THE BETHEL BEACON ~ JUNE/JULY 2017

Rev. David Butz, Pastor

pastordavidbethelucc@gmail.com

Sunday School @ 9 am Worship time @ 10:00 am

Church Telephone #: (402) 873-6218

Email: betheluccurch1887@gmail.com

Website: www.bethelucchurch.com

Find us on

BETHEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

2400 CENTRAL AVE. NEBRASKA CITY, NE

68410

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

I must admit that writing my bio is the toughest writing that I ever do. That statement probably reflects my theology of being sent to serve as Jesus commanded in the "Great Commission". Being a servant is not about me it is about serving others. So anyways here's a brief bit about myself. I have always loved learning so it might not be a surprise that I have three degrees. My first is a BA in Business Administration. Secondly, I have an associate’s degree in nursing. I'm a registered nurse holding a license in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Finally, I have my Masters of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary. I am also a proud father of two boys my oldest Tyler is 27 and is a police officer in Geneva, Indiana. My youngest Korbin is 25. He is currently taking classes at Drexel University pursuing a Master’s in Laboratory Animal Science. He is then planning to continue his education in veterinary science. I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I enjoy reading, history, biking, being outdoors and hiking. Some of my recent excursions include the Black Hills in South Dakota last November and again the last week in May. I took the train to the Grand Canyon and hiked to the bottom to Phantom Ranch. My goal was the hike from the South rim to the North Rim and back again. My trip was cut short by a train delay in Chicago so I didn't quite make the whole trip. But I do plan to return. I have lived in five different states and have been in all but six states. As I said at the beginning of my bio I love to serve as that is what I believe God has called us all to. I enjoy mission work trips especially plumbing, electrical and I can handle most aspects of construction. Something that a lot of people don't know I do enjoy operating the equipment also. I have used backhoes and skid loader and I do have my class B CDL as a school bus driver. The year I drove school bus I finished in the top 60 in the state of Pennsylvania in the school bus rodeo competition. That gives you a snapshot of who I am or at least what brought me to this stage of my life. Feel free to contact me if you would like to meet for coffee, meal, or just to talk. I look forward to getting to know each other better as we journey

together to do God’s work.

Why not come and introduce yourself during Fireside Chat - Come and join us in the fun and

fellowship on June 24th at 7:00 PM. We will gather around the fire to roast marshmallows, have

hotdogs and enjoy good conversation. Corn hole, ladder toss, horse shoes, volley ball and other

outside games are also possible. Why not invite a friend, neighbor, or even a stranger?

~Pastor David

IN OUR PRAYERS IN MAY :

Justin Williams, Betty Blankenship, Logan Drabek, Mason

Wieckhorst, Ella Mathisen, John Ensign, Alice Oelke, Don

Grundman, Roy Murphy, Tim Worcester, JoAnn Weible, Kay

Gillpatrick, Helen Ramold, baby CH, and all who struggle with

chronic illness, including those who reside in their homes and

long-term care facilities.

Please join us in welcoming Rev. David Butz as our

new Designated Pastor! His first Sunday with us will

be June 4, 2017. He has signed a year and a half

contract with us. At the end of one year, it will be

decided if he is going to stay with us and become our

permanent pastor. During this time, he will be staying

in the parsonage. Please stop by and meet him!

We are still looking for a

Kindergarten/1st grade VBS

teacher. If you or anyone you

know is interested, please let

the office know.

__________________________

If you have a musical talent that

you would like to share, or know

someone who does, the sign-up

sheet for our summer special music

is available in the back of the

sanctuary. Runs June 11 through

the month of August. If you have

any questions, you may contact Jen

at 402-209-3765 or Connie at

402-209-3011.

Thank you to everyone

who brightened our

sanctuary with flowers,

and who sponsored

bulletins during the

month of May.

Women’s Fellowship will meet on Tuesday, June 13

th at Noon for

the birthday celebrations. Please

bring a brown bag lunch. Birthday cake

will be provided.

LOOKING AHEAD TO AUGUST

Tues. 1st: Board of Christian Ed. meeting 6 pm

Sun. 6th: Communion & Food pantry

Tues., 8th: Spiritual Council meeting 5:45 pm &

Church Council meeting 7pm

Tues., 15th: Ministerial Association meeting 9 am

Mon., 28th: Meals on Wheels 11 am

Church Council President is to find more

people for Nominating Committee.

Michael & Brenda Wieckhorst~June 5, 1999

Arlin & NinaJean Rohlfs ~ June 8, 1962

Larry & Tracy Wieckhorst~ June 10, 1989

Vernon & Linda Brooke ~ June 11, 1957

Mike & Mary Redelfs ~ June 20, 1986

Jerry & Connie Gieseking ~ June 26, 1976

Burton & Cindy Weible ~ June 26th

Daniel & Jen Hamilton ~ June 29, 1996

JULY

BJ & Sandy Ried ~ July 4, 1986

Dale & Lynn Wurtele ~ July 15th

Dean & Carol Biere ~ July 23, 1961

Jason & Kassi Holman ~ July 25, 1998

Lonnie & Sara Horstmann ~ July 25th

Brian & Sarah Bando ~ July 29, 2006

Greg & Paula Ramold ~ July 31, 2004

JUNE

Delores Schriener 1st Nancy Brown 4th Josie Meadows 6th Danielle Barrett 6th

Josie Meadows 6th Jason Holman 7th Allan Barrett 10th Justace Rinne 20th

Judy Smith 20th Sharon Herzog 21st Makenzie Johnson 22nd Quintin Holman 23rd

Burton Weible 25th John Carroll 28th

JULY

Marilyn Rivett 3rd Kork Wurtele 4th Gray Carpenter 6th

Christine Parkyn-Luther 9th Brenda Rayhel 10th John Brust 11th Pam Malzer 13th

Paula Ramold 13th LaVonne Grundman 14th

Jerry Gieseking 16th Dean Griepenstroh 16th

James Herzog 17th Margaret Brust 18th Helen Ramold 18th Jordan Kreifels 18th

Aaron Kreifels 18th John Vock 18th Lillian Graham 21st Adelene Vock 22nd

Harold Hauberg 26th

Board of Christian Education met May 2, 2017. Those present were Carrie

Ferguson, Kassie Holman, Jaime Horstmann, Sara Horstmann, and Jen Tietz.

We discussed our turnout for Pastor Bill’s last day/5th Sunday luncheon…that

was GREAT by the way!!

Details for Senior recognition on May 7th were finalized. There was a

wonderful turnout to show support for our seniors.

May 21st will be the last day of Sunday school. 4th quarter attendance awards

will be handed out along with our recognition of teachers. We will also have an

all-church picnic, in which the congregation is asked to bring a side/salad/

dessert. BOCE will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks.

Our next meeting was not scheduled, as we won’t be meeting again until

August. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s

Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Carrie Ferguson

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Bethel United Church of Christ ~ Spiritual Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 ~ 5:45 p.m. Duensing Chapel

Present: President Burt Wieble, Vice-President Paula Ramold, Cindy Wieble, Dean Biere and Secretary Carol Biere.

Burt called the meeting to order and led the council in prayer.

Minutes of the April meeting were read. Cindy moved the minutes be approved. Dean seconded. Motion carried.

Kevin Wagner of Columbus, worship Leader for May 9th was well received. He

had a nice service for graduating seniors and all attending.

Sarah Malone will serve in our worship services for the remainder of May. Pastor David Butz will arrive the first of June and his first service will be June 4

th. He has been serving a UCC church in Grand Island.

Discussion was held as to color of Altar cloths the next few weeks. Several suggestions were made concerning increasing our attendance and projects for Bethel.

We noted Pastor Bill’s absence and his report.

The next meeting will be June 13th at 5:45 p.m. at the church.

Paula moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dean. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol Biere

SPIRITUAL

COUNCIL

The Bethel United Church of Christ Church Council meting was called to order by President John Vock. President Vock opened the meeting with a prayer. In attendance were President John Vock, Vice President Chip Johnson, Secretary Norm Brown, Loren Mleynek, Mike Redelfs and Jane Kreifels, Also present were Financial Secretary Sandy Ried, Memorial Chair Margaret Brust, Church Secretary Sarah Bando, Katherine Luther, Stephen Luther, and Elizabeth Luther. Secretary Norm Brown read the minutes from the April 11 Church Council meeting. Corrections to the minutes were Cindy Wieble attended the meeting with Search Committee and President John Vock to meet Designate Pastor David Butz. Jane made a motion and Loren seconded to have the minutes with the corrections approved as read. Katherine Luther for her Girl Scout Silver Award would like to do some landscaping to the trees where the roots are showing and put plants in the landscaping. Sarah Bando gave the Spiritual Council, Board of Christian Ed and Church Secretary reports. Rev Sara Malone will be pulpit supply for May 14, 21 and 28. The last Day of Sunday School will be Sunday May 21 with the Church Picnic at Steinhart Park by the Aquatic Center. The Board of Christian Ed will be serving the meat. Members are asked to bring a salad or desert and drinks will be provided. Vacation Bible School will be hosted by the Christian Church at Bethel UCC June 12 - 16. Sent out 4 letters to the families of Ruth Ann Sigerson, Kay Grundman Whiteman, Gerald Jensen, and Leta Bremer for the Totenfest Service on Sunday, May 28. Sandy Ried Financial Secretary presented the Financial Report. Jane Kreifels made a motion and Mike Redelfs seconded to pay the bills. Jason Stoll of Midwest Concrete has been contacted about pouring concrete at the entrance to the shed. Dave Schneider of Schneider Electric will install new led light bulbs and fixtures in the family room of the parsonage. Greg Dixon of Arbor Cleaning will do the floors of fellowship hall the two kitchens and hallway and clean the carpets at the parsonage after Vacation Bible School. Andrew Moyer and Tyler Vock will be removing the evergreen bushes on the east side of the church and by the church canopy A - 1 Locksmith will have the door lock on the north door installed May 10 and the South Door Lock was cleaned and is working fine. Designated pastor David Butz will start moving into the parsonage on Thursday May 11. He will start on June 1 as Pastor and his first Sunday to preach will be Sunday June 4. There was discussion on the parking lot lighting and the sound system but no action was taken. Chip Johnson made a motion and Jane Kriefels seconded to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was closed with the reciting of the Lord's Prayer. The next Bethel UCC Church Council meeting will be Tuesday evening, June 13 at 7 in Duensing Chapel.

Respectfully Submitted,

Norman Brown

CHURCH COUNCIL

SCHEDULED TO SERVE JUNE 2017

LAY LEADERS June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 Kassi Holman Norm Brown Adelene Vock Jan Pummel GREETERS June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 Holman Family Marilyn Weible Harold & Gladys Huss BJ & Sandy Ried USHERS June 4 June 11—June 18 June 25—July 2 David & Darcy Carpenter Janice Dawson (Harold Huss 11th), Gene Nannen Jason & Kassi Holman Norm & Nancy Brown Jamie Horstmann, Sara Horstmann Delores S., Pauline P. SOUND SYSTEM June 4—June 11 June 18—June 25 FLOWERS COOKIE FELOWSHP Dennis Marshall Kevin Pummel Connie J. Connie & Bonnie ACOLYTES June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 Keston & Andrew Brianna & Elizabeth Nick & Mason W. Landon & Lillian MOWING WEEK OF 4th: Allan 11th: Jake/Kevin 18th: Stephen 25th: Dennis/Carol

SCHEDULED TO SERVE JULY 2017

LAY LEADERS July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Sue Griepenstroh Lenny Tietz Dean Griepenstroh Adelene Vock Jason Holman GREETERS July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Janice Dawson Katie Chapin Gene & Kay Nannen Delores Schreiner Horstmann Family USHERS July 2 July 9—July 16 July 23—July 30 Jason & Kassi Holman Dean & Sue Griepenstroh Stan & Peg Johnson Delores Schreiner, Pauline Peterson Chip & Erin Johnson John & Margaret Brust SOUND SYSTEM July 2—July 9 July 16, July 23 & July 30 FLOWERS COOKIE FELOWSHP Need volunteer Burt Weible Margaret Brust Need volunteers ACOLYTES July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Katherine & Elizabeth Christian & Madisen Keston & Andrew Brianna & Katherine Nick & Mason W. MOWING WEEK OF 2nd: Allan 9th: Jake/Kevin 16th: Stephen 23rd: Dennis/Carol 30th: Allan

Bethel United Church of Christ

2400 Central Avenue

Nebraska City, NE 68410

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Who: 3 yrs. old (and potty trained) through completed 5th grade

What: VBS 2017!!!

Where: Bethel UCC

When: June 12-16, 2017 9 am—Noon

Why: Because it’s fun, that’s why!

JUNE & JULY 2017