NLG UMC

Looking Glass, Newman Grove United Methodist Churches

 

July 2017

 

Pastoral Appointment

This week we welcome Certified Lay Minister Rick Nolze to the Newman Grove and Looking Glass UMCs. Pastor Nolze and will serve our churches as half-time minister. We look forward to getting to know Pastor Rick and his family. His spouse, Toni, serves UMC churches in Greeley, North Loup, and Scotia. He and Toni have a “blended” family of twelve children and live in Greeley, NE. Hopefully, we will be hearing from Pastor Rick in our August Newsletter. In the meantime, welcome, Pastor Nolze, to our community! Come worship with us on Sunday!

Anniversary Celebrated

John and Jean Wyant celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with an Open House at the church on Sunday, June 25th. Their sons, Josh and Jason Wyant welcomed everyone and gave a very nice tribute to their parents. Pictures were displayed and cake and punch were served. Lots of visiting with family and friends made the event “a day to remember”. We congratulate John and Jean and thank them for including their church family in this important event. Love you! Congratulations and many more!

News from the Looking Glass UMC

June 11th was a day of bountiful food, love, laughter, and appreciation as our congregations bid farewell to Pastor Dan and Lynn Dempsey. We wish them Blessings in their new venture. God is good! Prayers answered! We welcome CLM Rick Nolze from Greeley. He will be serving our church beginning July 2nd. Take time to meet and greet him at Sunday Worship Service. We did attend two of the three-day UMC Great Plains Conference. Please read Joan Nelson's report for the details. We visited the many booths of UMC agencies and services and were impressed with conversations we had with a Micah Corp Member. She was volunteering at the Mercy & Justice Booth. She expressed her concern about the Health Care Reform being presented to congress. She urged us to express our concerns to our congressman. We need suggestions as to how we want to celebrate Looking Glass UMC Birthday.

Plan to attend NGUMC Rummage Sale July21-22 because you never know what treasures you may find. Happy July 4th!! Be Thankful for Freedoms we enjoy!! Ruth Stone

Newman Grove UMC Board

The Newman Grove UMC Administrative Board met on May June 7th. Financial reports were approved. Trustees are still working with the school on the sale of the Parsonage with a School Board meeting on June 12th. They also presented information on the use of ground cement for the parking area. No RAK funds were dispersed this month, but ideas were discussed on how to support school kids with lunches or food expense when on school trips. Lynn Dempsey has a list of community members and residents at MNLH and Newman House who receive the Upper Room. We discussed the procedures at the Mobile Food Pantry in Albion. Pastor Dempsey has volunteered there each month and interest was shown in continuing this mission work. Family services will be held for Darolyn Nelson on June 13th. UMW Sunday will be June 25th. Mary Ann Urwiler will present information about changes at Epworth Village in York. No information has been received on our new appointment. Next meeting is August 2nd.

UMW

The UMW met on June 14th at the church. Linda Leeson let the program on Climate Justice and our responsibility to reduce abuse and affirm care for the world. Corsages for Mission were presented to Linda and Lynn Dempsey marking their recent birthdays. Corsages will be presented to those attending worship on UMW Sunday, June 25th and a candle will be lit in memory of deceased members. Mary Ann Urwiler will present on Epworth Village in York. There will not be a pianist on that Sunday, so we will need to get instructed on the use of the IPod. A separate offering will be taken for Epworth Village. John and Jean Wyant will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary that day with an Open House Reception in the church basement. We will begin set-up for the Rummage Sale on Monday, June 26th. Again, the Rummage Sale dates are July 21st and 22nd. We host Bingo at the MNLH on August 28th.

 

Great Plains Annual Conference

The following is a report from Joan Nelson, NG Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. Ruth Stone also attended representing Looking Glass UMC. Thank you both for your dedication to the job of representing our churches at this Annual meeting.

2017 Annual Great Plains Conference Report

2017 Great Plains UMC Annual Conference was held in Grand Island, NE June 7-10 at the Heartland Event Center. Bishop Ruben Saenz (Signs) Jr. presided over the gathering, the fourth since the joining of the three conferences. Bishop Saenz’s goal is to not have the church leave small towns, thus Lay Ministers are important for those who cannot afford full time ministers. Annual Conference is the time when members are honored for their service, infant baptisms are held, deceased clergy and the spouses are memorialized, commissions and ordinations are held, and the spirits of the attendees are renewed for another year. Rev. Claudia Bakely used the Good Shepherd to illustrate that we, the sheep, have been kind of fractious, but are guided by God through the traffic of life. Dr. Stephen Cady spoke of the Problem of Magnitude: Worship in the UMC. “Worship is rehearsal for the Kingdom of God--Live it in the World.” Seven workshops were held on Friday with attendance determined before arrival. Rev. Dr. James Bryan Smith spoke on “Narrative: The Most Important Thing about You”. The most important thing about a person is what they think about God. Most of our unhappiness in life is due to the fact we are listening to ourselves instead of talking to ourselves. The Kingdom of God has never been in trouble. Bishop Saenz talked of moving forward in mission and purpose. There are five pathways to keep us relevant. 1. To move forward: Small groups, start one for the church, one for the community. 2. To move forward: Children’s ministry--work with the schools. 3. To move forward: Mutual ministries. 4. To Move forward: Prayer. To make us approach change prayerfully. September 3-9 is our week to pray (Every Conference is asked to pray). 5. To Move Forward: Culture of Movement. Must face the challenges ahead of us. No need to look to the Bible to find heroes of the church--we are it, we are them. Conduct with an eye to the future, what church do we leave for them. If we are to become a movement, we must determine the right steps, we don’t walk alone.

Annual Conference is when the business of the year is summarized and changes are made for the future. This conference is in good financial order with increase in investments. The approved budget of $15,376,475 for 2018 shows a decrease of 1.0%. 89.48% of the Mission Shares were collected. Gateway District met 98.758% of theirs. Votes were taken on recommendations of the Board of Pension and Health Benefits that affects Clergy Retirement, and Health Insurance. The health insurance allowance will remain in force for 2018. Difficult resolutions were approved for the closure of five churches in the Conference, four in Kansas and one in Lincoln. Resolutions for the right to peacefully address injustices; for welcoming migrants in our midst; and, creation of a covenant partnership between the GPAC and the Nigeria Episcopal Area of the UMC were all accepted. Votes on five Constitutional Amendments were taken, the results will not be known until all conferences have been held and voted. The hard choice was made to consolidate the conference offices by moving all business to a new office in Topeka, closing the offices in Wichita and Lincoln, eliminating the jobs in them. This was done to improve efficiency, ultimately saving money. Prayers were requested for the Bishops Way Forward Commission on Human Sexuality meeting in 2019 before the next General Conference in 2020.

This Conference was shorter than past meetings; fewer reports of mission partners; no reports from UMW or UMM or the camp programs. The next Conference will be held June 13-16 in Wichita, KS. Thank you for allowing me to represent this congregation at the meeting. Joan Nelson, Lay Delegate

 

Farewell to Dan and Lynn

We send Dan and Lynn Dempsey God’s blessings as they begin another chapter in their lives. It was a well-organized departure and we were all very reluctant to let them go. God has a mission for them in Indiana and we pray their presence there give peace and joy! We know grandchildren make life better! God bless you both in your new home. Keep in touch and live life well! We’ll always keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

++++++++++++++++++++++++

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Darolyn R. Nelson

Darolyn R. Nelson, 84, of Newman Grove, NE, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2017 at her daughter’s home near Scotia, NE. Private family services were held on Tuesday, June 13th at Shell Creek Cemetery near Newman Grove. Darolyn Ruth Nelson, the daughter of Rudolph and Gladys (Broberg) Vavra, was born on May 30, 1933 in rural Newman Grove. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith at Newman Grove United Methodist Church as a child. She attended school at Lindsay Public School until the second grade before attending Newman Grove Public Schools, where she graduated in 1950. Following her high school graduation she worked for the school for one year and then began working for the local gas company in Newman Grove. On August 8, 1959, Darolyn was united in marriage to Louis A. Nelson at the Newman Grove United Methodist Church. To this union, a daughter, Lynette was born. Darolyn worked as the head bookkeeper at the Farmer’s Coop in Newman Grove, and after 25 years of service, retired in 1998. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary as well as a lifetime member of the Newman Grove United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a part of the United Methodist Women. She enjoyed crafting, crocheting, and being outdoors. She loved feeding and watching birds, as well as her cows and other animals. Darolyn was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan and even kept track of stats in games. But, most of all, Darolyn loved and cherished her family and was a wonderful grandmother to her grandson, Luke. She loved spending time with all her family and enjoyed making holidays special for them. On April 4, 2017, Darolyn moved to her daughter’s home near Scotia, NE and resided there until her passing on Monday, June 5, 2017. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Louis of Newman Grove; daughter, Lynette Marisch and husband Jim, of Scotia, NE; grandson, Luke Marisch and wife Becca of Chapman, NE; and on sister, Arlene Webster of Clayton, NM; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Marvelyn Deitchler; and other relatives and friends. Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the family.

 

Meals on Wheels

Fellowship Bible Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, NG United Methodist, and the MNLH take turns to deliver the meals. Our schedule is: July 10 – 14; August 7 – 11; September 4 – 8; October 2 – 6, and Oct. 30 – Nov. 3. Volunteers are welcome to sign up for a day during these weeks. This is a local mission for our church and one that has great value for those served.

 

Mission Trips

The mission group to Zambia Africa, leaving January 23rd through February 13th, is growing. If you are thinking about it, please contact Rose or Gene Wissenburg.

 

Contacts and Websites

EV DS Rev. Eldon Davis – 406 W. Phillip Ave., Ste. 301, Norfolk, NE 68701 EV District Sec. – Kathy Hoesing 402-371-1313 elkhornvalley@greatplainsumc.org www.greatplainsconferenceumc.org Great Plains Conference www.UMC.org United Methodist Church Newsletter and calendar items send to: grw19646@gmail.com or call 402-447-2255 Certified Lay Pastor Rick Nolze - (402)-640-5645 Email - trnolze@hotmail.com

Looking Glass, Newman Grove UMC Website & Facebook www.nlgumc.wix.com/nlgumc Nlg Umc