"Contact" the Havelock Christian Church Newsletter June, 2005 We Celebrate God's Gifts Church Family Remembers Merlin Walters A member of Havelock Christian since 1939, long-time Elder, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, and friend Merlin Walters was called home to be with the Lord on May 27th. Dad was guided by his faith throughout his life. His kindness, respect and appreciation for other people, his wisdom, and his delightful sense of humor have made him a pillar in the church and the community for many years. He lived 99 years, 8 months, sharing wisdom, strength, and humor with us right up to the end. We praise God for the gift of a life so well lived. Graduation Recognitions Set We will honor our 2005 graduates during worship on Sunday morning, June 5. The class of 2005 includes Kayla Yost, Missy Bickford, and Travis Sewell. We also celebrate the accomplishments of Nicki Booe, John Charles, and Hope Bickford. Kayla's family is hosting a reception after church, to which we are all invited. Potluck Supper and Talent Night Set for June 12 Have you dusted off that saxophone? Are the vocal chords in shape? How about that special handwork you've done recently or your interesting hobbies? This is the time to shine - Talent Night will be celebrated on Sunday evening, June 12. God blesses us with many gifts, and how better can we say thanks than by sharing our talents with each other? We'll begin the evening with a 5:30 pm potluck supper, and the program will start around 6:30. Please get information regarding your act to Jean by no later than Sunday morning, June 12, so that we can put you on the program. Vacation Bible School to be Held June 24-25 The theme for Bible School this year sounds interesting ­ "Serengeti Trek - Where Kids are Wild about God." There are activities for those entering Kindergarten through 8th grade. The program begins with dinner at 5:30 on Friday, June 24, followed by activities from 6 to 8:30 on Friday evening, and beginning again on Saturday at noon. There is a potluck dinner planned at 6 pm, and a program following for families. This is a time to: hear Bible stories, sing songs, do crafts, have treats, play games, meet new friends, and have LOTS of fun! The place is Bethany Christian, at Cotner and Aylesworth. Sign up sheets are available. Planning Session for Second Half of the Year Set At 4:30 on Sunday afternoon, June 26, folks will gather at the home of Mike and Judi Yost to plan activities for the second half of 2005. Calendars, pencils with erasers, and munchies are the tools for the day. All are welcome - or if you have any ideas for an activity you would enjoy, please share it with a member of the Board.   Max's Musings Nervous as a long-tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Cold hands, warm heart. Snow on the chimney, no fire in the hearth. Ever notice how many of life's experiences have been reduced to cute sayings? Some are true, some are not. Can't judge a book by its cover -- tell that one to a 13 year-old boy looking at a Playboy. Now, if you have a yardstick handy.... The yardstick is a very useful measuring tool. It is 36 inches long, so it is good for those jobs that require something more than a mere foot. Straight lines on posterboard or marking a suit pattern are easier with a yardstick. Notice how the markings are divided. Thirty-six one inch marks, same number of half-inch marks, 72 quarter-inch marks, and so on. Most go to the eighth-inch with a few going as small as one-sixteenth of an inch. The yardstick is also a great device for discussing ones life. The average age at death in America is 72, the last I heard. This makes the yardstick great for measuring our life span. With one year of life equal to one-half inch, we can put all the events of our time on Earth in a handy, reduced format. Two and a half inches you start school. Four inches boys can join Cub Scouts. Nine inches and you can...well, do a lot of things. Using a yardstick, youth can be seen as 12 inches or less, middle age between 12 and 24 inches, and the senior years as anything over 24 inches. The first 12 inches of life seems so young. The last 12 inches are, so I've been told, years of wisdom and maturity. But what are the middle years? I don't really know. I guess you are just stuck in the middle. For example, a pre-teen/early teen has to deal with puberty. There are problems there and everyone sympathizes with them. Adolescents are sometimes a bit addled. No problem; we smile and nod our heads in understanding. Teens are mean and lean. The senior crowd enjoy being looked up to as the spoiling grandparent, 10% off with your AARP card, and being able to choose if you want to learn how to run a computer or not. The folks in the middle don't get much sympathy for that growing paunch -- they should watch their diet. Let the kids get in trouble and we should be more responsible in our parenting. In short, it isn't easy being stuck in the middle. Which brings me to another saying...inch by inch, life is a cinch; yard by yard, life is hard. Love & Peace Max June Scriptures and Titles 5th - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 9:9-13 The Most Powerful People on Earth 12th - 4th Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 9:35-10:8 Pigeon Hole or People 18th - 5th Sunday after Pentecost Father's Day Matthew 10:24-39 Raindrops on Roses 26th - 6th Sunday after Pentecost Guest Preacher (Max on vacation) Dates to Remember June Birthdays 3 - Betty Niemeyer 5 - Germaine Switzer 8 - Dan Skalak Juanita Moore 9 - Rob Welch 11 - Lori Jordal 26 - Scott Marshall June Anniversaries 3 - Lisa and Jay Horak Juanita and William Moore 6 - Betty and Alvin Niemeyer 10 - Barbara and Roger Hammons 12 - Diane and Ellis Willadsen 17 - Maxine and George Buell 22 - Dori and Duayne Yost Prayer Focus 5 - Wilsonville United Baptist-Christian, Pastor Keith Theobald 12 - Bellevue Christian, Portia Iverson, Interim Pastor 19 - Broken Bow First Christian, Pastor Dan Rowlison 26 - Lincoln Crestwood Christian, Rev. Duncan Miller   Upcoming Events Regular Meetings 1 - 7 pm - Elders 5 - 7 pm - CYF 6 - 7 pm - Friendship Bridge 13 - 7 pm - General Board 29 - 7 pm - Elders Graduation Recognition Set for June 5 - We will be celebrating the accomplishments of several in our church family on Sunday, June 5, during worship time. Our Northeast High School graduates include Kayla Yost, Missy Bickford, and Travis Sewell. John Charles and Hope Bickford have been working hard to complete GED's in recent months; and Nicki (Hammons) Booe received her Bachelor of Science degree from College of Saint Mary in May. Following worship on June 5, Mike and Judy Yost are hosting a reception, and we are all invited to stay and offer our congratulations. First Sunday Food Pantry Dedication - With all of the graduation excitement, we don't want to forget to bring our gifts for the Food Pantry. Of course, they are welcome every week, but we make a special point to remember on the first Sunday of each month. Unfortunately, hunger doesn't subside when the weather gets warmer. Thanks, as always, for the your generous contributions. Get Moving! Encourage, Renew, Reach Out - The Christian Church in Nebraska and the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ invite us to Get Moving and learn new techniques and gain fresh insight from author Ed Varnum. The program is called "Three Directions for a Vital Congregation: Encourage, Renew and Reach Out. Programs are being held June 6 in Steinauer, June 7 in Beatrice, June 8 in Grand Island, and June 9 in Plattsmouth. Our closest location is probably Beatrice. Here are the details: Date: Tuesday, June 7 Time: 4 - 9 pm Place: First Christian Church, 205 N. 7th, Beatrice Includes Dinner and children's programs. Cost: Free Reservations by June 1 to the CCN office at 476-0359 or e-mail to ccnebraska@alltel.net This sounds like an excellent program. Let's try to have several from HCC attend. It's Time for Talent Night!! Always a popular event at HCC, the annual Potluck Supper and Talent Night Program are scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm on Sunday, June 12. If you have talents you are willing to share, please let Jean know by Sunday morning, June 12, so we can get your name on the program. We've had some great talents shared over the years - from musical offerings, to handwork displayed, from hobbies to readings, and always the popular bunny rabbits from the wonderful Dana collection. Don't miss out on the fun - come and enjoy excellent food (you bring your favorite dish to share), great fellowship, and outstanding talent. Come one, come all! CYF Outing Planned for June 17/18 - The young people and their sponsors are planning some kind of an event for June 17-18. It sounds like the possibilities include either a lock-in or an outing to Mahoney Park. I'm sure final plans will be being made on Sunday June 5, at the regular CYF meeting. Be sure to come help with the planning! Vacation Bible School is set for June 24-25 - The theme this year is "Serengeti Trek - Where Kids are WILD about God." Bethany is hosting the even, which features activities for youngsters entering kindergarten through 8th grade. We begin Friday night, June 24, with dinner at 5:30 and activities from 6 to 8:30 pm. We get to rest on Saturday morning, but we pick up again at 12 noon and finish the event with a potluck dinner at 6 pm and program for families following at 6:30. Registration forms are available from Max. If we plan to attend the Friday night dinner, a suggested donation of $2 is shown. Several of our young people plan to attend, and we have some helpers lined up too. A big thanks to Bethany Christian for hosting this year. Women's Retreat planned for Hastings College - The annual women's retreat will be held at Hastings College on June 24 - 26. The Rev. Giovanna Arnold, wife of the new pastor at Lincoln Southview Christian Church will be the keynote speaker, with the theme being "With Heart and Hands." The registration deadline is June 10 through the CCN office. Motel rooms in Hastings at the USA Inn, Super 8, and Rainbow Motels will be held open until June 10 (under the name of Retreat Director Teresa Olberding). Planning Session Scheduled at Mike and Judi Yost's Home - The Board members and anyone else who is interested will gather at the Yost's home, 6412 Colfax, on Sunday, June 26th, 4:30 pm, to plan for the second half of the church year. Bring your calendars, pencils, and your thinking caps! Life Line Screening coming again to HCC - On Tuesday, June 28th, Life Line Screening will offer members and the surrounding community the opportunity to spend a few minutes doing something that could save their lives. Life Line will conduct four primary health screenings to detect the risk of stroke, vascular disease and osteoporosis. Screenings are fast, painless and low cost. Anyone interest must register in advance. Please call 1-800-407-4557 to schedule an appointment. They are offered at $45 each, $109 for the three vascular screenings, or $129 for all four. Appointments will begin at 9 am. FYI Thanks for your Support! During April, the CYF held their first fundraiser of the year with a sale of selected clothing and other items from the Inspirational Gift Company of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Thanks to excellent participation by the HCC family and special provisions from the company, the project resulted in a net profit of $50 to supplement the CYF account. If there was an item you were interested in but were not able to purchase during the sale, or if you need a different size, it may still be ordered. Catalogs are also available - each item has a retail price of $15. CYF Monthly Report ­ CYF members and mentors met on Sunday evenings May 1 and May 22. The study from the "Can I Be a Christian Without Being Weird" book continued, addressing the crucial needs of teens learning to follow Christ, learning to talk with God, and letting God shape the self image. In addition to June events, the young people are planning a trip to a Saltdogs baseball game on July 17, helping with the Carnival on July 23, planning Youth Sunday, set for July 24 or 30th, and an August 14th Ice Cream Social. The summer fundraising project will be recycling of aluminum cans, newspapers, and other recyclables. If you can help out, bring your items to church on Sundays or contact Roger Hammons (475-6558) or the church, and the young people will arrange for a pick-up at your house. Shorts from the Board Finances still tight - still need extra gifts, change in the piggy bank. Easter Offering totaled $585 Mother's Day events and Pentecost reception planned. New hot water heater for kitchen approved. Welcoming Committee sending cards to visitors, lining up greeters. Church Barbeque big success - 28 attended. Friendship Bridge group looking at Mother-Daughter, Father-Son events for next year; clothing drive for Safe Center in June of 2005. Also planning for Carnival on July 23. Pentecost Offering coming in strong ­ Financial Secretary Joe Herman reports that as of May 22, our Pentecost Offering stood at $459. Wow, good job folks. In Our Church Family The Reed and Dale families appreciate all the expressions of love and support with the loss of our much-loved father Merlin Walters on May 27. Dad suffered a short illness, and he had wonderful care in the last couple of weeks. He was ready to "graduate" to his heavenly home, and his passing was gentle. We will certainly miss him. We are holding Irene and Howard Sewell in our prayers this month as well, with the death of Irene's sister, Dorothy Nichols from York. Dorothy and her husband Don were long-time business owners in York. We send our greetings to our shut-in members, including Elaine and Keith Althouse, Howard Sewell, Jessie and Don Riblett, Nellie Covert, Jim Donaldson, and Eva Barnes. We hope you are enjoying the lovely flowers and the cool breezes of the season. Kayla Yost is scheduled for foot surgery on June 14th. We hope that goes well, Kayla, and that you have a speedy recovery. Our friend Doris Johnson continues to need our thoughts and prayers. We're encouraged that Sharon Jordal's therapy seems to be helping, finally, and she is able to drive again. It has been a long haul, hasn't it Sharon. Our thoughts and prayers continue with you. We send our love and best wishes to Jim and Wanda Cameron. We hope Jim's healing is going well. We continue to keep Cindy Nelson in our thoughts and prayers, as she tries to heal from her severe lung problems of this past winter. Take care, Cindy. I received an e-mail message from Helen Stein-Huls recently, indicating that she is recovering from angioplasty and having a stent put into a coronary artery, following a heart attack. The Downs family were long-time members at Havelock, and Helen's son Mike Stein is the pastor at the Christian Church in Scottsbluff. Take care, Helen. We're so glad to hear from you. It was a delight to have Karen Cunning's parents and members of the extended family with us on Sunday, May 29th, including one mighty sweet little fellow just about a year old. Karen, thanks for sharing your family with us. Kudos for May go to... Our good and patient youth mentors, Curt Peacock and Roger Hammons. What a ministry they do for us. Mike Yost for the good mowing service he does for the church so regularly. Dori Yost for the beautiful new banner for the Pentecost season, and for planting the pansies near the entrance of the church. The choir, for another great season, and to Hope Bickford, for her excellent leadership. Jack Rosecrans and Minnie Stephens for their ministry of preparing the bulletins for us each week.   On the Lighter Side One of my co-workers shared a little levity with our office the other day. I thought you'd enjoy it to. Life is Short, Enjoy It!! Ways to Deal with the Burdens of Life Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. Never buy a car you can't push. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Since the early worm gets eaten by the bird, sleep late. The second mouse gets the cheese. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live. You may only be one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. We would learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and each is a different color, but they all have to live in the same box. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Have a happy June! Newsletter Archive Calendar, June 2005 1 - Wednesday 7 pm - Elders meeting 4 - Saturday 6 pm -Lincoln Northeast High School graduation 5 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Worship Graduation Reception Communion to Shut-ins 7 pm - CYF Meeting 6 - Monday 7 pm - Friendship Bridge meeting 7 - Tuesday 4 pm - 9 pm - Program on Church Growth, First Christian Church, Beatrice 12 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Mothers' Day Worship, Pentecost Offering 5:30 - Potluck Dinner, Talent Night 13 - Monday 7 pm - General Board Meeting 18 - Saturday CYF Outing to Mahoney Park 19 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Mothers' Day Worship, Pentecost Offering Father's Day 24 - Friday 5:30 - 8:30 pm - Vacation Bible School at Bethany Christian 25 - Saturday Noon - 6 pm, potluck dinner, program - Vacation Bible School, Bethany Christian 26 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Worship 4:30 pm - Planning Session at Mike Yosts 28 - Tuesday 10 am - Lifeline Program at Havelock Christian Church 29 - Wednesday 7 pm - Elders Meeting Calendar, July 2005 3 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Worship Communion to Shut-ins 10 - Sunday 9:15 - Sunday School 10:15 - Fellowship Coffee 10:45 - Worship 11 - Monday 7 pm - Board Meeting Serving During June: Elders: Presiding - Mike Yost Serving Shut-in Communion - Jack Rosecrans, Jean Holt, Kayla Yost Members of the Diaconate: Preparing - Sharon Jordal Serving - Mary Bickford, Patrick Peacock, Jean Dana, Clovis Boardman, Judi Yost Shut-in Communion - Mike Staberg, Dan Herman, Hope Bickford Lay Leader: Roger Hammons Greeter: Mike Staberg Editor - Jean Dale Copying and Mailing - Anna and Curt Peacock Mailing Labels - John Dale

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