First Connection November 2014

First

Connection

N OV E M B E R 2014

First

Connection N OV E M B E R 2014

Contents

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

Our Vision:

A Word from Rev. Donnie.......................................1 Meet Dylan Reed......................................................2 New Members...........................................................5 Fall Fun Fest & Trunk-or-Treat...............................6 All Things New........................................................10 Bless This School.....................................................11 Nov-Dec Events Calendar......................................12 Birthdays..................................................................16 Kitchen Talk............................................................17

Meet Friends. Meet God. Discover Life.

Our Journey:

Our Practices: On the Cover: Trunk-or-Treat at First United Methodist Church, October 12, 2014 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

Rev. Donnie

A Word From Rev. Donnie How will Alexandria be different because we have been here?

And, at the same time, I know that our church building is a tool I’ve been mulling over this question time and time Jesus wants to use again for the past few months. to help Alexandria move forward, step How will Alexandria be different? How will our by step, into God’s community be better? preferred future.

In what ways will this place we call home be more like As we enter the the Kingdom because we have been here? final steps of our All Things New I started thinking about this question while doing Campaign, I wonder what it would be like if we began some research on the history of First UMC for our All to ask what God wants to make new in Alexandria?

Things New campaign.

I wonder what would happen if we continued praying, In my research, I was delighted to discover the deep and “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” not just as lasting ways God has worked through the women and a means of discerning the sacrificial gifts we will make men of our church to make Alexandria the wonderful to help us achieve the goal of our campaign, but also as place it is to live today. For 167 years, the people of a means to discovering God’s dream for Alexandria?

First UMC have lived out their faith by creating and supporting ministries and institutions to meet the real Lord, what do you want to do through me? needs of real people.

Lord, what do you want to do through us?

But I began to wonder what God might be wanting to do through us in the future. Looking ahead 33 years Lord, how do you want Alexandria to be different to 2047, the year we blow out 200 candles on First because we are here?

UMC’s birthday cake, what will not only we but all of Alexandria and the entire CenLA area, be celebrating?

Grace & Peace, In what concrete and tangible ways will Alexandria be a more compassionate, just and loving community Rev. Donnie Wilkinson because we have been here? I am excitedly looking Senior Pastor forward to seeing for myself what our building and grounds will look like when we finish the projects that will refresh and renew the sacred space we worship in each week.

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Dylan Reed Director of Student Ministries 2 November 2014 | CONNECTION

BY Bill Sumrall, Communications Assistant

M

eet Dylan Reed, the 22-year-old Melbourne, Fla., native who is the new Director of Student Ministries for First United Methodist Church Alexandria. ¶ During Wednesday night’s “The Gathering” Oct. 8, 2014, Dylan shared his testimony with youth about accepting Christ, then discovering his calling after a missions trip. ¶ In a prior interview, Dylan, a lifelong Methodist, credited the early influence of his grandmother, a lay minister in Michigan. “She’s a pretty big reason I became a Christian in the first place,” he said.

He accepted Christ during a mission trip in Jamaica. “I went on a middle school trip to a beach camp ... with a group of middle schoolers and they weren’t really worried about worshipping and things like that,” he said.

and it started there,” he said.

He is obtaining his education online through Liberty University at Lynchburg, VA, which, according to Wikipedia, is the largest Evangelical Christian university in the world, the nation’s largest private nonprofit “My prayer had been that God soften their hearts and university and 7th largest four-year university, and the kind of got to them that trip and the last night we went largest university in Virginia. into worship, they had an altar call, or come to Christ night if you will, and I looked down and ... all six of them “I have a couple of classes I need to get done that are had raised their hands; they wanted to accept Christ a pre-requisite to seminary and I’m going to complete into their lives,” he said. “And it was pretty powerful and those through Liberty,” Dylan said, “then go into that’s when I knew that that’s what God wanted me to be seminary, either through Center for Youth Minister a part of and doing that.”

Training (CYMT) program or possibly for the (United Methodist) Conference, I just haven’t decided yet.”

His father is in nursing, his mother is in banking and real estate, and his sister is a senior in high ...all six of them had raised their hands; they school this year. Dylan had planned to go into pre-med when he graduated high school. wanted to accept Christ into their lives...

Months after returning from his Jamaica trip, he realized his purpose was serving God through youth The Center for Youth Ministry Training was founded ministry. Dylan said he made sure his life followed a in 2006 by Brentwood United Methodist Church, different course.

Brentwood, Tennessee, and First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee, and its online mission statement “I moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 2011 and I got hired says it “equips youth ministers and churches to develop on as a Youth Intern in First Methodist of Tuscaloosa theologically informed and practically effective youth

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ministries.”

event is scheduled for Nov. 15 to Nov. 16.

“I would love to, at some point, become an associate This is Dylan’s first time in Louisiana. pastor somewhere,” Dylan said, but until then will be in youth ministry, “whether it’s for two years or 30 years.” “Yes, I’ve never been to Louisiana, New Orleans, anything like that,” he said. “The only things I’ve seen His plans here for First Church’s student community from Louisiana were ‘Duck Dynasty’ and ‘Swamp involve growth. “We’re going to have growth. There’s People’ and Alexandria seems a bit different in a good lots of room for growth and program improvement,” he way. I had my resume out on websites and I’d seen the said. “We’re going to do a lot of service projects. I’m big (job) posting. Before I did any of that, I would always pray, asking God that if He wanted this door to be open, on missions and service projects.” just open it and if He didn’t want it to be open, just close Dylan plans to meet with parents Nov. 2 after the it.” church’s Celebration Event.

His first day at FUMCA was Oct. 1.

“We’re going to have a parent orientation and an informational planning meeting ... I’m going to have The Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, senior pastor at First multiple choices for mission trips this upcoming United Methodist Church Alexandria, said, “Both as a summer and a couple of different service projects and pastor and as a parent of a youth, I’m very excited to we can kind of map out together how we want it to have Dylan on First Church’s team. He shared with me his vision for the program and plans for the next several look,” he said. months and I’m sure our youth and our church will be A junior high retreat is set for Nov. 7 to Nov. 9 at The tremendously blessed through his ministry.”

Wesley Center in Woodworth and a church lock-in You may contact Dylan at dreed@fumca.org

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First Church welcomes new members!

Bill Morris joined Sunday, September 21.

Cathy Grant and daughter Madeline Grant joined Sunday, September 21.

David & Candi Leonard joined Sunday, September 21.

John & Katie Dyke and sons Will & Ben joined Sunday, October 5.

Harper & Hallie Evans, the twin daughters of Trey & Crystal Evans, were baptized Sunday, October 12.

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Fall Fun Fest

Fall Fun Fest & Trunk-or-Treat

&

The Weekday Children’s Ministry annual Fall Fun Fest was Sunday, October 12th. A great turn out experienced pulled pork barbeque sandwich dinners, silent auction, games, cake walk, costume contest, and Trunk-or-Treating across Jackson Street in the church parking lot. Thank you for supporting the event!

&

Trunk-or-Treat

current sermon series:

Gratitude October 12 - November 16

Sacrificial Giving (Celebration Sunday)

NOV 2

Let Your Light Shine

NOV 9

Commitment Sunday

NOV 16

First Kidz - Children’s Choir Children’s Choir Sings @ both 11am services the following Sunday’s:

November 16 December 14

Children’s Choir practice Wednesday evenings @ The Gathering, 6-7pm email Elizabeth, egarvin@fumca.org for more details

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upcoming sermon series:

November 30 - December 24

First Kidz Christmas Musical December 14, 5:30p in the Fellowship Hall

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Lord, what do you

want to do through

me?

First United Methodist Church

has begun a capital campaign to raise funds to restore and renew the gift of our church building. This is our church, and this is our time to partner with God to restore and renew this beautiful place of prayer and spiritual growth so that a new generation can experience the transforming power of God’s love.

All Things New Timeline

November 2 Celebration Sunday During a fellowship dinner, we will celebrate the life of First United Methodist Church. The Celebration is open to the entire church family.

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November 15 Church-Wide Prayer Vigil November 16 Commitment Sunday We will formally present our personal three-year commitment pledges for the campaign.

December 7 Announcement Sunday We will celebrate the successful completion of the campaign and thank God for speaking to each member of our congregation.

BY Clara Woolf, Director of Hospitality & Service

Bless this School is a three month service project for L.S. Rugg Elementary for October, November and December. Three days over the next three months will include projects such as pressure washing the front sidewalks and steps leading to the front doors of the school on October 25th; weeding and pruning shrubs in the front beds on November 22nd; and pruning the trees in the front beds December 13.

As I think about what we will be doing those days, our capital campaign slogan keeps popping in my head “All things New: Lord what do you want to do through me?”

2 Corinthians 5:17 reads “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” I keep envisioning L.S. Rugg looking shiny and clean after the project is complete and how it will be ‘a new creation.’ This passage continues to say in verse 20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though

God were making his appeal through us.” What a great way to represent God’s love by cleaning and making new the front entrance of an institution we’ve partnered with for more than a decade. What does God want to do through you?

If you are interested in participating or donating tools to help with this project, please contact Clara Woolf at the church office.

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NOV-DEC Events Calendar Nov. 2—Celebration Sunday, immediately following 11a worship, gym Nov. 2—Youth Parent Meeting, 2p, youth room Nov. 7-9—Jr. High Retreat (6th-8th grade) @ Wesley Center, 7p,

meet at church. More info at fumca.org/retreat Nov. 15—Church-wide Prayer Vigil Nov. 15-16—Youth Lock-in, 2p, youth room Nov. 16—Commitment Sunday Nov. 16—Psalm Sunday, 6p, Tamp & Grind Coffeehouse Nov. 22—BLESS THIS SCHOOL: Flower Bed Work @ Rugg, 8a-noon Nov. 23—Christmas Cheer Tree is up...take a tag off the tree!

Nov. 23—Family Advent Wreath, create one during Sunday School hour,

Fellowship Hall Dec. 6—Advent Quiet Day, 9a-1:30p, 50/50 classroom Dec. 7—Announcement Sunday Dec. 7—Christmas Cheer gifts due back at church wrapped & tagged Dec. 7—Live Nativity, 6-8p Dec. 10—Christmas Cheer sorting, 5p, gym Dec. 13—BLESS THIS SCHOOL: Tree Pruning @ Rugg, 8a-noon Dec. 13—Christmas Cheer delivery, 9a Dec. 14—Christmas Cantata “Were You There on That Christmas Night?” - 11a,

Sanctuary Dec. 14—First Kidz Musical “The Christmas Cross” - 5:30p, Fellowship Hall Dec. 14—Psalm Sunday, 6p, Tamp & Grind Coffeehouse Dec. 17—Last Wednesday Night @ Gathering for 2014 Dec. 21—The Longest Night service… a service of healing and hope, 6p,

Sanctuary Dec. 24—Candlelight Christmas Eve services, 4p & 6p, Sanctuary

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Counseling Services

Jr. High Retreat: NOV 7-9

more info online

fumca.org/retreat

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14 November 2014 | CONNECTION

H2O items needed for

November & December November: hand warmers, gloves/knit caps, fruit snacks December: thermals, coats, snack cakes Collection boxes are located by the Library/ Fellowship Hall Thank you for helping us

ext

N

Nov.

20 &

H2O d

ates:

Dec

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H20: Helping to Overcome Homelessness is a community mission project that provides instant, on-site services to the homeless or imminently homeless population. Food, clothing, housing options, haircuts and medical screenings are available at no charge. It takes place once a month in the Emmanuel Baptist Church parking lot in downtown Alexandria.

More info online www.fumca.org/h2o

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m e v

o N1

i B

Taylor Albritton Miriam Brown Ray Fomby Shawne Horn Richie Robinson

4

Kathryn LeFleur Ryan Spahn John Wingard

5

9

Tyler Curry Cameron McKenzie Luke Miller

10

Susan Peyton Paul White

11 12

Mike Lombardo

Genevieve Harris Paul Smith

6

13 15 16

7

18

8

19

Mackey Brewer Sally Cooper Michael Hathorn Hazel Rau Diego Quesada Carole Stafford Hop LaHood JoAlice Lee William Owens Lynn Swewll Carolyn Shine

Patrick Broadwell Nathan White Jane Ann Culpepper Irma Henry Fran Griffin Jane Jackson Joy Wilson LaVerne Crump Roger Maxwell

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s y

a d

h rt

Zeb Matthews Rob Wright

2

r e

20 21

Betty Ann Fillette Caitlyn Deal Jean Hageman Megan Urena

22

Candy Brame Mary Hathorn Mike Lee

23

Ken Daniel Lyn Goodin Lisa Norman

24

Foster Hensel Chuck Smith Courtney Wimmert

26 28 29

Julie Goins Celeste Mobley Lisa Baronet Van Davidson

30

Fran Davis Stephen Lee Felix Thomas

Kitchen Talk

BY Wayne McConnell

Farm. I will be cooking this produce and serving it to the Gathering dinner crowd in some form. Come join us and experience this wonderful treat (I’ll try and do it justice).

H

ello, it’s Fall. The leaves are turning colors, temperatures are moderating, and there are pumpkins! I love fall: a time of transition in the I will continue to cook a meatless meal on the third garden and the kitchen.

Wednesday night of the week. This is a move to help The fall garden brings us beautiful cruciferous vegetables our planet and ourselves. If you would like to discuss such as: kale, swiss chard, broccoli, mustard greens, this with me, just ask and I’ll be glad to “bend your bok choy, cabbages - all beautiful greens waiting to be ear.” The church is also a pick-up point for those who cooked up in wonderful recipes. This is the season of have purchased a CSA; it can be picked up Wednesdays soups, gumbo, stews and all things that help warm our between 3:30p to 7:00p (check with Wayne or Sherry in the kitchen). bodies and souls.

FUMCA is receiving three shares of Community That’s all I have for now - remember to give thanks for Sypported Agriculture (CSA) from Inglewood that will what you have, invite someone to break bread with you feature beautifully grown local produce from Inglewood and yours, love all and serve all.

Attendance September 14, 2014 September 21, 2014 September 28, 2014 October 5, 2014 October 12, 2014

Church

Sunday School

271 230 263 276 313

110 129 129 111 117

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Fall Fun Fest 2014