CHURCH EVENTS CALENDAR

SUN
1
MON
2
Tue
3

WED
4
THU
5
FRI
6
SAT
7
08:30 AM
Blended Worship Service
09:45 AM
Sunday School
11:00 AM
Traditional Worship Service
5 - 7 PM
Eat This Word, Youth Activity, Mattie House

 
 
07:30 PM
Agape I Circle
 
6 - 8 PM
The Garden Youth Meeting, Mattie House
07:00 PM
Chancel Choir Practice, Sanctuary
06:30 PM
Praise Team Practice, Sanctuary
08:00 PM
Keyboards Rehearsal, Sanctuary
 

CHURCH NEWS

Click here to say hello to our newest members.

FAMILY CAMP 2010 photos

Click here to view campfire photo scenes.
Click here to view lakeside photo scenes.
Click here
to view low rope photo scenes.

Click here
to view meal time photo scenes.

Click here
to view rock wall photo scenes.


Missed a sermon? Click here to listen to a recent sermon.

ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES

Assisted listening devices are now available in the sanctuary. Our ushers will be happy to assist you.

Your Help Is Needed

To assist our clergy and office in contacting members, please give your cell phone number on the attendance registration pad.  Also, we periodically send email to the congregation as a whole, and some messages are returned due to outdated recipient addresses.  If you have not received messages from the church lately (several went out this week), be certain to print your email address on the attendance pad as well.
If you would rather receive your church newsletter as a PDF via email, please indicate so by writing "PDF" next to your email on the attendance pad.  This will help us reduce mailing costs.

Building Update

Drive by slowly and look at the progress that has been made on the erection of some of the walls and some of the support beams. The forming and pouring of the foundation was a slow process, but now that walls are going up we will soon see the roof and the entire facility taking shape. It has been a long, involved process, but we will occupy the new building in less than a year.
Pray for good working weather & no problems with materials & manpower. Please drive by rather than go onto the slab; it is too dangerous for a close-up view at this time.

Young Adults Sunday School Class

"20 & 30 somethings" Sunday School group meets in the cry room at the rear of the sanctuary @ 9:45.  Come and fellowship with us. Interested in joining a group of people seeking a deeper life with Jesus?  Contact Tony Angell at arangell81@gmail.com or 305-8600.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

"Eat This Word" Bible Study

Sundays
5 - 7 PM
Bring your Bibles and a friend!

The Garden

Wednesdays 6 - 8 PM

Come and let the Holy Spirit make you into fertile ground.  We will be hanging out, playing games, and seeking the face of God.  

Back 2 School Retreat

Youth & Friends of FUMC, Denham Springs
August 13-15
Tommy Sullivan’s hunting cabins just north of St. Francisville
  • We will leave at 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 13, by means of the church van & will return Sunday at noon.
  • At Tommy Sullivan’s hunting cabins there are two cabins; so boys & girls will be separated.
  • Cost: No charge! All that is needed is a signed permission slip by the guardian.
    Why:
    1. To escape from the many distractions & fast-paced ways
    of the world.
    2. To learn to live in the rhythm of the Holy Spirit.
    3. To unite as a Body.
    4. To be sent as lights into the schools.
    We will need chaperones to go on this trip; at least two male and two female. Please contact Tony, arangell81@gmail.com, or 305-8600 if you want to be a chaperone.

    Donations, by individuals, of food requested for retreat

    Below is a list of the items needed
  • hot dogs (60) hot-dog buns (60)
  • Coat hangers (30) orange juice (3 gallons)
  • Eggs (60) biscuits (45)
  • Milk (4 gal. of 2%) sausage (5 small rolls)
  • Bread (5 loaves) peanut butter (1 jar)
  • Jelly (1 jar) sliced meat (5/1-lb. pkgs)
  • Sliced cheese (5/24-slice pkgs)
  • Lettuce (3 heads) chips (4 bags)
  • fruit (apples, oranges, bananas)
  • lemonade (2 powder containers)
  • fruit juice (6 frozen containers)
  • ground beef (10 lbs.) potato salad (to serve 30)
  • baked beans (to serve 30)
  • cereal (6 boxes) muffins (pre-made)
  • graham crackers (3 boxes)
  • marshmallows (big-sized) (3 bags)
  • Hershey chocolate bars (10 bars)
  • Cookies
  • M&M’s
  • Red licorice gummy bears

Please call the church office (665-8995) to let us know what food item you plan to donate. Please drop off your food item(s) at the church office on August 11th & 12th.

UMM Brisket Fundraiser Photos

Click here to view photos from the successful UMM Youth Ministry fundraiser on 5/16/2010 that had $1100 profit. Thanks Guys!!

    

“Shares” in Ministry to Youth, Young Adults, and Young Families

Thanks to the following individuals for their pledges made or shares given to Shares in Ministry to Youth, Young Adults & Young Families:
    • 1 share given by Rev. Bob Deich and Family in honor of Mrs. Joyce Annison and Mrs. Jeanette Prestridge.

    MISSION NEWS

    MISSION TRIP
         In May, Rev. Hu Debo from Shreveport was our guest speaker, sharing slides and his first-hand experience during the earthquake in Haiti. He said he would let us know the next time he takes a group, so that we may have an opportunity to participate, too. The exact dates of the trip depend on flights, but around these dates:
     
         DEPART: Thursday, October 21st or Friday, October 22nd.
         RETURN: Friday, October 29th or Saturday, 30th

    We will offer medical clinics in 2-3 churches. Non-medical team members may assist in running the clinics, or working with orphans, some painting, other light physical work, or investigating micro-business opportunities.  As our team is formed, the actual agenda will take shape.
        If you have an interest in making this trip, contact Ginny <revginny@gmail.com> or 772-6681) by Wed., July 15th for more information.  Fund-raisers will offset the cost.
        

    COMBINED FALL SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS (optional)

        

    BASIC BELIEFS: Sept. 5th - Nov. 28th
          Confirmation Classes were so well received, that several adults asked for a similar presentation for adults.  Many members have come into our church from other denominational backgrounds or have forgotten the things they learned in Confirmation years ago, so this seems like a worthwhile educational effort. 
        We will offer a combined adult Sunday School class in the Sanctuary from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. to serve this purpose and meet this need. The classes will be taught by both laity and clergy covering foundational beliefs of Christianity, History of the Church and the time line of the UMC, sacraments, symbols, administration of the church, beliefs unique to Methodism, personal commitment to Christ and renewal of commitment.  It will be a time of sharing, learning and growing together.
    OPT OUT
       Some classes or members of some classes may choose not to participate. We will be getting a count of those in Sunday School who plan to participate in this combined study, and who do not to be sure we have teachers for all students. 
    ADVANTAGES:
       We encourage all adults to participate:

    • to build a solid foundation of understanding our beliefs, our purpose and our identity.  
    • to encourage unity in thought and spirit as we begin a new era together.
    • to allow people to get to know members who worship in the other worship service.
    • to allow people to get to know members who belong to different Sunday School classes.
    • to allow inter-generational learning
    • to save money on Sunday School curriculum this fall quarter, since these classes will not require books.

     

    Are You Interested in Joining This Church?

    So far this year 15 persons have joined our church. Membership may be conferred by:
    A) a proclamation of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or
    B) by transfer of membership from another church where this proclamation was made.
    C) As an associate or affiliate member, retaining membership in a former church or denomination, but officially affiliate with our church.
    New members are asked to make a vow of membership: to support this church, The United Methodist Church, and The Church Universal: with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness. If you are interested in becoming a part of our church family, contact Rev. Ginny  Allen: <revginny@gmail.com> or 225-772-6681.

PRAYER PAGERS

Prayer Pager Assignment

None at this time

Prayer Pager Information
and
Instructions

A Prayer Pager, sponsored by the FUMCDS United Methodist Men, is assigned to a person or family in crisis for widespread prayer & family encouragement. The pager number is published in church publications & spread through various individual e-mail lists.

To receive a prayer pager, make any of our ministers aware of a crisis need/desire for a prayer pager. Pagers are not limited to our own congregation or to our local area. The ministers will notify you if a pager is available. Then the intended recipient is contacted to see if they would like a pager, for permission to print the situation for prayer & for arrangements for delivery. Recipients may keep the pager for as long as it is needed.

To call the Prayer Pager: Pray for the person in need, then call the pager number. After 4 beeps, enter your numeric zip code and #. The pager will buzz the person, show where prayers originate (by zip code), and let them know how often they are being prayed for.



Electronic Funds Transfer Helps You and the Church

Occasionally we fall behind on our giving to the church.  One tool that is available, to help you stay on track with what you want to give and to help the cash flow needed for the ongoing ministries of the church, is Electronic Fund Transfer. Also known as EFT, ACH, or Direct Payment, it is the electronic transfer of funds from one bank account to another. Contact Linda McDaniel at the Church Office for more info.


SPECIAL NOTES

     We have returned to our pre-fire worship and Sunday School schedule. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and Sunday School from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Nursery, elementary and youth classes will be held in the Mattie St. parsonage and adult classes at the Centerville St. parsonage. Special thanks to the people of Roberts UMC and First Baptist for graciously and warmly welcoming us in to your church homes.

     The Nursing Home Ministry needs volunteers to make visits to nursing home residents to deliver personal care items which have been prepared for them. To volunteer, call Jewell Whitehead at 665-5940.

     The Flower Calendar for 2010 is posted in the church office. Please call the office to sign up for specific days you wish to provide flowers.

For more information on any of these items, please contact the church office at 665-8995.

 

Additional Highlights of 2010 Ministries

We are richly blessed through a Music Ministry involving over ninety people, participating on a weekly basis.  The goal is always to glorify God through music.

The Handbell Ministry involves ten ringers who play at special services such as the Groundbreaking, Hanging of the Greens and the Christmas Cantata.  Our goal for the coming year is to offer bell music in worship on a monthly basis.

The Praise Team sings weekly at the 8:30 a.m. service. It is comprised of 5 - 7 members of all ages.

The Chancel Choir sings weekly at the 11:00 a.m. service and provides special music at Easter and Christmas.  It is comprised of 25-30 members of all ages and sings music from all genres from gospel to classical.

The Children’s Choir sings for special events and programs such as Mothers Day, Hanging of the Greens and Christmas. Our church is blessed to have a large number of elementary age children participating in this ministry. 


There is a Sunday School Class for you.  Click here to see the classes.

Click here to view the current and back issues of The Witness, our church newsletter.

 
      On the night of October 29, 2007 there was a fire at our church building. The sanctuary and gym sustained extensive water and smoke damage while the offices and classroom facilities have been totally lost. Damages are estimated at more than $2 million, although the damage was minimized due to the outstanding performance of our local fire departments responding to the emergency.

Click here to see images of the fire and local firefighters battling the blaze.

      As God's will continues to unfold in the wake of this tragic event, the members of First United Methodist Church - DS wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have helped and offered to help our congregation in our time of need, and also to those who have remembered us in their prayers. We have been awed and humbled at the generosity demonstrated by God's people.
      For those who wish to make a monetary donation to assist our congregation in our rebuilding efforts, we have established a special account to receive donations:

body

"For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11