Ole's

Dear Saints Of Andrew:
Our newest members are CRAIG & CINDY R. Welcome!

*Baptized Sunday at St. Andrew’s: Ainsley Kay S. Parents are Tyler and Molly. Tyler James M. Parents are Jim and Gina. Carly Ann R. & Ava Grace R. Parents are Craig and Cindi.

*THIS SUNDAY June 18, 20068:00, 9:15 & 10:45 Bruce preaching“The Da Vinci Sermon”

*SATURDAY EVENING SERVICES, 5:00, led by Rev. Michael Patzloff.

*Nancy and I are in Kearney, today, attending our first Nebraska Annual Conference. Annual Conference is the yearly gathering of United Methodist preachers and lay delegates from across the state. I suspect no one has traveled further to get here. We left Omaha nine days ago, on a route that has taken us through Kansas City, St. Louis, down into the Missouri Bootheel, then across the state to Springfield; we entered Kansas at Baxter Springs, winding our way through Independence, Wichita, Dodge City, Holcomb (there will be sermons preached on my experience in Finney County, Kansas) and Colby. We reentered Nebraska at Trenton, with stops at Ogallala and Scottsbluff. Chimney Rock was something of a disappointment; Nancy said it reminded her of a big Hershey’s Kiss. Happily, the Scotts bluffs exceeded all expectations. The drive to, then the view from the top were nothing short of spectacular. The area reminded me ever so much of Monument Valley in Arizona. And I’ve become very interested in the Oregon Trail lore. At the suggestion of a number of our readers, we had dinner at Ole’s in Paxton; my buffalo steak smothered in Bob’s Country Sauce has been the culinary highlight of this journey. On the drive here from Ogallala yesterday, we stopped at the Buffalo Bill Trading Post in North Platte, which was perfectly kitschy. At both Ole’s and Buffalo Bill’s, Nancy expressed regret about the animal heads on the walls. Would she prefer they had been lost on the prairie? (NANCY: “I WOULD PREFER THEY HAD BEEN FREETO ROAM THE PRAIRIE.”) Women…

*Representing St. Andrew’s at this gathering are, of course, Nancy and myself, along with Diana F., Marsha E. and Michael P. This was the first time we’d seen Michael since his pending move was announced. He seems genuinely excited. We are excited for him. We’ll have our work cut out for us, as we search for a new Youth Pastor. People of faith may well believe the Lord already knows who is to take up where Michael is leaving off, and is waiting to reveal that to the Saints of Andrew—including the lead pastors. I know I always approach this kind of situation as an opportunity to make a strong ministry even stronger.

*The highlight of this day at Annual Conference has been a video where three young men from the Scottsbluff church shared memories of a former pastor. We learned the pastor died of cancer while they were in high school. The young men had been so powerfully influenced by the pastor’s life and witness that they each decided to enter the ministry and are currently enrolled in seminary. What a great way to illustrate the theme of this conference: “Making Disciples, Making a Difference.”

*PASTOR CHARLOTTE asks: Prayers of sympathy for the Schaeffert family, whose father and husband passed away recently, following a battle with cancer (friends of the Roths). Also added to the Military Prayer list today: Prayers for Scott Z., pilot in the Air Force (Judy S.’s son-in-law). Prayers for Captain Jon L., deployed to Iraq (son of Ted L., nephew of Marsha E.). Prayers for David and Nate D., brothers serving in Iraq (nephews ofTed L. and Marsha E.). Prayers for Adam B., in the Marine Corps, training for deployment to Iraq in early September (son of Carrie T.). Prayers for Doris N., hospitalized.

*BRD