May 18 Witness to God's hope for a faithful, loving world.

The seventh annual ride or walk, sponsored by the Nebraska United Methodist Men is a chance to have fun and also support the UMM mission project. It is open to men, women and children wanting to help others, even if you don't want to ride or walk. Bikers: May 24 - TaHaZouka Park, Norfolk - Check in, breakfast at 7 a.m., main departure 8 a.m. Lunch on return from the ride. The Bike Ride is open to all interested riders of all skill levels because the rider determines their distance by picking a point to ride out to from Norfolk and then return. Riders less than 18 years of age must be accompanied on the ride by a responsible adult. All riders are required to wear safety helmets. Walkers: May 24 - TaHaZouka Park, Norfolk - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Check in and walk from Norfolk, Battle Creek, Meadow Grove, Tilden or wherever you choose! Leaving Norfolk there are a couple miles of concrete path following the Elkhorn River that would allow wheelchair participation. Registrations needed by May 13. Forms available in the church office. Do you want to help but you don't want to ride or walk? Then just send a donation check to the Registrar, payable to Nebraska UMMen and it will be distributed to the UMM Mission Programs which include: Nigeria-Nebraska UM Partnership, Society of St. Andrew hunger relief in America, Nebraska VIM disaster response, 10-10-10 Missionaries in Nebraska, Heifer Project, UM camps in Nebraska, youth ministries, jail ministry, ethnic ministries, rural and urban ministries, scholarships for Christian service, Hope of Hearing-Haiti, Epworth Village and Upper Room Prayer Line.

May 15 in Norfolk First’s sanctuary beginning at 7 p.m. Annual Conference is June 11-14 at the Cornhusker in Lincoln. Anyone can be present at one or all sessions and each church can send one voting delegate and youth delegates. If you would like to attend, please tell Pastor Carol Jean.

“HEARTBURN” – Food & Faith the Jesus Way June 10-14 at NWU in Lincoln Youth Annual Conference will be held June 10-14 at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, beginning the evening before Annual Conference. The goal of YAC is to connect, equip and train current and upcoming your leaders in the Nebraska Annual Conference toward mission of making disciples, making a difference. This 5-day event will include a concert, large group sessions, small break-out training sessions, outdoor and recreational activities, worship and an informal dance. Registration is $120 with discounts for early registration and for bringing a non-youth group friend. Registration forms are available on the conference website at umcneb.org under youth or from the church office.

Camp Fontanelle Volunteer Work Days Scheduled workdays are April 19, May 3 and May 17 beginning at 9 a.m. with lunch served. Camp Fontanelle depends of the generosity of volunteers to join in completing a wide array of projects, which vary from cleaning to painting to sawing wood. Know that any and all help is greatly appreciated Check out the Camps at Camp Fontanelle Camps include a family camp, grandparents and their grandchildren camp, camps for preschool age through 12th grade, girls only camp, boys only camp, tree climbing camp, horse lovers camp, camp at Henry Doorly Zoo, and "Survivor II: Wilderness Outpost" camp.

One of the most significant outreach program of our church is the annual amount we pay to apportionments. Many of the mission programs offered by the United Methodist Church are funded via our apportionment dollars. Our church, along with every other United Methodist Church in the district, work together through our apportionment’s to accomplish a host of mission needs. The Building Blocks has been very successful. We again invite families and individuals to be a Building Block in 2008. Our 2008 apportionments are $11,653. Each day of the year, our commitment is $32. If you could provide $32 one day each month, in addition to your regular giving, this would have an immediate and profound impact on our church. We would ask that you prayerfully consider joining this effort. Together, we can work as Building Blocks and complete our mission.

The Osmond church library is undergoing a transformation. It is the hope that more people will read the books already on the shelves. And also, if you would like to donate new or nearly-new books, please bring them to the secretary’s office before they are put on shelves. Especially needed are Christian fiction books. (Maybe we can even launch a book group or report on the good books we’ve read.) So plan to take a look in the Baer’s den and find a book to read. Happy reading!!!

217 lights were purchased for the 2007 Tree of Lights. So far, 16 lights have been purchased in 2008. A light(s) may be purchased to honor loved ones for special occasion gifts such as birthdays, anniversaries, thank you or whenever you would like to remember someone. Lights can be purchased year round for $5 each and then the lights will burn during the Advents season, through Christmas, until Epiphany. The lights are visual remembrances for the gifts given for the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

The Osmond Food Pantry is located at the Methodist church and is available to those in the Osmond community. Call 748-3302 or 748-3772 to set up an appointment

Because of privacy laws and regulations, hospitals do not notify pastors of hospital admissions. So if you want me to visit you or your loved ones in the hospital, you need to let me know. Thank you for your consideration and help in this matter. Pastor Carol Jean