CHURCH OFFICE AND CHILDREN'S CENTER CLOSED, July 4. 

UMW GENERAL MEETING, Tuesday,July 5, 10:00 a.m., Parlor.   All women are welcome to join the United Methodist Women for fellowship and refreshments during their monthly program.

HOPE HOUSE MEAL ASSEMBLY, Tuesday, July 12, 3:00 p.m., Ark.  Volunteers are needed to make sandwiches each month for sack meals for Hope House - each person or family makes 10 or more sandwiches the 2nd Tuesday of the month.  These meals are then assembled that same day at 3:00 p.m. in Noel's Ark.  Meals are then delivered and handed out at Hope House.  Volunteers can meet to help assemble meals and/or assist in handing them out.  Total time involved:  Meal assembly-3:00-4:00 p.m., meal assembly & delivery-3:00-4:30 p.m.  Hope House is a drop-in center for homeless people to receive assistance. If your group would like to sponsor a month, either hands-on or financially, please contact Rachel Scott at 797-8721 or scottrl@bellsouth.net.

PICNIC & PRAISE - A WOMENS' EVENT, Monday,July 18, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Worship Center.  Come enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun as Annette Fortuna delivers a message on the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.  Everyone will bring their own sack supper to enjoy with the lemonade and watermelon provided.  Everyone is also asked to bring a can of tuna and a loaf of bread to donate to those in need as part of the closing worship for the evening.  Call the church office to register at 221-5207.  A nursery will be available and if you need a ride, please contact the church office and we will schedule a driver to pick you up.

NOEL COMMUNITY ARTS SUMMER MUSIC & ART CAMP, Monday, July 18-Friday, July 22, 8:00a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Children 6-11 years old are invited to join us as we explore the music and art of "The Wizard of Oz" culminating in an end of the week performance.  The cost is $50.00 per child; snacks included.  Partial and full scholarships are available based on need.  Limited spaces available.  To register, print the form at www.noelumc.org/NCAP and mail it with your check.  For questions, call Erin Fort at (318) 573-5913.

UMW CIRCLE #1 MEETING, Tuesday, July 19, 10:00 a.m., Parlor.  Interested in joining United Methodist Women?  A circle meeting is a great way to find out what UMW is all about.  Circle #1 meets every third Tuesday at Noel Church.  Contact  Daisy Snelling, at 929-3225 for information.

CHURCH COUNCIL, Tuesday, July 19, 7:00 p.m., Worship Center.  All members of the congregation are encouraged and welcome to come.

FRIENDLY CIRCLE, Thursday, July 21, 10:30 a.m., Parlor.  This month's program will be Dr. John Hall speaking about "Indians."  The lunch menu will be Chicken Salad, green salad, fruit, crackers, dessert, tea & coffee at a cost of $3.00 per person.

MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS SUMMER CAMP, Monday, July 25-Friday, July 29, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Noel Church. How would you like to spend a full week changing the world?  You can do that, one mission at a time, at Mission Possible Kids Camp.  With a variety of missions, some on-site and some out in the community, there's always something to interest any "agent."  It's also a great opportunity to rack up missions and advance in rank quickly!  This camp is for kids who have completed grades 3, 4, or 5, and there is a $10 fee.

In this world of instant messaging, fast food, and quick fixes, it is no surprise to learn that long-term commitment and dedication are still alive and well here at Noel.  Such is the case with the Wednesday Morning Men's Bible Study.  It takes years of love and research to have a well-worn Bible like Larry Rice's (above left), but it stands as a testament to this long-running group.  "This is the highlight of my week,"  says member John Clary, who considers himself one of the newer members having started in the early nineties.  Enjoy the following history that is still thriving every Wednesday morning.

During 1978, Rev. Albert Trickett, Associate Minister at Noel, began this Bible study which met at 7:00 a.m. in what is now Noel Café.  The meeting ended promptly at 8:00 a.m. allowing those working to get to their jobs on time.

The group began with about 14 regular members, most from the Men's Bible Class, which Rev. Trickett also taught on Sunday mornings.  His plan was to start in the Old Testament in Genesis and study in detail several patriarchs of the Bible beginning with Abraham.  Rev. Trickett supplied the group with various pastries throughout the years, while the church provided juice and coffee.  They were partial to "bear claws."

Five or six translations of the Bible were used to read and study the scriptures selected each week, followed by discussions of meaning, relevance to daily life, and comments in general.  Some people spoke every meeting, others simply listened. 

When Rev. Trickett transferred to Baton Rouge in June 1979, the group asked Lane Sartor to take over the responsibilities of the study-pastries included. 

Once Lane took over, the group decided to follow a Bible commentary booklet titled, The Layman's Bible Commentary.  It took several years to finish the Old Testament.   The group spent 18 months on Isaiah alone, with some sessions limited to two or three verses.  The group continued into the New Testament and  moved onto the Bible commentaries of the great Scotch theologian, William Barclay.  Following the same format that had been used successfully for years, the group concluded a 33-year journey through the Bible earlier this year. 

While Lane Sartor remains the only original member of the group, with some members having died, become homebound, or having moved away, others have come to take their place and continue this tradition. 

The group recently began a new study of Romans, Chapters 8-16.  If you are interested in joining this group, they meet Wednesday mornings from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. in Noel Café, pastries and all.  You can contact teachers Lane Sartor at 869-4100 or Warren Thornell at 424-4777 for more details.