Thursday, October 22, 2026

CENTERING MUSIC

Chaconne in B-flat Major, BWV Anh. 82 by Johann Bernhard Bach

OPENING HYMN

UMH 549 Where Charity and Love Prevail vv. 1, 2, 3, & 6

SUNG INVITATION TO PRAYER

TFWS 2213 Healer of Our Every Ill vv. 1 & 3

OFFERTORY

8:30 a.m. Come Alive (Dry Bones) by Lauren Daigle and Michael Farren Chapel Choir & Elise Strain, piano

11 a.m. God's Peace by B.F. White arr. C.J. Adams

Chancel Choir & Andre Courville, piano

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 22:23-40

SERMON

The Fruit of Love: Final Sermon in a Four Part Series

(Stewardship: Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom of God)

Rev. Jay Hogewood

CLOSING HYMN

UMH 581 Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service

POSTLUDE

Fanfare en Rondeau by Jean-Joseph Mouret

Join Us Online on Our Website, YouTube, and Facebook:

https://universitymethodist.org/worship/online-worship

https://www.facebook.com/universitymethodist

https://www.youtube.com/uumcbr

• Stewardship Reflection 2026
• Register TODAY for Rise Against Hunger
• Church Directory Photography
• Teacher Recognition Service
• Children’s Sabbath

• Can We Be More “Vile”?
• Game Day Parking Volunteers
• Fall Fest Highlights
• Kids Hope

Stewardship Reflection 2026

When Rev. Jay asked us to share our thoughts on stewardship, we started by brainstorming words that came to mind when we thought of University United Methodist Church. The top word on both our lists was gratitude.

After moving to Baton Rouge as newlyweds in August 1978 and settling into our first home together, a small graduate assistant’s apartment in LSU’s Power Hall, we quickly looked for a Methodist church to visit. We imagined we would attend several before finding our church home, but after one Sunday at UUMC, we knew we didn’t need to look further.

As we look back over decades of membership, we are so grateful for the spiritual nurture the church has provided for our two sons and for us; for the meaningful, challenging, and comforting worship we have experienced for decades; for the vibrant music program that has inspired, entertained, and provided opportunities for artistic expression for our entire family; for the fellowship and close friendships we have found among the UUMC congregation; for the support we have felt in times of joy and loss; and for the opportunities to grow, witness, and serve God’s kingdom through work areas and outreach ministries.

In short, we cannot imagine what our life together would have been like without our beloved church.

In this stewardship season, we are praying about our pledge and anticipating all the ways we can continue to give. Our gratitude ultimately centers on God’s love and grace for us, revealed in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are so very thankful and ready to heed John Wesley’s challenge to give all we can.

Bob and Lucy Smith

Register TODAY for Rise Against Hunger

On Sunday, November 1, University UMC is hosting a Rise Against Hunger event during which volunteers will pack more than 10,000 meals that will be sent to countries around the globe. For those of you who have participated in RAH in the past, you know how much fun this event can be for the entire family! The packing will take place from 4 - 6 p.m. We will need four to five volunteers to come earlier from 3 - 4 p.m. to help with offloading supplies from the RAH truck. Cleanup is immediately following packing. All of the jobs are easy and the kids have a great time while learning about how important it is to help hungry families in impoverished countries. The event will take place in the Fellowship Hall.

Registration Link: Register here!

Youtube: Introduction Video

Questions? Call Betty Backstrom at (225) 572-3348.  

Church Directory Photography 

It’s time for a new church directory! Join us November 19-21 for our Connections Event and be part of our new church family album. Professional photography sessions will be available at the church, and will take place in the library. Every family photographed by Universal Church Directories will receive a complimentary 8×10 portrait and a directory. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our church family, connect generations, and help us stay connected. Questions can be directed to office@universitymethodist.org. Sign up today and help us to make this the best church directory yet!

Days of Photography:

November 19-21

Thursday: 2–8:30 p.m.

Friday: 2–8:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

You can sign up for your photography session here: http://www.ucdir.com/

Church ID: LA215

Church Password: photosLA215

Teacher Recognition Service

Join us on October 25 at 11 a.m. as we celebrate and honor the dedication, hard work, and contributions of our amazing teachers and staff at UMPA and the After School Program!

Children's Sabbath 

Join us on November 8 for a special worship service led by the children of UUMC! Come celebrate as our children take charge and lead us in worship.

Can We Be More "Vile"?

6 week session Oct 11 - Nov 15: a lively discussion about our Methodist heritage of holiness and Christ-centered mission “Vile-tality”— a term coined by Dr. Ashley Boggan (UMC General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History) to describe holy rule-bending; vile-tality calls us to embrace discipleship that dares to disrupt injustice and include the excluded. It’s a vision rooted deeply in John Wesley’s practical missiology: field preaching, grassroots community, social engagement, and leadership activation. This is not nostalgia; it’s renewal. It’s not about maintenance; it’s about mission. The DNA of our Methodist movement has always been bold, Spirit-led, and unapologetically focused on reaching those left out and left behind.

Game Day Parking Volunteers

The next LSU home game will be November 7. For more information please reach out to edodd2@cox.net

Fall Fest Highlights

A HUGE thank you to our UUMC church family and all of our amazing volunteers who helped make this event so special! We are so grateful for everyone who gave their time, energy, and love to help make it all happen. 

One of the most special things about this year was seeing SO many people share our event on social media! That extra love and support truly made a difference, and we could see it in the incredible turnout! We were able to welcome so many new faces, connect with more families, and share a little more of that UUMC love with our local community. Just when we thought everyone had arrived, even MORE amazing families came around the corner! What a beautiful reminder of how wonderful our community is and how much joy there is in coming together.

Kids Hope



Kindergarten Mentors are in full swing now meeting with their children on Tuesday afternoons. After reading and practicing ABCs and 123s, everyone gathers around and plays games together to practice sharing, taking turns, and being a good sport. It is a joyful sight to behold! 

Garden Team is in need of some extra hands on deck as we are now meeting with 35-40 1st and 5th graders on Tuesday mornings from 8:00-8:45 a.m. No gardening experience needed…just a willing spirit to engage with precious kids in the garden. 

Fall Semester Garden Team:

• October 27
• November 3 - ELECTION DAY- No gardening
• November 10
• November 17 - Friendsgiving Celebration in the Garden
• November 24 - THANKSGIVING BREAK
• December 1
• December 8 - last garden day fall semester

Shirley Flake

Kids Hope Director

shirley@universitymethodist.org

Church Directory



Church members who have attended within 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 learn and remember each other’s names!

Bernice Nicholson, The family of Nova Glasgow Church-man, The family of Rev. Lamar Smith, Elliot Irby and the Irby family, Bill Nelson, Ann Barney, Stacy Hudson, Paul Miktus, Ann Flack, Khetia and Khetie Jean-Louis, Karl Buchholz, Alison McCrary, Mary Juneau, Beth Courtney, Darby Ralls, Ellen Wiemers, Garrett Ward, Gregg Jones, Jessica Roux’s Ukrainian host family, Kristine Hawkins, Lupi Sucre, Maria and Oswaldo Linares, Mindy Piontek, Robert Blackledge, Susan Horton, Susan Pourciau, the family of Arnold Jackson, the Bickham family, Wesley Foundation leader-ship, Melanie Brooke Civils, and all those in our congregation who are in nursing homes or homebound.