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R. Don Ross , Pastor
Volume XXV - Feb. 9, 2009
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A Wonderful Gift
It is really difficult to select the right gift, but always a joy to receive a gift from another person. When someone has taken the time to pick a gift that is both something the receiver would desire, and something the giver feels good about giving, a blessing is received by both. There are all kinds of gifts: clothing, food, experiences, time, love, and forgiveness. |
Recently a woman shared with me: “That there is no greater gift than the birth of a child.” I have been thinking about her statement. The scriptures say that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another,”…. “God loved the world so much that he sent his son.” But when I listened to this mother’s statement about this special gift of a fresh life given to a family, I also hear the important responsibility that comes with this gift. Last Sunday two families brought their children to be baptized: 4 month old Kellen Taylor and 8 year old Julie. As the parents reaffirmed their faith and committed to raising them in the faith and in this congregation, we as a congregation also promised to be there for the family and the children. We promised to support them and to provide both resources and examples of our faith relationship. I realized that as wonderful as this fresh gift of life is to the families and to this congregation, we both have a responsibility to make sure this “gift” from God develops that relationship with God.
Be in prayer with me as we seek to fulfill our commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Pastor Don |
CONFIRMATION CLASS TO BEGIN MARCH 1ST
I will be conducting a confirmation class each Sunday afternoon starting, March 1st at 3 PM. Anyone who desires to be a part of this class should contact me or the office. A person should at least be in the 6th grade. This class is open to any youth who wishes to explore the faith and the United Methodist Church.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S SUNDAY
United Methodist Women invites everyone to join with us on February 15th for United Methodist Women’s Sunday, a special Sunday set aside to honor and recognize the gifts of ministry of women in the United Methodist Church. The theme will be “Living Simply to Resurrect the Earth”. We will have a special guest, Rev. Barbara Dukes.
On February 20 and February 21, La. Conference United Methodist Women will have a retreat at the Wesley Center in Woodworth.
IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS IN FEBRUARY!
UMCLC SIGN UP, Feb. 13th, 5:30M in the Activity Bldg.
UMCLC Registration, Feb. 14, 10:00AM in the Act. Bldg.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S SUNDAY, Feb. 15
United Methodist Men, Feb. 17th, 6:30PM in the F. Hall.
UMCLC Board Meeting, Feb. 18th, 6:30PM in Room 205.
Staff Parish Committee, Feb 19th, 6:00PM in Room 205.
Mardi Gras Holiday, Feb. 24, Church offices closed!
Ash Wednesday Service, Feb.25, 6:30PM in Sanctuary
Attention Parents: Valentine Parents Night Out!
Have a night out on the Youth! They would like to offer their services to entertain your children on Friday, February 14th, so you can have time to spend with your spouse. This is a FREE service! You may drop off your children in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00PM. Please pick your child up by 8:30PM. We will have games, snacks, and movies for entertainment.
Sunday School: We are diving into the Bible in our new series Amazing Bible Race “Law”. This week we will be talking about Genesis chapters 10-11. We will be talking about the Tower of Babel. Come join us!
Mardi Gras Parade at Jimmy Hardin’s Color your World Store on February 15th. We will leave church after Sunday School to head to 6770 West Park. Youth bring a snack to share, hamburgers are being provided and grilled by Mr. Jim Justice. We will also have a group from New York join us! We will come back to church for Voices of Light practice at 4:00PM. Parents, please pick up your youth at 5:00PM.
Senior High Retreat is March 6 – 8th. Sign up now. The deadline is February 22th! The cost is $80. Do not let money hold you back as we have scholarships to help out! Forms will be available in the church office.
Youth Council Meeting March 15th at 12:30 in the Activities Building. Food will be provided.
Parent/Youth Meeting on Sunday, March 22nd for an event you don’t want to miss! This event is for the youth and their parents! Look for more details at a later date!
Do you like Bread and Butter Pickles? Well, Mrs. Paige Stanton has donated some pickles that have a little kick in them for the Youth to sell. If you are interested call the church office and we will give you more information on how you can get your hands on some good pickles!
Have a Blessed Week! --Niki
WE KNOW YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE . . .
. . .and we want to make sure we know you, too! We will be placing an order around February 15th for more name badges for those who didn’t order the first time. Because the new order will be a smaller quantity, the additional badges will cost $9 each. If you would like to order simply, call the church secretary (868-7787) or Judy (879-1355).
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
DEATH
We offer prayers for the dearly departed and extend our sympathy and prayers for comfort to Juana Woodard and her family on the death of her beloved brother, Truman Fairley. Mr. Fairley died on Thursday, February 5. Funeral arrangements were held in Lucedale, Mississippi.
BAPTISMS
Julie Marie Chatagnier, daughter of Jessie and Jessica Mary Chatagnier, was baptized on Sunday, February 8th at the 11:00AM Service.
Kellen Taylor Allen, infant child of Jonathan and Jill Weatherly Allen, was baptized on Sunday, February 8th, at the 8:45AM service.
RELOCATION
If you are wondering where in the world Paul, Cindy, Julie and David Craft are, we can tell you that they have moved to 3017 Woodland Drive in Jennings, Louisiana, 70545. We miss these dedicated members of our church family!
Our Stewardship for 2009
WK 06 February 8, 2009
Attendance 265 Sunday School 68
Offering $10,908
Building /Renovation Offering $ 1,260
MORNING WORSHIP Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Music: “For the Beauty of the Earth” The Choir
The Sermon: “Simple Objects” Rev. Barbara Dukes
Readings: Genesis 1:26-30; Romans 12:1-2; Mark 12:28-34
THANK YOU FOR GIFTS OF LOVE TO:
Renovation Fund by M/M Tom Becnel, Carla Smith, and M/M John Walton. In memory of Raymond Berger by M/M Tim Gillaspie, M/M Mike Tingle, M/M Grady Parrish, Paula Rutledge, and M/M George Shely. In memory of Mr. Jimmie Williams by M/M Wayne Reid. In memory of Amy Giroir Shely (George Shely’s mom) by M/M Bill Vincent. In memory of Truman Fairley (Juana Woodard’s brother) by M/M Mike Tingle, and M/M George Shely.
UMY Fund by Landon and Logan Graves.
Music Fund in memory of Truman Fairley by Vickie Aycock and M/M Nolan Eschete.
GOD’S PRECIOUS EARTH
In 1854, as Chief Seattle transferred Indian lands to the Federal Government, he said: “This we know. The earth does not belong to the humans, humans belong to the earth. Whatever befalls the earth befalls children of the earth. The humans did not weave the web of life; they are merely strands in it. Whatever they do to the web, they do to themselves . . .This earth is precious to God, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.”
WHAT’S YOUR SPIRITUAL YIELD?
In a sermon, Arizona pastor Jane Tews said: “I sometimes imagine what it would be like if the nightly TV news included a kind of Dow Jones report on the spiritual yield. The announcer might say, for instance, ‘Well, friends, kindness was up an eighth today, but greed rose by 2 percent. Lust was down a half point in slow trading, and justice showed no change. Patience reached a new high –closing at 72. Love had a narrow gain to 49 percent, but peace plummeted when investors panicked.”
Tews then added that God’s kingdom isn’t measured that way. Instead, it’s apparent when human need is met, when justice is strengthened, when evil is reversed and when people in bondage are freed. The kingdom becomes a reality when there is reconciliation among enemies, when false pride is eliminated and when guilt is lifted. “When a troubled soul searching for identity and meaning takes the risk of faith and accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, that’s when the kingdom appears,” Tews said. -NewsletterNewsletter
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
Nursery Class–For Infants -4 year olds
(Meet in the Nursery.)
Children’s Class for K-3rd Grade
(Meet upstairs in Room 209.)
Children’s Class for 4th-6th Grade
(Meet upstairs in Room 206.)
Youth Sunday School Class
(Meet upstairs in the Activity Building Youth Room.).
Let’s Talk About It
(A discussion based class for adults of mixed ages, led by Donna Sammarco, meets in the Fellowship Hall.)
Disciples Class
(A class for people who are interested in theological debate meets in the Fellowship Hall Parlor.)
Discovery Class
(This class for people who are interested in becoming Christian Disciples meets in the Activity Building Chapel.)
Fellowship Class
(This class of retirees is interested in fellowship. They sing for a while and have a lesson taught by either Ed McCarty or Frank Porter. They meet in Room 403 in the Activity Building.)
Class of Mixed Ages
(This Class led by Jimmy Hardin meets in Room 206.)
Special Dates in February 2009
- African-American History Month
- Valentine’s Day, February 14
- President’s Day, February 16
- Transfiguration of the Lord, February 22
- Ash Wednesday, February 25
PARSONAGE FURNITURE AVAILABLE TO A GOOD HOME!
The dining room table and chairs out of the old parsonage are available for adoption! The table is in need of refinishing and is missing one brass leg tip. The chairs seem stable, but the seats probably need covering. There are 7 chairs.
This set is available to a good home in exchange for transportation and a donation to FUMC-Houma. If interested, call Emily Elmore at 876-4060.
FUNBALAYA IS APRIL 11TH.
FUNBALAYA is our Spring equivalent to Trunk or Treat. We want to bring back this special event and plan to do so on Saturday, April 11, 2009 from 11:00AM til 2:00PM on our church ground. We will have an Easter Egg Hunt, Games, Prizes and FREE FOOD!
How can you help bring this fun event to our children (we will be inviting children from the community as well this year).We are in need of donations of plastic Easter Eggs (filled with safe wrapped candies, NOT CHOCOLATE because it melts), toys and trinkets for prizes, baked goods (cupcakes), Hamburgers, Hot Dogs with buns, Drinks and/or monetary donations.
If you have any questions about how you can help, please call Brenda Cloud @ 876-2097. Check future Circuit Riders for more ways that YOU can get involved!
Who can come? This event is open to the community. Spread the word – the more the merrier! Let’s show the community what an INVITING Church we are! |
