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  -  Sep. 26, 2006
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"Can’t Go Back to Egypt”
   In the past few weeks I have had a number of conversations about our church.  A concern that I have heard from a few folks now has to do with no longer knowing everyone attending worship.  There are so many new people and unfamiliar visitors.  “I don’t know everyone anymore,” one person told me recently.  “I wish we could go back to the old red brick church!” 
    I understand this person’s discomfort.  Change is scary and threatens the way things have always been.  We would rather stay the same than face change.
   One of the stories from our religious tradition is about a group of ex-slaves.  They are pressed and oppressed into service in Egypt.  God, through Moses’ leadership, guides the Israelites to the Promised Land.  Along the way there are some tough times.  It is almost comical now to read the accounts of the people when they say “We wish we could go back to Egypt.  Sure, we were slaves, but at least we had our own gardens.”
   Shouldn’t God’s church grow?
   Shouldn’t we reach out to outsiders and make them part of our community of faith?
   Shouldn’t we desire to share God’s Good News with all?
   Shouldn’t we welcome strangers?
   We have a great commission to fulfill.  We are to make disciples for Jesus.  Fifty years ago, Methodists in a red brick church knew this and moved to a new building–on the very edge of town–which could hold four times as many people.  And you know what?  They filled the new building.
   What is our vision?  Are we looking ahead?  Or, are we looking back?                                                 Peace!  Barry

FELLOWSHIP TIME AND HOT COFFEE!
  When: After 9:45AM Service  Where: Activity Building 

JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST!
   We are serving a delicious breakfast in the Activity Building between 9:15 and 10:00AM on  Sunday mornings.  UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
October 7, 9:00AM Koinonia Circle Breakfast Meeting at the Golden Corral.  Devotional: Linda McMath.
October 10, 9:30AM Faith Circle in the Fellowship Hall Parlor.  Leader and Hostess: Bette Adams.
October 17, 10:00AM Executive Committee Meeting at Joyce Thibodeaux’s house.
 
IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN OCTOBER!
 *Staff Parish Relations Committee will meet on Thursday, October 5th, 6:30PM in the Fellowship Parlor.
   *Worship Committee will meet on Sunday, October 8th, at 12:00 Noon in the Fellowship Hall Parlor.
   *Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 10th, at 6:00PM in Room 403 of the Activity Building.
   *Church Council will meet on Tuesday, October 10th, at 7:00PM in the Fellowship Hall.

NEWS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY
   Trent Parrish, son of Grady and Tersa Parrish, and Angelia Lupo were united in marriage by Rev. Hoekstra  on Saturday, September 16th.  May God bless this happy union.

                           CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
+SUNDAY SCHOOL
Itty-Bitty to Four Years will be with Mrs. Mary and Ms. Maddie in the Nursery for a Bible lesson/playtime.
Five years  thru Sixth Grade--Power X-Press
9:45AM– Opening Assembly in Room 209 with Ms. Jeanne.
October 8th–Games Center in Room 209 with Mrs. Carla Smith in the Activity Building.
October 15th–Science Center in Room 209 with Mrs. Martha South.
October 22nd–Music Center in Room 209.
Children’s Sabbath–October 15th
   This goes along with our Power X-Press Unit.  “Jesus and the Children.”  There will be a celebration of children at the 11:00AM service on October 15th.  This will be at the time of the Children’s 
Story Sermon.  
   It has certainly been an uplifting feeling to see so many children at the 11:00AM service!
Children’s Church–11:00AM Service
   Message–“God ‘s Steadfast Love”
   “The moon and the stars to rule over the night for his steadfast love endures forever:” (Psalm 136.9)
                                             -Jeanne Scott, Children’s Director

TRUNK OR TREAT!    FELLOWSHIP AND FUN!
When:  October 31st
Time:    6-8:00 PM
Where:  Church Grounds
   Are you ready for a good time?  Are you looking for a safe Halloween experience for your children?  How does this sound?  A Costume and Car Decorating Contest, Free Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Drinks while they last!  All you have to do is fill your trunk with candy, bring the kids,  and come enjoy fellowship with family and friends.
   You know the routine!  There will be a sign up chart for a car space in the narthex of the church.  You can pick your spot or call Jeanne at 868-7787 to reserve your spot.
   We do NEED volunteers to organize and oversee the games.

 MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
   The multi-talented nuns from the musical production, “Nunsense”, will be entertaining us at the November 5th covered-dish luncheon!  Jeanne Scott and Sue Peace, accompanied by Donna Sammarco, will be singing songs from the very successful production.  If you’ve seen the play at the Little Theater, you know you are in for a TREAT!  We want to have a FULL HOUSE, so start thinking about that “special” covered dish that you will be preparing for the lunch.
   The luncheon and musical presentation will be after the 11:00AM service on Sunday, November 5th.
   YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!
                                                      -Shirley Hebert, Coordinator
 
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
   We would like to extend a warm Christian welcome from our church family to Bill and Star West, who joined our church on September 23.  Bill transferred his membership from FUMC in Virginia, and Star joined by transfer from another denomination.  We are enriched by their presence and membership and pray our church will be a blessing to them!

Our Stewardship for Week  #39   September 24, 2006
Attendance in Worship:   251    Sunday School 46
Offering This Week:     $ 4,782   YTD:   $309,693
Bldg. Fund:                   $   605    YTD:   $130,122
Apportionments Due:  $51,450  YTD:    $ 23,525

 Our Stewardship for Week  #40     October 1, 2006
Attendance in Worship:   273    Sunday School 46
Offering This Week :    $ 8,977   YTD:   $318,472  
Bldg. Fund:                   $ 1,527   YTD:   $131,649
Apportionments Due  $52,675   YTD:   $  23,525

IN WORSHIP        Sunday, October 8, 2006     
The Scripture: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
The Gospel:    Mark 10:2-16
The Sermon:  “Rules” Rev. Barry Hoekstra 
The Music: 8:30AM “Sweet Hour of Prayer” The Circuit Riders
                 11:00AM  “Jesus Loves Me”  The Chancel Choir

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR PEACE AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY:  Aaron Ledet, Jerry St. Pierre, John Parks,  Andy Weaver, Kevin  Adams, Brian Ratcliff, Brandon Ratcliff,  Bryan McDonald, Brian Medaris, Chad Campbell, Ryan Kurras, Chris Pollard,  Michael Wegler, Brent Hollingfield, Bryan Patton, Kristopher Pugh, Richard Schandorff,  Paul Tholen, Jeremy Brunet, Jamie Authement, Lance Chatagnier, Joseph Frisella, Jr., Travis Twiggs, Blake Dryden,  and the 2/156(M) Infantry-Houma National Guard, the TN 278th.
(If you know of someone on this prayer list who is now safely home, please call 868-7787 and let us know!   We’d like to share that news with the Church family!)

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE!
*Scrumptious Salsa is still available for only $3 per 13 ounce jar!  All sales benefit Ruston’s LA. Methodist Children’s Home.
*T-Shirts are still available in the Church office.  These T-shirts are a fund-raising project for the youth and cost $14 each.  We have all sizes from Small to XXX.
*World’s Finest Chocolate Bars are being sold as a fundraiser for the youth. $1 a bar.  
*Donna Sammarco’s solo piano CD “On Eagles Wings” is available.  Proceeds benefit the Grand Piano Fund.
*MacDonell’s Children’s Greeting Cards are still available in the back foyer of the Church. Sales benefit MacDonell’s Children. 

THANK YOU FOR GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Card Ministry Fund in memory of Margie Butler and Allen Matherne by M/M Ed McCarty.
Piano Fund in memory of Margie Butler by M/M Milton Cancienne.
Building Fund by M/M Jimmy Hardin, Ben Meyers, M/M Don Murphy, M/M Dana Lofton, M/M Don d’Aquin, M/M David McMath, M/M Jimmy Hardin, M/M John Walton, M/M Rex Soule, M/M Richard Simons, M/M Will Williams, M/M Max Cloud, M/M Tom Becnel, Julie Pellegrin, M/M Barry Hoekstra, M/M Ken Klaus, M/M Pat Peace, and in memory of Henry Thibodeaux by Mary Thibodeaux Walden.

   We extend our Christian  sympathy and prayers for comfort  to Jimmy and Dee Arbuckle and their family  on the death of Jimmy’s beloved father , John Arbuckle.  Mr. Arbuckle passed away on Saturday, September 23, and his funeral service was held Monday, September 25.

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