- Staff Changes
- January Sermon Series
- Centenary College Choir Performance
- Give Me A Word Class
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- Kids Hope News
- Family Ministries Field Trip to Global Wildlife
- LSU Student Lunch
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Dear Church Family,
I want to share an important staffing update with you.
Alaina Clemons has accepted a new position that is more closely aligned with her educational background, and as a result, she will be stepping down from her full-time role with the church. We are grateful that Alaina has offered to remain with us in a part-time capacity for a limited time to continue handling several critical tasks while we work through this transition.
The church is already moving diligently to fill this position; however, this staffing change will have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of the church office until the role is fully filled. During this interim period, our ability to provide some services as quickly as we have in the past will be affected. Simply put, the same amount of work is now being done by one fewer person, and certain requests or responses may take longer than usual.
Pastor Katie and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee are asking for your support in three important ways:
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Volunteer, if you are able. We will need assistance in the church office, particularly with answering phones and being present to help as needs arise. If you are interested in assisting, please contact Emma Burke at emmaburke@gmail.com.
- Help us identify candidates. If you know someone who you believe would be a good fit for the role of Office Administrator, please encourage them to contact the church and apply.
- Extend patience and grace. This transition leaves a significant gap and will necessarily change how the church office functions in the short term.
Finally, I ask that you keep all of our church staff, clergy, and lay leaders in your prayers as we begin the process of finding the next person to support the administrative work that makes our ministries possible.
Thank you for your understanding, your willingness to help, and your continued faithfulness to the life of our church.
Grace and peace,
Robert Hoke
Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee
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January Sermon Series
Life constantly tells us to be more—more polished, more productive, more in control. But what if God is already at work right in the middle of our unfinished, imperfect lives? In this four-week series called "New Mercies," we’ll explore what it means to live with courage, compassion, and connection, drawing on insights and the wisdom of Scripture.
Together we’ll learn to let go of perfectionism, shame, and the fear of “not enough,” so we can receive the grace to grow, tell the truth about our struggles, and show up more fully for God, ourselves, and one another.
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Centenary College Choir Performance
Dr. Dave Hobson and the Centenary College Choir gave an incredible performance on Sunday evening at University UMC in our sanctuary!
This rare and wonderful chance to gather and enjoy the choir's gift of music was enjoyed by many. A generous love offering of $800 was collected during the performance.
Thank you to the Tuesday Night Wesley Group for providing and serving a delicious dinner for the choir before they headed back to Shreveport that evening. Also, thanks to Mary Michael Staples for providing and arranging table settings for the meal.
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Give Me a Word Class
Join us in January as we read Give Me a Word by Christine Paintner. In this class, our practice will be to choose a word in January to savor throughout the year. Paintner’s book offers 30 days of short readings to help us discern what that word might be for 2026. Whether you have already chosen a word or are new to this practice, you are invited to join us in this creative way of beginning a new season.
The in-person group will meet at University UMC in Baton Rouge on Mondays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. CST, January 12 through February 2. A Zoom group will meet on Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. CST, January 13 through February 3. The book is available on Amazon and through other book retailers.
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Join us for an evening of music with The Rough & Tumble at University United Methodist Church on Sunday, January 25.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. This hardscrabble folk/Americana duo, featuring Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, delivers engaging performances with accordions, guitars, ukuleles, close harmonies, and unique percussion. Known for their stark honesty, compelling storytelling, and well-crafted melodies, The Rough & Tumble promise a one-of-a-kind concert experience, especially following their 2024 release Hymns For My Atheist Sister and Her Friends To Sing Along To.
A suggested donation of $20 per individual or $50 per family is appreciated, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All are welcome to join us for this memorable evening of music and community.
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Kids Hope News
Thank you, UUMC, for a wonderful 2025 at our partner school! Our mentoring pairs, book clubs, garden team, and teacher encouragers all thrived thanks to the dedication of our faithful volunteers and the generosity of those who support us through donations and prayer.
As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to make an even greater impact. If you’re interested in joining this life-changing program in the new year, please reach out—we would love to have you!
Shirley Flake
Kids Hope Director
shirley@universitymethodist.org
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Family Ministries Field Trip to Global Wildlife
Join us for a fun Family Ministries field trip to Global Wildlife on Sunday, January 25, at 2 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon together exploring the park and spending time with other families.
Registration is available through Planning Center. Please register as soon as possible so we can get an accurate headcount!
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LSU Student Lunch
We invite all students to join us for our FREE LSU Lunch on Sunday, January 25, at 12 p.m. in our Library! Invite a friend who would enjoy a hot meal!
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Church Directory
Church members whom we have record of attendance in the last year have been invited to the church directory. If you haven't received your invitation, use the link below to access your profile. If the link does not work for you or if you have any questions, please email Rev. Mary Rachel at revmaryrachel@universitymethodist.org. If you haven't already, we'd love for you to upload a photo of yourself and your family to the directory. Pictures help us to learn each other's names and remember each other's names.
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The memorial service for Barbara Hughes will be on January 23 at University United Methodist Church with visitation at 10 a.m., the service at 11 a.m., and a reception following.
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Pat Ketelsen, the family of Barbara Hughes, Alison McCrary, Mary Juneau, Beth Courtney, Charlotte Love, Darby Ralls, Ellen Wiemers, Garrett Ward, Gregg Jones, Janet Grace, Jessica Roux’s Ukrainian Host Family, Kristine Hawkins, family of Liz Savoie Chandler, Lupi Sucre, Maria and Oswaldo Linares, Mindy Piontek, Penny Delaney, Rev. Linda Joseph, Robert Blackledge, Susan Horton, Susan Pourciau, the family of Arnold Jackson, Trey Bickham, Lou Bickham, Wesley Foundation Leadership, Melanie Brooke Civils, and all of those in our congregation who are in nursing homes or homebound.
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