Beignets, French, and Faith    On Monday our 4-year-old Leaning Center Class had Audrey George come teach and demonstrate how to make beignets.  The children watched closely as she prepared the dough and carefully fried the rectangular shaped dough.  While sprinkling the powered sugar on the tasteful delights, she talked to them in both English and French.  She used this occasion to remind them of our French Cajun heritage.  The children actively responded as she taught them how to say the alphabet, numbers, and colors in French.  They sang songs in French and she taught them the meaning of the words.  Audrey George is one of the faithful who are committed to teach the Cajun French language and heritage so that it does not die out with this generation.

Just as the Cajun French heritage must be taught to each generation, our Christian faith must be actively taught to each generation.  Parents must teach by word and example what it means to proclaim Christ as Lord.  The children must learn the “language” of the faith.  They must learn the events and witness proclaimed in the scriptures.  If each generation is not connected in a relationship with God, then our family of faith does not know either who God is or what it means to be related to one another through Jesus Christ.    Lent is a time to remember who we are and how we got here.  As we draw closer to Easter, we recall the events of Jesus’ life that led to both his crucifixion and the resurrection.  Bring your family to the Wednesday Lenten Communion service at 6:30 and plan to be at the services during Holy week that begins with Palm Sunday (April 5th) and continues with Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.      I’ll see you along the journey,                                                  Pastor Don

Our Stewardship for 2009
    WK 12  March 22, 2009 
     Attendance  201       Sunday School   69
     Offering   $  4,333
     Building /Renovation  Offering  $      543     

Renovation Fund by Paula Rutledge, M/M Tim Gillaspie, M/M Larry Babin, M/M Don Hebert, M/M Charles Jenkins.   In memory of Mr. Emory McChargue by Lucille McChargue.  In memory of Amy Giroir Shely, James Harris, and Bobby Aycock by M/M Milton Cancienne.
UMY Fund by Jacqueline Givens.
Sunday School by M/M John Cater.
One Great Hour of Sharing by M/M James Shanklin, M/M Howard Barker, M/M Wayne Goebel, M/M Richard Simons, Zeboria Short, Linda Pierre, M/M George Geoffroy, M/M Bill Thibodeaux, M/M Mike Tingle, M/M Daniel Martin, M/M Tom Becnel, and M/M Bill Jenkins.

OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Monday UPDATE on Lisa Hoekstra-from Barry         
   “Lisa’s doing fine now.  She had seven stents during the week and chest pains by the weekend.  Two ER visits, two heart caths and two hospital stays have her back to where she was after her bypasses less than a year ago.  With a change in meds, lifestyle and heart healthy diet she should have a good result from the latest round in the hospital.  She was doing well enough to go back to work today.  Thanks for all the prayers!”
Happy, Healthy 96th Birthday Wishes!
   We send our dear friend, Katherine Cancienne, our wishes for the best birthday ever on March 27th!  Katherine’s address is Camelot of Broussard, 418 Albertson Parkway, Room 219, Broussard, LA. 70518.

THE BOB LAY 1000 CLUB
   In 1952, under the leadership of Conference Lay leader, Bob Lay, a unique program called the Bob Lay 1000 Club was begun by our Board of Laity.  Since its inception, the 1000 Club has helped to build over 100 churches in Louisiana.
   When the 1000 Club started, our annual goal was $30,000.  Today’s goal of $150,000 per call is about half the cost of a modest “first building” for a new church.
   Help us raise the funds to build Faith Crossing United Methodist Church in Livingston Parish.  Checks should be made payable to Bob Lay Memorial 1000 Club.  This call ends April 30, 2009.

BLESS SOMEONE ELSE TODAY!

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
Nursery Class–For Infants -4 year olds in the Nursery.
Children’s Class for K-3rd Grade- in EB Room 209.)
Children’s Class for 4th-6th Grade-in EB 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 F. 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.)

CHECK OUT OUR BULLETIN BOARDS!
   Thank you all for your patience and understanding
as the new bulletin boards were prepared and put up.  For your information, I would like to give an explanation of each board’s use so that each can remain an attractive asset to our church facility.  As before, the boards on the outside wall of the pastor’s office and the one across from the Sunday bulletin table and stairwell will be for me to prepare as themed boards.  The 2 down the hall across from the secretary’s office and water fountain will be entitled “Our Members” for newspaper pics and/or articles, photos, etc. depicting special info about members of FUMC and “Extra! Extra!” as a “catch all” for items, articles, pictures not suitable for the other titled boards.  In the Fellowship Hall the first board is for recent “FUMC Activities” like the Youth and Dulac Mission Trips that were previously displayed.  The board by the kitchen is for “Upcoming Events” as it is presently partially being used for.  For this particular board, please consider a reasonable size display in order to share this space with other group’s events.
   If you would like for me to title and arrange your display on any of these 4 boards, please leave your display items with an explanation and date with Jackie and call me to let me know you want my assistance (872-4240 and I do have an answering machine for messages) or give them to me at church.  (Be aware that I may cut and paste photos, etc. for the best arrangement and/or to accommodate space.)  If you prefer to put your own display, please arrange items attractively with a title and date and take into consideration that more than one group may be displaying items at the same time on the same board.  (In other words, I may need to move and rearrange.)
   We have a wonderful opportunity to utilize these bulletin boards in our sanctuary building and Fellowship Hall to tell our congregation and visitors in picture and word the varied things that are happening and are available to make FUMC a great church home.  Please help us in making our “church home” as neat and attractive as it can be.  Again, thank you and God bless each of you.                                                    –Judy Foret

UMCLC CIRCUS IS A HUGE SUCCESS!
   The Learning Center Staff WORKED SO HARD  to present a wonderful Circus this year for the children and their families!  After expenses, there is $9,000 for the Learning Center to use for needs (a HUGE portion will be used to revamp and improve the playground, new rubber mulch, stop signs, playhouses, tricycles, etc. ).  
THANKS to all who contributed their time and effort!

YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES . . .