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FIRST UNITED FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCHMETHODIST CHURCH
MMMINISTRYINISTRYINISTRY TTTEAMEAMEAM
Ministers The Worshiping Congregation
Pastor
Chuck Rager
Christian Education Director Renee Meyer
Administrative Secretary
LaVerne Schimpf
Custodian Ginny Volberding
District Superintendent
Kay Alnor
Bishop of Great Plains Conference
Scott J. Jones
Ogallala, Nebraska 69153 www.methodistchurchogallala.com
TTHEHE MMESSENGERESSENGER
First United Methodist ChurchFirst United Methodist Church
Pastor’s Page 2
Worship Committee 3
Meetings This Month 3
Adult Bible Studies 3
United Methodist Women 4
From Our Mailbox 5
An Activity Page 6
Record Sums for NUMB 7
Youth Group Gatherings 8
Stewards for September 9
IN THIS ISSUE
Put your team together and join us for a culinary trip around the world!
Teams will be invited to prepare a dish or dishes representing your fa-
vorite food item of a specific region. Teams can be made up of fami-
lies, committees, youth group members, Bible Study members or
friends. Let your imaginations run wild! Do you know a favorite Ger-
man, Italian, Cajun, Spanish, Cuban, American or Himalayan dish? Let
us savor the flavor!
Each team will have a chance to win a prize for best decorations, as
well as best costumes and best food!
A free will offering will be collected that will be used towards the ex-
penses of preparing the dishes. Any proceeds above and beyond those
expenses can go to the Methodist project of the year!
Please remember there is only one worship service on September 13,
so everyone is invited to join us at 9:00 a.m. for worship and then come
to Fellowship Hall for the food and fellowship! Hope to see you there!
Sunday, September 13
10:00 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
Second Annual Dinner Around the World sponsored by your
Sunday School Program
For more information contact Renee at (308)284-8455 or cell (308)289-5421
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
A STATEMENT FROM BISHOP
SCOTT J. JONES
THANK YOU.
Thank you to the persons
on the Board of Trustees and
other persons who help care for
our church building. There is
work that is being done around
the window wells to keep water
from getting into the Fellowship
Hall when we experience heavy
rains like we have had this sum-
mer. There is upkeep on the tenant house next to the church that is being cared for,
and the parsonage will likely see driveway repairs this fall. There are numerous other
tasks being tended to that pertain to our church building, and I appreciate each person
who is helping do these tasks in various ways.
Thank you to the persons on the Missions Outreach Committee who are gearing
up for the Angel Store at Christmas time and the Coat Drive. We distributed a lot of
coats last year, and it was a greatly needed ministry. Thanks to everyone who helped
in these areas.
Thank you to the persons who contribute to and help serve meals when needed
at the church. The first meals we commonly think of are the funeral lunches, but there
are others, too. We will host the Great West District Fall Clergy gathering soon, and a
meal will be served that day. We take our turns at the annual Lenten lunches, and
there are meetings that occasionally require a lunch. Thank you to all for contributing
to helping with these various lunches.
Thank you to those who serve as greeters and ushers. Your willingness to help
persons feel welcome goes beyond the door of the church every Sunday morning.
Thank you to those persons who help with the Time for Younger Persons on
Sunday mornings at our 9 A.M. worship service. Your ministry allows our precious
children to know that they are loved and cared for.
Thank you to our Sunday School teachers and our Youth Group leaders. Your
investment of time and energy in the lives of our young people makes an impact on
them which they will only fully realize with time.
Thank you to everyone who helps in the various and numerous other capacities
to help make our church a beautiful building, a welcoming presence, a place of minis-
try, a place that is cared for financially, a place of worship and a place of caring.
Thank you to my wife. Thank you for understanding my work as a pastor and
for your support. Your support is greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU,
Rev Chuck Rager
Page 2 September, 2015
“Nimbus”
The nimbus is a halo of
light often shown in art
behind the head of a
religious figure such as
Mary, Joseph, the
disciples, the four
evangelists and so
forth. Though often
just a simple circle, one
with three rays
symbolizes the Trinity,
so this style of nimbus
— or a triangular one
— may be seen behind
Christ.
Christian
Symbols
Page 3 The Messenger
Board of Trustees on
Wednesday, September 2,
7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee on
Thursday, September 3, 6:30
p.m.
Administrative Council on
Wednesday, September 16,
7:00 p.m.
Meetings This Month Monday,
September 7,2015
Your Church
Office will be
closed
We have a choir director! Chancel
Choir will start the third Sunday, Sep-
tember 20, so please join us in the choir
room at 8:00 a.m. to rehearse and meet
Scott Reffert. Scott is new to Ogallala
and the school system, so let's give him
a big welcome!
Thank you to all who sponsored the
Gordon Mote concert. The music was
just amazing, as only Gordon can pre-
sent it. His crew is friendly and effi-
cient. Thank you also to Jeff and
Renee for helping with sound, and to
Shirley and Roger Rankin for helping
put dinner on the table for them. Doris
Keller was recognized by Gordon for
her potatoes that were a hit with
him ! Thank you all !
One more thank you, collectively, to
everyone who has done special music
this summer. It is an important part of
our service!
Sharon Samp
Worship Chairperson
Worship Committee
The children of Phil and Betty
Dowling have given a sizeable gift to
the Dowling Family Scholarship. Dan,
Rebecca, Chuck, and Jeff have recently
donated more than $18,000 to add to
the scholarship fund that was started in
memory of their parents in 2003.
Phil and Betty Dowling were long-
time Ogallala residents and faithful
members of the Ogallala United Meth-
odist Church. Chuck Dowling wrote,
“The church and education were
very important to our parents so
there is really no better way to
honor their legacy than through
this scholarship.”
The scholarship committee is most
appreciative of this donation and thank
the Dowling children for their generosi-
ty.
Becky Plate
Scholarship Committee Chairperson
The Tuesday Morning Bible
Study will resume meeting on Septem-
ber 15, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., in Fel-
lowship Hall. Pastor Chuck will contin-
ue to lead the study of the book of Gen-
esis.
The Adult Sunday School class
will begin the Fall season on Sunday,
September 20, using James. W.
Moore’s book, “Do You Have Alligator
Arms?” Suggested donation for each
book is $10.00. The class meets in Fel-
lowship Hall at 10:15 a.m.
Family Makes Gift to Scholarship Fund
tees, or who wants to be switched or
removed, please contact her at 284-
3212 or call 284-2130 to let me know.
We would like to keep this updated as
much as possible.
A special “thank you” to Shirlee
Knispel for her donation of an oscillating
fan in the church kitchen. She has re-
quested that the fan not be removed
from its location. It is above the sink on
the east side and will be a tremendous
aid in keeping the kitchen more com-
fortable.
The Great West District Annual
UMW Meeting is to be held in Oshkosh
on October 10. I hope that our officers
and members will plan to attend. We
should be receiving more details about
this later this month.
Hope to see you on September 10!
Jean Slagle
UMW President
. . . to the following persons who worked and/or furnished food
for the Jim Jeffres funeral luncheon on July 31, 2015:
Mildred Zimmerman Shirlee Knispel Cena Graves
Karon Holscher Sherri Walker Jonnie Peterson
Mary Steinwart Jane Terrell Leta Lindauer Pam Abbott
Judy Markussen Janice Cerny Davanne Moul Sue Schimonitz
Ramona Upright Corine Sexson June Nielsen Jane Ruppert
Bobbi Nilsen Ginny Steinke Sheila Turner Ginny Volberding
Joan Speck Claudia Stevenson Lynn Nelson
Thank You . . . .
Page 4 September, 2015
United Methodist Women
May meetings
UMW General
Thursday, September 10
12:00 noon
potluck luncheon and meeting
in Fellowship Hall
Circle 1
Thursday, September 24
9:00 pm, Steinke
Circle 3
Thursday, September 17
2:00 pm, Hess Lounge
Circle 4
Meets as called
Circle 5
Monday, September 21
6:00 pm, Hess Lounge
United Methodist Women in Service and Mission
Our summer break is over. I hope
everyone had a great time.
We will be meeting on September
10 for General. I hope many of you can
be there, and if you are not now a mem-
ber of UMW, you are sincerely invited to
attend. We meet at noon on the sec-
ond Thursday for lunch, a business
meeting, and a program.
Our four Circles will also be resum-
ing meetings this month, and we invite
you to become a part of one of these
groups. Circle 1 meets the fourth
Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in
members’ homes. Circle 3 meets the
third Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in Hess
Lounge. Circle 4 meets after the Gen-
eral meeting, when necessary; and Cir-
cle 5 meets on the third Monday at 6:00
p.m. in Hess Lounge.
Bonnie Taylor has requested that
anyone wanting to be added to the Fu-
neral Dinner/Special Events Commit-
Our Christian love and sympathy to the family of:
Jim Jeffres, who died on July 27, 2015.
“Be prepared for God to direct you to something you do not like,
and teach you to like it!” ~~ J.I. Packer
The Messenger Page 5
Dear Church family,
Thank you so very much for the
many prayers, cards, well wishes,
meals and visits I received this past
month after my knee replacement sur-
gery. It meant so much to have my
church family come through for me (and
Chuck), especially when we don't have
family here. I am progressing slowly,
but surely. Thank you again for all of
your support. I feel so blessed.
Sincerely,
Roberta Rager We wish to thank all of our church
family for the prayers, cards, gifts and
visits while I was in Linden Court recov-
ering from my two broken arms. All of
your kindness was greatly appreciated.
A special thank you to Rev. Chuck for
his visits and prayers.
Thank you to all of you who attend-
ed our 50th anniversary open House
and those who sent cards.
May God bless everyone of you!
Barbara and Lyle Nootz
A very special thank you to all who
made my retirement day special with
cards and best wishes. To recap these
last five years at the church, it was
more a “calling” than a job.
The “thank you” cake made the day
complete. All this time I had the best
help in the world — my wife, Charlotte.
We did do our best!!
Herb Ruser
“The day the
power of love
overrules the
love of power,
the world will
know peace.”
~~Mahatma Gandhi
Come join us at Camp Norwesca
for our annual BBQ Fundraiser! This
year we are serving up authentic BBQ
and FRIED BREAD! There will be
games and activities for the whole fami-
ly to enjoy — ladder ball, cardboard
slide, 3-legged race, watermelon eating
contest, live music, GAGA ball, bake
sale, a LIVE auction, and much more!
Church Service: 11:00 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
LIVE Auction: 1:00 PM
Purchase tickets from your church
(see Dave Baltzell) or at the gate. For
every thirty tickets your church sells the
Camp Norwesca site council will donate
$50.00 towards a campership to use for
one or more campers.
Camp Norwesca Plans
Annual BBQ Fundraiser
The Paxton Fellowship of Christian
Athletes invites you to join their FCA
Faithfest on Saturday, September 5, at
Loper Memorial Park on Main Street in
Paxton. Hamburgers will be served by
the Paxton Optimists, beginning at 4:30
p.m. MDT
Entertainment will feature the music
group VOTA, along with comedian Rich
Praytor. The concert will begin at 5:00
p.m. A free will donation will be taken
to benefit the Paxton FCA.
For more information, call Dale
Schroeder at (308)289-4878.
Labor Day Weekend
Faithfest in Paxton
Answer: D. (See Mark 5:25-29.)
Page 6 September, 2015
A Bible Quiz
An Activity Page for Younger People
When Jesus was on his way to heal a young girl,
who touched his clothing, and why?
A. The girl’s father, to urge Jesus to hurry.
B. A boy; he was in awe of Jesus and just wanted to
meet him.
C. Many people; they couldn’t help it because it was
so crowded.
D. A woman in the crowd; she hoped that doing so
would heal her.
Fall Sunday School
Classes begin on
Sunday,
September 20,
10:15 A.M.
The Messenger Page 7
The Nebraska United Methodist Bike Ride for Hunger (NUMB Ride) celebrated its 20th
anniversary with a loop ride starting June 27 and ending July 1 in Ogallala. A single-year record
total of $75,000 was raised by 148 registered riders.
This year boasted more than a dozen riders raising more than $1,000 each, also quali-
fying them for a free registration for next year’s ride scheduled for south-central Nebraska. The
20-year total raised by the ride is $791,000.
“I know that within the next few years we will break the $1 million mark in support of
hunger projects in Nebraska and around the world,” said Ride Director and Blue River District
Superintendent Bill Ritter.
This year’s ride supported Heartland Food Banks, Heifer International, Bread for the
World and the Agriculture program at African University in Zimbabwe.
Hunger is still a significant issue in Nebraska, Kansas and beyond. According to Feed-
ing America, an organization known as the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization with more
than 200 food banks and 60,000 affiliated food pantries, approximately 49 million Americans live
in households that struggle to have food on the table on a daily basis. Almost 16 million of those
people are children.
“I rode Sunday for the hungry people in Nebraska who depend on the Food Banks,”
Route Director Greg Bakewell said. “On Monday I rode to help give a pair of farm animals to
people in South America, on Tuesday I rode to help Bread for the World advocate on behalf of
those who do not have a voice, and on Wednesday I rode so that Africa University might have a
strong program to help farmers.”
There were 38 first-time riders this year, adding new camaraderie to the ride. The
NUMB Ride honored Larry Lienemann and John Leibman, both long-time riders who passed
away this year.
Other highlights included:
Two days ridden in Colorado, included the “best day” from Haxtun, Colorado, to
Imperial, Nebraska – downhill, wind to the back, smooth roads and no hills.
The ride from Sidney to Haxtun was deemed the “worst day,” with 6,938 expansion
joints on the roads, although some riders considered Imperial to Ogallala – with
wind and heat in the face – to be the worst day.
Host towns of Ogallala, Sidney, Haxtun and Imperial extended radical hospitality.
NUMB would not be complete without its nightly talent shows. This year’s ride included
a fireworks display in Sidney, a puppet show in Haxtun, juggling in Imperial and great music
throughout.
Story by Kathryn Witte
News Release from www.greatplainsumc.org
Riders huddled together
in the Ogallala, Nebraska,
sanctuary for the annual
group photo the Saturday
night of the ride.
Record Sum Raised for NUMB
Page 8 September, 2015
We need your help in keeping our
contact data up-to-date! Please be
sure to keep the church in mind when
you have changes in home address, e-
mail address, or phone numbers.
The Post Office will forward first-class
mail for you, but newsletters are re-
turned, and the church must pay extra
postage on each returned item. You
can help us avoid that expense.
If you have a seasonal change of
address, it is helpful if you will let us
know when you are leaving and when
you will return.
Thanks for your participation!
Address Updates
IT'S THAT WONDERFUL TIME OF
YEAR! Time to start Youth Group
gatherings! If you are in grades 6
through 12 and are ready to learn more
about God’s love, we encourage you to
join us. Shalee, Jeff and I are anxious
to get things rolling.
Our first meeting will be Wednes-
day, September 16 at 7:00 p.m., and
we will continue meeting on the first and
Youth Group Gatherings to Begin Again third Wednesdays of each month at
7:00 p.m. in the church basement.
We encourage you to invite your
friends! All we ask is that you come
with open hearts, open minds and a
desire to have fun and fellowship to-
gether.
See you all the 15th!
Jenn Tophoj
Youth Group Coordinator
Safeway Community Giving
Cards are still available. This is a way
of helping your church raise money
simply by dong your normal grocery
shopping at the Safeway store. Each
card is sold for $5.00 and is pre-loaded
with $5.00 of purchasing power. You
may reload the card at any time and as
often as you like.
Talk to Teresa Davis (284-8262) or
any Finance Committee member for
more information about the Safeway
cards. Cards are available for purchase
in the Church Office anytime during reg-
ular office hours.
Safeway Cards Available
If you have ideas, articles or pic-
tures to submit for the July issue of The
Messenger, please have them turned in
no later than Monday September 21.
Earlier submissions would definitely be
welcomed and appreciated!
Submissions may be made to the
Church Office, or you may send them
directly to your newsletter editor at
Thanks so much for your help!
We must remem-
ber throughout
our lives that in
God’s sight there
are no little people and no lit-
tle places. Only one thing is
important — to be consecrated
persons in God’s place for us, at
each moment.
~~Francis Schaeffer,
No Little People
Sept. 6 Greeters 9:00 Cena Graves, Milly Schwasinger Fellowship Norma Schrack, Marge Blaase
Nursery 9:00 ? ? ? ? Acolyte 9:00 Ian Shaw Children’s Moment 9:00 Pastor Chuck Rager Ushers 9:00 Group 10: Fred Olmsted, Dave Sheldon Todd Neill, Dave Baltzell, Maury Whittemore, Cena Graves, Sharen Terry Sept.13 Greeters 9:00 Roger & Judi Adkins, Barbara Draucker Fellowship “Dinner around the World” Nursery 9:00 Tammy Higgins, Annie Bassett Acolyte 9:00 Ryder Smith Children’s Moment 9:00 Carmen Troxel Ushers 9:00 Group 1: John Stulich, Lonnie Peters, Craig Draucker, Jeff Peterson, Jim Persinger Sept. 20 Greeters 9:00 Dennis & Teresa Davis, Brian & Claudia Stevenson Fellowship Voloice & Beverly Schroder Nursery 9:00 Larry & Mary Cumming Acolyte 9:00 Grace VanBorkum Children’s Moment 9:00 Ginny Steinke Ushers 9:00 Group 2: Steve Shull, Ken Howard, Terry Johnson, Jerry Speck, Burrell Albee Sept. 27 Greeters 9:00 Judy Cross, Larry & Mary Cumming Fellowship Roger & Judi Adkins
Nursery 9:00 Judy Markussen, Shelly Reil Acolyte 9:00 Tyler Benda Children’s Moment 9:00 Jonnie Peterson Ushers 9:00 Group 3: Dennis & Teresa Davis, John & Sharon York, Todd & Kim Peterson, Wendell & Ramon Upright Oct. 4 Greeters 9:00 Don & Shirley Bassett, Ted & Jean Slagle Fellowship Doris Hickam, Sharen Terry Nursery 9:00 Pete & Jonnie Peterson, Sally Pankonin Acolyte 9:00 Mason & Cedric Knudsen Children’s Moment 9:00 Michelle Kimberly-Rhoades Ushers 9:00 Group 4: Larry Cumming, Pete Peterson, Phil Armstrong, Roger Rankin, Ken Meyer Oct. 11 Greeters 9:00 Doug & Linda Fuller, Herb & Karen Knudsen Fellowship Teresa Davis, Judy Markussen
Nursery 9:00 Shirley & Roger Rankin Acolyte 9:00 Tristan Lumpkin Children’s Moment 9:00 Penny Benda Ushers 9:00 Group 5: Jim Glenn, Gerold Radcliffe, Todd Benda, Carl Dietz
If you would like to have your name added to the rosters for any of the service opportunities listed above, please contact the church office.
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The Messenger Page The Messenger Page 9
STEWARDS FOR SEPTEMBER, 2015
One Service at 9:00 a.m., followed by
“Dinner around the World” in
Fellowship Hall —
Please come!!
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NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OGALLALA, NEBRASKA
Permit No. 74
Our Vision: “To be a dynamic church, sharing and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ”
Our Mission: “To love God, love each other and extend that love beyond our church”
“Dinner around the World” Sunday, September 13, 2015
T H E M E S S E N G E R
F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H
4 2 1 N O R T H S P R U C E P . O . B O X 9 1 6
O G A L L A L A , N E B R A S K A 6 9 1 5 3
R E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D
Confirmation Classes for this year will begin on
Wednesday, September 2, at 6:00 p.m.
Confirmation is for young persons in
grade 8 and above. We will meet the
first Wednesday of each month in the
Fellowship Hall downstairs.
A parent should plan to attend with
their young person.