Pineville First United

Methodist Church

“Embrace, Engage, Encourage, Energize”

Inside this issue:

From the Pastors/ New

Members

1

Upcoming August

Events

2

Delta Grace Pics 3

Youth Focus 4

Kids’ Focus 5

Musically Speaking/

Thank You/ Church

Library News

6

Focus on Caring 7

Pineville First United Methodist Church August 2019 Newsletter

RE:

Pineville First United Methodist Church 2550 Monroe Highway Pineville, Louisiana 71360 (318) 640-1050

Pastors Ed Cooper (ed@pinevillefumc.org) Jo Ann Cooper ( joann@pinevillefumc.org) Business Administrator Jay Quinton (jay@pinevillefumc.org) Administrative Assistant Amy Slaughter (amy@pinevillefumc.org) Director of Student Ministries Julie Lafosse (julie@pinevillefumc.org) Communications Coordinator Teresa Farrar (teresa@pinevillefumc.org) Director of Children’s Ministries Niki Hoyt (niki@pinevillefumc.org) Choir Director George Gross (ggross3@suddenlink.net) PATH Worship Leader Thomas Bonner (thomasbonner92@gmail.com)

Church Staff

Website: pinevillefumc.org

Pineville First United Methodist Church

Office Phone: (318) 640-1050

Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM — Noon

Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID Permit #58

Pineville, LA

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Lance, Kavita, & Nolan Mathews

Welcome New Members!

I am from Dallas, North Carolina. My husband, Bill, and I have been married for 15 years. I have a step-daughter, McKenzie (21) and we have two children together: Allison (13) and Trace (11). At age 12, I was introduced to a youth organization that focused on community service. I was the shy, awkward kid who didn't enjoy social functions, but thrived on service work. Therefore, volunteer work has continuously been a source of

contentment throughout my life. After working as a paralegal for almost 20 years, I left that work to follow my passion of working with children. That work has included serving as preschool music leader, summer camp coordinator, preschool teacher, Sunday school teacher, children's church leader, VBS leader and 8 years as Children's Coordinator at FUMC-Dallas, NC. A little over a year ago, my husband and I decided we wanted to look for employment on the coast of North Carolina and our plans continued to develop. We learned quickly that our plans are not always God's plans. We prayed for the right opportunity, but the opportunities we thought were right never materialized. In October, Bill received a job offer at England Air Park Fire Department. We decided as a family to trust and follow the path laid before us. I have to admit, blindly following his path frightens me on a daily basis, but as a family we are learning to follow and trust. I will pray daily for you all and ask that you pray for guidance for me as well.

As we prepare to say "Good-bye" to our Children's Director, Niki Hoyt, we are grateful for how God is at work - not only for the Hoyt Family - but for our church family. We would like to take a brief moment to introduce you to Leslie Frietch, who has been hired by the SPRC (Staff/Parish Relations Committee) to serve as our interim Director of Children's Ministries.

SAVE THE DATE!!

CHURCH POTLUCK DINNER

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21ST

AT 6 P.M. Family Life Center

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AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 2– Emily Barnett, Debbie Migues 3– Lauren Gross 4– Melanie Ribbeck, Mollie Mount 5– Irma Brown, George Gross, Willa Vee Messer 6– Martha Slaughter 7– Debbie Rollins 8– Dana Farrar, Nolan French, Anne Searcy 9– Sherri Berlin, Ronald Hoben, Rhiannon Malone 10– Hayley Dean, Julie Kretzsinger, Debbie Morrison 11– Rebecca Foote, Peter Ford, Dylan Nugent, Archie Stewart, Bella Walker 12– Andria Fontenot, Norma Randow 13– Traci Walker 14– Beth Bratcher, Laura Lott 15– Sara Alletag 16– Rebecca Brister 17– Jeremy Locke, Cori Tassin 18– Grace Bell, Don Thomas 19– Gavin Babcock, Ed Bratcher, Ed Cooper, Kathy Wolfe 20– Gene Cain, Janet Migues, Chloe Slayter 22– Landon Terrell 23– Rosa Fields 24– Norman Bruce, George Findlay, Jacson O’Brien, Sharon Ware 25– Kathy Bonner, Elizabeth Shelton 26- Neil Crick, Binnie Gauthier, Julie Herring, Evan O’Brien 27– John Babcock, April Bonner, Jacob Butterfield, Cara Jeansonne, Christa Jeansonne 28– Cameron James 29– Denise Dunn, Bill Morrison, Chawn Pears 30– Kevin Brazil, Ester Hill, Maegan Vallee, Roger Wright 31– Tim Lafosse, Lauren Lyles

Focus on Caring

Assisted Living Friends

Brookdale, Shreveport, LA—Marcy Bowen Christus St. Joseph Home, Monroe, LA— Joyce Lofton Homestead Assisted Living, Houma, LA—Elaine Conerly Marigold Place, Alexandria, LA – Mary Maddox Montclair Park Assisted Living, Shreveport, LA- Patti Wisenbaker

Savannah Grand, West Monroe, LA—Elaine Tellifero

Homebound Friends

Elaine Beck Ayme Beeson Irma Brown Rick Bryan Geneva Clark Bernie Misner Joan Payne Marie Reech Virginia Smith Fred Tannehill

Nursing Home Friends Matthews Memorial, Alexandria, LA—Belinda Carner Naomi Heights-, Alexandria, LA– Bob Nash Summit, Alexandria, LA—Annie Hutchinson The Oaks, Pineville, LA – Cecil Hammond Out of State– Willa Vee Messer, TX

AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES 1– Jay & Jennifer Quinton 4– Chip & Bonnie White 5– David & Nicole Weir 7– Roane & Babs Hathorn 10– Jim & Jewel Beisser, Jay & Tracy Slayter, Scott & Sharon Ware, 13– Tim & Julie Lafosse 14– Dale & Shelley Doine 16– Joel & Lori Dinnat 18– Mike & Debbie Migues, Charles & Marie White 21– George & DiAnn Stafford 23– Tommy & Virginia Reeves 24– Bill & Carol Simpson 28– Jacob & Erin Stroud

UPCOMING AUGUST EVENTS

I want to thank our Church Family for the support and assistance with transportation following my knee surgery. It’s nice to know that people like you are there to help in the time of need. In Christian Love, Tommy Reeves

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Musically Speaking... George Gross Director of Music

PFUMC Youth at Delta Grace Mission

**CHURCH LIBRARY NEWS** Your church library, officially named George Dameron Memorial Library, has been actively receiving donated books. Thank you so much for the donated study materials and books for adults, teens and children. Some of them are shelved, some are duplicates of current library holdings, and some are placed on the “give away” table. When books are not used or left over from the “give away” table, they are donated to the parish library. Again, thank you for thinking of your church library with your donations!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS from church library and on display in library: This month is a The Mark of the Lion series, authored by Francine Rivers and consists of three novels: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn ~ three fiction books where the story is based in First Century A.D. during the conquest of Jerusalem. The main character of the story, Hadassah, lives as an enslaved Jewish girl. Throughout the first two books, readers receive a glimpse of the extreme faith and love Hadassah has for her God, and the way it impacts the people she meets. The third book completes the story of the characters that you meet and gives you a glimpse and feel of how Christians lived in First Century A.D.

It can’t be August already. I know a lot of kids are dreading the start of school in just a couple of weeks. Teachers preparing classrooms for the new arrivals. Many parents are anticipating the start of school. I don’t have children in school anymore, (well we have grands in school) and I’m even a little sad for the start of school. We get back into the swing of (for many) daily, hectic life. So as we begin this new school year, continue to pray for students, teachers, support staff and families. August is a time of a bit more singing. Hymn medleys, special music, and for that last couple of years, “Come and Fill the Choir Loft.” Yes, on August 11, 18 and 25th, anyone, everyone is invited to come and join us in the choir loft for the first part of the service. If you have never sung with a choir, this is your chance. Nothing is required, just show up. Everyone, including children and youth are invited. We’ll join our voices (good and not so good) together as we sing a hymn medley and later on you’ll join the congregation. We’ll make a JOYFUL NOISE together. Remember, God has perfect hearing. Pray about it now. We have a place for you. You’ll have fun singing with a large group and the view is AWESOME. Join with us as we make a “sweet, sweet sound in God’s ear.” Love ya, George

Upcoming Meetings

United Methodist Men (UMM) Breakfast– Sunday, August 4th at 7:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall Coffee and Conversation with Women (CCW) – Thursday, August 8th– meet at 9:00 a.m. here at the church to go to Lafayette Estelle Dameron/Betty Cummings Circle Meeting– Tuesday, August 20th at 10:00 a.m. in the Parlor Church Council Meeting– Tuesday, August 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the Pairs & Spares Classroom

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Kids’ Focus

Niki Hoyt Director of Children’s Ministries

Julie Lafosse Director of Student Ministries Youth Focus

WOW! Summer has been AMAZING!!! Our youth have grown in their relationship with Christ and with each other this summer. We’ve served others, worked hard, sweat A LOT, swam, played games,

exploded watermelons, worshiped and everything in between, together. It’s been so good to see the unity and bonding our group has experienced this summer. Our Delta Grace Mission trip was one of the highlights of the summer!! Our group of 13 served 3 families in Mississippi. Our kids repaired a roof, tiled a bathroom floor, changed out an entire kitchen cabinet with plumbing and bricked the back corner of a home. Keep in mind these kids were 7th – 10th graders. They completed each task with excellence in spite of the fact that the conditions in the rest of

the home may have been less than excellent ☹ Each and every one of the students asked when we would go back because they loved helping others. Thank you for your prayers and for your support of our young people. We Are Blessed!!! We are taking a bit of a break through the month of August to give families a chance to get back in to the school year routine. Regular Wednesday night youth will resume on September 11th.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 8/4-5 – Glow Nite Lock In (Back to School Glow Out) 8/25 – Church-wide Scavenger Hunt

My first newsletter article was July 2015. And now I am writing my last one. My heart is flooded with amazing memories. Five confirmation classes, cookies with Santa, and Easter egg hunts. Four Vacation Bible Schools. More hugs, giggles, and high fives than I could ever count. This next confirmation class was entering first grade when I started. My first class of confirmands are entering their sophomore year in high school. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement along the way. You have sold pumpkins, decorated trunks, hidden eggs, manned bouncy houses, baked cookies, decorated the church as a cave, factory, island, and African Safari with me. Some volunteers have taught more than 250 Sunday School lessons since I began. And during all of that we have lived life together. Celebrating births and milestones. Two of my children graduated high school here. We have faced struggles and illnesses together. Who could forget my broken ankle the day before the pumpkins were delivered in 2015?! Our lives have been woven together in a way that only God can do when he creates a church family. I will be forever grateful for our time at Pineville First United Methodist Church! As our family goes to find our place at Grace United Methodist Church in Merritt Island, Florida, we go in confidence that God is weaving our family into a new church family. We also go knowing God has given you a new family to love and support and embrace. I ask you to do the same for Leslie and her precious family. As she begins her ministry here, tell her your name over and over. Be available. Be patient. God has brought her to this moment and place to do things only she can do. She and I connected the minute we met and looked forward to serving together. We had no idea what the future held, but God did! What an honor to pass the mantel to my new friend, Leslie!