In Coming Closer to Christ, Anthony Bloom writes of a thief he met while visiting the prisons of London in the 1960’s. The young man, he writes, said a most remarkable thing during one of their visits: “You

don’t know what a relief it is to be found out.” It turns out the young man had come to the realization that being a professional burglar was not what he wanted with his life. He never set out to become a thief, but it happened as the natural result of the choices he made in life. One day he came to himself and desired to make a change. But his desire was not enough. “Every attempt he made to change his behavior, and to allow the other sides of his personality to take over, was nipped in the bud—on one hand, by the reactions of his own clan, his own gang, his normal surroundings, and on the other, by the people he wished to join, but who became more the more alien to him as he began to try to become more like them.” At last, he was caught. Initially, there were feelings of shame and distress. But then came a great sense of liberation and freedom: “Now I have no need to hide who I am, or rather, who I was. There is no need to be hypocritical, to what I am not. I

can now become whatever I choose. I can either remain a thief... or else I can choose to change and start anew.” Bloom writes that most of us never experience the true joy of liberation and freedom because “we try so hard to never be found out. We try not to be found out as sinners with regard to each other, and we try not to be found out by God as well, by putting conventional ways of putting things right as far as He is concerned. The result is that we never jump out of the rut into true freedom...” In Jesus, God offers us true freedom. But it is a freedom that only comes when we step out of the shadows we hide ourselves in and into the light of Christ. The Bible says, "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! " (2 Cor. 5:17). If you are ready to experience the freedom of being made new, why not step into the light? Grace & Peace, Rev. Donnie

2014 Seniors 2

Thank you note 2

Camp URC 2

Construction 3

Menu 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

IMPORTANT DATES:

Mother’s Day Sunday, May 11

The Gathering—Dinner 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 & 21

The Gathering—Study 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 & 21

Coffee with Friends at Bon Swirl on Jackson St. 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 15

Faith Circle Meeting 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20

UMW Board Meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20

Finance Committee Mtg. 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 20

Laundry Love 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 22

Buddy Camp Mtg. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22

Children’s Pool Party 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 23

Youth Lock In 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 23

Vol. 21, No. 9

THE JOY OF BEING FOUND OUT

May 8, 2014

The Messenger is going electronic in June. To receive future editions of The Messenger, sign up online: http://www.fumca.org/News (if you already subscribe to our E-pistle, you do not need to sign up again). If you would still prefer to receive a paper copy of The Messenger, please call Julie Bacon at the church office at 443-5696.

GOING ELECTRONIC

A special word of thanks to all who helped make the 48th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival a great success. This Festival continues to bring artists and art lovers to our Church in celebration of the creative spirit in all of us. Our great thanks to Reverend Donnie Wilkinson for his support of and commitment to the Festival and to the church staff for always going beyond to help open the Festival to our community. Thanks also to you, the members of FUMCA who continue to support the Festival with your time, your talents, and your gifts. And, special thanks to all who served as hosts/hostesses and to those who provided so many wonderful refreshments for the opening and special events. 689 people signed the guest book for the competitive show (and not everyone signs the book), and approximately 450 people attended the special events. Open hearts, open doors, open minds. With gratitude, The 48th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival Committee

Page 2

CCCONGRATULATIONSONGRATULATIONSONGRATULATIONS SSSENIORSENIORSENIORS!!!

CAMP URC

SERVE AS AN USHER! Currently seeking ushers for the 11:00 service. If you are interested in helping out, please email Clara Woolf at cwoolf@fumca.org.

LETTER OF THANKS

Summer Camp! Uskichitto Retreat Center’s (URC) Summer Camp registration for 2014 is now open online: http://campurc.net/index.php/camps. There are 7 camps to choose from, ranging from an overnight 5-8 year old group (parent/guardian is welcome) to a four-day 15-19 year old group. URC is located north of Le Blanc, Louisiana near Highway 190, six miles east of Reeves and six miles west of Kinder.

Calvin Brown & Anthony Meeker (senior pictures not available)

Gwen Orman Jennifer Wheat Grant Hislop Brian Kiesewetter

Cole Debevec

WWWe are extremely proud to congratulate our 2014 graduating seniors!

e are extremely proud to congratulate our 2014 graduating seniors!

e are extremely proud to congratulate our 2014 graduating seniors!

Many blessings in all of your endeavors!

Many blessings in all of your endeavors!

Many blessings in all of your endeavors!

Recognizing our seniors at 11:00 worship on Senior Sunday, May 4, 2014. (pictured left to right) David Mire, Brian Kiesewetter, Anthony Meeker, Grant Hislop, Calvin Brown, and Jennifer Wheat

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Page 3 ALEXANDRIA, LA

WHAT’S GOING ON?! What’s this construction going on around the church? Starting April 30, 2014, construction began to remove the wooden fence that surrounded the chillers by the kitchen on Jackson Street to be replaced with brick fence. A powerline is going to be tunneled under Jackson Street to replace the existing visible transformers with underground transformers.

KITCHEN TALK

By Wayne McConnell

Spring is here and summer is just 6 weeks away. School is winding down and so is Wednesday night Gatherings at FUMCA.

The meal for May 14: chicken tetrazini, steamed mixed vegetables, tossed salad, dinner rolls, and (dino nuggets for the children) sundae bar for dessert. The meal for May 21: beef brisket, sweet potatoes (haven’t decided on style), green beans, salad, and chicken nuggets/fries for the kids, dessert birthday cake for all May

I will continue to write about food and food related topics throughout the summer and, “if the Lord be willing and the creek don’t rise,” I’ll be back cooking for my FUMCA family in August. Peace and have a blessed summer.

Sue W. Arnold, age 80 passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014 from natural causes at the Emeritus Assisted Living Residence, Alexandria, Louisiana. She was the widow of Dr. Tracy Arnold who served as our minister here at Alexandria First

United Methodist Church 1980-1988.

A Memorial Service will be held at Alexandria First United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. and family will receive guests immediately following the services. The family has requested in lieu of flowers that gifts or memorials be made to the Dr. Tracy Arnold

Scholarship Fund, c/o Centenary College, Office of Philanthropy, P. O. Box 41188, Shreveport, LA 71134-1188 or on-line at: https://safe.centenary.edu/give

SUE W. ARNOLD—MEMORIAL SERVICE

Visit us online! www.fumca.org

First United Methodist Church 2727 Jackson Street Alexandria, Louisiana 71301 318.443.5696  

Return Service Requested 

Non‐Profit  Organization U.S. Postage 

PAID Alexandria, LA 71301 

Permit No. 159 

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, Senior Pastor revdonnie@fumca.org; extension 101

Rev. Dr. Henry Blount, Jr., Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Gary Van Horn, Pastor of Visitation

David Mire, Youth & Young Adults Director dmire@fumca.org; extension 105

Elizabeth Garvin, Director of Children’s Ministry egarvin@fumca.org; extension 102

Candy O’Brien, Director of Childcare cobrien@fumca.org; extension 118

Brandy Ponthie, Director of Preschool bponthie@fumca.org; extension 119

Mike Wood, Business Manager mwood@fumca.org; extension 103

Julie Bacon, Communications Director jbacon@fumca.org; extension 104

Bill Sumrall, Communications Assistant bsumrall@fumca.org; extension 108

Jasmine Piper, Executive Secretary jpiper@fumca.org; extension 100

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE April 20, 2014 April 27, 2014 May 4, 2014

344 301 236

SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE April 20, 2014 April 27, 2014 May 4, 2014

75 131 119

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