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  - Sept. 14, 2005
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"HELP”
   I spent a fair amount of time on the road last week.  Sam had evacuated with friends to Alabama.  I picked her up and got her to Texas A & M, where she will spend a semester until Tulane hopefully can get up and running again.
   My travels took me through much of the Katrina damage area.  From the north shore to Mississippi, and into Alabama, trees were down everywhere.  A three-state area is dealing with a swath of damage 150 miles wide.  Portions along the coastline are complete losses.  Power is still being restored in many areas where damage was only minimal.
   I spent Sunday morning with the “Other Barry” and attended the consecration of Asbury UMC’s new sanctuary in Bossier City.  It was a wonderful service and well attended.  I had a few minutes to visit with our Bishop.  He told me more than 30 churches in the New Orleans area are total losses.  Somewhere just less than 100 pastors are out of work in the affected area, many until the end of the year.  Many of the congregations have relocated and will not be back for  some time.
   People have asked me what we can do to help.  We can give special gifts to the Bishop’s appeal for Katrina.  UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, has given our Bishop discretion to use the funds given to UMCOR by folks in Louisiana.  Money will be needed to keep clergy salaries coming and insurance and pension paid. $1.1 million will be needed for this purpose just until the end of the year.
   We also need to keep our apportionments paid.  Many New Orleans churches are not meeting, and will not be meeting for a long time.  It is up to churches like ours to do what we can to make sure that our apportionments are paid.
Conference Boards and Agencies will not start new programs and ministries–but we will be needed like never before to keep existing ministries going.
   Finally, volunteer.  There are many places to serve.  One is right across the bayou from the church.  As time goes on, UMCOR will need helping hands, too.  Find a place of service.                                                          Peace!  Barry

FELLOWSHIP TIME
When:    After 8:30AM Service   Where:  Fellowship Hall
Join us for Coffee, Donuts, Milk, Juice, and fellowship!
Please remember to contribute to this special ministry.                                                          

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN  
   Louisiana Conference UMW Annual Meeting will be held on September 16-17th,  at the First United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA.  For more information or questions call Joyce Thibodeaux at 868-0100.

AGAPE BIBLE CLASS 
   The Agape Bible Class will start up again on Monday, September 19th, at 9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall.

LES BELLES CLOCHETTES
    We will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, September 14th, from 5-6:30 PM.  It will be great to see all of you then!

“LET’S TALK ABOUT IT CLASS”
   The “Let’s Talk About It” Adult Sunday School class is beginning a new series this Sunday.  Kim and Kimi Walker will lead us through the book “Becoming a Prayer Warrior” by Elizabeth Alves.  Anyone interested is invited to join us in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School Hour.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY–Jeanne Scott, Director
Itty-Bitty–Three Year olds with Mrs. Mary in the Nursery.
Four Year Olds are with Maddie Lowe in Room 109.
Lost and Found–Power X-Press
Five Year Olds–Sixth Grade will be with Mrs. Lynda Wright and Mrs. Michelle Sartele in the Cookery Center.  This center will be in the Activity Building Kitchen.
   We first meet in the Fellowship Hall after the 8:30AM service.  We then go to the Library in Room 105 for a brief opening and then to the kitchen for the lesson.
VOLUNTEERS: We are still in need of two volunteer teachers for this session.  Science on September 25th and Art on October 2.  The lesson plans are clearly laid out.
ACOLYTES: We welcome children Third Grade and up who wish to bring the Light of Jesus into our Sanctuary on Sunday morning at the 11:00 AM service.  Contact Ms. Jeanne at the Church if you are interested.
TRUNK OR TREAT: We are beginning to think about the Trunk or Treat event for Halloween.  All suggestions are welcomed as well as volunteers.  Call Jeanne if you are interested in participating in any way.

FALL RUMMAGE SALE
   Our FINAL SALE (yes, I’m retiring.) will be on Saturday, October 1st .  All tables have been reserved already.  If you would like to donate items for the church table, PLEASE do not take them to the Activity Building Gym until the designated time.  (Monday, September 26th through Thursday, September 29th .)  Set up for participants will be on Friday, September 30th, 2:00-7:00 PM.  Any questions?  Call Shirley at 879-2589.
                                                         “Rummage Sale Queen”

BUILDING COMMITTEE
   At long last our renovations are going to begin.  We are planning to use some of the existing pews in the Fellowship Hall and other church locations.  We plan to give many pews to another church in exchange for an offering to our building fund.  That leaves several pews that church members may have in exchange for a donation to the building fund.  Anyone wanting a pew is responsible for immediate removal of the pew from church property.  The pews should be available during the week of 9/19/05-9/23/05.  Please contact the church office if you are interested.  The available sizes are listed below:
 2 @ 18'6", 1 @ 3'10", 1 @ 3'9", 1 @ 7'7", 1 @ 6'1", 1 @  4'5", 6 @  5'5".
   May God bless our efforts!                  -Building Committee

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
FALL CONVO–September 24th , 2005
   All youth in grades 7th–12th are invited to attend Fall Convocation at the Conference Center in Woodworth, La.  This is a one-day event featuring music, games, giant inflatables, food, and more.  Please have your form completely filled out with payment of $25 attached to Phyliss Martin by Sunday, September 18th.  See me if you need a form.  Parents, please contact me if you can provide transportation.  We will leave on Saturday by 6:15 AM and return the same evening at approximately 7:00 PM.   
                                               -Phyliss Martin, Youth Director                                             

YOUTH FUNDRAISER MEETING POSTPONED!
   The Youth Brisket Fundraiser meeting scheduled for this Sunday, September 18th, has been CANCELLED!  Check with Phyliss Martin at 868-7787 with any questions.

Our Stewardship Sunday, September 11,  2005
             Attendance                               Gifts                   
           Worship   SS          This week       YTD        Budget
             213        75            $7,363       $293,341  $458,990
         Building Fund              $ 278        $191,834

WORSHIP   Sunday, September 18, 2005
8:30 AM      Special Music
11:00 AM    “Jesus Loves Me” The Chancel Choir
The Sermon: “Help Wanted” Rev. Barry Hoekstra
The Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15; Philippians 1:21-30;
The Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

CORRECTION: JUANA’S “SOUTHERN PALATE”COLLECTION
   Juana Woodard, one of our member artists, is showing her “Southern Palate” Collection of Art at the Downtown Gallery, 630 Belanger St., October through mid-November, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.  No admission.  This is a great opportunity to experience this artist’s interpretation of the South.

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, Eddie Doiron, Lance Chatagnier, Bryan Stringer, Ben White, Joseph Frisella, Jr., Billy Odom, B.J. Guidroz, and the 2/156(M) Infantry-Houma National Guard. Soldiers of the TN 278th as well as all soldiers in Iraq.

TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP
   Would you like to be part of a weekly Prayer Group?  We have a dedicated group of people who meet every Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM in the Sanctuary. Join us!

UMW SHUT-IN MINISTRY
   UMW’s next project is already perking!  We will be buying personal hygiene products for home-bound people and nursing home residents.  Please mark your donations “Shut-In Ministry.”                              -Rita Landry, UMW

YOUR FAVORITE SALSA IS IN!!
   We’ve gotten in a fresh new shipment of your favorite kind of Salsa!   Come by the office and get your special jar before it sells out again!  (Don’t worry!  We can always get more!)

MEDICAL RELIEF EFFORT NEEDS HELP!
   There are 50 doctors from Charity/LSU Hospital who are coming to our area and need a place to stay, bed, and shower.  If you are interested in helping, or have some suggestions, call Annette Foster at 868-6496 or 868-3920.

THANK YOU FOR THESE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE :     
Apportionments by M/M Bill Vincent.
Peace with Justice by M/M Bill Thibodeaux.
Food Bank by M/M E.T. Brady.
Building Fund by M/M Don Murphy, M/M Robert Smith, M/M David McMath, M/M Charles Jenkins, M/M Tilman Gillaspie, and M/M William Brunet.
Flood Buckets by M/M Gawain Vicknair, Julie Pellegrin, and M/M Wayne Reid.
UMCOR Hurricane Relief by M/M Bill Thibodeaux, Annie Weaver, M/M Byron Bennett, and M/M John Laird, M/MDon Hebert, Ben Meyers, M/M Iris Martin.

FLOOD BUCKETS
Check the front foyer for a list of things we need to make flood buckets. Call Cindy Craft with questions.

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