First

ConnectionJUNE 2015

On the Cover: Confirmands serving lunch at the Manna House on

March 29, 2015

First Connection is a publication from:First United Methodist Church of Alexandria

2727 Jackson StreetAlexandria, Louisiana 71301

(318) 443-5696www.fumca.org

We would love to hear from you! Please send us your Feedback, Questions, Comments,

Story Contributions, Photos, News or Ideas.

Senior Pastor: Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, revdonnie@fumca.org

Editor: Julie Bacon, jbacon@fumca.orgContributor: Bill Sumrall, bsumrall@fumca.org

Announcements .......................................................1Confirmation Class ..................................................2Graduating Seniors............................................... ....3FUMCA Mug Design Contest.............................. ..4Teen Buddy Camp........ ............................................5Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival Awards... .....6Construction Update................................... ..........10Upcoming Events at First Church........................13

First

ConnectionJune 2015

Contents

Our Mission:

Our Vision:

Our Journey:

Our Practices:

To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Meet Friends. Meet God. Discover Life.

June 2015 | CONNECTION 1

VBS: June 15-19, 2015fumca.org/vbs

Starting June 4, Pub Theology will be ONCE A MONTH on the 1st Thursday of the month (July 2, August 6, September 3, and so forth) at Finnegan’s Wake in downtown Alexandria at 6:30p.

Judy King joined on Sunday, March 22.

Stephanie and Eric Talley joined on Sunday, March 22. They have 3 children: Korbyn (14), Aidan (9), and Alyssa (7).

Chuck Iles joined on March 31.

New Members

Seeking Director of Children and Family Ministries. For job description and how to apply go to: www.fumca.org/jobs

Seeking Director

Announcements:

2 June 2015 | CONNECTION

Confirmation Class of 2015 formally joining church shown with, left to right, the Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, pastor of First United Methodist Church Alexandria; Marsha & John Reed, Confirmation Mentors; and the Rev. Steven Spurlock, Lake Charles District Superintendent for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Confirmands, left to right: Stephanie McQuain, Emma Marlowe, Jayson Perry, Emily Provence, Chloe Perego-McConnell, Madeline Grant, Mollybeth Wilkinson, Brick Harpe, and Will Dyke

On Confirmation Sunday (May 3), First Church welcomed nine confirmands into church membership! The 13-week class began on February 15 and concluded on May 10 with a class talking about life in the church and how everyone has different gifts and how those gifts can be used in service to others.

Confirmation class followed the whole book of Luke, since it tells the story of Jesus’ life and ministry. Topics in class consisted of: Affirmation of Faith (focused on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit); the History of the Methodist

Church; Service/Ministry (with a visit to Manna House serving lunch - a favorite part of the study for several con-firmands); Baptism; Death & Resurrection; and Spiritual Life & Prayer.

The Confirmands also visited the Jewish Temple during their study and learned that God is bigger than the Meth-odist Church. The visit provided insight into how other people worship. The confirmands learned how Christi-anity is rooted in Judaism and that Jesus was a Jew. Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman spent time with the confirmands

Confirmation Class2015

BY Marsha Reed, FUMCA Member & Confirmation Mentor

June 2015 | CONNECTION 3

Sunday, May 10 First Church recognized the following 2015 graduating seniors in the front of the church: Jeff Goodwin, Alexandria Senior High School; Amy Hensel, Holy Savior Menard High School; Taylor Perry, Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program; Meredith Wilburn, Pineville High School; John Calvin Johnson, Northwestern State University; and Amanda Urena, Louisiana State University at Alexandria.

From left to right, Rev. Donnie Wilkinson presents our 2015 graduating seniors Amy Hensel, Jeff Goodwin, Meredith Wilburn, and Amanda Urena (not pictured: Taylor Perry and John Calvin Johnson).

The Confirmation Class at the Jewish Temple on May 1, 2015.

before the worship service to answer questions. The con-gregation was very welcoming of the confirmands and through this, the confirmands be-came aware that even though there are differences, there are also simi-larities in our beliefs and worship.

On Saturday, April 25, several of our confirmands joined those from all over the state at the Con-firmation Day with the Bishop at the Conference Center in Woodworth. Through learning sessions and activities, the confirmands realized there are lots of other young people just like them. They’ll have Christian fellowship with other youth throughout their teen years.

These nine confirmands are a special group who will contribute a lot to our church & the community in the years to come. They are enthusiastic and smart, some had deep thoughts and questions. Donnie, Dylan, and Megan Urena were part of our Confirmation team. John and I enjoyed every moment of our journey together, and feel very blessed to have had this opportunity. ☐

2015 Graduating Seniors

4 June 2015 | CONNECTION

Call to Artists

www.fumca.org/mug-contest

June 2015 | CONNECTION 5

Teen Buddy Camp is a pilot program for teens age 13 to 19 interested in continuing the Buddy Camp experience beyond the elementary years.

The original Buddy Camp is a community-wide project that allows children in grades 1st - 5th (must have com-pleted Kindergarten), both with and without develop-mental challenges, to participate in a week-long summer day camp. The two Buddy Camps run 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 to June 5, which serves primarily those on the autism spectrum, and on July 27 to July 31.

This new camp teen program provides peer to peer interactive camp activities both on-site and offsite the First United Methodist Church Alexandria (FUMCA) campus, ac-cording to the church’s website at www.fum-ca.org, and is planned for July 13 to July 16 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Participants will focus on learning more advanced skills, such as culinary arts, internet safety & social media man-agement, peer-to-peer socialization, and spiritual devel-opment. Activities may include music, bowling, softball, trail riding, art projects and swimming. The week will conclude with a dance party on Friday evening, July 17.

“We anticipate those who’ve aged out of Buddy Camp to have a strong desire to continue the Buddy Camp experi-ence at a more mature level, “said Stacey Debevec, who is spearheading the new Teen Buddy Camp ministry.

“We’re going to focus on cultivating strong friendships, skill building, and small group discussion led by various community professionals on a variety of everyday issues faced by teens,” she said.

Teen Buddy Camp is taking the Buddy Camp concept to a peer-to-peer level, with adult staff to supervise the Buddy Pairs. Activities off-campus will include an adaptive softball game, a trail ride on horseback, a visit to the Alexandria Museum of Art (AMOA), and a local bowling alley.

Teen Buddy Camp will be filled with different kinds of activities that will allow for closer interaction more ap-propriate for the teenage level of development.

Spiritual development involves work in small groups for open discussion, personal reflection, and opportunities to personal growth.

BY Bill Sumrall, FUMCA Communications Assistant

Teen Buddy Camp to continue

the Buddy Camp experience

…continued on page 12

Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival

6 June 2015 | CONNECTION

Tom Peyton Arts Festival Award - Near Marble Falls by Lonna Guillory, Pastel on Paper

The 49th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival was held April 17 - April 26.

Watermelon by Ranbo Ransom, Oak Wood Rapides Regional Medical Center Merit Award

Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival

June 2015 | CONNECTION 7

Orange Surf by Season Bivens, Acrylic Paint Red River Bank Merit Award

Brook at Red Rock by Sally Cappel, Acrylic on Linen Festival Committee Purchase; Greg and Hope O’Quin Merit Award

Life, Mid-Existence by Sulin BestTurner Telco Merit Award

8 June 2015 | CONNECTION

abundance #1 xmas boxes by Amanda RoeLOHS Merit Award

Throw Me Something, Mister by Jerry Cook, Photography Christus St. Francis Cabrini Merit Award

Migratory Passage 2 by Krista Ann Roche, Acrylic CollageNext Generation Spray Foam Insulation Merit Award

A Peaceful Bayou by Linda Brennan, PastelKramer Merit Award

June 2015 | CONNECTION 9Pasture at Sundown by Margie Tate, OilViewers Choice Award

3 hot dogs, fries & an extremely small drink by Ron Koehler, Wood & Paint - Hixson Bros Merit Award

Clouds of Blue by Mary Louise PorterIn Memory of June Lambard Merit Award

10 June 2015 | CONNECTION

Construction update:

June 2015 | CONNECTION 11

May 13 - Roof Renovations and Welcome Center (formerly the library) Renovations

12 June 2015 | CONNECTION

Fellowship Hall March 11 April 10

The Roof April 27 July 24

Gallery Hall April 27 July 24Welcome CenterRestroomsChoir Room and Offices

WCM Childcare & June 8 August 14Preschool Wing

Adult Education Wing September 8 November 13

Church Office January 11, 2016 March 25, 2016

Projected Start

Dates:

Projected Completion

Dates:

(The dates listed are just projections. As projects get underway more refined dates will be set.)

Teen Buddy Camp will end the week with a dance party in lieu of a closing ceremony, to provide a fun social ending to the week, she said.

Teen Buddy Camp hopes to partner with several orga-nizations in the community, including AMOA, the Lou-isiana Special Education Center, two local chefs, and the Rapides Parish Sheriff ’s Department DARE program.

“This year will be our pilot program to see if it’s an op-tion in future and meets a need for this age group,” she said, adding that in the future they hope “to see if we can take this to an over-night experience.”

“We’ve known there are very few community programs for teenagers with special needs outside of a formalized education program,” she said. “This is definitely provid-ing an opportunity for those kids who’ve aged out and

who are not eligible to participate in other community programs.”

Teen Buddy Camp hopes to serve up to 50 participants. Registration for the program is expected to close by May 1.

“Teen Buddy Camp is an exciting next step for this in-credible ministry,” states Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, pastor at First United Methodist Church Alexandria. “One of the things I love about our church is there are so many people who are looking for new and creative ways to reach more and more people with the love and grace of Jesus. Teen Buddy Camp will be a wonderful new way to show Christ’s love to our community.”

For more information, go online to http://www.fumca.org/buddy. ☐

…continued from page 5

Sanctuary Roof RenovationsFriday, May 15

Upcoming Events @ FUMCAJUNE1-5 Buddy Camp #1, 8a-2p (fumca.org/buddycamp)15-19 Vacation Bible School: Everest Base Camp (register online: fumca.org/vbs)30 Tentative end date of construction on church hallway

JULY3 Church office closed in observance of Independence Day13-16 Teen Buddy Camp, 3-9p (fumca.org/buddycamp)27-31 Buddy Camp #2, 8a-2p (fumca.org/buddycamp)29 Acolyte Training (email: egarvin@fumca.org)

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER8 Construction begins on the adult wing (tentative end date - Nov. 20)22-24 Church Directory Photos for 2015 Directory30 Pumpkins Arrive @ 4pm for the Pumpkin Patch!

OCTOBER1-30 Pumpkin Patch is open 10a-6p Mon.-Sat. and from noon-4 on Sundays18 Fall Fun Fest and Trunk or Treat

NOVEMBER1 Consecration Sunday20 Tentative end date of construction on Adult Wing

DECEMBER24 Christmas Eve Services at 4 & 6pm25-26 Church Office closed

June 2015 | CONNECTION 13

May 10 - Mother’s Day at First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA