Thursday, April 18th, 2024

YOUTH SUNDAY:

4/21/24

Centering Music:

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) arr. Mark Hayes

Janis Kile Roux, piano

Hymns:

TFWS #2218 You Are Mine

TFWS #2172 We Are Called

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:20-25

James Stuckey

Sermon:

"A Place at the Table"

Joseph LeBoeuf

Offertory:

 I Hope You Dance by Tia Sillers and Mark D. Sanders, arr. by Ed Lojeski 

Chapel Choir

Soloists: Katie Love, Olivia Puccio, Ella Savoie & Elyse Savoie

Postlude:

Shine, Jesus, Shine by Graham Kendrick arr. by Mark Hayes

Janis Kile Roux, piano

Join Us Online on Our YouTube and Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/universitymethodist

https://www.youtube.com/uumcbr

UUMC Member Highlight: (Beth Courtney)

We are proud to announce that Beth Courtney, a long-time member of our University UMC congregation and Chancel Choir, has been awarded entry into the LSU Hall of Distinction for alumni of the University. Here is the write-up found and endorsed by the LSU Alumni Association:

Beth Hardy Courtney was an award-winning and visionary leader in public broadcasting for 47 years, here in Louisiana and on the national stage. She began her career as a capitol correspondent and ended with her retirement as the President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), a position she held for 38 years. When appointed in 1984, Courtney became one of the first women in the country to lead a statewide public broadcasting network.

Courtney created Louisiana: A History, one of the projects that meant the most to her. This beautifully told story of our state included noted historians, culture bearers, and a variety of leaders and characters. Released during the year of the Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration, the project included lesson plans for educators, a beautiful companion book, and online elements designed for schoolchildren and lifelong learners alike.

Courtney led LPB through remarkable changes in technology: from transmitter towers, satellites, digitization, and now streaming. Courtney's ability to anticipate and navigate the rapidly shifting broadcast landscape kept quality programming on the air in Louisiana. It allowed LPB to serve the entire state during disasters and challenges.

Courtney was tapped and elected to the highest levels of leadership. She served as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Vice-Chair of the Board of PBS, Chair of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives, and Chair of the National Educational Telecommunications Association.

In addition to the many awards and accolades presented to LPB for programs produced under Courtney's leadership, Courtney was personally honored to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Broadcaster for the Year from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, Communicator of the Year from the Public Relations Association of Louisiana, the Robert B. Hamm Award from the Council for a Better Louisiana, the Distinguished Service Award from the Organization of State Broadcast Executives, and the Dan Miller PBS Station Leadership Award from PBS. Courtney was named a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA, inducted into the Louisiana Center for Women in Government Hall of Fame, and received honorary doctorate degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and Centenary College.

Beth said of this honor, "When 1 arrived at LSU as a 17-year-old freshman, I quickly found my permanent home. The students, faculty, a loving church family, the swirl of new experiences and leadership opportunities, and the rich and unique culture all combined to create the environment in which I knew I could and would thrive."

We celebrate you, Beth, and are thankful LSU saw it fit to give you this well-deserved honor.

LSU Student Fun Day:

Our college students deserve some fun! Join us on Saturday, April 27th from 11 a.m. to

2 p.m. at Roux 61 for the LSU Student Fun Day. We will enjoy lunch together and then the fun begins! If you have questions about attending, email Lauren Broussard LeBoeuf at lauren@universitymethodist.org.

Wisdom Worshipers Social:

Our next social is slated for May 3rd in the UUMC Fellowship Hall. During this time we will enjoy fellowship and conversation. If you have questions about attending, email Lauren Broussard LeBoeuf at lauren@universitymethodist.org.

It is time once again for VBS! For VBS 2024, we will learn to "Shine Jesus' Light!" VBS will run the week of June 3rd - 7th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Aftercare is available from Noon to 5:00 p.m. 

If you are available for the week of June 3rd to 7th, we are in desperate need of help. Some of our tried and true VBS helpers are unavailable this year. If you can only help for part of the week or even a day, we will make that work. 

For those of you who can help during the week, please mark the following work days on your calendar: May 4th, May 11th, and May 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Cindy Hall has graciously stepped back in to help with the stage and other decorations. Thank you, Cindy! This means we will need all the help we can get on the work days! 

Thank you all so much!

Please use the link below to register your child(ren) or to sign up as a volunteer for this fun-filled event. We Can't wait!

https://onrealm.org/uumcbr/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=MDY3NjZkZWUtMjE1ZS00NDcxLTg3NDQtYjEzMjAxMjViODNl

Practicing Resurrection:

Join us through April for a series on why the gift of Christ’s resurrection matters in our daily lives. This reality invites us to have hope, allows us to see beyond the boundaries life gives us, and reminds us of the way we are called by God to lead in the world. Our accompanying weekly devotional guide will be available on our website and in the bulletin.

Check out the leaders of our services this month:

April 21st- Members of our Youth Group (Youth and Senior Sunday)

April 28th - Dr. John Fletcher (Laity Sunday)

Week Three Devotional Guide:

Youth and Senior Sunday:

Grad Sunday is this Sunday, April 21st. We have two high school seniors who will be recognized; James Stuckey and Annabelle Meiners. We will have blankets available to sign and to leave a note of encouragement to each graduate this Sunday, April 21st. These will be in the Fellowship Hall on one of the raised side tables and will be available until 10:50 a.m.

If you are unable to attend service and would like to write a note, you can stop by the church office during business hours tomorrow, 9 a.m. to Noon, to leave your kind words.

Joseph LeBoeuf

Director of Youth Ministries

youth@universitymethodist.org

David and the 5 Smooth Stones: Children's Musical

We all know the story of David and Goliath but what happened after the giant was slain? Take a front-row seat for the "Trial of the Century" as the Philistines take David to court for defeating their greatest champion. 

Join us as the Asbury & Wesley Choirs present, David and the 5 Smooth Stones next Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 9:45 in Fellowship Hall. You won't want to miss the jokes, the music, and the fun! 

General Conference Preview Presentation:

University UMC is a part of a global denomination currently going through revival and renewal. Click the link below to view the General Conference Preview Presentation, presented by Rev. Katie and our lay leader, Dr. John Fletcher. This presentation is about what to expect and what to watch for as the General Conference begins on April 23rd and ends on May 3rd.

General Conference Preview Presentation

PowerPoint Presentation Slides Only

If you have any questions about the General Conference, please email office@universitymethodist.org.

General Conference Prayer Service:

The General Conference, the decision-making body of The United Methodist Church, will gather in Charlotte, NC, on April 23-May 3, 2024 for holy conferencing around pivotal church matters.

St. John's United Methodist Church (230 Renee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810) will host a Prayer Service for the upcoming conference on Sunday, April 21 at 5:00 p.m. We invite you to join us for prayer and Holy Communion in anticipation of the General Conference. Neighboring churches and clergy are invited and encouraged to attend.

Clergy and laity who would like to participate in the service are invited to contact Rev. Lane Cotton Winn (pastorlane@stjohnsbr.org)

UUMC Brand Updates:

Thank you for your continued support of our brand team as we work diligently to change to our new brand identity. Next week, as you drive to our church for your weekly gathering, event, or worship service, take a moment to view the new pole and flag banners. We also have new summer banners so all know when we officially reduce to one service during June and July.

Another great resource to find information about our new brand is our Questions and Answers Document. This document will serve as a general reference for staff members, congregants, and new visitors and members. This will live here in our newsletter for you to reference at any time.

Annual Suicide Prevention and Intervention Support Walk:

Thank you to Patty Rives for leading us in the Baton Rouge Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk 2024. This was a great way to kick off our Saturday morning and it was a great way to raise awareness within our community. Thank you to all volunteers for dedicating your time to ensuring this event went great.

Rise Against Hunger:

Later in the morning on Saturday, we gathered for an intergenerational mission project with Rise Against Hunger. The kids especially loved the active role they got to play! To this point, our church has packed over 68,000 meals for people overseas who struggle to meet their basic nutrition needs. What a gift it is to support families around the world!

Kids Hope Book Club Leaders:

Our student gardeners send out giant hugs to each of you who came out to our Garden Party commemorating 40 years as Partners-In-Education with University Terrace Elementary, now McKinley Elementary! What a beautiful way for us to honor 4 decades of volunteering and serving the school to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of students, teachers, and families. 

At the ceremony, we paid honor to some very special people by dedicating metal garden benches to Coach Tom Talley, former PE Coach who inadvertently started gardening on the school grounds by planting pass-along plants over 20 years ago, to Bob and Jane Blackledge for being instrumental in building and maintaining the first edible garden on the property in 2009, and to Jenny Sutcliffe who is the only other original member of the Garden Team with continuous service for over 15 years. 

Our mentoring, book club leader, and garden team volunteers are the heart of our program and this milestone was the result of their dedication to serving outside of our church walls. Open Hearts. Outward Faith. We look forward to many more decades Growing Together with our partner school.

Shirley Flake

Director of Kids Hope

Meet Our New Members and Witness Our Recent Baptisms!

We are doing a new thing! As many of you have seen, our branding and social media have been updated. We are also taking a new approach to recognizing new members and recent baptisms! Each quarter we will be posting the additions to our church family. We are so thankful that our congregation is continuing to grow. If you would like to make that next step, email Lauren Broussard LeBoeuf, our Director of Welcome and Engagement, and she will be happy to help you with that process!

Lauren Broussard LeBoeuf

lauren@universitymethodist.org

Sunday Morning Offerings:

On Sunday Mornings, we now have large print worship service programs. We also offer hearing devices for those who need additional listening support during service. Lastly, we have a few large print copies of the red hymnals and The Faith We Sing in the Narthex.

Please ask the ushers on Sunday Morning to help you with any of these offerings and we look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.

Employment Opportunities at UUMC:

UUMC will be hiring a new Director of Children's Ministry this spring. If you are interested in the position, please use the link below to see the full job posting on the UUMC Website. Directions to apply are included in the job posting.

Director of Children's Ministry -Job Posting

Prayer List:

Bobbie Barbier, Brother Cliff King, Kari Behan, Robert Blackledge, Marc Blackwell, Myrtle Branning, Doug and Gail Braymer, Bob Buchanan, The family of Jan Colluna Carnēse, Beth Courtney, Blaire Dickey, Janet Grace, Kerry Hawkins, Kristine Hawkins, Elliot Irby, The Family of Arnold Jackson, Linda Joseph, The Family of Ulysses Joseph, Dana and Curt Kinard, Katie Love, Rev. Mary Rachel Moore and Family, Sonni Muller, Sally Perry, Jan Phillips, Cristy Reed, Vanessa and Brooklyn Rives, Jessica Roux’s Ukrainian Host Family, Jessie and Herbert Sibley, Leah Stewart and Family, Mary Tinsley, Garrett Ward, Wesley Foundation Leadership all of those in our congregation who are in nursing homes or homebound.