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  - Nov. 16, 2005
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"Basket Full of Puppies”
   One of our members told me a story the other day.  She knew of a friend needing cheering up.  A neighbor’s dog had a litter of puppies.  She borrowed a few of the puppies, put them in a basket, and went to cheer up her friend.  “Who wouldn’t feel better seeing a basket full of puppies?” she said.
   Martha Brown passed away last week.  She was 99 years old.  She drove her own car up until a year or so ago.  She had remarkable health.  She had remarkable spirit.  When she saw me, she always smiled and told me how good God had been to her.  I always felt better after seeing Miss Martha.
   I thought about this in terms of my own life as a Christian.  I am an eternal optimist.  I am a positive person.  I tend to see the glass as half full, as opposed to half empty most of the time.  Are people better off after encountering me, and  Christ whom I represent?
   As a kid I listened to a radio program which the announcer ended with something like the following: “To each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass and a book of rules.  Each must form before life has flown–either a stumbling block–or a stepping stone.”
   Let’s resolve to be stepping stones to Christ.
                                                                       Peace!  Barry

FELLOWSHIP TIME
When:  After 8:30AM Service     
Where: Activity Building
Please join us in the Activity Building for coffee, donuts, milk, juice and great fellowship!  Remember to leave a donation to  help defray the cost of Fellowship Time.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
   United Methodist Women will hold their General Meeting on Tuesday, December 6th, at 10:00AM in the Fellowship Hall.  A Christmas Covered Dish Luncheon will follow.  The program “We Are Not Alone” will be lead by Bette Adams.  Hostesses are Sue Overly, Mary Geoffroy, Judy Matherne, Donna Gafford, and Mary Jane Peters.
   Members please bring a covered dish, a guest, and wrapped “White Elephant” gifts from you and your guest.  This is our last General Meeting in 2005, and we encourage everyone to attend!
   Remember to bring Campbell’s Soup Labels and old eyeglasses to the Fellowship Hall and place them in the designated containers.  These will be used for missions.                                                                   -Joyce Thibodeaux

             WHITE GIFTS PROGRAM  
  The White Gifts Angels will be available beginning this Sunday, November 20th.  Look for them in the Fellowship Hall.
  If anyone would like to adopt a family or a child before then, please get in touch with Brenda Cloud at 876-2097.
   The Worship Committee will meet on Sunday, November 20th, at 12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall Parlor. SUNDAY SCHOOL IS FOR LIFE!
Itty-Bitty-Three-year-Olds are with Mrs. Mary in Nursery.
Four-year-Olds are with Miss Maddie in Room 109.
Kindergarten-Sixth Grade will meet with Miss Sherry in the Activity Building. 
See you there!

CHRISTMAS FA-LA-LA FEST!
   LET’S GET FESTIVE!  Let’s celebrate, sing praises, and say “THANK YOU” for the most precious gift the world has ever been given.   We will sing familiar Christmas songs, play fun games (some that are played by children in different countries), make a craft, and have                                refreshments.Ages:  Kindergarten–Sixth Grade
When:   December 10th, 2005
Where:   Activity Building 
Time:  2:00PM–4:00PM
           RSVP Ms. Jeanne at 868-7787 by December 1st.

STAFF CHRISTMAS OFFERING
  Each year we try to express our appreciation to our hardworking Church staff with a Christmas bonus.  This money is raised by gifts from the congregation. Our Minister, Secretaries,Youth Director, Children’s Director, Music Staff, Maintenance and Nursery Staff ALL SHARE in this gift from the Church family. 
    An envelope marked “Staff Appreciation” is included in your bulletin or available on the table in the Fellowship Hall.  Please drop your gift in the offering plate, by the church office, or slip it in the mail.  Thank you.                                    -SPR Committee

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR OPINION KNOWN?
    The Worship Committee will be meeting on Sunday, November 20th, at 12 Noon.  We will be looking at the best times for our worship services.  Here are some possibilities:
*   Keeping things as they are.  The band playing at  8:30AM and traditional worship with the choir at 11:00AM.
*   Switching times.  The band would play at 11:00AM and traditional service with the choir would be at 8:30AM.
*   Adding a new service.  Traditional worship at 8:30AM and 11:00AM.  The band playing at a new middle service at 9:30 or 9:45AM.
*   A Saturday evening service.  Traditional worship at 8:30AM and 11:00AM on Sundays.  A new Saturday evening service with the band.
   Please let Barry or Rachel Milford, Chair of the Worship Committee, know YOUR opinion before the Worship Committee meets.  Pray for your church and the direction of our worship life.               

CHURCH SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK                OF THANKSGIVING!                       
   The church office will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th.  Please have any article for the Newsletter in the office by Monday morning so that it may be included in the Circuit Rider.
   Happy Thanksgiving from the Staff!

Our Stewardship Sunday, November 13, 2005
             Attendance                            Gifts                    
            Worship   SS    This week       YTD        Budget
             253       74       $5,290       $368,726    $458,990
     Building Fund           $8,000       $208,693

WORSHIP   Sunday, November 20,  2005
11:00 Music: “Every Knee Shall Bow” Chancel Choir
The Sermon: “Sheep-Like” Rev. Barry Hoekstra
The Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Ephesians 1:15-23
The Gospel:  Matthew 25:31-46

UMW SHUT-IN MINISTRY   UMW’s current mission project is collecting  collecting tissues, handkerchiefs, men’s socks, ladies’ socks, wash cloths, lotion, soap, shampoo, and other personal hygeine products to fill gift bags to give to homebound and nursing home residents who are church members.     Please mark your cash donations “Shut-In Ministry.”  Rita Landry is                                   coordinator of this program.
TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
   Become a part of our Prayer Group that meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.

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, Jarod Martin, Richard Schandorff,  Paul Tholen, Don Adams, Jeremy Brunet, Jerry Troy Cooper, Robert Cooper, Jamie Authement, Allison Foreman,  Lance Chatagnier, Ben White, Joseph Frisella, Jr., Billy Odom, B.J. Guidroz, Travis Twiggs and the 2/156(M) Infantry-Houma National Guard. Soldiers of the TN 278th.

IN CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
   We extend our heartfelt Christian sympathy to the family of Martha Brown who passed away on November 9th.  Martha was a long-time member of our church family.  Her funeral service was held at Chauvin Funeral Home on November 12th.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
   Last Sunday, November 13, we were privileged to share in  the baptism of Grace Laing Davis, infant daughter of Marc and Mary Laing Davis.

THANK YOU FOR THESE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE :   Upper Room by M/M Bobby Aycock.
UMW Shut-In Ministry by Charlotte Lill.
Contingency Fund by M/M John Woodard.
Building Fund by M/M Byron Bennett, M/M Robert Smith, M/M Ronald Blanchard, M/M Charles Jenkins, M/M John Laird, M/M David Gyer, M/M John Woodard, M/M Gene Milford, M/M Kim Walker, M/M David McMath, and in memory of Bill Breeding for his birthday by Ann Breeding.
Gifts to the Staff Appreciation Fund by M/M Robert Smith, M/M Mike Tingle, M/M John Kelley, M/M David Farrar, M/M Bill Vincent, Billie Garlington, and Mary Arceneaux.

GIFT GIVING IDEA!
   When you are trying to think of something unique to give  someone this Christmas, don’t forget about the tasty Salsa made by the Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston.  This delicious Salsa comes in a variety of strengths.  Price: $3 per 13 ounce jar.  Pick up your salsa in the Church office or order gift boxes by calling the Children’s home @ 318-255-5020.

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