930north October 2014

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A PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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

Our life together

The FUMC Youth Group had a busy summer, traveling to Oklahoma and Texas on mission trips; and to Colorado to climb Mt. Ptarmigan.

October 2014

Table of Contents

Meet Pam! Giving: from global to Local (and everywhere in between)

The Meeting Place: 5 Pam Wiltse Director of the Early Learning Center

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Putting Your Faith Into Action

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Avoiding the Holiday Blues

10

Giving, From Global to Local (and everywhere in between)

6

Putting Your Faith Into Action

by FUMC Moms

8

Avoiding the Holiday Blues

by Logan McIlwain, LCSW

10

Vision Update

12

Congregational News

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Calendar of Events

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A Publication of First United Methodist Church 930 North Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225-383-4777

Senior Pastor

From Rev. Brady Whitton Senior Pastor

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

As I get a little older I’ve come to appreciate more and Associate more the rhythm and rituals Pastors of the “seasons.” Now I’m Rev. Katie McKay not talking so much about Simpson nature’s seasons (because in Rev. Pattye Hewitt Rev. Ann Trousdale Louisiana we pretty much only have summer and winter!)

Editor/Designer but the seasons and rhythms Caroline Tyler of community life - New Year and Mardi Gras, Lent and To request to Easter, summer break, football, be added to our Thanksgiving, Christmas. I 930north Magazine love all that goes with these mailing list, join seasons, being with family and our photography or friends, cabbage and blackreporting team, or eyed peas, King Cake, times to have information of prayer and reflection, Easter included in a future edition, please call lilies and egg hunts, lazy days at the beach, and tailgating.

383-4777.

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Rev. Brady Whitton

About the Cover The holiday season can be a wonderful time of year. This issue of 930north can help you find new meaning in the holidays, and remind you of what really matters.

For me, though, Thanksgiving and Christmas take the cake. They embody the very best of our traditions – decorating our homes festively, coming together with family and friends, eating favorite foods, singing favorite songs, giving thanks to God for our many blessings. I love it all!

But if I’m completely honest, I sometimes come away from Thanksgiving and Christmas wondering if I missed an opportunity.

You see, I too often make Thanksgiving and Christmas all about me - about enjoying myself, my family, my traditions. But there is a deeper call in these holidays

as well, right, a call away from self and toward others?

A thankful heart doesn’t just take more. A thankful heart gives and shares with others. A celebration of the birth of Christ shouldn’t be about eating one more Christmas cookie, but about self-giving love. So I want part of my celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas to reflect this - to be about giving something back – I really do. But then time runs away with itself. I get on autopilot, do what I usually do, and then another year goes by. Any of you with me?

Well this year can be different. I know it’s only October, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about these things. What are some rituals and routines you can add to your holiday celebrations this year that will include caring for and serving others?

In this issue of 930 North you’ll discover a few ways you can give back as part of your celebration this year. Think about adding one or two to your holiday rhythm and routine. I bet if you do, you’ll find the most wonderful time of the year can be even more wonderful!

The Meeting Place What’s your position at FUMC?

Director of the Early Learning Center Where did you grow up? Or where do you consider “home”?

I grew up in LaP lace, LA. I spent 15 years living in Hammond where I raised my son, so it’s like a second home to me.

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

Spending time with friends, cooking, and working in my f lower beds.

What is your dream vacation spot?

Anywhere on the California coastline.

Person you admire the most?

A former supervisor, she taught me that

children deserve the highest standards

of quality we could possibly provide,

even it wasn’t always the easiest or

most popular way to care for children.

Earliest memory of knowing you wanted to work with children?

I attended a conference in Baton Rouge in the early 90’s and heard Ron Lally present research on brain development. The impact a child’s life experiences and environment during the first five years could have on his/her future is still astounding to me.

What is something quirky about you?

I enjoy spending the night in a sleeping bag on the f loor of a tent almost as much as a luxury hotel....almost.

October 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Giving: from global to Local

(and everywhere in between) Are you searching for a different way to share the love of Christ this holiday season? Looking for something to give to the person who has everything?

We've created a list of ways your gifts can transform the lives of people here in Baton Rouge, as well as around the world.

Global

Cambodia Church

Since 2005, FUMC has been supporting the Methodist Mission in Cambodia, when we started supporting missionaries, Esther and Nicholas Gitobu. Our church has funded the building of the Sam Rath Methodist Church, in Kompong Thom Province, as well as the parsonage, furniture for the church, and a well for the church property. This well provides the only clean water for the community, and the church is used by the community for meetings, and for outreach when flooding and/or other needs occur. Two mission teams from FUMC have visited the church, and taught Bible School to the children, and started the construction on two dormitories. This dormitories house 33 high school girls who, without a safe place to live, would not be able to go to school.

We returned with a bag of crafts in 2007, which we sell in the gym on Mission Sundays. The proceeds are used to educate, train and assist women in setting up businesses to support their families and provide scholarships for the children to go to high school and college.

We are now raising money to complete a second church, Ramskey Methodist Church, in Kompong Thom Province. We are returning to Cambodia in February of 2015, to dedicate the church, conduct a Bible School at Ramskey and Sam Rath, and to build a fence around Sam Rath to keep animals out of a planned garden for the community.

We are helping the Cambodian people with a hand-up and not a hand-out through education. Through education and training in a trade, our mission is to help women start a business to give financial stability to their families, as well as provide scholarships for high school, college, and master’s degree students.

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national

Lydia Patterson institute

Alternative Christmas Market

For 100 years Lydia Patterson Institute

(LPI) has responded to the need to provide a quality education for Hispanic students in the El Paso area. LPI provides a unique bilingual cross-cultural academic education for underprivileged students who might otherwise not attend high school or have the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Lydia Patterson Institute is a distinct school providing an academic future to children from severely impoverished families, seventy percent of whom live in Mexico and cross the border every day to attend classes. Fifty percent of those students are United States citizens who for economic, immigration or cultural reasons, reside in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

The Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has committed $500,000 to the Lydia Patterson Institute. Rev. Whitton, on behalf of First United Methodist Church, has committed $75,000 over a 3 year span to help build a new structure for LPI and support this legacy.

local

Every year, members of FUMC’s congregation experience a different kind of holiday shopping experience. Gifts are purchased, through the Alternative Christmas Market, in honor of family members, friends, or colleagues, and the proceeds go to various charities in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. Charities include the following: (for a complete list of Alternative Christmas Market Offerings, please pick up a brocure this December) • The Big Buddy Project - a mentorship program that matches children with “Big Buddies”, who provide after school tutoring, sports teams, summer camps, workforce development and weekend play days.

• Connections For Life - a program that gives women hope in starting over as they enter society after being released from prison.

• Partner Schools of FUMC - each week, volunteers from FUMC work with students at Bernard Terrace and Magnolia Woods Elementary Schools, as Reading Friends and Math Friends. Volunteers also work on other projects.

If you would like to donate, please send your donations to FUMC, and we will forward it to the proper recipient.

930 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 October 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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h t i a F r u o Y Putting Into Action At an early age we are taught “to serve others is to love God”. Such a simple phrase takes on many different meanings throughout our lives.

To a child, it is seemingly simple. Help others. Give to others. Love your neighbors. To an adult, it can be more complex. Looking past one’s perceived differences. Be compassionate even when it feels uncomfortable or undeserving. Give when you think you cannot. Love everyone without regard. If only we could always look through the eyes of a child and simply just love and help those in need.

As Methodists, we learn about “putting our faith into action”, and we talk so much about mission work. It only took one summer of having the kids home from school before a couple of moms realized some structure would be most helpful during those full of fun, yet sometimes longer than others, 11 summer weeks. Later bedtimes because they stayed in the pool longer than usual that afternoon and lazy mornings because they didn’t have to rush to get everyone dressed by the first bell are the moments for which they are so thankful and will hold onto forever. But now they have Mission Mondays to count among those memories too.

Moms heard the groans about needing a toy just because they were at Target, or wanting Superior Grill over Chimes, because every six year old should make that decision. And what do you mean we can’t have an Icee every time we stop to get gas? They realized they had some work to do, or at least attempt.

And moms love a project. Thus, came Mission Mondays during the summer.

Very simple, pick someone to help each Monday and teach the kids about loving and serving God by doing. Not necessarily a novel idea, but something intentional. The Mission Monday group did many things over the summer, which include: • Packing brown bag lunches for children who otherwise receive free lunch during the school year and delivered them • Drawing pictures for patients at OLOL Children’s Hospital • Making bracelets and collecting toy cars for children in The Philippines • Cleaning the grounds of a new Children’s Charter School

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• Serving lunch to families at the Holy Grill.

• Selling lemonade and popsicles, with the proceeds going to VIPS (to provide school supplies for underprivileged and local deployed soldier’s families) • Vacation didn’t stop the Mission Monday either, as homeless families at the beach received toiletry bags!

These moms found a way to teach their children about what it means to be less fortunate. The importance of being grateful.

They talked about counting their blessings and then using those blessings to help others. It wasn’t long before they saw the hand of God at work in those little lives. They watched the children excitedly shop for groceries, to pack a lunch for a stranger, and eagerly pour juice in the cups of thirsty families.

They watched the children dwell over whether to draw Batman or rainbows because now they know sickness doesn’t discriminate and any boy or girl could be in that hospital on Essen. Mission Monday was something the children truly looked forward to each and every week.

Maybe it was because they got to get together with their friends. Or was because they felt grown-up with their brooms and doctor gloves. Whatever the reason, the children loved it. And everyone was happy.

These moms know they haven’t heard the end of those groans about new toys or dinner choices, but they are hoping their children will remember the lives they touched this summer and their neighbors who do not have those same options. Little things like “Mom, we have read that book a lot of times, let’s give it to those kids at the Homeless Shelter!” and “I know I don’t need one but can we at least buy a toy for the boy whose dad is fighting in the war?” are among the transformations for which they were hoping. Most touching

was watching their children experience that unparalleled joy that comes with doing something good for someone else. Prayers are becoming thankful, and attitudes are slightly changing. The goal is to teach to teach their children about loving God through serving others but even the moms and dads ended the summer with fuller hearts and more gratitude than ever before. For as to give is far better than to receive.

October 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Avoiding the Holiday Blues

by Logan McIlwain, LCSW

It’s fall y’all! School is in full swing, our favorite sports teams are playing, and the holiday season is just around the corner. The countdown has officially commenced. What things come to mind when we think about the holidays? For most of us, we think of being thankful, merry, happy, family traditions, songs, and laughter.

What if something causes us to associate the holidays with other words like anxiety, stress, or sadness? How do we keep those unwanted emotions minimized this holiday season and officially avoid the funk?!

Whether it’s stress or the blues we must first determine some potential causes.

• Running on Empty: During the holidays it’s no secret that people feel more stressed than usual due to all the shopping, errands, family obligations, and parties. You’re eating worse, sleeping less, and drinking more. By the time the actual holiday rolls around you’re worn out, tense, and irritable making it very easy for anxiety or sadness to creep in.

• Reality Check: The holidays have an unfortunate way of pointing out significant changes or shortcomings in life such as divorce, a death of loved one, unemployment, illness, relationship woes, financial insecurity, or other circumstances that could make holidays awkward or depressing.

• The Monotonous Effect: For some, holidays are the same boring 10 930 North Magazine | October 2014

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family gatherings with the same awkward relatives, same food, same conversations, and the same lame jokes. All of this monotony can lead to holiday blues.

Unhappy Memories: Naturally, holidays elicit reflections on past times, but for some, these memories are more bitter than sweet.

This association of unhappy times in your life can recreate those negative feelings again.

When stress or sadness is at its peak recovering is often a difficult task. Below are some practical tips to minimize the funk before it starts.

Boundaries: These are a must. Pace yourself. Long before the holidays begin determine some limits on shopping, food preparations, visiting friends, and family activities and stick to them. Saying “no” might be uncomfortable but saying “yes” all the time creates resentment and more stress!

Feelings Check: If this holiday season is hitting you hard, whether it’s a death or a personal disappointment, feeling sad or experiencing grief is completely normal. It’s okay to cry and express your feelings. Start a new tradition as a way of remembering loved ones. Reach out if you need support from your family, friends, or church. Involve yourself or volunteer with social or church events. If stress or blues persist, even with your best efforts, seek professional help.

Change-up Effect: It’s important to recognize if old traditions aren’t working and creating unhappiness or stress, it’s time to change. Choose a few to hold on to and be open to new ones.

Be Realistic: Holidays don’t have to be perfect nor do families.

Regardless of the past, setting aside family differences is your best bet. Being present with your family, warts in all, will keep that stress and blues away.

Hopefully with this new insight the holiday season won’t become something you dread. With a little planning, some boundaries here and there, and positive thinking you can find peace and joy this holiday season!

Think you may be a victim of the holiday funk?

Contact Logan McIlwain, at Logan@brchrisitancounseling.com October 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Vision Update

Here is an overview of the exciting work that our Vision Launch Teams are accomplishing this Fall. If you are interested in this work, and have yet to plug into one of these inititatives, please contact Danielle Rosborough, at drosborough@firstmethodist.org

Improving Sanctuary Worship

A main goal of the Improving Sanctuary Worship Leadership Team (ISWLT) is to increase laity participation in worship services. Over the past five months, training sessions for Lay Communion Servers, Lay Readers, Acolytes and Soundboard operators were offered. Each training session increased lay participation by over 50-70%. A continued effort of the ISWLT is to create opportunities for lay participation in worship ministries not yet in place .

Emerging Worship Our team has committed to four new ministries for the 2014-2015 year: a Blessing of the Animals Worship service that will happen quarterly at the City Park/Burbank/Forest Park locations in Baton Rouge (first event will be October 19th at City Park, 3pm), quarterly worship events at the Town Square Green at North and 3rd Street (first event occurring December 21st), the continuation of the Cypress Mounds baseball ministry, the creation of a House Church in Port Allen. The Launch Team for the Port Allen worshipping community is presently being formed, and they will convene at the end of September for visioning and planning for a beginning in February 2015.

Adult Discipleship The Adult Discipleship Path team considers it a sacred privilege to design a path for Christian growth no matter where one is on the journey.

Team members began meeting regularly in July, and began to immerse themselves in the Wesleyan tradition, focusing on the book The Class Meeting by Kevin Watson. A visual model is being created that will define the path that leads adults to explore and deepen their faith in Christ including foundational beliefs and scriptural understanding through the lens of God’s grace.

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Th

Youth Discipleship The path of discipleship for youth has a major celebration, we have decided on the curriculum that will be used by the youth department and implemented over the next year. The leadership is also working on an internet based, self-paced series of lessons designed to help students with the habits of being a person of Christ.

mpus at FUMC’s ca The first day

After School Program

So far the program has been wildly successful, with over 20 children signed up to participate in our pilot program! September 15th was the first day students from Bernard Terrace came to FUMC’s campus for the program (previously, the students were participating in a miniversion of our program on Bernard Terrace’s campus). We have had several congregation members volunteer their time and talents to helping the students with their reading skills, as well as assisting with homework! The program has been blessed with the donation of dozens of children’s books, which the students have been eagerly enjoying.

Children’s Discipleship

The Children’s Discipleship Path is currently creating a mission statement, and has been discerning different options in term of a long term path. We will follow the Adult Discipleship path closely, are looking forward to seeing the direction they take.

Urban Mission Center

The Urban Mission Ministry has been working hard on the administrative decisions of a new ministry. We have been working on publicity, housing and a name.

We are pleased to announce the new name for the Urban Mission is REVIVE 225. In a few short weeks you will hear plans of how you can be involved in this exciting new ministry.

October 2014 | 930 North Magazine

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Congregational News Welcome New Members!

Celebrating the Birth of...

Mary Collins Daughter of Regan & Michael Baker Jules Jourdan Son of Jamie & Philippe Pucheu William Reza Son of Leila & Beau Braswell Lauren Davis Jamie Dickey & Matt Paxton Eloise Crennan Daughter of Caroline & Nathan Borck Jim Wilbert Son of Caroline & Nathan Borck Everett Elias Son of Melissa & Rust Cadwallader Paige, Ian & Thomas Coit Jeff & Alissa Jeanne Son of Christine & Daniel McMains Dickey Fellows

Sympathy to the Families of...

Mr. Marshall Stagg

Celebrating the Baptism of...

Annemarie Elizbaeth Daughter of Katie & Scotty Chabert Landry Marie Daughter of Kim & Stuart Gilly Declan Michael Son of Tara & Brian Jones

Michael Hudson, Rachel & Charlotte Courville

Nicky Logan

Bonnie Williams Aaliyah Materre

Financial Report As of 8/31/2014: Actual YTD Income $ 2,239,939 Expense $ 2,557,740 Net Income ($ 317,801)

Budget YTD Variance $ 2,250,971 $ 11,032 $ 2,618,873 ($ 61,133) ($ 367,902) $ 50,101

Kristen Young

Weekly Attendance Week of Sunday, August 3

Week of Sunday, August 10

Week of Sunday, August 17

Week of Sunday, August 24

Week of Sunday, August 31

Worship 1,081 Sunday School 389 Total 1,470

Worship 1,152 Sunday School 400 Total 1,552

Worship 1,228 Sunday School 470 Total 1,698

Worship 1,171 Sunday School 492 Total 1,663

Worship 898 Sunday School 403 Total 1,301

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OCTOBER Calendar of Events Weekly

Special MONDAY - 10/6 6:30 pm Robinson Circle Meeting (Offsite)

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

TUESDAY - 10/7 6:00 pm UMW Service Awards Banquet

(Ory Parish Hall)

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 4:30 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

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

Thursday Group Widow’s Walk AA After School Program

WEDNESDAY - 10/8 10:00 am Health Fair

(Conference Center) FRIDAY - 10/10 8:00 am UMW Conference Begins

Monthly Lectionary Texts September 29 Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 Psalm 19 October 6 Exodus 32:1-14 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14 Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

SATURDAY - 10/11 8:00 am UMW Conference SUNDAY - 10/12 8:30 am Mission Sunday MONDAY - 10/13 6:00 pm Church Council MONDAY - 10/20 6:00 pm Brown Circle Meeting (Offsite)

October 13 Exodus 33:12-23 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22 Psalm 99 October 20 Deuteronomy 34:1-12 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46 Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

SUNDAY - 10/26 4:00 pm Fall Festival SATURDAY - 11/1 - SAVE THE DATE 7:30 am FaithWorks!

A community workday HELP, THANKS, WOW: THE THREE ESSENTIAL PRAYERS A sermon series starting November 9th

Early Learning Center

October 27 Joshua 3:7-17 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:1-12 Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37

31st Trick or Treat (wear costumes to school)

October 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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W orship !

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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