 The school year is not quite over, but we've officially announced our VBS dates, and we don't want you to miss it, so get ready to mark those calendars! When: July 16-19 (Monday - Thursday) 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Where: 307 West Fourth Street in Laurel Who: Preschool (age 3/potty trained) - 5th Grade Youth are encouraged to volunteer to help What: Operation Overboard: Dare to Go Deep with God! Head on over the kids' website to get all the details and to register or to sign up to volunteer - we still need Dive Leaders (a.k.a. kiddie corralers) and to check out our list of items needed to make this VBS as successful as possible!
After a year long effort and 18-weeks of classes, the time for the 2012 Confirmation Class to be officially confirmed into the church has arrived.
The Confirmation Service will be included in Worship on Sunday, April 15, 2012. We hope you will join us as twelve of our youth confirm their faith and officially join the Laurel United Methodist Church.
This is such a special time and we are so proud of each of these young ladies and gentlemen. Congratulations to the 2012 Confirmation Class!
 On April 1, 2012 (Palm Sunday) the Sunday School held its annual Bake Sale before and after church services. We were hoping we would be able to catch a nice, big crowd to amp up our fundraising efforts.
And the congregation did not disappoint us. Our 2012 Bake Sale raised $400 thanks to your generosity!
This year the proceeds of our sale were split up between two causes. Two hundred dollars will go towards the LUMC Roof Fund, as the roof needs to be replaced this year. The remaining two hundred dollars is being donated to our local Head Start.
Again, thank you so very much for supporting our kids in their efforts; we couldn't do it without you!
Dear Families, Incredibly it's already time to start thinking about the Christmas program. Following is a schedule for you to add to your calendars. If your child will miss a practice, please let me know. Becca's emailThis year's Christmas program is scheduled for Sunday, December 18, 2011 during Worship Service (10:15 a.m.) I'm really excited to get to work on this year's program; the kids always do such an incredible job. I appreciate all of your hard work and effort in helping your child/ren get ready. As usual, if your child has been given a speaking role, then they will need to memorize their lines. So I guess...Away we go! Christmas Program Rehearsal Schedule: 11/13/11 Scripts will be handed out during Sunday School. 11/19/11 9:00-10:30 a.m. First Rehearsal 11/30/11 6:00-7:00 p.m. Rehearsal 12/10/11 9:00-10:00 a.m. Rehearsal 12/17/11 9:00-12:00 p.m. Dress Rehearsal - *ALL children must attend* 12/18/11 9:15 a.m. Christmas Program Sunday School dates to be aware of:11/20/11 Advent Wreath handout 11/27/11 We will be having Sunday School the Sunday following Thanksgiving 12/3/11 9:30 a.m. - Hanging of the Greens - there will be a tree for the children to decorate in the church's basement, as well as crafts for them to do. 12/18/11 4:45 p.m. Caroling (Family Ministries activity) Meet at the church 12/25/11 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 1/1/12 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We've had some changes happening in our church this summer and as we head into our Fall/school year schedule; it is indeed a time of New beginnings and fresh starts.
To start, if you haven't caught the buzz, our highly anticipated and long awaited updated sound and video system has been installed and is up and running! This is a very exciting step for our church and it's been wonderful to be able to clearly follow the sermon and the worship service at large.
We got the message loud and clear last year: 8:30 a.m. is too early to start for Sunday School. With that in mind, the Administrative Council got together over the summer and with incredible feedback from our families, we were able to choose a much more family-friendly schedule.
Sunday School will now begin at 9:00 a.m. with Chapel Time from 9:00-9:15 and the kids being released to their classrooms from 9:15-10:00 a.m.
With the new Sunday School schedule established, that meant that Worship Service would need to be adjusted as well. We will now meet from 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. All of this will begin on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
The Family Ministries Committee is also receiving a fresh start this Fall, as Jennie Gardner has stepped up into the Chairperson's position. Former leader, Kara Thomae, is greatly appreciative to Jennie for taking this on. As always, there are always opening on the Family Ministries Committee and they'll be meeting on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Even if you're not currently a member of Family Ministries Committee, but you're a little interested, come to the meeting - that in no way commits you to joining.
Hoping you had a wonderful and blessed summer, we look forward to seeing you in church!
Last year when the church made the transition to having one Worship service year round this caused a change with our Sunday School schedule as well. I’m sure you all remember that we went to an 8:30 a.m. start time, which ultimately caused a major drop in attendance. We were sad not to see all the sweet and smiling faces that we had grown accustomed to seeing each week, and we realized that a change needed to be made. The week after Vacation Bible School is over the Administrative Council will meet with the sole purpose of determining a Sunday School schedule that will best benefit the most families. So, what I need from you is your feedback. Obviously 8:30 is too early, so below you’ll see a spot where you can provide your thoughts. Please return this with your child’s registration form or bring it to VBS and drop it off some time during the week (or you can bring it to the church office anytime). Also, I’m excited to share a new development with you. Gail Richardson will be providing a children’s fellowship time during church for children too old for the nursery, but too young to truly benefit from sitting through church. Roughly first or second grade through fourth graders would be able to utilize this. The time will be spent covering mini lessons, art projects, and otherwise engaging the kids. This will not only be a great thing for the kids, but for the parents as well who are often distracted by their squirmy children. This will follow the Sunday School schedule and she will offer this every Sunday, except for the first Sunday of the month so she can participate in Communion. The kids will be dismissed to her following children’s time. ** To provide your feedback, go to the SURVEYS tab **
 On Easter, we normally cancel Sunday School for the day, but this year we thought we'd change things up a bit.
This year we will be having an Easter Egg Hunt for children in Preschool through 5th Grade. However, the older kids are invited to help the younger kids and with the hunt in general.
Before the hunt, each child will receive an egg with silly bandz formed in Easter-related shapes inside, along with a card explaining what each of those symbols stand for.
This is not just your ordinary Easter Egg Hunt, though. In the midst of all these eggs, there will be one egg that is empty - symbolizing the empty tomb. The child who finds that egg, will get a special prize.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll be able to hold our hunt outside, if not we'll be ready to move it indoors.
We're still ironing out the details of this fun event, so stay tuned, we'll keep you posted!
The kids had their Annual Bake Sale on February 20, 2011. The church supported us greatly in our efforts, yet again, helping us to raise $316.00. The children voted today, March 6, and have decided they would like the proceeds to go to ZooMontana.
ZooMontana is currently facing a significant financial crisis that could mean a major loss to our community.
Thank you LUMC for your continued generosity!
With February days away, the Sunday School is shifting its focus to a month of Caring & Sharing. This year, our month will include the kids acting as greeters and escorts on two Sundays during the month ( 13th and 27th), holding a Bake Sale on 2/20/11, we’ll kick off the Prayer Angels program on 2/13/11, and as usual it is Bring a Friend month. The proceeds of the Bake Sale will go to a local organization of the kids’ choosing. If you’re interested in becoming a Prayer Angel, there is a sign-up sheet at the church, or you can click here to sign-up online. Also, be keeping your eyes and your ears open for a baking day, which would be followed by trips out to the nursing home and Tendernest. For such a day, we would definitely be interested in volunteers to come help us bake as well as folks to help us transport. Think about it, we’ll let you know!
Happy New Year! Christmas is officially behind us and we're are diving full force into a new year. Today was Epiphany Sunday and with the first Sunday in January, a Communion Sunday as well. While the pews were not overflowing on this frigid Sunday morning, it was still wonderful to see many back after the busyness of the holiday season.
Announcement/Request: We will be taking down the Christmas decorations on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. The more bodies we have, the faster it will go. Please consider coming out to help us get the church back to normal.
Pastor Jones was pleased to announce that we have received enough funds for a new sound system!!! If you've been to church at all in the past few months, you'll know what an incredible blessing this is. We look forward to getting the work done on this, which will be a major benefit for the entire church.
It will add a great deal to our pre-worship gathering time. In regards to the children and youth of our church, it will be awesome to have and be able to use during Vacation Bible School, the Christmas program, and we will be able to add more contemporary music to our worship, which is a major bonus to the youth and younger families of our church. My only suggestion: Keep an open mind as we find our footing in finding a beautiful balance of the old and the new. Some of the new music out there is phenomenal - if you listen to it with an open heart, it's practically impossible not to be moved. Bring on the change!
Youth Lock-in: Was a wonderful success. We had ten youth attend the lock-in. It was a wonderful evening of games, food, and lots of laughter. We included a little Q&A session as well, which allowed the youth to ask whatever question floated their fancy. Thanks to Josh (our esteemed Youth Director) for putting it together, Renita (one of our youth's moms) for chaperoning, and Jennifer-who came in for the Q&A session.
Sunday School News: You might recall that during the month of February in 2010, we made it a great month of caring and sharing. We are in the process of making that happen again. Be on the look-out for our plans, we're in the brainstorming stage now.
Happy New Year! Wishing you much joy and many blessings in 2011.
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