There will be a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed on Tuesday evening, February 12^th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. You will be served delicious pancakes (smothered with butter and syrup) and irresistible sausage! A freewill offering will be taken.

Ash Wednesday services will be held in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. on February 13^th. The service will include communion, and the Chancel Choir will sing.

Lenten Lunches begin this week! Every Friday during Lent our Church is host for Lenten Lunches, which are sponsored by the Kearney Ministerial Association. They are held in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $4.00 per person. This week, Gary Petersen from First Lutheran will be speaking, Jim Anderson from First Lutheran will provide music, and lunch will be provided by Holy Cross Lutheran. On February 22^nd, the speaker will be Linda Fecht from Bethphage Mission, music will be provided by Randy Stocks of Countryside Christian, and lunch will be provided by the Salvation Army. Please join us!

Congratulations to:

Bill & Kathy McLaughlin of Overland Park, Kansas on the birth of a daughter, Avery Abigail McLaughlin, born on January 31, 2001. Grandparents include Tony & Gail Lowenberg.

Clayton & Kari Poff on the birth of a daughter, Joslyn Katherine Poff, born on February 5, 2002. Grandparents include Kathy Jensen and great-grandmother, Winona Whitney.

First Church extends its sympathy to:

The family of former member, Hazel Campbell, who died January 28, 2002 in Grapevine, Texas. Services were held at First Church on February 3, 2002.

Travis and Paula Johnson and family on the death of Paula’s grandmother, Gladyce Faltys, who died January 17^th. Services were held January 21^st in Schuyler, NE.

Jack & Ramona Dobberstein and family on the death of their 9-year-old granddaughter, Alicia Rae Rippe, who died in an auto accident on January 27, 2002 in Hubbell, NE. Services were held January 31^st. Other relatives of Alicia include Jed & Kelly Dobberstein, Winona Whitney and Bob Peterson.

Ruth Anderson on the death of her 36-year-old granddaughter, Tammy Blythe, who died in an auto accident in Lincoln on January 27, 2002. Services were held on January 30, 2002.

Kurt Siedschlaw and Joni Tschetter and family on the death of colleague and friend, Dennis Lund of Kearney, who died January 28, 2002. Services will be held February 21^st.

The Spellman family on the death of Linda Spellman, who died February 1^st in Kearney.

Rev. Marv & Joyce Koelling on the death of their son, Kevin, who died February 6, 2002.

Damara Francis joined First Church on February 3, 2002. Her fiancée, Scott Woitalewicz, became an associate member. They will be married here on October 5, 2002.

Nolan Robert Eatherton, son of Shawn & Shantel Eatherton, was baptized on February 3, 2002.

Note: This corner is being designated the AMEN corner for "an audible alert that something special was (is) being done."

Saturday night service 30

Sunday 8:30 service 149

Sunday 9:45 service 269

Sunday 11:00 service 244

Nursery 10

Children (2-yrs-old-5^thgrade) 88

6^th grade-High School 37

(Ten) Adult Classes 164

Teachers 30

TOTAL 329

Saturday night service 21

Sunday 8:30 service 129

Sunday 9:45 service 227

Sunday 11:00 service 268

Nursery 10

Children (2-yrs-old-5^thgrade) 78

6^th grade-High School 39

(Ten) Adult Classes 152

Teachers 29

TOTAL 308

The Tri-Cities Christian Business Directory is available in the Narthex. Pick up your FREE copy today! It lists Christian organizations, Christian Camps, websites, businesses, and area Churches.

The Sociable Seniors will be on the road twice in the month of March.

On Saturday, March 2^nd, they will be attending the Barbershoppers Concert at Kearney High. Cost is $8.00 if you are signed up by February 25^th, $10.00 if called in later. If you have purchased your tickets elsewhere, but wish to go with the group, cost is $1.00 for gas. Call Merwin Roeder at 237-5486 for tickets and information. We will leave the church parking lot at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, March 10^th, we will be attending the UNK International Food Festival at the Health & Sport Center. The event is FREE! and will include food, entertainment and travel. Meet in the north parking of the Church at 5:15 p.m. Please sign up by March 5^th. Call Merwin Roeder at 237-5486.

The "Deeper Faith" adult Sunday School class would like to invite all those interested in an 11:00 Sunday School class to join them in the Friendship Room. This is a new adult class and we will starting a new bible series by Charles Stanley, "Practicing Spiritual Discipline".

We encourage all to come see what we are all about and deepen your faith. For more information, please contact Gregg & Denice Aten at 338-8063 or Duane & Lorraine Ebke at 238-9162.

Little Seeds of Faith meets every Wednesday morning from 9:00 –11:00 a.m. in the Crusaders Room. The mission of the class is to nurture children and parents by providing a safe, secure, Christian learning atmosphere. Children will develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Parents are given this time to do activities that may be difficult to achieve with a child along. Openings are available from 6 months to 6 years. The cost is $3.00 per child per morning or $6.00 maximum per family. Attendance at First United Methodist Church is not required. If you are interested in your child joining, please contact Tammy Tillotson at 233-5911.

Proceeds from the Little Seeds of Faith contributed $1,200 to the van fund that recently purchased a new van for First Church! Thank you!

When the trouble with my eyes was first addressed, I understood that my condition only occurred in 1/25,000 cases. After a year of treatment, the condition is not responding to the shots, so my next stop will be Good Sam’s for an MRI, and then a neurologist.

Some days I have to struggle to keep my eyes open, while on other days I can forget for a while that I have any eye problems. Everyone in this Church is so gracious, offering many different types of help. Some have even managed to get through to my stubborn, independent English heart. I really appreciate your prayers, kind words and gestures of friendship and concern. In particular, I thank those of you who have insisted on driving me to my various doctor appointments.

I am publicly thanking all of you for your support. I may appear to be frowning, but if you could see my heart, you would know this is not the case. I may look as if I am dozing during the Sermon. I assure you that is usually not so!

I thank God for our large caring Church family. May God bless you.

Thank you to everyone who has responded to the additional eleven broadcast dates that we have taken over. Your generosity is appreciated by many people. We have no way of knowing how many people we reach each Sunday, but we have heard from many people who listen to the radio each Sunday because they are unable to attend worship services. We have also heard from people who do not attend this church, but listen to our broadcast! This is a wonderful ministry, especially to those people who are homebound for one reason or another.

Cost for the broadcast will be $161.00, payable to the Church within a short time after your broadcast date.

If you would like to sponsor one of the following dates, please call Sharron Altmaier at 234-2163, or Ann at the Church office, 237-3158. Dates still available are: May 26^th, June 2^nd, July 21^st and 28^th, August 18^th, September 15^th and 22^nd, October 20th, November 3^rd and 10^th, and 17^th, and December 29^th.

If you listen to the radio regularly and would like a bulletin mailed to you, please call the Church office.

On Sunday, February 24^th starting at 3:00 p.m., we will be picking up all Middle School Youth and bringing them back to the church for games, fellowship and fun. We will also be trying to come up with a name for our group, so come prepared with some ideas!! Your parents can plan on picking you up at church at 5:00 p.m.

Parents: If you would be willing to help pick up youth, please contact Anne Hof at 237-3158 or e-mail her at:

anneh@kearneyfirstumc.org

At the potluck dinner on Sunday, January 6^th, the lids from two casserole dishes were exchanged. If you have a lid that does not fit your 2 ½ qt. casserole dish quite right, please call Esther McKean at 234-3170 to exchange it.

Pass It On group #20, chaired by Sharon Mason & Marguerite Richardson, served 50 persons preceding the funeral of Hazel Campbell on February 3, 2002. Those who provided food, helped set up or clean up, or provided money were: David & Marcia Smith, Marsha Nelson, Suzy Lewis, Lela Lammers, Margery Trew, Kathy Fowler, Helen Munson, Bonnie Botsford, Sharon Mason & Marguerite Richardson.

On Sunday, February 24^th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., you and your family are invited to ice skate at the Tri-City Arena. Cost is $3.00 per person with skates provided! (Cost is the same if you have your own skates). Everyone is invited.

The concession stand at the arena will be open, so if you would like snacks, please bring extra money.

Registration is preferred. Please call the Church office at 237-3158 to register. When you enter the arena, please tell them you are with the Church.

Congratulations to Steven Rider, who was installed as Master of Rob Morris Lodge in Kearney on January 6, 2002.

Several girls from First Church were recently installed as officers of Job’s Daughters. They include: Senior Princess—Erin Nielsen, Junior Princess—Celeste Keeney, Chaplain—Kaitlin Hawkins, Recorder—Melissa Rider, 1^st Messenger—Lynn Beistline, Inner Guard—Vanessa Rider, Outer Guard—Kristi King, Flag Bearer—Randi Garrelts, Choir—Katie Glover and Brandy Sinnard. Bethel Guardian is Angela Murrish and Associate Bethel Guardian is Ron Nielsen.

"Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil—this is the gift of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

Don’t you just love gifts? There is great satisfaction both in getting gifts and in giving them. Since we are created in the image of God, it stands to reason that He also must take great delight in giving and receiving gifts.

All that we have comes from His hand, but in particular, Solomon indicated that money and riches and the ability to enjoy them are gifts from God. In other words, God gives us that which is rightfully His, and then He allows us the enjoyment of wealth and money. As we enjoy what He has entrusted to us, no doubt He takes great pleasure in our enjoyment if our actions are in conformity to His Word and His will.

How can we be sure that our enjoyment of money and wealth is according to God’s plan? The Bible contains a great deal of specific instruction as to how we are to use money, but this guiding principle is to motivate our entire lives, including the use and enjoyment of wealth: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)

There’s nothing wrong with money. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the things that money can buy. Solomon was correct when he said that both are gifts from God. The key is to use money in such a way that our enjoyment will bring glory to God. One of the primary ways to do that is to give to the Lord and His work here at First United Methodist Church.

During the past few months, have you kept God’s glory as the number one priority in your use of money? Or have other things taken the place of your giving to God?

Offerings for the operating budget and apportionments through the end of January were: $58,428.79.

Unpaid monies on the amount borrowed for the rebuilding project are: $52,503.00 (Principal balance due).