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 Friday, March 15^th, the speaker will be from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, music will be provided by Sandy McKirihan from First Presbyterian Church, and lunch will be provided by Kearney Catholic High. On March 22^nd, the speaker will be John Hanson from New Life Assembly. John is Tom Osborne’s Senior Agricultural Advisor. Music will be provided by Jeannie Ackerman & Joan Webel from St. James Catholic Church, and New Life Assembly will provide lunch. Lunch on Good Friday, March 29^th, will be provided by First Presbyterian Church. Our Acclamation Bells will provide music and the speaker will be David Keiter from St. James Catholic Church. Please join us!

Congratulations to:

Sarah Anderson & Matt Gangwish, who were married at First Church on March 9, 2002.

Congratulations to:

Brad & Sharon Brandt on the birth of a daughter, Bree Alexandra Brandt, born on February 20^th. She joins brother, Caleb Brandt and sister, Blakely Bond at home. Grandparents include Lean & Ardy Brandt.

John & Marina Richards on the birth of a daughter, Alexandra Julia Richards, born on Feb.21^st.

Richard & Helen Burkey on the birth of a grandson, Creighton Zane Goddard, born Feb. 17^th to Garry & Stacy Goddard.

Maxine Thatcher on the birth of a great-granddaughter, Laney Rae Thatcher, born on February 28^th to Kory & Colleen Thatcher.

We welcome to First Church:

Chris & Amy Worley, who joined First Church on February 24, 2002. They have two sons, Logan and Jaxon.

Trace Everett Johnson, son of Toby and Sarah (Steinwart) Johnson, was baptized on February 24, 2002.

Hayden Todd Bahler, son of Wayne & Cyndi (Schug) Bahler, was baptized on February 24, 2002.

Brody David Anders and Davis Logan Anders, sons of David & Nancy Anders, were baptized on February 24, 2002.

Jordan Andrew DeVries, son of Joel & Michelle DeVries, was baptized February 24, 2002.

Jaxon Lee Worley, son of Chris & Amy Worley, was baptized February 24, 2002.

Brandt Richard Stauffer, son of Brian & Tisha Stauffer, was baptized on February 24, 2002.

First Church extends its sympathy to:

John & Marina Richards and family on the death of John’s father, Duane Richards, who died February 21, 2002.

Mike & Becky Evers and family on the death of Mike’s mother, Lois Evers, who died February 21, 2002 in Grand Island.

Tom and Linda Watson on the death of Tom’s aunt, Mildred Watson, who died February 26, 2002 in Columbus.

Alvie Payne, John & JoDell Payne, Chuck & Marian Payne, Ron & Nita Payne and families on the death of wife, mother, and grandmother, Ruth Payne, who died February 25, 2002 in Arizona. Services were held at First Church on March 1, 2002 and again on March 5, 2002.

Lucille Nelson and family on the death of Lucille’s 3-year-old great-grandson, Christopher Dietz of Amherst, who died February 23. 2002.

Niles & Bonnie Buck and the family of Goldie Buck, who died February 26, 2002 in Cozad. Goldie had been a member here for 33 years.

Cal Sutherland and family on the death of Violette "Vi" Sutherland, who died March 2, 2002. Memorial services were held at First Church on March 8, 2002.

Please call Sharron Altmaier at 234-2163, or Ann at the Church office, 237-3158 if you would like to sponsor any of the following dates: May 26^th, July 21^st and 28^th, August 18^th, September 15^th, October 20th, November 3^rd and 10^th, and 17^th, and December 29^th. Cost for the broadcast will be $161.00, payable to the Church within a short time after your broadcast date.

We do not know what the price for next year’s broadcast will be, but we already have several dates that have been spoken for. Look ahead on your 2003 calendar. Is there a special event, such as an anniversary or birthday that you would like to recognize? If so, please call Sharron or Ann to save your spot on 2003 list.

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

Do you have some free hours during the week where you might like to earn some extra income? Do you like to work with children? You might be just who we are looking for!

Pumpkin Patch is in need of a van driver Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This would be to transport kindergartners to and from school. We also need a van driver/teacher on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-5:30 p.m. We would like to hire a sub to work as needed.

If this sounds interesting to you, please contact Lori Jorgenson, (Director) or Regan Schuster (Assistant Director) at the Pumpkin Patch, 237-4220.

Have you, or someone close to you, ever been bullied? The Health and Wellness committee would like to help you learn strategies to deal with this common form of abuse. Tim Peterson from Good Samaritan Health Systems will present a workshop on "The Wounded Spirit" on Sunday, March 24th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Frank Peretti is the author of The Wounded Spirit.  He addresses the issue of ‘bullying’ which can happen at school, in the workplace and at home.  He helps us uncover the scars in our own lives & illustrates how ridicule and rejection can push people beyond the brink.  Then, he shows us the way to heal the wounded spirit that lies within us all.

Those who would benefit from attending include high school age youth, Sunday School teachers, youth sponsors, Stephen Ministers, and anyone who has been the victim of bullying.

Call the Church office to register at 237-3158.

Note:

This corner is being designated the AMEN corner for

"an audible alert that something special was (is) being done."

Saturday night service 22

Sunday 8:30 service 113

Sunday 9:45 service 241

Sunday 11:00 service 327

Nursery 8

Children (2-yrs-old-5^thgrade) 69

6^th grade-High School 30

(Ten) Adult Classes 159

Teachers 32

TOTAL 298

Saturday night service 32

Sunday 8:30 service 91

Sunday 9:45 service 231

Sunday 11:00 service 198

Nursery 6

Children (2-yrs-old-5^thgrade) 75

6^th grade-High School 27

(Ten) Adult Classes 144

Teachers 27

TOTAL 279

Good Samaritan Hospice will be offering Hospice Volunteer Training March 23^rd and April 6^th, at the Homecare office at 2501 30^th Avenue, Kearney. The training will be from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Hospice Team members are local doctors, nurses, ministers, social workers, pharmacists, and volunteers. This team approach helps to assure that each hospice patient and family receives quality care and comfort. The local volunteer serves a very important and significant part on the team, offering visits, transportation, care, socializing, meals and many other services.

The Good Samaritan Hospice program provides care and support for terminally patients and their families. Those who volunteer for the hospice program will receive specialized training in hospice care and information about the medical aspects of the Hospice patient, communication, death, dying and grief, care and comfort measures, and bereavement.

Persons interested in participating in the training sessions can pre-register with Becky Pharris at 308-865-7090.

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.

Before the reception (at 1:30 p.m.), a presentation will be made by the Fern Family. They have donated a historic 1922 American LaFrance Fire Truck to the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department. LaMoyne restored this truck from 1967 to 2001. It was Kearney’s first motorized pumper.

Please join the Fern family in celebrating both these momentous events. In lieu of gifts, the family suggests cards or contributions to the Kearney Fire Department Museum Fund.

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.

Howard Strong is organizing a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, which is 40 miles south of the border. Howard was so inspired by the mission trip to Texas that he has raised almost enough money to go to Mexico in May. The group will leave May 18^th or 19^th and be gone for one week. Cost is $100 per person, with gas, lodging and 3 meals per day provided.

If you are interested in participating in the trip, please call Howard at 234-6880. He would like to have a group of about 10 persons, male and female. He has five persons who have expressed interest.

The trip, Project Abrigo, would include building a block house, 12 x 24, with 2 windows and one door. The existing house, which has a dirt floor, will be torn down. The family who will live in the house includes 3 adults and 2 children. The daughter in the family attends Lydia Patterson Institute, which is where the mission trip went last month.

The Easter Offering will be divided between Habitat for Humanity, Rural Urban Human Need Fund, Lydia Patterson Institute and World Service.

Do you know what the acronyms and abbreviations used on the Church calendar stand for? To help you understand things a little better, we have listed some of the most common abbreviations:

TLC for TLC—Tender Loving Care for the Lord’s Children is a Wednesday afternoon program for children up through fifth grade.

Faith Formation is a Wednesday afternoon pre-confirmation class for 6^th graders.

T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) is a Wednesday evening activity for 8^th graders

Soul’d Out is a Wednesday evening activity for high schoolers

Little Seeds of Faith meets Wednesday mornings. It is for children from 6 months to 6 years.

SPICE (Serving Persons in Crisis Everyday) is a support group for widowed women.

UMW=United Methodist Women

UMM=United Methodist Men

Pass It On Ministry—a service organization involving all families of the Church. Members are called upon about once a year to serve funeral dinners.

Scripture Searchers—a women’s bible study group.

"Voice of the Prodigals" and "King’s Own"—our two 9:45 praise bands.

FLC—Family Life Center (gym)

Are there others that you would like to know? If so, please contact Lori Vogt and it will be in upcoming editions of the SPIRE. You may contact her by dropping a note in the offering plate, calling the Church office at 237-3158, or e-mail her at:

loriv@kearneyfirstumc.org

Also, if you like more information about any of these groups, please call the Church office and we will direct you to the staff person in charge of that group.

Game night at the Church in the Heritage Room. Bring a game you would like to play.

Meet in the Heritage Room at 5:00 p.m. to eat pizza and watch movies. If you have a movie you would like to watch, you can bring it along.

We will meet at the Church at 5:30 p.m. to go to Boelus, NE to eat.

All single persons of any age are invited to attend these activities.

Editor’s note: Many of us remember Rev. Koelling as the associate pastor at First Church from 1974-1979. We welcome him back to First Church.

Pass It On Group #2, chaired by Mary Kampfe and Dorothy Kirwan, served 25 persons following the funeral of Doris Rojeski on February 23^rd. Those who donated food, money, and/or worked were: Nevabelle Howe, Jackie Purdy, Kristy Potthoff, Dorothy Kirwan, Mary Kampfe, Jo Hollertz, Roscoe & Irene Stumbo, Cindy Kuhl, Sharon Fritson, Debbie Colvert, Kay McMinn, Lucile Lathrop and Ann Walker.

Group #6, chaired by LeeAnn Schafer, served 80 persons following the Lois Miller funeral on March 6^th. Those who donated food, money, and/or worked were: Melvina Mattley, Arleen Goodell, Dorothy Stafford, LeeAnn Schafer, Orrin & Elizabeth George, Becky Evers, Ruth Anderson, Pam Thomas, Donna Wilson, and Cheryl Neverve.

Group #8, chaired by Shirley Maxwell, served 110 persons following the funeral of Vi Sutherland on March 8, 2002. Those who donated food, money, and/or worked were: Donna Wilson, Arlene Dillon, Donna Pearce, Dawn Herrmann, Sharron Altmaier, Judy Spellman, Shirley Maxwell, Paul Maxwell, Phyllis O’Brien, Maggie Lunbery, Kathy Ganz, Kim Burr, Kay Liibbe, Tammy Brandt, Karen Chandler, Jean Barry, Linda Kitt, Ann Tillery, Christina Gipe, Ginger Huber, and Lesa Clifford.

Group #25, chaired by Barb Harms and Donna Wilson, served 75 persons following the funeral of Ruth Payne on March 1, 2002, and 76 persons on Mach 5, 2002. Those who donated food, money, and/or worked were: Doris Envick, Linda Watson, Ploma Geiser, Donna Wilson, Barb Harms, Elsie Cafferty, Amy Bodfield, Sherri Schroeder, Cheryl Hough, Kayla James, Sandra Moats, Sharon Strong, Kirsten Bespalec, Phyllis Kendle, June Kenton, Julie Riese, Jeanne Schultz, Arlene Shoemaker, Barb Tuttle, Cynthia Biggs, Sharon White, Amy Zimbelman, Angie Murrish, Jennifer Sinnard, Angela Mercer and Darcy Johnson, Marcella Spellman, Amy Stephens, Marian Payne, and Rachelle Spencer.

with all the fixin's, including drink and dessert!!! Thursday, March 21^st at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Entertainment will be furnished by Danielle & Her Dancing Dingo’s (if available). No Pets allowed, of course.

NOTE: There will be a $5.00 tax deductible "asking" to cover Transportation, Deportation, Exhortation and the Comfort Station. (That FREE part was just to get your attention. Remember, "There is no such thing as a free lunch...") Money refunded if not 73% satisfied. Bring a new guy and we'll negotiate your expenses for the evening.

THIS EVENT IS RATED NUMBER 3 IN THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO FOR 2002, so don't even think about missing it.

Questions may be directed to Gary Mason at 234-3377.

Three sheet pans belonging to the Pumpkin Patch are missing from the FLC kitchen. If you know where they are, please return them.

"The best vitamin for a Christian is B1."

"Under same management for over 2000 years."

"Soul food served here."

"Tithe if you love Jesus! Anyone can honk!"

"Beat the Christmas rush, come to church this Sunday!"

"Don't wait for the hearse to take you to church."

"Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case."

"Life has many choices. Eternity has two. What's yours?"

"Wal-Mart isn't the only saving place!"

"Prevent truth decay. Brush up on your Bible."

"It's hard to stumble when you're down on your knees."

"Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings."

"Christians, keep the faith - but not from others!"

"To belittle is to be little."

"Don't let the littleness in others bring out the littleness in you."

"God answers kneemail."

Area Churches have come together to present a dramatic presentation of the life of Christ. You will actively participate and experience His birth, childhood, ministry, death and resurrection.