The
Community Crooners presented their Christmas performance, “The
Mystery and the Majesty” at Faith Lutheran Church in Early. Director
Karen Blass and Narrator Robin Wissink directed the cantata by
Joseph M. Martin.
A series of nine musicals were sung by the chorus. Both men and
women offered a wide variety of harmony including some duets.
Refreshments were served in the basement following the performance.
A free will offering will help purchase music and equipment.
Christmas Program • December 19, 2010
The
2010 Christmas program was presented during the service by the Sunday School
students. LuAnn Benge and Nicole Kleespies narrated and participated in the
program.
They started the program with a song.
Mother tells her children and their friends that they are to behave themselves while they play together. They are to remember that baby Jesus was born on Christmas Day. They are warned not to open any gifts. But
boys will be boys and the young man pulls out a box to show his friends
what he found inside.
His mother discovers the box had been opened and admonishes her son. She
declares that Christmas has been cancelled!
The children feel bad at what they had done. Together they decide to
re-enact the birth of Jesus to better understand what the day means.
The angel
shown at right predicts the coming of baby Jesus. Joseph and Mary plead
with the innkeeper at the door to the inn for a place for Mary, who is
heavy with child, to rest. There is no room at the inn but
they are told they may stay in the stable that is warm and dry.
There the baby Jesus is born.
The shephards come bearing gifts for Jesus.
When the mother sees how the children really do understand the reason for Christmas, she relents and tells them that Christmas is no longer cancelled.
To the surprise of everyone, Santa made an appearance in church and
presented everyone in the congregation with a candy cane.
The Church is Decorated for Christmas •
December 5, 2010
The
outdoor Nativity donated in memory of Roly Schmidt was placed outside near the
church.
A
nativity is also placed on the altar in the sanctuary.
A mitten tree has been stocked with hats, scarves, and mittens to be donated to
children in need.
Poinsettias were donated in memory of loved ones. See the Joys and Concerns page
for names of those memorials.
After the Evening Storm • August 8, 2010
An evening thunder-storm Sunday night, August 8, 2010, caused several
large trees in Nemaha to go down. This one blocked the street in front of the church.
While the top of the tree brushed the church, there appeared to be no damage to
the building.
Most of Nemaha and nearby area was without electricity for
approximately 12 hours. Power was restored by mid-morning on Monday.
Though
these photos were taken around 7:00 a.m. on Monday morning--by 10:00 a.m. there was
little indication that a tree had fallen the night before. Volunteers brought
their equipment to town and and had the tree cut up and hauled away long before
noon.
The tree temporarily laid claim to one handicapped parking spot.
Birthday Tradition • August 1, 2010
It has long been a tradition to celebrate birthdays of children and adults by having them come to the front of the sanctuary and put coins into a class jar with a slit cut in the
metal lid. The tradition was started by Elsie Carter in the 1950s for the children to place a penny per year of their age into the jar during the week of their birthday. Since the coins make a lot of noise when they hit the bottom, it is a joy trying to count them as they fall. Rather than using pennies, the adults opt for larger coins to speed up the process.
Anniversaries are also included in the tradition.
Shown is Luann Benge adding her birthday coins to the jar on August 1, 2010 with the help of daughters Sarah and Lydia.
It is the oldest celebrants who get the most chuckles from the onlookers as they
scramble to gather enough coins to match their age to the
joy of all. Then "Happy Birthday" is sung by the congregation to those who celebrated birthdays
(or anniversaries) during the week.
August
29th: Joe Wadsley and Sarah Benge shared a birthday the past week and
George and Kathy Norris celebrated their Anniversary.
Sarah has just started kindergarten and has already shown an interest in helping
light the sanctuary candles and passing around the collection plate.
Flor Johnson • July 25, 2010
Flor Johnson gave the sermon during Paster Benge's absence.
She also provided special music with a solo while accompanied by her daughter at
the piano. Photo on the right was during the children's sermon. Flor is in the
center.
The
church had a number of guests that filled the pews thanks to family and school
reunions, Early Crossroads Day activities, and travelers staying with relatives.
Visitors
this week included three sets of Davis families, Pam and Damon's grandchildren,
3 Norris guests, and 2
former foreign exchange students of Brenda's -- Kirsten from Germany and Barb
from the Czech Republic.
Vacation Bible School • July 13-17, 2010
There were 11 children who participated in this summer's Vacation Bibile School. Thank
you to the teachers, helpers, and those who furnished snacks.
There
were two volunteers: Faith and Eric, representing Child Evangelism Fellowship,
who helped with Vacation Bible School.
Faith gave a short program during Sunday morning worship service with the help
of a couple of VBS students as a review of the week's session. Faith is a
student at Morningside College.
February 28, 2010
SUNDAY, FEB. 28: Karyn
Brinkmeyer, singer, songwriter, and inspirational speaker was at the Nemaha
UMC at 10:30 a.m.
Karyn
presented a musical and verbal sermon with participation from the children and
other members of the congregation.
When you listen to the singing of Karyn Brinkmeyer, you know that
you have been touched by the presence of God.
Her smooth, passionate voice
sends out a powerful message of genuine love and concern for all people.
Karyn
relates well to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She reaches out to them
and offers hope and inspiration with every song she performs.
The
Community Crooners presented their Christmas performance, “The
Mystery and the Majesty” at Faith Lutheran Church in Early. Director
Karen Blass and Narrator Robin Wissink directed the cantata by
Joseph M. Martin.
The
2010 Christmas program was presented during the service by the Sunday School
students. LuAnn Benge and Nicole Kleespies narrated and participated in the
program. 
But
boys will be boys and the young man pulls out a box to show his friends
what he found inside.
When the mother sees how the children really do understand the reason for Christmas, she relents and tells them that Christmas is no longer cancelled.
The
outdoor Nativity donated in memory of Roly Schmidt was placed outside near the
church.
A mitten tree has been stocked with hats, scarves, and mittens to be donated to
children in need.
An evening thunder-storm Sunday night, August 8, 2010, caused several
large trees in Nemaha to go down. This one blocked the street in front of the church.
While the top of the tree brushed the church, there appeared to be no damage to
the building.
Though
these photos were taken around 7:00 a.m. on Monday morning--by 10:00 a.m. there was
little indication that a tree had fallen the night before. Volunteers brought
their equipment to town and and had the tree cut up and hauled away long before
noon.
It has long been a tradition to celebrate birthdays of children and adults by having them come to the front of the sanctuary and put coins into a class jar with a slit cut in the
metal lid. The tradition was started by Elsie Carter in the 1950s for the children to place a penny per year of their age into the jar during the week of their birthday. Since the coins make a lot of noise when they hit the bottom, it is a joy trying to count them as they fall. Rather than using pennies, the adults opt for larger coins to speed up the process.
Anniversaries are also included in the tradition.
August
29th: Joe Wadsley and Sarah Benge shared a birthday the past week and
George and Kathy Norris celebrated their Anniversary.
Flor Johnson gave the sermon during Paster Benge's absence.
She also provided special music with a solo while accompanied by her daughter at
the piano. Photo on the right was during the children's sermon. Flor is in the
center.
There were 11 children who participated in this summer's Vacation Bibile School. Thank
you to the teachers, helpers, and those who furnished snacks. 
SUNDAY, FEB. 28: Karyn
Brinkmeyer, singer, songwriter, and inspirational speaker was at the Nemaha
UMC at 10:30 a.m. 
Her smooth, passionate voice
sends out a powerful message of genuine love and concern for all people.