Rayne

MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

for 141 years shining the light of God’s love and grace 3900 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115

504-899-3431 www.raynenola.org Sunday Worship at 8:45 and 11 am

March 2, 2017

We Welcome All! We warmly welcome all to worship on Sundays at 8:45 or 11 am and Sunday

School at 9:45 am, to participate freely in the life of this community of faith and love, and to become a member of this congregation. Rayne welcomes and embraces all people regardless of race, class, gender, or sexual orientation with open hearts, open minds, and open doors!

Welcome to Rayne! Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service

2017 Operating Budget

$1,080,442

Needed Weekly 20,778 Weekly Average to Date ________ Received 2/26/17 ________ 153 Pledges-to-date for 2017 694,877 UMCOR: Tornado Relief 5,061

Contribute Online at www.raynenola.org

or scan this QR Code to set up an account.

Use your smart phone to open

your own account with the church for making contributions

and viewing your giving record.

Those wishing to become

members of Rayne are encouraged

to contact one of our pastors:

calliewcrawford@gmail.com max.zehner@raynenola.org

First Sunday in Lent

The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 4:1-11 “Then the Spirit

led Jesus up into the wilderness

so that the devil might tempt him…”

Message by

Callie Crawford,

“If”

Holy Communion in the Historic Sanctuary

at 8:45 with musicians Marcus St. Julien, Pianist

Nathan Ward and Ebonee Davis, Soloists

and Holy Communion at 11 am

in the Historic Sanctuary with The Chancel Choir,

C. Leonard Raybon, Director Marcus St. Julien, Organist

Support NOLA Wesley Campus Ministry by purchasing your take-out dinner(s) in the church kitchen following worship!

You Are Invited to a

Romantic Italian Dinner Sunday, March 19

6 pm

A 7 Course Italian Dinner with Special Music

$25 per person

All Couples, Partners, Dates, Singles, and Ages are Welcome!

100% of all ticket sales go to Luke’s House Free Clinic

sponsored by the Rayne

Canned Goods Most Needed

Most needed for distribution are items with easy open lids requiring no can opener. Suggestions are high protein foods such as peanut butter, tuna packets, ravioli, chili, spaghettios, soups, chicken and dumplings, fruits and vegetables. _________________________________________________

Always Needed at the Donation Station Hotel-sized amenities: soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, as well as razors, reading glasses, and bandaids. _________________________________________________

Crescent City Café This young adult ministry, “compelled by the love of Christ,” serves a gourmet breakfast restaurant-style with dignity and grace to those in need twice monthly. The next café will be this Saturday, March 4, 8 am in the Fellowship Hall. To donate or volunteer, go to www.crescentcitycafe.com _________________________________________________

Comfort Food Sunday, March 12, the Pepper Team will be preparing a meal to be served on Tuesday, March 14, at The Open Table. To join the Salt, Pepper, Spice, or Tabasco Team, email susie.vanderkuy@raynenola.org _________________________________________________

The Open Table Servers are welcome at the Open Table! If you would like to serve Comfort Food, join us at 2700 Louisiana Avenue on Tuesday, March 14, at 3 pm.

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We Welcome Sunday Morning Volunteers Greeters, Ushers, Kitchen Crew If you are able and willing to help with any of these tasks on Sunday morning, email nancy.hopkins@raynenola.org

Opportunities for Service

New Comfort Food Team Organizing for Service Team Tabasco!

This team will cook meals to be served on 5th Tuesdays at The Open Table.

Captain Robert Connolly will lead this Comfort Food Team. Can you help?

Contact 504-899-3431.

Help NOLA Wesley, Our Campus Ministry Would you like to invest in the church's future? College campuses are the front lines where that future is being determined. The NOLA Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry provides a safe, welcoming environment where Tulane and Loyola students are empowered to dream and challenged to grow in their discipleship. We invite you to partner with us by providing a one-time donation at www.gofundme.com/nolawesley or becoming a monthly patron at www.patreon.com/nolawesley.

We can help Melody and Alberta Pate rebuild their flooded home and business

by supporting “Those Nuts” at gracielouisenutt.com Facebook/GracieLouiseNutt

Instagram/GracieLouiseNutt 10% of “Those Nuts” proceeds return to Rayne!

Can You Provide a Meal for NOLA Wesley Students? Please let us know if you are able to provide a meal on Sunday, April 9, to feed 15 - 20 students in conjunction with the weekly worship. Please call the church office at 504-899-3431 or email Shaun at shaun.darnall@raynenola.org

Spring Mission Trip

March 24-29

NOLA Wesley is inviting members of area churches to join hands with them in

rebuilding flooded homes in Leesville, LA Cost: $250 covers food, lodging, transportation,

insurance and building materials

To learn more, email nolawesleyumcc@gmail.com

Children’s Book Drive We are still collecting books for a school which lost its library in the August floods. New or gently used books are needed for K-5th grade. You may place your contributions in the bin near the church kitchen.

In the Wake of the New Orleans East Tornadoes If you would like to donate to the United Methodist Committee on Relief or volunteer to help rebuild a home, go to www.louisianadisasterresponse.com If you would like to join a team of Rayne volunteers who will be going

into the devastated area to help repair or rebuild a home, contact John Sullivan at sullivan1000@yahoo.com

Get Your Take-Out Dinner after Church this Sunday!

Support our student campus ministry at NOLA Wesley by purchasing your take-out dinner(s) in the church kitchen following worship this Sunday!

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

School for Contemplative Living Classes, Workshops

and Retreats Watch the newsletter

for details.

Friday, March 24, 7-9 pm "Dreams as Sacred

Encounter," with Rodger Kamenetz

Saturday, April 22, 9 am-1 pm "Cultivating

Self-Compassion," with Lara Naughton

Saturday, May 20, 9 am-1 pm "Contemplative Practice," with Fr. Ephrem Arcement

A Lenten Study led by

Rev. Susan Gaumer The Wednesdays of Lent

Beginning March 8 6 pm

Rayne Parlor Text: Virgin Time, by Patricia Hampl

Explore the difference between contemplative prayer and “praying without ceasing.”

Grace-Based Parents Class Begins New Study Sunday, March 5, 9:45 am

Room 201 Are you feeling adrift in the up-and-down journey of parenting?

Join this class of parents of all ages for a book study and discussion of Paul Tripp's

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family.

Confirmation Begins! Sundays, March 12-May 28

9:50-10:50 In the “Upper Room” of the Hannah Chapel

All 5th graders - you are invited to join this class and engage in “close encounters” with the Christian faith via discussion, games, activities, and experiences designed to help you understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

On Pentecost Sunday, June 4, at 11 am, members of this group who are ready to do so may be confirmed as full members of the church! Contact natalie.derham@raynenola.org for information.

Lent 2017

Close Encounters with Jesus on the Way to the Cross

A Sermon Series _____________________________________

Sunday, March 5 Jesus and the Tempter by Callie Crawford

Sunday, March 12 Jesus and Nicodemus

by William Thiele

Sunday, March 19 Jesus and the Woman at the Well by Max Zehner

Sunday, March 26 Jesus and the Man Born Blind

by Amanda Price

Sunday April 2 Jesus and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus 8:45 am by Ellen Blue

11 am by John Winn and Carole Cotton Winn

Palm Sunday, April 9 Jesus and Judas by Callie Crawford

Maundy Thursday, 7 pm, April 13 Jesus and Simon Peter

by Callie Crawford

Easter Sunday, April 16 Jesus and Mary Magdalene by Callie Crawford

The Wednesdays of Lent

6-7 pm Fellowship Hall

Join us for candlelight communion

featuring brief video messages from Adam Hamilton’s,

Creed: What Christians

Believe and Why, followed by

small group discussions led by our pastors.

The Kids’ Café will open at 5:30 pm

and the Children’s Choir will rehearse at 6 pm.

Worship Leaders

Altar Guild Nancy and Bob Hopkins, Jan Jeter

Head Ushers Bob Moffett, Gary Kennan, Doug Comeaux

Head Greeters Mable Thomas, Carol Thiele, Barbara Clark, Elisabeth Rietvelt, Susie VanderKuy

Sound System Justin “Razz” Hunter

Sundays 5-7 pm Youth Fellowship

5-6:30 pm Women’s Covenant Group

Mondays 10 am Staff Meeting

6 pm Ministry Meetings

6:30 pm Rayne 20/30 for Young Adults

6:30 pm AA Meeting

Tuesdays Noon Brown Bag Covenant Group

1 pm Intercessory Prayer Group

3 pm Open Table

5:30-8 pm Luke’s House Free Clinic

6:30 pm Covenant Group

Wednesdays 6 pm Children’s Choir seasonal

6 pm Wednesday Classes

7 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm Overeaters Anonymous

Thursdays 9:30 am Mom’s Bible Study

9:30 am Sacred Yoga Parker UMC

6:30-9 pm Luke’s House Free Clinic

7 pm Al-Anon/AA Meetings

Saturday 9 am STAIR Tutoring

Each W

eek A

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ayne

Meetings Coming Up

Thursday, March 2, 6 pm Charge Conference

Monday, March 6, 6 pm

Staff Parish Relations Committee

Let Us Pray —All those who have lost their homes because of the tornadoes in NO East; Sam Ramer, Johnny Winn, Jude Pritchard-Rooney, Jill Holland, Ruth Hammond, Bea Norris, Todd Phillips, Neil Viles, Debby Hyman, Barbara Clark, Stephanie Sonnier, Mary Ann Frazier, Catherine Thiele, Sarah Biles, Brady Whitten, Andrew McLetchie, Margie Mielke, Rosalie Young, Brenda Frey, Barbara Everett, Laura Coatney, Kelsey Way, Dan Sikes, Jillian Hurst, Mirtha Blanco, Denise Trahant, Eleanor Slate, Bryan Slate and the residents and staff of Grace House.

We Share the Joy —of Joel Underwood and his family in the birth of triplet grandchildren—Jonah Romeo, Madeleine Luna, and Olivia Grey!

Thank You —to all those who volunteered to work with the Rayne Youth to staff the potties at the parades! —to the Rayne 20/30 Young Adults for providing the lunch last Sunday to raise funds for the Crescent City Café; —to all those who have contributed to our daily emailed Lenten devotions—watch for yours each day!

Announcements

OUth

Charge Conference An important called session of the Church/Charge Conference will be held on Thursday, March 2, 6 pm in the Hannah Chapel. All members of the Church Council are urged to be in attendance.

Brass Bash! The annual fundraiser to benefit Luke’s House Free Medical Clinic will be on Friday, March 31, at 6:30 pm, at One Eyed Jacks. Order tickets online at www.brassbash.com

End-of-Year Statements The 2016 Contribution Statements have been emailed, but if you would prefer a hard copy, contact the church office at 504-899-3431.

Birthday Sunday Join us for cake and Ice Cream 504 at noon on Sunday, March 12 when we will celebrate all our March birthdays!

First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Psalm 32

Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11

Find a connection with friends faith, food, fun, and fellowship!

On Sunday, March 5, 5 - 7 pm we will begin a new study. Come see what it is!

All youth 6-12th grades are welcome.

For youth information, email shaun.darnall@raynenola.org

Thank you to all of the 2017 Mardi Gras volunteers!

We have a “super crew” and this was one of our

strongest years yet! Come on, parades, let’s roll!