First
Connection J U N E 2015
First
Connection Ju n e 2015
Contents
Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our Vision:
Announcements .......................................................1 Confirmation Class ..................................................2 Graduating Seniors............................................... ....3 FUMCA Mug Design Contest.............................. ..4 Teen Buddy Camp........ ............................................5 Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival Awards... .....6 Construction Update................................... ..........10 Upcoming Events at First Church........................13
Meet Friends. Meet God. Discover Life.
Our Journey:
Our Practices: On the Cover: Confirmands serving lunch at the Manna House on March 29, 2015 First Connection is a publication from: First United Methodist Church of Alexandria 2727 Jackson Street Alexandria, Louisiana 71301 (318) 443-5696 www.fumca.org We would love to hear from you! Please send us your Feedback, Questions, Comments, Story Contributions, Photos, News or Ideas. Senior Pastor: Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, revdonnie@ fumca.org Editor: Julie Bacon, jbacon@fumca.org Contributor: Bill Sumrall, bsumrall@fumca.org
Announcements:
Seeking Director Seeking Director of Children and Family Ministries. For job description and how to apply go to: www.fumca.org/jobs
New Members Judy King joined on Sunday, March 22.
Starting June 4, Pub Theology will be ONCE A MONTH on the 1st Thursday of the month (July 2, August 6, September 3, and so forth) at Finnegan’s Wake in downtown Alexandria at 6:30p.
Stephanie and Eric Talley joined on Sunday, March 22. They have 3 children: Korbyn (14), Aidan (9), and Alyssa (7). Chuck Iles joined on March 31.
VBS: June 15-19, 2015 fumca.org/vbs
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Confirmation Class of 2015 formally joining church shown with, left to right, the Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, pastor of First United Methodist Church Alexandria; Marsha & John Reed, Confirmation Mentors; and the Rev. Steven Spurlock, Lake Charles District Superintendent for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Confirmands, left to right: Stephanie McQuain, Emma Marlowe, Jayson Perry, Emily Provence, Chloe PeregoMcConnell, Madeline Grant, Mollybeth Wilkinson, Brick Harpe, and Will Dyke
Confirmation Class 5
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BY Marsha Reed, FUMCA Member & Confirmation Mentor
On Confirmation Sunday (May 3),
Church; Service/Ministry (with a visit to Manna House First Church welcomed nine confirmands into church serving lunch - a favorite part of the study for several conmembership! The 13-week class began on February 15 firmands); Baptism; Death & Resurrection; and Spiritual and concluded on May 10 with a class talking about life in Life & Prayer. the church and how everyone has different gifts and how The Confirmands also visited the Jewish Temple during those gifts can be used in service to others. their study and learned that God is bigger than the MethConfirmation class followed the whole book of Luke, odist Church. The visit provided insight into how other since it tells the story of Jesus’ life and ministry. Topics in people worship. The confirmands learned how Christiclass consisted of: Affirmation of Faith (focused on God, anity is rooted in Judaism and that Jesus was a Jew. Rabbi Jesus, and the Holy Spirit); the History of the Methodist Harley Karz-Wagman spent time with the confirmands 2 June 2015 | CONNECTION
before the worship service to answer questions. The congregation was very welcoming of the confirmands and through this, the confirmands became aware that even though there are differences, there are also similarities in our beliefs and worship. On Saturday, April 25, several of our confirmands joined those from all over the state at the ConThe Confirmation Class at the Jewish Temple on May 1, 2015. firmation Day with the Bishop at the Conference Center in Woodworth. Through learning sessions and activities, the confirmands realized there are lots of other young people just like them. They’ll have Christian fellowship with other youth throughout their teen years. These nine confirmands are a special group who will contribute a lot to our church & the community in the years to come. They are enthusiastic and smart, some had deep thoughts and questions. Donnie, Dylan, and Megan Urena were part of our Confirmation team. John and I enjoyed every moment of our journey together, and feel very blessed to have had this opportunity. �
2015 Graduating Seniors
Sunday, May 10
First Church recognized the following 2015 graduating seniors in the front of the church: Jeff Goodwin, Alexandria Senior High School; Amy Hensel, Holy Savior Menard High School; Taylor Perry, Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program; Meredith Wilburn, Pineville High School; John Calvin Johnson, Northwestern State University; and Amanda Urena, Louisiana State University at Alexandria.
From left to right, Rev. Donnie Wilkinson presents our 2015 graduating seniors Amy Hensel, Jeff Goodwin, Meredith Wilburn, and Amanda Urena (not pictured: Taylor Perry and John Calvin Johnson).
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Call to Artists
www.fumca.org/mug-contest
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Teen Buddy Camp
to continue the Buddy Camp experience BY Bill Sumrall, FUMCA Communications Assistant
Teen Buddy Camp is a pilot program for teens age 13 to 19 interested in continuing the Buddy Camp experience “We anticipate those who’ve aged out of Buddy Camp to have a strong desire to continue the Buddy Camp experibeyond the elementary years. ence at a more mature level, “said Stacey Debevec, who is The original Buddy Camp is a community-wide project spearheading the new Teen Buddy Camp ministry. that allows children in grades 1st - 5th (must have completed Kindergarten), both with and without develop- “We’re going to focus on cultivating strong friendships, skill building, and small group discussion mental challenges, to participate in a weekled by various community professionals on long summer day camp. The two Buddy a variety of everyday issues faced by teens,” Camps run 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 to June 5, she said. which serves primarily those on the autism spectrum, and on July 27 to July 31. Teen Buddy Camp is taking the Buddy Camp concept to a peer-to-peer level, with adult This new camp teen program provides peer to peer interactive camp activities both onstaff to supervise the Buddy Pairs. Activities off-campus will include an adaptive softball site and offsite the First United Methodist game, a trail ride on horseback, a visit to the Church Alexandria (FUMCA) campus, acAlexandria Museum of Art (AMOA), and a cording to the church’s website at www.fumlocal bowling alley. ca.org, and is planned for July 13 to July 16 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Teen Buddy Camp will be filled with different kinds of Participants will focus on learning more advanced skills, activities that will allow for closer interaction more apsuch as culinary arts, internet safety & social media man- propriate for the teenage level of development. agement, peer-to-peer socialization, and spiritual development. Activities may include music, bowling, softball, Spiritual development involves work in small groups for trail riding, art projects and swimming. The week will open discussion, personal reflection, and opportunities to personal growth. conclude with a dance party on Friday evening, July 17. …continued on page 12 June 2015 | CONNECTION
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Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival
Tom Peyton Arts Festival Award - Near Marble Falls by Lonna Guillory, Pastel on Paper
The 49th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival was held April 17 - April 26.
Watermelon by Ranbo Ransom, Oak Wood Rapides Regional Medical Center Merit Award 6 June 2015 | CONNECTION
Orange Surf by Season Bivens, Acrylic Paint Red River Bank Merit Award
Life, Mid-Existence by Sulin Best Turner Telco Merit Award
Brook at Red Rock by Sally Cappel, Acrylic on Linen Festival Committee Purchase; Greg and Hope O’Quin Merit Award June 2015 | CONNECTION 7
abundance #1 xmas boxes by Amanda Roe LOHS Merit Award
Throw Me Something, Mister by Jerry Cook, Photography Christus St. Francis Cabrini Merit Award
Migratory Passage 2 by Krista Ann Roche, Acrylic Collage Next Generation Spray Foam Insulation Merit Award A Peaceful Bayou by Linda Brennan, Pastel Kramer Merit Award
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3 hot dogs, fries & an extremely small drink by Ron Koehler, Wood & Paint - Hixson Bros Merit Award
Clouds of Blue by Mary Louise Porter In Memory of June Lambard Merit Award
Pasture at Sundown by Margie Tate, Oil June 2015 | CONNECTION 9 Viewers Choice Award
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Construction update:
May 13 - Roof Renovations and Welcome Center (formerly the library) Renovations
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…continued from page 5 who are not eligible to participate in other community Teen Buddy Camp will end the week with a dance party programs.” in lieu of a closing ceremony, to provide a fun social ending to the week, she said. Teen Buddy Camp hopes to serve up to 50 participants. Registration for the program is expected to close by Teen Buddy Camp hopes to partner with several orga- May 1. nizations in the community, including AMOA, the Louisiana Special Education Center, two local chefs, and the “Teen Buddy Camp is an exciting next step for this incredible ministry,” states Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, pastor Rapides Parish Sheriff ’s Department DARE program. at First United Methodist Church Alexandria. “One of “This year will be our pilot program to see if it’s an op- the things I love about our church is there are so many tion in future and meets a need for this age group,” she people who are looking for new and creative ways to said, adding that in the future they hope “to see if we reach more and more people with the love and grace of Jesus. Teen Buddy Camp will be a wonderful new way can take this to an over-night experience.” to show Christ’s love to our community.” “We’ve known there are very few community programs for teenagers with special needs outside of a formalized For more information, go online to http://www.fumca. education program,” she said. “This is definitely provid- org/buddy. ☐ ing an opportunity for those kids who’ve aged out and
Projected Start Dates:
Projected Completion Dates:
Fellowship Hall
March 11
April 10
The Roof
April 27
July 24
Gallery Hall April 27 July 24 Welcome Center Restrooms Choir Room and Offices WCM Childcare & June 8 Preschool Wing
August 14
Adult Education Wing September 8
November 13
Church Office
March 25, 2016
January 11, 2016
(The dates listed are just projections. As projects get underway more refined dates will be set.)
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Sanctuary Roof Renovations Friday, May 15
Upcoming Events @ FUMCA JUNE
1-5 15-19 30
JULY
3 13-16 27-31 29
Buddy Camp #1, 8a-2p (fumca.org/buddycamp) Vacation Bible School: Everest Base Camp (register online: fumca.org/vbs) Tentative end date of construction on church hallway Church office closed in observance of Independence Day Teen Buddy Camp, 3-9p (fumca.org/buddycamp) Buddy Camp #2, 8a-2p (fumca.org/buddycamp) Acolyte Training (email: egarvin@fumca.org)
AUGUST SEPTEMBER 8 22-24 30
Construction begins on the adult wing (tentative end date - Nov. 20) Church Directory Photos for 2015 Directory Pumpkins Arrive @ 4pm for the Pumpkin Patch!
OCTOBER 1-30 18
Pumpkin Patch is open 10a-6p Mon.-Sat. and from noon-4 on Sundays Fall Fun Fest and Trunk or Treat
NOVEMBER 1 20
Consecration Sunday Tentative end date of construction on Adult Wing
DECEMBER 24 25-26
Christmas Eve Services at 4 & 6pm Church Office closed
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May 10 - Mother’s Day at First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA