August 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

Carol Gard

funeral luncheon

6:00pm Worship

4

10:30m Worship

5

9am-4pm WIC

6 7

7:30pm Trustees

8

7:00pm Bible 101

9 10

6:00pm Worship

11

10:30m Worship

2:00pm Survivor’s

Group

12 13 14

9:00am Sew ‘N

Sews

15 16 17

6:00pm Worship

6:45pm Potluck

Dinner

18

10:30m Worship

(Blessing of the

Backpacks)

Brunch following

worship

19 20

NEWSLETTER

DEADLINE

21

9:30am UMW

7:15pm SPPRC

8:00pm Ad

Council

22

5:30pm-8:30pm

School Event

7:00pm Bible 101

23 24

6:00pm Worship

25

10:30m Worship

26 27

12pm-6pm

Blood Drive

28

9:00am Sew ‘N

Sews

6:15pm Parent/Student

Confirmation

meeting

29 30 31

6:00pm Worship

DATE USHERS SCRIPTURE

READER CHILDREN'S

TIME AUDIO COUNTER

4-Aug

Glenn & Nancy Kollars Jack Shuler Pastor Mike Kegley Dan Sell

Jack & Helen Shuler

11-Aug

Jeff & Janee Montgomery

Tara Tracy Kathy Pierce Holcomb Kim Wadkins

Jason & Tara Tracy

18-Aug

Glenn & Nancy Kollars Nancy Kollars Carol McGregor Christensen Gina Christensen

Jack & Helen Shuler

25-Aug

Jeff & Janee Montgomery

Janee Montgomery

Michele Kucera Kucera Jodi Sell

Jason & Tara Tracy

01– Melanie Murr 12– Duncan McGregor 21– Pat Fox

01– Christina Davis 12– Jodi Sell 21– Austin Godberson

02– Dick Summers 13– Carol Owen 23– Joyce Piehl

03– Matt Smallcomb 13– Amy Holcomb 23– Stephanie Johannsen

03– Myles Rasmussen 13– Nicole Treadway 24– Kreyton Rockefeller

04– Thaddeus Rachow 14– Janee Montgomery 25– Pat Hurlbut

05– Cory Smallcomb 15– Gwen Campbell 26– Miranda Smith

05– Whitney Johansen 15– Jamie Dolan 26– Chase Smith

05– Alexis Rhone 15– Jessica Purcella 28– Laci Bentley

06– Walter Winchester 15– Abbie Miller 28– Tayven Kier

07– Melissa Schneider 16– Marlene Kriha 29– Monica Saalfeld

09– Melody Rockefeller 16– Margene Rose 29– John Kucera

09– Chilene Black 19– Chris Kegley 31– Bobbie Durand

10– Esther Goossen 20– Larissa Tomlinson

10– Shelby Hawks 20– Cobie Kier

Gearing up to get back on a school-year routine Summer always seems crazy, but this year was

busier than most. With the parsonage project, foster

care, and flood relief, I’ve felt pulled in too many

directions the last few months. I’m looking forward to

the busyness of the school-year simply because there

will be some routine to it!

As I start my fifth year of ministry at Faith United, I

am thankful for the same great people who make this

ministry work, and still feel amazed by how different

the church is today. What’s next for Faith United and

me in ministry? What is the next vision God has for

us, or ministry we will strive to revitalize?

I have jokingly told people that my only priority in

August is sleep! While that’s not really true, I feel like

both personally and in the community of faith we are longing for a season of rest and routine. I

certainly don’t want ministry to stop, but rather than focusing on “new” I feel led to help our church

focus on making the ministry we already have healthy. Here are some of the “routine” things I’m

looking forward to this fall:

Confirmation – If we have enough interested youth, this will be our fifth year in a row with a

Confirmation class. As a former youth minster, this is one of the most energizing parts of my

ministry. I love spending time with these youth and watching their faith grow. While no two classes

are the same, it’s incredible to see the different “lightbulbs” come on. But, I’m also aware after doing

this 4 times before, it’s too easy for this to be routine. I don’t want to go through the motions on

something as important as leading youth to “own” their faith.

Pantry – Such a great group of volunteers mean I’ve had very little “hands on” pantry work in the

last 6-9 months. While these great leaders have shown they don’t “need” me to volunteer there, I’m

excited about being able to walk over and interact with people from time to time.

Visitations/Fellowship – My level of exhaustion means I’ve been terrible about getting out to visit

people. Being in town may help me do this more regularly too. But I’m just as excited about having

the chance to have people over to the parsonage. Whether it’s a meal or just playing cards together,

it’s been a challenge to have people from the church over. Sometimes even the 15 miles between

homes is hard to overcome. Now many of those people will be within 15 blocks!

Worship planning – OK maybe that sounds weird, but one of the pieces of the ministry I feel I have

neglected recently is prayerfully planning meaningful worship. While I hope the worship services

we’ve had were still meaningful to people, I am sure God has some great ideas for worship that I’ve

been too busy to even hear about. Worship is an essential part of our faith. And while I know the

busyness of life means people may not be able to come as often as we’d like, I want to make the

experience meaningful and beneficial.

So, as we get ready to jump into the busy routine of fall, I encourage you to take a few minutes

to reflect on what God may be calling you to focus in on. It doesn’t have to be anything new, it may

simply be reviving part of that routine that God intends to be life-giving for you, me, and those in this

community and world we are called to serve.

Next potluck Aug. 17th

Join us for a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing at

the Saturday Night Potluck on August 17th. We know

everyone is busy with summer winding down and school

gearing up, but we don’t want to miss the chance to get

together! Everyone is welcome even if you don’t usually attend Saturday night worship.

Sliced brisket, drinks and table service will be provided and we encourage everyone to bring a

side dish or dessert to share. You can join us for worship at 6pm or just come for the meal at

approximately 6:45pm. It’s a great opportunity to connect with one another in a smaller setting.

Next grant applications due Sept. 1 Any individual or ministry group associated with Faith United Church is

eligible to apply for a grant from our Endowment Program every spring and

fall. Grant requests can be made by any group or ministry associated with

the church. A committee, such as Trustees, could apply for a grant to

address a particular need or project. Or, a ministry group, such as the

youth program, could apply for any needs within their ministry. A short

grant application must be filled out and returned to the office BY the

deadline each spring and fall. The Endowment Committee will then review

the applications and award funds based on need and availability of funds.

Awards could be of any size from $100 up to $1,000 depending on funds

available. The next deadline for consideration is September 1st. Contact the

Church office or Pastor Mike to get an application.

If you are looking for a way to make a lasting gift to Faith United, talk to Pastor Mike about

establishing a Named Endowment!

Confirmation program information night set

We hope to offer a Confirmation class again this school-year on

Wednesday nights. Confirmation is a school-year program for students

entering 8th grade and up who would like to learn more about “owning”

their own faith. Even high-school age students who may not have had the

opportunity to experience Confirmation are welcome.

An informational meeting for parents and students will be on

Wednesday August 28th at 6:15. Pizza and drinks will be provided so

families don’t have to worry about supper ahead of time. At the meeting

we will discuss the schedule, the expectations and some of the special events we will have offered

throughout the year. Class will officially begin in September. But if you are thinking about

Confirmation we ask you to contact Pastor Mike or the office ASAP so we can see if there is

enough interest to make it work!

If you have questions, or can’t make the meeting but still want to be involved, please feel free to

contact Pastor Mike at mevans@greatplainsumc.org or his cell at 308-440-2686. We need at least

4 students committed to assure we have the class this year!

Aug. 18 worship includes Backpacks, Blessings & Brunch Join us for a special morning of worship and activities

as we move back into the school-year routine. On

Sunday, August 18th, we will have our blessing of the

backpacks for all students and a small back to school gift

from the church. After worship the children’s ministry will

serve a brunch meal for our fellowship time. If you would

like to provide something for the meal, contact Amy

Holcomb or Carol McGregor. Mark your calendar and

invite your neighbors!

Wednesday Youth Programming returns on Sept. 4 Faith United’s Wednesday night programming will resume on September 5

th for youth. The

program is open to all youth in 5th through 12

th grades. Depending on the number of youth, we may

split into groups based on age to help everyone learn and enjoy the ministry. Youth group will run

from 7:30-8:30 each Wednesday and will usually

include a game, snack, and lesson led by one of the

sponsors or students. This is also the best way to get

involved in other youth ministry happenings including

special trips and events throughout the year. For

more information, please contact Pastor Mike or talk

to the youth leaders Brandon Jacques or Wendy

Evans.

Calling All Parents! Would you consider helping

with youth group once a month? We have volunteers

who can help with organizing the lessons most

weeks, but with as many as 20 youth in some

age-groups some weeks, we need extra volunteers. While we’d love help anytime, even being part

of a once a month rotation could make this year much better for everyone. Contact Pastor Mike,

Brandon, or Wendy to ask questions or volunteer.

Kids Sunday School returns Sept. 8 with new format Children’s and Youth Sunday School for the school year will

start back up on Sunday, September 8th. Children from preschool

through 5th grade are welcome to attend the kid’s class. With the

busyness of life, Sunday school attendance has dwindled. We want

to offer this important ministry, but are looking for suggestions on

how to rebuild our numbers. There will also be a youth class for

grades 6-12, and two adult classes for parents to choose from if

they would like. Sunday school runs from 9:15-10:15 each week.

We are also seeking a couple people to help substitute with the kids when needed, and a couple

more people to rotate leading the youth class. If you are interested in helping teach please contact

Amy Holcomb or Carol McGregor.

Teacher & staff appreciation banquet almost here The annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Supper is coming up

soon!! Arrangements are still being made with the school

administration to find the best date, and we will share that

information in the bulletin and on Facebook as soon as we know.

Every year Faith United invites all the Gibbon Public School

teachers, staff, and their families to join us for a banquet honoring

them and thanking them for shaping these young minds. Everyone is

invited and encouraged to attend. Your presence is one of the ways

you can thank these amazing educators. It will be an evening of

good food and fellowship. Come and catch up with the staff you've

known for years and meet new staff members.

Faith United has a reputation as a church that often works with

the schools to answer the needs of the students and staff. Please

come and enjoy the friendships and strengthen the bond that we have established. Let's all represent

Faith United and all that we do in conjunction with Gibbon Public Schools.

If you have questions about the event, please call the office or Linda Keiper at 308-468-5354 or

308-238-1351. Offering an event like this takes lots of help. If you can help with the banquet by

cooking, setup, cleanup, or by providing any gifts for the teachers, coordinate with Linda Keiper!

School-Supply Drive meets need for many students

Once again Faith United is collecting school supplies to

help Gibbon Public School students succeed. Unfortunately,

there are some students whose families cannot afford all the

necessary supplies. There are lists of specific items that each

student needs at our display in the Fellowship Hall, but some

of the most needed items are:

We ask that everyone please bring the supplies to the Church by noon on August 7, 2018. That is

just one week before classes start and gives teachers and administrators a chance to get these

supplies to the students that need them most.

Backpacks Crayons

Pencils Pens

Expo Dry Erase Markers Markers

Colored Pencils Pocket Folders

Glue Sticks Wide Ruled Notebooks

Pencil Boxes and Bags Erasers

Tissues Disinfecting Wipes

Pastoral office hours resume, change in August Pastor Mike will resume regular office house starting August 5

th. While there are trips and

commitments that may change this schedule, he will do his best to be at the church during these

times, and communicate through the bulletin anytime he knows his schedule will change. We know

these hours may not fit everyone’s schedule, so we encourage you to contact Pastor Mike and

arrange an appointment to meet anytime you need as well. For August,

and possibly the whole fall, his office hours will be:

Monday 9-noon,

Tuesday 9-noon,

Wednesday 8:30-11.

Facebook, online giving keep us connected and thriving Life gets busy and we know people can’t always make it to worship

as often as they’d like. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected.

Each Sunday’s worship service is shown live, and the recordings

saved on our Facebook page. So, even if you can’t worship in person,

you can connect with God and your church family here. The

conference is also asking us to “track” online

viewership, so if you watch online, make sure to leave a comment so you

can be counted as well!

There are also ways to contribute financially when you’re gone. The

ministry of the church never stops. Most banks will allow you to set up giving

through your online banking. Our church website now has a secure giving

portal powered by Vanco. In just a couple minutes you can create an

account and give a one-time gift or recurring gift from either your checking account or credit card.

There’s also a smartphone app called Give Plus. Just download the app, search for our church by

zip code, and then you can give from your phone anytime you want!

Elaine Burr has moved to the VA Home Elaine Burr has moved to the Central Nebraska Veteran's Home in

Kearney. She is in Delta Neighborhood in Home 1. I know she would

LOVE to see familiar faces. She may not recall your name right away

but she still loves to visit. Each neighborhood has it's own parking lot.

Delta is on the north east side. There is a visitor sign in book when

you walk in on the sofa console. Once you sign-in, ask the nursing

staff to let you in to the Home 1 door.

Blessings ~~

Charlotte

Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer

blanket for Elliot. We’ve been getting a lot of use

out of it during tummy time! We’re so blessed to

have such an amazing church family.

The Leisingers

Larry and I want to thank you for the Covered In

Prayers throw that you gave to Larry. We knew

that it was God’s love pouring down on Larry and

we are so touched by your kindness. Thank you

again.

Larry & Kaydene Fluckey

Thank you so much for my fuzzy graduation

blanket. This cozy blanket will come in handy as

I go off to college. Thank you for all the support

over the years.

Sincerely,

Jocelyn Shea

As the communicator between our house and the

crew of volunteers, there aren’t enough words of

gratitude that I could fit on this card to adequately

capture the gift you gave to us. From all of the

Neujahrs, thank you from the bottom of our

hearts for helping us. What the crew of

volunteers accomplished in the course of a long

morning would have taken us weeks if not

months. Papa’s call to me after he couldn’t keep

up with the water is a voice that will forever haunt

my memory. The help of this crew turned that

frustration into humility at the generosity of

others. From the bottom of our hearts, Thank

you!

The Neujahrs

GIBBON BLOOD DRIVE

August 27th

12pm-6pm

Gibbon Faith United Church