THE VOICE

June 2018

First United Methodist Church

1255 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA 70301

2017 Marie Fletcher Award A member of our church remembers these words and this thought from going to Sunday school as a child, “Jesus went about doing good….”

Our Marie Fletcher Award recipient carries the light of Christ in her heart every day. You can see it in her eyes and in her smile as she greets you and as

she goes about her daily activities. Always loving, always enthusiastically participating in the life of our church, she exemplifies Christian principles in all that she does.

Our recipient has taught Sunday school here for five years. She lovingly trains and guides our children and young people as acolytes at both worship ser-

vices every Sunday. She prepares and distributes activity bags to the children at both services as well.

She is a member of the Mission Team and United Methodist Women, and she is the co-chair of the Care Team. She serves as liturgist and greeter as needed in both worship services. At every congregational dinner, you can find her setting up, serving and cleaning up! She has filled in as a nursery work-

er, helps with Little School as needed and helps children through the “High-Five” after school enrichment/tutoring program.

She has participated in the Reaching New People program, Disciple Bible Study and other women’s Bible Studies. She started our annual Christmas givea-way as well as our Christmas Day dinner.

Our recipient lovingly supports her husband in every way possible. She is certainly a wonderful example of a Godly Woman that all women can aspire to

become.

The question is not where can she be found but rather where can she not be found!!! In essence, she is present physically, spiritually and emotionally with us and with all others as she goes about doing the work of our Lord through all of these activities and even more!

It is with deep admiration and sincere gratitude that we present the 2017 Marie Fletcher Award to Donna Varnado, a child of God who goes about doing

good!

Phone: 985-447-4287

Fax: 985-446-8727

Email: thibodauxfumc@bellsouth.net

fumcthibodaux.weebly.com

Worship Times

First Service 8:30 am

Sunday School 9:45 am

Second Service 11:00 am

Jesus Loves Thibodaux, Let’s Pray.

Our Mission:

TO MEET OUR NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY ARE AND MAKE

DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION

OF THE WORLD.

June 2018 Newsletter

From the Pastor

On a Journey

I remember answering my call over twenty years ago and how clergy and lay mentors shared with me the exciting journey I was about to partake. I truly have been in awe of this journey. Yet, the journey was one that I was unable to plan. It was a journey that God planned and a call that I had to an-swer.

Indeed, it was God’s plan for this journey. My life verse, which I claimed many years ago, has always been front and center in my life. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). As I discerned my future, my future at First Thibodaux, I continued hearing God’s plan: The journey isn’t over. I am reminding you of a call.

For many, discerning God’s Spirit and one’s very own spirit is challenging. Sometimes or most of the time, I have to slow down, spend much time in contemplative prayer and emerge myself into God’s Word, into just being with Jesus, to clarify God’s plans for me and not my plans for me. Hey, I said it was challenging, right.

And when I do, God’s plans become more clear. As I said previously, leaving First United Methodist Church of Thibodaux was not my plan, was not your plan, was not the cabinet’s plan, but God’s plan. God’s journey for Donna and me is not over. The exciting journey of reaching new people for Christ, to serve people in the name of Jesus is to continue. So, knowing God has our future planned out, “plans for [our] welfare and not for harm, to give [us] a future with hope” I once again said okay God, I will follow where you lead me.

Well, God is leading us back from where we started, to start a new journey, a journey of mission, of study, of rest, and of renewal so that we can continue with God’s plans for our life and continue to do God’s will.

I also know that God knows the plans for First Thibodaux United Methodist Church, “plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” With that said, I celebrate my colleague in ministry, Reverend Danny Gleason who will become your new pastor effective July 1, 2019. All I can pray for Danny is that his journey with you will be as exciting and rewarding as it has been for me.

Remember God knows your plans and God’s plans are much better than our plans. So, celebrate the journey God has laid before us. Please keep Donna and me in your prayers. Please lift up Reverend Gleason and get to know him as he gets to know you. And celebrate what God has planned for this church and for each of you.

Donna and I love you and this community very much and we give thanks to you for the love and support you have given us over these incredible five years.

To God be the glory. Great things He has done!

You brother in Christ,

Pastor Ray L. Varnado

June Birthdays

Rebecca Pennington 3rd

Grey Callais 5th

Trip Callais 5th

Ariana Triche 6th

Sage Daigle 8th

Blake Boudreaux 10th

John Parfait 11th

Reid Voisin 12th

Marian McCann 16th

Julianna Caffery 17th

Oliver Callais 17th

Donna Varnado 17th

Jeray Jarreau 19th

Beverly Bardwell 20th

Margaret Hebert 23rd

Holly Ruth 24th

Carolyn Kenyon 28th

Charlie Smith 28th

Raymond Hebert 30th

Rev. Terry Lindsey 30th

UMW

The UMW will meet on Thursday, June 21st at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

On Sunday, June 24 at noon, we will have a farewell dinner for Pastor Ray and Mrs. Donna. Please bring a covered dish of your choice.

On Sunday, July 1 at 9:45, we will have a welcome brunch for Pastor

Danny Gleason. Please bring a covered dish of your choice.

June Anniversaries

John & Kim Parfait 4th

Trent & Katie DeGruise 6th

Beverly & Dale Melancon 6th

Gene & Gloria Gregory 6th

Larry & Phyllis Hebert 6th

Randy & Elena Sytsma 7th

Jordan & Jeray Jarreau 21st

Shannon & Jennifer Atkinson 25th

Bill & Mable Cain 30th

Prayer Chain If you would like to be included on the Prayer Chain that is so graciously coordinated by Margaret Kimball, please make sure that Ms. Margaret or the church office has your email so that the power of prayer can uplift the people that we all pray for. We do not limit the prayer chain to only our church, it is for all prayers that need uplifted. And, also, any bless-

ings you might like to share with the church! We need to share our blessings along with our prayers!

You can email Ms. Margaret @

mlkimball9@gmail.com

Remind Website / App

The church has a Remind account. Remind is a website/app that was origi-nally used as a safe way for teachers and students to communicate through text messaging. We discussed it at a previous Missions and Outreach meet-ing, and one was started for the church. The system will send you a remind text message for announcements. You can also opt to have it sent to your email account or download the app. We would like to encourage all mem-

bers to join. There are several ways to sign up:

*Send an email to the church or to Melissa Shaddock and we can add you.

*Text the message @thibodauxf to the number 81010.

*Add the app from either Google Store or Apple Store, or on your Iphone or Android, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/

thibodauxf

Follow the instructions to sign up for remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.

*If you already have the remind app downloaded, click on the three lines in the top left corner. Then on “join a class”. For class code, type in thibodauxf

*Go to rmd.at/thibodauxf on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifica-tions.

Sun

Mon

Tue

Jun

e 2

018

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3

4

Tru

stees

6:0

0 p

m

5

6

LA A

nnua

l Con-

fere

nce

7

LA A

nnua

l Con-

fere

nce

TOPS

6:0

0 p

m

8

LA A

nnua

l Con-

fere

nce

9

LA A

nnua

l Con-

fere

nce

10

11

VBS

12

VBS

13

VBS

14

VBS

TOPS

6:0

0 p

m

15

VBS

16

17

Fath

er’s

Day

18

Ste

ward

ship C

om-

mitte

e 6

:00 p

m

19

Soj

ourn

er’s

Lun

ch

11:3

0—

Vinnie’s

Smok

ehou

se in

Labadieville

20

21

UM

W 6

:00 p

m

TOPS

6:0

0 p

m

22

23

UM

M m

eeting

/bre

akfa

st 8

:30

am

St.

Jos

eph

Hos

-pice

Memor

ial

24

Fare

well D

inne

r fo

r Pa

stor

Ray &

M

rs.

Don

na

25

26

27

28

Joh

n W

esley’s

Birth

day (1703)

TOPS

6:0

0 p

m

29

30