Category Archives: Announcements

Vacation Bible School 2017

This year our joint VBS (Vacation Bible School) with Trinity Lutheran Church will be held at their place (302 North Cedar) from Monday, July 17 through Thursday, July 20. This will be an evening VBS from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with supper being served from 6:00 to 6:30. VBS is open to kids three years old and up through fifth grade. Both registration forms and a list of items you can donate should be available in the Narthex beginning this Sunday.

2017-2018 Scholarship Recipients

All told, Abilene First UMC will award $12,250 in scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year. Congratulations to our 2017-2018 Scholarship Recipients!

Abilene First United Methodist Church Scholarships: Matthew Barlow, Dustin Engle, Kinsey Ford, Mary Graefe, Anna Holmes Gabe Johnson, Keil Kelly, Ben Luty, Jordan Luty, Brianne Murray, Mallory Schardein, Marissa Schardein, Rae Schwarting, Allie Walters, Halle Warren, and Hanna Warren

Clara Shirk Memorial Scholarship: Maya Robinson ($2,000 – New) and Jacoby Robinson ($2,000 – Renewed)

Abilene UMW Kansas Wesleyan Scholarship: Malorie Unruh ($1,000)

The Breakfast Club (with Content Warning)

Jenny and I will be hosting “The Breakfast Club” once a month this summer (and perhaps, if all goes well, into the fall). It will be a chance to gather for food and fellowship and the discussion of a (hopefully) good book. Our first meeting will be Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 8:30 at the Hitching Post Restaurant.* Our first book will be Tattoos On the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Greg Boyle. Copies will be available in the Narthex for $10.

Please Note: This book presents an accurate portrayal of Gregory Boyle’s experiences in ministry with gang members in East Los Angeles. As such in contains some vulgar language. You may want to consider skipping this book if that might offend you.

*Obviously if Abilene gets a new restaurant named “Tiffany’s” both the location and name of this gathering will be changed.

A Clara Shirk Scholarship Is Available

We’ve just learned that the local unit of United Methodist Women (UMW) has one $2,000.00 scholarship available for the 2017-2018 school year. Applications are available in the church office and must be completed and returned no later than May 29, 2017. Both graduating senior and current college students are eligible.

Death of Virginia Near

The following notice was received from the Great Plains Conference:

Virginia Near, the wife of retired pastor Rev. Richard (Dick) Near, passed away unexpectedly at their home Wednesday, April 26, 2017. There will be a memorial sometime this summer when her ashes are scattered on the Ford County, KS farm on which she was born.

Condolences may be sent to:

Rev. Dick Near
2305 27th Street
Central City, NE  68826-2700

We’re Working On It

There was an intermittent* high-pitched sound not unlike the early phase of a feedback cycle during worship morning. I just wanted you to know that we’re aware of it and we’re working on it. Thanks for your patience.

*A big part of the problem is that it’s intermittent. We haven’t managed to reproduce the noise outside of worship when we could better troubleshoot it.

A Hearty Welcome to Jared Vindusaka

Jared Thomas Vinduska was born this afternoon at 3:12 p.m. He was 9 pounds 8 ounces and 19.25 inches long. Jared is the son of Jeremy Jason and Kristina (Krissy) Vinduska. He’ll be baptized soon, but don’t get too excited. Krissy has ruled out immersion.

A note about the correction: In my defense (for naming Jared’s uncle as his dad), Jeremy was in the room (and Jason was not) when I got in to see Jared. That said, please don’t tell Krissy about my mistake.