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.

	You are invited to join your church in a Lenten journey with Jesus, focusing on the last day of his life on earth. To guide us on our journey we are making available a devotional book by Adam Hamilton, 24 Hours That Changed the World. Copies are available at the entry doors to our worship spaces, as well as from the Church Office. You may also go online and download the book to your Kindle. Suggested donation to help defray the cost of these books is $8 each. If you cannot afford one, please take one as our gift to you. 40 Days of Reflection
	Wanted: Mission Team Members A tornado struck Rayne, La. on March 5, 2011, damaging over 100 homes. Due to the national attention given storms in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri, the work to repair these homes in our own state has been slow. Funding will soon end for the work of the Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Relief Ministries. We have been asked to send a team to help with gutting and restoring a home to livable conditions. A team from our church will be going over on Thursday, Feb. 23, to begin gutting this house. Team members who wish to overnight may stay at the Gueydan United Methodist Church, or at a local campground (free RV parking for relief workers). Workers are also welcome to commute. If you would be willing to go for one, two, or three days on this outreach, please contact Rev. Bob Deich.
	DISTRICT-WIDE MEETING AND BREAKFAST Saturday, March 10, 2012 7:30 a.m. - FUMC-DS Activity Center Open to all men of the Baton Rouge District. Speaker: Mark Lubbock
	Teacher/Staff TLC (Tender Loving Care) A new prayer ministry of support for the educators/staff of Denham Junior High, with volunteers from our congregation, paired up with DSJH participants. Both men and women volunteers are needed. Details will be sent to volunteers. To be a volunteer or for info, contact Erin Sandefur: esandefur@cox.net or 225-936-9843 or 225-665-9148.
	Ash Wednesday Service 6:30 PM February 22 FUMC-DS Sanctuary
	“Supper ‘n’ Study” Feb. 1st – Mar. 28th 5:30 PM Low-cost Dinner 6:30 - 8 PM Classes / Groups (all ages)
	Strengthening the Family Series Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 noon Parenting Sessions: • Feb 25th Parenting Infant / Preschool • Mar 17th Elementary Grades • Apr 14th Pre-teens / Teens Childcare provided. Nursery by reservation.
	The Upper Room Living Prayer Center The FUMC-DS United Methodist Men will be sponsoring the transfer of the Prayer Line on March 25th, 2012 from 7 a.m. – 12 noon. The Prayer Line receives more than 36,000 calls per month for prayer requests. We are issuing a challenge to all FUMC-DS groups to join us in the transfer. Volunteers are needed to man the phones for 30 minutes (or more) to assist the callers with prayer or scripture reading relative to the situation. If interested in volunteering, please contact Barney Babin at 225-931-7573 or blbabin@bellsouth.net. There will also be a FUMC-DS covenant prayer group that will pray for the callers during our timeslot for 30 days after March 25th. Contact Barney Babin if you wish to volunteer for this prayer group. The blessings you will receive for this service are limitless!
	Sanctuary Flowers Furnish flowers at $45/Sunday, (in honor/in memory) reserve date on 2012 Flower Calendar posted in office. Sign-up, or (225) 665-8995 or office@fumc-ds.org.
	Office Volunteers Needed Have some free time? The Church office is looking for some smiling faces to serve as receptionist in the front office on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Hours are flexible. If interested? Contact Diane Carson or 665-8995. Please call even if you can only serve as a backup.
	Eat the Word Sundays 5-7pm Who did Jesus meet and how did He show the Father's love? Food. Study. Fun. Small Groups Kickoff Wed 5:30-7:15 pm in Youth Room (Small Group Service Night Bingo @ Harvest Manor Nursing Home Wed, Aug 31st) Our Mission To be passionate youth committed to reaching the hurting and broken with the love of Jesus for the glory of God.
	SERVE IN OUR NURSERY We are restructuring the children's program in the nursery. We plan to build on the foundation already in place by adding Bible lessons, music, and play. Volunteers are needed!! If you can help during a Sunday morning service, Sunday school, or throughout the week contact Sarah Angell. NEED NURSERY? Childcare will be provided for church meetings, practices, and other functions as often as possible. If you need childcare, please contact Sarah Angell at least 3 days before the event so volunteers can be contacted. Sarah Angell Email: sarahlangell@gmail.com call/text: (318) 617-3923
	We hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas season and that this New Year brings you many joys and opportunities to serve Christ and His Church. We have had a great response to our request for frozen meals. What we need now is your help in getting the word out that this food is available to anyone who may have a need. Please feel free to pick up multiple items and deliver them to a person or family whether they are members of our church or not. We know that they will also enjoy your visit. Please continue to cook anything you like, freeze it, and place in the Cooks for Christ refrigerator in the workroom. Since we began this ministry in June 2011, we have had 443 items brought in and 399 items delivered to families. Thank you so very much for assisting with the ministry. If you have any questions, please call one of the following: Joyce Annison 664-4691; e-mail – joyceannison@cox.net Jeannette Prestridge – 275-8565 Elaine Day – 664-4987
	YOUNG ADULTS NEWS Sunday Morning Group: 9:45-10:30 Exploring our faith through video and discussion. Small Group: Thursdays 6:30-8:00pm “Marriage without Regrets”. ?’s: Tony Angell 305-8600

I WANT TO HELP IN 2012

As Liturgist
The liturgist welcomes everyone and introduces hymns during worship. Rev. Ginny will contact you in advance to check your availability for the coming Sunday and will send you a copy of the Sunday bulletin on the Friday prior, so you can look over it. After the Doxology you may leave the Chancel area and sit in the congregation with friends and family. Let Rev. Ginny know if you are interested and which worship service you attend: 772-6681, revginny@gmail.com.

With Children’s Moment
Share a 3-minute Children’s Moment during worship. Rev. Ginny will notify you several days in advance to check your availability and provide you with some suggestions for ideas. Let Rev. Ginny know if you are interested and which worship service you attend: 772-6681, revginny@gmail.com.

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.

SPECIAL NOTES

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 2012 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.

Electronic Funds Transfer Helps You and the Church

Sarah Angell

SPECIAL NOTES