TRANSFORMING LIVES BY ENGAGING OUR MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE AND SHARE GOD’S LOVE IN JESUS CHRIST A PUBLICATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Preparing for the Christ Child December 2014
930north December 2014
Apr 07, 2016
“Keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35) and be ready for the coming of Christ!
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T R A N S F O R M I N G L I V E S B Y E N G A G I N G O U R M E M B E R S T O C E L E B R A T E A N D S H A R E G O D ’ S L O V E I N J E S U S C H R I S T
A 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
Preparing for the Christ Child
December 2014
Bernard TerraceVolunteer
Russell Bender
Connections For Life Volunteers: Becca Wharton, Annie McRae,
Judy Foust, Brenden McGee & Clay McGee
13 Agencies in the Greater Baton Rouge Area were served by FaithWorks, FUMC’s Sixth Annual Community Workday
Our life together
HOPE Ministries VolunteersAdrienne Frith and Meredith Monk
The Purple CowVolunteer Bill Coffey
HOPE Ministries Volunteers Mimi Walke and Madison Foust
McMains Children’s Developmental
Center Volunteers Brenda and
David Zeringue
Heritage Ranch Volunteers David and Jack Savario
Advent Table Tent 7
A Letter from 4Reverend Brady Whitton
The Meeting Place: 5Adrienne FrithAfter School Program Volunteer Coordinator
How to use your 6 Advent Table Tent
Advent Table Tent 7(Remove and put on your table!)
Vision Update 11
Light After Darkness 12with excerpts from Lulu Wemple and Laura Wolf
Congregational News 14
Calendar of Events 15
December 2014Table of Contents
5MeetAdr ienne!
11
Vision Update
Light After Darkness 12
Many Christians are becoming increasingly negative about the way Americans celebrate Christmas. We’re too materialistic, they say. Santa has replaced Jesus, they say. We eat and drink too much. We should return to simpler days.
Not many people know it, but the critique of Christmas is as old as the celebration of Christmas itself. In the 4th century C.E. a man named Libanius wrote about Christmas, “The impulse to spend seizes everyone. He who the whole year through has taken pleasure in saving and piling up his pence becomes suddenly extravagant.”
In 1659, the Colony of Massachusetts outlawed any Christmas observance, including a fine for hanging decorations.
It seems some people have always wanted to throw a wet blanket on poor old Christmas’ head.
For me, however, our cultural celebration of Christmas is full of “holy” things. Lights hung on homes remind me of Christ who is the light of the world.
The sensible giving and receiving of gifts reminds me of the gift of the Christ child. (Even our extravagance can be a reminder of the extravagance of God’s love!) Family feasts and gatherings are a wonderful time to share common faith and love. The Church’s songs are played in shopping malls and department stores. People all over the country, who normally don’t go to church, will go to Church and hear the gospel proclaimed. As someone once said, “God whispers ‘I love you’ in every candle, every carol, and every card.”
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be careful about falling into mindless excess during this season – we should. But neither should we fear rightly celebrating and enjoying the blessings God has poured into our lives.
So celebrate. Enjoy. Don’t let the Christmas critics get you down. This truly is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
Yours in Christ,
From Rev. Brady Whitton Senior Pastor
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
To request to be added to our 930north Magazine mailing list, join our photography team, or to have information included in a future edition, please call 383-4777.
A 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. Katie McKay Simpson Rev. Pattye HewittRev. Ann Trousdale
EditorCaroline Tyler
Images Provided By:Natalie MarionneauxAshley RodrigueKaren Stagg
About the Cover“Keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35) and be ready for the coming of Christ!
4 930 North Magazine | December 2014
The Meeting Place
What’s your position at FUMC?Direct or of t he After Schoo l Pr ogram, HYP E (Helping Y out h Prepare for Excel lence).Where did you grow up?Born and raised in good o le Bat on Rouge!
Favorite class in school?C lassr oom management and educat ional psycho l ogy, at Sout heastern, where I am studying e lementary educat ion (grades 1-5). I wi l l graduate May 2015.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?P laying soccer and beach v o l leybal l.What is your dream vacation spot?Bora Bora!!Earliest memory of knowing you wanted to work with children?My mom managed a daycare, so I have been ar ound chi ldren my ent ire l ife. I have always watned t o be t hat teacher who makes a dif ference in a students’ l ife.
What is something quirky about you?I’m super paranoid about keeping my feet on t he gr ound when I’m sitt ing down. If you could have dinner with one person in the whole world, who would it be?I can’t choose just one! But if I had t o,I would pick t he art ists at Bet hel Music. I am obsessed wit h t heir music!
Adrienne Frith
December 2014 | 930 North Magazine 5
6 930 North Magazine | December 2014
How to use your Table Tent:
1. Remove the following 4 pages (this will be one piece of paper total).
2. Place on your dining room table, or another place in your home that is visible.
3. Use the 25 Days of Kindness and Bible Verses to help prepare you and your household for the coming of the Christ.
4. The 25 Days of Kindness and Bible Verses to read are suggestions for that day. Feel free to change up the order to personalize it for your family! Or brainstorm other creative ways to share with your family this holiday season.
The next page is a removable table tent.
25 D
ays
of K
indn
ess
7 The G
ratit
ude
Visit
:Th
ink
of
som
eone
you
ne
ver p
rope
rly
than
ked.
Writ
e th
em a
lette
r, an
d re
ad it
al
oud
to th
em.
8 Spen
d on
a fr
iend
:G
et to
geth
er
with
a fr
iend
or
cow
orke
r and
go
for a
wal
k, p
lay
a bo
ard
gam
e, or
go
to d
inne
r!
9 Give
of y
ours
elf:
Cre
ate
a gi
ft th
at d
oesn
’t co
st
any
mon
ey; g
et
crea
tive!
Use
ev
eryd
ay st
uff to
m
ake
som
ethi
ng
spec
ial.
10 Than
k th
e m
ailm
an:
On
a ca
rd,
writ
e a
brie
f th
ank-
you
in
the
spot
whe
re
you’d
writ
e th
e ad
dres
s (th
at
way
, the
y w
ill
actu
ally
see
it!).
11 Love
your
en
viro
nmen
t:G
o ou
tsid
e, fin
d at
leas
t one
pi
ece
of tr
ash,
an
d pu
t it i
n a
tras
h re
cept
acle
.
12 Refr
iend
your
fr
enem
ies:
It m
ay n
ot b
e ea
sy, b
ut se
nd
a C
hrist
mas
ca
rd, o
r mak
e a
phon
e ca
ll to
say
“hi,
we
have
n’t
talk
ed fo
r a
whi
le”.
13 Borr
ow fr
om a
neig
hbor
:A
sk so
meo
ne
else
to d
o a
kind
ac
t for
you
. Th
en su
rpris
e th
em la
ter w
ith
a gi
ft or
than
k-yo
u no
te.
1 Phon
e a fr
iend
:C
all a
n ol
d fr
iend
and
chat
ab
out t
he g
ood
old
days
!
2 Give
out
five
co
mpl
imen
ts:
Idea
s! N
eigh
bor,
spou
se, t
he sh
y pe
rson
at th
e offi
ce,
or th
e su
perm
arke
t ca
shie
r.
3 Give
som
e lov
e to
a fu
rry f
rien
d:Fe
ed th
e du
cks,
take
a d
og fo
r a
wal
k, o
r don
ate
to a
n an
imal
sh
elte
r.
4 Be k
ind
to
your
self:
Wat
ch y
our
favo
rite
mov
ie,
turn
off
your
el
ectr
onic
s, ta
ke
a ba
th,
or sp
end
time
outs
ide.
5 Be a
secr
et sa
nta:
Leav
e ca
ndy,
a gr
eetin
g ca
rd, o
r fe
stiv
e poi
nset
tia
to a
cow
orke
r, ja
nito
r or
libra
rian.
6 Pay i
t for
ward
:Bu
y co
ffee
for a
st
rang
er, p
ay th
e pa
rkin
g m
eter
, or
buy
a g
ift
card
to g
ive
to a
te
ache
r.
The Month of December25
Day
s of
Kin
dnes
sSu
nday
M
onda
y Tu
esda
y W
edne
sday
Th
ursd
ay
Frid
ay
Satu
rday
25 D
ays
of B
ible
Vers
es
7Luke 2:4
“So Joseph also w
ent up from
the town of
Nazareth...”
8Luke 2:5
“[Joseph] went
[to Bethlehem]
to register with
Mary, w
ho w
as pledged to be m
arried to him
...”
9Micah 5:2
“...out of you will
come for m
e, one w
ho will be ruler
over Israel...”
10Luke 2:6
“While they w
ere [in Bethlehem
], the tim
e came
for the baby to be born...”
11Luke 2:7
“…[M
ary] w
rapped [Jesus] in cloths and placed him
in a m
anger..”
12Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...”
13Luke 2:8-11
“...Today in the tow
n of David a
Savior has been born to you...”
1Luke 1:26-28, 31
“...you will be
with child and
give birth to a Son, and you are to give him
the nam
e Jesus.”
2Matthew 1:18
“This is how
the birth of Jesus C
hrist came
about...”
3Luke 1:46-55
“..His m
ercy extends to those w
ho fear him,
from generation
to generation..”
4Matthew 1:20
“an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream
and said...”
5Matthew 1:21
“...He w
ill save people from
their sins.”
6Matthew 1:22-23
“...they will call
him ‘Im
manuel’
which m
eans ‘G
od with us’.”
25 Days of B
ible VersesSunday
Monday
Tuesday W
ednesday Th
ursday Friday
SaturdayThe Month of December
21 Luke
2:2
5-32
“...F
or m
y ey
es
have
seen
you
r sa
lvat
ion.
..”
22 Mat
thew
2:1
“....M
agi f
rom
th
e ea
st c
ame
to
Jeru
sale
m.”
23 Mat
thew
2:2
“...W
e sa
w H
is st
ar in
the
east
an
d ha
ve co
me
to w
orsh
ip H
im”
24 Mat
thew
2:9
-10
“...th
e st
ar th
ey
had
seen
in th
e ea
st w
ent a
head
of
them
unt
il it
stop
ped
over
the
plac
e w
here
the
child
was
...”
25 Mat
thew
2:1
1
“...th
ey b
owed
do
wn
and
wor
ship
ed
Him
...”
14 Luke
2:1
2
“...Y
ou w
ill fi
nd a
ba
by w
rapp
ed in
cl
oths
and
lyin
g in
a m
ange
r.”
15 Luke
2:1
3-14
“Sud
denl
y a
grea
t co
mpa
ny o
f the
he
aven
ly h
ost
appe
ared
with
th
e an
gel..
.”
16 Luke
2:1
5-18
“...th
e sh
ephe
rds
said
to o
ne
anot
her,
‘Let
’s go
to
Bet
hleh
em...’
”
17 Psal
m 9
5:6
“Com
e, le
t us
bow
dow
n in
w
orsh
ip, l
et u
s kn
eel b
efor
e th
e Lo
rd...”
18 Luke
2:3
3-35
“But
Mar
y tr
easu
red
up a
ll th
ese
thin
gs a
nd
pond
ered
them
in
her
hea
rt...”
19 Luke
2:1
9-21
“[H
e] w
as n
amed
Je
sus,
the
nam
e th
e an
gel h
ad
give
n H
im b
efor
e H
e ha
d be
en
conc
eive
d...”
20 Luke
2:2
2-24
“...Jo
seph
and
M
ary
took
[J
esus
] to
Jeru
sale
m to
pr
esen
t him
to
the
Lord
...”
25 D
ays
of B
ible
Vers
esSu
nday
M
onda
y Tu
esda
y W
edne
sday
Th
ursd
ay
Frid
ay
Satu
rday25 D
ays of Bible Verses
25 Days of K
indness14Call a loved one:Tell them
you w
ere thinking about the, and you don’t need a special reason to call!
15Thank the I.T.
guy:Tell them
there is no problem
, and it’s all due to their fabulous w
ork that everything is okay!
16Post-it, hide it:W
rite com
pliments,
warm
fuzzies, and com
pliments,
and leave them
for family and
friends!
17Turn lemons
into lemonade:
Turn a mom
ent of anger into joy. Cut-off in traffi
c? Brush it off! G
et a frow
n from the
cashier? Smile
back!
18Give flowers:It doesn’t need to be over the top: a dozen red roses are great, but it’s w
ay more
than necessary! Find flow
ers in bloom
outside.
19Help the helpers:
Show love to a
volunteer! Bring hot chocolate to a Salvation A
rmy bell
ringer! Collect
food for the Food Bank.
20Tip those who never get tips:Th
e garbage m
an, the bag boy, the FedEx guy, firefighters, butchers. M
ake sure to put the tip in a card!
21Quit your
complaining:
Instead of thinking of w
hat’s wrong
with your
current situation, ask yourself w
hat’s right about it.
22Smile at
strangers:Sm
ile at friends, your dog, your boss, your kids, your em
ployees, people w
alking dow
n the street!
23Turn on your kindness radar:Look for an opportunity to help som
eone. It can be helping them
load groceries in their car, or help a cow
orker.
24Give experience gifts:C
amping trips,
spa treatments,
canoe trip, cooking lessons, recreate your first date w
ith your spouse.
25
Have a
Merry
Christm
as!
Sunday M
onday Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday Saturday
December 2014 | 930 North Magazine 11
Adult, Youth and Children Discipleship Path:The process continues to create a discipleship path for all persons at FUMC. We are still slated to roll out this plan in August 2015.
After School Program:Currently, HYPE, Helping Youth Prepare for Excellence, has 19 children enrolled. The children have enjoyed their time at FUMC. In addition to their schoolwork, they have also participated in many activities for fun, including growing garlic in the Beauregarden, studying germs and cultures with Mary Lou Potter, and learning about hand washing techniques from Nurse Paula Mercer.
Improving Sanctuary Worship:Two experts have offered professional advice for improvements to the choir loft area and the sanctuary sound system. Results of these efforts will be presented to the congregation after the first of the year.
Member Engagement:Our teams continue to call members informing them of new opportunities to become more deeply involved in the life of the church. The installation of our new database is starting in the beginning of December. We are also assessing the possibility of newer technologies to support our attendance tracking methods.
New Worship Opportunities:We had a great turnout for our first Blessing of the Animals service at City Park. Additional projects launching soon include: Quarterly Worship in Town Square (Downtown on Sunday, December 21st) and a worship/small group presence in Port Allen by February 2015.
Urban Mission Center:Revive 225 is in full swing recruiting groups to take advantage of our house rehabilitation ministries. Our first group from Georgia is scheduled to join us in outreach to
the Baton Rouge community starting on Easter Sunday 2015.
Vision UpdateAs 2014 comes to a close, we celebrate many strides we’ve made in our
first year of living into the Vision of First United Methodist Church. Here are some updates as to the progress of each of our initiatives:25 D
ays of Kindness Treats distributed at the Blessing of the Animals
Light After DarknessThe Longest Night Service For several years, FUMC has held a yearly service that offers special recognition of the struggles that many people face during the Advent and Christmas Season. It’s a seasonal paradox: a time when we feel we are supposed to celebrate hope, love, joy and peace, and yet a time that may elicit depression and sadness.
The Longest Night Service is designed to be soothing, and to encourage attendees to not dwell in grief or inspire melancholy. This service is often held on, or around, December 21, the winter solstice, or the day with the least amount of sunlight. This coincidence helps remind those who attend, that light does overcome darkness; which can be very symbolic of the process of healing. Lulu Wemple, the leader of the Widow’s Walk group, said that several members of the group went to the service together last year, “in various stages of grieving [their] losses. We found grace and comfort. After the dark comes the light, which we receive in the gift of Jesus at Christmas Time.”
Laura Wolf, attended the Longest Night Service after the death of a colleague, and found comfort in the service. We asked her a few questions about the significance of the service to her and her grieving/healing process.
What were the reasons that drew you to the Longest Night Service in past years? The Longest Night of the Year service is actually my favorite service offered by our church. I make it a point to attend every year. I first starting attending the service after the death of one of our beloved neurosurgeons, who had passed away the month before. He had a larger than life presence on the unit and his death was shocking and left a huge void in my life because it made no sense. I had heard of the service before and that it helped with those who are grieving.
with excerpts from Lulu Wemple and
Laura Wolf
12 930 North Magazine | December 2014
The Longest Night Service will be December 18th at 7:00pm
How did it (if it did) help you prepare for Christ to fully enter your heart at Christmas - even if it is a grieving heart?Everything in the service is centered around the grieving process. The music, prayers, message, and memorial candle lighting are all tied in together. It reminds you that Jesus didn’t enter the world in a magical, wonderful way. He was born in a hay stall to young unmarried parents. There was nothing glamorous about the way He entered the world. But even with humble beginnings, great things were done with His life. It reminds me that in my ugly, brokenness, I can still be made great and that Jesus and I pretty much started out the same way. Do you believe experiences like this in the church help people find hope in hopeless places in their life? If so, why? Absolutely. One of the reasons that it is my favorite service is because it is the church acknowledging more fully the brokenness of the world. Other times of the year, the church mentions brokenness kind of just in passing. In this service, the brokenness is front and center, loudly proclaimed. This service kind of lets you wallow in your grief with no shame and then gives you just a speck of hope to hang on to. It’s the church coming together as a whole to break the stillness and loneliness of grief (whether from a death, divorce, illness, etc). You’re there with others and you can see you’re not alone.
The Longest Night Service isn’t just for those who have experienced a death, but also those who have recently lost a job, who are separated from their loved ones, or who are experiencing depression, and may find comfort in the anthems sung, and words spoken. Every year brings new faces, as everyone’s journey is different. If you or a friend are searching for the Light this holiday season, we extend an invitation to join us as we search for the Light after darkness together.
December 2014 | 930 North Magazine 1312 930 North Magazine | December 2014
14 930 North Magazine | December 2014
Weekly Attendance
Welcome New Members!
Congregational News
Week of Sunday, October 5
Worship 1,038 Sunday School 509
Total 1,547
Week of Sunday, October 12
Worship 1,072 Sunday School 466
Total 1,538
Week of Sunday, October 19
Worship 1,058Sunday School 469
Total 1,527
Week of Sunday, October 26
Worship 978Sunday School 460
Total 1,438
Financial ReportAs of 9/30/2014: Actual YTD Budget YTD VarianceIncome $ 2,811,714 $ 2,778,691 $ 33,023Expense $ 3,211,358 $ 3,271,557 ($ 60,199)Net Income ($ 399,644) ($ 492,866) $ 93,222
tialEarly Learning CenterCenter Closed
24th, 25th, 26th & 31st
Sympathy to the Families of...Nancy ClaitorAl Schroeck
Celebrating the Birth of...Madison Joy Daughter of Megan & Joe GendronIan Bradley Son of Shannon & Andy VenutoBenjamin Drost Son of Annie & Tony Berrigan
Celebrating the Baptism of...Juilette Elaine Daughter of Rebecca & Kris KlarWilliam Reza Son of Leila & Beau BraswellLuke Allen Son of Brenda & Rik GriffithsJulia Catherine Daughter of Natalie & Matt Thomas
Samuel Ridge
Michael Luneau
Lori, Kayleigh & Kynleigh
Rhymer
Lauren Hudson
Kevin Miller
Kelly Lott
Annie, Tony & Fischer Berrigan
Weekly
December 2014 | 930 North Magazine 15
DECEMBERCalendar of Events
SUNDAYS 8:30 am Worship 9:00 am Café 930 9:40 am Sunday School 10:20 am Hospitality Coffee 11:00 am Worship 5:00 pm Youth & HIGH 5 6:30 pm Worship 6:45 pm Prayer Ministry
MONDAYS 9:30 am Prayer Ministry 3:30 pm After School Program
TUESDAYS 9:00 am Knitting Men’s Bible Study 9:30 am Fit @ First 10:30 am Women’s AA 12:00 pm AA 3:30 pm After School Program
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 4:00 pm Member Engagement Phone Team Meeting 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 Thursday Group 10:00 am Widow’s Walk 12:00 pm AA 3:30 pm After School Program
For more dates & events, visit our website:www.firstmethodist.org
December 1Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15aMark 1:1-8
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
December 8 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28
Psalm 126
December 15 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Luke 1:46b-55Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
December 22 Isaiah 61:10-62:3Galatians 4:4-7Luke 2:22-40
Psalm 148
Monthly Lectionary
Texts
SpecialWEDNESDAY - 12/3 5:00 pm Hanging of the Greens and Christmas Bags
FRIDAY - 12/5 4:00 pm Festival of Lights
SATURDAY - 12/6 9:00 am Christmas Preparation Station
MONDAY - 12/8 6:30 pm Church Council Party
WEDNESDAY - 12/10 11:30 am Senior Adult Luncheon 5:00 pm The Andy Griffith Show “The Christmas Story”
SUNDAY - 12/14 8:30 am Music Sunday 5:00 pm Youth Christmas Party 5:30 pm Downtown Pilgrimage
WEDNESDAY - 12/17 5:00 pm A Charlie Brown Christmas
THURSDAY - 12/18 7:00 pm The Longest Night Service
SATURDAY - 12/20 9:00 am Christmas Food Box Filling Party
SUNDAY - 12/21 6:00 pm America Street Service Carol Night (North Blvd. Town Square)
WEDNESDAY - 12/24 Christmas EveServices at 11 am, 5 pm, 7 pm & 11 pm
THURSDAY - 12/25 FUMC OFFICE CLOSED
FRIDAY - 12/26 FUMC OFFICE CLOSED 6:00 am Youth Ski Trip Leaves
THURSDAY - 1/1 FUMC OFFICE CLOSED
FRIDAY - 1/2 FUMC OFFICE CLOSED
NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE
PA I DBaton Rouge, La
PERMIT 63
First United Methodist Church930 North Blvd.Baton Rouge, LA 70802Change Service Requested
Join us foR WoRship!sundays
8:30 am Sanctuary Worship9:40 am Sunday School for all Ages
11 am Sanctuary and America Street Worship
6:30 pm Ory Parish Hall Worship
Wednesdays12:10 pm Aldrich Chapel Worship
& Holy Communion5:45 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
lvisit
www.FirstMethodist.org
for more informationfacebook.com/FUMCBR
@FUMCBatonRouge
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