June 2020...than normal this summer but we'll still have lots of fun! VBS 2020 Due to recent guidelines, we are not going to be able to have the in-person VBS as scheduled for June

June 2020

Karl’s Kaleidoscope: Any Questions?? “Reopening.” “Too Soon.” “Guidelines.” “Breaking News.” “Vaccine or No Vaccine.” “Stimulus.” “Unemployment.” “Cases.” “Deaths.” “Recoveries.” “The Economy.” Everywhere you turn, from TV news channels and broadcasts, to news

feeds on phones and Facebook, to webinars and blogs, to podcasts, postings and papers, to tweets, Instagram, and snapchats, we are being “infected” by COVID 19. So, what should the Church of Jesus Christ being doing about any of this? Here are the answers:

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15, KJV.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:19, NRSV.

“…And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV.

Consider these facts: In 1347, the Church faced the Bubonic Plague, the “Black Death.” The Church survived and thrived. In 1918, the Church faced the Spanish Flu. The Church survived and thrived. From Jesus’ birth to today, the Church faced persecutions, dark ages, schisms, tyrants, continental wars, civil wars, world wars, cold wars and terrorist wars. The Church survived and thrived.

The “New Normal” is simple: CONTINUE BEING THE CHURCH!!! Any questions??

June 7– “Re-Visioning Our Vision” Matthew 28:16-20 June 14- “Hope and Love” Romans 5:1-8 June 21- “Dilemmas for Dads” Genesis 22:1-4 June 28- “A Great Sermon Coming Soon”

Watch our 8:30 Traditional Service and 10:45 SoulFeast Service with Karl Klaus on our website via livestream. Both services will be recorded and archived on the website. God Bless!! www.fumcbossier.org

As I write this article in mid-May, we are planning to have “regular” worship services starting May 31 (Pentecost) with limited (and spaced) seating and continuing to follow appropriate safety guidelines. We will also continue live-streaming both services, 8:30 (traditional) and 10:45 (SoulFeast).

Unfortunately, we will not restart choir rehearsals or have a full choir in the choir loft until the safety situation is better (testing, vaccines, etc.). This decision is based on the consensus of leading music directors from across the nation, whose decision was based on the best scientific data. We will stay open to possible options, but our foremost concern must be the safety and health of our choir members.

During this time when human physical contact (like handshakes and hugging) is discouraged, we can look to our faith for comfort. Check out the words to that old hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The whole hymn is worth re-reading and its conclusion is: “In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.” Keep a song in your heart…and even let it out once in a while!

—Rev. Tom Edmonds, Minister of Music &Worship

We welcome our new Associate Pastor and Family We are excited to announce the appointment of Rev. John Sione Tu’uta, as our new Associate Pastor for FUMCBossier. Sione brings a wealth of knowledge to this position as an Elder in full connection with the Louisiana Annual Conference. He is married to Rev. Beth Love Tu’uta and they have 3 children.

COFFEE WITH PASTOR SIONE

Whether intentionally or not, everyone of us by the choices we make are answering two very incredibly important questions in our lives. Every election season, we hear individuals either defend and or establish the answers to these two questions. Every organization spends so much money, into the millions, trying to defend and or establishing the answers to these questions. These questions are so familiar to us, we make decisions that are answering these questions, and in many cases we spend so many resources and for some, a life time trying to answer these questions as clear as we can. Yes, sometimes we become aware how incredibly important the answers are that we are willing to fight to make sure the answers are exactly what we want them to be.

THE QUESTIONS: What am I known for? What do I want to be known for?

KNOWN for: Truly, the best way, shortest route, and the most direct answer to this question, though terrifying, is simply to ask your spouse, children, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and yep the ex-s. Right, I am known for being “big/large, loud, Johnny’s dad, Poni’s dad, Heleni’s dad, the big guy, talk funny, skirt wearing/cross dressing, flower wearing, strange accent, bare footing, and what kind of name is that?”

WANT TO BE KNOWN for: The best helper for Rev. Beth Tu’uta (the heartbeat of our family and mother of our three children) for after all, my dad said that she is the true pastor in our family (I will tell you more about that when the time comes). I hope you can sense what I am feeling in the picture above with Heleni. I want to be known as the parent whose children come to be with, when they don’t have to (I am working on it).

LEFT: Our oldest son John who graduated from North Carolina State Univ. and now is an assistant strength trainer at NC State. RIGHT: Our middle son Poni (my father’s namesake) who was at Ball State Univ Munchi, Indiana and now

working as correctional officer and also serving in the National Guard. And finally, I want to be known as the people’s pastor, both in the church and much more of those who are outside of the church.

And now, I want to hear your story: tell me…tell me at:

[email protected] https://www.facebook.com/sione.tuuta

https://www.instagram.com/jionetuuta/ -Sione Tu’uta

LifeTouch Church Directory We will have a photography makeup day on or about August 18. Due to the social distancing and stay at home order the staff of LifeTouch has closed their business until August. Our new Church Directory should be available in late fall. If you need a phone # or address, please call the church office. Thank you for your patience with this extended process of having a new Church Directory.

Forrest Stutts Children’s Director

Phone: (318) 415-9024 Email: [email protected]

Congratulations to all of you for completing the school year. You proved how strong you are even when things get very hard. Congratulations to those who graduated from preschool and will be entering Kindergarten!

I can’t tell you all how much I’ve missed you. I’m so excited as we enter into the summer months and can start seeing each other more. Things will still be different than normal this summer but we'll still have lots of fun!

VBS 2020 Due to recent guidelines, we are not going to be able to have the in-person VBS as scheduled for June 22-26th. The members of the Children’s Council have put on their creative hats and been working hard to explore other options available for VBS and for other fun summer activities. Updates will be announced soon!

Hi everyone! I hope y’ all have been staying safe! I cannot wait to hopefully see some of you at church for worship. We will continue doing online youth activities, however. Please make sure you are on the email to receive weekly updates on everything we’ve got going on for the youth.

Every Sunday we will be meeting via Zoom at 6pm for a devotional and games! This month we will not have a youth Zoom on Father’s Day, June 21. The link will be sent out in the weekly emails and in Remind the day of.

Also be sure to follow our Instagram @fumcbossieryouth to stay up to date and find great resources!

Sarah McCurley

Youth Director Phone: (318) 742-3823 ext. 28

Email: [email protected]

To receive text messages: Youth Parents: Text 2020fumcp to 81010 Youth Teens: Text @2020fumcy to 81010

June 2 Walker Bagley June 13 Brooks Williams June 3 Lucy Kennedy June 15 Camille Beville June 5 McKenzie Alford June 18 Cohen Moore June 5 Kayleni Brice June 22 Peyton Hoffman June 9 Phillip Harville June 23 Jude Binderman June 11 Reed Coleman June 27 Asher Ramsey June 12 Harper Black

LOOKING FORWARD IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Our Sunday School Classes continue to be creative in finding ways to have a class, with virtual gathering, written lessons, prayer request and catching up with each other. Please continue to contact members of your class who may not be participating in the Zoom or Facebook meeting or who you just haven’t heard from lately. This is an especially lonely time for many so please reach out in all the ways you can!

Would you be interested in attending an Adult Vacation Bible School this fall? We are getting some good response from the on-line Survey. Please go to www.fumcbossier.org/resources, take the survey and encourage your friends to take the survey also. Wouldn’t it be great to gather and learn in ways that you did as a child? This program would include Bible Study, music, games, food and crafts.

There will also be new Fall Bible Studies offered. If you see or hear of a study that interest you please let me know.

This fall is going to be an awesome time for our church as we start meeting together again in our classes and groups. That seems like a long time away but we want to make sure that everyone can be safe in our environment again.

Miss All of You!

Lois Lassetter Dir. Christian Education

—Loretta Haskins, President

"United Methodist Women activities and meetings are on "hold" until fur-ther notice. At this time, the "Father's Day Bake Sale" is also on "hold" until we have received notification that the

Church services will be open to Church membership. Stay safe & HEALTHY!!!! Keeping you in prayers!"

Income and Expenses for March 2020

At the end of April we had $ 93,818.28 in our Citizens Bank General fund checking account which includes $43,150.12 in prior year funds. We moved the Tommy Leonard legacy gift in the amount of $58,073.57 and added the balance of the gift $208,537.21 and placed it in the Uncommitted Designated account until the Endowment committee makes a decision on what to do with it. In addition we applied and received Payroll Protection Program money from the SBA in the amount of $147,200. We created a designated account for it. We will use the PPP money as needed to cover payroll for the next 8 weeks. There now is $572,004.11 in the Citizens Bank Designated account. We continue to pay on the Renovation Loan $2,000 each month with a balance of $157,996.15.

April Treasurer’s Report

by Preston Delaune

Greetings Church Family, A quick look at what is happening on our campus: Just so you know, the church received a very generous legacy gift from the Tommy Leonard estate. In addition, we applied for and received the Payroll Protection Program loan money that will cover payroll expenses for the next 8 weeks. The only stipulation of this money is

that 75% of the money must be used for payroll and doing so the loan is forgiven. Thank you church for your generosity! With your support and our conservation on expenses the church has managed to keep our heads above water during this world crisis. Every day brings us new challenges but we are managing well. Praise God! Again, Thank You. Giving is getting stronger every month! To put Vanco in perspective, we usually have income of about $4,000 each month. Since the Covid-19 crisis, our receiving from church members has grown to almost $14,000 last month. Thank you for your generous giving.

—Greg Pierce, Business Administrator

When to Call the Pastor & Church: …When you are in the hospital …When you’ve had a death in your family …When you’ve had a major life change (loss of job, diagnosed illness, etc.) …When you are in crisis …When you need spiritual guidance and pastoral care

Call the Church Office at 318-742-3823 Call the Pastor at 337-274-7192 Thank you…and may God’s Blessings be upon you…

Income: Apr 2020 Budget Difference YTD Budget - YTD Difference

Pledged income 79,067.38 80,331.84 (1,264.46) 342,625.13 321,327.28 21,297.85

Non-pledged income 4,623.55 12,500.00 (7,876.45) 31,214.87 50,000.00 (18,785.13)

Other income (58,004.13) 1,750.01 (59,754.14) 4,775.04 6,999.92 (2,224.88)

Total Income 25,686.80 94,581.85 (68,895.05) 378,615.04 378,327.20 287.84

Expenses:

Administrative & Staff 62,637.61 58,909.07 3,728.54 217,913.12 235,636.79 (17,723.67)

Administrative Exp 2,983.94 3,278.26 (294.32) 11,633.11 13,112.92 (1,479.81)

Building & Property 9,185.85 15,404.12 (6,218.27) 59,769.97 61,616.04 (1,846.07)

Connectional Ministry 11,267.90 9,968.59 1,299.31 33,803.70 39,874.28 (6,070.58)

Program Ministries 890.83 6,714.65 (5,823.82) 8,785.57 26,857.80 (18,072.23)

Other Expense 75.26 250.00 (174.74) 1,779.34 1,000.00 779.34

Total Expenses 87,041.39 94,524.69 (7,483.30) 333,684.81 378,097.83 (44,413.02)

Net Income/Loss (61,354.59) 57.16 (61,411.75) 44,930.23 229.37 44,700.86

YOUNG AT HEART APRIL SCHEDULE

Young at Heart gathers twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 10:30 a.m. It is geared for those 55+. Guests are more than welcome to attend, so please call by Monday noon prior to the Thursday’s meeting so that we will have enough food and seating for all who attend. Lunch at the church is $4.

Young at Heart is postponed until at least September. —Kristen Thornton, Young at

Heart Coordinator

We miss our sweet families and kiddos very much. Hope you are all doing well. Even though we are closed for now we are still taking registration for the upcoming school year. Just call and leave a message at 752-1498 and I will help you with the process.

—Shannon Kelley

We Pledge to Support Our Church by Our Prayers…

Alan Beard, Billy Bennett, Charlotte Blackburn, Charles Boone, Carolyn Bryant, Freddie Cherry, Billy Craft, Ruth Ann Dare, Rachael Driskell, Sadie Garrett, John Groh, Karolyn Hardaway, Ethelyn Hicks, Lucille Lawrence, Carolyn Lewis, Colleen McCown, Ken Norton, Bob O’Brien, Wilbur Owens, Jerry Payne,

Rudy Reeves, Jim Roy, Floy Saucier, Karen Sayes, Norma Scroggins, Jerry Staton, Janice Stogsdill, Johnny Thomas, Merrill Anne Walker, Sonny Williams, Margaret Wise

NURSING HOME/ASSISTED LIVING Presence…

All Service from March 22-May have been Livestreamed. Please tune into fumcbossier.org to watch our Livestream services.

Gifts to Our Church…

April/ May honorariums and memorials

Helping Hands Memorial Fund In memory of Billy McKellar by Jean Johnson; Peggy and John Padgham; Barbara Jones; In memory of Gary Love by Barbara Jones Uncommitted Memorial Fund In memory of Billy McKellar by Susan Stafford; Kiah and Jan Beville; George and Jean Baldwin Jr,; Roger and Kathy Moore; Will and Brookie Marston; In memory of Gary Love by Roger and Kathy Moore; In memory of Bee Cockrell by Will and Brookie Marston; IN memory of Doug Smith by Will and Brookie Marston;

Souper Saturday Memorial Fund In memory of Billy McKellar by Jon and Brenda McKellar; Glynn and Judy Alderman; Parker Sunday School Class; Edward and Rhonda Anglin; Lisa Black

Colonial Oaks Miriam Kaylor

Colonial Oaks Reta Pieper

Colonial Oaks Thelma Seal

Garden Court Kay Stark

Grace Lane James Shafer

Riverview Care Colleen McGowan

Riverview Care Butch Harrington

Riverview Care Pam Harrington

Riverview Care Verdell Yorba

Springlake Vivian Wimberly

Stratmore Jerry Payne

The Bloom Peggy Cattell

The Bloom Coy Cooper

Veteran’s Home Gary Cattell

Veteran’s Home Jack Gladden

Veteran’s Home William Hines

Waterview Mary Florence

Homebound Wanda Atkinson

Wanda Dolashewich

June Ellis

Dot Fadley

Randel Kirkland

Jim McGann

Wilbur Owens

Janet Reifeiss

Sharon Romine

Deshae Lott-Sadow

Jerry Staton

Marilyn Tubbs

Merrill Anne Walker

Carolyn Williams

Sonny WIlliams

Anniversary…

Ted and Joyce Lowery will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on June 2, 2020. Ronald and Lenita Smith will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary on June 6, 2020. Eddie and Elsie Braswell will celebrate their 52nd wedding Anniversary on June 7, 2020. Charles and Shirley Murphy will celebrate their 6th wedding anniversary on June 8, 2020. Billy and Sandy Craft will celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary on June 17, 2020. Ted and Lanelle Groh will celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary on June 17, 2020. Wayne and Rebecca Earp will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary on June 24, 2020. Mo and Loretta Haskins will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on June 29, 2020.

Sympathy To...

Vivian Wimberly on the loss of her son Mike Wimberly on April 29, 2020.

If you or your family member is active duty military, please email Kristen Thornton at [email protected].

-Kristen Thornton

Birthday...

Anna Maye Rosalie will celebrate her 94th birthday on June 22, 2020.

BIRTH

Asher Ellis Moore was born on April 22, 2020. He is the son of Josh and Amy Moore, and the grandson of Kathy and Roger Moore.

July Tidings articles are due Friday, June 10 Please email to Kristen a

History Alert

The Sanctuary Faceted Glass Windows

The 30-foot vertical windows framing the altar are symbolic of THE RESURRECTION, using a progression of colors from dark to light.

The windows on the right-hand side of the sanctuary move toward the front—toward the Resurrection theme. This movement is not only architectural in carrying one’s eye to the front of the church, but it also symbolic in taking one from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

The first symbol, THE BURNING BUSH, symbolizes the giving of the Laws, one of the major covenants of the Old Testament.

Next, we have the five-pointed star, THE STAR OF BETHLEHAM, a symbol of the Epiphany when Christ manifested himself to the Gentiles by the guiding of the star. The star is a transition between the Old Testament and New Testaments, as Christ’s birth is a fulfilment of the Old Testament.

The SHELL symbolizes the baptism of Christ; THE STAFF symbolizes the Good Shepherd, as Christ is the shepherd over the Church.

The next symbol is THE FISH AND LOAVES, symbolic of the miracles of Christ.

The last symbol, THE TOMB with the stone rolled back, is the darkest symbol in the lightest part of the window. It is the hardest symbol to distinguish because it is overpowered by the lighter colors in the window, just as death itself was overpowered by the resurrection.

The large window on the left depicts THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. This window has a southern exposure and hence there is constant light, symbolizing the constant battle of whether or not to accept the Christian commitment as Christ wrestled with accepting his commission, as depicted in Luke 22:42: “Father, if thou are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.”

Congratulations to our 50 year Members:

John Byrd Gary Hackman Tom Herron Kenneth and Pat Hill Pat Reed Jane Saylors

Parker Self Merrill Anne Walker

Congratulations Graduates!

Kendall Fowler– Benton High Alyssa Little– Benton High

Luke Mahoney– Parkway High Alan Maker– Benton High

Maggie McAlister– Parkway High Jordan Parker– Benton High

Anna Robinson– C.E. Byrd High

Kendall Lewis– LA Tech

Congratulations to Kathy Keel for be-ing selected as the Support Person of the Year for Cope Middle School. We are so proud of you!!!!

A BIG THANK YOU!! I want to thank all of you who called me on my Birthday. Special thanks to my Mary Ewing Sunday School Class friends who gave me a drive by party with cars, horns, signs, waving, singing, etc. Such fun to watch. What a way to for me to spend my 89th Birthday and one I will always remember. Thank you all again for being kind and thoughtful. P.S. Thanks for not bringing the fire engine with you. -Much Love, Shirley Rutscher

There is no way I can thank all of my church family enough for all of your prayers, cards, calls, food, and visits during my seemingly endless saga of illnesses. Y’ all are what have gotten my through thus far and continue to uplift me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. -Jackie Howard

Thank you to each and everyone who made masks. They were taken to people in need, hospitals, doctors offices, and many more. Thank you for you service to the church!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Drive Thru Fellowship. It was great to see you all and chat from a distance. We will see you soon!!!

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID

Permit No. 5

First United Methodist Church of Bossier City, Louisiana 201 John Wesley Boulevard Bossier City, LA 71112-2321

Tidings