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Greetings!
Below is the current edition of the Gathering & Scattering newsletter. If you have any questions about anything found in this newsletter, please visit our website or contact the church office by calling (225) 344-0343. We hope to see you in worship this Sunday! Not all events happening at the church are able to be highlighted in our newsletter.
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THIS SUNDAY @ UUMC:
Please read the entire newsletter for more details on the items listed below, as well as for other details of events and news from the church. Not all events happening at the church are listed below.
SUNDAY, April 6 - Fifth Sunday in Lent
8:30 a.m. Worship Service
9:00 a.m. Children's Choir Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. Noah's Pudding Event in the Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
12:00 p.m. Fellowship time in the Fellowship Hall
4:30 p.m. Chapel Choir Rehearsal
5:30 p.m. Lenten Supper - Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
6:00 p.m. Lenten Study
6:00 p.m. Youth Group
This Sunday's Scripture Readings: This Sunday's Sermon: Our Sermon Series for Lent- Close Encounters With Jesus "Jesus and Lazarus" - Rev. Larry Miller
This Sunday's Choral & Special Music:
8:30 AM Service - The Chapel Choir
11:00 AM Service - The Chancel Choir -
JOIN US FOR NAME TAG SUNDAY! - The Evangelism and Hospitality Ministry Team has requested that we re-institute the use of name tags on the first Sunday of the month to help us get to know other members and our guests better. We will start this on April 6. There will be name tags and markers in a bag on the aisle side of the pews that Sunday, as well as a table in the fellowship hall with name tags and markers. They will be the simple peel off name tags. Please write your first name boldly on the tag and wear it April 6 in worship. Please help others on your pew get a name tag and marker also. The first Sunday is particularly good to use name tags because as we come and go for communion it gives more of an opportunity for people to see our names and get to know us. We hope to continue this on the first Sunday of each month as a way of making our church more friendly and hospitable, particularly to our visitors and guest. Also, there will be members of the evangelism and hospitality team wearing larger "Greeter Name Tags" each Sunday, and these folks will be available to help guests and others with any questions they have such as locations of classes and the nursery.
- COMMUNION OFFERING - During communion we will collect our Communion Offering, which goes directly towards our fund to help those who visit our church in emergency need.
- DON'T FORGET! SUNDAY IS OUR FIRST SUNDAY FOOD DRIVE FOR HOPE MINISTRIES!
Please drop your donation off in the fellowship hall and it will be delivered to HOPE Ministries! Your donations help so many families in our area and are always greatly appreciated!
- JOIN US FOR A JOINT CULTURAL EVENT THIS SUNDAY AT 9:30 AM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL
as a group of Turkish Muslims from Baton Rouge will visit with us and share a dish called "Noah's Pudding". Please join us for this cultural education event and a strengthening of friendship between our two communities. The story of Noah and the flood is a part of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faiths that we share in common. All are invited to come and sample the small cup of Noah's pudding if they wish and to speak with our guests.
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FIRST QUARTER 2014 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE READY!!! Due to the increased cost of postage and the new determination by the Post Office that the church does not qualify to mail the statements at a reduced non-profit rate, we are suggesting that you pick up your statement on Sunday, April 6 in the Fellowship Hall.
There will be a manned table and the person at the table will give you your statement. You may also pick up your statement in the church office before Sunday or on Monday. The statements not picked up will be mailed on Tuesday, April 8. Please make every effort to pick up your statement and save the church a few dollars on postage. Thank you from The Finance Committee.
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It's Easter Lily Time!
 Every year University United Methodist Church offers it's congregation the ability to purchase beautiful Easter Lilies as Memorials or Honorariums to decorate the sanctuary on Easter Sunday.
To place your order for this year's Easter Flowers, fill out and print the form linked here and return it to the church office by Monday, April 14th with your check attached. The cost of the lilies this year is $15.00 per plant. Please be sure to designate if the gift is "in memory of " (person has passed away) or "in honor of" (person is still living) and write clearly. You may mail this form to the church office (3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802).
Alternatively, you may fill out the form during worship, which will be inserted into your worship bulletin, and return it to the ushers. Your check should accompany your order and be written out to UUMC with "Easter Lily" in the memo field. Persons buying Easter Lilies may take their plant(s) home following the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday. |
Please Join Us !
 Join our church family as we host our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Church Wide Picnic on Sunday, April 13th after the 11:00 AM service. This year we have added a special treat - a magic show for all to enjoy! Once again, Dr. Ruth Patrick has graciously agreed to have this event on her beautiful lawn at 888 Dubois Drive! Please pack a picnic basket and a blanket for your family and bring a dessert to share! Lemonade will be provided. Children's egg hunt starts at 1:30 PM. Don't forget your Easter baskets! We are looking forward to a visit from the Easter Bunny, too! Please return a registration form ( click here to download or pick one up at church on Sunday) along with one dozen plastic eggs and one bag of individually wrapped, non-melting candy per child by the morning of Sunday, April 6th. Even if you don't have a child participating, donations of small, wrapped, non-melting candy are greatly appreciated! You may drop candy and plastic eggs off to the church office or in the Easter Basket found in the narthex on Sundays. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Chris Enright at 225-769-3486. If you have any other questions, call the church office at 225-344-0343.
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At UUMC we love our guests and want you to make us your church home!
If you are a guest who has been worshiping with us, be it once or for a long period of time, we would love for you to join our church family! On April 27th we will celebrate "New Member Sunday" between services in the Sanctuary at 9:45 AM. We invite those interested to gather in the sanctuary with the clergy and with members of the evangelism and hospitality team, and others interested in supporting these individuals, and we'll receive them into membership at that time. If you are interested in taking part in this short membership service, please contact the church office for more details. We already feel like you are part of our family, but we would love for you to make us your official church home!
In addition to this, we are re-instituting our quarterly "Coffee with the Pastors" meetings for guests to learn more about the church and consider formerly making UUMC their church home. The next two scheduled "Coffee with the Pastors" are for Sunday, August 17 and Sunday, December 7 in the parlor at 3 p.m. We hope that you will put these dates on your calendar and consider joining us! |
A New Feature in our Children's Worship Bulletins!
We're excited to announce a NEW FEATURE in our weekly Children's Worship Bulletins that will have your kids lining up to get their bulletins from our ushers this Sunday! That's because they'll be looking forward to THE SECRET CODE on the front of the bulletin that unlocks hours of fun learning at home!
This secret code is unique to our church and allows SAFE and secure access to online games that reinforce the message for the week. You can continue Bible learning and discussion at home throughout the week!
Several games are rotated - Memory Match, Word Search, Gems of the Bible and Coloring Book - so each week kids have something new to play. The games are geared toward all age levels, so everyone can join in on the fun!
So, this Sunday be sure to have your kid ask the usher for one of our Children's Bulletins so they will have age appropriate lessons to follow along during worship, and a way to bring that story home with fun games!
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Heritage Sunday @ UUMC is May 18th:
Help us celebrate!
Our worship ministry team has decided to celebrate the May 18th Heritage Sunday this year by recognizing all the members of University UMC who have been members of this church for 50 or more years. According to our records we have 94 people who have been members at UUMC for 50 or more years. In a future article we will publicize that list of names and recognize them. For now, please mark May 18th on your calendars and plan to be present as we present a certificate to each of these long term members who can be present in worship at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. on that day. If you are family or a friend or neighbor to some of these members, you will especially want to be present to support them and help celebrate their long service and commitment to this church. We hope to make this an annual event on Heritage Sunday by presenting certificates each year to the newest members of the class of 50 plus year members of UUMC, while publishing in the bulletin and newsletter each year the full list of all members with 50 or more years of membership at UUMC. |
Community Partners with UUMC
Did you know that there are a few different organizations that UUMC partners with to help us raise extra funds? Below are a few different ways that, without a lot of work or effort, you can help UUMC meet needs in our community and budget. If you have any questions about any of these programs, please call the church office! Thank you for your support!
 Albertson's Community Partners
The Albertson's Community Partners™ Program rewards University United Methodist Church for you shopping at Albertson's. Just use your key tag when checking out to earn credit for our church. For every purchase you make, UUMC will get a small percentage back to us. Our last check from Albertson's was for $79.50 - let's see if we can make this number higher next time!!
If you do not have a key tag, please pick one up in the fellowship hall on Sunday or just click here to open a graphic with our barcode on it to use at checkout, you may print this barcode out or save it to your phone for easy access!
Here Today Gone Tomorrow Thrift Store
Here's how it works: Don't junk your junk. Whether you're cleaning out the garage or cleaning out your apartment, you can give back in a big way by donating your old or unwanted items. Clothing, furniture, appliances - we take anything and everything you simply don't have room for that needs to find a new home!
Choose University Methodist as your Organization: Here Today Gone Tomorrow works with a number of non-profit entities in the Baton Rouge community. Unlike other thrift stores, you get to choose where the proceeds from your items go. When dropping off your donations, make sure to designate University United Methodist Church as your choice organization by giving them our account number 0632.
Your donation counts!: Your contribution stays in the Baton Rouge community when you donate with us. It doesn't get funneled to eBay, it doesn't get diverted to some corporate brand - 50% of the proceeds from your items go directly to University United Methodist Church when you designate us when dropping off your items. The last donation check UUMC received from Here Today Gone Tomorrow was for $60.48. Thank you for your donations and continued giving!
Box Tops for Education
Times are tough. In today's difficult economy, most school districts are struggling to make ends meet as they educate hundreds, or even thousands, of students every day. Our Kids Hope USA partner school, University Terrace Elementary, collects Box Tops to help fill this financial need at their school.
HOW TO HELP: Start clipping Box Tops for Education. Hundreds of products participate in the program, and you probably already have several in your pantry, freezer and fridge. For every Box Top you clip, University Terrace will receive 10 cents. That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly. Each school can receive up to $20,000 per school year from clipped Box Tops.
Drop off your clipped box tops to the church office in the Kids Hope Box or in the basket found on the table in the fellowship hall. Below is a a graphic that shows just some of the brands that participate in this program.
Community Coffee Cash for Schools
The Community Coffee Cash for Schools Program is an easy program where families and members of the community work together to help earn extra funds for their schools. Here at UUMC we collect these upc's to benefit our Kids Hope School, University Terrace, and our University Methodist Preschool & After School.
Please save bar codes (UPC's) year round from all Community Coffee products: coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, coffee filters, etc. If your office or business uses Community Coffee products, the box they come in have high value UPC's. Please clip these bar codes and drop them off to the church office or drop them off in the Fellowship Hall. If you want them to go to a specific school (UT or UMPEA) please put them in an envelope and designate your choice of school.
For more information about this program, you can visit the Community Coffee Website by at clicking here.
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Youth News & Updates
We had a blast at 5th Sunday worship! ATTENTION ALL GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: If you are a senior and want to be recognized on Senior Sunday you need to get in contact with Sammy!! We need a senior photo, the school you attend, and your plans after graduation!
- Sunday School: Come and hangout, we will be looking at questions in our conversation box.
- Chapel Choir: Rehearsal at 4:30pm! See you there!
- Youth: We are starting our DIVERGENT series! Come find out what faction you belong in!!
UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR 2014: APRIL - April 4: Fun Friday at Celebration Station
- April 20: Easter Sunday Sunrise Service, no youth group in the evening
MAY - May 3: One Great Day of Service. Details coming soon.
SUMMER - Choir Tour - May 28th - June 4th
- VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! June 16-20, and we need youth volunteers!! Talk to Sammy and Phil about helping, it's going to be FUN!!
- 5th Sunday Worship hosted at UUMC! - June 29th
- Happening - July 11th - 13th at the Conference Center
- BIGSTUF: You should have started your payment plan. Go to Philip with any questions or concerns you have.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
This was part of the closing song this past week at 5th Sunday led by St. Andrews youth band and it was incredible. Growing up I had a worship leader tell me that if you didn't believe the words that you were singing then don't sing them. I think of all of the songs we sing together, hymns or contemporary songs, do we know what we are singing? Do we believe what it is we sing? Like this song, do we believe that our God is all of these things?
Peace of Christ,
Sammy and Phil, Youth Leaders
samantha@universitymethodist.org
philip@universitymethodist.org
& Susannah Craig, Chapel Choir Director
susannah@universitymethodist.org
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Kids Hope News
Keep those books coming in! The more books our children have to read over the summer...the better! If you've already donated, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Mentors, if you haven't given Caroline your child's greatest strength, please do so now. Her email is cpalm14@tigers.lsu.edu
Please remember our adopted school in your prayers each day next week as students will be taking the high-stakes LEAP tests. Students in the 4th grade must pass the test in order to pass 4th grade.
There will not be any volunteering next week. We want their testing environment to be as calm and quiet as possible.
UPCOMING DATES:
April 7 - 11 NO VOLUNTEERING - Leap Testing
April 18 - 25 No School - Spring Break
April 28 - May 2 Last Week of Mentoring
May 14 9:00am UUMC - 5th Grade's Recognition Ceremony
A CALL FOR HELP:
Shirley Flake
Kids Hope Director
shirley@universitymethodist.org
284-4096 |
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UNIVERSITY UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
3350 Dalrymple Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
PHONE: 225.344.0343
FAX: 225.344.0530
Senior Pastor: Associate Minister: Minister of Congregational Care:
If you received this email from a friend, please consider signing up to receive it directly through constant contact:
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Click the links below to read one of our recent sermons: |
@ UUMC 2014
PALM SUNDAY - APRIL 13:
- 8:30 AM - Worship with Palms
- 9:30 AM - Fellowship in Fellowship Hall
- 9:45 AM - Sunday School for all ages
- 11:00 AM - Worship with Palms
- 12:00 PM - Fellowship time in Fellowship Hall
- 12:15 PM - Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt at the home of Ruth Patrick, 888 Dubois Drive
- 5:30 PM - Lenten Supper & Study
- 6:00 PM - Lent Service with communion in the Fellowship Hall
WEDNESDAY - APRIL 16:
- 12:00 PM - Lent Service with Communion in the Sanctuary
MAUNDY THURSDAY
- APRIL 17:
- 7:00 PM - Worship with Communion, with special music by the Chancel Choir "The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ on the Cross" (Sch�tz) with String Ensemble
GOOD FRIDAY - APRIL 18:
- The Church Office will be closed
EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 20:
- 6:30 AM - Youth led Sunrise Service with Communion, Outside in front of Sanctuary (or in Sanctuary if in-climate weather)
- 8:30 AM - Easter Worship Service with special music, Combined Choirs & Brass Ensemble
- 9:30 AM - Fellowship & Reception in the Fellowship Hall
- 9:45 AM - Sunday School for all ages
- 11:00 AM - Easter Worship Service with special music, Combined Choirs & Brass Ensemble
- 12:00 PM - Fellowship in Fellowship Hall
MONDAY - APRIL 21:
- The Church Office will be closed
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Join Us For a Cultural Event
On Sunday,April 6 at 9:30 AM in the fellowship hall a group of Turkish Muslims from Baton Rouge will come to UUMC to share with us Noah's Pudding. Please join us for this cultural education event and a strengthening of friendship between our two communities.The story of Noah and the flood is a part of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faiths that we share in common. All are invited to come and sample the small cup of Noah's pudding if they wish and to speak with our guests for that day.
THE STORY OF NOAH'S PUDDING
A thousand years after Adam, the Great Creator sent Noah because of His All-Compassion to Noah's people and to all humanity as well (Koran: Chapter Hud, v.25-43) Noah beseeched his people for 950 years to leave paganism, called them to the pure path, the truth, believing in one God. However, people jeered him and called him crazy. Later his son joined the pagans in their betrayal. God ordered him to take two of every creature, the believers and the believers among his family onto the ark.
Noah repeatedly warned people about the flood and cautioned them against it, yet they kept ridiculing him. As all non-believers were drowning due to their vices, a long hard and tumultuous journey was awaiting Noah and the believers.
Days have passed and food was scarce. All of the occupants on the ark were facing starvation. No one type of food by itself was enough to make a substantial meal. Hence, Noah gathered all the food and combined them to obtain a delicious meal. Because of Noah's efforts, the believers survived the famine. The very next day the flood receded. Today we call the meal Noah prepared "Noah's Pudding."
THE RECIPE:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup wheat / barley small
1/2 cup chickpeas
1/2 cup white kidney beans
1 cup raisins
12 dry apricots
8 dry figs
1 apple
2 cups sugar
1 cup ground pecans / walnuts
Cinnamon, Milk, Pomegranate, lemon peel,
Orange peel, Peanuts
Instructions:
Wash and let legumes sit overnight. (You can use canned instead) Cook them in water till soft. Cut up dried fruits and cook in water for 15-20 minutes.
Add them all together and then add sugar and milk. Throw in fresh apples if desired. Cover and let cook for 30-45 minutes. Stir occasionally. When cooked place in separate bowls and garnish with cinnamon, walnuts, pomegranate and anything else you want! Eat cold
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Nearly 400 youth, volunteers enjoy Confirmation Day with the Bishop at Wesley Center
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[Our Confirmands with the Bishop -
click photo to view larger]
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Close to 400 confirmands, clergy, youth workers and volunteers participated in Confirmation Day with Bishop Cynthia Harvey on March 29 at the Wesley Center in Woodworth. The theme "Here I am, send me" challenged confirmands to listen to thier individual call to serve, to nurture their faith and to strenthen their relationship with Christ. [To read more, click here>>>] |
ANNOUNCEMENTS,
NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES:
If you, or your child, are a graduating senior in high school and want to be recognized on Senior Sunday you need to get in contact with Samantha, our high school youth director by emailing her at samantha@universitymethodist.org! We need a senior photo, the school you attend, and your plans after graduation so that you can be recognized by our church during worship at the end of the school year!
Are you interested in being a Discipleship Coach and leading a Discipleship Class here at UUMC? If so, please contact the church office as there are scholarships available through the conference to help pay for this training.
The Louisiana Skeeter Run has moved for 2014. First, the date has moved to October 11th this year to give everyone plenty of time to train for either the 1 mile or 5k walk/run. Also, this year the race will be start here at UUMC! We are extremely excited to host this event which benefits so many. If you are interested in helping out please contact Gary Merrifield at merrifield2@cox.net .
We are working on updating our church records and we have a few people in our database who we do not have contact information for. If you know how to contact any of the people below, please call the church office and give us this information! Thank you!
Alice Maw
Carrie Mercer
Alex Pace
Harold Pilcher
Susan Ward
Mathew Rowe
George Gammon, II
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ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION CLASSES FOR SUNDAY, April 6:
[ If your Sunday School Class would like their weekly study listed below, please email Kelly Surace at
kelly@universitymethodist.org or call 344-0343 each Monday to be included in that weeks G&S listing ] To find out more information about the Sunday School classes below, please visit our website. - College Class - If you are in town this weekend, come join us for coffee and conversation!
- Contemporary Christian Concerns (CCC) - City of St. George - Con. Presented by Greg Frost
- Foundations Class - We will get together to view and discuss our dvd study, Final Words from the Cross by Adam Hamilton. This class is largely made up of married couples, many with children. Visitors are always welcome! We meet in upstairs in the Trice building.
- Genesis Class - This group of young adults gather in the Senior Minister's office to study anything from the roots of Methodism to how current topics relate to and interconnect with our faith. We are currently studying Adam Hamilton's book, "Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White." Come join us!
- JOY Class - Jim Cole will be leading our class on "What the Profits Foretold: Triumphant and Victorious"
- Inter-Generational Class - We will use John Winn's new book, "Selections" for our Lenten study. Each week we will look at two New Testament scriptures and discuss them - John 11: 1-44; Romans 5:1-11 - All are welcome to come as they can! Meet in the library Sunday mornings at 9:45am.
- Open Door Class - We continue our Lenten study, "The Way" - Sinners, Outcasts, and the Poor
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WITHIN THE CHURCH FAMILY...
JOYS: - Congratulations to Charlie and Alison Reeves on the birth of their daughter, Caroline Burnette Reeves on March 31, 2014.
- Happy Birthday to George Caldwell .
CONCERNS: - Condolences to Kathy Baker and family on the death of her mother, Olena Williamson.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Kathleen Arceneaux, the family of Bonnie Baker, Irma Cassel, Christopher Caldwell, Carol Carney, Dot Chisholm, David Diehl, Doris Dobson, Sue Ducote, Peyton Feigley, Sandy Godail, Rosemarie Hall, John Henderson, Greg Hillman, The Hillman Family, Pat Hines, Joy Johnson, Jack Jones, Carol Kelly, Elizabeth Kendrick, Lynda Perry, Pat Rives, Tom Stogner, Tot Swanson, Larry Tarber, Inez Townsend, Mary Lou Von Brock, the family of Olena Williamson, Diane Zufall.
*If you have a Joy, Concern, or a name for the prayer list that you would like mentioned here, please email kelly@universitymethodist.org or call her in the church office at 225-344-0343. Deadline for submitting information to the newsletter is every Monday at noon for information to be included in that weeks newsletter. We also celebrate birthdays of our members who have reached the age of 80+, if you fit this category but we missed your birthday, please call us so we can add your birthday to our database.*
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