May2015 firstconnection

First

Connection M AY 2015

First

Connection May 2015

Contents

Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Our Vision:

Meet our Associate Pastor........................................1 Day of Compassion...................................................2 Construction Schedule.............................................5 Catherine Lytle, WCM Director.............................6 Note of Thanks..........................................................9 The Good Book Kickoff.........................................10 Confirmation Class.................................................11 May Birthdays.........................................................12 Upcoming Events at First Church........................13

Meet Friends. Meet God. Discover Life.

Our Journey:

Our Practices: On the Cover: Blood Drive at Day of Compassion, April 4, 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

Meet Rev. Marissa Teauseau First Church is pleased to announce that Rev. Marissa Teauseau has been appointed as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana. The appointment will take effect at Annual Conference in June and Marissa will begin serving July 1.

May 2015 | CONNECTION

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Reflecting on a Day of Compassion:

How Expressing God’s Love Affected our church members

BY Clara Woolf, Director of Hospitality & Service

Day of Compassion

up and coming new ministry The Good Book, food bag preparations for needy who come to the church during provided a wonderful way to express God’s love on Satur- the week, free lunch to the community and volunteers, day, April 4. The United Methodist Men cooked a hearty and a blood drive. Children, youth, adults and whole breakfast to start the day off, while Rev. Donnie Wilkin- families were serving, giving a total of 43 volunteers from son gave a devotional and commissioned the volunteers FUMCA. What a wonderful expression from our church! out to their projects. The projects included: building 3 Thank you all for serving our community! benches for the Volunteers of America (VOA), cleaning a flower bed and planting flowers at the VOA’s Rain- Another aspect of this day that I want to share though, is bow House, yard work at Hope House, trash pickup in how serving affected our volunteers. Here is some feedthe Garden District, book drive and preparations for the back I received: …continued on page 3 2 May 2015 | CONNECTION

“I enjoyed helping with the Rainbow House flower beds on FUMC’s day of compassion. One of the residents played her guitar and sang gospel songs for us. She is 39 years old, five months pregnant and a heavy smoker. The baby’s father is not accepting responsibility for her or the baby. We invited her to church. One of the younger residents came out of the house right before we finished the beds. She said they looked beautiful, and she thanked us for our work.”

Judy Miller

“The Day of Compassion allowed us to serve a very appreciative group of homeless individuals who have fallen upon hard times. Although we didn’t have many, they were all so grateful and courteous, wishing us all Easter blessings as they left. I found the same to be true when I have worked our church table on Emmanuel Baptist’s parking lot. It reminds me how fortunate and blessed we are to have a nice house, plenty of food, transportation, etc.”

Nancy Richards

“As a former newspaper reporter, I’m used to observing and recording events, not joining in to participate. However I felt blessed to be able to do both during the Day of Compassion.

“It was so rewarding to have 11 people donate blood during our Day of Compassion! Most were repeat donors but several were first-timers. Yea for all of them!

I joined in the neighborhood trash-pick up, enjoying the fellowship while taking photos of our team making a difference.

My favorite part of this experience is knowing that up to 33 lives were SAVED by the generosity of our donors on that one day. 33!!! Just think of how that affects not only those people, but everyone who loves them. With that ripple effect, there’s no telling how many lives our donors touched. Wow.

Later, I felt thankful that Clara Woolf took photos at Alexandria’s Hope House clean-up when I couldn’t get there in time. I was delayed leaving volunteers I’d taken photos of building benches for the VOA on the other side of Pineville (though I managed to capture photos of volunteers planting flower beds at Pineville’s VOA’s transitional home located in-between).

Teamwork – many hands -- makes lighter the labor – and the recording it as well.”

Marsha Reed

Bill Sumrall

“Most of my time was spent getting items ready for the big kick-off of the Good Book project on April 15. I really want to give kudos to two super young ladies, Gracie and Gia for their tireless help in peeling stickers and putting on fun items for the opening. Love seeing our youngest members getting so involved in volunteering.”

My other favorite part is that now perhaps there’s more awareness of the need for blood, & how easy it is to give, so FUMCA members will continue to save lives in the future.”

“I just felt that the benches we were building could give comfort to others. I look forward to helping with the others. My biggest pleasure was working with Will, Paul and Randy.”

Randy Miller

Miriam Brown

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“I felt the love of Jesus through the many book donations given and in the cheerful, open hearts that helped get books ready for the children of the garden district.

So many people have been completely supportive of this ministry, and even though I am out of my comfort zone, I have been privileged to receive patience and help from so many.

This has been my dream, and I didn’t even realize it, until Donnie asked me last summer how we could help Rugg students. I am so lucky to be part of a church where we are encouraged to think outside the box and do whatever it takes to help others. I hope everyone in our church can find a ministry that fits their personality so perfectly, because I have never felt so fulfilled by doing good work as I have the past few months by working on the bookmobile.

It is truly a blessing that I didn’t know existed.”

Emily Murphy

“I’ve often heard it said that doing good deeds is just as beneficial for the doer as it is for the receiver. This may be cliche, but Saturday, I really found some truth in that. Most of the time, in our busy lives, we rarely take time out to even investigate whether or not we can help someone with their needs. It usually takes something like “Day of Compassion,” to get us up and active--a reminder of what we are really here for anyway (to the “hands and feet” of Christ).

Cliches and warm sentiments aside, for me, Saturday was a much needed experience, because it reminded me that doing God’s work doesn’t need to “feel” spiritual. Sure enough, it was a beautiful day Saturday, and just being outdoors made me grateful for God’s creation. Yet, what struck me the most was that we were supposedly doing the Lord’s work, but my hands were literally in a gutter pulling out leaves, (and not lifted in worship, or placed on someone in prayer) and my co-workers were getting dirty raking leaves and dust, and pruning branches. Surprisingly, the old adage became true for me--I literally felt great.

One last thing I noticed was a side effect of doing this kind of work--I personally felt it brought me closer to my co-workers. I see those guys about once a week for a few minutes, but that’s about it. Spending those couple of hours together gave us an unexpected opportunity to grow closer together, in turn, strengthening the community at FUMCA.”

Not only did FUMCA make a difference in the community and in lives of the community, but our volunteers, servants of God, were touched in a way that shows how serving can bring you closer to God. ⬛

Interested in helping on our next mission project?

Contact Clara Woolf, cwoolf@fumca.org 4 May 2015 | CONNECTION

Matthew Stokes

Construction Schedule

Tile Installation in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, March 27

Projected Start Dates:

Projected Completion Dates:

Fellowship Hall

March 11

April 10

The Roof

April 27

July 24

Finishing touches to the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, March 30 Fence work on March 31

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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First Church Welcomes:

Catherine Lytle Director of Weekday Children’s Ministry 6 May 2015 | CONNECTION

Catherine Lytle is the new Weekday Children’s Ministry Director for First United Methodist Church Alexandria’s Preschool program.

“I think I need those shoes that have rollers on them,” Lytle said, laughing, during an interview Thursday, March 19th, when asked how she was doing so far. Her first day on the job was Monday, March 16th. She compared the experience to being a carhop on skates, as in “here she comes!” she said. Lytle said she also thought it’d be nice to have a map as well as photos with people’s names on them. “I am getting my feet on the ground,” she said, noting this is her first job in a private sector school after teaching in the public school system.

BY Bill Sumrall, FUMCA Communications Assistant

L

ytle grew up in the Mid-West however her husband, Ed, is a local. “He is in love with this area – he was She joined Rapides born and raised in Pineville and does not want to leave,” Parish School System in 2002, teaching first she said. and third grade at The couple married in 2004 and have two daughters: So- Forest Hill and third, fourth, fifth, and sixth phia, age 9, and Phoebe, age 4. grade at Lecompte’s “He was raised a Baptist and I was raised an Episcopalian. Carter C. Raymond We have to meet in the middle and we decided on our first elementary schools.

Catherine chatting with FUMyear anniversary to commit to the First United Methodist CA members at a reception in in Pineville – I mean, that’s where we live, it’s closer to us, After the birth of her her honor on Sunday, April 12. so I am familiar with the Methodist church,” she said. second child, Lytle started her master’s “I’m proud to be a Methodist member. I have found that degree program in school counseling at Northwestern the prayer and my interaction with the Methodist church State University in Natchitoches, receiving her degree in 2013. has been one that has been of open arms,” she added.

Catherine grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, where she at- “When I was in the middle of the program is when the tended high school, then Lincoln University in Jefferson school system in Rapides withdrew school counselors in the elementary position,” she said.

City, Mo. …continued on page 8 May 2015 | CONNECTION

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…continued from page 7 “This accreditation allows me to also do family counseling or child adolescent counseling … and I hope that I could eventually run a reputable program and direct a program that would help with counseling of at-risk youth,” she added.

“One of the reasons that I wanted to take this job is the (Preschool’s) reputation is, bar none, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity and so wanted to seize it, even though it seemed in the middle of the year not the best time to do that as a classroom teacher,” Catherine said.

“I don’t know how I could describe it, it was just a gift. It’s a gift, and that’s what I consider this job to be and I want

to return the gift, and if I can learn and continue to uphold the reputation that (the church’s Preschool) has had, then perhaps I can learn how to have my own program in counseling,” she said.

“Everybody has been so very friendly, not that I am surprised … it makes me feel that my choice, which was a difficult one to leave in the middle of the school year, is clearly been the right one and it just reaffirms that every day – people smile, they ask me how I’m doing, ‘is there anything I can do to help you?’ For the first time in a long time, I’ve been coming to work very happy,” Catherine said. ⬛

VBS: June 15-19, 2015 fumca.org/vbs

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May 2015 | CONNECTION

a note of THANKS:

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The Good Book Kickoff Celebration at Rugg Elementary on April 16

10 May 2015 | CONNECTION

Confirmation Class served lunch at Manna House on Palm Sunday, March 29.

Photos submitted by Marsha Reed.

If you have stories or photos you want to share please email jbacon@fumca.org

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i B 1 2 4 5

Bess Hensel

Emily Provence Janice Marrazo Kaitlyn Williams Ephraim Woolf

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Shannon Kelly Estefania Reichard James Smilie Heather Urena Nancy Winstead

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Fahy DeWitt Connor McKenzie Doris Russum

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Chris Adams Tyler Mayo Barbara Wright

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a d

h rt

Charles Dantzler

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s y

Benjamin Walton Joel Harris Eric Talley

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Kylie Berry Kathy Shumate Mason Stead Grant Stead

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Nick Damico Clayton Hislop Victoria Murry Grayson Ricketts

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Jennifer Wheat Gene Sanders

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Riley Berry Mary Langley Josh Parker Lauren Partain Butch Baker Josh Miller

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Michael Eggers Margaret Land Terrie Litwin

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Dorman Clayton Thomas Goodwin Clayborne Harris

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Stacy Parker Mollie Wartelle

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Ivan Koryukin Carolina Labrada Daniel Thiels Nancy Richards Nannette Walton Flo Womack Riley Bennett Jerry Gwinn Clark Wright

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Joey Williams Henley Hunter Olivia Moorhead Camille Patton Jennifer Crowell-Gilliland

Ashley Baronet Jacquelin Colon Hailey Logsdon Sylvia Munsterman Richard Richardson Keaton Cole Victoria Murphy

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Laura Baronet William Bowdon Meme Marlowe Abby Marlowe Rachel Totaro Ted Powell Cora Wright

Upcoming Events @ FUMCA APRIL 27

MAY

1 3 7 10 17 20 24 29

JUNE

1-5 15-19 30

JULY

3 13-16 27-31 29

Construction on church hallways begins (tentative end date - June 30)

Parent’s Night Out from 6-8p in Gym, $10 per child (ages 6 weeks and up) Confirmation Sunday @ 11:00a in Sanctuary Preschool Graduation @ 6p in the Fellowship Hall Mother’s Day First Kidz Choir Sings at 11am traditional service The last Wednesday night Gathering until Fall Pentecost Youth Spirit Night @ Chick-fil-a, 5:30-7:30p Buddy Camp #1, 8a-2p (fumca.org/buddycamp) Vacation Bible School: Everest Base Camp (register online: fumca.org/vbs) Tentative Date of completion of church hallway construction 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 29-30

Construction begins on the adult wing (tentative end date - Nov. 20) Church Directory Photos for 2015 Directory Unloading of pumpkins for the Pumpkin Patch

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March 29 - Children entering the Sanctuary with palm branches