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SKIP'S SKETCHES
A lot of the Apostle Paul’s letters deal with the challenges of living in community. The strength
of the community lies in the ability of its members to work together for a greater cause. Jim Collins, in
his book, Good to Great, says, “Each piece of the system reinforces the other parts of the system to
form an integrated whole that is much more powerful than the sum of the parts.” This principle is true
whether we’re talking about living in a marriage (the smallest community), being part of a congregation,
or any community gathered together for a purpose and particular mission or for mutual benefit.
Learning to live in community provides ongoing challenges. Some members may leave, while
new people come, bringing a different mix or ideas and experiences. Life is never static so living in
community is an ever-changing adventure. The challenges we encounter in this adventure may call for
new ways of facing them; ways which may also lead us in new directions. Finding the best direction for
the community means we must be willing to communicate with each other. Communication is always a
two-way street, whether it between a couple in marriage, members of a board or committee, or
members of a congregation.
Effective communication shows respect for all parties concerned by attempting to listen, hear and
understand each other, and then seek a solution. Poor communication demeans others because it
doesn’t hear or understand. It rejects not only the message but can also appear to reject the
messenger. Agreement on issues, especially emotionally charged issues, isn’t always possible. The goal
of good communication isn’t for everyone to agree but to understand and respect one another despite
their differences. It’s sad that understanding and respect seem to be lacking in our current political
environment.
Learning to communicate takes practice – it doesn’t come naturally. There are many resources
for helping us improve our communication skills. We just have to take the time and invest ourselves in
the resources available. We must also insist that our public officials engage in constructive
communication for the sake of our nation and our future. Debate is good when it helps to clarify the
issues. When it serves only to twist and distort the truth for personal gain it becomes destructive.
Christians can lead the way by working to improve communication between persons of faith and within
communities of faith.
In the Spirit of Him who calls us into community and who calls us to communicate, let’s keep
looking up and moving forward.
SKIP
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THANK YOU NOTES:
*To Pastor Skip and the UMW ladies:
The family of Dutch B. wishes to let you know we appreciated you
and your service. (You couldn't tell you had just met). Also the ladies
serving the coffee and cookies-a big "Thank you!"
Jeri B. and family
FEBRUARY BOOK STUDY GROUP
On Monday, Feb. 27, the book group will meet at Mary P.'s home
to discuss “The Road", by Cormac McCarthy. The meeting begins at
7 p.m. and all who are interested in reading and discussing the books
are invited to join us.
Prayer Concerns :
Joshua J., Wayne W., Kathy L. & family in loss; Katie W., Marilyn B.,
Eli S., Johnny M.’s mother, the Dutch B. family in loss, Dana G.,
Kelly-Bonnie Y.s’ daughter, Alice B. H. & Vardena H.; Ellie O.’s
niece-Laura, Wanda P. & Fay McE., Russell R., Marvin G.'s wife-Cindy,
our members unable to attend, our Stephen Ministry leaders and ministers,
our military troops & families, & missionaries Craig & Karen Dial.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
By Joan B., UMW President
Ladies, this is a plea for all ladies of the Church to consider joining us in
UMW. Come to a meeting and get acquainted with us and see what we do.
We are a busy group, but we have fun also. We meet on the second Thursday
of the month in the Fellowship Hall at 1:30 p.m. Our meetings are usually
over by 3; sometimes we stay longer having refreshments and visiting.
Our giving to Missions and Charities for 2011 was:
$100 Project Safe
$500 Ministry Coop
$500 Salvation Army
$400 Food Pantry
$200 Wesley Foundation/ UW Student Group
$200 McCurdy School/New Mexico
$100 Red Bird Mission School/Kentucky
$2000 Total
Other giving was:
$25 Platte County Nursing Home/Candy
$760 Our Pledge to District UMW
$205.60 Our Thank Offering
$46 Call to Prayer Offering
We held a very successful Fellowship Dinner on Sunday, Jan. 15th. Thank
you to everyone who stayed to eat and visit, and a special thank you to
everyone who helped set up before and clean up after the dinner. Other
dinners will be on March 18th and May 20th. Thank you to Rowann and
WillaJean for hosting and serving a reception following the Dutch B.
funeral. The Berg family was very grateful and many compliments were
received. Thank you to everyone who furnished cookies and dessert bars.
We are brainstorming and discussing fund raisers for the coming year. If you
have any ideas please share them with us. Better yet, come to a meeting and
share them. UMW is a mission-based group. Our money is targeted for
Missions and Charities. An extra activity of Wheatland UMW is to provide
the coffee for all fellowship activities at the church. This includes the
fellowship time following church services, fellowship dinners, and funeral
dinners and receptions. We use fair trade coffee, and this represented an
expense to our local unit of approximately $300 for 2011. If you enjoy the
coffee, please let us know. We are looking forward to a successful new
year and sincerely hope that many of you will choose to become a part of
our group.
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WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR FEBRUARY
Worship Assistant: Myrna K.
Worship Hosts: Ken and Patty S.
Communion: Irene J.
Fellowship Hosts: WillaJean W., Julie M., Myra H.
WORSHIP ASSISTANCE
Please consider signing up to serve as worship assistants (liturgists),
worship hosts (ushers), fellowship hosts. Please check your
calendars and sign up on the list in the fellowhsip hall, or by talking
with Jenny, Holly or Ann C. We do ask that you sign up for a complete
month, but it is always possible to find a sub, or trade with someone,
if you need to be out of town. We can't do it without YOU!
PLATTE CO. FOOD BANK NEEDS:
The Food Bank thanks us for helping our community and the
Wheatland Food Bank. Food Bank volunteers are needed. Please
contact Pastor Jane Willis, if you can help. Needs as of 1-15-2012:
Evaporated milk, cereal, soups, Ramen noodles, canned spaghetti
sauce or tomatoes, pudding mix, Jello, canned peaches &
pears, ketchup, ground hamburger, hot dogs, & mayonnaise.
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL NOTE:
We are changing to quarterly meetings. The next meeting will be
Tuesday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m.
GAME NIGHT
Game Night will be Saturday Feb. 11th, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. in the
fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome. If you have questions, contact
the church office during regular hours.
A FRANCISCAN BENEDICTION:
May God bless you with discomfort. . .
At easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger. . .
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears. . .
To shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness. . .
To believe that you can make a difference in this world;
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And God's people said - - AMEN.
CHOIR PRACTICE
The choir will meet every Wendesday at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary
during Feb. and March. We would love new members who like
to sing to come join us.
We are hoping to do a special choir anthem for Easter and need
more singers to make this possible. Please consider joining the
choir for an hour of fun and music on Wednesday evenings.
COLLEGE KIDS VALENTINE OUTREACH
Valentine's Day will be here soon and once again we will be sending
our college students a Valentine card with a gift tucked inside....just
letting them know we're thinking of them. There is a jar in the back
of the sanctuary for any contributions you would like to make.
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SEEDS FOR HUNGER
Our church has received a thank you letter for our support of the
Jackson Area (Ohio) Ministries' Seed Project. Through this project
seeds and plants were provided for 3,969 individuals and/or families
in 2011 to supplement food needs in this economically depressed area
of Appalachia. We will again participate in this worthwhile project.
Collection of seeds will begin Feb. 25, the first Sunday of Lent and
continue through Mar. Your donation of seed packets will provide a
valuable and practical way to help those who struggle to feed their
families in this country.
HAVE YOU NOTICED:
Have you noticed that the banners made by Myrna Kragel are back in
the sanctuary? Several years ago, Myrna had seen something similar
and was very moved by the message. It stayed in the back of her mind
until about 8 years ago, when she decided to create something for the
church. She made a sketch, and from that came the banners that now
hang on the north wall of the sanctuary (thanks to Johnny and Holly for
placing the banners). Thank you, Myrna, for the beautiful banners.
“Where there is great love, there are always miracles.” Willa Cather
Valentine fact: While 75% of chocolate purchases are made by women
all year long, during the days and minutes before Valentine's Day, 75%
of the Chocolate purchases are made by men. Over $1 billion of chocolate
is purchased for Valentines Day!
Information passed on by Ann Cozad
"VOLUNTEERS ARE VALENTINES FOR ALL SEASONS."
Jacqueline Shiff, Guideposts February 2012
LABEL COUPONS SENT TO RED BIRD MISSION:
Our congregation turned in 260 General Mills Boxtops for Education
coupons and 417 Campbell’s Labels for Education coupons by the end
of the year. They were sent to Red Bird Mission on Jan. 2nd.
Thank you for continuing to collect and bring your Box Tops for Education
labels and Campbell’s soup labels, Spaghetti-O’s, Franco American UPC
codes-gravies, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Market Day, Prego Pasta
sauces-UPC codes, etc.
"I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU."
John 14:18
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