PASTOR’S MESSAGE  "Zeal”    This past Sunday the Gospel reading was from John 2.  It is the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple.  He runs all the buyers and sellers out of the Temple.  John quotes a Psalm and suggests that what Jesus does is very much in keeping with his nature.  Zeal for God’s house consumes Jesus.

Zeal is not a word that we would use to describe modern United Methodists.  While John and Charles Wesley are criticized for being “enthusiasts” in their day–we modern day followers of Jesus in the United Methodist tradition are any thing but full of zeal.  When we think of zeal, our thoughts often turn to zealots, who are often considered to be people who have become too full of zeal and are best avoided.    I cannot help but go back to the words in John which describe Jesus’ all consuming zeal.  He is willing to follow God wherever it takes him.  Cleaning out the Temple is something others may have thought about doing, but Jesus’ zeal compels him to act.    What about us?  What are the things for which we have zeal these days?  Our most effective Christian witness ought to be that we are the best: employees, students, volunteers, leaders, public servants, and employers that we can be.  Sadly, the opposite is sometimes true.  Christians are stereotypical slackers.    May zeal for God consume us this week!                                                                        Peace!  Barry

SUNDAY EVENING MEALS 
   COME AND ENJOY  a good meal and fellowship EACH Sunday evening right in our own Activities Building.  The meal is served from 5:30-6:15 PM at a cost of $3.00 per plate and not more than $10.00 per family.  This week’s menu is Hot Dogs, Chili, Chips, and Baked Goods.  The fee charged pays for the cook, baby sitter, etc.
   WE THANK the United Methodist Learning Center for 
DONATING the evening meal each week.
  
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
April 1   9:00 AM Koinonia Circle meets at the Golden                      Corral Restaurant
April 4   9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall 
              Call to Prayer and Self Denial Service
               Leader: Betty Jo Farmer Hostess: Judy Matherne
April 9   UMW Bake Sale
              (Please bring homemade goodies to sell.)
April 11  9:30 AM Fellowship Hall Parlor
               Faith Circle “Field Trip” 
               Leader: Joyce Thibodeaux
April 29  9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall
              Acadiana District UMW Day Apart
              Speaker: Rev. Peggy Foreman
Guests are welcome at our meetings.  For more information call Joyce at 868-0100.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING THIS SUNDAY!
   This special offering enables UMCOR to do business and to send 100 percent of all designated funds to the selected programs such as helping Sri Lanka victims recover.  Please do your part by giving generously to One Great Hour of Sharing.  Now, more than ever, the world needs you.  

LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES!    Lenten Services will follow this schedule: March 22nd service has been CANCELED so that Rev. Hoekstra can travel with the family to Mississippi for John Woodard’s burial.  Services resume on  March 29th, and April 5th at 12:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall.  On April 13th, Holy Thursday Service will be at 6:30 PM.  On April 14th, Good Friday service will be at   12:15 PM. 

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NEWS
SUNDAY SCHOOL–MORNING SCHEDULE
Itty-Bitty thru Four year Olds are with Mrs. Mary and Ms. Maddie in the Nursery for STORY TIME AND PLAY TIME. 
Kindergarten-Sixth Grade will be with Mrs. Linda and Mrs. Michelle for COOKERY  in the Activity Building.  
SUNDAY AFTERNOON & EVENING SCHEDULE
3:30-4:15 PM Christian Education in the Activities Building.
PUPPET THEATER–Come and meet some of the folks from Harmony!  They’ll be here at 3:30 PM sharp, and are only visiting for about five minutes.  You won’t want to miss them! The Harmony citizens will be visiting us EVERY Sunday!   
   After meeting our new friends, the children in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade will meet with Mrs. Lynda and Mrs. Michelle for COOKERY  in the kitchen.
4:15-4:45 PM Kindergarten -Second Grade have CRAFTS.
4:15-4:45 PM Third-Sixth Grade have VOLLEYBALL  under the direction of Mr. Anthony Martin.
4:45-5:30 PM  DRAMA–Second and Fourth Sundays.
4:45-5:30 PM  MUSIC–First and Third Sundays
Children who do not wish to participate in Drama or Music may continue to play Volleyball.
COME OUT BOYS AND GIRLS!  Be a part of the team!  
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 8TH!   
What: SPRING FLING      Time: 2-4:00 PM  
Age: Two-Four Year Olds, and Five years to Sixth Grade.
Adults: We even have a couple of events for you. 
   We will have Games, Crafts, Easter Egg Hunt and Refreshments.  The children will be divided into age groups for Games and the Easter Egg Hunt.
PROPS FOR EASTER This Easter Program will be presented by the Children’s Drama Group at the Nite Lite Service on Palm Sunday.
                  
SPRING FESTIVAL INVITATION!
   Bayou Blue United Methodist Church will host a Spring Festival on Saturday, March 25, from 10:00AM until 5:30 PM.
  There will be FOOD, GAMES, FACE PAINTING, and A SPACE WALK with AN EASTER EGG HUNT at 2:00 PM.  You can have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!   Come and have a good time at 193 Lake Long Drive on (Lower Bayou Blue).

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
   We were blessed to share in the baptism of Aiden Gregory Campbell, infant son of Gregory and Natalie Dean Campbell, on Sunday, March 19th.  This happy family includes a proud older brother, Kenneth, who is two years old.

Our Stewardship for Week  #12   March 19, 2006
Attendance Worship: 209   Sunday School: 44
Offering This Week:       $ 5,332    YTD: $95,027
Bldg. Fund This Week:  $ 1,383    YTD: $67,486
Apportionments Due :  $14,700   Pd YTD: $13,475

WORSHIP   Sunday, March 26, 2006
The Sermon: “Lifted Up”   Rev. Barry Hoekstra
Music  8:30AM  “Art Thou the Christ” Kenneth S. Klaus
Music:11:00AM “Can You Drink the Cup?” Chancel Choir
Music: Les Belles Clochettes play at 11:00AM Service.
The Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10
The Gospel: John 3:14-21

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

WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
  Our Early Choir sings at  the 8:30 AM Service of   each first and third Sunday of the month. Rehearsal takes place  in the thirty minutes PRIOR to the service. We need YOUR voice!  We’d LOVE to have YOU sing with US!   
                                                 - Ken Klaus, Choir Director

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, Blake Dryden,  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 are 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 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.

IN CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
   +We share in the grief and sorrow of the family of John Woodard, beloved husband of Juana Woodard.  John, a dedicated member of our Church family,  passed away on Saturday, March 18, due to complications after heart surgery.  This gentle, good man will be deeply missed by all. His children are Beth Woodard Black, “Dickie” Woodard, and Allen Woodard. God bless this family.
 +We also extend our Christian sympathy to C.E. and Edie Robideaux and her family on the death of Edie’s beloved sister, Juanita Beckley.  Please be in prayer for Edie and her family.

THANK YOU FOR GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Building Fund by M/M Franklin Bridges, M/M Todd Punch, Carla Smith, M/M Charles Jenkins, M/M William Brunet, Mary Arceneaux, M/M Delvin Foret, M/M Jimmy Arbuckle, M/M Tilman Gillaspie, M/M Ed McCarty, M/M David West, M/M George Shely, M/M Dana Lofton, M/M Sonny Navarre, M/M Barry Hoekstra.
Piano Fund by M/M David McMath.
Apportionments in memory of John Woodard by M/M Jim Justice.
Music Ministry in memory of Hazel Berger on the first anniversary of her death by M/M Severn Berger.
Pastor Benevolence Fund by M/M Jim Nunnally.