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Wholeness
for our Clergy, Congregations, and
Communities | |
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| Connecting
Points |
Outreach Newsletter
February
2010 | |
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| Dear Michelle,
 At
the prayer service at the Emmanuel Haitian Mission after
the earthquake, an elderly gentleman stood up to
testify. He said that the week before the quake,
he had a vision in which, "heaven speaks, the earth is
crying". It was humbling to worship with our
Haitian congregations and to hear them praising God even
as they waited to hear news of family members or grieved
for loved ones who did not survive. Rev.
Harold Nicoleau, Pastor at Taft Memorial UMC, said he
and the whole Haitian community have been amazed by the
outpouring of love and concern. Now it is
time to see how we can help in the long term. On
Saturday, March 20th, there will be a meeting to discuss
forming volunteer work teams from the District.
The goal will be to unite churches in service and to
work with leadership from our Haitian congregations in
forming the teams. (See announcement below.)
If we begin planning now, we will be ready when teams
are allowed in several months from now.
When I first worshiped with Haitian
congregations many years ago, I heard the music of a
hymn I recognized. I sang the words softly in
English as the beautiful Haitian voices surrounded me in
Kreyol . . .
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my
lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is
well, with my soul.
May this peace of Christ be with all who sorrow and
grieve and may God use us to bring comfort and restore
hope.
Grace and peace,
Marilyn |
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 Volusia County Citrus Drive
Saturday, February 20, 2010
First UMC of DeLand from 9:00 am - 1:00
pm
Join the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) in
helping to feed the hungry with fresh citrus grown
in local backyards & groves!
1. Pick the fruit to bring to a Drop Site near you!
2. Volunteer to pick someone elses fruit!
3. Donate your citrus for someone else to pick!
4. Sponsor a box of citrus for $10.00!
To Donate or Volunteer please contact Barbara or
Becky
All ages
welcome!
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Disaster Response
Ministries
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Response to
Haiti Earthquake
Work Team Planning Meeting
Representatives from EC
District Congregations are invited to discuss choosing a
project(s) and working together to form work teams for
rebuilding projects in Haiti. Please join
us!
Date: Saturday, March 20
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Location: Emmanuel
Haitian Mission
701 W. Concord Street, Orlando
32805 |
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 Justice for Our Neighbors
Sponsor TPS Clinics for HaitiansSaturday,
February 27, 2010
The Department of Homeland Security which oversees
the Immigration Services has declared that all Haitians
in the US at the time of the earthquake will be given
Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This status is
given when a home country is in war or major crisis and
it would not be possible for the immigrants to return
home at this time.
To qualify, Haitians who do not have current
documents must apply by July 15th. The
registration is a simple form and they must have
supporting documents. TPS will give them legal
status for the next 18 months, including work
permits. Since the devastation in Haiti is so
great, it is anticipated
that the status will be continued for several
years.
JFON will be sponsoring clinics where people can
get assistance with the paperwork and have an
immigration attorney look over the work.
Volunteers are needed to assist people in this
process.
Training will be provided at 10:30 am and lunch
will be provided for the volunteers. The clinic
will begin at 1:00 pm. Most volunteers will be
finished about 2-2:30 pm.
English speaking volunteers are needed!
Translators in Kreyol are also needed. (You do not
have to be bi-lingual to volunteer!)
Saturday, February
27
Saint Luke's United Methodist
Church
4851 S Apopka/Vineland Rd, Orlando
32819
Volunteer training 10:30 am |
TPS clients: 1:00 pm
For questions, call Lynette Fields at 407-876-4991
ext. 230 |
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Work Teams
Needed in EC District
Seminole County
Emergency Management Asks for Volunteer
Teams
Seminole County saw damage to many homes from
Tropical Storm Fay. There is still work to be
done. From Emergency Mangagement, "Our one major
need is for volunteer groups to adopt a home to complete
the interior construction needs. We have grant monies
for the supplies just need the willing hands."
Volunteer teams are also still needed in Volusia
County for home repairs from damages in Tropical Storm
Fay and the spring flooding of 2009.
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Effects of freezes in Florida
Large numbers of horticultural workers are out of
work due to the freezes. These workers are on very
low income and have little backup when they cannot
work. There is a need for food and assistance with
rent and utility funds.
Contact:
Tirso Moreno, Marcos Cristantos - Farmworkers
Association of Florida (In Pierson and with headquarters
in Apopka), or contact: Lisa Doig
at 386-490-6034
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Spiritual Response Team
Training
March 17 - 18, 2010 at Life Enrichment
Center in Fruitland Park,
FL
Spiritual Response Teams (SRT's) are faith-based,
on-going teams specially trained to provide spiritual
and emotional care following disasters. SRT's reach out
from the faith community to help disaster survivors
connect with spiritual, emotional and basic life
resources.
Participants receive a manual and certification
credentials identifying them as SRT Volunteers for the
Florida Conference. A background check is required and
volunteers must be 18 or older. NOTE:
SRT volunteers must also complete Community Arise Basic
Disaster Ministry Training before they are credentialed.
Volunteers may take the SRT training before completing
Community Arise; however, credentials will not be issued
until both trainings are completed.
Registrations must be in by Wednesday, March
10th. You may register by calling the conference
office (800) 282-8011 Ext. 149 or by email: DisasterRecovery@flumc.org. |
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Volunteer Disaster Chaplain Training Course
 Orlando, Florida - March 2-3,
2010
Co-sponsored by the Florida Crisis Consortium, FIND
and the Four Winds Foundation, this training is open to
faith leaders of all faiths. Florida participants who
complete this certification can volunteer with the
Florida Crisis Consortium or through FIND partners
across the state. NDIN can also assist unaffiliated
volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer
opportunities in local communities across the United
States. Emergency managers and disaster mental health
professionals may take this course to develop their
knowledge of spiritual care best practices. Download
Flyer [Click Here]. This
two-day training prepares faith leaders or institutional
chaplains to volunteer as disaster chaplains in mass
care settings or to serve as disaster chaplains within
their house of worship, religious community or
professional institution. Each registrant must be
endorsed for this training and/or currently serve as a
professional chaplain and/or credentialed religious
leader. Emergency managers and disaster mental health
professionals may register using their agency
affiliation. Registration
Information: March 2-3, 2010 from 8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
Seventh Day Adventist Florida Conference
Center 655 Wymore Road, Winter Park
Florida Attendance is limited to 35 participants ·
Register by February 15 Tuition is $195 - Paid in
Advance (Continental breakfast, lunch and training
materials included). This course is compliant with NIMS
(National Incident Management Systems) and incorporates
FEMA Incident Command System (IS 100) training. It also
complies with the National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disaster) Points of Consensus for Disaster
Spiritual
Care. |
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Other Ministry
Opportunities
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Salty Service
Events
EC District -
Friday, March 12 - First UMC
from 9:30 a.m. - 3:00
p.m.
This training will help congregational leaders
learn practical strategies for joining Jesus in mission
to the least, the last, the lost and the left out.
Drawing on Acts 1:8, (where Jesus said, "You will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.") participants will
explore how to do outreach ministry in a Wesleyan way in
their community, in cross-cultural situations and around
the world.
 Keynote:
Dr. Paul W. Chilcote
Professor of
Historical Theology & Wesleyan
Studies
Director, Center for Applied Wesleyan Studies,
Ashland Theological Seminary
His topic will be "Salty Service
in a Wesleyan Style"
Cost: $45 includes snacks and lunch.
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Summer Day Camp
Leader Training
March 19 - 20,
2010 at the Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland
Park
 On March 19-20, the Florida Conference's
offices of Justice and Outreach Ministries and Camps and
Retreat Ministries are offering a gathering and training
for those leaders in agencies and churches that are
currently offering or are seeking to offer day camping
to children in their community. We will gather at the
Life Enrichment Center for dinner on Friday evening,
worship together, and then spend Friday night through
Saturday afternoon learning in cohort groups about such
topics as working with children in generational poverty,
staffing, discipline, and curriculum. There
is some funding available for this event, so cost will
be either free or minimal. If you are interested in
attending, please email tfisher@flumc.org. |
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Do You
Have A Passion for Prison Ministry?
 The 2009 Florida Annual Conference
adopted a resolution calling for the expansion of prison
ministry. Nearly 100,000 men and women are incarcerated
and in the custody of the Florida Department of
Corrections; 80 percent of them are reported by the
Department to have alcohol and drug abuse
problems.
In an effort to minister to this growing segment of
society, a task force is being developed to coordinate
the efforts of churches throughout the conference as
they minister to the prison population. If
you or someone you know has a passion for prison
ministry, please contact Bob Crowley, Chairperson, at rcrowley6@cfl.rr.com; or Tammy Fisher,
Florida Conference staff, at tfisher@flumc.org. |
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 Florida Advocacy
DaysShow Up 2 Speak
Out!
The Florida Conference established children as its
social witness priority during a 2007 Conference Table.
An opportunity to put Christ's hands and feet into
action on behalf of children awaits you at the 2010
Florida Advocacy Days (FAD) at Children's Week, April
11-13, at the state capitol in Tallahassee.
FAD is for anyone willing to "Show Up 2 Speak Out"
for children. Participants will help create change
through visits to their state legislators; be
transformed through prayer and worship services; network
with other Christians who have a heart for children and
their families in poverty; and receive vital knowledge
through educational opportunities.
Registration information will be available soon.
Bulletin inserts and other resources to help promote
Advocacy Days are available. For updated information, [Click
Here]. |
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