We Welcome All!

We warmly welcome all to worship with Rayne this Sunday at 8:45 AM and 11:00 AM.

We welcome you 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!

This Week (Wednesday, September 30 - Saturday, October 3)

WED 5:30 - 6:00 PM Wednesday Family Meal (Carriage House)

WED 6 - 7 PM Children's Bell Choir (Sanctuary)

WED 6 - 7 PM Children's Choir (Hannah Chapel)

WED 6 - 7 PM Middle School Youth Group (Epiphany House, Conference Room)

WED 6 - 7 PM Nursery (Bynum Education Building, Room #118)

WED 6 - 7 PM What We Believe: Faith in a Real World (Epiphany House, Front Room)

WED 7 - 8:30 PM Rayne Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary, Choir Loft)

THU 6:30 - 7:30 AM Guys' Bible Study (Epiphany House, Front Room)

THU 11:15 AM - 12 PM Worship Prep (Sanctuary)

THU 3 - 5 PM Rayne Food Pantry Open (Parsonage Basement)

THU 6 - 7 PM Stewardship Committee (Epiphany House, Conference Room)

SAT 8 - 9:30 AM Crescent City Cafe (Carriage House, Pitt Street Entrance)

SAT 9 - 10 AM UMM Bible Study (Epiphany House, Front Room)

Next Week (Sunday, October 4 - Saturday, October 10)

SUN 8:30 AM - 12 PM Glass Recycling Collection (Corner of Pitt and Constantinople)

SUN 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM Nursery (Rooms #118 and #119)

SUN 8:45 - 9:45 AM Worship (Sanctuary)

SUN 9:50 - 10:50 AM Sunday School Hour

SUN 11 AM - 12 PM Worship (Sanctuary)

SUN 12 - 1:30 PM Children's Team Meeting (Epiphany House)

SUN 4 - 5 PM Sunday Evening Bible Study (Epiphany House, Front Room)

SUN 5:30 - 6:30 PM Women's Covenant Group (Epiphany House, Front Room)

SUN 5:30 - 7 PM High School Youth Group (Carriage House)

MON 9:30 - 10:30 AM Prayer Team Meeting (Epiphany House, Front Room)

MON 6 - 7:30 PM Adult Handbell Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

TUE 10 AM - 12 PM Rayne Food Pantry Open (Parsonage Basement)

TUE 12 - 1 PM Women's Covenant Group (Epiphany House, Dining Room)

TUE 6 - 7 PM Worship Committee (Epiphany House, Front Room)

TUE 6 - 7 PM Mah Jongg Open Play (Epiphany House, Sunroom)

TUE 6 - 8 PM Mah Jongg Beginner Session #2 (Epiphany House, Sunroom)

WED 5:30 - 6:00 PM Wednesday Family Meal (Carriage House)

WED 6 - 7 PM Children's Bell Choir (Sanctuary)

WED 6 - 7 PM Children's Choir (Hannah Chapel)

WED 6 - 7 PM Middle School Youth Group (Epiphany House, Conference Room)

WED 6 - 7 PM Nursery (Bynum Education Building, Room #118)

WED 6 - 7 PM What We Believe: Faith in a Real World (Epiphany House, Front Room)

WED 7 - 8:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary, Choir Loft)

THU 6:30 - 7:30 AM Guys' Bible Study (Epiphany House, Front Room)

THU 11:15 AM - 12 PM Worship Prep (Sanctuary)

THU 3 - 5 PM Rayne Food Pantry Open (Parsonage Basement)

THU 6 - 7 PM Stewardship Committee (Epiphany House, Conference Room)

SAT 9 - 10 AM UMM Bible Study (Epiphany House, Front Room)

What We Believe: Faith in a Real World

Wednesdays, Sept. 9 - Oct. 10, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

The Epiphany House Front Room

What does it mean to follow Jesus in the real world we share?

In this Bible study led by Rev. Marissa, we’ll explore Scripture alongside the United Methodist Social Principles, asking how our faith shapes the way we understand our neighbors, our communities, and the world around us. Together, we’ll wrestle with questions of justice, compassion, dignity, creation, and the common good. Not simply to decide what we think, but to consider how our beliefs call us to live.

Come ready to learn, ask honest questions, and discover how our faith can move from what we believe to how we live. The group will meet for six weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM beginning September 9.

Mah Jongg Open Play and Beginner Sessions

Tuesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

The Epiphany House Sunroom

All Mah Jongg players are welcome to join our open play sessions every Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Epiphany House Sunroom. To learn how to play American Mah Jongg, reserve your space in the fall classes by emailing Donita Qualey. Beginner sessions are on Tuesdays, September 29, October 6, and October 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Players will need to pay $15 for an American Mah Jongg card. Beginners must attend the first class.

Crescent City Cafe Open Houses

Saturday, October 3, 4:00 - 9:00 PM

4807 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115

Swing by Crescent City Cafe's two open houses this Saturday, October 3, for a sneak peek at the soon-to-open community cafe: 1 day, 2 opportunities! Learn more below.

World Communion Sunday

Sunday, October 4, 8:45 AM & 11:00 AM

The Sanctuary

Come and hear the joyful noise: this Sunday, both our Adult Handbell Choir, Children's Handbell Choir, and Children's Choir will contribute to Sunday worship. Please note that the Children's choirs will only perform during the 11:00 AM service.

Glass Recycling Collection

Sunday, October 4, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

The Corner of Pitt and Constantinople streets

Bring your glass for recycling to the driveway at the corner of Constantinople and Pitt streets from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 4. Please remember to rinse jars that contained a food product, and to remove bottle caps and corks; labels are okay.

Faithworks Sunday School Class begins a new study

Sunday, October 4, 9:50 -10:50 AM

Epiphany House, Front Room

The Faithworks Sunday School class will begin a new study of Genesis: A Beginner's Guide to the Beginning by Amy-Jill Levine this Sunday, October 4, at 9:50 AM in the Epiphany House Front Room. Levine explores the Old Testament, inviting readers to re-examine familiar stories of the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, the Near Sacrifice of Isaac, and more. All are welcome to join the class at any time; books are provided. Please contact Ann Middleton with questions.

Community Vision Workshop

Saturday, October 24, 9 AM - 12 PM

The Sanctuary

What makes Rayne… Rayne?

The Louisiana United Methodist Office of Congregational Vitality will facilitate a workshop to help Rayne leadership better understand member experiences. The workshop will consist of guided small-group conversations where participants will share how Rayne has impacted their lives. Help us untangle Rayne’s core identity, identify shared memories, highlight important practices unique to Rayne, and understand our church community’s shared values. Responses from the workshop will be used to form a guiding vision statement. Come and contribute to this shared dialogue and help shape Rayne’s future! Meet in the Sanctuary, Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Light bites and refreshments will be provided. 

We have a new way to sign up for roles in worship on Realm! Here you will find opportunities for both adults and children to serve as ushers, communion servers, acolytes, and scripture readers. You can choose the Sunday and the service you prefer to serve, and you will be prepped for the role by Rev. Marissa, Rev. Mary, or Nancy Hopkins. Click the link below and connect with our Rayne family through service.

Thank you for your patience, continued flexibility, and for caring for one another during this transition period. As always, our staff and steering committee are happy to answer your questions and address your concerns. We cannot wait to celebrate the new space together.

If you’d like to see what’s happening throughout the building—and what’s coming next—check out our Restoration & Renewal Construction Tracker below for the latest updates.

Entrance Closures

• The Pitt Street Entrance (under the green awning) is closed until further notice.
• Please enter through the Sanctuary entrance on Saint Charles Avenue and through Rayne's Early Childhood Preschool entrance on Pitt Street for an ADA route. The Circle Drive entrance is also now open!
• The General Taylor Street sidewalk is now closed.

Elevator Updates

• Elevator repairs are scheduled for later this week.

The Westerfield Building

• The Fellowship Hall is now fully closed for construction. Please see the photo above for a first look at the newly sanded floors in the Fellowship Hall!
• The Friendship Room and the Library have had new carpet installed.
• The Westerfield Building bathrooms have been tiled.

Food Pantry

• The Food Pantry had a new air conditioning unit installed last week.

Rayne has transitioned to Realm, an online ministry tool designed for real-time connection. Sign in or sign up by visiting onrealm.org/raynenola or scan the QR code to the right!

Additionally, download Connect, a smart phone application, to access Realm on your phone! Download Connect on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Email realm@raynenola.org with questions.