THE CIRCUIT RIDER
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6109 Highway 311           Houma, Louisiana 70360 
Telephone No. (985) 868-7787  /  Facsimile No. (985)868-7086
R. Don Ross , Pastor                                                                   Volume XXV  -  May 26, 2009

PASTOR’S NOTES:    Wear Red next Sunday!
   Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the real birthday of our church.  Last week we celebrated 100 years since our congregation was reborn, this week we celebrate the original birth of THE CHURCH on Pentecost Sunday.  This was the day for which Jesus told the disciples to wait.  On the day of Pentecost, all the disciples were together in one place.  Suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability.  It was about 9 o’clock that morning when the church was formed and filled with power to proclaim God’s deeds of power.  That same power is available to us today as God calls us together in one place to receive His power.

     We witnessed the power of God this past Sunday when 15 children filled our Nursery beyond our two workers ability to serve.  Two parents volunteered to stay with the overflowing room of children so their parents could be in worship.  We saw the spirit at work as people volunteered to set up and later clean up for a crowd of 150 people who gathered to celebrate 100 years of continuous worship at First UMC.  We are seeing that spirit manifest itself in the outpouring of funds to support the mission trip to Haiti by the students in the Chasing Canaan Band.  We feel the spirit guiding us as we continue to host out of town groups who come to do disaster relief work in our community, plus this Friday a covered dish supper at 6:30 PM and a concert from the Snellville, Georgia UMC choir concert at about 7 PM.
     More young families are joining our congregation and both children and adults are being baptized!  New groups are forming for Bible study, fellowship, and service.  Wear Red Sunday as we claim and proclaim the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT.  May the spirit fill our house and spill over into our community.
                                                              Pastor Don Ross

    OLD-TIME RELIGION SUNDAY - JUNE 7 AT 11:00AM SERVICE!
                     Bring all your toes for tapping!

FELLOWSHIP TIME
    Join us in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45AM on Sunday mornings for Coffee, Milk, Donuts and fellowship!
                                                                   
NEED A NAME BADGE?
   . Call 868-7787 and speak to the secretary or contact Judy Matherne.

CAMP E.D.G.E.
(Experience + Discover God Everywhere)
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2009
Join us for an extreme adventure into God’s word!
July 19th – 23rd , 6:00PM – 8:30PM
For children - Pre K – 6th Grade
Registration forms can be picked up in the Church Office!  Deadline to register is June 30th!

 YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
Sunday School Any youth grades 7-12th may join us at 9:45AM in the upstairs room in the Activities Building.
UMY:  5-7:00PM Sunday nights in the Activities Building.
Pool Party and Parent Social from 5-7:00PM on June 7th, at Jimmy and Teresa Hardin’s house at 213 Denning Drive.  All youth and incoming 7th graders bring a towel, wear your bathing suits and bring your parents!  A great time to start coming back to UMY or to join!  We hope to see everyone there!               Have a blessed week!    -Niki

Thanks again to all who supported chasingCANAAN at their concert on May 17th.  Your support for their mission work in
 Haiti this summer is appreciated and of course supporting one of our own, Sarah Duet.
   If you couldn’t make the concert, or you did and would like a video of it, or if you would just like to help Sarah and her band-mates on their mission trip to Haiti, Rick Duet has created a DVD video of the music of that wonderful evening.  He is asking for a donation of $20 and ALL proceeds will go to chasingCANAAN’s mission trip to Haiti.
   Please contact Rick Duet at 879-1770 or rickduet@gmail.com and order your copy today.

THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE IN ACTION!
   The Outreach Committee will once again be preparing a delicious meal for the group (approximately 45 young people plus 10 adults) of Disaster Relief workers who will be staying with us while working in this area!  This covered dish meal will be served in the Activity Building on Friday, May 29th, at 6:30PM .  After the meal (approximately 7:00PM or a little after) these young workers will perform a concert in the Sanctuary.  You are invited to attend and enjoy the music and meet these young people who are selflessly trying to help in our community! 

COMMITTEE MEETING CHANGES IN JUNE!
   Due to Annual Conference, the Finance Committee and Church Council will meet on different days, different times, for June ONLY!
   Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, June 11, at 6:00PM in the Pastor’s Office!
   Church Council will meet on Tuesday, June 2, at 6:00PM in the Fellowship Hall!

KREWE OF DISASTER
   The Krewe of Disaster has reschedule the May 30th workday in Dulac to another day.  Check future Circuit Riders for the new date and time!

 FAMILY GAME NIGHT
The next Family Game Night is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 6:30PM in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite game, some snacks to share, and enjoy the fellowship!

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

   United Methodist Women’s General Meeting will be held on June 2nd, at 9:30AM in the Fellowship Hall Parlor.  The program is World Thank Offering.  The leader for the program is Pam Hebert.

Our Stewardship for 2009
      WK 21  May 24, 2009 
       Attendance  246    Sunday School   86
        Offering  $ 5,155
        Building /Renovation  Offering  $     140

MORNING WORSHIP   Sunday, May 31, 2009
 The Music:  “Surely, the Lord is in This Place”
   The Chancel Choir
The Sermon:  Pastor Max Zehner
Readings:   Acts 2:1-21;  Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27;  John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LOVE TO:
Pastor Benevolence Fund in memory of Rita Duthu Dion (Mae Smith’s sister) by M/M George Geoffroy.
Renovation Fund in memory of Jack Barbee (Robin Laird’s dad) by Agape Bible Study Class.
Scouts God & Country by UM Men.
Worship in memory of Jack Barbee by M/M George Geoffroy.
Sunday School by M/M John Cater.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
   Edward and Martha South are beaming over the birth of their new granddaughter, Stella Kate Boquet!
Stella, who was born May 22,  is the beloved daughter of Rachel and Kerry Boquet, and younger sister to Clara.  May God bless this happy family!
 
NEWSLETTER NEWS
   The Church secretary will be on vacation the week of June 8-11th.  There will be no Circuit Rider that week.  If you think you will need some news in the Circuit Rider pertaining to that week, please call it in early and we will print it the week of June 1st.  Thanks!

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.)

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN FAMILY?
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY is one in which parents so live the Christian life, and practice the presence of God that children come to accept God as the greatest reality of life.
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY is one in which every member is accepted and respected as a person having sacred worth.
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY is one that accepts the responsibility of worship and instruction to the end of developing the spiritual life of each person.
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY   is one that manifests a faith in God, observes daily prayer and grace at meals.
A CHRISTIAN FAMILY   is one that is committed to behavior in keeping with Christian ideals for family relations, community life, and national and world citizenship.  

GRACE IS A GIFT
   When we work an eight-hour day and receive eight hour’s pay for our efforts, that is a WAGE.
   When we compete with an opponent and receive a trophy for our superior performance, that is a PRIZE.
   When we receive something in recognition for our service or achievement, that is an AWARD.
   But when we can earn no wage, can win no prize and deserve no award – yet we receive such a gift – that is unmerited favor.  That is undeserved kindness.  That is GRACE.       
                                      
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
May you have a happy, blessed week!

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