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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, FEBRUARY 19
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
9:45 a.m. Grace Based Parenting Class in F. Hall
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:00 p.m. Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
12:00 p.m. FREE lunch for College Students (F. Hall)
4:30 p.m. Confirmation Class
4:30 p.m. Faith Friends
4:30 p.m. Chapel Choir Rehearsal
5:30 p.m. Youth Dinner
6:00 p.m. Youth Group
SCRIPTURE FOR SUNDAY:
Ephesians 4:14-15
SERMON:
"The Grace of Truth"
Rev. Dr. Jane Riecke
MUSIC FOR SUNDAY:
8:30 AM: Chapel Choir
11:00 AM: Chancel Choir
- GRACE BASED PARENTING JOINT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS ENDS THIS SUNDAY - Please see the full article below for more details on this great joint Sunday School class as it wraps up! We'd love to have you join us!
- THIS IS YOUR LAST SUNDAY TO PURCHASE YOUR BBQ CHICKEN DINNER TICKETS - Our annual BBQ Chicken Dinner will take place on Tuesday, Feb 21st. Dinners are $8 each, which purchases a 1/4 chicken, dirty rice, salad, roll and a homemade brownie. Find a Youth Choir member or a Boy Scout this Sunday to purchase your tickets or call the church office at 225-344-0343!
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 Pastor's Pen
The world is awash with news these days. Everywhere we turn there is more and more information. News shows fill the airwaves. OpEd pieces, blogs and commentators offer their advice. Not all of it is news. I believe some of it is information, some entertainment and some, yes, relevant news. Constant access created a kind of addiction. The more we read the more we want. After reading a variety of news outlets this morning, two very important questions crossed my mind, "What is the difference between news, information and truth?" AND "Are we mixing up our understanding of the truth for news and news for information? As soon as I asked the questions, I realized there was no easy answer.
To create a starting place, I decided that the most important question was really, "What is truth?"
Turning to scripture, we find that there are 181 references to truth in the Bible. Some are obscure and overlooked, others are more famous. Throughout the Hebrew scriptures, the verses dealing with truth also mention justice. "Justice is turned back and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter" (Isaiah 59:14). In the New Testament, truth is identified with Christ. John 8:32 states, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 14:6 quotes Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Paul adds to this by saying,"But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).
Discovering the truth is a personal journey. Each of us, at some point or other in our lives, discovers our own truth - what is true in my life is experienced differently by others. Why? Because we are all unique. Each of us brings to the table a worldview created by our environment, our education and our experience of life. It's these factors that form us and our understanding of the truth.
If any of these statements have peaked your curiosity today, I hope you will join me on Sunday as I speak about the grace of truth. I believe it is as timely as it is important. Until then, let us pray, "Make it so, God, that we hear your truth as blessing and speak your truth as gift" (adapted from the book of Common Prayer).
In grace and peace,
Dr. Jane
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Join Us for an extraordinary evening of Song and Dance!
UUMC is extremely excited to be hosting the Watoto Children's Choir (ages 8-12) on the evening of March 7 at 7pm in the Sanctuary as they present their new program, Signs & Wonders.
The choir is comprised of orphaned children: rescued, raised, and educated by the Watoto Child Care Ministries in Uganda.
The Watoto Children's Choir present worship music from Watoto Church in Uganda and invite audiences to expect an encounter with God. Through song, dance and stories the children proclaim the good news of the salvation that is available for all. They share testimonies of how their lives have been changed, and how they have been called into a life of purpose to transform their communities.
Each child in the Watoto Children's Choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents and now lives in a Watoto village. The experience of traveling as a choir helps the children to develop confidence and boldness, as well as broadening their world view. Accompanied by a team of adults, the choir presents Watoto's vision and mission by sharing personal stories, music and dance. While on the road, the children act as advocates for the millions of other African children who have experienced the same heartbreaking pain and suffering as them.
The choirs have toured six continents since 1994, blessing those they encounter with their beautiful voices, energetic dancing, moving testimonials, and passion for what God has done in their lives. To date, the choir has toured six continents and performed to enthralled audiences in schools, retirement homes, churches, parliaments, state houses and royal palaces. They share a message of hope for Africa's orphans and widows.
This event is free and everyone is welcome, especially children. Please join us!
Additionally, there is a need for 8-10 host homes the evening of March 7th for these children. If you would be interested in being one of these homes, please contact Nan Walker by email at [email protected] or call the church office.
To learn more about the Watoto Children's Choir you may visit their website at
https://www.watoto.com/.
You may also view their promo video here:
https://vimeo.com/191099984
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59th Annual Boy Scout and Chapel Choir BBQ Chicken Dinner Sale
- BUY YOUR TICKETS THIS SUNDAY!
On February 21st leave the cooking to us!
The 59th Annual Boy Scout and Chapel Choir barbeque chicken dinner will take place at UUMC on Tuesday, February 21st. Both the Boy Scouts and The Chapel Choir are selling tickets or you can call the church office or more information. The tickets are $8 a piece; you will get 1/4 chicken, dirty rice, salad, roll, and a brownie. You can pick up lunch or dinner. Help support the youth and Chapel Choir at UUMC.
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 NEW GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP BEGINS Monday, March 6, 2017
Sooner of later, heartache comes to all of us as we experience mourning and grief. Help is sometimes needed in knowing how to deal with it, how to work through it, and how to grow because of it. Knowing what faith has to say to us about the grief process is also valuable information. These are the topics we will explore together in a new Grief Support Group that is starting on March 6, 2017 and runs for 12 weeks. We will be meeting once a week from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM on Monday mornings in the Parlor. Ki Addison, a former licensed counselor, and Rev. Carol Civils will be co-facilitating this group. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one within the past two years is invited to participate. Please contact the church office at 344-0343 to register or to ask further questions.
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Director of Music SPR Announcement 
We are pleased to announcement that Dr. Lori Bade has accepted the permanent position of Director of Music for UUMC. Lori Bade serves currently as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for the College of Music & Dramatic Arts at LSU and has served as Professor of Voice at LSU since 1993. Honors and awards include the following: recipient of the Nell S. and Boyd H. McMullan Distinguished Professorship in Music, recipient of the LSU Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award for outstanding teaching and research and/or service, and twice received the "Tiger Excellence in Teaching Award" by Louisiana State University.
Previously, for ten years Lori served as the Director of Music at University United Methodist Church. In addition, since 1968, she has served congregations in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas as music director, organist, choir director or organist/choir director. Lori attributes her very early years (while in grade school) of experience to the organist (Lori's second cousin) at her home church in Luck, Wisconsin (Luck Lutheran Church), where she was hired as substitute organist. It was at this time that Lori began a lifelong journey of serving the church in one capacity or another.
As a performing artist, Dr. Bade brings a history of great successes from a variety of regions and genres. Performances include numerous operatic engagements with both regional and national opera companies; as mezzo soprano soloist in orchestral engagements have included performances of works by J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Duruflé, Handel, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Rutter, Tippett, Vaughan Williams, and Constantinides. She has served on the voice faculty of European summer festivals including the University of Miami Frost School of Music program in Salzburg, Austria and Opera Festival di Roma in Rome, Italy.
Lori Bade holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas at Austin, the Master of Arts degree in Vocal Pedagogy from The Ohio State University, and the Bachelor of Arts degree (concentration in church music) from Texas Lutheran University.
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 The First Annual Seasons of Love Valentine's Dinner was a HUGE success!
Approximately $1700 was raised to help the youth with their mission activities this summer. We are already planning for next year and hope to make this an annual event in the
life of our church.
This event would not have occurred without the support of so many people! Thank you to Rev. Dr. Jane Riecke for the encouragement and support; Kelly Surace for designing the poster and song program; Kyle Wooldridge for designing and assembling the table decorations; Stew Craig, Fred Enright, Bailey & Tara Todtenbier, and Laura St. Amand for preparing and cooking the meals; Clint Willson, Bernadette, Laura, & Mark St. Amand for expediting the food. Thank you to the team who helped decorate Fellowship Hall: Patrick, Stew, Stewart, & Susannah Craig; Anna Camille Eagleton; Chris Enright; Caroline, Julia, Maggie,  & Shirley Flake; Stacy Garrett; Ruby Henderson; Corbin & Corinne Nguyen; Justice Merrifield; Julia Moore; Jane Shelby, Kate, Lance, & Leslie Porter; Zachary St. Amand; Mary Stuckey; Bailey & Tara Todtenbier; Letreta & MacKenzie Wilbert; and Kyle Wooldridge. Thank you to John Flake for cooking dinner for the youth. Thanks to Shirley Flake, our hostess with the mostest. Thank you to the youth who served the meal and cleaned up the tables: Patrick Craig, Anna Camille Eagleton, Caroline Flake, Julia Flake, Kelly Garrett, Justice Merrifield, Corbin Nguyen, Molly Patrick, Jane Shelby, & Kate Porter; Micah Roper, Mary Stuckey, Bailey Todtenbier; and MacKenzie Wilbert. Thanks to the talented youth who provided the special solos, duets, songs for the entertainment: Patrick Craig, Stewart Craig, Julia & Caroline Flake, Kelly Garrett, Jane Shelby Porter, Micah Roper, and Zach St. Amand. Special thanks for Janis Kile Roux for accompanying of some of the songs.
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The Lenten season is around the corner! This year we plan to gather on Sunday evenings for a light supper and a discussion using the book, "Fully Awake and Truly Alive" by Rev. Jane Vennard. We begin Sunday, March 5th and will continue for the six Sundays of Lent. Rev. Vennard shares insights on spiritual practices - "ways of seeing and being in the world that help us wake up and become fully, truly alive." With chapters on rest, silence, community and service, we can journey through this Holy season together.
A light dinner will be served at 5:30 PM, followed by a brief synopsis of the chapter for the week and a time of table discussion. We will conclude by 7pm. The book is available on Amazon or through a local bookseller or you can reserve a copy with Courtney in the church office.
To register, please visit our online sign up form on our website at
www.universitymethodist.org/lent2017 or call the office to register with Courtney Monk at 344-0343.
Come and gather around the tables! Invite friends and neighbors!
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UUMC Has Received the gift of a Labyrinth!
This labyrinth will be used for prayer and mediation at our church and will be shared with other churches and groups in our area. For some, this is an unfamiliar spiritual practice- a form of walking meditation. Lauren Artress, the person that has been instrumental in reintroducing this path of prayer writes:
"Walking the Labyrinth has reemerged today as a metaphor for the spiritual journey and as a powerful tool for transformation...It quiets the mind and opens the soul."
Our labyrinth is in the form of the Chartes Cathedral labyrinth, in France, which was laid in the floor there around 1200. It is one of the few that remains intact today.
We will bless and use our labyrinth for the first time on Ash Wednesday.
Jesus tells the disciples in the gospel of John, "Come and see." You are invited!
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Faith Friends - 6:00-8:00pm - Sunday Evening!
All 3rd-5th graders are invited to join us this Sunday for Silly Skit Night. There will be lots of crazy, funny drama, and a little bit of seriousness, too.
On the horizon:
- Feb. 19 - Skit Night
- Feb. 26 - Mardi Gras Holiday - Faith Friends will not meet
- March 5-April 9 - Faith Friends and Young Followers Lenten Studies - So that parents will be able to participate in the adult Lenten Study, our time will shift and we will offer special Lenten activities for our younger children as well as the Faith Friends. We'll start our evening as one big group, then split into smaller, age-appropriate groups. We are also offering a Nursery for infants and toddlers. We will meet from 5:30-7:00pm. Parents, as you register for the Bible Study, please let us know if your child(ren) will be joining us.
- April 23 - Easter Sunday - Faith Friends will not meet
- April 30 - Faith Friends will be "back to normal".
It's never too late to become a Faith Friend! For more information about our group, please contact Vicki Frick at [email protected] or (225) 344-0343. Hope to see you soon!
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Children's Council Meeting - Sunday, March 5 at 12:15 pm in the Library!
The newly formed Children's Council will meet Sunday, March 5th, to start dreaming and planning ways to bring our children closer to Christ. We invite anyone who has a vested interest in the children of University Methodist and our surrounding community to join us. Lunch (and chocolate) will be provided. For more information, please contact the Children's Council Chair, Colleen Puccio at [email protected] or our Children's Director, Vicki Frick at the church office or at [email protected].
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Save the date for VBS 2017!!!
JOIN US ON JUNE 12 - 16th!
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Kids Hope News & Updates
Why does it matter that we combine relational activities and academics during the mentoring hour?
DATES TO NOTE:
Feb. 27th - March 3rd - Mardi Gras Break - No Volunteering
March 10th - Early Dismissal at UT - No Volunteering
March 30th - Dessert with Dave Kids Hope USA President - 7:00pm Fellowship Hall
April 14th - April 21st - Spring Break at UT - No Volunteering
April 24th - 28th - Last Week of Volunteering for Spring Semester (Standardized testing starts the first week of May, so we have to wrap up a week earlier this year)
May 11th - We host Spring Teachers' Luncheon
May 18th - 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony- 10:00am UUMC Sanctuary
Shirley Flake, Kids Hope Director
[email protected]
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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 or watch one
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Reflections from the Holy Land
 Sunday, March 5th during the Sunday School Hour
@9:45AM in the Fellowship Hall
Come hear Rev. Colleen Bookter share about her experiences traveling to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. See some of the holy sites, hear about her encounters, and watch scripture come alive in new ways as she tells of her time in what some call the "5th Gospel." We will gather in the fellowship hall on Sunday, March 5th at 9:45AM for a slide show, presentation, and questions. All are welcome for this church-wide Sunday school gathering
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SAVE THE DATE! On Saturday, April 1st, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. UUMC has joined with Rise Against Hunger (formerly Stop Hunger Now) organization, and will host a Meal Packaging Event. Our commitment is to package 10,000 meals that day. Rise Against Hunger is an international organization headquartered in Raleigh, NC.
In 1998, envisioning a world without hunger, Ray Buchanan - a United Methodist minister - founded this program. After enlisting as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War, Ray Buchanan quickly recognized that accomplishing a mission required "commitment to something larger than yourself." Over the past three decades, that principle has driven Ray's mission to eradicate world hunger. Rise Against Hunger continues to further Ray's legacy of commitment both to domestic and international crisis response including relief from famine, natural and manmade disasters and health epidemics."
More details will be forthcoming on this event. In the meantime, make sure to put this date on your calendar and make a commitment to come out that day to help!
If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 344-0343.
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Grace Based Parenting: A Joint Sunday School Class for Adults on Sundays at 9:45
To go hand-in-hand with our "Grace Based Living" sermon series, we are offering a joint Sunday School class for parents, grandparents, guardians and anyone who works with children.
Feb. 19 - Vicki Frick - The "Sex" Talk
If you have any questions, please contact Vicki Frick at the church office - (225) 344-0343 or [email protected].
We invite you to join us for Worship and Sunday School
as we discover a "Delivery System for Grace."
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Holy Grill Volunteers Needed for Mardi Gras Week!
The Holy Grill is a meal program run by the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge. UUMC has participated for decades by serving lunch one week a year. Our week is Monday, February 27 through Friday, March 3, but they will not be open on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 28. The lunch is served at the BREC Cadillac Street Park, 6117 Cadillac St. in the Zion City area east of Plank Road north of Airline Highway from 11:45 am to 1 pm. 4 to 6 volunteers are need each day.
Please consider volunteering with us to help families that depend on this hot lunch. A signup sheet will be in Fellowship Hall or you may contact the church office or Susan Pourciau at [email protected] or (225)921-9636
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- Senior High Retreat Session 1 is full. Four UUMC youth are registered and will be attending the March 10-12, 2017 retreat. There is another session offered later in March. If your high schooler is interested please let Stew know. You can email him at [email protected]. He can help get them registered.
- The Super Bowl mixer with FUMC youth was a great success! Nine UUMC youth and 3 chaperones traveled to FUMC for food, fun, and fellowship.The wings were great and the game was exciting!
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Young Adult Camping Retreat
Saturday, February 18th through
Sunday, February 19th
Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi
Do you enjoy the great outdoors?
Does your soul needs some time away?
Join us for our first Young Adult Camping Retreat! We'll meet at UUMC and carpool to the Clear Springs Campground in the Homochitto National Forest near Meadville, MS (just shy of 2 hours away) for a relaxing weekend getaway. While at Clear Springs, we'll spend time hiking, enjoying good company, roasting marshmallows, admiring the beauty of God's creation, discussing a little theology, and worshiping together.
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UMC Woodland Trice Circle to Meet
Please join us on February 21st at 1:30PM at the church as Carol Civils
gives our presentation. It's sure to be enjoyable and information!
Guest are always welcome!
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QUIET SPACES FOR LENT
Lent is a season that invites a different rhythm for our days. The sanctuary at University UMC will be open mid week on Wednesdays, from 9 am to 5pm for quiet and prayer in community. You may drop in for just a few minutes or stay all day for your own retreat. There will be music, weekly printed prayers and meditations, and an opportunity to let your soul rest.
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ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION CLASSES FOR SUNDAY, February 19
[ 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 - Meets in upstairs Trice Room 214 for a study on the gospel of John called Unusual Gospel for Unusual People.
- Contemporary Christian Concerns (CCC) Class - Immigration in Europe. Fara Mabrey, Presenter.
- Foundations Class - This class is largely made up of married couples with children and meets upstairs in the Trice Building. Please join us as we meet in the Fellowship Hall with other classes for the Grace Based Parenting series!
- 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 looking at Sacred Rhythms, a study to help us implement important faith practices.
- Intergenerational Class - Please join the Intergenerational Bible Study class at 9:45 AM in the UUMC Library as we study the Book of Revelation. This is an open-door class; no preparation is required. We are using a syllabus and source material on the Gospel by Rev. J. Curtis Goforth of Asbury Methodist Church in North Carolina. If you'd like a free PDF of the study and a schedule, please email Sharla Myers at [email protected]. The study will conclude on March 5, 2017.
- Carpenter's Class (Parents of Young Children)- please join us as we meet in the Fellowship Hall with other classes for the Grace Based Parenting series!
- Open Door Class - This class meets in downstairs Trice and will be viewing the DVD series "Five Marks of a Methodist"
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WITHIN THE CHURCH FAMILY...
JOYS
- Happy Birthday to Douglas Deason and Deborah Muller.
- Congratulations to Felicia and Stephen Engmann on the birth of their son, Sigwald Tetteh Engmann.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Janet Albright, Kathleen Arceneaux, Mildred Caldwell, Charlotte Carrier, Dave Civils, Phyllis Darvill, Doris Dobson, Sandy Godail, Rosemarie Hall, Oleta Hathaway, Louise Hill, Nancy Johnson, Henrietta Jones, Barbara Kavanaugh, Dana Kinard, Catherine McManus, Diane Moyer, Sonni & Bob Muller, Janet Ramke, Anne Smith, Sheldon Strasner, Marvin Stuckey, Russell Todd, Paul and Karyn Ungar
*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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