First United Methodist Church

Information may not be reliable

Beth Dukes is the newest member of First United Methodist. Beth joined by Profession of Faith on Sunday, September 19th. Welcome Beth!!

Needy Childrens fund
We are presently asking for donations to assist families with children at Christmas. We have contacted our local elementary school principals, asking them to each submit the names of two needy families. We will call each parent regarding the children’s wants/needs for Christmas, and we will deliver the gifts the week before Christmas, so that the parent may put them out Christmas morning. We will also assist needy families that call the church.
If you would like to help, please make your check payable to FUMC and note “Needy Children’s Christmas Fund”. Thank You!
Joyce Annison & Jeannette Prestridge
Operation Christmas Child
Christmas is fast approaching and is truly a time of giving to those in need. The youth are gathering gifts to fill shoeboxes as well as $7 donations to ship each box. Possible gifts are school supplies, toys, hygiene items, clothes, or even a personal note. The gifts are needed by Nov 10th. If you are interested in donating, please find me, Tony Angell, after the service in the foyer. Let's prove to the world that is it truly better to give than to receive!

(across from Sanctuary)
If you would like to change your spending habits before the Christmas crunch, give your family the gift of hope, get out of debt, and change your future, then this class is for you!
A preview (with no obligation) will be held on Tuesday, November 9 at 7:00 PM at the Mattie St. house. Childcare will be provided. We will likely hold three or four weekly classes between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then after a break for the holidays, complete the 13-week course.

Additional scholarship funds may be available on request.
ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES
Assisted listening devices are now available in the sanctuary. Our ushers will be happy to assist you.
Your Help Is Needed
To assist our clergy and office in contacting members, please give your cell phone number on the attendance registration pad. Also, we periodically send email to the congregation as a whole, and some messages are returned due to outdated recipient addresses. If you have not received messages from the church lately (several went out this week), be certain to print your email address on the attendance pad as well.
If you would rather receive your church newsletter as a PDF via email, please indicate so by writing "PDF" next to your email on the attendance pad. This will help us reduce mailing costs.

It’s Pecan Time again. Call Kay Graves at 664-7713 by Friday, Oct. 22nd if you wish to order pecans. This pecan sale benefits youth and missions at Walker UMC. 3-lb. boxes (halves or pieces) are $18.50 each and are this year’s crop of pecans.

COMBINED FALL SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS (optional)
BASIC BELIEFS: Sept. 5th - Nov. 28th Confirmation Classes were so well received, that several adults asked for a similar presentation for adults. Many members have come into our church from other denominational backgrounds or have forgotten the things they learned in Confirmation years ago, so this seems like a worthwhile educational effort. We will offer a combined adult Sunday School class in the Sanctuary from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. to serve this purpose and meet this need. The classes will be taught by both laity and clergy covering foundational beliefs of Christianity, History of the Church and the time line of the UMC, sacraments, symbols, administration of the church, beliefs unique to Methodism, personal commitment to Christ and renewal of commitment. It will be a time of sharing, learning and growing together.
OPT OUT Some classes or members of some classes may choose not to participate. We will be getting a count of those in Sunday School who plan to participate in this combined study, and who do not to be sure we have teachers for all students.
ADVANTAGES: We encourage all adults to participate:

to build a solid foundation of understanding our beliefs, our purpose and our identity.
to encourage unity in thought and spirit as we begin a new era together.
to allow people to get to know members who worship in the other worship service.
to allow people to get to know members who belong to different Sunday School classes.
to allow inter-generational learning
to save money on Sunday School curriculum this fall quarter, since these classes will not require books.

Young Adults Sunday School Class
"20 & 30 somethings" Sunday School group meets in the church office @ 9:45. Come and fellowship with us. Interested in joining a group of people seeking a deeper life with Jesus? Contact Tony Angell at arangell81@gmail.com or 305-8600.

Beautiful red poinsettias in gold sleeves are for sale to adorn our sanctuary during the Advent season. Cost $10 as a fund-raiser for Agape I Circle's missions. Payment may be made to AGAPE I CIRCLE, memo poinsettia, through Peggy Hoover in the nursery of the Mattie House Sunday mornings, or in the offering plate, or at the office during the week. Please attach a note to your check indicating the name(s) of the person(s) you want the flower to be in memory or in honor of.

Wednesdays 6 - 8 PM
Come and let the Holy Spirit make you into fertile ground. We will be hanging out, playing games, and seeking the face of God.
Deeper Living Small Group

727 Lynn Dr, Denham Springs
“Shares” in Ministry to Youth, Young Adults, and Young Families

Thanks to the following individuals for their pledges made or shares given to Shares in Ministry to Youth, Young Adults & Young Families:

PRAISE TEAM SINGERS & PLAYERS
If you would like to sing or play and instrument with the 8:30 a.m. Praise Team, you only need to have a heart for worshiping God (as opposed to performance) and commit to:

You may make this commitment on a week-by-week basis. When you can come, COME! As long as you can keep the three (3) time commitments, you are always welcome to be a part. There is no age or musical restriction. We will work with you to help you learn and improve where needed. Whosoever will may come! We're praying for some brass and guitars, but any instrument is welcome! Please contact revginny@gmail.com or 225-772-6681, if you are interested so music is prepared for you for rehearsal.

Christmas is Coming

You are invited to come and sing with the Chancel Choir “Lessons and Carols”. This is a schedule of rehearsals:

Bell Choir rehearsal time has been changed to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday nights, in order that more people can participate.
Rehearsal dates: September 19th & 26th; October 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th; November 7th, 14th, & 21st; December 5th, 8th, & 11th.
Planned performances: October 17th, November 14th, December 12th & 19th.

Membership may be conferred by:
A) a proclamation of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or
B) by transfer of membership from another church where this proclamation was made.
C) As an associate or affiliate member, retaining membership in a former church or denomination, but officially affiliate with our church.
New members are asked to make a vow of membership: to support this church, The United Methodist Church, and The Church Universal: with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness. If you are interested in becoming a part of our church family, contact Rev. Ginny Allen: or 225-772-6681.

Electronic Funds Transfer Helps You and the Church

Occasionally we fall behind on our giving to the church. One tool that is available, to help you stay on track with what you want to give and to help the cash flow needed for the ongoing ministries of the church, is Electronic Fund Transfer. Also known as EFT, ACH, or Direct Payment, it is the electronic transfer of funds from one bank account to another. Contact Linda McDaniel at the Church Office for more info.

The Nursing Home Ministry needs volunteers to make visits to nursing home residents to deliver personal care items which have been prepared for them. To volunteer, call Jewell Whitehead at 665-5940.

For more information on any of these items, please contact the church office at 665-8995.

Additional Highlights of 2010 Ministries

We are richly blessed through a Music Ministry involving over ninety people, participating on a weekly basis. The goal is always to glorify God through music.

The Handbell Ministry involves ten ringers who play at special services such as the Groundbreaking, Hanging of the Greens and the Christmas Cantata. Our goal for the coming year is to offer bell music in worship on a monthly basis.
The Praise Team sings weekly at the 8:30 a.m. service. It is comprised of 5 - 7 members of all ages.

The Chancel Choir sings weekly at the 11:00 a.m. service and provides special music at Easter and Christmas. It is comprised of 25-30 members of all ages and sings music from all genres from gospel to classical.

The Children’s Choir sings for special events and programs such as Mothers Day, Hanging of the Greens and Christmas. Our church is blessed to have a large number of elementary age children participating in this ministry.

On the night of October 29, 2007 there was a fire at our church building. The sanctuary and gym sustained extensive water and smoke damage while the offices and classroom facilities have been totally lost. Damages are estimated at more than $2 million, although the damage was minimized due to the outstanding performance of our local fire departments responding to the emergency.

As God's will continues to unfold in the wake of this tragic event, the members of First United Methodist Church - DS wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have helped and offered to help our congregation in our time of need, and also to those who have remembered us in their prayers. We have been awed and humbled at the generosity demonstrated by God's people.
"For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11