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. 5, 2006
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"Welcome”
   A couple of weeks ago Lisa and I attended another United Methodist Church.  We were on vacation and while making our way to our destination we stopped in a town in Texas  with a population of 15,000 people. It was about 10:15 on a Sunday morning and we knew that the odds were good that there would be a United Methodist Church in town.  Sure enough, right in the middle of downtown, on Church Street, was a beautiful, turn of the century United Methodist Church.
   We asked what time the next service was to begin and were told “10:45.”  I found a couple of bulletins and Lisa and I made our way to a pew in the back.  (I sometimes really miss sitting on the back pew!)  The service was like our 11:00 service.  It was traditional but also projected the hymns on screens.  The message was lectionary based and rooted in real life.  Over all, the worship experience was very meaningful.
   Lisa and I were not the first people out of the door to greet the pastor.  By the time I shook his hand I can honestly say the he was only the second person who spoke to us at the church.  The first person only spoke to us because he was asked a direct question about the worship time.
   Every week we have visitors in our church.  I hope that they are made to feel like welcomed guests.  Let me challenge you to look for someone you don’t know this Sunday.  Say “Hi!” and introduce yourself.  If they are a guest introduce them to someone else.  Let’s make sure everyone is welcome here!                           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.  This Sunday’s menu will be Grits, Eggs, Sausage, Toast, Jelly, Coffee, Juice, Milk.  ONLY $2.00 per person.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
September 9–Koinonia Circle 9:00AM at Golden Corral.
September 12–Faith Circle 9:30AM in the Fellowship Hall
Parlor.  The Program is Celebrating the Earth!
September 15 & 16–LA. Conference UMW Annual Meeting in Monroe.

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-Sixth Grade will have Story Time  with Ms. Jeanne in Room 209.  The children will have the opportunity to hear the story of Jesus welcoming the children.
+Children’s Church will be in Room 209 after the Children’s Sermon at the11:00AM Service.

MOVIE AND POPCORN!
  Jeanne Scott is planning a fun afternoon for children ages 5 years to 5th grade. Join us in the Activity Building on Saturday, September 9, from  2-4:00PM for a cool        movie and hot popcorn!  Kids, come!
 
CHERUB CHOIR
   The Cherub Choir WILL practice this Sunday afternoon, September 10th, at 4:00PM in the Activity Building.   

IMPORTANT MEETINGS SEPTEMBER 12TH
   The Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, September 12th, at 6:00PM in Room 403 of the Activity Building.
   The Church Council will meet Tuesday, September 12th, at 7:00PM in the Fellowship Hall.

Movie Night!  September 24th during UMY (5-7:00PM)  Admission Price: bring a friend!  We will be watch the movie Second Chance.
Fall Convo!  September 30th (The deadline to sign up is Sunday, September 17th.)  We leave at 6:00AM and return in the evening 7:30-8:00PM.  Cost is $25 and includes a t-shirt and lunch.  Forms are in the youth room.
Junior High Retreat!  Two retreats: Last week of October and the first week of November. *More information is coming.  Let a youth leader know if you are interested.
Sunday Evening Dinners!  We need parents and church members to sign up to provide the meal for the youth on Sunday nights.  All paper products and drinks will be provided by the church.  Volunteers may choose any dish they wish to prepare.  (Youth eat anything!)  Some popular items include: Nachos, Wal-Mart chicken, Pizza, Burgers, Lasagna, Gumbo, etc. . . Contact Kim West @ 917-0905.
Sunday Evening UMY!  From 5-7:00PM on Sunday evenings our youth group comes together to eat, play, and have group Bible study.  Every week is a new adventure.  All youth are invited to bring friends.
Youth Sunday School!  The youth Sunday School class meets in the youth room (upstairs in the gym) at 11:00AM.  We wrap around 11:45AM.  Our focus is to connect the truth of the bible with real life situations.  We have excellent discussions and all opinions are welcome!
                          -Myles, Jimmy, Teresa, Beth, Lisa, and Jenny

 VOICES OF LIGHT YOUTH CHOIR!
   The day is finally here!  We will resume practices on Sunday, September 10th, from 4-5:00PM.  We will meet in the choir room in the Activities Building every Sunday.  Any interested youth in grades 5-12th is invited to some!  It will be an exciting year!  Questions? Call Ms. Beth @ 879-1770.

YOU OUGHTA BE IN MOVIES. . OR IN A COOK BOOK!
   WE can make YOU FAMOUS!  A mini-cookbook is being compiled featuring all the award-winning recipes from all the  OUTRAGEOUSLY good cooks we have in this Church family.  We’ve eaten YOUR delicious dishes and we KNOW who you are! We’reasking that you SHARE your favorite recipes with us.  Pick up several recipe  forms and fill them out.  Please be precise,  and DO include your name.  KIDS, we don’t want to exclude you, so for goodness sake, get YOUR recipes in. You may drop your recipes off in the church office or in the plastic box on the Secretary’s door. You could also e-mail them to ShirleyHebert@Yahoo.com. Deadline is September 10th.
   ALSO, there is a contest for the BEST NAME for our cookbook.  Write your choice of a name on your recipe form.  The winner will be announced in the Circuit Rider.  Hopefully, the cookbooks will be ready to be sold by the first week of November.  Proceeds go to the Grand Piano Fund.  Questions?  Call Shirley Hebert at 790-4431 or 879-2589.

ARTISTS AMONG US!
   Juana Woodard is having a showing of her paintings at the Whitney Bank on Saturday Night, September 9th, from 6:30-9:30 PM.  This is part of the exciting Downtown After Dark event that takes place every year.

Our Stewardship for Week  #36   September 3, 2006
Attendance in Worship:   205    Sunday School 32
Offering This Week:     $  6,707   YTD:  $282,236
Bldg. Fund:                   $    567    YTD:  $121,040
Apportionments Due:  $47,775    YTD:  $ 19,850

IN WORSHIP        Sunday, September 10, 2006             The Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9 22-23
The Gospel:    James 2:1-17
The Sermon:  “Is Your Faith Dead?” Rev. Barry Hoekstra

YOU CAN HELP UMW’S SHUT-IN MINISTRY!
    United Methodist Women are beginning their annual Christmas campaign to bring gifts (personal toiletry items) to our homebound members.  UMW  is asking that you consider donating items such as: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, tooth paste, deodorant, brush, combs, bath soap, Kleenex, cotton balls, Q-tips, bath powder.
   Any of these items and/or monetary donations will be gratefully accepted.  You may drop your donations in the church office.  Questions? Call Rita Landry @876-7740. 

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. 
*We have furniture for sale!   In the old Parsonage we have a Dining Room set (table and six chairs) for approximately $600.  Interested?  Call 868-7787 or contact David West at church!

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. . .
   Dulac Community Center wishes to thank you for your generosity for the school supplies and money to purchase more.  Your continuing support for our children makes a difference for them.  We also appreciate the “Back to School Shoes” for the children.  God blesses us in many ways and your loving kindness is certainly one of His  blessings.
        Grace and Peace, Alice Rothrock, Executive Director

THANK YOU FOR GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Operating Fund in memory of Margie Butler by M/M Luther Kelly and M/M Edward South.
Music Fund by M/M David McMath
Piano Fund in memory of Margie Butler by M/M Richard Simons, M/M Nolan Eschete, Raymond Berger, and Mary Arceneaux.  In memory of Allen Matherne by Raymond Berger.
Building Fund by M/M Rex Soule, M/M Barry Hoekstra, M/M Pat Peace, M/M Tom Becnel, M/M Jimmy Harden, and M/M Ken Klaus.
Apportionments in memory of Margie Butler by M/M John Kelley.
Contingency Fund by M/M Bill Thibodeaux.

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