The MethodistThe MethodistThe Methodist A Publication of The Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5th Street � Seward, NE � 68434 October 2011 � Vol. 7, Issue 10

Who did God create you to

be?

Womens’ Workshop Saturday November 5th

9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tickets on sale today!

$5 Admission Includes:

Seminar, Materials, Lunch

Childcare available with advance notice

Presented by Triple Threat Ministries,

LLC. of Denver, CO.

Monday, October 31 from 5-7 p.m.

Treats

Crafts

Face

Painting

Hot Drinks

Cookies

Heifer International has been selected by your Mis-

sion-Outreach Committee as our next church-wide

mission ministry focus. Heifer International is a

nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated

since 1944 to ending hunger and poverty while car-

ing for the earth. Heifer currently provides live-

stock, trees, seeds, and training in environmentally

sound agriculture to families in more than 125

countries around the world. HI ministers to fami-

lies by helping children as they receive life-saving nutrition from milk, eggs, or meat provided

by animals, they enable women and families to become economically independent, they allow

families to restore land, plant trees, and return nutrients to the soil, they help develop stronger

communities as members work together, and help to restore dignity as animals are passed on to

others who are in need. Prayerfully consider contributing during the holiday season to Heifer

International and join together with others who seek real solutions to world hunger and despair.

Watch for more informa-

tion in November. Learn

more yourself at

www.heifer.org. Contact

Jeanne Gee or Sharon

Clowser if you would like

to help kick-off this mis-

sion-ministry!

Missions Sneak Peek

Heartwarming Worship 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

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.

The next Praise Worship

Service is October 16,

2011 at the 10:30 service.

Risk Taking Missions BLUE VALLEY COMMUNITY

ACTION PANTRY

Collection item for October 2

Canned Meats

Especially

tuna and

chicken!

Family Night

November 8, 2012

SUMC Fellowship Hall

5:45--6:30 p.m. Free Meal

6:30-7:30 p.m. Parent

Presentation

“Emotional Coaching” Come and learn how to become

comfortable with

young childrens’

emotions. Use

coaching style

interaction. Help

children to man-

age emotions.

ONE DAY SCHOOL OF MISSION

October 5, (no charge)

9:30-2:30 (lunch provided)

Oct. 5 UMW unit meeting cancelled

Jeanne Gee 643-6878

Jeannie Jeary 643-2344

UMW NEBRASKA CONFERENCE

York Nebraska

October 14, 5:45 p.m.

Jeanne Gee 643-6878

Jeannie Jeary 643-2344

CROP WALK

FOR HUNGER

Meet at the

Seward Civic

Center , October

9 at 1:00 p.m. for the annual CROP

walk for Hunger. CROP supports

the hunger relief work of church

world service. Which group will

have the most participants????

and….win a PIZZA PARTY????

Dear SUMC, Thank you

very much for the two boxes of school

supplies. It will all be put to good use!

Thanks! Seward High School

Risk Taking Missions WINTER COATS AND

JACKETS

Save those winter coats and jackets

you may have outgrown!!

The Mission-Outreach Committee

will again be collecting gently-used

winter coats and jackets for chil-

dren, teens and adults. Collection

will be through December so the

clothing can be available to Blue

Valley for distribution all winter.

We are also contacting schools to

determine whether they have a need

for warm winter coats and jackets.

As you are switching seasonal

clothes, remember to help support

this mission!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

For over 50 years we have had a bazaar in this

church. Though sponsored by the United Meth-

odist 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 announce-

ments. For questions call Virginia Cattle at

402-643-4155.

October is here and that means it will soon be time to “spookify” our trunks. Our Third Annual Trunk and Treat event is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 31st from 5-7 p.m. You will be hearing more during announce-ments at church about the many opportunities you have to help make this year’s event as much of a

success as it has been in previous years. From helping in the kitchen to hosting a trunk or baking cookies, there will be no shortage of chances for you to pitch in and help your church with this great community outreach event.

Also coming up is the CROP Walk. CROP raises money to fight hunger both locally and worldwide. This year the CROP Walk be held on Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m. beginning at the civic center. You can hear more about how to be involved in this ministry on Sunday morning as well.

Thinking ahead to next month—ladies—you will not want to miss the fantastic opportu-nity you will have on Saturday, Nov. 5th. Triple Threat Ministries will be here to lead a workshop called “The Woman in the Mirror.” You will be encouraged and enabled to be the person that God created you to be. Tickets are just $5 per person and are on sale now. Admission includes the workshop, your materials, and lunch. Child care will be available with ad-vance notice. You will not want to be left out of this tremendous opportunity to have your faith enriched by Min. Val Jackson and Andriette Fields of Denver, CO.

JOYS AND CONCERNS Please remember those with on-going health concerns through the month of September: Jim Henry, Cletus Bender, Connie Atkinson, cancer is progressing, Dean Goings, diag-nosed with lung cancer, George Joy, (brother of Barb Joy di-agnosed with cancer.)

Please call the church office if you have a prayer request. (643-4156) Prayer requests will be left on for two weeks and added to the monthly newsletter.

We extend our welcome to our new members, Zach Pilfold and Val Pilfold.

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism: Zach Pilfold Join together in prayers for the family and friends of Pete Yost, who passed away September 21, 2011. Services were held Monday, September 26, 2011.

The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see

mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weak-mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weak-mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weak-mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weak-

ness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, ness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, ness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, ness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge,

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty

things which thou knowest not!”” (J. Hudson Taylor) things which thou knowest not!”” (J. Hudson Taylor) things which thou knowest not!”” (J. Hudson Taylor) things which thou knowest not!”” (J. Hudson Taylor)

FAMILY FUN with JUST4THEFUNOFIT!

October 9, 2011

FUN begins at 4:00 PM

Vernon and Sue Curtis’ Farm

1125-252nd in Milford

Hayrack Rides and Roasted Marshmallows!!! Let’s celebrate the harvest season with the chil-

dren!!! Families are invited this month to have fun

together down on the farm. Bring an appetizer to

share, your favorite beverages and comfortable

chairs!!! Please RSVP at the Welcome Center or on the Events Board.

For additional information, contact Jeanne Gee(#402-643-6878)

Gracious Generosity

Current economic conditions have challenged our Foundation also. The Foundation’s directors are guarded by “the primary objective of preserving the principal and earnings of the Foun-dation’s Funds . . . .” As of the Foundation’s August, 2011, meeting, the Foundation’s assets (valued in excess of $1.2 million) are invested as follows: Certificates of Deposit: 63.0% Mutual Funds: 17.6%

Stocks: 12.4% Money Markets 6.2% The Foundation’s certificates of deposit (13 total) had been earning yields averag-ing close to 4%. Two certificates were renewed in September at rates below 1%. It is clear there is a need to increase contributions to the Foundation, as increases in value from investment earnings look problematic at best this year. The Foundation Board reviewed the Foundation by-laws recently, and will be rec-ommending several changes, including the creation of an investment committee, annual independent reviews of the Foundation’s books and periodic independent audits.

SEPTEMBER - BY THE NUMBERS Offering Received through September: General Funds:$21,649.17

Trustees Funds: $18,485.94

Average Worship Attendance for September: 252

Mission Share/Apportionments remaining in 2011: $12,341.55

Bright Beginnings is enjoying this fall season!

We are learning about scarecrows and friends!

We have great volunteers of all ages that come

in and help us. Above, Sam and Elizabeth are

helping Ella put flowers on her hat. We have

enjoyed playing outside in the nice weather with

our friends also. We are getting excited about

the upcoming month and the fun activities that

we will do, such and dressing up and having a Halloween parade down the church

halls. Our parade will be Oct. 27 at 10:00 a.m if anyone wants to join us or watch us.

Radical Hospitality

Bright Beginnings

Welcome our New Members

Zach Pilford And

Val Pilford

Sacrament of Baptism

Zach Pilford

Vital Faith Formation

Ladies - Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

We will have the very special opportunity to enjoy “THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR” - a

workshop led by Valerie Jackson and Andriette Fields - Co-Founders of Triple Threat

Ministries from Denver, Colorado.

Their mission and passion is to

educate, equip and

empower women and young ladies

to honor their divine voices and

identities, dream big and live their

lives beyond barriers!!!.

Tickets are on sale now!

Our time together will include a

fantastic workshop and lunch.

Childcare will be available with advance notice.

Andriette Val

Did you know that there

is a Scrapbooking Bible

study out there just wait-

ing for mothers and

daughters? Please call

the church office if you

are interested. 643-4156.

Miscellaneous During the month of September members of our church had the oppor-

tunity to come to one of 4 listening sessions hosted by the Building

Improvement Committee to hear the ideas that have already surfaced

about our building and to share their own thoughts and ideas, and ask

questions.

One thing that was heard more than once is the persistent rumor that

we are planning to buy land and build elsewhere—this is simply not

the case. The purchase of land has never been discussed. Our focus

remains on gathering information about possibilities for our existing building. So—if you

hear this untruth please do your church a favor and help to stop it.

The next step is to visit with the Board of Trustees to get their input regarding the pressing

needs of our church and try to develop a plan to propose as we move forward with God’s

help.

Seward United Methodist Church

Environmental Stewardship Statement

Monthly tips on how we can continue to meet our stewardship

responsibilities toward god’s creation.

♦ Utilize the projection screen for announcements and other items

that would formerly have been included in the bulletin.

♦ Reduce the amount of paper needed for committee meetings by

sending reports, minutes, and agendas by email and by printing

on both sides of each sheet of paper.

♦ Recycle aluminum cans, glass, and plastic used in the church

and daycare.

JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION Alex and Monica Sommerfeld

Because all of you, our church family have shared in our journey, we invite you to join us for a time of celebration of our marriage!

Sunday, October 16, 2011 11:30 a.m. (Fellowship time) until 1:30 p.m. Seward United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall Cake, punch, and coffee specialties.

Please join us! NO GIFTS, PLEASE

Alex and Monica

Sign-up sh

eet

at the

Welcome C

enter

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

REMEMBER…Call the Church (643-4156) or Pastor Doug if you are going to be hospital-ized and wish to have the Pastor visit. Due to privacy laws, hospitals cannot disclose information.

NOVEMBER MAILBOX DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER MAILBOX DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER MAILBOX DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER MAILBOX DEADLINE IS Thursday, October 27Thursday, October 27Thursday, October 27Thursday, October 27

Submit your news by Thursday, October 27. You can e-mail articles to the church at sewardumc@windstream.net or call Cindy, office administrator, at 643-4156.

Local Church Activities

Chair persons for October are:

Kay Schroeder (643-4416) Lori Schultz (643-6492)

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