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 Wholeness for our Clergy, Congregations, and Communities |
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| Connecting Points | Outreach Newsletter
September 2010 |
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| Dear Michelle,
It has been said that the scope of ministry for Deacons is determined by the needs in society. Isn't that true for all of us as Christians? In the past two weeks in two different Churches, I have heard prayer requests for people who are sick and in need of healing, for children and teachers returning to school, for a son in prison, for the people of Pakistan suffering from the floods, for the Pastor, for those without jobs and those who are hungry.
How can your gifts and talents be used by God to meet needs for your community? We start by submitting our gifts to God's authority. Vicki Walker, a Deacon in Tampa, once said, "One of the amazing things I've noticed is how your call might shift and be refined over the years, and how seemingly insignificant moments combine to create new opportunities for service. Some days I find myself saying, "wow, I never dreamed when I began that I'd wind up here, serving these folks in this way. Don't you love God's sense of humor!"
 Whether we are lay persons or ordained clergy, our call is to share our faith in ways that invite others into relationship with Jesus Christ and to serve others in his name. Thank you for what you are doing and let's all continue to watch for signs in our communities, see what tugs on our hearts, and what exciting new opportunities God may have for us!
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Disaster Response Ministries
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Rebuilding Team for Haiti
A Mission Team from the EC District will be going to Haiti
October 26 - November 3
Mr. Kent Powers of Sanlando UMC will serve as the team leader. There are a few spaces still available. Since workteams to Haiti must have team leaders who have experience in Haiti and have had the Volunteer in Mission Team Leader training, we are asking that participants in this trip commit to leading a future team within the next two years. 2011 dates for Leader Training will be available by October 1 from the Conference Disaster Response Ministry office.
Here are details about the trip:
- The project is being coordinated through Volunteers in Mission/UMCOR and in cooperation with the Methodist Church of Haiti.
- The work will be debris removal and construction so persons should be able to do heavy physical work.
- A person with medical or first aid background is needed.
- The cost will be approximately $900, including airfare from Orlando.The team will also be raising $3,500 toward building supplies. Participants are asked to check with their church to see if a contribution toward the supplies can be made. UMCOR will provide matching funds for the $3,500.
- Team members must have up to date passports that will not expire for 6 months after the scheduled return.
- Insurance will be through the Southeastern Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission.
Accommodations will be very simple and team members will need an air mattress for sleeping. - Specific work assignment will be known closer to the time of the trip.
- Team members will need to travel together both coming and going.
A meeting of the team will be scheduled in early or mid September to make plans. If you are interested, please contact Marilyn Beecher at 407-896-2230 x105 or mbeecher@flumc.org. |
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Foster Families Needed in Central Florida
Open Hearts Family Services of Orlando, a division of The Florida United Methodist Children's Home, has an urgent need for additional foster families for an increasing number of children who are unable to remain in their own homes. Families are needed who are interested in the possibility of accepting one or more of these children into their homes.
Interested families would receive training and take classes (TAPP classes - Team Approach to Partnership & Parenting) through Family Services of Metro Orlando, and upon licensure would be prepared to accept a foster care child or children into their lives. Foster Parents will receive continuing support and training throughout their tenure as foster parents from staff of Open Heart's Family Services.
Any family who is interested in becoming a foster family should call Tony Manzolillo or Jennifer Hill at 407-895-6421, or visit www.allchildrenfirst.org "What We Do" for more information or instructions on how to begin the process. We pray that you can help us meet this urgent need for families willing to open their heart and their home to a child in crisis by encouraging interested families to call - even if only to consider whether foster parenting is something they might like to pursue. |
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2010 Children's Sabbaths Manual
"Blessed to be a Blessing: Lifting Up the Next Generation"
This manual serves as a guide for you and your faith community to engage in year-round child and family advocacy work and celebrating the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Weekend. This easy-to-use manual includes resources for Christian and other faith traditions to use in worship services or prayers, education programs, direct service activities, and social justice initiatives. The resources can be used with one's own faith community or in multi-faith events. To order or for more information go to: www.childrensdefensefund.org. |
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Other Ministry Opportunities
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 The Interfaith Council of Central Florida co-sponsors a film each year at the Film Festival. This year it is called Climate Refugees. We are fortunate to be joined by the film's director, Michael Nash and there will be a panel discussion following the film with religious leaders from the community bringing a faith perspective to current environmental and creation care challenges.
The premise of the film is a look at the new phenomenon in the global arena called "Climate Refugees". A climate refugee is a person displaced by climatically induced environmental disasters. Such disasters result from incremental and rapid ecological change, resulting in increased droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, fires, mass flooding and tornadoes. All this is causing mass global migration and border conflicts. For the first time, the Pentagon now considers climate change a national security risk and the term climate wars is being talked about in war-room like environments in Washington D.C
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2010 ::: Time: 5:30 p.m. Where: Bush Auditorium, Rollins College Here is the website if you would like more details http://www.climaterefugees.com/ |
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Creation Care Challenge
A new organization called Interfaith Power and Light is bringing people of faith together in Florida to look at our responsibility to care for God's world. They are challenging congregations to cut your congregation's footprint by 10% and there is a chance to win $1,000 for future greening projects.
Your congregation can:
- Upgrade Lighting
- Examine Heating and Cooling Systems
- Plant Trees and Native Landscaping
- Inspire Your Members about Climate Protection
- Submit a Plan of Action or Energy Audit by 10/10/10
Not quite ready to commit to a specific action? That's OK! Check this choice if you would like to pledge your commitment to working with others in your congregation to develop a carbon cutting Plan of Action that you will submit to Interfaith Power and Light via email by 10/10/10.
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Fund Raising and Grant Writing Training
The Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership Center at Rollins College has outstanding seminars for groups looking to raise funds for your ministries. The Florida Conference is a member so the registration fees are at the member rate.
First Steps in Fundraising - BASIC: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - Noon
The First Steps in Fundraising workshop helps you put your best foot forward as you learn key areas involved in first contact with funders, the distinct components of an inquiry letter and a concept paper, and the basic elements of a needs statement-the crucial ingredient for these documents. Tuition: $60 Members, $110 Non-members.
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