THE CIRCUIT RIDER
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6109 Highway 311           Houma, Louisiana 70360 
Telephone No. (985) 868-7787  /  Facsimile No. (985)868-7086
Barry Hoekstra, Pastor                                              Volume XXV  - Feb. 22, 2006
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"The First Sunday in Lent”
   The first Sunday in Lent is still a couple of Sundays away.  I thought that it might be helpful to talk about the changes which will take place in our worship life on that date.  We will start having three worship services.  The sermon and scripture lesson(s) will be basically the same.  However, each service will be a bit different from the other.  Here is the time and format for the revised Sunday services:
*First Service.  Our 8:30 AM service will be a traditional service again.  It will be a less formal version of the 11:00 AM service. One major difference will be that we will continue to celebrate communion every Sunday at this service.
*The 11:00 AM Service.  Our excellent choir will continue to sing at this service.  This will be pretty much the same traditional worship service that we have been doing at the 11:00 AM service.
*Nite Lite.  Our Band (with no name) will be featured at our new evening service.  This service will come at the end of an afternoon full of programs, Bible studies and activities for children, youth and adults.  What better way to get ready for a new week than worshiping with friends?!  This service will start at 6:30 PM.
   Our lives are busier than ever these days.  And yet with three times to worship on Sundays there is really not much of an excuse to avoid coming to worship.  I hope that you will recommit to attendance at one of these services every Sunday.  What better time to connect again than the first Sunday in Lent.  I hope to see you then!
                                                                       Peace!  Barry

FELLOWSHIP TIME
When: After 8:30 Service               Where: Activity Building
Join us for coffee, milk, juice, donuts and fellowship.  

NEW  SUNDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE!
   On Sunday, March 5th, our Sunday format will change to include new worship and education opportunities in the afternoon.  This is how our new schedule will work!
        8:30 AM  Worship Service with Communion 
        9:45 AM  Sunday School
      11:00 AM   Worship Service (Traditional)
Monthly Covered Dish  Dinner in the AB at 12 Noon!
3:30-4:30 PM  Voices of Light in Room AB/404
3:30-4:30 PM  Adult Drama in the Fellowship Hall
3:30-4:30 PM  Children’s Christian Education AB/403
4:30-5:30 PM   Adult Bible Study   FH Parlor
4:30-5:30 PM   Music and Drama   AB/403
4:30-5:30 PM   Cherub Choir AB/403
4:30-6:00 PM   UMY AB
5:30-6:15 PM   Fellowship Meal in the Activities Bldg.
        6:30 PM   Worship Service/ Contemporary music.
 For questions or concerns, call the Church office 868-7787.

CALLING ALL SINGERS!
   With the return of our traditional style 8:30 AM service, comes the resurrection of THE EARLY CHOIR!  Each first and third Sunday “The Early Choir” will present anthems which are rehearsable in the thirty minutes prior to the service. On Sunday, March 5th, meet us in the Choir Room at 8:00 AM to prepare for the leading of the 8:30 congregation in worship.  We’d LOVE to have you sing with us!                  -Ken Klaus, Choir DirectorLENTEN SERVICES SCHEDULE

   On March 1st, Ash Wednesday, Communion service will be held at 12:15 PM and 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
   On the following Wednesdays (which include March 8th, March 15th, March 22nd, March 29th, and April 5th) Lenten Communion service at 12:15 PM.  On April 13th, Holy Thursday service will be at 6:30 PM.  On April 14th, Good Friday service will be at 12:15 PM.  All services will be held  in the Fellowship Hall.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY–COMING SOON!
When: Begins March 5th             What: Christian Education
Time:   3:30-4:30 PM               Where:  Activity Building
Activities:  Art, Music, Science, Games, Puppet Theater!
When: Begins March 5th             What:  Music-Drama
1st and 3rd Sundays–Music with Shirley Hebert
2nd and 4th Sundays–Drama with Sue Peace, Jeanne Scott
Where: In the Activities Building
   We welcome your time, talent and suggestions for these programs. Call Jeanne  for information or questions.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FEBRUARY 26TH 
Itty-Bitty-Four year olds are with Ms. Mary and Ms. Maddie in the Nursery for a Sunday School lesson and playtime.
Kindergarten-Sixth Grade are with Ms. Jeanne for a video pertaining to forgiveness as Jesus forgave Peter.
“Moments spent with God reap benefits that lasts a lifetime!”

INTRODUCING  OUR COMMUNION COORDINATOR!
   Hello!  I’m Lisa West and I am the new Communion Steward Coordinator.  I will need some help with this service to the Church.  If you are interested in helping with Communion please give me a call at 985-917-0905.
   We will continue to have Communion every week at the 8:30 AM service, (even after it goes back to the traditional), we will have Communion monthly at the 11:00 AM service and we will have Communion weekly at the 6:30 PM service.  If enough people volunteer to serve our church in this manner it will be little work.  Since we have Communion by “intinction”, (dipping the bread), set up and clean up take only a few minutes each and can be done 30 minutes before service, (no Saturday set up is required).  I will keep a supply of bread and juice available.
   We will also have Communion for the Noon Lenten Service. Since I work in Thibodaux, I will not be available and will need someone to commit to this for these weeks.  If you have any interest, please call me.  Thank you for your support.

FAMILY COVERED DISH DINNER ON MARCH 5TH!   Be thinking of your favorite covered dish or two and plan to bring them to our next monthly  Family Covered Dish Dinner which will take place  March 5th, after the 11:00 AM worship service in the Activity Building.  Our family dinners are delicious opportunities to eat, fellowship and enjoy background music. Come and enjoy this special time with Church family!

YOUTH MINISTRY
  ALL YOUTH AND ADULTS--Project NOAH (N.O. Area Hope) registration–Please sign up for the summer mission trip by Sunday, February 26th.  All forms will be mailed the first week in March.  Cost of the trip is $200; a deposit of $125 is due by March 10th.
   Anyone interested in sponsoring a youth on the mission trip, please contact Phyliss Martin.  We will be working to help New Orleans residents restore their homes. 

Our Stewardship for Week #8   February 19, 2006
Attendance Worship:  165       Sunday School:   
Offering This Week:            $2,764       YTD:  $65,166
Building Fund This Week:    $   448       YTD:  $51,853
Apportionments Due :      $63,700   Paid   YTD:  $  9,800
2006 Total Budget             _________

WORSHIP   Sunday, February 26, 2006
The Sermon: “Shine!” Rev. Barry Hoekstra
The Music: “Shine the Light of Your Love ”  Choir
The Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthian 4:3-6; 
The Gospel:  Mark 9:2-9

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR PEACE AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY:  Jerry St. Pierre, John Parks,  Jason Babin, Andy Weaver, Kevin  Adams, Brian Ratcliff, Brandon Ratcliff, Charles Arabie, Bryan McDonald, Brian Medaris, Chad Campbell, Ryan Kurras, Chris Pollard,  Michael Wegler, Brent Hollingfield, Bryan Patton, Kristopher Pugh, James Lyle, Richard Schandorff,  Paul Tholen, Don Adams, Jeremy Brunet, Jamie Authement, Lance Chatagnier, Joseph Frisella, Jr., Billy Odom, B.J. Guidroz, Travis Twiggs and the 2/156(M) Infantry-Houma National Guard, the TN 278th.

SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS AVAILABLE IN OFFICE!
   *MacDonell Children’s Greeting Cards made by the children of our local home is available for $5 per pack of ten cards and envelopes. 
  *Donna Sammarco’s solo piano CD –“On Eagles Wings” is available. Proceeds benefit the Piano Fund.
  *Scrumptious Salsa will still be available in the church office.  Sales benefit LA. Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, Louisiana.
 * T-Shirts are now available for sale in the Church office.  These T-shirts are a fund-raising project for the youth and cost $14 each.  We have all sizes from Small to XXX.   
 *World’s Finest Chocolate Bars (Crisp, Almond, Caramel) are now being sold as a fundraiser for the youth.  You can pick up your supply of this delectable candy bar  in the Church office or from Phyliss Martin during the week.

TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
   Become a part of our Prayer Group that meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.

THANK YOU FOR GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Apportionments Fund by M/M Nolan Eschete.
Piano Fund in honor of Takeko Koike by the Discovery SS Class, and in honor of Bernice Brieden’s birthday by M/M Robert English.
Landscape Fund in honor of Hideo Koike by the Discovery SS Class.
Gifts to the Building Fund by M/M Franklin Bridges, M/M Robert Smith, M/M William Brunet, M/M Ronald Blanchard, Bette Adams, M/M Delvin Foret, and M/M Dana Lofton.

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