JOYS & CONCERNS Sharing our joys and sorrows with one another

(continued from the previous page) choose her prayer beads and I could visibly see her relax. As she created her prayer beads, a peaceful expression came upon her face. Each time we met with a table leader, we prayed over their beads. The whole experience drew us closer to God and one another.

As Kristen Vincent said in her presentation, “Prayer beads can help us recognize that we are deeply loved by God.” They can remind us to be still and pray. They can help us listen and pay attention. They are concrete objects that remind us that we are not alone and that God is always with us! Everyone who attended the Bead and A Prayer Retreat encouraged us to bring this ministry to our entire congregation!

Now, Vicki and I are looking for ways to offer this prayer ministry to others including children and youth. We want each person’s experience to be special and unique, and we want the beads to help people in their prayer life and to feel closer to God; not only speak to God in prayer but to feel God’s presence and grace, and to be able to listen to what God is saying. I pray that this ministry will continue to grow in the life of our congregation! If you or your small group is interested in learning about protestant prayer beads or if you or your group would like to make prayer beads, please contact Cherri Johnson at cherri@firstmethodist.org. or by calling 383-4777, ext. 249.

(Continued from the UMW Award Recipients article on page 11) WHY I SERVE: SINGING FROM THE HEART BY DONNA BRITT M y faith journey began the moment I was born while my parents were in seminary in Fort Worth, TX. My mother immediately dropped out of school to raise a family. When I was in first grade I gave my heart to the Lord. From childhood, volunteering has been a major part of my life – the fun part. Through the years, my dad as a Southern Baptist preacher would roll up his sleeves and work alongside people in his church community. My dad said, “Using your power to help is the best witness you could give.” S E R V I C E A W A R D R E C I P I E N T S 2 0 1 7 U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T W O M E N

Through my 37 years as a TV personality at WAFB, I have appeared at hundreds of schools, luncheons, and fund-raisers. I have served on almost 20 community boards; I have worked hundreds of hours on Salvation Army kettles as a “bell-ringer”, raising much-needed funds while spreading joy through singing. God makes your heart sing when you are doing the right

WITH UMW SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT TASHA WHITTON

What inspired you to start serving others? From a young age, I have always felt blessed. It is hard to explain because I did not grown up in a family that was particularly blessed financially or by other ordinary measures of success. But, I always had a strong sense of being given gifts that I did not deserve and wanting to serve others because I had been blessed in this way.

How has serving others changed you? I love to read and talk to others about what I am reading. I use this gift by facilitating discussions about books and materials that I have found useful. Walking with God is an ongoing journey of spiritual transformation. I am so grateful for those who have joined me on this journey and agreed to discuss books and ideas with me along the way. I am changed by each of those conversations.

WHY I SERVE: THE GIFT OF HELPING BY WILLA ROOF

When I heard that I had been chosen to receive this award, I was stunned, and not sure if I had heard correctly. After it was clearly explained to me again, I began to reflect on my long membership at First United Methodist Church, and what it has meant to me.

It all began with my Methodist parents at our church in Mansfield, Louisiana. One of my first memories was at age three, reciting the Bible verse “God is love” during church, loud enough for everyone to hear! Thus began my history of reading in Sunday school and church. Shortly after moving to Baton Rouge, my mother brought me to Sunday School at FUMC. That was 75 years ago, and this church has been my rock, the constant source of my spiritual guidance ever since. I joined the church three years later, and the people I have worked with here over my spiritual journey have been my inspiration as they brought me closer to God through Christ.

My faith grew through the devoted Sunday school teachers I had over the years. Then, as a young adult it was in a Sunday School class where I met Marvin Roof, an engineer who had moved here from Oklahoma. We were married in 1959 in the chapel. Marvin, a fifty+ year member of FUMC, has been a dedicated supporter as we started serving others together. Our three children were baptized and grew up attending here. Our church experiences helped our family to grow in Jesus’ teachings.

The “Young UMW Circle”, which I was a part of from its beginning, had a nursery available for our babies. With this group of women I learned the blessing of serving

others and grew to appreciate the gift of helping. In addition, they gave me an appreciation for my own family life, my role as a wife and mother, and the important part God contributed to our lives together.

While my children attended Sunday school, I learned much by teaching the 11 th grade class. For a number of years I served as a Communion Steward in memory of an old church friend. Preparing Communion helped me grow in my devotion to the Sacrament. Reading scripture in church and choir services is a blessing.

Several years ago, members of the “Young Circle” came back together to form Woodfin Circle. Only now we have grandchildren! New friends have joined us. While we celebrate joys in our senior years, we have serious challenges as well. As a result, I have become more aware of the God-given continuum of life. As I reflect back on my church journey, I feel I have received so much more than I have given. I’m grateful my family legacy is United Methodist, for I truly love this community and church.

Mission work has always been an important part of my life. I began traveling to Mexico with a group of missionaries when I was in middle school. We put on puppet shows and shared our stories with each small village that we visited. As I got older, I had the opportunity to travel to Brazil on a medical mission trip and more recently, to Alaska. Mission work reminds me, again, of how blessed I am and how much I have to be thankful for. I am forever changed by the people that I encounter. In Baton Rouge, I am so appreciative of the opportunity to do regular, local mission work in the community.

How has serving affected your life, your relationships with God and with others, your family, etc.? I can't imagine a life without serving. To pinpoint a single change is daunting. I am who I am because I have had the opportunity to serve.

Where have you seen God working in your own life or in the lives of others? God is at work in my life and the lives of others every day, every hour, every minute. Humans seem to prefer the big, splashy changes where a person seems to be completely different or a situation miraculously resolves, but I love to be the drop of water on the stone. The change may not be obvious today or tomorrow or next year, but that is how the Grand Canyon was created, one drop of water at a time.

Celebrating Our New Members...

Janet, Maggie, Caitlin, and John Pendergast

Amy Lowe David Lowe

Bruce Parker Debra Parker

Mark Monceaux Shanna Hubble

Frank Barnett

Bertha Brewer

Gary Whitehead

Michael, Louise & Marin Myers

Sally Martin

Photos not available for these new members: Idell Thomas Sarah Vandivier Vern Thomas III Dustin & Liz Kidder Dyke Martin Megan Racca Sherry Smelley Richard Hobson

Celebrating the Baptism of...

Jacob Ridge 3–11–18 son of Sam & Michelle Ridge Lillian Graves 3–11–18 daughter of Tyler & Meghan Graves Alice Grand 3–18–18 daughter of Todd & Ashley Grand William Valiollahi 3–18–18 son of Matt & Lauren Valiollahi Cashen deLorimier 4–8–18 son of Mike & Jennifer deLorimier Boston Laubscher 4–15–18 son of Jason & Whitney Laubscher Lucy Hood 4–15–18 daughter of Andrew & Lauren Hood Emery Payne 4–22–18 daughter of Denver & Lauren Payne Pierre Haynes 4–29–18 son of Mitchell & Maryanna Haynes Allie McIlwain 5–20–18 daughter of Logan & Emily McIlwain Samuel Kidder 5-20-18 son of Dustin & Liz Kidder Avery Waldrop 6–10–18 daughter of Rick & Christyn Waldrop Samantha Chachere 6–10–18 daughter of Adam & Catherine Chachere Sloan Hurley 6–17–18 daughter of Brandon & Rayne Hurley Alice Hebert 7–22–18 daughter of T-Bob & Caitlin Hebert Charles Smith 7–22–18 son of Brandon & Janie Smith Jacob Hubble 7–29–18 son of Jason & Shanna Hubble Margot Webre 8–19–18 daughter of Dean & Rachel Webre

Celebrating the Birth of...

Luke Sfondouris 3–5–18 son of John & Mary Sfondouris Molly Tyler 3–15–18 daughter of Thomas & Laura Tyler Margot Webre 4–4–18 daughter of Dean & Rachel Weber Charles Smith 4–18–18 son of Brandon & Janie Smith Jacob Hubble 4–19–18 son of Jason & Shanna Hubble Estelle Selig 4–30–18 daughter of Allison & Robert Selig Evelyn Davis 4–30–18 daughter of Brad & Sarah Davis Benjamin Jones 7–24–18 son of Ryan & Ellie Jones Annie Chua8–2–18 daughter of Michael Chua & Sydney Brown-Chua

Sympathy to the Families of...

Eleanor Henry 2/28/2018 Robert Overall 5/2/2018 Gayle Guissinger 5/22/2018 Janet Hoffpauir 6/26/2018 Anita Fuller 7/6/2018 June Delhom 7/27/2018

Betty McCallum 4/20/2018 Sherman Jacobsen 5/8/2018 Joy Estess 6/12/2018 Rudolph Driftmier 7/1/2018 Melanie Stagg 7/25/2018

FALL 2018 Calendar of Events For more information about small groups, classes, retreats or special events visit www.firstmethodist.org or call 383–4777 The America Street Worship Service celebrated it's 5th Anniversary this past August with a weekend cook-out and concert.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

SUNDAYS

8:30 AM WORSHIP–SANCTUARY 9:00 AM CAFÉ 930 9:40 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL

NEWCOMER COFFEE/ DISCOVER FIRST ESSENTIALS I CHILDREN’S WORSHIP 9:45 AM WORSHIP–AMERICA STREET 11:00 AM WORSHIP–SANCTUARY 4:30 PM PRAYER MINISTRY 5:00 PM ADULT CLASSES YOUTH NIGHT FUSE CHILDREN’S PROG. 5:30 PM CORE MOM'S MINISTRY

MONDAYS

10:30 AM PRAYER MINISTRY 12:00 PM AL-ANON MEETING

TUESDAYS

9:00 AM KNITTING & MEN’S COFFEE 10:30 AM WOMEN’S AA GROUP 12:00 PM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

WEDNESDAYS

8:30 AM CORE MOM'S MINISTRY 4:30 PM CARE TEAM 5:00 PM THE GATHERING - DINNER 6:00 PM YOUTH BIBLE STUDY BIBLE NAVIGATORS (children) ADULT SMALL GROUPS 6:30 PM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS PAL MEETING 7:00 PM CHANCEL CHOIR

THURSDAYS

9:00 AM THURSDAY LADIES GROUP 9:30 AM EARLY LEARNING CTR CHAPEL 11:00 AM WOMEN'S AA 12:00 PM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

ADULT EVENTS

SENIOR ADULT PROGRAM/LUNCH SEPTEMBER 12 10:30 AM • FUMC

CHURCH COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 24 8:30 & 11:00 AM • SANCTUARY 9:45 AM • AMERICA STREET AT FUMC

SENIOR ADULT PROGRAM/LUNCH OCTOBER 10 10:30 AM • FUMC

SENIOR ADULT PROGRAM/LUNCH NOVEMBER 14 10:30 AM • FUMC CHILDREN’S EVENTS

FALL FESTIVAL OCTOBER 28 • 5:00-7:00 PM AT FUMC

YOUTH EVENTS

YOUTH SLIME NIGHT SEPTEMBER 9 • 5:00-7:00 PM AT FUMC

THE GREAT PUMPKIN HUNT OCTOBER 21 • TIMES TBA • BEGINS AT FUMC

JUNIOR HIGH ALL-NIGHTER NOVEMBER 9 • TIMES TBA

MONTHLY LECTIONARY TEXTS A series of Scripture readings for specific days of the year. The Revised Common Lectionary is a 3–year cycle of readings. Four passages are recommended, usually 2 from both the Old & New Testaments. Thus, over a 3–year period the Bible is covered in a systematic & balanced way. SEPTEMBER 9 Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Psalm 125 or Psalm 124 James 2:1-10(11-13), 14-17 MARK 7:24-37 SEPTEMBER 23 Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a Mark 9:30-37 OCTOBER 7 Job 1:1; 2:1-10 Psalm 26 or Psalm 25 Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Mark 10:2-16

SEPTEMBER 16 Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38

SEPTEMBER 30 Ester 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 Psalm 124 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50

OCTOBER 14 Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 Psalm 22:1-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31

930north First United Methodist Church 930 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Change Service Requested

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Baton Rouge, LA Permit No. 63

North Boulevard

America Street

Government Street East Boulevard

To Mississippi River Bridge 

Join us on Sundays:

8:30 AM - Sanctuary Worship Service 9:40 AM - Sunday School for all ages Children’s Worship 9:45 AM - America Street Worship Service 11:00 AM - Sanctuary Worship Service 5:00 PM - Adult Small Groups & Studies Youth Night FUSE, K-3 rd grade ministry Heir Force, 4 th -6 th grade ministry Join us on Wednesdays:

5:00 PM - The Gathering: Food, Fellowship and

Small Groups (dinner served from 5:00- 6:00 PM, followed by small groups)

Nursery Care is available :

Sunday morning | 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Sunday evenings | 5:00-7:30 PM Wednesdays evenings | 5:30-7:30 PM

To discover more about us visit firstmethodist.org

facebook.com/FUMCBR