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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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THE UPCOMING 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, May 15: HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR & YOUTH SUNDAY
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. High School Senior Recognition Reception ( F. Hall)
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:00 p.m. Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
12:00 p.m. Senior Lunch at the home of Kay & Clint Willson
4:30 p.m. Chapel Choir Rehearsal
5:30 p.m. Youth Dinner
6:00 p.m. Youth Group
This Sunday's scripture:
Acts 2:1-11
This Sunday's Choral & Special Music:
8:30 AM &11:00 AM: Youth Band, Chapel Choir
Below are highlights of what is happening at UUMC this coming Sunday,
for more details please see full articles below in this newsletter,
visit our website, or call the church office!
This Sunday is High School Senior & Youth Sunday!
This Sunday we will have the privilege of celebrating our Youth and enjoying them taking part in many leadership roles during worship. We will also take time to recognize our graduating High School Seniors and present them with a gift from the church. Please join us in celebrating them all this coming Sunday during worship and between services with cake and fellowship in the Fellowship Hall.
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Pastor's Pen
Many years ago, when my parents were living with us during the last months of my father's life, I came dragging home one Sunday afternoon. Anyone who has ever followed a pastor around on a Sunday knows that it takes an awful lot of energy. Well....that day in 1996...I was tired, but it wasn't unusual. What was different was that my father was watching me climb our porch steps and come in the front door. As I came in that day, he said in a very loving way, "You are tired. I can see it in the way you walk. Let's go out on the porch and have an iced tea before lunch." It was exactly what I needed...a reminder that I needed a steadying hand to help see there was more to life than routine and work and duty. There were birds to watch, an iced tea to sip and a conversation with my dad - moments of life I now treasure.
I believe we all need a hand to hold us steady. That hand may be the hand of a loved one, a friend, a life partner, a spouse, or just a friendly neighbor...but from wherever that hand appears, we need to be open to taking hold of it and get back on our feet. We need the strength to face life, grounded in the knowledge that we are loved and beloved.
Certainly God, through the love of Jesus Christ, enables us to get back on our feet in the face of all the things that threaten to overwhelm us - mortgage payments, credit card debt, declining health, aging parents. So much of life - whether it is the busyness or the everyday challenges- have the power to flatten us out. We need to remind each other that God is in our lives protecting us, offering a steadying hand to uphold us. As any one of us looks into a future that is often unknown and scary, we need community to support us, friends to care for us, the armor of God to protect us and God's steadying hand to lift us up.
Paul urges us, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." When we stand, we discover a miracle has taken place - God with us now and forever. When we stand, we stand in strength, ready for whatever surprises or challenges life might have in store. When we stand, we stand in the knowledge of God's never-failing love and grace.
In God's love,
Dr. Jane
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New Director of Children's Ministry Announced! 
We are pleased to introduce Vicki Frick, our new Director of Children's Ministries at UUMC. Vicki is certified in child development. She is currently enrolled in the United Methodist program for professional certification in Christian Education through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
Vicki has worked in some area of church ministry since 1992. Most recently she was the Director of Children's Ministries at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Slidell, LA - a position Vicki held for 16 years. At Aldersgate, Vicki was responsible for the total educational ministry for children from birth through 6th grade. Responsibilities included the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Sunday School, Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday night and Sunday evening programming, Nursery Services, and all special events for children and families. Vicki worked hard to integrate children into the larger community of faith. We know Vicki will bring the same passion and innovation to our program here at UUMC.
Vicki and her husband Paul have two adult sons. They live here in Baton Rouge where Paul is employed as the Roy Crumpler Memorial Chair of Psychology at LSU. They look forward to getting to know more of the church. Vicki will begin her ministry with us on August 1.
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Welcome to
God's Surf Shack! Registration for VBS 2016 is OPEN!
University United Methodist Church invites your child to join us at the Surf Shack Vacation Bible School where kids catch the wave of God's amazing love!
At the Surf Shack, children will discover an interactive, energizing, Bible-based program that will give them an opportunity to ride the waves with God. During VBS, your children will become Surfers and explore how to experience God's amazing presence in their lives.
UUMC VBS is for kids from 3 years old through 5th grade and will be during the week of June 20th - 24th from 9am to 12pm each day.
Registration is now open, so sign up soon - You don't want to miss the COOLEST week of the Summer!!! To register pick up a form in the church office or the narthex on Sunday, or download a form on our website by clicking this link.
To make sure your child receives a t-shirt in their size please register by May 20th!
There is a small charge of $20 per child, which covers the cost of a t-shirt and other fun surprises throughout the week! Please attach your check, with "VBS 2016" written in the memo section, to your childs registration form and return it on Sundays in the offering plate or mail it to or drop it off at:
University United Methodist Church
3350 Dalrymple Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Your check must be received for your registration to be complete.
Afternoon Child Care is also available at an additional charge of $50 per child for the week. Children will need to be picked up by 5:30pm. Extended Care is available for grades K - 8th grade only. For information on signing up your child for this, please contact the church office directly.
We look forward to seeing all of you the summer!!!!
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Kids Hope News
Last week was a wonderful week of celebrations with our partner school. The Garden Team hosted a garden party with the 5th grade gardeners, Book Clubs wrapped up their final book of the year, we provided a delicious luncheon for all the teachers and staff to show our appreciation, and mentors and mentees spent their last hour together doing what they love most (some painted, some played games, some built with legos, some spent the hour talking). It was such a joy to experience these precious moments with such precious people. I think Stew Craig's 3rd grade mentee summed it up best. When Stew asked what he thought was the best day they spent together, the child replied, "Oh that's easy! Every day we spent together was the best day!" :-) He's right. Every day with the children of UT is the best day ever!
For those of you who work with a 5th grader, you're invited to attend the 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony in our sanctuary at 10:00am on Monday, May 16th. They will love to see you there.
Mentors of Kindergartners are invited to attend the "Kindergarten Celebration" in UT's cafeteria at 9:00am on Wednesday, May 18th. It is sure to bring a smile to your face!
Thank you, UUMC, for giving us another great year of Kids Hope and for giving us a year full of Best Days!
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| Mentees decorated pot holders to give their mentors as a thank you gift for working with them all year. |
 Shirley Flake, Kids Hope Director
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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
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VBS Decoration Work Day: WE NEED YOU!
Saturday, May 21 from 10AM-2PM &
Sunday, May 22 from 1-4PM
in the Fellowship Hall to help make backdrops, props,
and decorations for our "surf Shack" Vacation Bible School coming up this June.
You can sign up to help in the fellowship hall this Sunday.
All help is greatly appreciated! No artistic skills are required!
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Why not Catch flies this summer,
instead of swatting them?!
UUMC will once again participate in the Methodist Co-ed Summer Softball League. This is a great opportunity to have fun this summer playing slow-pitch softball. Games are usually played once or twice a week beginning at 6:30pm. All women and men - regardless of skill level - interested in playing with the UUMC team should contact Rob Roux at 924-7174, or [email protected]. League games will begin soon!
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CHURCH MEETINGS FOR 2016:
JUNE
June 9 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
June 13 - Trustee's, 6PM, Library
JULY
July 11 - Finance Committee, 6PM, Library
July 11 - Church Council, 7PM, Fellowship Hall
July 14 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
AUGUST
August 11 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
August 22 - Trustee's, 6PM, Library
SEPTEMBER
September 8 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
OCTOBER
October 3 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
October 3 - Trustee's, 6PM, Library
October 10 - Finance Committee, 6PM, Library
October 10 - Church Council, 7PM, Fellowship Hall
NOVEMBER
November 10 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
DECEMBER
December 5 (If Needed) - Trustee's, 6PM, Library
December 8 - Executive Council, Noon, Library
December 12 - Finance Committee, 6PM, Library
December 12 - Church Council, 7PM, Fellowship Hall
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES:
SAVE THE DATE
Ladies, mark your calendar for August 16th for our Annual Ladies Luncheon! You won't want to miss this special event during our anniversary year! More details to come!
_____________________________
Did you or a family member graduate from College or receive any higher education degree this semester?
Please email the graduates name, degree received, and school graduated from to [email protected] so that we can include them in our JOYS section of the newsletter next week. Thank you!
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ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION CLASSES FOR MAY 15, 2016:
[ If your Sunday School Class would like their weekly study listed below, please email Kelly Surace at
[email protected] or call 344-0343 each Monday to be included in that weeks G&S listing ]
- College Class - Will gather in Upstairs Trice for discussion on the intersection of faith in our daily lives.
- Contemporary Christian Concerns (CCC) Class - Atheism. Presenter John Meyer..
- Foundations Class - This class is largely made up of married couples and meets upstairs in the Trice Building. Please join us as we discuss a Nooma video or have Group Discussion on events going on in our lives.
- Genesis Class - Please join us on the first floor of the Children's Building in the Office (first door on your right when you enter). We are discussing, C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. No prep-work or reading necessary.
- Inter-generational Class - Last week, the group decided to take a short break from Isaiah. You're welcome to meet in the UUMC Library at 9:45 Sunday, May 15, to visit. Or, at that same time, It so happens that John Myers is leading a discussion with the CCC class on modern atheism. That will be in the UUMC parlor. Either way, we wish you all a blessed week. We'll resume our study on Chpt. 6 of Wesley's study on May 22.
- Parents of Young Children Class - This class is formed of parents, single or couples, with young children and are meeting in room 208 in upstairs Trice.
- Open Door Class - We continue discussion of "The Call: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul"
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WITHIN THE CHURCH FAMILY...
JOYS:
- Congratulations to Aja and Robert Davis on the birth of their son, Brooks Wilson Davis, on May 1, 2016. Proud grandparents are Sheelah and Glen Davis.
- Congratulations to Dr. Yvonne Douthat Hartinger and Virgil Hartinger on the birth of their son Joseph Xaver Hartinger born on April 28th in Salzburg, Austria. Proud grandparents are John and Annette Douthat.
- Congratulations to Mary Stuckey for being chosen to receive the Principal's award at St. Aloysious for the 7th grade.
- Congratulations to Laura Bertrand on receiving the Distinguised Communicator Medal of Distinction from the LSU College of Business!
CONCERNS:
- Condolences to Mary Buchholz and family on the passing of her husband, Richard Buchholz.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Janet Albright, Kathleen Arceneaux, John Baker, Melrose Bailey, Marie Bruns, Debbie Bucco,The family of Richard Buchholz, Mildred Caldwell, Ramona Carpenter, Fred Churchman, Doris Dobson, Sandy Godail, Mary Elizabeth Goings, Rosemarie Hall, Van Heard, Oleta Hathaway, Richard "Dicky" Horton, Nancy Johnson, Barbara Kavanaugh, Dana Kinard, Helen Law, The family of Mary Alice Luykens, Lisa Macklin, Ann McDowell, Catherine McManus, Sharon Nason, Lewis and S E Mixon, Roy Parker, Debbie Roux, Bob and Alta Sanders, Anne Smith, Sheldon Strasner, Marvin Stuckey, Lowell Vice, Dean Wilton.
*If you have a Joy, Concern, or a name for the prayer list that you would like mentioned here, please email [email protected] 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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