Whether your child is looking forward to summer camp, or you’re looking forward to sending your child to summer camp, or some combination of the two, enrollment has started. The Great Plains Conference Camp webpage has an overview of each of the six camping locations. Camp Horizon (the camp down by Arkansas City) is where First UMC has traditionally sent campers. It may be worth noting that Camp Chippewa (near Ottawa, Kansas) is slightly closer.

Great Plains Conference camps are wonderful, but they are not cheap. However, First UMC will provide a scholarship (a campership) for half the cost of attending camp to any child or youth who is a member or an active participant in church activities. (If money is still an issue let us know and we’ll see what we can do about it—we don’t want anyone to miss out.) Simply enroll your camper and then email office@abilenefirstumc.org or bring in proof of camp registration to the church office to be reimbursed

You can learn more about the United Methodist Camps from brochures available in the narthex, by visiting www.greatplainsumc.org/camps, speaking to Jenny Collins (who has been a trooper and gone ever year) or by asking youth who has gone recently.

Links: http://www.greatplainsumc.org/camps

Yesterday, eleven members of the Ring Praise Youth Bell Choir treated both worship services to their rendition of Come, Christians, Join to Sing. It was spectacular. And it reminded me of how horribly wrong I had been when Lisa Divel approached Jenny and me about starting a youth bell choir. I liked the idea of a youth bell choir and I encouraged Lisa in her efforts, but I didn’t think it would work. In fact, I was sure it was going to fail and I just didn’t have the heart to break it to her. My reasoning was that because kids today are busy with countless extra-curricular activities, Lisa wasn’t going to find anyone interested in taking the time to be in a bell choir. Well, I forgot about the Holy Spirit and I underestimated Lisa and the youth of this church. Clearly, it can be done and it can be done well. The eleven members are soon to be twelve. I’ve rarely been so happy to have been wrong.

Adult volunteers are needed to help with Sunday School, Power & Light, and Youth Group.  If you are looking for a fun and entertaining hour or two, we have the spot for you!  You will get to make some fun new friends and learn a lot.  No experience is necessary, just an open heart and a fun attitude!  Contact Wendy for more information.

From Julie Mayden:

Abilene First UMC will again provide camp scholarships to all children of the church attending a United Methodist Camp.  As has been the practice in the past, the church will pay one-half of the camp registration fee.  Simply email julie@abilenefirstumc.org or bring in proof of camp registration to the church office and the church will reimburse you.  You can learn more about the United Methodist Camps from brochures available in the narthex or by visiting http://www.greatplainsumc.org/camps.  Contact the church office at 785-263-2623 or email Julie at the above email address for more information about the scholarships.

The youth will be taking orders for their annual Super Bowl Subway Sandwich Sale beginning next Sunday, January 22, 2017, through Wednesday, February 1. Look for their table in the Narthex and order your sub!  Super Bowl Sunday is February 6, and you will be able to pick up your sub sandwiches from the youth following either worship service that day.