Recorded service:  Did you know that a recording of the morning service is made each week?  While our services are not broadcast, VHS tapes are available.  If you would like to experience the worship service in your home, please contact the office to obtain a copy of the service.

Consecration Sunday Report:  With 248 in morning worship, about 200 people stayed and ate an excellent Gumbo meal, enjoyed the fellowship, and heard the choir sing about “Old Time Religion.”  There was excitement in the building when we read the preliminary pledge report.  The excitement continues to build with each estimate of giving card that arrives in the office.  As I write this article, we have  71 cards totaling  $245,332 towards the General Operating Budget.  While there are still a large number of pledges that were not turned in Sunday, there is still time.  You may send yours in the mail; hand deliver it to the office; or if  you wish, you may even call the church office and speak to our Financial Secretary, Pam Jordan, and she can complete your card over the phone.  If you have not turned in your 2009 pledge card, please do so as soon as possible.       Every financial pledge is an affirmation of faith.  Please understand that every one of you is very important to the life of this congregation.  When all the cards are totaled, we will be able to build our 2009 budget.  Your regular contributions allow us to pay our utilities, insurance, and do regular maintenance on this facility without being distracted from financial concerns.  With a strong base of financial support, we can operate this ministry’s daily programs; weekly worship services; services of compassion and pastoral care; and  support our church’s mission in the local community and around the world. Christ the King Sunday: Trumpets will sound when the choir sings “Come Before the Lord with Praise”.  There will be a short drama explaining the history of the White Gifts Service.  We will even get to sing a verse of “Joy to the World”.  I will explore our combination theme of Thanksgiving and Christ the King Sunday in a message entitled: “Inherit the Kingdom”.  I look forward to celebrating the powerful presence of God in our lives, even as we pray deeply for healing our wounded souls and battered lives.  Bring your family and friends to celebrate God’s blessings,  mercy, and grace this Sunday. In His Service,  Bro. Don

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
   The Church office will be closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

YOUTH MINISTRY
On Friday, November 14th, the Youth went to the Lajaunie’s backyard and camped out.  We had Smore’s, glow in the dark Ultimate Frisbee, songs, and fellowship.  We had an exciting morning when at 3:00AM it turned 50 degrees!  Breakfast was an adventure.  The bacon and pancakes caught fire when they were cooking over the fire!  A great time was had by all!  The Youth would like to say “Thank you” to the Lajaunie’s for sharing their backyard and all the hard work that went into getting everything set up.
Youth Council Meeting has been moved!  We will try to have a meeting via AIM.  Watch for a text from Anthony this week to find out when.
Sunday, November 23 We will head out to 503 Funderburk after the second service and help out a member of our church.  Anyone is welcome to come and join us.
Sunday, November 30 Youth can come out and help with the Hanging of the Green starting at 2:00PM.  We will attend the service at 6:00PM.
   I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of gifts for our youth supper.  Martha Hebert has volunteered to head up the suppers for the Youth.  She will be taking this over shortly and will be making phone calls to fill openings.  Thanks Martha!  You can still call me if you would like to help out at 870-5976 or 876-6694.  Thank you for your support.                         -Nickie

   United Methodist Women need your help to gather items for their annual Christmas bags for our members who are homebound by illness or infirmity.  Items needed are: shampoo, conditioner, tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, hair brushes, combs, bath soap, Kleenex, cotton balls, Q-tips, and bath powder.
  You may drop your donations in the box in the church office.  Any of these items or monetary donations will be gratefully accepted!  Questions?  Call Rita Landry at 876-7740.

WHITE GIFTS
 It is almost “White Gifts” time again and another opportunity for us to do the “work of the Angels”.  There is a great deal of need in our community, and I hope that you will open your hearts and be as generous this year as you have been in the past.  The “White Gifts Angel Tree” will be available beginning Sunday, November 23, in the Narthex.  There are plenty of Angel Gift tags on the tree!  Please consider taking one or more!
   This year the “Angel Tags” are numbered, please sign your name next to the coordinating number or numbers on the sign up sheet.  If you misplace your “Angel Tag” or have any question about the “White Gifts” program, please call Brenda Cloud at 876-2097

NOVEMBER MEETING
SPR Meeting-Nov.25, 6:00PM in Fellowship Parlor.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES
Nursery Class–For Infants -4 year olds in the Nursery.
Children’s Class for K-3rd Grade– Meet upstairs in Room 209.
Children’s Class for 4th-6th Grade- Meet upstairs in Room 206.
Youth Sunday School Class–meet upstairs in the Youth Room of the Activity Building.
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 Fellowship Hall Parlor.
Discovery Class–This is a class for people who are interested in becoming Christian Disciples.    They meet 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 led by Jimmy Hardin,  meet in Room 206.

WE’LL HELP YOU  RECYCLE! 
Aluminum Cans, Old Eye Glasses, and Campbell Soup Labels.  Call the church office for details!

WE’VE GOT SALSA!
   The Salsa is made by the La. Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston and all sales go to benefit the children.

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
INJURY– Jeanne Scott’s daughter, Jodiee Trahan, is now recovering nicely after being critically injured in an automobile wreck.  She already home!
DEATH– A  long-time member of our church family, Elise McGuyre, passed away recently.  Her funeral was held on November 10th.  May God bless Elise and her family.

DO WE HAVE YOUR NAME BADGE ORDER?
   We will be ordering name badges on December 2, and they should arrive in about 2 weeks.  They will have a two color logo, black print on white background, magnetic fastener, round corners, approximately 1 ½” x 3" in size.  If you would like to have one of these badges please fill out how you want your name to appear.  The price will not exceed $10 each, but could go down if we get a good quantity ordered.  You can pay for the name badge when you pick it up at the office or make other arrangements.  Please fill our your name below and turn in this form into Judy Matherne or to the office by December 2.  I would like to encourage all greeters and ushers to order the name badge but it would also we nice for all members to have one!
   You may fill in the order form below and simply put it in the offering plate this Sunday or bring it to the office. The following example gives you an idea of what the badge would look like!

Judy B. Matherne       First United Methodist Church      Houma, LA

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Benevolence Fund by Pat Murphy and M/M Bill Jenkins.

Music Fund by Juana Woodard, Charlene Shrigley, M/M David McMath.  In honor of all the music leaders by M/M Wayne Reid.

Apportionments by M/M Bill Thibodeaux, M/M Tillman Gillaspie.  In memory of Elise McGuyre by M/M Thomas Thrasher and M/M Jim Justice.  In memory of John Woodard by Juana Woodard.

Trustee Fund  in memory of Russell Elliott by M/M Richard Holtzclaw.

Building Renovation by M/M Gene Milford, Carla Smith, Juana Woodard, M/M Tom Becnel, M/M George Shely, M/M Jerry Cobb, and in memory of Julie and Cleo by M/M C.E. Robideaux.  In honor of the marriage of Michelle Charpentier & Jarret Theriot by M/M Mike Charpentier.

UMY Fund in honor of Niki Barr and the Youth Leaders by M/M Wayne Reid.

Card Ministry Fund in memory of Elgin Rogers by M/M Wayne Reid.

UMW Shut-In Ministry by M/M George Geoffroy.   In honor of UMW Women by M/M Wayne Reid.

Secretary’s Computer Fund by M/M Don Hebert.