Beginning on Sunday, June 4th, this summer promises to be unforgettable as we come together for a single worship service held at 10 a.m. to foster meaningful conversations and deeper connections.

Our devotional booklets are designed to accompany you throughout these nine weeks, offering suggested bible verses, motivational quotes, and thought-provoking questions that will inspire thoughtful discussions and meaningful connections.

Click Here to View our Devotional Guide.

We have arranged a series of talks on community interest topics to foster meaningful connections. A diverse group of speakers has been invited to discuss how these areas relate to ministry. Please refer below for the schedule of speakers, dates, and topics.

June 4th Speaker Recap:

Thank you to Dr. Amanda Staiano for speaking with us on June 4th. She provided us with background on eating, moving, and sitting with our children. Amanda conducts surveys through the LSU Biomedical Pennington Research Center to conclude children’s diets across the country. She found that the older the child becomes, they began having a  decline in their balanced diet, especially in whole grains and vegetables. The fruit was deemed as a constant in children’s diets due to the sweetness in many fruits but a decline in green leafy vegetables as they are sometimes bitter and untasty. She warned us to stay away from added sugars that can be found in juice and cereal as our food already has natural sugars which meet our sugar intake. She educated families on moving more with their children and focusing less on body image and weight, and focusing on eating healthier as a family. She recommended 3 hours of moderate to vigorous activity should take place throughout the day with school ages reduced to 1 hour of movement daily. Screen time is not always negative. There are educational games and shows that could be helpful to introduce, but keeping a healthy balance between screen time and movement is key to being healthy.

June 11th Speakers Recap:

Thank you to Kevin Folivi and Dr. Veronica Sanders for speaking with us on June 11th. Kevin Folivi is a former Kids Hope member and shared with us some of his fondest memories during his time there. He also encouraged parents to enroll their children in Kids Hope for the many benefits, experiences, and families their children will gain. The principal of University Terrace now being remodeled into Mckinley Elementary School, Dr. Veronica Sanders, spoke about her connection to UUMC through the Kids Hope program. She told stories about her students gaining life skills from the Kids Hope Gardening volunteers and about the peace and joy that UUMC provides herself and her faculty with. She ended on a thoughtful note that she will always encourage her staff and students to connect with UUMC.

June 18th Speakers Recap:

Please take a few moments to watch the conversation with Rev. Katie and Lay Delegates. The title of their talk was “An Update on the Life of Louisiana Methodism.”
Click Here to Watch the Conversation

June 25th Speaker Recap:

Thank you to Dustin LaFont for speaking with us on June 25th. LaFonte opened up with an inspiring video featured on CNN Heros, highlighting his organization and our children of the future. To see this video, please click the link below. If you are interested in more information about FYB and their amazing interns, staff, volunteering opportunities, or donating, please follow their website link below.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/06/us/louisiana-bike-repair-success-mentor-cnnheroes/index.html
https://www.frontyardbikes.com/

July 9th Speaker Recap:
Thank you to Summer Steib for speaking with us on July 9th. Steib discussed some of the challenges and successes LSU has faced in ensuring a safe and inclusive campus for the LGBTQ+ community. To aid in her speech, she provided us with a presentation full of information and questions to spark your interest. The presentation is linked here.

July 16th Speaker Recap:
Thank you to Joseph LeBoeuf, University United Methodists’ Youth Director, for speaking with us on July 16th. To aid in his speech, he provided us with a presentation packed with information and questions to drive your creativity. Click this link to view the presentation, “Are Robots Going to Replace Us: Living Faithfully in an AI World.”

July 23rd Speaker Recap:
Thank you to Dr. John Fletcher, one of our lay delegates, for speaking with us on July 23rd. To aid in his speech, he provided us with a presentation filled with information. To review the presentation please email communications@universitymethodist.org.

July 30th Speaker Recap:
Thank you to Olivia Puccio for speaking with us about the culture of bullying and its aftermath. She spoke on bullying in schools and on social media, social media being the new place where bullies aim to attack others. If you would like to watch the conversation or review a copy of her presentation please email youth@universitymethodist.org.