the voice - first united methodist church of thibodaux · terry & jan leonard 24th march 2018...
TRANSCRIPT
THE VOICE
March 2018 Newsletter
From the Pastor
Repaired for Action
In my article “From the Pastor,” last month, I ended my thoughts with this: “I am hoping and praying that all that need some “Soul Repair” visit God’s incredible shop, so that their Easter Sunday will be a celebration, personally and collectively, of what God has done!
I have tried the past twenty-five years (25), at least, to visit God’s “Soul Repair Shop.” And when I do, I am always repaired and sent back into ministry to tell what God has done! It seems that one repair would be enough. Yet, this is not God’s intent. God continues to work on me and others in order to fulfill God’s desire; to bring us back into the image God created.
When I was five, I found worth by picking up Coke bottles at a penny each. I was able to start helping my mother put food on the table. Imagine a five-year-old today concerned with such? I continued Coke bottle picking up throughout my life, so to speak. I bagged groceries, worked on dairy and beef cattle farms, worked in garages, on milk trucks, worked in the oil field, taught school, sold insurance, adjusted insur-ance claims, and in my forties, became an elder in the church. Each step along my journey, God has been there, calling me to action, and re-pairing me for the sending.
Over the past years, God has worked and worked, and repaired, but in the past few years, I just wouldn’t allow God to put me into action anymore. I said I was comfortable and content where I am. I liked the action God put me in around July 2013 and I wanted nothing more.
That’s where self will attempt to be an adversary to God’s will. That’s where things start to unravel and start causing an inner angst, a feeling without peace, in order for the Creator’s will to override human’s will. You know God’s “Soul Repair Shop” must be doing an overhaul, when these feelings emerge.
That’s what Lent is about. It allows us to accept God’s creating, restoring, renewing and loving presence deeper in our life. We can allow our faith to grow. We can trust the “trust fall” rule with God and know when we fall into God’s hands; God is there to catch us.
Donna and I have told you about how God has called us to trust God in an amazing “trust fall” of faith way. God has and is repairing us, as with you, and is now sending us into action, somewhere else, as God will surely send you into action. In order to find peace, no angst, I had to trust God’s decision to send us again, even when the action here is incredible.
Know, we love this church, The Little School, the entire community of Thibodaux, and each of you. You will always be in our hearts, a part of who we are, and in our prayers. We can only pray you feel the same for us and your church. I pray you pray for us on our mission to Bethlehem Bible College, to School of Hope, an orphanage, the Hope School, underground Christian churches in persecuted areas, and other Christian ministries on the West Bank of Israel. Please be in prayer and if any feel moved to help financially in the mission expenses, not our personal expenses, please let us know.
An incredible season with an amazing God is upon each, we just too freely accept what God is doing and will do. Are you ready for East-er? Are you slowly journeying to the cross, looking to Jesus for understanding, and hope? Or are you overwhelmed with life not knowing what why to turn. The “Spiritual Soul Repair” shop is still working, 24/7, just call out.
In Jesus’ repairing love,
Pastor Ray L. Varnado
March 2018
First United Methodist Church
1255 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA 70301
Phone: 985-447-4287
Fax: 985-446-8727
Email: [email protected]
fumcthibodaux.weebly.com
Worship Times
First Service 8:30 am
Sunday School 9:45 am
Second Service 11:00 am
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 blessings you might like to share with the church! We need to share our blessings
along with our prayers!
You can email Ms. Margaret @
Lenten WOW gatherings have started. Each Wednesday, we continue having our fellowship meal from 5-5:45 p.m. and our worship service, with communion, at 6:00 p.m. We pray our fellowship and worship continues to bless many. Please pray for these fellowship and worship gatherings. Please come and participate in the midweek
blessings!
Sunday School
Come join us for Sunday School! Currently, we have five classes and we
are sure there is one that would fill the need in your heart.
We ask that you pray about vol-unteering as a teacher or as a helper with some of our children’s classes.
Please join us as we learn more of God’s word and how it can sustain us in our busy lives. Parents are reminded
that they should pick up their children at 10:45 am from their classrooms.
Lay Servant Ministry Classes
The Acadiana District will host Lay Leadership classes on Saturday, April 14, 2018 for the beginner or basic from 8-4 in the fellowship hall. The advanced class will be Satur-day, April 28, 2018 from 8-4. If you would like to become a Lay Servant or need to renew your certification, please
consider these classes.
Jesus Loves Thibodaux, Let’s Pray.
Our Mission:
TO MEET OUR NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY ARE AND
MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANS-
FORMATION OF THE WORLD.
Lenten WOW gatherings have started. Each Wednesday, we continue having our fellowship meal from 5-5:45 p.m. and our worship service, with communion, at 6:00 p.m. We pray our fellowship and worship continues to bless many. Please pray for these fellowship and worship gatherings.
Please come and participate in the midweek blessings!
Holy Week:
Palm/Passion Sunday is March 25. There will be no Wednesday service on the 28. We will participate in
the Holy Thursday service at Calvary UMC, at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Seder meal. (Please help us make a good showing as Calvary works so hard to welcome us.) On Good Friday, March 30, The Hike for Christ comes to the church around 1:30-2. At 6:00, we have a Good
Friday service with Calvary UMC at First Thibodaux. On Saturday, we have the big Easter Egg Extravaganza that begins with a mini worship service. And Sunday, two Spirit filled Easter Sunday services! Your prayers, sup-
port, participation, and excitement is requested.
March Birthdays Tom Shaddock 1st Cathy Stack 1st Courtney Dumas 4th Bobbie Simon 4th Maggie Clausen 6th Simone Southall 6th Trent Dugruise 7th Martha Newchurch 7th Hale Caffery 9th Ruth Chiasson 9th Lady Pierson 9th Matthew Melancon 11th Heather Peters 14th Sam Clausen 15th Sheri Lynn 15th Linda Leray 16th Patricia Rivere 17th Walt Shoemake 20th Elena Sytsma 20th Donna Anderson 20th Tatum Gehbauer 23rd Fay Smith 23rd Stan Smith 23rd Anna Grace Peters 27th Kristi Rivere 28th Rebekah Sayes 29th Randall Loupe 30th Timothy Blakeman, Sr. 31st
March Anniversaries
Nick & Chelsey Crawford 8th
Terry & Jan Leonard 24th
Marc
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The UMM of our church will have their next meeting on Saturday, March 24,
2018. If you have not done so, come and meet other men of our church. The men
are rebuilding their group, praying on vari-ous ministries they can do in our church
and community. The UMM meet monthly for prayer, breakfast, study, and fellowship.
Breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m. Come and be part of renewed, vital ministry in
our church. UMM President, Wayne Sparks can be contacted at
Little School is currently doing a program called “Pennies for Patients”, raising money for Leukemia. If anyone in the church would like to partici-
pate, please contact me.
Jennifer Malbrough, Director
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Sojourners The Sojourners will do lunch at St. John
Episcopal Church on Monday, March
12th at 11:30. Please meet here at the
Church to ride at 11:00 or call Linda or
Walt Shoemake for more information.
If you need to contact Linda LeRay,
home 985-446-0891 or cell 985-449-
9814.
Sunday, March 4th is:
*Communion Sunday. Our table is
open to all.
*Food Bank Sunday. Please bring
donations for Second Harvest Food
Bank. In order of importance, the
following items are needed: Instant
potatoes, grits, oatmeal, cereal,
crackers, peanut butter, jelly, fruit
juice, canned vegetables.
*Pastor’s Discretionary fund for the
altar. This fund allows Pastor Ray to
help those in our community who
are experiencing hardships.
Mission Bag Items Needed:
Plastic Combs Bottled Water
Mini Deodorant Chk./Tuna with crackers
Tooth Brushes Ravioli/Spaghetti pop tops
Tooth Paste Beanie Weenies
Razor Pudding Cups
Wet Wipes Potted Meat
Soaps Breakfast Bars
Wash Cloths Single Serve Crackers
UMW will be donating cookies for the upcoming East-er Eggstravaganza! We will meet at the church fel-lowship hall on Friday, March 30th at 9:00 a.m. to decorate! Join us for cookie decorating and a great
time!
The next UMW meeting will be on April 19th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Alyce Callahan! (507 Edgewood Drive-County Club. We hope to see all
women at our upcoming events!
The Eggstravaganza is Back!!!
Thibodaux FUMC’s 4th Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, March 31st from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Peltier Park.
It is free and everyone in the community is invited to attend. We will have an Easter Egg Hunt set up for different ages. Other activities include pictures with the Easter Bunny, Face Painting, Petting Zoo, etc. Hot dogs, dessert, and water will be served. The Mission and Outreach Committee would like to ask all church members to help out on this community event. Volunteers are needed for:
Before the Hunt
Candy ~ Small, individually wrapped candy for the eggs. Candy can be brought in now and left in the church office.
Stuffing Eggs ~ Mrs. Linda’s craft group has started putting candy inside the eggs. They meet on Wednesday mornings @ 9:30 a.m.
Volunteer the day of the hunt:
Setting up before the event. If you have a truck, we will need help transporting ta-bles and chairs.
Putting up stakes and ropes for the different sections (age groups) for the hunt.
Working different tables/stations such as sign up table, information about the church table, desserts, etc.
Cleaning up after the hunt and bringing things back to church.
Show up the day of the Easter Egg Hunt to show support!
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Melissa or the church office for more information.
Thank you, Melissa Shaddock
First
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When:
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s of
fun
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ivities!
EGGSTRAVAGANZA