930north November

A PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Living Your Legacy

November 2014 TRANSFORMING LIVES BY ENGAGING OUR MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE AND SHARE GOD’S LOVE IN JESUS CHRIST

Lucile Martin shows her artwork at A Hot August Night

FUMC’s Annual Health Fair After School Program Homework Practice

UMW Service Award Recipients: John Miller, Denise Akers, Kathleen Ory & Pam Voelker

Our life together

After School Program Homework Practice Teri Hackett D’Armond & Dr. Tom Quaid at A Hot August Night

Rev. Pattye Hewitt is excited it’s Sunday!

November 2014

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Table of Contents

Meet Alex!

5

Planned Giving 6 Living Your Legacy

10

A Letter from Reverend Brady Whitton

4

The Meeting Place: Alex Byo Interim Director of Missions

5

Planned Giving

by Bill Potter

6

Living Your Legacy

by Martin and Mary Leah Walke

10

Congregational News

14

Calendar of Events

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From Rev. Brady Whitton Senior Pastor

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, In February 2014, we clarified a vision for our church and established six specific vision initiatives (you can find out more by going to firstmethodist.org).

Our congregation stepped out in faith and increased their giving to support these initiatives and I’m pleased to tell you this investment is already bearing fruit.

One of our plans included starting an afterschool program for children from the neighborhood surrounding the church.

Demographics show there are some 13,000 single-family homes within a six-mile radius of our campus.

This initiative has gotten off to a strong start. We currently have 20 children grades Pre-K to fifth from Bernard Terrace Elementary participating. While at the church, volunteers help them with homework, lead them in fun activities, and provide a supportive adult presence. This program is already having a positive impact in these children’s lives. The dream is to increase the number of students so our church can be a part of transforming the lives of even more young people.

Another initiative soon to become a reality is an urban mission ministry we’re calling Revive 225 (find out more at www.revive225.com).

Because of this ministry, beginning January 2015, you will have the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and show God’s love by doing repair work on someone’s home right here in Baton Rouge!

These are just two examples of the many Christ-honoring ministries your gifts to First United Methodist Church make possible.

Whether worship or studies, Vacation Bible school, or visiting the sick, without your generous support none of this would be possible.

I’m asking you to prayerfully consider the financial commitment you’ll make to First United Methodist Church for 2015. We’ll all have the opportunity to offer our commitments in worship on Sunday, November 23rd.

We have a long history of sharing the love of Christ in the Greater Baton Rouge community.

Your generous gifts enable us to continue our mission of transforming lives by engaging our members to celebrate and share the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Senior Pastor Rev. Brady Whitton

To request to be added to our 930north Magazine A Publication of mailing list, join Associate Pastors First United our photography M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h Rev. Katie McKay Simpson team, or to have Rev. Pattye Hewitt information 9 3 0 N o r t h B l v d . Rev. Ann Trousdale included in a future Baton Rouge, LA edition, please call Editor/Designer 70802 383-4777.

Caroline Tyler 225-383-4777

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About the Cover Fall sunshine illuminates the beautiful stained glass windows in Aldrich Chapel.

The Meeting Place What’s your position at FUMC?

Interim Director of Missions

Where did you grow up? Or where do you consider “home”?

Baton Rouge, born and raised! It will always be home

Alex B yo

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

I love to fish when I can, won’t turn down a good movie, and doing anything with friends and family is always fun.

What is your dream vacation spot?

Venice, Italy

Favorite class in school?

Media education and media literacy

Person you admire the most?

My older brother, Ben.

What is something quirky about you?

I’m superstitious about certain things, but I don’t share what I’m superstitious about and try not to show it - it’s bad luck!

Any fun facts about you?

I went to Tulane, studying communications and graduated in 2013. Upon graduation, I was drafted by the Arizona Diamond backs, and I currently play for a single A affiliate team, the Kane C ounty C ougars, where I am a pitcher.

November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Planned Giving

by Bill Potter

FUMC has recently established a Planned Giving Committee to serve as a resource to members in helping them to fulfill their plans for making special gifts to the church. This group can work with members and their advisors to see how this can be done as part of their financial and estate planning and direct the donations to satisfy their wishes as to funding the missions and ministries important to them.

Endowments and planned giving are tangible expressions of faith in the future of the Church. Webster defines endowment as “the act or process of furnishing with an income.” If the church is to remain on the frontier, it must plan for future as well as present mission and ministry; but unless these plans include ways of funding this mission and ministry, they may be only empty dreams. The concept of endowment funding says to the church and to the community that the church is here to stay and that it is both planning for and funding the future.

One thoughtful church member reasoned, “Those persons who preceded me in this church left a rich heritage. What will I leave as a heritage for future generations?” Is it possible that a part of that answer might be found in a carefully thought-out and designed funding plan that will address the future as well as present needs and opportunities of the church?

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A planned giving program is a good way for our church to say: • We believe in the future of this church.

• We want to be guided in our stewardship by the belief that all we have is a trust from God. • We want to build a sense of permanence in what we do.

• We want to be good stewards as a church family even as we expect each member to be a good steward.

• We want to go the extra mile in providing services and programs that formerly were only dreams.

• We want to create a heritage that future generations can celebrate as we celebrate our rich heritage today.

An elderly member was discussing her stewardship philosophy. “My church has always been an important part of my life, and I want to always be a part of my church.” One of the ways she accomplished this during her lifetime was through her generous and faithful contributions from her current income, but she gave her stewardship conviction permanence as she established an endowment with the remainder of a life income gift. “Now,” she said with a great deal of satisfaction, “I will be a part of this church every year even after I am no longer here to make my contributions.”

I recently interviewed one of our member’s about what led her to make a major gift to FUMC, Kathleen Ory told me that she and her late husband, Joel, considered this donation as part of their financial planning. When I asked what motivated them to do this, she noted that they had the same attitudes about giving back. They had been blessed and felt that it was the right thing to do.

November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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I then asked “Why FUMC?” She responded that the church had always been dear to their hearts and they had supported it as regular givers. They had given to other causes as well but this was more of a personal thing to them. Their gifts will go to special ministries that were dear to them.

Kathleen and her

late husband, Joel

When a church opens the doors of endowment giving and funding, at least five things should happen: 1. The church receives increased gifts to fund its various causes.

2. Members begin to examine their Christian stewardship concepts and understanding in a broader context and begin including planned gifts as well as current gifts in their stewardship response. Robert F. Sharpe of the National Planned Giving Institute, describes this as “giving from two pockets” -- the first being the pocket from which current gifts are given from income and the second being the pocket from which gifts are made from accumulated assets.

3. Members are educated as to many expanded gift opportunities for mission and ministry through their church.

4. Current contributions given in support of the ongoing annual 8 930 North Magazine | November 2014

budget are freed up to strengthen and even expand existing programs.

5. The church and its various ministries and institutions begin to receive major planned gifts that have previously been directed to other causes where endowments are already in place.

Will these things happen in a church that does not have an intentional program of planned giving? Will they happen in a church that does not have endowments as a part of its total stewardship program? Possibly, in a limited way; but not likely as a major thrust of Christian stewardship.

Steps in Endowment Giving 1. Discuss your financial situation and plans with your spouse and/or family.

2. Reflect on where your philanthropic desires might fit in your estate plans.

3. Meet with the appropriate leader at the charity or church to discuss how your plans can be coordinated with the entity’s needs and goals.

4. Meet with your attorney, CPA or other financial adviser to see exactly how your giving can be accomplished.

5. Execute the documents to accomplish your plan.

Questions about endowment giving? Contact Beth Fraser, Executive Director of Finance and Administration at FUMC, at 383-4777, ext. 216 November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Living Your Legacy

by Martin and Mary Leah Walke

Over the next few months in 930north, we will be profiling individuals and families at First United Methodist Church that are living out faithful stewardship in their lives through prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Below is our first reflection from a long-time family in our congregation that is presently in the midst of transition and asking new questions of how God might use them for significant work in the future.

Stewardship: Time, Talents and Gifts

Our family has been part of FUMC and the Keystone Sunday School Class since 1994, shortly after moving to Baton Rouge, and we have been blessed ever since. Especially rewarding to us, has been our walk towards Christian stewardship and the nurturing our daughters, Molly Ann and Mimi, have received beginning in the nursery, through high school and currently in the recently formed college ministry. This stewardship, coupled with their active involvement with youth programming and mission trips, has provided our children with a firm Christian foundation that will serve them well throughout their lives.

This brings us to the definition of stewardship for our family. First and foremost, the church needs money in order to operate on a daily basis and carry out its mission. FUMC cannot operate without revenue to pay salaries, insurance, operating expenses and maintenance on its facilities. However, 10 930 North Magazine | November 2014

stewardship also includes lending your time and talents similar to those Sunday School teachers who have shaped and molded our daughters over these past twenty years. It includes those chaperones Martin, Mol ly Ann, Mim i a who have given their nd Mary Lea h time (using precious vacation days) to volunteer for a youth mission trip, the annual Mardi Gras Ball, The Big Event or Fall Festival. Each of these events provides an opportunity for FUMC members to give of their time and talents. There are opportunities to work with members of all ages in our church community. You can deliver communion to our members who are unable to attend the service at church or volunteer to visit those who may be hospitalized and extend the warmth of belonging to FUMC through these acts of love, Second Sunday Mission Lunch, After School Programming, and the list goes on. There are many, many more opportunities as well to utilize your God-given talents to fulfill His ministry.

We are on a journey to tithing and on this journey we compliment it with giving of our time and talents. We, like so many others, have had roadblocks along the way, but we pray as life changes we will continue to increase our giving in all ways. FUMC has been a family to us since the day we walked in and has clothed us in grace and love. We have been blessed beyond measure and look forward to everything the future holds for us in this community of faith.

November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Once our girls are on their own and our financial resources shift, we will work on the finding balance we once thought would come easy. We have planned for the future so estate planning and intentional giving are part of that plan. We struggle with how to deal with that in the interim and how we will face the financial challenges and opportunities we meet.

The church has been such an integral part of our lives and we one day hope to counted in the many faces that left a mark, the many who day in and day out give their time, talents and gifts.

An interview with Martin & Mary Leah

1). Now that both of your girls are in college, how have you both as a couple stewarded your time that has been freed up from being empty-nesters?

As a couple we always looked to the future and laughed, thinking how much we could not wait to be empty-nesters. In truth, our girls moved on but we are very active in their lives.

Because they are at LSU, we volunteer with the organizations they are involved in, perhaps now more than we did before both of us in leadership roles. We are sharing that extra time with others so the real empty nest or free time has not come.

We are also fortunate to still have 3 of our 4 parents still living and we spend as much time as we can with them. That time is so precious and as we see it slowly slipping away, we hold on to it even more tightly.

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2). Now that your daughters are grown, how do you see them living out the legacy that you have instilled in them from a life lived in faith together?

Our girls are truly the hands and feet of Christ and we knew that when we brought them to FUMC as toddlers, it would open the door to a great adventure. As parents, you hope that they latch on and find what moves them. For Molly Ann and Mimi, it’s serving. They love swinging a hammer and bringing the light of Jesus to others, especially children. We live in an open dialogue with our girls about how people have helped us and we believe we are all called to help others any time we can. Through hard times, good times, all times, faith and service are always at the center of our family. When Molly Ann was much younger, her early teens, and friends were going to exotic places for mission trips with their churches, she came to me and said she wanted to do that. I told her there were people who needed help in North Baton Rouge and even her own state. She was disappointed that that required no travel, but she got the message. She has loved mission work ever since and has almost joined the Peace Corps a couple of times.

She always wanted to go to Africa and hug the children. I am so thrilled she is now going to Cambodia with the February 2015 mission team.

3). How do you feel God calling you to live your legacy in the future as you move more deeply into this new chapter of your life together?

This chapter is evolving so we believe with that, we have to listen for the direction God wants us to take. But we’re looking forward to it!

November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Congregational News Celebrating the Baptism of...

Jacob Thomas Son of Beth & Matt DeVille Milo Cletus Son of Mom & Dad Nauck Benjamin Adam Son of Erin & Trey Anding William Lance Son of Mom & Dad Osborne Lily Catherine Daughter of Mom & Dad Landry Everett James Son of Mom & Dad Boudreaux William Jones Son of Mom & Dad Kauffman John “Jack” McKay Son of Katie & Taylor Simpson

Welcome New Members!

Edy & Gibbons Addison

Valarie Aucoin

Robin & Brad Einarson

Sympathy to the Families of...

Russell Rabalis Heron Collins Sarah Harkey Collins

Liz Ellington

tial

David Kemp

Financial Report As of 9/30/2014: Actual YTD Income $ 2,554,473 Expense $ 2,925,274 Net Income ($ 370,801)

Budget YTD Variance $ 2,527,098 $ 27,375 $ 2,992,111 ($ 66,837) ($ 465,013) $ 94,212

Weekly Attendance Week of Sunday, September 7

Week of Sunday, September 14

Week of Sunday, September 21

Week of Sunday, September 28

Worship 1,126 Sunday School 612 Total 1,738

Worship 1,226 Sunday School 559 Total 1,785

Worship 1,009 Sunday School 537 Total 1,546

Worship 1,080 Sunday School 570 Total 1,650

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NOVEMBER Calendar of Events Weekly SUNDAYS 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:40 am 10:20 am 11:00 am 5:00 pm 6:30 pm 6:45 pm

Worship Café 930 Sunday School Hospitality Coffee Worship Youth & HIGH 5 Worship Prayer Ministry

MONDAYS 9:30 am 3:30 pm

Prayer Ministry After School Program

TUESDAYS 9:00 am

9:30 am 10:30 am 12:00 pm 3:30 pm

Knitting Men’s Bible Study Fit @ First Women’s AA AA After School Program

WEDNESDAYS 9:30 am The Bible; Every Day 12:10 pm Worship – Chapel 3:30 pm After School Program 4:00 pm Illness Support Group 4:00 pm Member Engagement

Phone Team Meeting 4:30 pm Care Team 5:00 pm The Gathering Meal 5:45 pm Worship 6:30 pm The Gathering 6:00 pm Woodland Ringers 7:00 pm Chancel Choir THURSDAYS 9:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm 3:30 pm

Thursday Group Widow’s Walk AA After School Program

Special

For more dates & events, visit our website: www.firstmethodist.org

SATURDAY - 11/1 7:30 am FaithWorks

Monthly Lectionary Texts

MONDAY - 11/3 12:00 pm Cambodia Christmas

Item Sale (M - S, various

times each day) 6:30 pm Robinson Circle Meeting (Offsite) SUNDAY - 11/9 8:00 am Mission Sunday:

Mission Lunch, Recycle,

Flu Shots, Blood Drive,

Methodist Salsa SATURDAY - 11/15 8:00 am UMW Mentoring Workshop

November 3 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 Psalm 78:1-7 November 10 Judges 4:1-7 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30 Psalm 123

MONDAY - 11/17 6:30 pm Brown Circle Meeting (Offsite) TUESDAY - 11/18 10:00 am Prayer Shawl Dedication

in Aldrich Chapel THURSDAY - 11/27 FUMC Offices Closed (Thanksgiving) FRIDAY - 11/28 FUMC Offices Closed (Thanksgiving)

November 17 Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matthew 25:31-46 Psalm 100 November 24 Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Early Learning Center 21st - Harvest Feast 27th & 28th - Center Closed (Thanksgiving) November 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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First United Methodist Church

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PA I D Baton Rouge, LA PERMIT 63

930 North Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Change Service Requested

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Sundays

8:30 am Sanctuary Worship 9:40 am Sunday School for all Ages 11 am Sanctuary and America Street Worship 6:30 pm Ory Parish Hall Worship

Wednesdays

12:10 pm Aldrich Chapel Worship & Holy Communion 5:45 pm Worship @ The Gathering Nursery Care is available on Sundays from 8:15 am to 12:00 pm and from 5:00-7:30 pm

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www.FirstMethodist.org

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