h Fai —FULL Times The Seward United Methodist

Anticipating Advent… Join us at any and all when you are able!

Saturday, December 1st 4:00-6:30pm—Advent Church Family Workshop, Dinner, and Worship with Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 2nd—First Sunday in Advent Worship at 8:15 & 10:30 am and Sunday School at 9:30 am Wednesday, December 5th 11:30 am—Annual Christmas Luncheon, hosted by UMW, all welcome! Sunday, December 9th—Second Sunday in Advent: 8:15 & 10:30 am—Worship 9:30 am—Join us in the Sanctuary for the Children’s Christmas Musical 11:30 am—Birthday Party for Jesus, treat bags for all children 2:00 pm—Blue Christmas Service, Hosted by Zabka Funeral Home 3:30 pm—Bright Beginnings CDC Christmas Program with cookies and cocoa to follow Sunday, December 16th—Third Sunday in Advent, All Music Sunday 8:15 & 10:30 am—Worship 8:30 am —12:00 pm—Cookie Walk to support Sr. High trip to the National gathering of UM Youth in KC next July 2019 9:30 am—Sunday School 5:00 pm—Family Game Night at the Guthrie home Wednesday, December 19th

7:00 pm—Godparents Christmas Gathering at the Ketner home Sunday, December 23rd— Fourth Sunday in Advent

Worship at 8:15 & 10:30 am and Sunday School at 9:30 am Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve 5:00 pm—Family Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm—Traditional Candlelight and Carols Service

Women

on

Wednesdays …

WOW! We will resume meeting in

January… watch your email for

a special holiday outing soon!

Advent Church

Family Workshop,

Dinner, and Worship

with Hanging of the

Greens…

Saturday, December 1st

from

4:00-6:30p.m.

Keepsake treasures

Yummy meal

Worship

Many thanks to Nurture,

Faith Community Nurses,

and Worship for planning

such a great day!

Email to sign up...

joellenaxthelm@gmail.com

Children’s Christmas Musical...

You are invited to share in the wonder of Christmas on Sunday, December 9th at 9:30a.m. in the Sanctuary. Invite your neighbors, friends, and loved ones to share in this special time of worship with the children!

Birthday Party for Jesus… Join us at 11:30a.m. on Sunday, December 9th in the Fellowship Hall as we celebrate our savior and king for HIS Birthday!!! Treat bags will be available for all children in attendance and party favors for all! Cake, punch, and fun will help us celebrate in style!

Notes from

Jo Ellen… with

thanks…

I just want to wish

this very special and

dear church family a

wonderful Christmas

and New Year 2019!

This past year has

been one of blessing

and joy for me and for

my family. You have

shown such love and

support this year as I

have walked the

pastoral journey

alongside you. You have given, not only gifts of love for my

education, but also to my soul… I have felt deeply loved and

supported and for that I am eternally grateful. To be allowed

to serve with you has been one of my greatest life joys thus

far and I look forward to a wonderful 2019 with each of you.

Thank you … thank you… thank you… on behalf of my family!

Love and prayers, Pastor Jo Ellen

Sunday School:

We will meet December

23rd and 30th with

combined classes. :)

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? - Children’s Christmas Program “O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.” Many of the Sunday School children are already preparing songs and reviewing scripts for the Children’s Christmas Program on Sunday, December 9th. The program will be provided between worship services at 9:30 a.m. The program, How Far is it to Bethlehem?, tells the story of a caravan from Jerusalem to Bethlehem upon hearing the news of Jesus’ birth. Plan to attend the presentation of “How Far is it to Bethlehem?” on Sunday, December 9th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a birthday party for Jesus after the second worship service.

All Music Sunday – December 16, 2018 Join us at either worship service on Sunday, December 16th as we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent and continue to prepare our hearts for Christ the King. All music ministry groups will be sharing their gifts with us. There will be time for congregational singing during various parts of the service. Plan to be present to listen, sing, and worship this Advent season! Youth Hand Chime Choir Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1 First rehearsal will be Sunday, January 13th, 2019! SUMC Music Ministries is looking for youth in middle school or high school to become part of a Youth Hand Chime Choir. Hand chimes are similar to bells with a different tone and sound. The hand chime choir will meet on Sundays after the second worship service. This opportunity provides youth to become involved in music ministry without being required to sing. If you are, or know of, a youth who is interested in giving praise to God through music, please contact Wess Robotham at 402-641-2679 or at wess.robotham@gmail.com. SUMC Worship Bulletins – On Your Smartphone! Bible Study and Devotion Want to continue engaging with God’s Word after hearing the sermon? Begin one of thousands of Bible study plans with the Bible App! Plans related to the sermon topic are selected each week and included in the bulletin. There are plans available for every moment in life, every Christian season, and every age. Plans vary in length from 3 days to 365 days and the app provides reminders for you to continue your plan if you choose to enable them.

Give it a try! Download the Bible App by YouVersion from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once signed in, click on the menu/more button

Click Events Select the Seward UMC Worship service you would like to interact with.

Need help? Contact Wess Robotham, Director of Music and Worship Technology before/after a service or at 402-641-2679 or at wess.robotham@gmail.com.

December

Committee

Meetings Witness - NO meeting this month Nurture - Sanctuary/FH Sat. Dec. 8th, 10:00 am BBCDC Staff Meeting - FH/Kitchen Tues. Dec. 11th, 6:00 pm Finance - NO meeting this month BBCDC Board - NO meeting this month Trustees - Basement Youth Room Tues., Dec. 18th, 7:00 pm Mission & Outreach - Parlor Tues. Dec. 18th, 7:00 pm SPPRC - NO meeting this month

Food Requests for December

Food Net - Soups

Blue Valley Community Action-

Rice

The church office hours for the Christmas holiday week: Monday, Dec. 24th 9 am - 12 pm Tuesday, Dec. 25th closed Wednesday, Dec. 26th closed Thursday, Dec. 27th 9 am - 3 pm Friday, Dec. 28th 9 am - 3 pm

Like Us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/

sewardunitedmethodist

New members of the SUMC family:

this October/November!

Sarah and Tony Rodocker

Left:

Emily Hemphill

Right: Katie Duff

Corky Malmberg

Please let Pastor Jo Ellen or Pastor Robert know if you are interested in joining our amazing church family… we have dates available for joining… but most importantly we want you to know you are always welcome to visit, worship, serve, and share in the family life at SUMC as long as you wish to!

Bright Beginnings Child Development

Center

We have had a good month… fall came and quickly went… and now the snow is here! We enjoy going outside with our classes each day. Snow is fun to play in!

We held a nice visit for Veteran’s Day and enjoyed thanking a veteran in our own classrooms. Thanksgiving gave us time to think about what we are thankful for… have some fun with turkey creations and all types of art for the season.

Now that Advent is just around the corner we are beginning to explore the Christmas theme in many classes. We learn best from hands on activity which is meaningful. The sand table full of decorations for a tree gives us time to work on our fine motor

skills. Dramatic play allows us to pretend we are baking and selling cookies from our own food truck! The little ones continue to learn as they explore their rooms, centers, and fun themes each day.

We are always looking for folks who like to come and rock babies… stop by soon and sign up to help!

Invite Kids – Tell them about the 23 sessions to choose from in 2019 summer (four more than in 2018!) Support Kids – Provide scholarships and rides to/from camp as a help to parents. Provide for the Kids – Help fund the operation and/or building the new retreat center. Help us get from $1.3 million to $1.5 million with a donation or a 3-year pledge. It will spur large donors and foundations and accommodate future growth.

Summer camper numbers have increased from 315 in 2004 to 765 in 2018!

Many kids are reporting they accept Christ for the first time, rededicate, or vow to serve their church back home.

Lots of information is available at www.campfontanelle.com . See how your church is doing and find a pledge form at the end of the BUILD Team Campfire webpage –click on the Campfire icon in the lower right corner of the home page, or contact the Camp at 402-478 - 4296. THANKS!!

You Can Help Kids find GOD at Camp!

The "Snowman Award" at the 8th

Annual Christmas Lighted Parade -

best children or youth entry - Seward

United Methodist Church Float -

"Celebrating Jesus Together". Great work Tonya

and Tammy and crew and the Mission and

Outreach Committee.

UMW Dates to Remember

Dec. 5, 2018 UMW Christmas Luncheon 11:30 am Fellowship Hall BBCDC ‘Singers’ & Seward HS Swing Choir

Dec. 19, 2018 UMW Reading Group 5:30 pm Maxine Moore’s home

Dec. 20, 2018 Evening Group Cookie Exchange 7:00 pm Fellowship Hall Paper products needed for Blue Valley Community Action

SUMC’s ‘recipe’ for successful bazaar: 66-year tradition;

PLUS …Experienced, hard-working ‘TEAM BAZAAR ‘: Christina Chapman, Jill Eberspacher, Linda Eberspacher, Jeanne Gee, Melissa Luebbe, Holly Matzke, Jennifer Robbins, Sally Viets, Dixie Zabka, and Carol Zak;

PLUS …At least 75 generous donors;

PLUS … 40-45 volunteers PLUS …At least 800 unique,

thoughtful and beautiful handcrafted gift items;

PLUS … Generous shoppers;

PLUS … your prayers

$ 5,351 for 2019 mission work and summer church camp and youth UMC conference registrations

Your support made the difference !

SUMC … On the Move December Newsletter (A component of the Faith Community Nursing Program)

As you read this, we’re truly in the midst of the holiday season. You can establish a new routine before 2018 ends, and get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution. Hence, our December group event continues to be “Rockin’ Your Routine.” Recall from last month’s “SUMC ... On the Move:”

1. Take advantage of the Weather - Be outdoors whenever possible. 2. Become an active TV Watcher - Have a plan to move while you view! 3. Remember the 30-Day Rule - It takes the body 21-30 days to adapt to a new lifestyle. After a month, behavior patterns will have adapted and chances for long-term success improve greatly. 4. Strive for the Three C’s - Commitment, convenience, and consistency-

Commitment: Just as you plan for everything else, you have to plan for exercise. Convenience: Select times and places when interruptions are unlikely. Consistency. It’s better to work out for 10 minutes each day than one hour each week. Start small to reap large rewards! ONE MORE THING: 5. Practice good Dental Health - ‘Tis the season to eat sweets, so kindly consider your “choppers!”

a) Brush at least twice, or even thrice, daily. Floss once, as well. b) Eat nutritious meals. Enjoy sweets with your meals, not between meals. Limit snacks loaded with carbohydrates. c) Drink 8-10 cups of water daily. It’s recommended that two cups be fluoridated. d) Limit sweet drinks, including diet/sugar-free versions. e) Visit your dentist and dental hygienist. He/she definitely wants to wish you,

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” Dates to keep in mind: December “Hustle and Bustle” around the Square. Shop locally! Saturday, 12/1 Rudolph’s Red Nose Run, 9 a.m. SMS. Walk/run 1m/5K Sunday, 12/2,9 Leave your November activity log in the shoebox. Monday, 12/10 Drawing for the winning November “movers.” Monday, 12/24 Revel in the Christmas Eve frenzy. Attend a SUMC service. Tuesday, 12/25 Remember the Reason for this Season. Be so very thankful. Enjoy family and friends with a loooong walk. Sunday, 2/24, 1-5 Fallbrook YMCA open to our SUMC family and friends. If you haven’t enrolled in SUMC … On the Move: Please know that you can register at any time. All ages are welcome! The registration forms and activity logs are on the information table in the

hallway. Registrations can be left in the shoebox! J Remember to take a red water bottle from the shelf. October Winners: Sally Wurst, Bob Bierbower, Laura Shriver As we continue to move forward, please direct questions and comments to Lynette: 402-641-8177 Jack: 402-641-3485 Lynette.Broderick@connectseward.org Jack.Broderick@connectseward.org

A huge “Thank You” goes out to

those who baked cookies, contributed money and candy and volunteered helping to make the 2018 Trunk or

Treat a wonderful success. You helped to make our church fun and welcoming both inside and out for almost 1100 kids and adults. Creatively decorated “trunks” in the parking lot, bounce houses in back and warm treats to eat and drink inside. Everyone’s hard work led to another successful outreach event and helps the Witness and Nurture Committees commit to serve the community with another Trunk or Treat next year. Plan to participate in 2019, it’s not scary.

Charitable donations for the 2018 calendar year must be delivered to the church or mailed and postmarked by December 31st, 2018, in order to be included with

your 2018 giving statement. If you donated any monetary gift to Seward United Methodist Church during 2018, it will be included on a giving statement available after mid-January 2019. If you have any questions about your church donations, please call Martie at 402-641-4901 or leave a message at the church office.

If you are receiving a paper copy of the newsletter & wish to save postage, please contact the office to be put on the emailed version of the newsletter.

2018 October Year To Date

Expenses $30,778.73 $311,351.16

Giving $31,947.51 $278,615.37

2018 surplus/(deficit) $1,168.78 ($32,735.79)

General Operating Fund

October 31, 2018

**P

lea

se b

e r

esp

on

sib

le f

or

find

ing a

su

bstitu

te if

yo

u a

re u

na

ble

to

wo

rk a

s s

ch

ed

ule

d.

N

otify

the

chu

rch o

ffic

e o

f an

y c

ha

nge

s. T

HA

NK

YO

U f

or

vo

lun

tee

rin

g!

Faith—FULL Times

Ser

vic

e sc

hed

ule

s w

ill

no

lo

ng

er b

e m

aile

d

sep

arat

ely.

P

leas

e ch

eck

new

slet

ter

to s

ee i

f yo

u a

re s

ched

ule

d t

o s

erv

e.

DE

CE

MB

ER

1

2/0

2/2

018

12

/09

/20

18

12

/16

/20

18

12

/23

/20

18

12

/24

/18

@ 5

:00

PM

1

2/3

0/2

018

8:1

5 S

erv

ice

C

ha

ncel C

hoir

A

ll m

usic

Sun

da

y

Go

d's

Sq

uad

Welc

om

e C

en

ter

Ju

anita

Goin

gs

Sa

nd

i R

ocke

r N

an

cy E

itel

Chri

ntin

a C

hap

man

XX

V

irg

inia

Fra

se

r

Gre

ete

r -

Ea

st

Ke

n F

lyr

To

m G

ee

D

ou

g B

rand

Neil

Bu

tzke

Sh

aro

n H

am

be

k

Go

rdo

n W

ieg

ard

t

Gre

ete

r -

West

Lin

da F

lyr

Je

ann

e G

ee

Ga

il B

rand

Cin

dy B

utz

ke

Ste

ve

Ha

mbe

k

Jo

len

e W

iega

rdt

Ush

er

1

Jo

hn M

oo

dy

Ja

ck F

ulle

r Jim

Eitel

Me

lissa

Lue

bbe

Ala

n B

oo

n

Su

e I

mig

Ush

er

2

Ju

lie M

oo

dy

An

gie

Fu

ller

Jo

Pe

rry

Je

ff L

ue

bb

e

Ca

role

Brig

gs

Ka

y S

ch

roed

er

Ush

er

3

Ja

Len

a S

lack

Ju

anita

Hill

C

lau

dia

Ho

rton

Ma

xin

e M

oo

re

Ma

rc G

uth

rie

Ja

ck B

rod

erick

Ush

er

4

Cri

s S

lack

Ju

dy S

lou

p

Ric

Ho

rton

La

rry C

ha

pm

an

Ma

rtie

Gu

thri

e

Lyn

ett

e B

rod

erick

Litu

rgis

t R

ick M

cC

on

nell

Je

ann

e G

ee

Dou

g B

rand

Cin

dy B

utz

ke

?

Clif

f Lo

we

ll

Aco

lyte

B

rad

en

So

este

r Ja

ckie

/Jen

a E

be

rspa

che

r A

ustin

Sch

roe

de

r L

aw

so

n/L

ayn

e L

ueb

be

K

ars

yn

Fie

lds

Bry

nlie

Ro

bb

ins

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r Ja

Len

a S

lack

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r C

ris S

lack

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r M

art

ie G

uth

rie

DE

CE

MB

ER

1

2/0

2/2

018

12

/09

/20

18

12

/16

/20

18

12

/23

/20

18

12

/24

/18

@ 7

:00

PM

1

2/3

0/2

018

10

:30

Se

rvic

e

Ch

an

cel C

hoir

/Pra

ise

T

ea

m

A

ll M

usic

Sun

da

y

Pra

ise T

ea

m

Welc

om

e C

en

ter

Eve

lyn

Ha

sting

s

Je

ann

ie J

eary

P

hylli

s H

ron

ik

Sa

rah

Shiv

ely

X

X

Lo

u B

au

man

Gre

ete

r -

Ea

st

Ma

tt H

astin

gs

Ale

x S

om

me

rfeld

Jim

Quis

t T

on

ya

Pa

rra

Je

an K

inna

mon

Ma

yn

ard

Ste

ckly

Gre

ete

r -

West

Lin

dsa

y H

astin

gs

Mo

nic

a S

om

me

rfeld

M

ag

ga

n Q

uis

t S

yd

ne

y P

arr

a

Ja

mie

Axth

elm

W

ilma

Ste

ckly

Ush

er

1

Dain

a S

ain

B

ren

t Ja

ckm

an

Kie

rste

n H

ill

Le

an

ne

Jo

soff

Su

e C

urt

is

Ja

nni H

anso

n

Ush

er

2

Ga

ry S

ain

P

am

Ja

ckm

an

Ca

rla

Sch

wa

hn

R

oy J

osoff

Ve

rno

n C

urt

is

To

m H

an

son

Ush

er

3

Ma

rc G

uth

rie

Je

d R

oje

wski

Su

sa

n R

iley

Don

McK

ibb

in

Ra

nd

y H

ald

er

Cu

rt N

els

on

Ush

er

4

Ma

rtie

Guth

rie

Ju

dy R

oje

wski

To

dd

Rile

y

La

Qu

ita

McK

ibbin

L

ori

Sh

rin

er

Mic

he

le N

els

on

Aco

lyte

M

ake

nzie

/Zo

e M

art

in

Kyle

e J

oso

ff/A

ve

ry R

o-

do

cke

r C

on

ne

r/B

recke

n M

atz

ke

D

aylo

n/K

ayson

Sa

lye

r K

yle

e J

oso

ff

Za

ck P

arr

a

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r D

ain

a S

ain

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r G

ary

Sa

in

Com

mun

ion

Se

rve

r M

art

ie G

uth

rie

Mo

ne

y C

ou

nte

rs

M S

teckly

/L B

rod

erick

D W

elc

h/R

Ha

lde

r K

Ye

lde

n/J

ay F

C

Bri

gg

s/S

Im

ig

D W

elc

h/J

Fe

rris

K

Ye

lde

n/M

Ste

ckly

~ January ~ Newsletter DEADLINE ~ Thursday, December 20th

Submit News by NOON Email articles to umcseward@gmail.com

Holly Matzke 402-643-2358

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

December Issue

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

UMW Local Church Activities

Chair persons for December are:

Virginia Fraser 402-643-0563

Service schedules will no longer be mailed separately. Please check newsletter to see if you are scheduled to serve.

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 Robert Perry, Pastor Email: pastor.robert@hotmail.com Cell Phone : (402) 862-5447

Pastoral Appointments can be made by texting or calling Pastor Robert or Jo Ellen Axthelm, Associate Pastor—joellenaxthelm@gmail.com

Every Member, Minister