opened page

December=20 2007=20 East Central=20 District Florida Conference=20 UMC

In This=20 Issue

Next Clergy Team Meeting

Pastoral Leadership Inventory

Credit Union Offer

Early Retirement?

5-day Academy

Passionate Worship Event

UMVIM Training

Article Headline

Communications Road Show

Car Rental Account

2008 Apportionment = Reports

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Ministry=20 Quicklinks

Newsletter Archive

Related Topics

More About = Us

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Bo= nus=20 Track!

For those of=20 you who sent me an e-mail letting me know you had read the = EC News=20 last month; (It was an e-mail response prompted at the end = of the=20 Newsletter) here is the result of the Cokesbury Gift = Certificate=20 Winner. Tabulations were held on the floor of the District = Residence=20 and the Wiatt Family Dog, Mr. Marley, made the selection = with his=20 right front paw. The Winner is . . .

CATHY=20 THACKER, Pastor of St. Andrew's UMC in Winter Park. = Congratulations=20 Cathy! Your $25 Gift Certificate will be in the mail in time = for=20 Christmas.

Honorable=20 Mention goes to Brenda Lewis (half a paw), Chaplain with=20 Carepartners Mountain Area Hospice in Asheville, NC. = Brenda=20 will receive a $15 gift certificate from Cokesbury for her = eagle eye=20 reading of the EC = News!

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District Office=20 Restructures

The = East Central=20 District has restructured its office staff effective = December 1. Pam=20 Price will continue as the Financial Administrative = Assistant for=20 the coming year. Kim Shockley will assume Administrative = Assistant=20 duties as a part-time employee. The District has eliminated = the=20 Administrative Assistant position previously held by Donna = Kaschalk.=20

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=20

Property=20 Insurance Update from the Annual = Conference

[click=20 picture = above]

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Asbury Ministry = Conference=20
"Restore The Joy" =

Speakers include Brennan Manning, Nancy Ortberg, = Tony=20 Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Judith MacNutt and Kirbyjon=20 Caldwell. In addition to the speakers, there will be = inspiring=20 worship and numerous workshops addressing the=20 theme.

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Brian = McLaren's=20 Latest Book: "Everything Must=20 Change"

=20

Brian is doing an eleven city tour = with a=20 workshop of the same title. Plan to attend the one = coming up=20 to our area, February 29 - March 1st, at First Baptist = Church of St.=20 Petersburg. [Click=20 here] = for more=20 information and registration. =

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NCD:=20
The=20 Congregations' Self-Defeating Activities

By Rev. Linda Mobley=20

Church Health Specialist

Many congregations are trapped. = But they are=20 the ones who have imprisoned themselves with behaviors that = keep=20 them from moving forward.

Example #1: The Church Council discusses = adding an=20 e-mail newsletter. Then someone points out what he believes = to be=20 true - that this would exclude elderly parishioners. = So the=20 discussion stops there when the reality is that nearly every = senior=20 in this church has access to a computer and enjoys = e-mail. =20

Self-defeating activity: people make = assumptions=20 about others based on their own attitudes and=20 situations. [MORE > >=20 >]

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Shade and Fresh Water =

This=20 ministry provides respite and reflective opportunities for = clergy=20 and their families in order to keep them healthy and = refreshed=20 understanding the unique situations in which clergy families = live. They provide "healing spaces" where participants = may=20 retreat with spiritual direction. They also provide = divorce=20 recovery retreats to clergy and clergy spouses as = needed. =20 Clergy children are also offered a retreat with other clergy = adolescents who share the divorce experience. Clergy = families=20 who are relocating are supported with information to make = the=20 appointment process = easier.

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District=20 Training Event =
Saturday, January 26, 2008 First UMC of Winter = Park from 8:30am to 1:00pm

The East Central District is = hosting Local=20 Church Officer Training to give local church leaders = the basic=20 tools to perform their work well in the areas of Trustees, = Finance,=20 Historian, Disaster and Missions. The format will offer each = hour=20 and a half session twice that morning. Speakers include = Mickey=20 Wilson, Wendy McCoy and Marilyn Beecher. Contact the = District Office=20 for more details.

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Lay = Speaker &=20 Leadership Training
March 7-8, 2008

Stuart Memorial UMC

Daytona Beach, FL

Four Opportunities:

UM Heritage

Wayne Wiatt & Gary = Shockley

Teach Adults

Kim Shockley

Triangular Teaching

Barbara Bruce

Basic Lay Speaking

Valerie Russell & Lynn = Campbell

While these courses were = originally=20 designed to be used primarily to train Lay Speakers, we, in = the EC=20 District have found them to be valuable for all lay = people. We=20 gladly offer them for your use in your own ministry setting. =

[Brochure/Registration=20 Form]

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Online E-Learning Available

Have you checked out the E-Learning = Training=20 available for your local church on our Conference = website? =20 Training is available for Staff/Parish Relations Committees; = Finance=20 Committees (includes Stewardship); Trustees; and Membership=20 Secretary's. There is also an online Bible Study=20 available. cCick on the=20 "e-learning" button above. =

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Background Screening

Ernie=20 Post, Ocoee Oaks, has a contact for a cost saving Background = Screening for volunteers. If you use = their=20 services, they will contribute 1/2 of the cost of each = background=20 check to the Building Fund for your church or = to=20 the New Church Development Fund for the = EC=20 District (however you determine the funds should be=20 distributed). If you have any questions, contact Ernie = Post=20 at

407-293-0700.

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Grants = For Seniors

Linda Tice has recently found a resource = that may=20 be very helpful to the churches in the EC District. The = Golden Years=20 Foundation has been given a grant of $30,000 a month to = assist=20 seniors with financial problems with items such as food,=20 transportation, etc. They are having trouble spending their = monthly=20 amount of money according to one resource!

Their website is under construction = right now, but=20 if anyone wants information, they can call = 407-496-7758. The=20 Alzheimer's Resource Center has made this information = available.=20 =

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =

=20
An Invitation from Peacemaker=20 Ministries

Ken Sande, President and author of = The=20 Peacemaker book, is going to be in Orlando, teaching at the = Reformed=20 Theological Seminary, on Tuesday, January 8, 2008. Ken = would=20 love to have you join him for lunch on campus. There is no = cost for=20 the lunch.

Ken will=20 unpack the unique role of the pastor in building a "culture = of=20 peace" in a local church, along with some helpful tips on = embedding=20 peacemaking in your local church through an active = peacemaking=20 ministry.

If you are=20 interested in attending please email     = Janice=20 = Bradley.

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Church & Pastor = Profiles=20 Online Now!!!=20

Deadline to update Church and Pastor=20 Profile is January 15, 2008.=20
New in=20 2008: Pastors and SPRC's will not auto-matically = complete=20 Preference for Appointment or SRRC Advisory Recommen-dation = forms=20 this year.

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EC WEBSITE AND=20 UPDATES:
We want to feature your local church = ministry=20 and mission highlights on our Website. If you have a special = Mission=20 or Ministry event that you might share with the rest of the = East=20 Central District, please Contact our Web Director, Michelle = Colan at=20 mcolan@flumc.org and share with her your article and picture.=20

Dear Michelle ,=20

=20
As we were decorating our home = in=20 preparation for the Retired Minister's Luncheon on = Friday, I=20 unpacked a little book from the end-table drawer in = our living=20 room entitled "Simplify Your Christmas." It boasts 100 = Ways to=20 reduce stress and recapture the JOY of the Holidays. = The=20 author, Elaine St. James, shares a variety of tips = that will=20 help readers deal with the seasonal overload!=20

She challenges us to rediscover the things = that we=20 truly love about Christmas. Memories such as the fresh = scent=20 of pine, building a fire, going for a hayride to look = at the=20 neighborhood lights (I lived in the country), walking = to=20 Christmas Eve Services, helping my father put up = Santa's=20 Sleigh and Reindeer on our roof!=20

It's amazing how quickly we fill our = schedules with=20 things to do this time of year that have nothing to do = with=20 worshipping the "baby born in a manger!" My favorite = Christmas=20 memories of finding "my way" to the Manger at = Christmas are=20 many. From transporting sheep in a church van while in = seminary at Emory (I asked forgiveness rather than = permission=20 from the Trustees!) - to quickly engaging our Standard = Poodle=20 to "Stand In" when the farmer/sheep handler had a flat = tire=20 bringing the animals to the Church. The = memories, then=20 as now, are vivid and alive!=20

I am sure that together we could write a book = on the=20 Memories of Christmas surrounding our Ministry in the = Church.=20 But my greatest memory is the hearing and telling of = the Story=20 of the coming of the Christ. The ONE whose light = shines in the=20 darkness, and the darkness did not, could not overcome = him! -=20 John 1:5

So this Christmas, may you remember = the=20 stories and carols of our faith with simple JOY. =

"O,=20 star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty = bright,=20 westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy = perfect=20 light.
      - John = H.=20 Hopkins, Jr., 1857

I Love Being Your District=20 Superintendent,
Wayne=20

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a = spirit of=20 timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of=20 = self-discipline.

Bragging=20 Rights!!

Congratulations to Rev. Scott Smith, Pastor = of=20 Community of Faith in the Four Corners area of greater = Orlando. Scott was recently nominated by Bishop = Whitaker to=20 represent the Florida Conference at The World = Methodist=20 Council's 9th Annual Gathering of Outstanding Younger = Clergy.=20 Nominated clergy from around the globe will gather at = St.=20 Simon's Island in March of 2008 from the seven = Wesleyan=20 denominations represented in the Word Methodist = Council. Scott=20 was also selected to attend the newly structured = Preaching=20 Institute held at Duke University for 2008-2009. =

Reverend Alexis Talbott, pastor at St. Cloud = UMC, was=20 also selected to participate in the Institute of = Preaching at=20 Duke and recently received a scholarship to = participate in the=20 2008 Holy Land Pilgrimage for Pastoral Renewal and = Spiritual=20 Formation, sponsored by the Candler School of = Theology, Emory=20 University. Congratulations to our deserving=20 colleagues!
. =

Next = Clergy=20 Team Meeting=20
Thursday, February 28, 2008 at St. Luke's UMC = Orlando=20 from 9:30AM - 1:00PM, with lunch provided. =

We will=20 begin with a presentation by the United Methodist = Foundation=20 on Fundraising in the Local and an introduction to the = Bishop's Capital Campaign by Bill Barnes. We = will=20 conclude with our district business. And yes, = this is a=20 mandatory meeting for all appointed clergy. =

(Please=20 note that nothing else in this e-news is mandatory . . = . but=20 highly recommended for your information and = edification . .=20 . but not=20 = mandatory.)

The Lewis Pastoral Leadership=20 Inventory
One more reminder to all pastors = to take=20 advantage of the LPLI by visiting their [website]. =20 Upon completion, you will receive a personalized = summary of=20 your inventory, including the summarized feedback from = those=20 you selected to respond as a part of the 360 = profile. =20 Many of you have expressed interest in ways you can = get good=20 feedback about your ministry, but most leadership = inventories=20 are expensive and based on a business model. = Here's an=20 opportunity to receive helpful, and free,=20 feedback.

$40,000 Lilly Foundation Grants Available=20

=20
The Lilly Foundation has been awarding = significant grants=20 to Christian pastors for a number of years. The Grants = allow=20 travel to distant destinations for a considerable = length of=20 time to relax, reflect, and renew.

They make grants to pastors of both = large and=20 small congregations. Richard Quackenbush from the = North West=20 District was a recent recipient of a Lily Foundation = Grant to=20 spend time for study and renewal in the Montana = Rockies. =20 These grants are limited to pastors who will be = returning to=20 the churches where they are now serving. We can = acquire=20 the application for you from the Conference Office = should you=20 desire to apply. For more info, go to [website] or call=20 = 317-916-7302.

Thinking of = Retirement?
The=20 Florida Annual Conference Office of Human Resources in = cooperation with The Florida United Methodist = Foundation is=20 sponsoring a pre-retirement seminar-R-10 and = Counting-for=20 clergy and spouses who have 10 or fewer years until=20 retirement. =20

The seminar will be held January = 28-30 at the=20 Life Enrichment Center.  We have heard = nothing but=20 positive feedback on this helpful seminar. The = seminar=20 is limited to 30 participants, with couples counted as = one=20 participant. Registration information is = available at [here] and=20 registration deadline is December 15th.=20

Five Day Academy for Spiritual=20 Formation

Many have = found this=20 Academy a pivotal event in their spiritual = journey. This=20 year's topic is "Journey To a Thankful Heart". = Being=20 grateful is more than saying "thank you". = Explore the=20 beliefs, barriers, bridges and becoming of genuine=20 Thanksgiving as you learn how to develop a thankful=20 heart. The dates are March 30 to April 4, 2008 = at the=20 Life Enrichment Center. This year's faculty = includes=20 Graham Standish, author of "Becoming a Blessed = Church"=20 and "Humble Leadership"; and Linda Douty, author = of "How=20 Can I let Go if I don't know I'm Holding On-Setting = Our Souls=20 Free". For more information and/or registration, = go=20 to their=20 = [website]

"Passionate Worship: = Divine=20 Inbreaking" =20
April 11-12, 2008 at = Trinity UMC,=20 Gainesville and April 14-15,2008 at United Methodist = Church of=20 the Palm Beaches. =20

This=20 conference will focus on the elements of what makes = for=20 passionate worship, providing resources for = congregations with=20 practical worship and team-building ideas, exploring = the use=20 of theology, liturgy and the sacraments in worship, = and going=20 beyond the worship gathering to reaching those outside = the=20 church. =20

Participants will learn that = passionate=20 worship isn't about a particular order or technique or = style.=20 What is passionate about our worship is the = relationship of=20 faith we have toward Christ as we gather to worship. = Having=20 said this, what we do in worship at the functional = level, the=20 particular acts of worship, how we attend to Gods = Word, how we=20 celebrate the sacred acts of baptism and Eucharist, = the music=20 we use, the space in which we gather, the media we = employ, how=20 we are led can either encourage or be a distraction = from our=20 passionate worship You can register for the = event by=20 clicking on the "Passionate Worship" button=20 above.=20

Team Leader = Training

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission = (UMVIM) is a=20 fellowship of believers, lay and clergy, men and = women, adults=20 and youth, who step out in faith to serve the needs of = communities around the world and around the corner. = The common=20 characteristic of a UMVIM team member is a desire to = serve=20 others and a willingness to share the Gospel as part = of a work=20 team, medical team, or as individual = volunteers.

The Florida Conference UMVIM team is = available to=20 support any team's preparation for mission. Teams are = formed=20 from one church or from several, and are = multi-generational=20 and multi-ethnic. Team leaders determine the = destination,=20 schedule, team size, and other aspects of their trip = at the=20 request of local churches in areas with need for = teams. There=20 are hundreds of mission opportunities available at the = local,=20 conference, national, and international = levels.

If you're ready to take your leadership = skills to the=20 next level, UMVIM team leader trainings have been = scheduled to=20 prepare volunteers to lead Mission Teams. The training = dates=20 are Jan. 11-12, 2008, at the Warren W. Willis Camp in=20 Fruitland Park; April 11-12, at the Riverside Retreat = in=20 LaBelle; and Oct. 17-18, at Lakewood United Methodist = Church=20 in Jacksonville.

To register, visit [click here]and=20 follow the link for training registration. For all = trainings,=20 check-in begins at 4 p.m. the first day and ends at 5 = p.m. the=20 second day. Cost of the training is $50 per person and = includes one night accommodations, three meals, and = all=20 training materials. =

Resources for Spiritual=20 Direction

Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice of = the=20 Christian Church that provides mentoring and = companionship for=20 those who are seeking a closer relationship with God. = The=20 Spiritual Director is trained to listen for and pay = attention=20 to the ways that God is working in the directee's = life, and to=20 help the directee discover and remove barriers to = spiritual=20 growth. Spiritual Direction is commonly used during a = time of=20 discernment or struggle, but can be a powerful means = of grace=20 for all Christians in their walk with God. It is a = blessing to=20 have a spiritual companion on our journey!

The Audire Spiritual Direction program is a = three-year=20 ecumenical program offered by the Catholic Diocese of = Orlando.=20 Directors are trained in the evocative, contemplative = method.=20 In the evocative aspect, directors ask questions that = invite=20 the directee into a deeper noticing and listening. The = contemplative aspect focuses on prayer and the = directee's=20 relationship with God. Cindy Wheatley (Peace United = Methodist=20 Church), Katherine Zimmerman (First United Methodist = Church),=20 and Ruth Morrison-Hakeem (First United Methodist = Church) are=20 current participants in the Audire program and are = available=20 to serve as Spiritual Directors. All three women have = a=20 connection to and heart for Methodist ministry and = would be=20 delighted to sit with those individuals involved in = the=20 candidacy process, or who are currently in ministry. = Feel free=20 to contact Katherine (sfgrants@yahoo.com),=20 Ruth (rmhbh@bellsouth.net), or=20 Cindy (cwheatley2@cfl.rr.com ) to=20 schedule a direction session, or to get more = information about=20 Spiritual = Direction.

Communications Road Show is=20 Coming!!

The=20 Communications Staff is trying something new in = an effort=20 to better provide resources to local churches on a = more direct=20 basis. We are holding four sessions of workshops, = which we are=20 calling the "Communications Road Show." These will be=20 trainings for local church members, held in a local = church,=20 with six workshops at each location.

Workshops will focus on improving print = materials (like=20 church newsletters, brochures, etc.), crisis = communications=20 for clergy, data management 101, starting a Web site,=20 improving your Web site, and starting a podcast. =

The locations and dates of the Road Shows=20 are:

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 - First United = Methodist=20 Church, Lake City (North West District)=20
Saturday, Feb. 9 - Peace United Methodist = Church,=20 Orlando (East Central District)=20
Saturday, March 8 - First United Methodist = Church,=20 Sebring (South West District)=20
Saturday, April 12 - First United Methodist = Church of=20 South Miami (South East District)

Registration materials are [online]. The workshops are free; we = are charging=20 $10 for lunch. =

Car Rental Corporate=20 Account

The East Central District now has a Corporate = Account=20 with Enterprise Leasing. The account can be used at = any of=20 their locations worldwide, by any of our Churches and=20 Leadership, both Lay and Clergy.

Booking a reservation is very easy:

Call the branch directly.=20
Book online at www.enterprise.com. At the bottom of the first page, = enter your=20 corporate account number 42A7202. When = prompted, enter=20 the first three letters of your organization's name = F - L -=20 C (FL Conference UMC.)=20
Call our toll-free, Corporate Account line = at=20 800-593-0505.

The Enterprise Business Rental Program will = give you a=20 worldwide discount along with other benefits. We hope = this is=20 helpful in renting vans, cars, etc., while on mission = trips=20 and other church sponsored events. Call Pam Price, our = Financial Administrator in the District Office if you = have any=20 = questions.

2008 APPORTIONMENT REPORTS = NOW ON=20 LINE!

[Click Here] = When it opens up you will see Local Church = 2008=20 Apportionment Report. Click on it and when it = opens=20 enter your GCFA # in the GCFA box and then hit review=20 report. Up comes your 2008 Apportionment=20 breakdown. (I know everyone has been waiting for = this=20 information.) Problems with these instructions, = call=20 me. Problems with what is on the report, call = the=20 Conference, Ivette ext. 108.

ALSO, If you need to look at a = current 2007=20 Apportionment sheet, you can do that by [Click Here] = Open up=20 the link and right at the top under Apportionments = there is a=20 link that says "Click here to download your = report". =20 Click on that link and enter your GCFA# twice. = Then go=20 down to the next bar that reads "Make Selection", = click on it=20 and pick "Apportionment Reports" and there you = are. The=20 updated reports are usually posted by the 15th of the = month.=20

Pam Price, EC District Financial = Administrator.=20

Apportionment = deadline=20 nears!

Local churches are reminded = that the last=20 day for receiving 2007 apportionment money is January = 11,=20 2008. Please mark your calendars and be aware that = Jan. 11 is=20 the date when the Conference must have received your=20 apportionments, not the day that you sent it in. After = Jan.=20 11, any money received for apportionments will be put = toward=20 2008.

The Florida Conference = Treasurer's office=20 knows that, often, at the end of the year, time is = short.=20 There are two special, one-time options to consider = when=20 sending your funds if you are running short on=20 time.

1) Overnight your check, = using the=20 following address:

Florida Annual Conference of = The United=20 Methodist Church
Attn: Apportionments
1140 E. = McDonald=20 Street
Lakeland, FL 33801

2) Wire-transfer the money, = using the=20 following information:

ABA Number: = 062000019
Account Number:=20 0060077417
Bank Name: Regions Bank
Account Name: = The=20 Board of Trustees United Methodist

Please note that if you send = a wire=20 transfer, the Florida Conference will still need a = copy of=20 your Apportionment Giving Report. Please fax that = report to=20 863-686-7363, or e-mail a copy to Ivette=20 Valentin.

Regular apportionment = remittances, as=20 always, may be sent to: Regions Bank, PO Box 850001, = Orlando,=20 FL = 32885-0207

Bill Glass Day of = Champions,=20 Feb. 2, 2008=20
A major prison ministry event, we will be = at the=20 Orange County Jail, Central Florida Reception Center, = and=20 Brevard Correctional Institution. Entertainers, = athletes, etc.=20 speak at the prisons along with their "teammates"who = share the=20 gospel one-on-one with inmates after the speaker=20 finishes.

The Champions for Life ministry is the largest=20 evangelical prison outreach in the country. It = was=20 founded in 1972 by Bill Glass, a former All-American = football=20 player at Baylor University. Bill played 13 = years in the=20 NFL, for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland = Browns. He=20 was 5 times All-Pro.

Teammates must register by January 9, 2008 [online]. First-time teammates must = attend a=20 "Freshman" training class on Friday evening February = 1. All=20 teammates must attend a program from 6-9:30pm on = Friday=20 evening February 1. Hours in the prisons on Saturday = will be=20 7:30am to 3:30pm. =

=
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Up= coming=20 Advent Offerings=20

Wednesday, December 5

Evening Prayer - St. Luke's UMC = Orlando,=20 Fellowship Hall 6:30pm (each Wed. in = Advent)

Offered in a musical setting, the responsive = prayer, composed=20 by contemporary Christian musician Marty Haugen, centers on = the=20 Magnificat, blending contemplative prayer with a focus on = peace with=20 justice.=20

Christmas Under the Stars - Peace UMC = in=20 Orlando at 7:00pm.

Saturday, December 8

Fifth Annual=20 Holiday Car Show - Christ UMC in Sanford = from = 8am-3pm. Live=20 50's Music, Crafts and Baked Goods. Corner of SR 427/Ronald = Reagan=20 Blvd. and Tucker Drive. Contact Michael Korgan for Car = Registration=20 Information @ 407-322-5798.

Sacred Holiday Moments with Family and=20 Friends - Asbury UMC in Maitland at=20 6pm.

Christmas concert with reception afterward. = Features sacred=20 music from the most loved classics to include G. F. = Handel's=20 "Messiah", the "Christmas Oratorio" by J. S. Bach, and the = beautiful=20 operetta "Amahl and the Night Visitors" by Gian-Carlo=20 Menotti. Also presented are traditional Christmas = hymns to=20 sing-along.=20

Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata - = Peace UMC in=20 Orlando at 5:30pm.

Sunday, December 9

Children's Christmas Pageant "The Fumbly Bumbly = Angels"=20 - Peace UMC in Orlando at 9:30am.

Sacred Holiday Moments with Family = and=20 Friends - Asbury UMC in Maitland at 6pm.=20

The Singing Seniors Present "A Smoky Mountain = Christmas=20 Reunion" - Casselberry UMC 3:30pm = Sanctuary. =20 It's the year 2017 and all the Singing Seniors are coming . = . . so=20 come and "See What's Happening in the Barn!!!"

Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata - = Peace UMC in=20 Orlando at 11:00am.

Monday, December 10

Sacred Holiday Moments with Family and=20 Friends - Asbury UMC in Maitland at=20 7pm.

Wednesday, December 12

Evening Prayer - St. Luke's UMC = Orlando,=20 Fellowship Hall 6:30pm (each Wed. in = Advent)

Children's Christmas Pageant "The Fumbly = Bumbly=20 Angels" - Peace UMC in Orlando=20 at 7:00pm.

Friday, December 14
Season of=20 Peace - Casselberry UMC at 7pm.
A musical = presented=20 by our Voices of Victory Choir, Drama Ministry and = Orchestra.=20 Performances also on Sat., Dec. 15 & Sun., Dec. 16 at=20 7pm.

Wednesday, December 19

Service of the Longest Night - Broadway = United=20 Methodist Church in Orlando at = 7pm.=20 Finding the light of Christ in the midst of the darkest = night of the=20 year . . . quiet, sacred, beautiful and uplifting. Harp and = piano=20 join with scripture, prayer and words of hope to touch the = depths of=20 heart and soul with the true message of Christmas. = Especially=20 meaningful to people who are grieving, sick, or just = overwhelmed by=20 holiday busyness.

Evening Prayer - St. Luke's UMC Orlando, = Fellowship=20 Hall 6:30pm (each Wed. in = Advent)

Friday, December 21
Blue Christmas = Service=20 - Sanlando UMC in Longwood at = 7pm.
Experience an=20 alternative "Christmas Eve" Service in a special way. = Reflective,=20 meditative service with candlelighting and music for = personal=20 renewal and healing. Pager-Safe Nursery Available at No=20 = Charge.

District = Calendar of=20 Events=20

2007=20 EVENTS=20
Dec.=20 14: District Staff Christmas Party

Dec.=20 13-15: SEJ Diversity Event

2008 EVENTS CALENDAR

Jan=20 4-5: UMW district officers training @ Leesburg

Jan=20 12: UMW EC district officers training @ First, = Deltona

Jan=20 21-25: Large Church Initiative @ St Luke's UMC

Jan 26: District Training Event from 8:30am to = 1:00pm for=20 Trustees, Finance, = Historian,=20 Disaster, and Missions @ First UMC Winter=20 Park

Jan=20 28-30: R-10 & Counting-Early Retirement Seminar @ = LEC,=20 Leesburg

Feb 4-6: = Restore the=20 Joy @ Asbury Seminary

Feb 9:=20 "Communications Road Show" (Workshop for improving = print=20 materials like newsletters and brochures) also Data = Management 101,=20 starting or improving a web site, crisis communications etc. = at=20 Peace UMC

Feb=20 28: Mandatory Clergy Meeting @ St Luke's UMC from 9am to=20 1pm

Feb=20 29-March 1: "Deep Shift" with Brien McLaren Event @ First = Baptist,=20 St Petersburg

Mar=20 8: UMW Mission team meeting - TBA

Mar=20 30-Apr 4: Five Day Academy for Spiritual = Formation

Apr=20 4-6: UMW SE Jurisdiction, Hampton, VA

Apr=20 11-12: Passionate Worship Event in Gainesville

Apr=20 12: UMW Spring day apart -First UMC, Port Orange

Apr=20 14-15: Passionate Worship Event in West Palm = Beach

Apr=20 27: Announcement Sunday

May=20 29-31: Annual Conference to be held in Lakeland

Jun=20 17: Conference Table - In Defense of Creation II

Jul=20 1: Moving Day

Jul=20 16-19: SEJ Conference in Lake Junaluska

Jul=20 22-25: UMW School of Christian Mission week

Jul=20 25-27: UMW School of Christian Mission weekend @ Florida = Southern=20 College -=20 = Lakeland

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