Dear Church Family:    We’re about to introduce a life-changing opportunity for our church family.  This is a chance for us to dive deeper into all that God has for us, both individually and as a congregation.  We will better understand the meaning of “our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service,  and our witness.

For the next two weeks, you’ll be able to pick up a copy of Treasures of the Transformed Life on Sunday morning or in the church office.  This book includes forty daily readings that will challenge you in the areas of service, prayer, attendance, financial gifts, and commitment.  You’ll have the chance to ask yourself some probing questions about what you believe and why.  Please take advantage of all that this book has to offer.  Set aside a few brief moments for reflection each day, and I guarantee that the Lord will meet you exactly where you are, and begin to fulfill desires of your heart that you might not even realize you have.    To deepen your experience, we’ll be discussing each week’s topics in some of our Sunday school classes and in Worship.  That way, we’ll all have the opportunity to grow as one, reaching for a common goal of a joyous, yet peaceful, rewarding, yet purposeful life as a disciple of Christ.    Plan on not missing a moment as we all embark on this journey together.  Join me in prayer that God would indeed “throw open the flood gates of heaven,” as He promises in Malachi 3:10, and pour out His blessings on each of us and our congregation.    There’s so much more about God than we can even imagine.  Over the course of this forty-day study we’ll have an opportunity to see Him–and His presence in our lives–in an entirely new way.  The water is fine.  So make your plans to jump in.     See you Sunday!  Bro. Don

FELLOWSHIP TIME
     Coffee, Donuts, Milk and Juice!
    Join us between services (9:45AM) in the Fellowship Hall for refreshments!

A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR  YOUR  FAMILY!
   We have Sunday School Classes available  for all ages from nursery to five adult classes!

CHERUB CHOIR
Cherubs practice Sunday, October 5, at 4:00PM in the Fellowship Hall. If you haven’t already done so, take your choir song book to practice so I can replace old songs with new songs.  Invite a friend to join the choir so we can “make a joyful sound unto the Lord.”  We will also have a fun Halloween project for our activity time. 
                                            -Shirley Hebert, Choir Director

CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
   Charley Schrader is recuperating at a rehabilitation facility.  If you would like to send a card of encouragement, his address is:  %Huntersville Oaks, 12019 Verhoeff Dr., Huntersville, NC.  28078
   Rev. John Winn is recovering and taking rehabilitation after a fall, and hip surgery.  John’s home address is:
101 Byron Court,  Slidell, LA. 70461                         
   Julie Craft was struck by a car while riding her bicycle.  She is recovering at home but is still very sore!  

Where: FUMC Parking Lot               
When: October 31
Time: 6:00–8:00PM
Enjoy  a safe alternative and a  fun-filled evening!
   You can choose a parking spot for your car, fill your trunk with candy and goodies for the little ones, or just come and enjoy meandering around.  You will enjoy the kids, food, decorations and fellowship!  The sign-up chart for a parking spot can be found in the narthex of the church.
The following activities will take place.
1.  Trunk or Treat (passing out candy to little treaters.)
2.  Car Decorating Contest
3.  Costume Contest with categories for Children, Teens,
Adults and Couples or Group.
4.  Games and Spacewalk for the children.
   We plan to feed all you “hobgoblins” FREE Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Drinks!   Sound good?  We’ll be supplying them for as long as they last.
   This is a GREAT FELLOWSHIP time for all and grows bigger every year!  Come have a HOWLING GOOD TIME!
Dress up but NO SCARY COSTUMES, PLEASE!
   Monetary donations to this event will HELP A LOT!  We also need cakes for the SPOOK WALK (aka Cake Walk).  WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help set up everything and work the various areas for the night.  PLEASE sign up soon!  Call Jeanne Scott at 868-7787.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
   October 7th, 9:30AM UMW General Meeting: Election of  Officers for 2009; Pledge Service in the Fellowship Hall Parlor. Leader is Judy Matherne.
   October 11th, 9:00AM Louisiana Conference United Methodist Women Annual Meeting at the Wesley Center.
   October 14th, 10:00AM UMW Executive Committee Meeting in the Activity Building Classroom. 

CHURCH MEETINGS SCHEDULED
*Audio/Visual Training on Saturday, October 4, at 10:00AM in the Sanctuary. 
*Ushers/Greeters Meeting on Sunday, October 5, 1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall.
*Audio/Visual Training on Monday, October 6, 6:00PM in the Sanctuary.
* Lay Leadership Committee meets Monday, October 6, 6:30PM in Room 403.

UNITED METHODIST CHILDRENS’s
 LEARNING CENTER FUNDRAISER!
    The United Methodist Children’s Learning Center is selling cases of Coca Cola products as a Fund Raiser!   The cases are $20.00 and the 24 bottles are all 20oz. except for the Mineral Water which is 12oz.  All proceeds go toward extra curricular activities for the children.  Please call 868-7793 and put your order in today!  Thanks for your support!

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
   “Let’s Talk About It” Class will be discussing “Treasures of the Transformed Life” for the next few months.  If anyone is interested in diving deeper into this book, you are welcome to join us in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
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.  It 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.  It meets in Room 403 in the Activity Building.
Class of Mixed Ages, led by Jimmy HardIin,  meets in Room 206.
Youth Sunday School Class–meets in Activity Building.

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.

WE RECYCLE!
ALUMINUM CANS,
OLD EYE GLASSES,
CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS 

ALTAR FLOWERS
   If you would like to dedicate a Sunday’s  Altar Flowers   in memory of honor of a loved one, please call Judy Navarre at 879-1924.

WISE INVESTMENTS
   Kay Ekstrom, founder of the Christian Family Care Agency in Phoenix, spent 25 years helping people in need, particularly poor and ailing children. She believes it’s wiser to “build” children than to “repair” adults.  “I believe that God doesn’t ask about your ability, only your availability”, she says.
   People like Ekstrom get an immediate reward from helping people who need a boost.  But they also see their work as an investment in the future.  Such faithful servants experience the inner wealth that comes from giving and from “spending” yourself.

THE SURPASSING GRACE
   The word “surpass” means to exceed, to go beyond, to transcend the reach or capacity of.  In his second letter to the church of Corinth, St. Paul refers to “the surpassing grace of God that he has given to you” (2 Corinthians  9:14, NRSV). Paul was reminding the Corinthians of the amazing and abundant grace God had showered upon them.
   When Paul wrote that letter, the church in Jerusalem was suffering intense persecution.  The members were poor and struggling to be faithful under dire circumstances. 
   Paul knew the church at Corinth was doing fine financially and that they had a mind to help out the Jerusalem church.  He wrote: “You glorify God . . . by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they . . . pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you” (2 Corinthians 9:13-14, NRSV).
   Consider how you can share God’s surpassing grace with others in need.
                                                              -NewsletterNewsletter

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Apportionments in honor of Judy and Delvin Foret by Dolores LaBruyere.  In memory of Wilson Thibodeaux (Bill Thibodeaux’s dad) and in memory of Yvonne Richard (Suzanne Richard’s mom) by M/M Robert English.    In memory of Jason Thomas by Rhonda Garcia and family.  In memory of Jason Thomas by M/M Gene Milford.
Music Fund by M/M David McMath.
UMW Flood Bucket Fund by M/M Larry Babin.
Building Needs Fund in honor of Judy and Delvin Foret by Louise Autrey.
Card Ministry Fund in memory of Takeko Koike by M/M Barbara Rogers & Lori. 
UMY Fund by the Cash for Cans project.
Renovation Fund by Roland Lill, M/M Larry Babin, and M/M Melvin Childers.

CONGRATULATIONS!
   Paul and Donna Sammarco proudly welcome into the world their second grand-daughter, Kirin Akemi Sammarco Grabczyk, born of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Grabczyk (Mimi Sammarco), of New Orleans, on Friday, September 26, 2008 .

EVERYONE CAN SERVE
   Look for opportunities to serve; don’t wait to be asked!  Remember: You can serve without being a part of an “official” ministry.  We all can:
   –extend the word of welcome, whether or not we are official greeters.
   –be listening, caring friends, whether or not we are official lay counselors;
  –be ready to give reason for the hope that is in us, whether or not we are on the evangelism team;
  –be enthusiastic participants and ready to give a hand, whether or not we are on the planning or cleanup committees.                                             -NewsletterNewsletter