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  - Oct. 26, 2005
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"Trunk or Treat"
   There is an event coming up Monday evening which I am really excited about.  It is our Third Annual ATrunk or Treat.  It will be in the church parking lot facing Highway 311 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday,  October 31.  David West is chairing this event this year, and there are still some parking spaces available.  The concept of Trunk or Treat is that this will be a safe, family friendly event where children will be able to Trunk or Treat at the various cars in the parking lot.  It is kind of like a tailgate party.  Treats are handed out from the trunks of cars.  You are encouraged to decorate your car and wear a costume.  I am looking forward to seeing the creativity.  I just know that our people will want to outdo one another in decorating their car or truck and in their costumes.  I hope that you will join us and get word out to the children in your neighborhood about this event.  This event is a simple way to show the community that Christians can have fun on Halloween too!
      Halloween is a festival which has somehow been demonized by some Christians.  The original festival was pagan in origin but was later Christianized as All Hallows Eve.  It was the day before All Saints Day.  Scary costumes were used to scare away evil spirits which were said to be loose on this night.  While not fond of devilish and scary costumes, I like the idea of keeping evil at bay on this night (or any night for that matter) and celebrating that we can all be saints of God.
    Call the church office if you have any questions.
                                                                       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
Nov. 1    General Meeting 6:30PM AB/403
               AThen and Now, 136 Years of Mission.
               Leader: Lisa Hoekstra
               Hostesses: Shirley Hebert, Martha Hebert
Nov. 5    Acadiana District UMW Annual Meeting
               9:00AM FUMC Lafayette
               For information, call Joyce @ 868-0100
Nov. 8    Faith Circle 9:30AM in AB/403
Nov. 12  La. Conference UMW Annual Meeting
               9:00AM in Pineville

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
   The Let's Talk About It Sunday School Class is hosting a clean up in the Old Parsonage yard.  A yard work day!  Bring your lawn tools, rakes,  edgers, or whatever.  We will spruce up the grounds and then enjoy fellowship there in the yard and in the parsonage  with hamburgers and stuff.  That=s this Saturday, October 29th, at 2:30PM Buntil.  Call Anthony Martin at 868-0414 with any questions.  All are welcome to come join us for work and fellowship!
 
        Daylight Savings
        Time  Ends 
     Sunday, October 30!

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD!
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 be with Ms. Jeanne and Ms. Lori in Room 206.
    We are ready to begin our  next Power X-Press unit which will be on the topic of Christmas Around the World.

TRUNK OR TREAT IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 31!
TIME:    5:30-6:00PM   Participants set up in their space!
              6:00-8:00PM  Trunk or Treat starts!
 
    Have you staked out your parking spot yet?  The very scary Count David West is the chairman of this event and has drawn up a parking plan poster.  If you have not signed up yet,  call or come soon to reserve your eery spot. Remember your space number on Halloween night!  You wouldn't want to get lost on Halloween night, would you?  Be sure you are here for 5:30PM to set up your car.
  WE NEED a lot of friendly participants!  We are reaching out to all the little Atrick or treaters@ in our Church family as well as the Community. Donations of candy or money to purchase treats will be appreciated by all!
   COME IN COSTUME! (You might win a prize!)   COME  and park your car in the back parking lot with LOTS OF CANDY in your trunk! BRING your family and friends!  There will be HOT DOGS, a Space Walk, a Costume Contest for family, adult, youth, and children, as well as a Car Decorating Contest. ENJOY the fun and fellowship!

YOUTH NEWS
 
   Game Night is coming soon!  The youth room is in need of equipment for our game room.  We need TV's with video connections PS2,  XBOX, Game Cube, and games to go with the video systems.
   If you have any of these items, or would like to donate money for us to purchase this equipment, please contact Phyliss Martin @ 868-7787. 

        YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO VIEW THE 
          LOVELY ART WORK OF JUANA WOODARD
                                         At
                       Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild
                             630 Belanger Street 
                                  Thru October

PART-TIME MAINTENANCE POSITION AVAILABLE! 
   The church is seeking an energetic evening cleaning person now that Mr. Jimmie Lee has retired.  The hours are flexible, but will need to be worked after Pre-school has let out in the afternoon (from 4:00pm to 7:00pm or thereabouts, Monday through Friday.)  If you or someone you know might be interested, please call the church office at 868-7787.  Thanks!               

Our Stewardship Sunday, October 23, 2005
             Attendance                            Gifts              
           Worship   SS          This week       YTD        Budget
            164         56            $5,034      $347,138     $458,990
           Building Fund           $1,635       $196,031

WORSHIP   Sunday, October 30,  2005
8:30 AM      Special Music
11:00 AM     “Christ Of the Upward Way” The Choir
The Sermon:  “Live It” Rev. Barry Hoekstra
The Scripture: Joshua 3:7-17;   1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
The Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

THANK YOU FOR THESE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE :   Piano Fund by the Fellowship Sunday School Class in memory of Evelyn Stevens and by M/M David McMath.
Flood Buckets by M/M Larry Babin in memory of Wesley (Mac) McGuyre and Darryl Foster by Elise McGuyre.
Building Fund by M/M Kim Walker, M/M William Brunet, M/M Franklin Bridges M/M Wayne Ledet, M/M Larry Babin, M/M Milton Cancienne, M/M David West, and M/M Paul Sammarco.
Trunk R Treat by M/M Wayne Reid.
Adult Band by M/M Paul Sammarco.
Apportionments by M/M Tillman Gillaspie and in memory of Evelyn Stevens by M/M Gene Milford.
Card Ministry by Lori Rogers.

ALTAR FLOWERS
   If you would like to place Altar Flowers one Sunday, please call Judy Navarre at 879-1924

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.

TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
Become a part of our Prayer Group that meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.

CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE
   CONGRATUATIONS to Jonathon and Andrea Hebert on the birth of their beautiful new daughter, Willow Jane.  Willow was born on Saturday, October 22, 3:45 PM, weighing a healthy 8 pounds and 7 ounces.  Proud grandparents are Tim and Martha Hebert, and A.J. and Lorrie Frazier.  Beaming great-grandparents include Norman and Shirley Hebert.

AN APPEAL FROM A HURRICANE EVACUEE!
   A Hurricane Katrina evacuee and her child,  who are now living in Houma, called the Church office in need of some furniture.  If you have some extra pieces of the furniture in good condition,  that you would like to donate, please call the office. We’ll give you the information to contact the person directly. Please do not bring furniture here. 
   They are in need of one double bed with mattress and box spring, two chest of drawers, and one small dinette set (sized for a small apartment.)    

A NOTE OF APPRECIATION
   We wish to thank you for the many kindnesses you have done for Dulac Community Center and the people of the area.  It is faithful friends like you who have helped us get this far in the recovery after Hurricane Rita.
   We still have a long way to go in recovery and we ask your continued prayers as we work to help the residents get their homes and lives back together.
God Bless You All, 
Alice Rothrock, Exec. Director, Dulac Community Center

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