The MethodistThe MethodistThe Methodist

A Publication of The Seward United Methodist Church 1400 North 5th Street Seward, NE 68434 April, 2013 Vol. 9, Issue 4

March 24, 2013 Palm Sunday

Worship at 8:00, 9:15, 10:30

Easter Egg Hunt at 11:30 for

kids Pre-K through 3rd Grade

March 26,27,28, 2013 The Living Last Supper

Each night at 8:00 p.m.

March 29, 2013 Good Friday

Worship at 7:00 p.m.

March 31, 2013 Easter Sunday

Worship at 8:00, 9:15, 10:30

8:00 9:15 10:30 Total

6-Jan 39 102 120 261

13-Jan 29 92 98 219

20-Jan 17 64 182 263

27-Jan 22 89 136 247

3-Feb 35 100 103 238

10-Feb 48 108 110 256

17-Feb 23 69 121 213

24-Feb 66 105 72 243

3-Mar 27 113 109 259

10-Mar* 32 39 61 132

17-Mar 22 120 110 252

Average 245

2012 Average Attendance through March 18: 241

* March 10 Blizzard: Not used in avg.

Worship Attendance to-date for 2013

Heartwarming Worship

Worship Schedule

8:00 a.m. Worship—Service of the

Eucharist

9:15 a.m. Harmony in Worship

9:15 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Exaltation Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

CAN’T BE IN WORSHIP?

Watch us on Cable 13 at 9:30

p.m. on Sunday and 10:00 a.m.

on Thursday mornings.

Save April 20 for the next

UMW WORKDAY

Join the UMW from 8:30 a.m.

until ??? for fun, fellowship and

sewing!!

Risk Taking Missions BLUE VALLEY COMMUNITY

ACTION PANTRY

Collection item for March 31 & April 7

KNIT WITS

The Knit Wits will be meeting once a

month, every third Wednesday at

11:30 a.m. Please notify a member if

you have a need for a shawl or you

know of someone who can use a

shawl for extra comfort. Call Sarah

Shively with questions. (402-643-

3036)

Soap & Shampoo

SCHEDULED MEETINGS

IN April

April 3—UMW Exec 10:30 UMW Unit 1:30 April 9—Finance 7:00 April 10—Foundation 7:15 April 11—Trustees 7:00 Worship Cme. 7:00 April 19—Newsletter Deadline April 20—UMW Workday 9:00

JOYS AND CONCERNS Prayers Concerns: Connie Atkinson, Virginia Cattle,

Prayers of our Church

Miscellaneous

SNOWTEAM

Snow Team for March 31—April 6

Team #2: Larry Chapman, Darrin Goracke, John Naber

Snow Team for April 7—April 13

Team #3: Louis Reeder, Rod Barth, Blaine Clowser

Snow Team for April 14—April 20

Team #4: John Moody, Neil Butzke, Clay Shepherd

Snow Team for April 21—April 27

Team #1: Marc Guthrie, Jim McHugh, Crystal Kirby

SAVE THE DATE

October 19, 2013

Seward United Methodist Womens’

All-Seasons Bazaar!

Details to Come!

Reminder to all seniors - The SUMC

Higher Education Scholarship applications

have been sent out and need to be returned to

the church office no later than April 30,

2013. Additional applications will be avail-

able in the church office as well as online at

http://sewardumc.org.

On Sunday, March 10, an announcement was made at all worship services that my

family and I have accepted a new pastoral appointment in the Great West District

of the Nebraska Annual Conference. On July 1, 2013, I will assume a new ministry

role as the Senior Pastor of Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook, NE. I write to you with a

sense of thanks for the growth that Seward UMC has experienced over the last couple of years, and also

with excitement about the potential not only for my new appointment, but also for SUMC. Ordination as a

United Methodist Elder involves a commitment to serve where the Bishop and the Annual Conference

deem that my gifts for ministry can best serve the larger Church. I believe in the system, and know that the

Bishop and Cabinet do their prayerful best to match the right pastor to the right church at the right time.

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is the local church’s liaison with the Annual Conference,

and has worked with our District Superintendent, Rev. Galen Wray, to create a profile that the Bishop and

Cabinet has used to match the best pastoral leader with the needs of SUMC. On March 17 the

announcement was made at all worship services that The Rev. Dale Lambert will be appointed to SUMC

this summer. Your SPRC, led by Martie Guthrie, is a spectacular group and has represented the church

well in this process. My last Sunday in the pulpit will be June 9, 2013, after which I will use my remaining

vacation days to vacation, pack, make the move, and prepare for my first day on the job, which will be July

1. As of June 9, our relationship as pastor and congregation will change dramatically. After that date, I

will no longer be your pastor. Along with the commitment to itinerate is a commitment to not interfere

with the ministry of your new pastoral leader. I will no longer be available to you for weddings, funerals,

baptisms, or other events. It is not the United Methodist way for former pastors to interfere with and

undermine the ministry of the current pastor; to do so is disrespectful and inappropriate. You will soon

have a new pastor who will be involved in the life of the people of this congregation. Do your best to

welcome Rev. Lambert and help him in the process of beginning a new season of ministry together.

Change brings with it an opportunity for growth and new possibilities. With God’s help, everyone

involved will be further strengthened for the common work we engage in for God’s kingdom.

Our thanks to all our church family who have blessed us with phone calls, prayers, and

expressions of concern after Franklin’s recent surgery. Thanks to Pastor Doug for his

hospital visits and prayers. We have truly been blessed by you all.

Franklin & Phyllis Hronik

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN April Meeting April 3, 2013 1:30 p.m.

The program will focus on Poverty and will be given by LaQuita McKibbin.

Hostesses: Virginia Fraser & Elaine Vrana

Native American

Ministries Sunday

Join us on April 14th - we will

receive a special offering for

native American ministries within

the United Methodist Church.

Rides to worship are

Available to those who are unable

to drive. If you would like a ride,

please call the

church office (402-

643-4156) and we

can have a driver

contact you to make

arrangements.

High School Mission Trip – Coordinator(s) Needed

The Mission and Outreach Committee is looking for an

individual or group of individuals that are interested in

planning a High School Mission Trip for the Spring/

Summer of 2014. 2014 seems a long ways off but fund-

raising for this biennial event has historically begun on

the off year. There are many resources for someone in-

terested in this potentially life changing event for our

high school youth. If you would like more information

please contact Karen Yelden (402) 643-2317 .

Seward Ministerial Community Spring Project

Saturday April 13th from 8am to 1pm

Meet in the Hillcrest Church Parking Lot

(2433 Progressive Rd)

Return at 1 pm for lunch at Hillcrest

Bring: Rakes, shovels, weed pullers, trucks, trailers, gloves, a water

bottle, and lots of energy

We will work together as churches to help people in the community

with spring clean up as well as working with the City of Seward on

other projects.

If you have questions please contact

Dan at Hillcrest EFC

dngjester@gmail.com or 608-843-9348

The Seward Youth Center is in need of

board games and card games. If you have

one or some to donate, you an leave them

in the grocery cart in the front hallway at

church. Thanks!

On January 20, our special charge conference advanced the motion to sell the current par-

sonage building to make way for future expansion of our church. To that end, the Trustees

have appointed a subcommittee to be in charge of the advertisement, showing, and sale de-

tails. If you know of any interested parties or have questions concerning the sale, please

direct them the subcommittee members. They are Carole Briggs (643-2304), Neil Hentzen

(643-5547), Vernon Curtis (643-2409) and James Lee (641-7598).

Phone: 402-643-4156; Fax: 402-643-4159 Email: sewardumc@windstream.net Website: www.sewardumc.org Doug Griger, Pastor; Every Member, Minister

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Seward, NE

Permit No. 62

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Seward United Methodist Church

1400 North 5th Street

Seward, Nebraska 68434

Seward United Methodist Church

and

Bright Beginnings MAY MAILBOX DEADLINE IS

Friday, April 19

Submit your news by April 19. You can e-mail articles to the church at

umcseward@gmail.com, or drop it off at the church office.

Local Church Activities

Chair persons for April are:

Juanita Hill (643-2538)

Linda Flyr (643-2845)

REMEMBER…Call the

Church (643-4156) if you are going to be hospitalized and wish to have the Pastor visit. Due to privacy laws, hospitals cannot disclose information.

Phone: 402-643-4156; Fax: 402-643-4159 Email: umcseward@gmail.com Website: www.sewardumc.org Doug Griger, Pastor; Every Member, Minister