Children's Ministry News

We will be meet at Big Play Family Fun Center next Saturday, Feb. 25th, at 4:00 pm for an afternoon of goofy golfing with our kids!  We will eat dinner after at Hog Heaven BBQ.  Contact Lori Cripple to RSVP and for pricing information.    

On Saturday, March 10th, we are going on our Honey Island Swamp Tour in Slidell, LA! Adults are $25, and children under 12 are $15.  We would like to take the 12 pm tour time, but we will need to make a group reservation ahead of time.  If your family is interested in going on this tour, please contact Lori Cripple to add your family to the list!

Mountain T.O.P. Friends Weekend

Join us for a great weekend at Camp Cumberland Pines, Tennessee as we begin our 28th year of service to the people of the Cumberland Plateau and the enrichment of our own lives in the process.  We'll leave Wednesday morning 2/29 and return home Sunday 3/4.  On Thursday, Friday and Saturday we'll be working on four construction and renovation projects on camp facilities, to prepare them for the 2,000 youth and adults who will be serving the surrounding communities this summer in ways similar to the help we've been receiving since Katrina.  The fee for the weekend is $125, and can be paid when we arrive.  Contact John Armstrong for more information and to RSVP.

Adult Small Groups

Adult Small Groups will be launching the week of March 4.  All are invited to join!  We will have information on all of our small group opportunities during our 3 Sunday worship services beginning this Sunday.  If you are interested in hosting, leading, or feeding, please contact Rev. Ben Barlow or Amanda Wood for details.

Seashore Mission

Calling all worker bees!  The Seashore Mission urgently needs groups and individuals to help sort donations. We will be having a sorting day on Saturday, February 18 from 10am - 2pm in our storage facility (17339 Hwy 67, Biloxi, MS 39532). We will have duct tape and tables, but are in need of plastic storage tubs, cardboard boxes and shelving. Clothing racks are also welcome! Drinks will be provided, but volunteers will need to bring their own sack lunch. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Judy Longo at 228.861.7777 or Paige Swaim-Presley at 228.265.1106.

Clothes Closet

Our Friends in Christ at the Long Beach Presbyterian Church have invited us to join them in their new outreach ministry, The Good Samaritan Clothes Closet. You can participate by taking your new or used clean clothing to the Presbyterian church from 10am to 1pm on Mondays and Tuesday and from 10am to noon on Thursdays. The clothes will be distributed on the first and third Saturdays from 9-1.
 

Children's Choir News

The Children's Choir will be meeting February 12th, 26th, March 4th, 11th, & 18th at 5:00 p.m. in the choir room and a snack supper will be provided. The Children's Choir will be practicing to sing March 25th at both services.

Nurture News

The Nurture Committee is looking for volunteers willing to drive church members unable to drive themselves to doctor's appointments, to church, to do errands, etc. If you are interested in occasionally providing this service, please contact Lucy Reagan.

Educator Appreciation

A way to say thank you... On Sunday, February 26, 2012, our congregation will show appreciation to all those in our community who have answered God's call to teach. Printed invitations to special recognition in worship at all three services and a reception honoring educators at 10 AM in the CLC will be available this Sunday (and for several weeks in the church office) for each of you to share with a special educator in your life. Please help us reach out in gratitude to those who have blessed us all with their teaching talents and make plans to join the celebration.

As we gear up to show our appreciation to educators in our community, we are asking something from you to make it a success! Please take time to sign up to provide one or more of following items for the brunch reception:

Donut holes (any flavor)
cheese cubes
grapes (any flavor)
strawberries
fresh pineapple cubed
Orange Juice
Apple Juice 

Ecumenical Learning Sessions

You Are Invited to join us on a learning session with St. Thomas Catholic Church (March 7th), Grace Lutheran (March 14th), & St. Patrick's Episcopal Church. We will meet here at FUMC on March 21st, all meeting times are at 6:00 p.m. We will gather together to share about each of our congregations/faith traditions. 

Backpack Buddy Program

Our church is partnering with the Long Beach School District to begin a Backpack Buddy Program to feed children in need every weekend.  We will be sending home food bags from school on Fridays. 

Our Backpack Buddy packing schedule is:
Feb.15, 10:30 am
Feb.21, 6 pm
Feb.29, 10:30 am

To support this program, we are accepting monetary and food donations.  All food donations must be individually wrapped or individual servings.  Items needed include: applesauce, animal crackers, breakfast bar, chicken soup cans, easy mac (microwavable packets), fruit cups, goldfish, granola bars, gummie packs, juice boxes, oatmeal, peanut butter crackers, pudding cups, spagettios cans, tuna kit (from Sams).  A collection box as well as a complete list of food items needed is located in the narthex.

You can contact Lori Cripple if you would like to help or if you have any questions.

Art & Soul Youth Fundraiser

Attention All Artists!!! It's that time again! The annual Art & Soul Youth Fundraiser will be Sunday, March 4 at 6pm. If you have any pieces that you would like to donate, please drop them off in the youth hall, labeled. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Woodruff.

Touching Hearts and Tummies

This week, another student came to me to make sure that they got their Backpack Buddy food before the end of the school day on Friday.  The little girl was very excited about the food and wanted to make sure she didn't miss out.  I asked her if she liked the food.  "Oh yes!" she said with a big smile on her face.  Children have come to me each week since the program was started to tell me how happy they are and to make sure they are not forgotten.  My heart sings and breaks at the same time for these children.

John and Lori Cripple have started an amazing outreach ministry.  Sometimes we give money or items without getting to directly see how much it helps.  I am sharing this with you because I want you to know that by bringing in the food for the Backpack Buddy Program you are touching the lives of children right here in Long Beach every week.  Weekends don't have to be times of hunger for them anymore.  Remember, Jesus taught us, "...'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

On behalf of our children in Long Beach, thank you for sharing your love and food with them.

Parma Rishel, School Nurse at Harper McCaughan Elementary