May 2026
Last week, I had the good fortune to attend the Healthy Congregations workshop in Salina. This is the third time I have attended the workshop, and I have been impressed every time.
This particular workshop focused on something I would love to see done in both of our churches and as a ministry to the greater community.
Part of the workshop focused on an approach to small group ministry. As United Methodists, small groups are a significant part of our tradition since John and Charles Wesley got their footing through what they referred to as bands, classes, and societies. Bands usually consisted of 3-4 people, classes usually involved 12-18 people, and societies were more like congregations of their day. When classes would reach a certain size, they would then split into two smaller groups, where participants would intentionally invite others to join them to support one another in Christian love.
The small groups we discussed last week were the bands (3-4 people). So, people attending the workshop were asked to sit with three others at each table, where they would focus on each other and center their discussion around a question. One question had us share the details of a time when each of us gathered with others for a meal.
One meal I remembered was when I was in seminary, right before Christmas when I was involved in a ministry with homeless, street addicts, prostitutes, inner city poor, etc. I had become friends with the folks in this group, and the folks in it were the folks who would “tell you dirty jokes until you smiled” to quote Billy Joel. What I remembered was the laughter and the joy of the occasion, since it was right before Christmas.
As people in our small group shared their stories, we realized laughter, companionship, friendship, love, etc., were what made each respective occasion special. Then, we were asked to imagine Jesus was sitting with us sharing a story of a time he ate with others. The story was told in the first person, as if Jesus was speaking. I thought it would be the feeding of the 5,000 or maybe the time he was with Mary and Martha. Instead, it was the last supper.
When you hear the last supper from a first-person account as if Jesus was telling it, it changes what you think of the experience. It made me feel like I was there. The experience strangely warmed my heart, to quote John Wesley.
The point of the matter is that story telling is often healing for people. I believe the ultimate purpose of any congregation goes well beyond Sunday worship. Churches should be places for healing, and places where people discover gratitude through service, where conversations give people the opportunity to jump at the experience of serving as Jesus served.
It has been my experience and it became my belief years ago that healing happens when people are seen and heard but not judged (judgment is a reflection of the person judging and rarely the person being judged). Gratitude emerges when people serve a cause bigger than themselves, and conversations build relationships where people love one another as Jesus loved them then and loves them still.
For me, that’s what keeps me pedaling. Do you think it would keep you pedaling, too? Shalom, Pastor Mark
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 1
& 2 Rummage Sale/Bake Sale
May 3 Celebrating Graduates
May 4 # 9:30 Ladies Exercise
May 5 4:30 – 9:00 Kids First Training
May 10 Mother’s Day
May 11 5:15 Kids First Board Meeting
(NO May Admin Board Meeting – the next meeting will be June 8 at 5:15)
May 27-30 Rev Mark at Annual Conference in Kearney, NE
#Other Ladies Exercise Class Dates – 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 27
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 2 Chad Ulepich May 18 Alaina Sullivan
May 4 Crystal Fields
May 4 Riahna Warren May 18 Ella Sullivan
May 5 Brenda Marshall May 18 Tenley Sullivan
May 6 Zach Sharp May 18 Brianna Bunn
May 7 Pam Clemensen May 20 Evan Zafuta
May 7 Kim Martin May 21 Sandy Lyon
May 7 Kim Nelson May 27 Taylor McKee
May 15. Terri Gatewood May 28 Stanson Lillich
May 15 Trey Harris
CELEBRATING GRADUATES
On May 3rd we will be in celebration with the following college graduates:
Frida Hernandez – Maser’s Degree in School Counseling Psychology
Alexus McGowen
Avery Stotts
Owen Zafuta
CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES AND BAKE SALE INFORMATION
FMW is sponsoring a church Rummage Sale & Bake Sale on May 1st & 2nd. We can use your help in bringing donated items to the church for sale and volunteering your time to help with setting up and work during the sales time.
SCHEDULE FOR RUMMAGE/BAKE SALE
Monday & Tuesday, April 27 & 28 8:30 – 3:00 Drop off donated items for Rummage Sale
Wednesday, April 29 8:00 – 7:00 Drop off donated items for Rummage Sale
Thursday, April 30 1:00 Bring Bake sale items to church – Come help set up,
Mark prices, and organize
Friday & Saturday May 1 &2 7:00 – 1:00 Bring Fresh bake Sale items early morning –
Need workers to help during these hours for both
Anyone available to assist with this project is appreciated! Let Nikki Knaup know when you can work. (The FMW decided at their last meeting that 80% of the proceeds go directly to the church and 20% will go to the FMW group). Thank you for your assistance.