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The
JULY 2018 NEWSLETTER
WOOD RIVER FIRST UMC & ALDA UMC
Messenger
PASTOR’S PEN It is JULY! My husband Jeff and I have been here
for a
year now, serving the communities of Wood River and
Alda. We have been blessed by the community and
are thankful to be a part of what God is doing in our
communities. I want to encourage you to come be a
part of the fun for Vacation Bible School, as we share
the love of Jesus Christ in our communities. Come and
be a part of worship on July 15 where we will have fun
on our “One Hour Tour” (Gilligan’s Island). We will
worship and pray for leaders and helpers of VBS.
Make sure you wear your island attire!
The evening of the July 15, the community is invited
to the Wood River Aquatic center as an outreach
event to connect with families and children and invite
them to VBS. All ages are welcome to come! VBS
week we need everyone to come and serve. We need
people to welcome parents and children at the front
door and thank them for coming as they leave. We
need people to sit and eat with children and families
to get to know them and make them feel welcome.
We need people to lead, help and support the VBS
team. Yes, this is the ministry of the whole church and
the more people are involved the greater the impact
we have on the lives of children and families.
We will have a new sermon series for the rest of the
summer called SHIFT. We build our faith on the solid
foundation of Jesus Christ, but in the changing world
around us we need to make shifts in ministry, in order
to reach out to people. The mission of the church is to
share the love and life of Jesus Christ and make disci-
ples for the transformation of the world. Let us join
together in discovering how God is inviting us to join
him in mission to our communities.
Grace and JOY,
Pastor Trudy
Thank You I want to thank all my friends and family for helping
me celebrate my 80th birthday. All the beautiful cards and gifts
are very much appreciated. A special thanks to Linda Sample for her
help in the kitchen. ~Thanks again, Jan Carter
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Alda Groups We are wanting to invite women or youth to sew on
Tuesdays at 1 P.M this summer at the Church in Alda. For
information you may call Carol at 308-391-0077 or Jackie at
308-384-5993. We also have Meet and Eat at noon on the third
Tuesday of each month. We will be having a Pizza meal
with goodies. For more information call Letha at 308-384-2619.
On Fridays at 10:15 we are meeting for Healthy living. We have a
devotion, then people may weigh in if they wish We find topics to
share about living a healthy life style and bring them to share.
You may call Lois at 308-390-2542 or Venarae 308-381-4763.
RACHEL
CIRCLE Rachel Circle met May 3 with 11 members present. Sylvia
McTavish called the meeting to order and read the opening. Roll
call was taken by Catherine Miller. She also read the minutes of
our March meeting. Marilyn Webster gave the treasurer’s report
Catherine read a thank you letter from Epworth Village. Prayer
concerns were given, followed with prayer by Mary Ann Apfel. From
the Upper Room, Sylvia read Lost and Found and Quiet Time with God.
Sue Jackson read The Lord Does not Look at Things the Way People
Look at Things. Catherine read the bible verses. The meeting was
adjourned. Lunch was served by Sue Jackson.
Then Sylvia accompanied us on the piano when we sang, He Lives
and Thank You Lord For Your Blessings. Rachel Circle met June 7
with 8 members present. Sylvia McTavish called the meeting to order
and read the opening, Does God Keep Up with the Time? Catherine
Miller took roll call and read the minutes of our last meeting.
Sylvia gave the treasurer’s report. Prayer concerns were given,
followed by a prayer by Mary Ann Apfel. Kay Bockstadter gave a
report on the James Easter family. The meeting was adjourned.
Sharon Skeen served lunch. Sylvia accompanied us on the piano when
we sang Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings. The Easter brothers
wrote the words and music.
Thank You Wow! We have such an awesome church family! When
asked…you definitely answer the call. Thank you to everyone that
donated items, time, and prayers to Royal Family Kids Camp. We had
an amazing response to all of the items needed to make the ice
cream – thank you! Thank you also to all of those individuals that
helped on Wednesday to make the ice cream. There is no way that I
could do this by myself. RFKC is a wonderful camp that helps
children find the love of Jesus. For five days, campers receive
attention, encouragement, and participate in numerous activities in
a safe environment. Campers are local children who are currently or
recently in the foster system and these campers are able to come to
camp for FREE due to so many wonderful donations. And because of
your generosity, the campers, counselors and all of the volunteers
(58 campers and approximately 100 volunteers) enjoyed yummy ice
cream on Wednesday night. Thank you. RFKC is near and dear to my
heart and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to help such
a worthy cause. I thank you. RFKC thanks you. But most importantly,
the kids thank you. RFKC’s verse for the week was, “For I know the
plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.” RFKC does just that…gives these
children hope. ~Thank you again! Tracy Watts
CIRCLE NEWS - Susie Powell Ruth & Rachel circles met June
4th for a pot luck supper. We had a nice group of ladies
celebrating together as "Women of Faith." The tables were decorated
with birdhouses noting that birds of a feather flock together. We
had a short program from "50 Women Every Christian Should Know"
highlighting Fanny Crosby who wrote many of the hymns we sing. The
evening closed with songs by our guests, Cyndi Pyper and Colleen
Tucker. The next meeting for Ruth circle is Monday, July 2 at 7:30
pm. The next meeting for Rachel circle is Thursday, July 5, at 1:30
pm.
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ALDA VBS Alda United Methodist Church will be having
a Community Bible School with Stories, fun
and games on July 23, 24, 25 this year. It will
be in the evening. starting at 6:30 PM until
8:00 PM on Monday and Tuesday. On
Wednesday, Hotdogs and Root Beer floats
will be provided along with anything the
bible school families want to bring for the
meal. There will be a program after the Meal
on Wednesday. Children are invited
preschool thru the 6th grade. If Junior high or
High school wish to come they are welcome
to help with the activities. For information or
pre-registration, call Jackie at 308-384-5993.
You may register your child also at the
Church at Bible school.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
JULY 15 Both Churches
“A ONE (not 3) HOUR TOUR”
(Think Gilligan’s Island)
Wear your island attire
(Hawaiian shirts, sunhats, etc.)
Our ship will set sail as we prepare for
SHIPWRECKED
Vacation Bible School.
During worship, we will:
PRAY for VBS leaders and volunteers.
BLESS the space
PRAY children will come to know
JESUS our RESCUER.
And hear a message of hope:
“RESCUE for Shipwrecked Lives”
Invite someone to join you for worship!
Save the Date BISHOP SAENZ
PRAIRIE RIVERS TOWN HALL MEETING When: Sunday, September 30th
2018 Where: Grand Island Trinity Time: 3:30-5:30 What: Bishop Saenz
Town Hall Meeting Who: All Pastors and Laity Bishop will be
bringing discussion about the Way Forward from the Council of
Bishops as we prepare for the Special Session of the General
Conference, Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis where the General Conference
will make decisions to help the United Methodist Church move
forward amid disagreements over human sexuality. Clergy and laity
of the Prairie Rivers District are encouraged to attend, in order
to gain a better understanding of how we can help our churches
prepare to have healthy conversations as we discuss a way
forward.
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Wood River First United Methodist Church
Vacation Bible School Ages Pre-K through 5th grade
July 16-19, 2018 5:30-8:30pm (Supper 5:30 & VBS
6-8:30pm)
Fun Shop Finale: Thursday 8:00pm *Please bring a white
t-shirt
for each of your children on Monday!* Pre-registration is
requested @
WWW.woodriverumc.org FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MELANIE FREAR 308-583-0104 OR 308-379-3182 [email protected]
Please join us for a Pre-VBS Shipwrecked Pool Party Wood River
Aquatic Center
Free and open to the public!
Sunday July 15, 2018 6-8pm
Seashore
Crafts
Castaway
Sing & Play
Bible
Discovery
Tropical
Treats
KidVid
Cinema
Ship Rec
Games
Sail Away
Sendoff
http://www.woodriverumc.org
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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 PASTOR TRUDY
ON VACATION
9:30 WR Worship
11:00 Alda Worship
Julie Schellpeper
2
7:30 Ruth Circle
Bob & Jane Allan
Ryker Summers
3
1:00 Alda Sewing
Circle
4
OFFICE CLOSED
9:30 Bible Study
5
1:30 Rachel Circle
7:00 Alda Solutions
Group
Krystal Babel
James & Julie
Thompson (1996)
6
Pastor Trudy’s
Sabbath
10:00 Alda Healthy
Living Meeting
Kyle Schultz
7
Melvin Earnest
8
9:30 WR Worship—
UMW Sunday
11:00 Alda Worship
9 8:30-12:00 Pastor
Trudy in Office
10 1:00 Alda Sewing
Circle
11 9:30 Bible Study
2:30 Bingo @ Good
Sam’s
5:30 WR Worship
Team Meeting
12 7:00 Alda Solutions
Group
Larry & Carrie
Powers (1969)
13 Pastor Trudy’s
Sabbath
10:00 Alda Healthy
Living Meeting
Ed Price
14
Kortni Burnett
Barry McCoun
Doug & Marilyn
Denman (1968)
15 COMMUNION
SUNDAY
9:30 WR Worship
11:00 Alda Worship
6:00-8:00 WR
Swimming Pool
Event
16 8:30-12:00 Pastor
Trudy in Office
5:30-8:30 WR VBS
Donna Moyer
17 1:00 Alda Sewing
Circle
5:30-8:30 WR VBS
12:00 Alda Meet &
Eat
18 9:30 Bible Study
5:30-8:30 WR VBS
19 9:00 WR Sewing
Circle
5:30-8:30 WR VBS
7:00 Alda Solutions
Group
20 Pastor Trudy’s
Sabbath
10:00 Alda Healthy
Living Meeting
21 10:00 WR Donna
Burr Shower
22 9:30 WR Worship
11:00 Alda Worship
Justin & Brenda
Paulk (2000)
Megan Leeper
Paul Barker
23 8:30-12:00 Pastor
Trudy in Office
6:30-8:00 Alda VBS
John Hillis
24 1:00 Alda Sewing
Circle
6:30-8:00 Alda VBS
Nora Hypes
Linda Thompson
25 9:30 Bible Study
6:30-8:00 Alda VBS
26 7:00 UMW Meeting
7:00 Alda Solutions
Group
27 UMW Mission U in
Kearney
Pastor Trudy’s
Sabbath
10:00 Alda Healthy
Living Meeting
Andrew Watts
Dale & Georgene
Smidt (1963)
28 UMW Mission U in
Kearney
Bruce & Cindy
Howe (1984)
Paul & Rhonda
Barker (1984)
Jenna Rauert
29 UMW Mission U in
Kearney
9:30 WR Worship
11:00 Alda Worship
12:00 Alda Ad
Council
Jennifer Reeder
30 8:30-12:00 Pastor
Trudy in Office
Bob Almquist
31 1:00 Alda Sewing
Circle
Rhonda Sidders
July 2018
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PARISH NURSE - Mary Bilslend Summer is officially here and I’ve
noticed all the wonderful and not so wonderful things that come
with summer. The heat and sun have definitely made an appearance
and with the new water park you may be getting more than usual of
this. Remember to use your sun screen and limit your time in the
sun. You may need more than one application of sun screen due to
the length of time you are out in it and the time you are in the
pool or water. It is also good to wear a hat to shade your head and
eyes. The mosquitoes, ticks etc are also looking for you so don’t
forget the repellent and it also may need reapplied if outside very
long and we also need to treat our pets with repellents. With the
high temperatures and with us being outside more, we also need to
drink more especially with the young and the older people. Take
your water and have it handy and don’t forget to drink it. There is
no other substitute for water so reach for it instead of pop or
juice etc. for hydration. With the pool, we were recently
reminded
that to be safe, we must wear our life jackets for them to work.
They can’t just be in the car, boat etc. so if you will be on a
lake or body of water that is deeper than you and no life guards,
it is always good to have your life jacket on. Swim lessons are
also a must for all kids but knowing how to swim does not mean one
can swim in a sandpit or across the lake, or if fishing and the
boat upsets that one can go all the way to shore. Soon it will be
time for the fireworks. So pretty and yet can be so dangerous.
Adult supervision is definitely a must and if it is dry out, just a
little spark can start a huge fire. The fireworks are also hot long
after the beauty is gone so need to be where hands and feet will
not find them. Summer is a great time and many have been looking
forward to it for months. Just be sure to be safe along with the
fun so all have a reason to celebrate and enjoy this special time.
As always, be good to each other and yourself. If you cannot be
positive and helpful, leave it unsaid or undone. If you have a
concern about bullying or abuse, physical or verbal, talk to
someone you trust and someone who cares for you. Most of all enjoy
all the gifts God has given us in a way that is pleasing to
him.
