CONNECTION. The. BECOMING BETTER TOGETHER: A Note from our District Superintendent. What s in this Issue:

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1 The CONNECTION The Acadiana District newsletter The United Methodist Church Louisiana Conference May Issue BECOMING BETTER TOGETHER: A Note from our District Superintendent As you are aware, after annual conference, our district will become a little bigger, numerically and geographically. I have already pondered the notion of having meetings on the same day in Dulac and Lecompte. They re only 221 miles apart. But, we will adapt and the district will be better as other churches, lay people, and pastors join forces and wills to proclaim, We Are Better Together. I don t know about you, but I m kind of excited about the possibilities of new relationships, talents, and ideas becoming a part of the Acadiana District. It s sort of like welcoming new members to a congregation and the anticipation of the difference newcomers will make among us. Our Mission Team is already planning to welcome our new brothers and sisters in a fine way. (Continued on page 2) What s in this Issue: Spring Thing to be hosted by Faith Community UMC 2 Acadiana District Youth (DCYM) First UMC-Houma Makes Impact with Outreach Ministry 4 Louisiana Memorial Celebrates 207 Years of Ministry 5 District Mission Team To Welcome and Send Forth Churches in the Acadiana District 6 Find out which churches are going and coming to the Acadiana District 7 News from the Bayou Dulac, LA 3 8 4

2 BECOMING BETTER TOGETHER: A Note from our District Superintendent (cont d) Truth is, we re going to need all the help we can get to do the work of Christ in the Acadiana District. The challenges before us are tremendous. How do we transform a financially unsustainable, moribund institution into a vibrant movement of faith communities, where people of all walks of life are not just welcomed, but want to be a part of something far bigger than themselves? It makes the distance between Dulac and Lecompte seem like small potatoes, doesn t it? Our task is far bigger than distances or the number of churches in a district. The implications of being Better Together are staggering in the face of such a challenge. We will truly need each other for the work that is before us. In the near future your bishop and cabinet will be sharing some thoughts for our work in the Louisiana Conference. They will be values and principles that will direct our work toward a significant future. They represent a major, if not radical, shift in thinking about how we work at the mission of the church our church. In case you ve forgotten that mission, it goes like this, To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I have one question for you: What are you willing to do how far are you willing to go for the sake of that mission. A movement is coming. Peace. Ed Boyd FAITH COMMUNITY TO host Spring Thing It is part fundraiser, part community outreach, and totally fun. There will be food booths, craft vendors, missions, music and more. Save the date: May 18th 9A.M. until 2 P.M. If you are interested in having a booth, contact Nelda Teakell at East Mail St. Broussard, LA 2

3 Acadiana Youth District Meeting by Angie ChampIne, Assistant District Youth Coordinator During the business portion of our meeting, we discussed joining with the District Ministry Team (DMT) in their efforts to have a family day. The DCYM would fully support and help to carry that venture out provided it was a fall event. Many ideas were discussed on how we could support this effort. On April 13, 2013, youth and adults gathered at Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette from 1:00 3:00 pm for an Acadiana District Council on Youth Meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to elect district officers and conference council on youth ministry representatives, as well as pass along vital information concerning the district and conference. This youth-led meeting focused on commitment and all were challenged and inspired by scripture to uphold commitments made to our district. Commitments made were: To attend meetings To honor elected positions To pray for the churches and its members in our district To pray for each other To remember the gifts and talents we each bring to the table While we were honored and happy to have six churches represented at our meeting, we felt that with over 70 churches in our district, we need to have more churches at our district meetings. We will start with prayer. Each of us took four churches from the district to pray for. Our next meeting has not yet been set but information is sent out via the Acadiana District chain, Facebook page Acadiana DCYM or you can contact the District Coordinators (see below) for more information on how to get involved. Our next meeting will be focused on planning Youth Ignite to be held at Camp Uskchitto in August to be jointly held with the Lake Charles District. For the closing, a time of worship was held celebrating what gifts we bring to the district with a sending forth to lean on each other because we are stronger together! 3

4 DCYM Acadiana Elected Officers are: President: Hailey Rebstock of First UMC Houma Vice President: Camille Comeaux of Asbury Lafayette Secretary: Madi Brown of Asbury Lafayette Youth Service Fund Chair: Caroline Munsell of Asbury Lafayette Conference Council on Youth Ministries Reps Hailey Rebstock of First UMC Houma Caroline Munsell of Asbury Lafayette Natalie Mire of First UMC Crowley Camille Comeaux of Asbury Lafayette Joe LeBoeuf of First UMC Houma Lily Torbert of First UMC Houma Delegate to Annual Conference Alternate to Annual Conference Joe LeBouef Lily Torbert First United Methodist Church-Houma Makes Impact with Outreach ministry! The First United Methodist Church in Houma has been making an impact on their community one month at a time with their Box of Caring and Sharing. This past month they collected paper towels to support the local women s shelter, The Haven. A member of the church made the box and let the youth group paint the box and pray over it. Now every month an item is collected for an organization in the community. Here is a list of items and organization they support: Canned goods for the local Food Bank, Laundry Detergent for Loads of Love (church members go out into the local washateria s giving out detergent), Dry Red Beans and Rice for the local homeless shelter called the Bunk House, Linens (twin or full size) goes to Beautiful Beginnings shelter for Mother s with children, School Supplies for Dulac Community Center, Hand lotion for the Council on Aging, Soap, Shampoo, wash cloths, towels for the Haven and Beautiful Beginnings, Fleece Blankets for Shut-Ins, toilet paper for the Haven and our White Gifts (pick a child s name and buy a gift for Christmas) for local low income families. 4

5 Louisiana Memorial UMC celebrates 207 years of ministry! In 1806 a circuit rider named Elisha Bowman was looking for a place to start a Methodist society west of the Mississippi river. It was dangerous territory full of extraordinary challenges. He eventually wound up in the Acadian trading outpost of present day Opelousas, and there established the first Methodist church west of the Mississippi river. 207 years later Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church celebrated this rich heritage on Sunday, May 5th Our theme was bridge to the future. The hard work and dedication of many faithful people through many years of serving Christ has been a constant beacon of hope in the Opelousas community. During worship we celebrated the ways in which the church has changed over the years and remembering the ministries of several of our past pastors including: Elisha Bowman, Sam Riggs, and Jolly B. Harper. Former pastor, Dr. Henry Blount, shared his testimony about the ministry of Louisiana Memorial and what this church can be in the future. Worship and a dinner on the grounds were followed by a short film entitled: Louisiana Memorial: A Retrospective. At the dinner Wayne Gilmore was recognized posthumously as Chairman of the Board for all his work in building this faith community in Opelousas. This day was filled with people sharing memories and making new ones. This day reminded us of why we have been in ministry in this place for so long and reaffirmed out commitment to continue that ministry! District Council On Youth Info! Each local church shall elect two youth and one adult. A youth alternate may be selected who will vote only in the absence of a youth representative. Each youth on the DCYM shall be a member of a United Methodist Church and be actively involved in that church's junior high or senior high youth ministry program at the time of election and during their term on DCYM. District Youth Coordinator Assistant District Youth Coordinator Julie Lafosse Angie Champine (337) Office Cell/text (337) Cell/Text champine@bellsouth.net julielafosse@hotmail.com Facebook: Acadiana DCYM 5

6 Acadiana District mission team (DMT) Welcomes and sends forth new churches! Only in the church can you go a long distance and never pack a suitcase or box. That doesn t necessarily apply to pastors, but 8 congregations will leave the Acadiana District, and 22 will be added to the Acadiana District. These moves are a result of the decision of the 2012 Annual Conference to reduce the number of Administrative Districts from seven to six. The redivision and distribution of those churches has been the work of Bishop Harvey and the cabinet. As of June 30th, the Acadiana District will have 78 churches. (See page 7 for complete list of churches leaving and entering the Acadiana District)) The Acadiana District Mission Team has been prayerfully and creatively considering how those changes will affect the local church and what leadership we can provide to strengthen them. Through our work in the last two years we are convinced that the churches of The Acadiana District are Better Together. When clergy and laity connect from church to church we find inspiration, encouragement, and great resources. The Acadiana Mission Team is organizing delegations of three or four persons from churches not affect by the changes to worship with churches departing the Acadiana District on Sunday, June 23rd..They will bring a gift and words of sending to be presented to the congregation. Likewise those congregations who are new to The Acadiana District will be visited by Lay delegations on Sunday, July 7. The delegations will worship with the congregation and present a loaf of bread and offer words of welcome. If you would like to be a part of one of those delegations please contact the District Office. The Acadiana District Mission Team will meet once a quarter in the new conference year. The members of the Acadiana District Mission Team are officially elected; but in the spirit of Better Together your input, presence, and commitment to our shared ministry is welcome. Our first meeting after conference is 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at Northwood UMC in Lafayette. Rev. Ann Sutton, DMT Chairperson 6

7 Churches Entering the Acadiana District CHURCH Branch UMC FORMER DISTRICT CHURCH Bayou Chicot UMC FORMER DISTRICT Church Point UMC David Hess Memorial-Bunkie First Crowley UMC Ebenezer UMC First Eunice UMC Indian Bayou UMC Iota UMC Kaplan UMC Rayne, Centenary Lake Charles District Trinity UMC- Bunkie Cheneyville UMC St. Paul- Cheneyville Oak Grove UMC- Effie Evergreen UMC LeCompte UMC Marksville UMC Simmesport UMC Whites Chapel- Bunkie Wilton UMC Bayou Chicot UMC David Haas Memorial UMC- Bunkie Trinity UMC- Bunkie Alexandria District Memorial UMC-Booneville Churches Leaving the Acadiana District CHURCH St. James UMC-Belle Rose First Donaldsonville UMC St. Peter UMC- Donaldsonville Lutcher Chapel UMC First Lutcher UMC Wesley UMC- Napoleonville Woodlawn UMC- Napoleonville Vacherie UMC FORMER DISTRICT New Orleans District 7

8 News from the Bayou By Kirby Verret On March 9, 2013, the Louisiana Annual Conference Native American Ministries committee met in Dulac at Clanton Chapel. By the Book of Discipline, the Native American Ministries Sunday Offerings are overseen and determined by Conference Native American Ministries on how funds are to be spent. One half of the funds are sent to the General Church for Native American Ministries and scholarships for Native American seminary students, and the other half the committee seeks to meet conference needs. On the conference level, LACONAM works to help Clanton Chapel Native American Ministries including the Clanton Chapel Christian Preschool, and the only other Native American ministry in Louisiana, the Dulac Community Center. One major purpose of LACONAM is to help develop leadership within the Native American congregation of Clanton Chapel and to reach out to include Native Americans within other Louisiana Conference churches, including non-natives who want to help support LACONAM. Dr. Don Cottrill is the Conference level liaison and Rev. Kirby Verret is chair of LACONAM. For more information you may call Dr. Cottrill or Pastor Kirby at (985) On May 3-5. Rev. Kirby Verret, and Kenrock J. Verret travelled to Overland Park, Kansas for a Native American Comprehensive meeting to discuss and encourage more conference to develop CONAMs to support Native American needs in the United States. Kenrock Verret was elected as vice chair of the Native American International Caucus of the United Methodist, Ms. Cynthia Kent is the chair of NAIC and has been a longtime friend of the Louisiana Annual Conference. While at the NACP meeting many great workshops were attended including speakers from various native American colleges including Haskell Indian University of Lawrence, Kansas. They also had the opportunity to visit The Church of the Resurrection pastored by David Hamilton. The church has over 20,000 members. Rev. Julienne Judd hosted an Indian Taco meal for the NACP conference at the church, later the NACP members were honored at the Johnson Community College pow wow for coming to Overland Park. 8

9 REMINDER Don t forget to gives names of two delegates from your church to attend worship and help welcome or send off district churches: Sending Forth Delegation: Contact: John Locascio Pharr Chapel-Walmsley Welcoming Delegation: Contact: Ann Sutton Northwood UMc Al Franks Upcoming Events May 21st Pastor s Appreciation Dinner Asbury UMC, 6pm May 24th Deadline Online registration for Annual Conference Jun 2-5th Annual Conference Shreveport, LA June 13 th District Mission Team Mtg Northwood UMC June 25 th - Moving Day for Pastors June 30 th - 1 st Preaching Sunday for Transitioning Pastors Get Creative Pastor Darlene A. Moore, offers painting, collages, spiritual learnings, and creative lessons every Third or Fourth Thursday of the month from 5-7 PM Call 337/ The event is free and all ages are welcome. Pastor Moore serves St. Mark UMC located at 534 S. Market Street in Opelousas, La 70570, 9