In case you didn't catch the news, we are now offering a Children's Fellowship Time during worship for children in grades 1st - 5th. 

This program is held during regular Worship service at 10:15 a.m. and families may choose to send their children to CFT following Children's Time with the pastor. 

CFT is available every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month; this allows our adults to take part in Communion Sundays. 

The kids have been having a blast! There's some discussion over what was discussed during children's time and there are puzzles, games, and opportunities to get creative.  

Pat Bullis, who has been our church secretary for over 19 years now, has submitted her resignation effective January 27th. She has been so effective and has been such a central part of our church life for so long that we will miss her greatly. I know that all of you will want to express your appreciation to her for her long and dedicated service to the church. And toward that end, the Staff Parish Relations Committee will host a reception in her honor planned for Sunday, January 29th, after worship. Hope you will plan to come.

We look forward now to the difficult task of replacing Pat in the church office. The SPRC has met on this already and will need to meet again to finalize some details. As things currently stand, because of the relatively short window of opportunity for full-shift training--and considering everything that the position entails--we have decided to offer the position to Becca Stewart, one of the two persons who have substituted for Pat and who know some of the church office workings. This makes sense also because Becca is our church website web-master and this position will allow better integration of web and office. 

Because of other obligations, Becca can not go “full-time” (the full 5 hours daily, Monday through Friday) until the summer.   Therefore, we are in need of person(s) who would be able to work on Tuesday and Thursday until summer, and if they choose, be available as substitutes afterwards. It would be a wonderful way of serving the church, earning a little money, as well as experientially positioning yourself to take on the church secretarial position when it comes open again. If you are interested, please contact Pastor David at the church office, 628-6362. We would require some employment information from you as well as a letter expressing your interest. If needed, you may mail the letter to P.O.Box 1055, Laurel, MT 59044.  If interested, please respond by Wednesday, Jan. 18th.   
Any questions can be addressed to Pastor David or Nancy Hart, Staff-Parish Relations Chair.

Thanks for your interest, and for your gratitude to Pat for a job long and well done. Hope to see you all for Pat’s reception on Sunday, 29th. 
-- Pastor David   

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 email

This 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!

Bust out your costumes and your mad game playing skills because we are less than one week away from the 2011 LUMC Fall Carnival!!

We recognize something when it works, so much of last year's format will remain the same, but we've got a few game change-ups and some definite fan favorites are making a return. So let's get onto those details!

When: Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Laurel United Methodist Church 307 West Fourth Street (church basement)
Fees: 
There will be NO admissions fees

Tickets to play games (which can also be used at the concessions stand) will be 25 cents a piece OR 25 tickets for $5.00

 Receive 3 tickets free when you bring any number of canned food items

Food: We will be serving hot dogs, chili dogs, a meal deal option which includes a dog of your choice, chips, cookies, and a beverage. 
Popcorn will also be available
Games: Lots of games and activities are planned including the scary maze, bobbing for apples, cake walk, face painting, and so much more!

We hope to see you there; tell a friend, bring a friend, and come enjoy our Fall Carnival frenzy this Saturday! 


_______________________________________________________________________________
**ATTENTION ADULTS**
Even if you are not involved with a committee, we would love to have you come and help us at the Fall Carnival. Float around to various booths and lend a helping hand - I promise, it's tons of fun! Hope to see you there. 

Alice Brown has dedicated her Sunday mornings to the Laurel United Methodist Church and its children for the past 45 years. Recently she decided it was time to take a few things off her plate as she approaches her 89th birthday. Sunday, October 2, 2011 we will say farewell and thank you to Mrs. Brown for her love and caring of nearly five decades.  

Recently, I had opportunity to just sit and be in the nursery for a spell. As I sat there, reflecting on the things that have changed since I played in this very nursery as a child; like the carpet and the toys (with the exception of a few die hards that have stood the test of time), there are two things that have remained. It was the chair that I sat rocking away the morning in and Mrs. Brown who I can remember rocking me in that very chair.

This chair with its green pattern sits in the corner and continues to be a place where Mrs. Brown sits and rocks the littlest loves of our church and will do so for the last time on October 2, 2011. This chair might have a few more squeaks and creeks than when it first found its home in that special room, but still it stands and rocks and comforts a new cycle of little ones growing through our church. 

It's not just about the chair, obviously. It's Mrs. Brown, such a special and giving woman who made each child who spent time in her care feel loved. It's extraordinary to think of the hours she's devoted to the families of our church.

For me, it’s a sense of being known, remembered, and dare I say treasured by this phenomenal human being. Incredibly she remembered the child I once was and it filled my heart with gladness when she remarked about the bits of me that she recognized in my daughter. I will never forget as my daughter began to blossom in her time spent in the nursery, when Mrs. Brown would tell me, “It’s so wonderful to watch her grow and really come out of her shell.”

Words cannot describe the feeling of knowing that your child is safe and loved in another’s care. There are countless families and children who have been blessed by Mrs. Brown’s service to this church.


Thank you Mrs. Brown, happy retirement! 

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 **