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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, March 19 - 3rd Sunday in Lent
8:30 a.m. Worship
9:30 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
9:40 a.m. Communion in the Chapel
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. FREE lunch for College Students (F. Hall)
4:30 p.m. Chapel Choir Rehearsal
4:30 p.m. Confirmation
5:30 p.m. Faith Friends Lenten Edition
5:30 p.m. Lenten Supper & Study
6:00 p.m. Youth Group
SCRIPTURE FOR SUNDAY:
Mark 2:13-17
SERMON:
"Dinner with Jesus"
Rev. Dr. Jane Riecke
MUSIC FOR SUNDAY:
8:30 AM:Chapel Choir, Scholarship Singers
11:00 AM: Chancel Choir
IT'S JAMBALAYA WEATHER! LSU Wesley students will be in the Fellowship Hall this Sunday selling plate lunches of jambalaya, salad, bread, and brownies for $9. Funds raised will go directly to students to enable them to attend Wesley retreats and mission trips, like our April beach retreat, or our May mission trip to Guatemala. Treat yourself to a delicious Sunday lunch-to-go, and help these amazing students!
NEW SERMON SERIES "SIR, WE WISH TO SEE JESUS" CONTINUES THIS SUNDAY - Each week throughout Lent we will encounter Jesus through the eyes of a disciple. Over the next several weeks we will meet James, Peter, Levi, Thomas, and Nathanael. Join us!
DON'T FORGET OUR #FEEDJUSTONE CAMPAIGN - Every Sunday during Lent we are collecting food for the HOPE Ministries food pantry. Please consider picking up extra food every time you go to the store. For those who bring shelf stable food to donate, please place these items on the table in the Fellowship Hall. You can read more about our Feed Just One Campaign in the Lent Article below.
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 Pastor's Pen
The greatest contribution we can make to the body of Christ is inviting someone else to a church event or helping a newcomer at a church event feel genuinely welcome. We want our friend to experience what we experience to receive what we receive. We want them to feel welcome and accepted, comfortable. We want them to become a part of us.
Each of you chose University for reason. Perhaps you had friends here. Perhaps you loved the music. Perhaps you wanted your children to participate in Sunday School. Or perhaps it was as simple as being the closest church to where you lived. Whatever you saw in UUMC, you want others to see. You want them to choose UUMC as their church family as well.
We often forget though is that churches offer something people need beyond fellowship, beyond care, and beyond Sunday morning. People need to know God loves them. People need to know they are not alone when faced with difficulties. People need to know a peace the world cannot give. People need to know life is not having something to live on but something to live for. And finally, people need a sense of purpose. Only a vital congregation can provide those things.
I believe we are a vital congregation. I believe we offer passionate worship, opportunities for mission and service and intentional spiritual formation. I believe we offer grace and hope. I also believe we must extend our hospitality in ways that we have not considered before.
In coming weeks and months, I hope we will welcome people in a way that exceeds expectations. I hope we will begin to overcome our internal hesitation to invite newcomers into our worship, our small groups, and our service opportunities. I hope we will be unafraid to show newcomers God loves them, they are not alone, they have something to live for and this is a place where they can find a sense of purpose. If we can accomplish any or all of these things, imagine what the Lord will do in our midst.
In Grace and Peace,
Dr. Jane
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UMCOR Sunday is THIS SUNDAY.
This past summer, as in 2005, Baton Rouge was reminded of the importance of our United Methodist connection in the midst of a disaster. Even now work teams from throughout our Methodist connection are arriving to help the Baton Rouge, St. Tammany and Acadiana Districts rebuild. A disaster response office has now been set up at the Louisiana Conference Office of the UMC. Plans are continuing for work that will be done over the next year or more.
Because of your generous giving to UMCOR Sunday (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing) UMCOR was able to act as the arms and legs of Christ's church, moving toward the most vulnerable and assisting those impacted by crisis. In Louisiana, it's been flooding, but in other places it's a tornado or an earthquake or a drought. Because you give, the United Methodist Church's response to suffering continues to reach out to people in need. Please consider the opportunity to give this Sunday and give generously.
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THE LENTEN SEASON AT UNIVERSITY METHODIST 2017
We invite you to please join us during this Lent season to draw closer to your faith and closer to the church. If you have any questions about any of the following events taking place at UUMC during lent, please call the church office at 225-344-0343 and we will be glad to answer your questions!
UUMC LENTEN CHALLENGE: #FEEDJUSTONE CAMPAIGN - Every day, 125,000 people in our community do not know where they will find their next meal. We are calling our church community to action again this Lent and asking you if you can't feed millions, then #feedjustone. During Lent, every time you go to the grocery store, buy at least ONE food item to be donated to the HOPE Ministries Food Pantry. Pick up a reusable grocery bag in the Fellowship Hall and fill it- one item at a time- and bring it to UUMC each Sunday during Lent. All food will be delivered each week o the HOPE Ministries Food Pantry.
QUIET SPACES FOR LENT - The sanctuary at University UMC will be open mid week on Wednesdays, from 9am until 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.
LENTEN STUDY FOR 2017 - Join us for a light dinner and study on Sundays as we gather to discuss the book "Fully Awake and Truly Alive" by Rev. Jane Vennard. A light dinner will be served at 5:30pm, followed by a brief synopsis of the chapter for the week and a time of table discussion. To visit our online sign up form on our website at www.universitymethodist.org/lent2017 or call the office to register at 344-0343.
WEEKLY HOLY COMMUNION - Sunday, March 12 thru April 9, Holy Communion will be available each Sunday at 9:40 am in the Chapel. This will be a very brief service. Anyone is welcome to come and receive the bread and cup as a way of observing a holy Lent.
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Calling all great bakers (or those willing to stop by a bakery and pick up a sweet treat)!
If you'd like to provide a dessert for Kids Hope's Dessert with Dave event on the evening of Thursday, March 30th, please let Shirley Flake know by emailing her at [email protected]. We are imagining a delicious dessert potluck smorgasbord...the more the better! Yum!
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Faith Friends & Young Followers
~ Special Lenten Study ~ Sundays 5:30-7:00pm
It's not too late to join us for our special Lenten Study for children in Preschool thru 5th Grade. We'll begin our evening as one big group (adults, youth and kids) for Supper at 5:30 PM, before heading upstairs to delve into Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World: Jesus' Last Week on Earth. Come Grow with Us this Lenten Season! For more information, please contact Vicki Frick at [email protected] or (225) 344-0343. Hope to see you soon!
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Cradle Roll Sunday - March 26th - For All Families with New Babies
Our Church family is growing by leaps and bounds and giggles and crawls and we want to celebrate!
All UUMC families with new babies born this past year are invited to join us for a special day of Worship and Celebration.
If possible, please let us know which service you will be attending. For more information, contact Vicki Frick at [email protected].
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Palm Sunday Church Picnic & Easter Egg Hunt ~ April 9th
Our EGG-stravaganza will begin with a Church-Wide Picnic at Dr. Ruth Patrick's home on Palm Sunday directly after the 11:00 AM Service. Everyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch, a blanket for your family, and a dessert to share! We'll play some yard-games and share the Easter Story. Our HUNT will start at 1:30pm. Don't forget your Easter basket!
***The Easter Bunny has started making plans for this EGG-straordinary annual event and he needs YOUR help! To make it EGG-stra EGG-citing for all of the kiddos, we need Trillions of Treat-Filled Eggs! YOUR donations will be EGG-specially appreciated! Please pick up a dozen (or more) plastic eggs, fill them with individually wrapped, non-melting candy or trinkets, and tape them shut. Donations can be dropped off in the church office anytime between now and Palm Sunday Eve Eve (Friday, April 7th).
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Camp Istrouma - Our Overnight Church Camp!
Camp Istrouma, located in Greenwell Springs, is our United Methodist Church Camp for the Baton Rouge and New Orleans Districts. The Summer Camp schedule is posted and registration has already begun. Please check out www.campistrouma.com and Register Today. Camp is so much fun! The days are filled with lake activities (giant blob and water slide, zip-line, canoes and even fishing), swimming, crafts, large group games, low-ropes activities, and tons of laughter and fun. The evenings are filled with praise and worship, bonfires and s'mores! All children entering 2nd grade thru 12th, no matter their faith background, are encouraged to attend. It is an awesome week of growth in their relationship with God - and they'll make a lot of new friends, too!
FYI -- Your very own Mrs. Vicki will be the Spiritual Director for the first week of Camp, May 29-June 2, for children entering 3rd-6th grade. I sure hope some of my UUMC friends will join me for this Awesome opportunity!
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Save the date for VBS 2017!!!
JOIN US ON JUNE 12 - 16th!
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Are you willing to wash an extra load of laundry a few times a year?
Each Sunday at UUMC we use a few tablecloths for the coffee and cookie tables in the fellowship hall and we are in need of volunteers to step in to wash tablecloths on a rotating basis.
Dirty tablecloths can be picked up in the fellowship hall on Sundays after fellowship time ends following the 11:00 AM service or on Monday during office hours (9AM-4PM). Clean tablecloths should be returned to the office by that Wednesday during office hours (9AM-4PM).
If you are willing to be added to the laundry rotation please contact Courtney Monk at [email protected] or 344-0343.
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Kids Hope News & Updates
March is National Reading Month
Why does it matter that you read with your student?
Listen in as David Staal, Dr. Emilie, and reading consultant Dr. Marnie Ginsberg share the value of reading during the national reading month of Marc
A huge heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to Mary McGehee and her professional teachers organization, the Alpha Xi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. These caring teachers collected and assembled Health and Hygiene kits for each 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade boy at University Terrace Elementary. The boys and their teachers are most appreciative of this very generous gesture. Thank You, Mary!!
DATES TO NOTE:
March 28th - Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades- Field Trip All Day (Strawberry Farm)
March 29th - Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades - Field Trip 8:30am-12:30pm (Discovery Concert)
March 30th - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades - Field Trip 8:30am-12:30pm (Discovery Concert)
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 (All mentors and Book Club Leaders of 5th graders are welcome to attend this special event)
Thank you to all of you who have registered to attend the Dessert with Dave event on Thursday, March 30th at 7:00pm in our Fellowship Hall. We have 119 registrants from the 4 churches with Kids Hope programs in Baton Rouge- UUMC, Zachary UMC, Neely UMC, and The Chapel!!! It's going to an awesome celebration with our sister programs! I can't wait to see you there~
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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If you or a family member are in the hospital, please make sure to notify the church so that we can be a support to you during a trying time! Thank you!
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We're starting a book club!
First Week of May
The group will meet once per month to discuss a book and enjoy each others company. There may even be food involved! Books chosen will be ones that we love but also ones that perhaps challenge our perceptions of the world and help us grow in our faith. The first meeting will be in the first week of May (day/time TBD) and we will discuss The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. The original or the updated anniversary edition are both fine and can be found on Amazon. Please contact Elizabeth Hilliard ( [email protected]) if you would like to be put on the mailing list! Also include your general availability.
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Are you looking for daily readings, meditations, and reflections during Lent?
Pick up a copy of
Grace & Peace, a reprint of reflections by Rev. Phil Woodland, a much beloved pastor at University UMC who passed away in 2015. You can find a copy in the narthex and on the counter in the church office. If you would like to make a $5 donation to cover the cost of printing, that is greatly appreciated.
Here is a glimpse into the mind and soul of St. Phil in his reflection "Humming Birds" which speaks so honestly to current temperature of our world:
What is it with these humming birds? There is enough nectar in each of the two feeders to last either tiny bird a week, more than either should or could sip at a feeding. Yet they waste their energy diving at each other. Each thinks his discovery is his personal possession. Each acts as if he has exclusive rights, as though those shimmering bottles of sweet water were his own creation, to be defended unto death.
Why cannot they receive the daily bounty as a gift, to be accepted with gratitude, to be shared with joy? Instead they buzz, dive, attack, and fight all day. Soon or late they will kill each other off. You foolish, tiny, lonely creatures...then whose will the nectar be? I wonder if they hear the evening news and pattern their behavior after ours?
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- This Sunday March 19th A Youth Lenten get together with Jefferson at Jefferson UMC
- Confirmation Retreat March 24th 25th with Day with the Bishop.
- Sr High Retreat #2 March 31st through April 2nd, Check your Email for more info.
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Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action
Saturdays, March 18th & March 25th
9AM-12:30PM at St. John's UMC
You are invited to seek climate justice, which means setting right our relationships with each other and the earth. Please register by calling or emailing the St. John's UMC church office: 225-766-9475; [email protected]. There will be coffee and donuts in the morning and a light lunch at the end of the workshop on both days.
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ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION CLASSES FOR SUNDAY, March 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 - Update on Water Problems in Baton Rouge, salt issues. Hays Town and Jimmy Jenkins, Jr., presenters.
- Foundations Class - This class is largely made up of married couples with children and meets upstairs in the Trice Building. Join us as we continue the study by Bill Hybels, "Just Walk Across the Room."
- Genesis Class - For Lent, we are combining with the Carpenters Class! Starting Sunday, March 12th, we will meet in Room 208 in the Trice Building.
- Intergenerational Class - Please join us on March 19 at 9:45 in the UUMC Library to discuss the next topic for our Intergenerational Bible Study class. Current suggestions include reading the book of Samuel, or the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Bring your other ideas and enjoy time visiting with current and potential new study partners.
- Open Door Class - We view the DVD series, "Creed: What Christians Believe and Why (Exploring the Apostles Creed)"
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WITHIN THE CHURCH FAMILY...
JOYS:
- Welcome to the newest member of UUMC, Patricia Crawford.. When you see her at church please give her a warm welcome!
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Janet Albright, Kathleen Arceneaux, Mildred Caldwell, Charlotte Carrier, Doris Dobson, Sandy Godail, Rosemarie Hall, Oleta Hathaway, Louise Hill, Nancy Johnson, Henrietta Jones, Barbara Kavanaugh, Dana Kinard, Catherine McManus, Sonni & Bob Muller, Don Oakley, 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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