930north August 2013

930nor hA P u b l i c A t i o n o f f i r s t u n i t e d M e t h o d i s t c h u r c h

August 2013

In this Issue:» Read about our new worship service.............8» How to be an Inviting Congregation..............10» Learn about the Big Buddy Program..........16

“Buzz Lightyear” at the Superhero Adventure

Youth Waterslide Kickball Sr. High Mission to Oljato, Utah

Men’s Coffee

Rev. Katie greeting after Worship

Fit @ First Exercise Group

Rev. Brad as “Bible Man”

Mission Day Camp learns about the Knitting Ministry.

a 5th grade Godly Play session

Our life ogether

A New Storyby Rev. Brady Whitton................................................4

The Meeting Place......................................................5

The Gathering by Fran Skipper & Kate Brown.................................6

The America Street Serviceby Rev. Katie McKay Simpson..................................8

An Interview with Roger and Sidneyby Becky Poor..............................................................10

TAG Visioning Update...........................................12

Calendar of Events...................................................13

H.I.G.H. 5......................................................................14

First Impressionsby William Taylor........................................................15

My Little Buddyby Denise Akers...........................................................16

Congregational News............................................18

930nor hAugust 2013

Table of Contents

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6

10

16

Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Welcome to the inaugural edition of First United Methodist’s new magazine, 930north. As with a traditional newsletter, you will find dates, facts, and other help-ful information about things going on in our church. Most importantly, however, 930north will feature the stories of First United Methodist Church – stories of how people’s lives are being touched and changed by the many expressions of God’s Spirit who lives in and through this com-munity of faith. The next time you have the opportunity, listen to two people talking over a cup of coffee. I’m not asking you to be overly nosy, but to give just enough attention to hear the form of the conversation. What you’ll most likely hear are stories - stories of self, of relationships, of events happen-ing in the community, nation, and world. Some suggest story-telling is what is dis-tinctive about human beings: that we are

“storied beings” whose hearts and minds are fueled not by facts or formulas but by story. Stories are why we love books, tele-vision, and movies. Human history itself is a story. Story is what helps us make sense out of life, the universe, and everything. Story is the way to the human heart. It is no mistake, then, that when God re-veals himself to humanity it is through a story; the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the people called Israelites. It is no mistake that the good news of Jesus Christ, his life, death, and resurrection, comes to us as a story, some say “the greatest story ever told.” It is no mistake that when Jesus taught he did so primarily in story. My prayer is that God will touch you through the stories of our church and that through them your heart will be moved and your interest piqued. I pray you will be drawn to send an email asking for more information, that you’ll sign up for a class, or decide to support a mission. My prayer is that these stories will move you to step more deeply into this Spirit-filled commu-nity, and that by doing so you will be able to add a God-story or two of your own to the story that is First United Methodist Church. In Christ’s Love,

Rev. Brady Whitton, Senior Pastor

About the CoverRev. Brady Whitton greeting after the

11:00 a.m. Sanctuary service. photo credit / Michelle Ducharme

To request to be added to our 930north magazine mailing list,

join our photography or reporting team, or to have information included in a future edition of this publication, contact Emily

Phillips, at [email protected] or 383-4777 ext. 255.

For more information about First United Methodist Church, visit our website, www.firstmethodist.org.

930nor hA P u b l i c A t i o n o f

f i r s t u n i t e d M e t h o d i s t c h u r c h

9 3 0 n o r t h b l v d .b A t o n r o u g e , l A 7 0 8 0 2

2 2 5 - 3 8 3 - 4 7 7 7

Senior PastorRev. Brady Whitton

Associate PastorsRev. Brad Franklin

Rev. Katie McKay SimpsonRev. Susie Thomas

Editor/Graphic DesignerDirector of Communication

Emily Phillips

PhotographersMichelle Ducharme

Todd RossnagelKaren Spencer

Dr. William Weldon

August 2013 | 930 North Magazine 5

The Meeting Place

Meet Chris Rosborough.Christopher Rosborough completed his M.M. in vocal performance from Mercer University where he was awarded a fellowship to the Townsend School of Music. His undergraduate studies took place at Howard Payne University, where he received a B.M. in vocal performance, as well as a B.M.E. in choral music. Chris served three years as Min-ister of Music and Arts at the Milledgeville First United Methodist Church, and taught as adjunct professor of voice at Georgia College and State University. Chris has recently moved to Baton Rouge in order to pursue a D.M.A. in choral conducting from LSU. He is married to Danielle Rosborough, the love of his life and his biggest supporter. Chris began his work at FUMC on June 1.

role at FUMC:favorite food:favorite movie:

favorite TV character:

What chore do you absolutely hate doing?

early bird OR night owltea OR coffee

dogs OR cats

chocolate OR vanilla

What do you look forward to most about working at First Methodist?

Chris’ dogs Finzi & Issa

6 930 North Magazine | August 2013

Our family’s visit to the Sweet Dreams shelter was a once in-a-lifetime experience. We had been longing for something meaning-ful that all of us could participate in and that would have an impact, yet change us in the process. The kids needed some community service hours to fulfill their yearly requirement, yet we didn’t want to just fill the hours, but we yearned for something that would light a fire within our family and be the beginning of something bigger.

God heard, and Rebecca [Mitchell] informed me of this opportu-nity. We planned what meal my kids liked the best and what des-sert would be the biggest hit, and while I cooked for my own fam-ily, I cooked for these families we were about to meet. We were all a little nervous and felt “awkward,” as my kids like to say, as we approached the shelter, but once we stepped foot in the door, we were greeted by the most grateful and appreciative group of people I could have imagined.

We shared a family-style meal, played with children, held babies (I sort of cornered that, and had a hard time sharing the precious one-month-old that just loved being talked to), and visited with

all of these dynamic women who found a family at Sweet Dreams. They seemed secure, happy, and part of their own community. What an amazing place. Yet, as I looked around, I thought it re-minded me of when our daughter was in the hospital and how closed-in I felt…how removed from the world it seemed to be. One room can really cave in.

As fabulous as this shelter is, I couldn’t help but think about ways we could pitch in to make it better. How little we gave that night and how easy it would be to give more…whether it is my time or money or talent, we all have more [to give]. As we left, I was so thankful for the wonderful people who started Sweet Dreams, who make it run every day, who took the initative to make this idea a reality, and yet I am still praying about what this means for our family and how others like us who, just are being blessed by a special group, can add to the garden and make more flowers bloom. We all are called by our own unique gifts and can all make a difference. one act at a time.

-Kate Brown

your Wednesday connection

“The Gathering” is a weekly multi-generational experience on Wednesdays filled with dinner, fellowship, worship, and learning opportunities. Dinner is served from 5:00-5:45 p.m. Worship is from 5:45-6:15 p.m. Classes for adults and children follow from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to any portion of the evening. Come empty...leave changed.

Parents and their children enjoying activities at The Gathering.photo credit / Todd Rossnagel

Why the Brown Family loves The Gathering:


My family has been regularly attending “The Gathering” since it began in the fall. It has been a great time for us to fellowship with others. We look forward to our weekly dinners with other members of FUMC who we may not have known before. My husband, Phillip, and I sit and enjoy a meal with new faces and families.

What has warmed my heart the most is to hear my four year old wake up and ask if it is a “church day.” It is part of her routine and she is sad when we miss it. She is genuinely excited to see her friends at dinner, sit with them at worship and participate in the children’s program. Phillip and I love to

watch her enjoy worship and participate in communion. It is truly a wonderful thing to watch.

One of my favorite memories is from the Easter season this year when the children and families participated in a program called The Easter Garden. The children learned about Jesus’ journey to the cross through stories and hands- on activities. Each Wednesday they added to their garden and by the end it was a beautiful symbol of the journey to the cross. My daughter loved this! She looked forward to it each week. It can sometimes be hard to get your family downtown in the middle of the week,

but when this little four-year-old started making her own Easter Garden at home, on her own, I knew it was absolutely worth it. She gets it. She gets the importance of the story and the importance of our family experiencing these things together.

Being able to go to church with our family on another day, besides Sunday, is great. “The Gathering” is something we all look forward to. We can worship God on more than just Sunday, and I hope our children can take that away from this experience as well.

-Fran Skipper

“We can worship God on more than just Sunday, and I hope our children can take that away from this experience as well.”

Gathering Classes for August 14-September 11The Bible for Every DayJoin Rev. Whitton each week as we explore a different biblical passage or theme and what it has to say about our lives, our relationships, and our God. Adult Building Room 115.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your LifeHaving clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, bal-anced lifestyle. Often, Christians focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. Led by Logan McIlwain, LCSW.

Adult Building Room 113.

Past and Future: The United Methodist ChurchIf you’re new to The United Methodist Church, or need a refresher course, this is the class for you! Come and learn in a discussion-based format about the

history of how our denomination came to be, our beliefs, and prac-tices. Led by Rev. Katie McKay Simpson. Adult Building Room 106.

Fit & Fun! Discover the importance of nutrition and fitness in your life. Join us for 5 weeks of activities involving healthy eat-ing and exercise. Led by Paula Mercer and Sandra King. Adult Building Room 117.

Pictured: Fran, Phillip, Lucy, and Reynolds Skipper

What The Gathering means to the Skippers:

In three centuries, First United Methodist Church has re-sponded to the needs of the Baton Rouge community. When the Youth Building and Conference Center were consecrated in August of 2011, no one knew exactly how God would lead the congregation of First United Methodist Church to use this space. Over these two years, our sanctuary continues to be full for worship on Sunday mornings, and over 80 visi-tors walk through our doors almost every week. So, we were faced with an exciting opportunity once again: creating new places for new faces, and the America Street Service was born. There is a team of leaders who are continuing in the tradi-

tion of the passionate circuit riders and early missionaries who built this church so long ago. This team is made up of almost 50 people that have committed to be “missionaries” to this ministry of our church for the first six months of its life. Of these 50, there are some that are presently members of First United Methodist, but others that are coming to the church for the first time. In late June, this Launch Team gathered for a training retreat, covering skills in audio-visual skills, altar design, welcoming and children’s ministry. They also used the time for evangelism training and prayer for those that will come as a result of intentional outreach. Of that group, there is also the Planning Team, a body of four people that will guide the planning of worship from week to week—Warren Kimball, worship leader; Bethanie Tinker, worship assistant; Amy Book, Media Director; and Rev. Katie McKay Simpson, preaching pastor. Kimball, a native of Baker and PhD student in Music History at LSU, came to us as a known commodity in the FUMC Youth Ministry. For the last year, he has been leading our youth and recruiting new young people to worship God through leading others in music, most notably at the Sunrise Service at the Towne Square on North Boulevard this past Easter. Kimball, his wife Heather, and his daughter, Madison were looking for a place to worship and serve in the Baton Rouge area, and in coming on staff, found many kindred spir-its. Kimball said of his experience, “The most exciting thing about being a part of this effort is seeing a healthy church

OUR NEW WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT FIRST METHODIST


photo credit / Todd Rossnagel


that is evolving to meet the needs of its congregation and the community and is willing to fully invest in that opportunity. It is also exciting to be able to build this service from the ground up and to see where the spirit takes us.” Bethanie Tinker, presently a junior at LSU, comes to FUMC from liv-ing coast to coast--starting with California, to Louisi-ana, to Pennsylvania, and back to Louisiana. Tinker brings with her a wealth of experience in leading vibrant worship. She was formed in her faith at St. Timothy UMC in Mandeville, where she served as an active leader in the youth group and led worship for her peers in the praise band. She now leads worship for the Wesley Founda-tion on LSU’s campus. Tinker said, “I have been yearning to get plugged in with a Methodist church and praise band in Baton Rouge for quite some time. I knew that First United Methodist Church was the perfect fit for me when I met everyone involved with the launch of this new contemporary service… The excitement

and anticipation for this service is building, and I believe that there is something amazing stirring by the power of God in everyone involved.” Amy Book comes back to us after leaving her Media Director position here at First United Methodist only ten months ago to stay home with her now ten-month-old son, Logan. She wanted to become more involved in the life of the church again, and though she loved the opportunity to care for her son and family, increasingly she lacked a creative outlet. As Book tells the story, she prayed about this struggle for weeks, and then got a call with this opportunity to serve. Book said, “I see God working to gather this team together with the laity of our church, inspiring us all to change lives in our community.” The America Street Service will begin in our Conference Center on Sunday, August 18th, with a Preview Service on August 11th in the evening open to members of our con-gregation who are curious to experience what this worship experience will be like. This service promises to be a leader in the Baton Rouge area on the frontier of using social media, technology, and creating unique expressions of the Gospel through our church’s audio/visual resources.

Y O U ' R E I N V I T E D . . .Launch Date: August 18 at 11:00 a.m.Location: Conference Center Curious? Come to a Preview Service on Sunday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Center.

“The most exciting thing about being a part of this effort is seeing a healthy church that is evolving to meet the needs of its

congregation and the community and is willing

to fully invest in that opportunity.”

-Warren Kimball, worship leader

“I have never felt such a sense of community as I do at First Methodist”

photo credit/ Karen SpencerPictured: Roger Samaha, Katie, Lex, and Arthur Barras, and Sidney Montegudo


I sat down with two very special people recently who impressed me with their inviting and welcoming spirit – Roger Samaha and Sid-ney Montegudo. I had to know more about their method of invita-tion!

Becky: What brought you to First Methodist?Sidney: I was raised Methodist. I am a Methodist Minister and served the church for 30+ years. I have been in numerous churches in my ministry, but have never felt so welcomed and appreciated, so accepted for who I am...as I have at First Meth-odist in Baton Rouge… I have never felt such a sense of com-munity as I do at First Methodist.

B: Sidney, you used a key word there – community. We try to be that for one another and Baton Rouge. This is the com-munity that you both have found at First Methodist. Roger, what about you? How has First Methodist changed you?Roger: Being a Christian, a Catholic all my life, I was used to a lot of “pomp and circumstance.” I went to church, did my thing, drifted off during the sermon, and left. Sidney was here and he kept telling me, “[First Methodist] is where you need to be, because this is what you are looking for.” I started coming to church with him, and after a year and a half, I decided to join on Christmas Eve. I love this church so much, so I just talk about it. S: When we go to CC’s or Starbucks, we just strike up a conver-sation, and it leads into church.B: Love it!R: When people tell us that they still haven’t found a church, I always say “You need to come with us, or go to service [with us]. I promise if you do, you will love it, because of the people, the pastors, and the congregation.”

B: What you have just done is not only offer the invitation to come, but you said “Come with us.” That gives people more incentive to come to church.S: We tell them where we sit, we tell them we will save them a place, and on Sunday morning we send them a text letting them know we are saving them a place. R: When it comes to talking about this church, I feel very happy

and very grateful that after all of these years, I finally found some-thing in my life that I look forward to. Every Saturday night I say, “Tomorrow we are going to church!” I never did that before – going to church always felt like an obligation. Now, I can’t wait to get up, I can’t wait to get dressed, the people are nice, and I love the Gathering [Our Wednesday night dinner, worship, fel-lowship and class time from 5:00-7:30.] I think that [The Gath-ering] is one of the greatest things this church has done.B: You guys even invite people to come with you or meet you on Wednesday nights.R: One of our friends that we brought to the last Gathering said she can’t wait to come in the fall!

B: The unchurched is the largest growing population, so we know there is plenty of opportunity to invite people to church. Rev. Brady reminds us that we need to be an “invit-ing congregation.” If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is uncomfortable inviting someone to church, what would that be?R:...I just tell people how I feel, what the church does for me, and how I enjoy coming to church. It is not a chore for me. It is a pleasure that I look forward to every Sunday and every Wednesday. S: And how do you feel when you invite people to your house? You love inviting people to your house for a party. We say we are having a great party on Sunday where you can come and meet new people.R: I love meeting people! I am bad with names, but I am get-ting better. I love people acknowledging me, and calling me by name. Hey Roger, How are you doing? That is better than giving me money!B: There is something special about being called by name. Thank you for sitting down with me today and sharing your thoughts on Inviting.R: I love this church with my whole heart. I can’t tell you what it has done for me, since he [Sidney] told me this is where you need to be.S: It’s true. Roger has been transformed.R: When you love something, how can you help not tell some-body?

Recently, Roger and Sidney invited a young couple, Arthur and Ka-tie Barras, to come to worship with them on Sunday morning. Katie expressed that they couldn’t find a church that they were satisfied with. Naturally, the invitation was offered, and the Barras family came to visit First United Methodist. They came a few times, came to a Newcomer’s Coffee, and quickly made up their minds to join. They joined on Pentecost Sunday! Their baby Lex was baptized on June 16, 2013 in our Sanctuary.

An Interviewwith Roger & Sidney

by Becky Poor

Roger Samaha and Sidney Montegudo


Since May 2013, First United Methodist has been working with TAG Consulting (http://www.tagconsulting.org) to help us develop a more focused vision of our future together. We’ve completed the assessment portion of the process, which included: taking the Transforming Church Index (TCI), gathering statistical and demographic information, and holding numerous Focus Groups comprised of church members of different age and life stages. As part of this process members of our staff participated in an “Engaging Talents” retreat led by the Rev. Tod Bolsinger where we utilized the Clifton Strengthfinder (http://strengths.gallup.com/110440/About-StrengthsFinder-20.aspx) to explore how to work within our areas of strength both as individuals and as a team.

Here are some comments from the consultants about our staff’s strengths:“First United Methodist of Baton Rouge is blessed to have an experienced, dedicated, smart, capable and fun team of people who enjoy each other,interact candidly and are eager to learn for the sake of the mission of the church. This is an experienced team that combines people with many years of tenure and the excitement of new senior leadership. Their CoreClarity Team profile is Optimizer. Like poetry in motion, teams with this profile jump into the middle of a situation and immediately try bring out the best in others by serving people and executing plans. They are service-oriented and very passionate about their work – and a lot of fun to be around! With a signature theme of “Empathy” the congregation does not have to worry about the staff ‘running roughshod’ over the congregation. While they are ‘Achievers’ who want to get things done,they are intuitive, caring, sensitive and encouraging. They also are natural coaches who will see the small gains of the transformation process and celebrate them gladly!”

What’s next? Phase 3 is the Visioning phase. There will be a Church Council meeting August 24th where the results of the TCI and the focus groups will be presented. Then there will be two visioning retreats October 5th-6th and December 14th -15th with staff and Church Council members. These highly interactive weekends will help us discern where we feel God is calling us into the future. Finally at a Church Council meeting in January, the TAG consultant will review the work completed thus far and include a recommended strategic plan with steps for implementation. First United Methodist Church has been a vital witness for Christ in the Baton Rouge community for nearly two centuries. Please keep the church’s leadership and this visioning process in your prayers as we strive to continue to be a force for God’s Kingdom in the coming century.

An Update on our TAG Visioning Processby Rev. Brady Whitton


The top five strengths of the program staff at FUMC


Calendar of Events

Books of Life will meet on Wednesday, August 7th at 6:30 p.m. in the McKenzie library. Mae Belton will facilitate.

The book for August is Black Mass: The Irish Mob, the FBI, and a Devils’ Deal by Dick Lehr & Gerard O’Neill

About the book:John Connolly and James “Whitey” Bulger grew up together on the tough streets of South Boston. Decades later in the mid-1970s, they met again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI’s Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. Connolly had an idea, a scheme that might bring Bugler into the FBI fold and John Connolly into the Bureau’s big leagues. But Bulger had other plans. ‘Black Mass’ is the chilling true story of what happened between them—a dark deal that spiraled out of control, leading to drug dealing, racketeering, and murder.

Future Selections: September 4th TBAOctober 2nd The Dalai Lama’s Secret and Other Reporting Adventures by Henry S. Bradsher (author will attend)

Books of LifeAugustSunday, August 49:40 AM Newcomer’s Coffee NOON Church Readiness Reception4:00 PM Covenant Group Summit (Anyone in a covenant group or anyone interested in joining is invited to attend)6:00 PM Prayer Ministry

Monday, August 59:45 AM Prayer Ministry

Tuesday, August 69:00 AM Fit @ First Men’s Coffee Knitting11:00 AM Baby Bouncers Play Group 11:45 AM Centering Prayer Wednesday, August 7 4:00 PM Care Team 5:30 PM Singles Book Group 6:30 PM Books of Life Relationship Loss 7:00 PM Chancel Choir

Thursday, August 89:00 AM Thursday Group 9:30 AM Disciple III

Sunday, August 11 Promotion Sunday 11:00 AM Kindergarten Readiness 5:00 PM The Big Event 6:00 PM New Service Preview

Monday, August 129:45 AM Prayer Ministry6:00 PM Church Council

Wednesday, August 1410:30 AM Senior Adult Program5:00 PM The Gathering Dinner, Worship and Classes resume Saturday, August 17The Vine Singles Canoe Trip Sunday, August 1811:00 AM America Street Service Launch 6:30 PM Sunday Evening Worship resumes

Wednesday, August 21NOON Children’s Council5:00 PM The Gathering Friday, August 23Men’s Spiritual Life Retreat

Saturday, August 24UMW Spiritual Growth Seminar

Wednesday, August 2811:00 AM Senior Adult Lunch Outing @ Galatoire’s 5:00 PM The Gathering

Saturday, August 31The Vine Singles LSU Tailgate

For more dates and events, visit our website at www.firstmethdodist.org.


H.I.G.H. 5H.I.G.H. 5 offers children an opportunity to become devoted followers of Christ by learning the joy of praising God through singing, fellowship with friends, and worship. H.I.G.H. 5 will begin Sunday, August 18 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Registration is available at www.firstmethodist.org.

Elizabeth Williams

“I like to make beautiful singing for God.”

William Spencer

“I get to see my friends, do fun stuff with my teachers like play games and other fun things. They are really fun. I also like singing the songs. It’s just fun!”

Blake Rossnagel

“I love when the audience claps and some even stand up. That’s cool! I also love my teacher, Miss Ann. She’s the best.”

Will McRae“You get to learn new songs and meet new friends. Everyone always likes the songs we sing. I like how our choir sounds so good and how we’re not afraid to sing in front of the whole church. Sometimes we even get cookies!”

David Whitehead

“I like to stand with my friends in front of everyone and sing.”

Riley Golightly

“I like singing in front of the church. Also, I like learning new songs.”

Connor Schilling

“I like that we play games there. My favorite game is when we all get to play one instrument. I like to play the triangle.”

holy in God’s house

Julia Serpas

“I love singing songs with my friends, playing the games, and my nice choir teacher.”

photo credit/ Todd Rossnagel

When we were dating, Katie and I were active in Connections– a Sunday school class that historically served single adults. After becoming newlyweds, we felt it was time to move to a new class.

A book study at the Center for Spiritual Formation provided a convenient transition while familiarizing us with that ministry and those involved there.

Next would come our class search. When we first came to First Methodist, Katie and I had yet to meet, but found our first Sunday school class the same way: through a friend. I knew Danny Weathers led a class. Katie was invited to it by coworker Erin Murray Anding.

For this class search we would rely on the descriptions in the Sunday school profiles list. We passed on the more traditionally newlywed classes, because Katie thought we should find one with members closer to my age. And besides, one of those young married classes met in a room without a white board – a problem because my former-teacher wife is allergic to chalk.

OF THE CLASSES WE VISITED:• One seemed too large, and we felt invisible there while class members talked with one another.• Another we enjoyed, but it was new and small, and we felt we would benefit from an established class with many marriage role models.• No class was clearly “just right,” but we felt welcomed by Keystone and saw that members could share honestly about their beliefs and struggles. God led us to commit for at least a year. Belonging, we knew, would require faithfulness on our part.

Two years later we still attend Keystone’s classes and activities regularly and are enjoying new friendships, while continuing to invest and deepen friendships established in our previous class.

We feel more connected to First Methodist Church than ever - and we’re not disappointed about that.

F RST MPRESS ONS

By William Taylor

The Apprentice: The Good and Beautiful God: Sept. 22-

Nov. 10Led by Rev. Brady Whitton &

Cherri Johnson. Room 117, Adult Building

Experiencing Prayer: Sept. 15- Oct. 20th

This six-week Sunday morning offering focuses on the

contemplative aspects of prayer such as praying with

scripture (lectio divina), silence and meditation. Each class stands alone. Join any

time. Facilitated by Bob Leitner. Meets in The Center for Spiritual Formation.

Sunday Morning Formation Group

As the foundation for group discussions,

participants read books by many authors including

Macrina Wiederkehr, Henry Nouwen, Joyce Rupp, Richard Rohr and others. Studies generally last 6-10 weeks and group size varies according to each study.

Meets in The Center for Spiritual Formation.

For more information on Sunday morning groups, contact Cherri Johnson, Director of Adult Spiritual Formation & Education. at 383-4777 ext.

249, or [email protected].


LOOKING FOR A SUNDAY MORNING

GROUP?

William and Katie Taylor


I received my Little Buddy in July of 2011. She has touched me so much. She has changed schools three times since 2011, and starts a fourth school next school year. She is lucky to have two parents who love her very much, but they do not live with each other, so her life is sometimes chaotic. I believe she looks forward to my regular times to pick her up from school and work on school work and play games. She laughs so much it is in-fectious. I have learned a lot about her culture, broken through a lot of my former stereotypes, and re-ally fallen in love with this little girl. I hope to stay involved in her life for a long time. I can see how im-portant it is for children to have a steady, constant adult in their lives who brings a different, calmer per-

spective on life, and is able consis-tently to help with homework. I used to bring her to church with me when she lived in the Gardere area near me. Now she recently moved to the far north Scotland-ville area. My activities with her have broken down many misper-ceptions I have had about East Ba-ton Rouge schools (she has had some wonderful teachers with very creative homework, and she is very bright…..just needs some consistent help encouraging her in getting her work done and be-ing proud about accomplishing goals) and about the Scotlandville area (she lives in Section 8 hous-ing that is beautifully kept with trees, sandwiched between three different churches, along a street lined with clean, well-kept yards

and homes). I have learned a lot from my Little Buddy. I hope by staying involved in her life that I can help her reach her potential.

The Big Buddy program has got-ten to be a passion of mine. It is very well-run with a great group of counselors. If you volunteer, they put you through a class to learn about being a mentor/Big Buddy, then they match your personality with a child who has been approved to be a Little Buddy. You also have to commit to be a Big Buddy to your Little Buddy for at least one year. The Big Buddy program plans events each month and will pick up your Little Buddy and bring him/her. You have to meet in a group setting with your Little Buddy for at least three months of sponsored events. Then you have to go with the coun-selor to the Little Buddy’s house, meet with the parents, and sign contracts to allow you to take your Little Buddy on outings alone. You may continue to go to the spon-sored events by Big Buddy, but you also can do activities on your own. A Big Buddy also commits to spend at least 6 hours/month with the Lit-tle Buddy. I generally see my Little Buddy every week after school for about three hours, but a Big Bud-dy doesn’t have to do that much.

My little buddyBY: DENISE aKERS

Would you like to be involved

in other missions at FUMC?

Contact Clay Smilie,

[email protected]

Denise Akers and her Little Buddy


WAYS YOU CAn GET INVOLVED:

Be a mentor. The single most effective way to impact a child’s life is through a meaningful relationship that builds self-esteem and supports their overall growth and development.6 month commitment. 4 hours/mo.

Event volunteering. Throughout the year, Big Buddy hosts a number of events that help with fundraising or showcase our kids’ talents. Volunteers are important in making these events a success.1-2 hrs/wk for the duration of the event.

Program volunteering. What better way to see first-hand how our programs impact our youth? You can be a part of that impact by contributing your time and skills at one of our programs.1-2 hrs/wk for the duration of the program. Program opportunities include tutoring, art, music, dance, culinary arts, character-building, and much more.

Service Learning. High school and college students have the opportunity to volunteer their time at the Big Buddy office or at one of our sites.Commitment requirement as required by school or organization.

dONATE. Make a one-time or reoccuring donation on Big Buddy’s website: www.bigbuddyprogram.net.

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Welcome New Members!

Congregational News

Celebrating the Birth of...

Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism....

Celebrating the Marriage of...

In Sympathy to the Families of...

Mia Katherine Martin, granchild of Kay MartinShelby Ann Burr, daughter of Jill and Brandon BurrCharles Marcus Davis, granchild of Debra & Bill DavisRegan Dawn Shugart, daughter of Heather & Andy Shugart, granchild of Jim & Denise Akers, great-grandchild of Doris Akers, and Syd & Gail Nelson

Madison Katheryn, daughter of Candace & Brook Eldridge

June 16, 2013Alexander Willem, son of Katie & Arthur Barras Barrett Byrd and Hudson Lee, sons of Gwen & Benson Henry

June 23, 2013Sage Kelli, daughter of Kristen Stewart & Matthew DevillierAnna-Pierce Katherine, daughter of Katherine & Gary Smith

June 30, 2013Levi James, son of Laura & Jared Soileau

July 14, 2013Adler Haywood, daughter of Alden & Will MageeCharlotte Anne, daughter of Kathryn & Gabriel Smith

July 21, 2013Tristan Shields, son of Sarah & Brad DavisRachel Grace, daughter of Angelina & Reid Williams

July 28, 2013Owen William, son of Amanda & Jason Wells

Melannie Barkley & Danny Kyle, June 8, 2013

Lynley Blanchard & Josh Rhodes, July 20, 2013

Nita BonnecazeInez Shaw and family, mother of Dan Shaw and Sue Skillman, sister of Kathleen Ory Dr. Frank McMains, husband of Ann McMains, father of Chuck & Ty McMainsBetty CarpenterLaElla Lucas, wife of John LucasTrey McDowell, son of Susan and James McDowell, brother of Jill Smith

Matthew D. Batts, father of Denise Claflin

Brook & Candace Eldridge Spence Dilworth Tamara Brabham

Karri Oakes Devon Bardin Kyle McDowell & Jade Johnson

Lauren Tyler (pictured with Thomas Tyler)

Not Pictured: Alan, Cheryl, Marianne,

and Austin Smith


Whether it is an organization doing cancer research (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), helping people we have never met who have experienced a natural disaster (Red Cross) or even a personal friend who is in a time of need, few people will part with their money unless they believe in who or what they are giving to. First Methodist seeks out ways to impact people and our community. Whether it is our weekly worship services, providing a meeting place, giving money directly to organizations that

improve our community or providing a program to help others on their personal faith journey, First Methodist is intentional about offering many ways to reach out to members and non-members.

You may never know the direct impact one of our ministries makes on someone’s life, but if you believe in our church, you will feel compelled to support our undertakings.

For the period ending June 30, I am pleased to report we are slightly ahead of our budget on the income side and are well under budget on the expense side. See below for specific numbers.

Whether you can give $100 or $100,000, the actual amount is not of significance to God. The intentional act of each gift and giving with a purpose is of most importance. If you’re not currently giving, I challenge you to start by making a commitment. Give something faithfully and regularly. For those already giving, re-evaluate your level of commitment. If a tenth of your income seems too overwhelming, start with a smaller amount and make it a goal to eventually reach the full tithe. I’m certain God will honor and bless your dedication. Giving may feel like a huge sacrifice at first, but I’m confident you’ll eventually discover its rewards.

Congregational News

Stewardship

Sunday, June 23

Worship 833Sunday School 560 Total 1,393

Sunday, June 30


Sunday, July 7


Sunday, July 14

Worship 894Sunday School 592Total 1,486

As of 6/30/2013 Actual Budget VarianceIncome $1,640,774 $1,616,900 $23,874Expense $1,967,837 $2,098,467 $130,630Net Income -$327,063 -$481,567 $154,504 Online Giving

To give online via checking/savings

account or credit/debit card,visit the “Give” page of our website www.firstmethodist.org. You can set up

a reoccuring donation or make a one-time

donation.

Brent GrahamChair of Finance at First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge

Why do we give money to others?


NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE

PA I DbAton rouge, lA

PERMIT 63

First United Methodist Church930 North Blvd.Baton Rouge, LA 70802Change Service Requested

930nor h

Join us for WorshiP!sundAys

8:30 a.m. Sanctuary Worship9:40 a.m. Sunday School for all Ages

11 a.m. Sanctuary and America Street Worship

6:30 p.m. Ory Parish Hall Worship

WednesdAys12:10 p.m. Aldrich Chapel Worship

& Holy Communion5:45 p.m. Worship @ Gathering

Nursery Care is available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sunday mornings and from 5:00-

7:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings for children ages 8 weeks to kindergarten

lvisit www.FirstMethodist.org

for more information

930north August 2013

Documents

Transcript of 930north August 2013