The Methodist

A Publication of The Seward United Methodist Church

1400 North 5th Street Seward, NE 68434

Church Office: (402) 643-4156

Sun Nov 1 Caring Ministry 6:30PM - Parlor

Mon Nov 2 Nurture Comm 7:00PM - Parlor

Tues Nov 3 S/PPRC 7:00 PM - Parlor

Wed Nov 4 Witness Comm 5:30PM - Parlor

Mon Nov 16 Trustees Comm 7:00PM - Parlor

Tues Nov 17 BBCDC Board 6:00PM - Parlor

Tues Nov 17 Worship Comm 7:00PM - Library

Tues Nov 17 M&O Comm 7:00PM - FH

Wed Nov 18 Bldg Impr Comm 7:00PM - Parlor

Thur Nov 19 Finance Comm 7:00PM - Library

Please join us for

fellowship following

both services.

Sunday

November 8th

4:00 PM

Thanksgiving Services

Sunday, November 22nd, 2015

8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

You are invited to bring canned goods as an offering for Food Net.

The food will be brought up and placed in front of the altar during the offering.

Beginning November 1st, Pastor Dale will be preaching a series of four sermons on the book of Ruth. Ruth is a rich source of instruction and inspiration for faithful people everywhere. The four themes are Being Faithful, Being Responsible, Being Obedient and Being Honorable.

In Christ’s service,

Pastor Dale Lambert

Dear friends, It has been a blessing to serve the Seward United Methodist Church since July 2012. Your love for the church, commitment to the mission to the church, and energy for ministry are remarkable. You are an inspiration to me and to others. The Seward UMC has made great strides toward living up to its potential during the last two years. There is new vigor in many areas of the church, which gives me great hope! Many people are looking to the future and are getting involved in both long-standing and new ministries. It is now time to begin some long-range planning to carry the church into the future. I firmly believe that in order to create a long-range vision, plan for its implementation, and fulfill that vision, the one who leads the planning needs to serve the church long enough to implement those plans. I cannot commit to serving the church long enough to see that commitment through to completion.

I committed to serving Seward UMC as long as I had the energy, passion, and ability. Since I do not believe I can commit to that lengthy process, I announced to the Administrative Council on Oct. 25 that I will retire on July 1, 2016. It is a decision I made after much consideration and prayer. To commit to only a portion of that process, or to lack the energy to follow through, would be a disservice to the church I love.

My goal for the next eight months is to do everything I can to make the transition a smooth one, so that both your new pastor and the church can succeed in their ministries. Both Bishop Jones and our District Superintendent, Bill Ritter, understand the importance of this church. They are committed to making an appropriate appointment, and help in the transition in any way they can. Please keep them in your prayers as they discern whom to appoint as your new pastor.

The Methodist Mailbox

Worship Schedule

8:30 a.m. Blended Worship 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Youth Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Praise Worship

PRAYERS AND CONCERNS

Please remember those who were lifted up in prayer for

on-going health concerns. Prayers For:

Greg Canning who is in Madonna for rehabilitation following se-vere burns

Jim Woolsey & Roger Hans recovering from hip replacement sur-gery

Maynard Steckly for continued strength and healing while re-covering at home

David Hurley as he continues to recover from a football injury resulting in removal of his spleen.

Jerry Smith (Nancy Imig's husband) for healing from an Achilles tendon injury

Watch us on Cable 13

at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday

and/or

10:00 a.m. Thursday mornings.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND

5:00 PM

NOVEMBER

BOXED MEALS

PANTRY COLLECTION

The Methodist Mailbox

Monday Nights - Bible Study

@ 7:30 p.m. Library Cliff Lowell - Leader

Thursday Mornings - Bible Study

@9:30 a.m. Parlor Pastor Dale - Leader

Thursday Evening - Bible Study

@6:45 p.m. Parlor Disciple Fast Track

LaQuita McKibbin - Leader

Sunday Mornings - Sunday School @ 9:30 a.m. - Library "The Case for Faith" Cliff Lowell - Leader

Sunday Mornings - Sunday School

@9:30 a.m. - Parlor "Facing Your Giants"

Dana Galusha - Leader

An orientation meeting will be November 5th at 6:45 PM in the parlor. Study manuals will be handed out. Classes will begin November 12th at 6:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Following November 12th, we will plan to be in the parlor.

More volunteers would be welcome to the

morning shift of 9:30-10:00 AM or the

afternoon of 5:00 - 6:00 PM. There is also a

1:00 PM pickup for anyone who would be

willing to do that on Thursdays. Call Don

or LaQuita McKibbin.

Monthly Budget: $30,134

September 2015

Donations: $26,235

Expenses: $26,724

Donations: General Operating & Mission Shares

Expenses: Budgeted Items Only

The Methodist Mailbox

As you may have noticed, we have new concrete in our fire lane and walkways. PLEASE NO ice or snowmelt of any kind is to be placed on any of the concrete at our Church until after November 2016. Use of any ice or snowmelt will void our new concrete warranty. If needed, we are to use sand for ice or snowmelt purposes. Thank you. - Your SUMC Trustees.

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to everyone who expressed appreciation for my ministry during Pastor Appreciation Month! I am grateful for the cards, comments and other expressions of appreciation. - Pastor Dale

November 29th is United Methodist Student Day. As one of the six special Sundays of the United Methodist Church, there will be a special offering to support students at United Methodist colleges and universities. One hundred percent of your gift will go to scholarships to help United Methodist students achieve their educational goals.

REMEMBERING THE SAINTS

The following persons will be remembered during worship on Sunday, November 1st. Howard Reynolds

Donna Mae McMillan Rae Neutzman

Richard "Dick" Wehrs Terry Chapman

Bill Briggs Byron "Doc" Winters

T.J. Fraser Richard "Dick" Besse November 1 is All Saints Sunday. It is an

opportunity for the Christian Church to remember its Saints. As part of worship, we will remember those people associated with our congregation who died since last year's celebration of Saints.

Nov 4th UMW Unit Meeting 1:30 PM - Fellowship Hall

12th Evening UMW 7:00 PM - Fellowship Hall

18th UMW Book Group 5:30 PM-Maxine Moore's

18th UMW Leadership Team Meeting 3:30 PM - Parlor

Methodist Church Annual Bazaar

Saturday, November 14, 2015 Coffee Shop Opens 8:30 am

Kountry Kitchen and Gift Shop open 9:00 am

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

SUMC MEMBERS OF ALL AGES are invited to contribute to the success

of this year's CHURCH ANNUAL BAZAAR?

Bright yellow BAZAAR INFORMATION SHEETS are now available with

dates, times and instructions for donating to the bazaar.

If you are interested in volunteering...or have questions, you should

contact: Holly Matzke (Kountry Kitchen), Jeannie Jeary (Coffee Shop),

Jeanne Gee, Nancy Eitel, or Connie Doehring (Gift Shop)

A VERY SPECIAL DOLL WILL BE FORE SALE in the Bazaar Gift shop

this year.

Ashleigh is a beautiful 18" collectible-quality doll made exclusively for Pottery Barn Kids by Gotz, a doll manufacturer

that originated in Germany. This doll is similar to the American Girl dolls.

Ashleigh's hair may be washed, styled and brushed.

Her arms and legs can be moved up and down.

The doll is being donated to the SUMC 2015 Annual Bazaar by Mary Brown, a relative of Holly Matzke.

Ashleigh has never been removed from her box.

Her original and Bazaar price is $99.00

OUR SILENT AUCTION ITEM this year

will be an EXCEPTIONALLY CRAFTED

QUILT (84" wide x 111' length) WITH

AN EQUALLY CHARMING HISTORY.

(Holy Scrappers: Jean Algya, Marty

Bender, Roz Fritz, MaryLue Gahm, Connie

Kamprath, Joyce Paulsen, Sarah Shively,

Deb Sovey, Sharon Wendelin & Rosie

Westerhoff)

December 2, 2015

UWM CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

11:30 AM * Fellowship Hall

SHS Swing Choir & BBCDC

Singers will entertain

"Reservation Cards" will be available

The Methodist Mailbox

Jim

& B

eth

Wools

ey

Chad &

Kie

rste

n H

ill

& C

ooper

WELCOME TO PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES!!! - JUST ASK POLICY

1. If you need a ride to the sanctuary from the east door - JUST ASK the greeter there for a wheel chair ride to the sanctuary.

2. If you have difficulty walking to the restroom and back during the service, JUST ASK an usher to wheel you to the restroom and back.

In order to accomplish the above policy, there will now be a greeter at the east door with a wheelchair and that greeter will take the wheelchair from the closet and then move it to the Welcome Center for the church service. An usher will now be available to wheel people to the restroom. The south usher will be available to greet people coming in the south door. The other greeter will welcome people in the vicinity of the west door. THANK YOU - Worship Committee

UMW Christmas luncheon The united Methodist women invite you to join them for their annual Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 in the

fellowship hall at 11:30 am Reservations by November 25th

Rsvp jean kinnamon 402-643-4172

UMW Lunch Reservations

This year tickets will not be sold for our annual Christmas lunch. Donations will be accepted the day of the luncheon. However, we do need an accurate count of the number of guests as seating is limited. You may reserve your seat after church services on November 15th and 22nd or by calling Jean Kinnamon at 402-643-4172 by November 25th.

The Methodist Mailbox

United Methodist Women (Continued)

The new November/December copies of the Upper Room and Alive

Now are available in the rack by the west

entrance. Also available in large print.

HELP YOURSELF

Christmas music has started in Sunday School.

Children will learn the songs and receive speaking

lines in Sunday School classes The service will be

held Sunday, December 13th, during the 10:30 AM

church service. If you have a child that is in Kinder-

garten through eighth grade, bring them to Sunday

School during the 9:30 hour so they can experience

and be included in such a wonderful time of year!!

Our ‘dress rehearsal’ will be Saturday morning,

December 12th from 10:00-Noon.

POINSETTIAS

If you would like to pro-vide a poinsettia in memory or honor of a loved one for Christmas, please bring them to the church any time after December 13th. Please provide information to the church office regarding who it is in honor/memory of, and who has provided it.

POINSETTIAS

The time is here to start thinking about Christmas Poinsettias.

Please turn this form into the office by Monday, December

14th, 2015. You can send this form to our office at 1400 North

5th. Poinsettias need to be in the kitchen by noon, Saturday, December 19th.

Name________________________________________________

Number of Poinsettias___________________________________

In Memory of__________________________________________

In Honor of___________________________________________

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION MUSIC SUNDAY

Enjoy all of our music groups coming togeth-

er for a wonderful Christmas Worship!

December 20, 2015 8:30 and 10:30 Services

Fellowship time following both services

I Said a

Prayer for

You at

Christmas I said a special

prayer for you, as

Christmas Day

drew near, that

God would bless

you richly

throughout the

coming year.

I did not ask for

Him to send you

gifts of worldly

wealth; but prayed

that HE would fill

your life with peace

and joy and health.

Children’s

Christmas Program

December 13th , 2015

10:30 service

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

The Great Plains Conference offers paid internships in the summer for young adults interested in several ministry areas. These internships typically begin in late May and go until early August. Ministry areas with internships are pastoral leadership, church planting, Hispanic ministry, youth ministry, Vacation Bible School leader and Micah Corp, which educates the public on mercy and justice matters. Applications are being accepted now for internships for the summer of 2016.

Learn more about the internship program at greatplainsumc.org/internships. Fill out an application at greatplainsumc.org/internapply.

Each year the Mission & Outreach committee choses a cause to support, this year we have chosen the Lydia Patterson Institute. The United Methodist Great Plains Conference has set the goal to raise $100,000 for their capital campaign for new classrooms. We encourage everyone to donate and learn more about their mission

by listening to the announcements at the beginning of the church services in November or by visiting their website (www.lydiapattersoninstitute.org)

As of January 2016, all table

and chair borrowing will be managed by

SUMC Office Administrator, Sandy

Ruether. If you need to borrow tables (7) and

the metal chairs (17), please contact Sandy at 402-643-4156

or umcseward@gmail.com. You will be asked for the borrow

date, return date and your phone number and will need to

notify Sandy when the items are returned.

A Big Thank you to our wonderful team of bulletin and newsletter folders. You are truly appreciated: Marty Bender, Nancy Eitel, Dorothy Duffek, Jewel Grasmick, Maxine Moore, Elaine Nielsen and Virginia Fraser. Thank you. Thank you!

We would like to thank EVERYONE for their prayers, food, gift cards, money and kind words during David's accident, surgery and recovery. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for everything that was done for us during this trying time. David is on the mend and is now back in school full time. God was truly watching over him during this entire time. We are looking forward to seeing what God has planned for David's life. Love, The Hurley Family (Kerry, Christopher, David, Teanna, John, Rochelle, Jawaun and Denzel)

The Methodist Mailbox

Please email it to umcseward@gmail.com

If you know of Someone who is in need of a card or visit, please

contact Cindy Butzke or Bruce Dickinson

The Methodist Mailbox

Check us out on our FaceBook page.

Bbcdc.seward@gmail.com Lots of pictures of the kids and

activities!

Diagram for our new Outdoor Classroom Area. We are

excited to get this finished and for the children to start

having some amazing times in their new area.

Bright Beginnings Phone#

402-643-2141

~DECEMBER~ MAILBOX

DEADLINE

Wednesday, November 18th

Submit News by NOON

Drop off your article at the office,

call Sandy at the church office OR

e-mail articles to umcseward@gmail.com

Carole Briggs

402-643-2304

Janet Matzke

402-643-3020

Church Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. M-F

Phone: 402-643-4156

Fax: 402-643-4159

Email: umcseward@gmail.com

Website: www.sewardumc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sewardunitedmethodist BBCDC: 402-643-2141

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Seward, NE

Permit No. 62

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

Label

NOVEMBER Issue

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

UMW Local Church Activities Chair persons for NOVEMBER are: