UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
  UMW will sponsor a reception following the Chasing Canaan Concert in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, May 17th.  All are invited to attend!

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
   We rejoiced in the baptism of Matthew Anthony Goebel on Sunday, May 10th.  Matthew, who was born on March 30, 2009, is the beloved child of Wayne Anthony and Cynthia Marie Goebel.  Matthew has two big brothers, Michael and Christopher, and one big sister, Rebecca.  May God bless Matthew & his family!

Our Church’s 100th Anniversary!
Celebrating Our history As We Cast
A Vision Of Our Future.
     On Sunday, May 24, we will celebrate our Church’s 100th Anniversary of its rebirth with a Covered Dish Luncheon in the Activity Center after morning Worship Services.  In addition to lots of good food, we will have musical presentations by our Children’s Choir, the Chancel Choir, and special music by Madelyn Lowe and Zack Dufrene.  Pastor Don will present a short devotional and our own Church Historian, Timmy Hebert, will give our Church’s developmental history. Please bring your favorite food to share with the Church family!

CHURCH OFFICE WILL CLOSE FOR MEMORIAL DAY

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
Rummage Sale Saturday, May 16th !
   We will be accepting donations starting Wednesday, May 13th, NO SOONER, please!  You may drop off your donations in the gym on the far wall by the stage.
   If you would like a booth to sell items let me know ASAP!  If you have a booth you may start setting up at 1:00PM on Friday. Youth need to be at church on Friday, May 15th, any time after 1:00PM to help with pricing.  Food will be provided.  Please be at church for 7:30AM to 1:00PM on May 16th to help with the Rummage Sale. 
Sunday School: 9:45AM in the in the Activity Building.
This Sunday morning we will be reading about Moses in Exodus1-4.  Any youth grades 7-12th may join us!
UMY:  5-7:00PM Sunday nights in the Activities Building.
This Sunday night we will be talking about life after life on our series about Heaven.  Our scriptures are John 14:2-6a and Philippians 3:20-21.  We will be playing a new game called Buzz Fizz.  At 7:30PM we will attend CHASING CANAAN with Mark Sorensen in the Sanctuary.
Attention:  Starting in June, 6th graders going into 7th grade  may start coming to UMY.  We enjoy great food, fun games, and sharing! We   discuss our struggles and how God can help us overcome any obstacles.   Come join us! 
Summer Mission Trip:  We will be going to Weekend of the Cross in Gonzales.  The dates are from July 30th to August 3rd.  The cost is $75.    Please call me by May 15th at 870-5976 if you are interested in attending. 
  Have a blessed week!                                     - Niki

UMY RUMMAGE SALE HAPPENS SATURDAY!
Have you done your spring cleaning yet?  Gathered up some things you’d like to get out the house?  Need a dropping off place?  WE CAN HELP!  The Youth would like to have your “stuff” for their Annual Rummage Sale!  Especially if it is “good” stuff! (No clothes, please!)     If you have
any items, you may drop them off for the Sale starting  Wednesday, May 13 through Friday, May 15th. (Please place the items in the Activity Building by the stage.) 
   You are sure to find something interesting you want or need if you shop with us on Saturday, May 16th, from 8:00AM until  Noon.  All proceeds from the Rummage Sale benefit our Youth program.  Join us Saturday!

CHASING CANAAN IN CONCERT THIS SUNDAY!
   Let’s fill the sanctuary this Sunday night, May 17th, at 7:30PM to hear CHASING CANAAN with Mark Sorenson! This inspiring group of young musicians is based in Shreveport.  FUMC-Houma is part of their No Ordinary People Tour and will be their first performance in south Louisiana.  Sarah Duet plays and writes for this band.  Admission is free; a love offering will be accepted for their mission trip to Haiti in July.  A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Come experience this exciting evening of music and worship!  Four people have volunteered to provide transportation to anyone needing a ride.  Please call the church office (868-7787) or speak to Pastor Don.

CHERUB CHOIR
   Attention, Cherubs! We will have a special practice this Sunday, May 17th, at 9:45AM (in the Sunday School room upstairs) of the music we will sing for the 100th Anniversary Celebration.  We will practice again on Sunday, May 24th, at  9:45AM.  We will be singing “We Are the Church”!

Our Stewardship for 2009
    WK 19  May 10, 2009 
    Attendance  273    Sunday School   63
    Offering  $ 10,908
    Building /Renovation  Offering  $      190

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LOVE TO:
Operating Fund in memory of Jack Barbee (Robin Laird’s dad) by M/M Robert English and M/M George  Shely.
Upper Room Fund by Gerald Bascle.
Pastor Benevolence by M/M Jim Nunnally.
Renovation Fund by M/M Tom Becnel and Roland Lill.
In honor of Mr. Joe Robinson for his 100th Birthday by M/M Wayne Reid.
Music Fund by M/M David McMath.
YSF Special Offering by Channing Rodrigue.
LA. Methodist’s Children’s Home by M/M Ray Moore, M/M Bill Vincent, M/M Bill Thibodeaux, Latina Page, M/M Sonny Hebert, M/M Karl Cadwell, M/M Keith Rhea, M/M Williams, Doris Spangle, M/M Tim Culler, Sunny Billiot, Ollie Crabtree, M/M Tim Gillaspie, M/M Norman Hebert, M/M Todd Punch.
*Correction on last week’s listing – a gift was given to the Operating Fund in memory of Debbie Stevens  (Tammy Cenac’s mother) by M/M Ted Ortiz.

COMING SOON!
Sunday, June 7th, 11:00AM
“Old-Time Religion Sunday”
Presented by our Chancel Choir
                             
WE RECYCLE!
ALUMINUM CANS
(Under the outside stairs of the Activity Building
and in the Fellowship hall near the Coke machine.)
EYEGLASSES & SOUP LABELS
(Bring to the Church Office)

+Christian Symbols+
      The descending dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he . . . . saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove” (Matthew 3:16, NIV).  The three-rayed nimbus around the dove’s head identifies the Spirit as a member of the Trinity.  A dove shown without the nimbus is a symbol of peace.                              -NewsletterNewsletter

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
+Nursery Class – For Infants
+2-3 Year Olds - in Room 106
+4-5 Year Olds - in Room 101
+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 Act. 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
+Armed Forces Day, May 16
+Ascension of the Lord, May 21
+Memorial Day, May 25
+Pentecost, May 31

THE ASCENSION
  Many Christian churches will celebrate Ascension Day on (or near) May 21, which is 40 days after Easter.  Theologian Friedermann Hebart explained Christ’s Ascension this way:
  “When Jesus’ work on Earth was done, he took leave of his disciples and went to be with his father.  A time for sad farewells, one might think.  Yet the church celebrates the Ascension with special joy.  What is the reason for joy when Jesus leaves his people?
   “The Ascension is not the end of Jesus’ work, but a new beginning!  How could Jesus ever leave us alone?  Because he has gone to be Lord of the universe, he can continue his work of life and love – among us, too.  His work was not just a short episode in Galilee. In the person of the Holy Spirit, the same Lord is present among us, still revealing the Father’s loving heart, so that we, too, can believe – and sing songs of joy.”

MEMORIAL DAY
  Over the years, Memorial Day has become a big holiday weekend.  It’s now the unofficial start of summer, rather than a day of tribute to the departed it was originally meant to be.
   Even if we plan fun events for Memorial Day weekend, it’s important to stop long enough to bow our heads and pay respect to our departed loved ones – especially those who fell in battle while helping preserve America’s liberties.
   Let us take time to make the pilgrimage to various cemeteries and pause long enough to say, “Thank you, Father, for these special lives, for sacrifices made and for friendships we have shared.”

PENTECOST
   On May 31, Christians around the world will celebrate the Day of Pentecost.  It’s often remembered as the church’s birthday.  Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon those who believed in his resurrection.
   Three thousand people were gathered in Jerusalem when the Spirit came upon them.  They were so touched by the Holy Spirit that they began to worship regularly, especially on Sundays, the day of Christ’s resurrection.
   To symbolize the “tongues, as of fire” (Acts 2:3, NRSV) that came upon the people present at Pentecost, liturgical churches display the color red in their worship services on Pentecost Sunday.  Many people attending worship wear red on that day.
                                                                           -NewsletterNewsletter