Rev. Rodger Good, Pastor Rev. C.G. Nienkamp, Pastor Emeritus

BETHEL UNITED

CHURCH OF CHRIST

2400 CENTRAL AVE.

NEBRASKA CITY, NE

68410

Church Telephone/ Fax #:

(402)873-6218

Email Address: bethel_ucc@yahoo.com Office Hours: M-F, 9am—noon

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Nov. 2011

VOLUME 56 Issue 7

THE BETHEL BEACON

A Note From The Pastor

Fall is fast becoming one of my favorite seasons. The maple trees and burning

bushes are splendid in their colors, along with the fall flowers like the mums. The mums around our house are

simply brilliant in color this year. As I enjoy the splendor of these beautiful autumn days the tune and words

to a wonderful hymn has been reverberating in my mind. Henry Smith wrote the text and the music for this

wonderful hymn titled: “Give Thanks”.

I have been reflecting on some of the text. The first words to this hymn remind us to: “Give thanks

with a grateful heart.” So, I’ve been asking myself: “What is a grateful heart?” “What does that look like?” I

believe it is different for everyone because of life’s experiences. Is a grateful heart one that can list the many

blessings (home, talent, treasure, etc.) one has been given? Is a grateful heart one that has received good news

from the doctor? Is a grateful heart aware of the holiness around one each and every day? I believe it is all of

this and so much more.

We are a blessed people. We have so much to be truly thankful. I know some make gratitude lists or

lists of blessings every day as they retire from the day and recount the day’s activities. Some lift the day up in

thanks to God as each day closes. To acknowledge thanks is to speak the language of faith; it is to acknowl-

edge that God is at the center of all things; it is acknowledging that we depend on God to sustain us with the

strengthening and comforting presence of his holiness. To give thanks is to acknowledge the blessings that

come from God’s hands, not ours.

In giving thanks may we give freely of the gifts God has so richly blessed us? In this issue of The Bea-

con you will find the Time and Talent Survey along with a pledge sheet to fill out and return to church on No-

vember 13th during worship services when we make the annual Dedication of Pledges. Please prayerfully con-

sider what you will give with great joy. When we give out of a joy-filled heart we acknowledge that every-

thing we have has indeed been gifted to us so that God may be glorified through our giving.

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” Psalm 126:3

Shalom,

Pastor Rodger

Check out our new church website at:

www.bethelucchurch.com

BETHEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Monthly Statement By Brenda J. Wieckhorst

The September statement will be

in the December Beacon.

Father, thank You for the Spirit, Fill us with His love and power;

Change us into Christ’s own image Day by day and hour by hour.

~Anonymous (Our Daily Bread)

Bethel Plus members met October 9th at the church for a hot dog, pot luck luncheon right after church. It was an enjoyable time. We came to the conclusion that Bethel Plus will cease to function. There are not many active members anymore and those that do come are getting older and not as able to do what needs to be done. We pray that some day a younger group will take over and have the good times we had. We did decide to split the money in our checking account and give half to the General Fund and the other half to the Elevator Fund. Each got a check for $161.68. We also decided the Thanksgiving dinner this year will be November 13 and it will be a pot luck dinner. Everyone is to bring a covered dish and your own table service. The drinks will be furnished. I personally want to thank all of those who have been active the last ten years. We had some great times doing all sorts of things and going many places. Many friendships were formed and will continue. We may have unplanned get togethers in the future.

~Gladys Huss

Bethel Plus

SPIRITUAL COUNCIL

The Spiritual Council met on Tuesday, October 4th with Jake Sinner, Jen Hamilton and Pastor Rodger

present. Pastor read a devotion based on Proverbs 18:10 from the book 'Grace for the Moment' by Max

Lucado. The September minutes were read and approved.

Old Business:

The Annual Pet Blessing service went very well with 9 dogs receiving blessings. The afternoon spent with

our furry friends was so enjoyable for everyone and plans are to continue the event.

We are still in great need of more volunteers for the Bethel CD Ministry and a director for our UC Believ-

ers Wednesday youth program. Please consider giving of your time and volunteering for either of these

very important church programs.

New Business:

Lillian Sinner will be baptized on Sunday, October 9th. The next communion service at the Ambassador

Care Center will be held on October 27th at 9:15AM. The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service will be held on

November 20th at 3PM at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Bethel Hanging of the Greens ser-

vice will be held during worship on November 27th.

There were no funerals or baptisms to report since our last meeting. The Kreifels/Gregory wedding was

held on Sept. 17th.

A brief discussion regarding new memberships was held.

Pastor Rodger mentioned he will perform a memorial service on October 13th for Scott Wiegert. He also

mentioned that delivering Meals on Wheels is "a lot of fun and takes approximately 30 minutes to com-

plete."

The Spiritual Council then made a decision to move the communion altar forward a few inches after dis-

cussing the many times our Acolytes have slipped down from the step it sits on. This will also enable Pas-

tor to present the elements of communion while facing the congregation.

We closed with the Lords Prayer. The next meeting of the Bethel Spiritual Council is Tuesday, November

1st at 6PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Jen Hamilton

Secretary

IN OUR PRAYERS IN OCTOBER: Marie Ritter, David Weik, Jack Mleynek, Loren Mleynek, Lorraine Cooper, Reva Ber-thold, Jeanene Pummel, S SGT Allen R. Scott, Diane Manthei, the

family and friends of Alvin Hillman, Tammy Norris, the family and friends of Alma Longwell, Troy Jensen, the family and friends of Scott Wiegert, the family and friends of Marline Bocock, Cathy Kotschwar, Kay Nannen, Tiffany Orchard, Todd Burpo and family, Shirley Roll, and all those affected by the flooding.

Thank you to everyone who

brightened our sanctuary with flowers, and who sponsored

bulletins during the month of October.

Nebraska City’s annual Advent Recital for 2011 will be held again at St.

Mary’s Catholic Church on Sunday, December 4,

from 6-8 p.m.

Clarence Beccard’s 100th Birthday Party is Saturday, November 26th

from 2-4 pmin Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited to come help

him celebrate!

Thank you to everyone who helped assemble the November edition

of the Bethel Beacon.

Remember, if you would like to continue

to receive the Beacon by mail, please

sign the sheet at the back of the sanctu-

ary by the end of this year.

Beginning in January, the Beacon will only be

available online or on the usher’s table unless you

have signed up. Thank you!

1st Quarter Attendance Awards are

Sunday, November 6th!

Our annual Thanksgiving dinner will be Sunday, November 13th.

This year it will be a pot luck dinner, so bring your favorite Thanksgiving trimmings!

**LOOKING AHEAD**

~DECEMBER~

Thursday, Dec. 1st: Beacon Assembly

Sunday, Dec. 4th: Communion/Food Pantry,

Fellowship Hall reserved, Advent Recital St. Mary’s 6-8pm

Tuesday, Dec. 6th: Spiritual Council 6 pm

Board of Christian Ed. 7 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 7th: Hand Bell practice 5:45 pm

Sr. Choir practice 7 pm

Tuesday, Dec. 13th: Women’s Fellowship Pot Luck Holiday

Luncheon 12 pm,

Church Council 7 pm

Wednesday, Dec. 14th: Annual Caroling Party—meet at

church at 5 pm for carpooling

Sunday, Dec. 18th: Sunday school Christmas Program

Wednesday, Dec. 21st: Hand Bell practice 5:45 pm

Sr. Choir practice 7 pm

Saturday, Dec. 24th: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service &

Altar Communion 7 pm

Sunday, Dec. 25th: Christmas Day Service 10:30 am

No Sunday school

Saturday, Dec. 31st: New Year’s Eve

*No hand bell or choir practice Dec. 21st or Dec. 28th*

BEST WISHES TO THOSE CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAYS & WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES IN

NOVEMBER

BIRTHDAYS

Carol Beccard (1st) Jamie Horstmann (1st) Dylan Vock (1st) Kassi Holman (10th)

Molly Wurtele (10th) Hailey Herzog (11th) Zoie Mills (12th) Betty Joe Adkins (14th)

Clarence Beccard (15th) Braiden Moyer (16th) Alvin Roos (18th) Keston Holman (20th)

Jane Vock (22nd) Stephen Luther (25th) Ben DeVorss (26th) Michael Mills (26th) Dylan Holman (27th)

Remember, Day-light Savings

Time is Sunday, November 6th!

Set your clocks back and enjoy that extra hour of

sleep!

The position of Co-Courtesy Chairman

for funeral and celebration luncheons

is now available.

If anyone is interested,

please contact the office.

Thank you!

We are having a fund raiser!

Calendars are for sale in the

back of the church for $6

each. You may leave your money in the

basket next to the box. Proceeds will

go to UC Believers.

ANNIVERSARIES

Bill & Barb Walters ~November 9, 1963~

Rev. & Mr. Wozny ~November 22, 1972~

Leslie & Janice Dawson ~November 3, 1987~

Church Website

In an earlier issue of The Beacon it was reported that the Church Council had approved

the development of a church website. The website is up and running and I hope you will go

and browse the site. It is by no means finished, but by the end of the year we hope to have the

website fully functional. The website will be continually updated with announcements, the

calendar, the church newsletter, our member directory, and other various items of interest. You

will be able to print the church calendar from this website as well as make prayer requests. To

make a prayer request on the website simply click on the prayer tab and a box will open in the

left margin so you can leave your prayer requests. If you want to get into the password re-

stricted parts of the website please contact the church office. The website will allow us to de-

liver The Beacon electronically. However, the Church Council realizes that not everyone has a

means to receive the newsletter electronically. That being said, The Beacon will still be mailed

to those who do not have internet access. We realize how important The Beacon is to those

who are confined to their homes. The Beacon will still be made available in paper format.

Please notify the Church Office if you would like The Beacon mailed to you. The Beacon

may also be picked up when attending church. Please call the Church Office with any ques-

tions. Visit Bethel’s website at www.bethelucchurch.com.

Meals~On~Wheels

Bethel UCC delivers meals every 4th and

5th Monday

Pastor needs volunteers to help him with

these deliveries.

This is about a 30min. commitment once or

twice a month, but it has such a huge im-

pact to those receiving the meals.

Please prayerfully consider assisting with

this mission.

See Pastor Rodger for more information

and to volunteer.

CELEBRATE 125 COMMITTEE

The Celebrate 125 Committee met recently to continue planning for our 2012 celebration event. We discussed several souvenir mementoes that our members and friends will be able to purchase. It is our hope that the items will be available throughout the year and so, can be used as gift items if desired. Final plans on these items will be decided upon at our next meeting on November 17th, at 2:00 pm. at the church.

Also, we will be contacting Dave Busskohl at Allied Tour and Travel in the very near future regarding the proposed Holy Land trip. If you have not already signed up but are interested, please contact Pastor Good within the next few days. We have to give Mr. Busskohl a head count early in November to assure best rates, accommodations, ect… This is a wonderful opportunity to get a “personalized” tour of the Holy Land.

~Adelene Vock, Chairman

Monkey Business Hay Rack Ride 2011

A big thank you goes out

to Greg & Barb

Stukenholtz for all of their help with our day at Mon-key Business!

They provided the tractors,

hay racks, and the bounce house again

this year.

Thanks to Cliff, Kyle and Carrie for

putting on a very

entertaining water balloon

fight!

Thanks to everyone for coming and having a fun

time. We had a great turn

out!

Last, but not least, a BIG

thank you to Mother Nature

for cooperating!

We had a beautiful day!

The Wieckhorst triplets arrived Friday, October 7th, 2011!

Starring: Bryson Michael 5 lbs. 12 oz. 19 1/2 in.

Braellen Myka 5 lbs. 8 oz. 19 1/2 in.

Braxton Michael 5 lbs. 7 oz. 19 1/2 in.

Congratulations to Mike, Brenda, and big brother Mason!

KID’S PAGE

2012 BETHEL UCC NOMINATIONS

CHURCH COUNCIL:

Larry Bando, Norman Brown, Tracy Wieckhorst,

Greg Stukenholtz

Erin Johnson will be filling in for Steve Norris for a 1 yr. term

Sarah Horstman will be President

SPIRITUAL COUNCIL:

Connie Gieseking

BJ Ried

PASTOR-PARISH RELATIONS COUNCIL:

Kristy Sudman

Neal Niebruegge

BORD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:

Robin Sinner

(still need one more person)

DELEGATES, NEBRASKA CONFERENCE:

Rev. Charlene Wozny, Jen Hamilton, Dan Hamilton

*Alternate: Janice Dawson

DELEGATES, HEARTLAND ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE:

Harold Huss, Gladys Huss, Delphine Griepenstroh

*Alternate: Erin Johnson

The Board of Christian Education met on Tuesday, October 4, 2011. Present were Pastor Rodger Good,

Ricki Sinner, Joni Flewelling, and Sarah Bando.

The meeting opened with a devotion from Pastor Rodger.

Minutes from our last meeting were reviewed.

Plans for the Hay rack ride at Monkey Business on Sunday, October 9th were finalized.

First Quarter Attendance Awards will be Sunday, November 6th.

A Christmas Program was decided upon and has been ordered. Sandy Ried has agreed to be the program director

again this year, so a big thank goes out to Sandy for helping us out!

When the nursery was moved downstairs a couple months ago, it was on a trial basis. The feedback we were

getting was that many people were not in favor of that decision. After weighing out the pro’s and con’s, we de-

cided that it was best to move it back upstairs. Christine Parkin-Luther has agreed to share her room, so we

thank her for that. The changing table has been moved into the women’s restroom permanently.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah Bando

Lillian Jane Sinner was baptized on Sunday, October 9th.

Congratulations to the Sinner family!

Board of Christian Education

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NEBRASKA CITY, NE

Bethel United Church of Christ

2400 Central Avenue

Nebraska City, NE 68410

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Scheduled to serve November 2011 LAY LEADERS Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Jake Sinner Sandy Ried Bill Carroll Cliff Stukenholtz

GREETERS Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Georgia Teten Terri Stukenholtz Horstman Family Janice Dawson Laurene Bando USHERS Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Cliff/George Stukenholtz Cliff/George Stukenholtz Marilyn Weible Marilyn Weible Bill/John Carroll Bill/John Carroll Donna Weible Donna Weible SOUND SYSTEM Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Harold Huss Harold Huss Stephen Luther Stephen Luther

ACOLYTES Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Lauryn Hawkins Noah Hamilton Dylan Holman Quintin Holman Katherine Luther Christian Tietz Benjamin DeVorss Mason Hamilton NURSERY ATTENDANT Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Jamie Horstman Tracy Wieckhorst Julia Francis Brenda Rayhel NOVEMBER COOKIE FELLOWSHIP Harold & Gladys Huss

Sunday

Worship

10:30 am