter of pastoral candidate Rev. Del Neumeister, who will be here preaching on Sunday, February 19th. She is also busy preparing the Directory for 2017. Bethel UCC has a new page on Facebook. Sarah will contact Bishop Plumbing about repairing the bathroom sink in the women’s restroom downstairs, and Greg Dixon about estimate for stripping and re-waxing the floor in Fellowship Hall, and also some spot cleaning the carpet at the parsonage. Jen Hamilton of the Buildings and Grounds Committee gave the report from their last meeting. The Committee met at the parsonage Saturday Feb 4. The south bedroom window pane is broken, some spot cleaning needs to be done to get rid of some pet stains, need to replace the LED lights by the fire place, and the range top above the stove needs to be replaced. No Memorial Report or Stewardship Report. Margaret Brust of the Search Committee reported that Rev Del Neumeister will be preaching on Sunday, February 19 and a lunch will be served for Pastor Neumeister and his wife after church on Sunday. Margaret presented the contract for Pastor Neumeister and Bethel United Church of Christ. The annual parsonage inspection will be Tuesday, March 14 at 6PM with the regular monthly meeting to follow at 7 pm. Chip Johnson made a motion to adjourn and Loren Mleynek seconded to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting closed with the Lord's Prayer.

Respectfully Submitted, Norman Brown, Secretary

Bethel United Church of Christ Annual Meeting ~ January 29, 2017 President Jen Hamilton called the Annual Meeting to order. Pastor Bill Switzer opened the meeting with a prayer. Secretary Jane Kreifels read the minutes from the December Election Meeting. David Carpenter made a motion to approve the minutes. Jerry Gieseking seconded. Minutes were approved as read. President Hamilton approved the Annual Reports and gave her report of the Church Council and Building and Grounds Committee. President Hamilton then turned the meeting over to incoming President John Vock. President Vock thanked President Hamilton and the 2016 Church Council for the work they did. Margaret Brust of the Search Committee announced that a Pastoral Candidate will be here preaching Sunday, February 19. If church is cancelled that Sunday due to weather he will be visiting Sunday February 26. There be no further new business President Vock asked for a motion to adjourn. Gene Nannen made a motion to adjourn seconded by many. Respectfully submitted, Norman Brown, Secretary

Bethel United Church of Christ Congregational Meeting ~ February 19, 2017

Church Council President John Vock called the Congregational Meeting to order. Secretary Norman Brown read the minutes from the Annual Meeting, January 29, 2017. Margaret Brust, Chairwoman of the Search Committee, presented the salary proposal for Rev. Del Neumeister. Base Salary $42,000, Dental and Eye Vision Insurance, $1,877, Social Security $3,213, car allowance $4,000 for a total of $60,066. Margaret Brust made a motion to extend the call to Rev. Del Neumeister to be Pastor of Bethel United Church of Christ seconded by Jen Hamilton. The vote was unanimous to call Rev. Neumeister as Pastor of Bethel United Church of Christ. John then asked for a motion to approved the minutes as previously read and adjourn the meeting. J ason Holman made the motion and second by Terri Stukenholtz. President Vock then welcomed Rev. Del Neumeister as Pastor of Bethel United Church of Christ. Respectfully Submitted,

Norman Brown, Secretary

SPIRITUAL

COUNCIL

Bethel United Church of Christ Spiritual Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 5:45 pm

Pastor’s Office

Present: President Burt Weible, Vice-President Paula Ramold, Cindy Weible, and Pastor Bill Burt called the meeting to order and Pastor opened with a word of prayer. Burt read the January minutes, Paula made a motion to approve, Cindy seconded. Motion carried. Pastor Report: Pastor Bill gave his monthly report. Conducted funeral for Gerald Jensen, continuing to work with confirmation class, and preparing for Maundy Thursday on April 13th, will need help from Spiritual council conducting Seder meal. He also attended work shop on ethics. Old Business: Burt tabled discussion on transportation assistance. New Business: Discussion on preparation for Ash Wednesday, March 1st, and Communion on March 5th. Nina Rohlfs will not be available for Ash Wednesday service, will need to find a replacement. Council also had short discussion on upcoming Totenfest Service. May need to get wood for Easter Sunrise service. Burt will check with Stephen Luther. Burt discussed replacing present glass on alter with lighter Plexiglas. Decision was made to proceed. Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 13th at 5:45 pm. Cindy made a motion adjourned the meeting. Paula seconded. Motion carried. The meeting closed, by joining hands and saying the Lord Prayer. Temp - Secretary, Cindy Weible

Bethel United Church of Christ

2400 Central Avenue

Nebraska City, NE 68410

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

SCHEDULED TO SERVE MARCH 2017

LAY LEADERS March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 Dennis Marshall Lenny Tietz Burt Weible Jan Pummel GREETERS March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 Harold & Gladys Huss Marilyn Weible Jim & Sharon Herzog Delores Schreiner USHERS March 5 March 12—March 19 March 26 Gene & Kay Nannen Katie Chapin, Suzy Briley Larry & LaVonda Bando Chip & Erin Johnson Pauline Peterson, Delores Schreiner Larry & Tracy Wieckhorst SOUND SYSTEM March 5—March 12 March 19—March 26 Dennis Marshall Kevin Pummel ACOLYTES March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 Landon Ferguson Katherine Luther Mason Hamilton Matthew Ramold Lilian Graham Elizabeth Luther Gray Carpenter Brianna Johnson

FLOWERS ~ Connie Jensen COOKIE FELOWSHP ~ Need volunteers