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The East Central District
Florida United Methodist
Church |
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For I was hungry and
you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger
and you invited me in . . .
--Matthew 25:35
Dear
Michelle,
 Imagine a Church that
goes beyond a hand shake and a smile to welcome
the "stranger in our midst." If you can, even
imagine a church that goes beyond a smile, a
handshake, a welcome bag and a coffee mug. As I
have worshipped around the EC District, I have
noticed some of our congregations truly engaged in
Radical Hospitality.
At Community Daytona Beach, the
pastor, Ken Zimmerman, has removed the garbage
cans from the "back porch" of his church,
recruited someone to paint a mural on the wall,
purchased attractive patio furniture and has a
natural gathering place for the neighborhood
adjoining his parking lot. Whether it's a weekday
Bible study or "Coffee and Conversation," a free
Friday night cookout for the neighbors, or a
Sunday Morning Sunday School Class. The invitation
is there to "come and see." It's Radical
Hospitality!
Because their Saturday evening
worshipers miss church on Sunday, University
Carillon offers Ice Cream "Sundaes" after the
worship service. The Pastor, Joe MacLaren and
staff have discovered that it takes a while to eat
an ice-cream Sundae! They have strategically
placed members and staff to engage their visitors
in conversation while they enjoy their Saturday
"Sundae!" On Sunday mornings, they serve
"Smoothies" and engage their visitors in the same
way. It's an innovative form of Radical
Hospitality!
When you drive into the parking
lot at Community of Faith near Davenport, the Lay
Volunteers not only guide you into the parking
lot, they welcome you and direct you to the
Elementary School Auditorium where they worship.
Pastor Scott Smith is pacing the sidewalk greeting
EVERYONE before the worship service begins. Next,
volunteers introduce themselves to you, ask for
your name, write it on a name tag, and place it
for you on your lapel! Another greeter offers to
serve you a cup of coffee and a danish. By the
time you've found your seat in worship, you feel
as if you've had a personal valet for the
morning. Now that's Radical Hospitality!
Many of our Churches are taking
the Celebrate Jesus model of Radical Hospitality
and living it out quarterly and some even monthly
by offering block parties, festivals, concerts,
adopting a local school, taking cookies to local
businesses, and the list goes on. They are seeking
to radically reach beyond the walls of their
church into the community to welcome and invite
those outside of the church to come and see! And,
that's really Radical Hospitality!
Below is the link to our Radical
Hospitality Training in the EC District on
November 15. Come and bring a team of your laity
to train your congregation in being Radically
Hospitable. The more you bring, the more
affordable the day. Can't come on the 15th -
select from four other dates and locations.
I Love Being Your District
Superintendent, Wayne
2 Timothy 1:7
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but
a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline."
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| Radical Hospitality |
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October 24, 2008
Harvest UMC -
Bradenton
October 25, 2008
First
UMC - Lakeland
November 1, 2008
UMC of the Palm
Beaches - West Palm Beach
November 15, 2008
First
UMC - Ormond Beach
February 21, 2009
Trinity UMC -
Tallahassee
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Don't Miss this
Event!!!!!
Radical Hospitality -- A
one-day event, held in five locations
Designed to help you think
through what it would mean to extend radical hospitality to
the people of your community and to the next generation. In
addition to three plenary sessions, you can choose from
two practical breakout groups.
Because so many people have asked for
registration that reflects the realities of smaller churches,
the Florida Conference has revised the registration costs. The
new fees are $75 for up to three people, plus $15 each for
food and snacks. A single registration will be $50, including
food and snacks.
Sign up now! You'll be glad
you did!
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Special Notices
Important announcements and
dates to remember
October is traditionally
known as "Pastor Appreciation Month"
Be sure your congregation knows of
this opportunity to write letters of encouragement, send a
token of appreciation - such as a gift card to a local
restaurant or coffee shop, bake a plate of cookies and leave
it on their desk, etc. Use your imagination.
Random acts of kindness are deeply
appreciated.
"One in Spirit, All in
Ministry; In the Spirit of Fellowship" Laity Sunday October
19
This day designated by the General
Board of Discipleship as Laity Sunday this year. We
encourage working together to design a worship plan that
utilizes laity in a worship service that works best in your
local church setting. For resource materials [click
here].
District Clergy
Retreat Postponed
The Clergy Retreat scheduled for October 9-10
will be re-scheduled for 2009.
The Bishop's Gathering of Clergy
October 14
First UMC Lakeland, 11am-3pm. Regrets
only with a letter of explanation to the Bishop.
Inagural Evans Lecture
features Bishop Whitaker October 21
Thanks to generous annual funding by
the family of John and Clair Evans of Oviedo, Asbury
Theological Seminary in Orlando will offer The Evans
Lectures, featuring renouned theologians and church
leaders. The inaugural lecture will be at 1:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, October 21st. Bishop Timothy Whitaker is the
inaugural lecturer. In making this announcement, Dr.
Steve Harper, Vice President of the Florida-Dunnam campus
said, "Throughout church history, bishops have been viewed
as primary theologians for the church. I want to
represent that in our inaugural lecture, and I know of no
finer person to do it than Bishop Whitaker." The
lectureship is in memory of John Evans and in honor of Claire
Evans, two long-time Methodist leaders in the Florida Annual
Conference and First Uninted Methodist Church in Oviedo.
Clergy and laity througout the Annual Conference are
encouraged to attend.
2008 Clergy Assessment
Process Now Underway
The Rev. David Dodge, executive
director of the Center for Clergy Excellence, reminds Florida
Conference clergy that the 2008 assessment process is now
underway. It is the intent of this process that it should be
used with any clergy appointed to the church - pastors,
associate pastors and deacons. In addition, this material can
be used effectively with the entire church staff. Deadline to
complete the process is Oct. 31. For more information and
directions for this process, [click here].
New Internal Financial
Audit Ministry
Seeks Accountants or CPA's to aid
with annual local church financial reviews. The East
Central District is seeking 6 - 8 people with auditing
experience to help review the annual financial records of
local churches in our district. The Conference Internal
Audit staff will provide guidelines and training. To
express your interest and learn more information, please
contact Janet Kelley jkelley@flumc.org or
407-896-2230.
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Help For Haiti & Cuba
After the Storms . .
. Excerpt from Appeal for Cuba and
Haiti From Bishop Whitaker
We in Florida have breathed a sigh of
relief because, except for Fay, we have been spared the impact
of a major hurricane so far. We understand what a depressing
and difficult task it is to deal with the aftermath of a
storm. We hope that our gifts will be some contribution
to the relief of misery in these two countries.
What you can do:
- Pray for the people of Haiti and Cuba.
- Set a date in your congregation to take a special
offering.
- Send donations to the Haiti Disaster Response online at
UMCOR - Hurricanes-Global #3019695/ Haiti, or by check. Make
checks payable to the Florida Conference Treasurer and
designate them "Disaster Relief, Methodist Church in Haiti."
Send checks to the Conference Center, 1140 McDonald St.,
Lakeland, FL 33801
- Earmark donations for Cuba by writing checks made
payable to the Florida Conference Treasurer and designating
them "Disaster Relief, Methodist Church in Cuba." Send
checks to the Conference Center, 1140 McDonald St.,
Lakeland, FL 33801
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Help needed to rebuild after US
storms
Texas,
Florida, Louisiana are some of the hardest hit
areas
Hurricane Ike damaged more than 100 United Methodist
churches and parsonages in the United
Methodist Texas Annual Conference. About a million people
are without electricity and other utilities, and it may be a
month or longer before power is restored.
The bishop has issued a churchwide call for help, asking
that a special offering be collected for hurricane recovery
work in Texas, Louisiana, Haiti and other parts of the United
States. The donations are being managed through The Advance,
the denominational giving program for missions and
relief.
To aid in the recovery work, financial
donations should be designated UMCOR Advance No. 3019695,
"Hurricanes 2008." Checks should be mailed to UMCOR, P.O. Box
9068, New York, NY 10087, with the Advance number and name on
the memo line of the check.
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Important Dates for Your Calendar
October 20: Clergy Make-Up Meeting, FL UM Children's
Home, Hardin Hall, 9am-12noon. [Peacemaker Training]
October 23: United Methodist Men at First Deland,
6:30pm
October 25: District United Methodist Women at First
Deland, 9:00am
November 1: Conference UMW Mission Gathering
- Florida Southern College,
Lakeland, 10a-5p
November 15: Radical
Hospitality Training at First Ormond
Beach
December 8: Staff Parish Training at
Trinity UMC, Orlando
December 16: Staff Parish Training at Tomoka UMC, Ormond
Beach
January 17, 2009: Leadership Training
Event, First UMC, Winter Park,
8:30a-12:45p. Please ask your 2009
leadership to "Save the Date". Sessions target
specific Local Church Leadership Roles. Complete details
and registration information will be coming in
November. A wide array of workshops will be
offered.
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 Congregational Transformation
in the EC District By Kim
Shockley
I have been so privileged to work with many folks from
the East Central District in the past three years. As I
now move into a new role I am thrilled to be able to share
with many more in the years to come! I am now your
District Congregational Transformation Coordinator!
Basically this means that I will be coordinating the work of
our District Congregational Transformation Team (DCTT).
This Team works with local churches and pastors to offer
several different processes that will help congregations hear
God's voice of calling within their communities.
As a lay person, pastor's wife, and Christian Educator I
find that this opportunity is directly in line with my own
calling, which is to encourage local churches to hear God's
voice of direction for their ministries in their
communities. As a District, we provide these
opportunities through Natural Church Development (NCD),
ReFocusing, Checking Vital Signs (an 8-week process of
discernment), and promoting Peacemaker Ministries. Our
DCTT would be happy to facilitate a meeting with your church
leaders to discover which of these methods might be best for
your congregation. The Team is an exceptional group of
people who will be of great help to your
congregation!
There are several things that I want to make public about
my hopes and dreams for our work together [Continued . . .
.] |
The Greater Orlando Christian Film
Festival
October 16-23, 2008 
An opportunity for impacting our community for
Christ through volunteering, helping to get the word out,
praying, and most importantly, bringing a friend to
attend.
Last year's Festival reached over 13,000 in
attendance , 649 came forward to receive the Lord, 100
churches and parachurch organizations were on board and over
300 wonderful volunteers gave of their time and resources to
make this event a success.
Let's make 2008 the best
Christian Film Festival yet! |
Evangelism Grants Available
For
Small/Medium-Sized Churches 
AC 70 Committee of The Florida Conference is receiving
requests for grants for new proposals for evangelism from the
local churches of our conference. This year and next year, we
are receiving requests from small to medium membership
churches with less than 251 average attendance as indicated in
the latest Conference Journal. This represents 536 of our 719
churches recorded on page 437 of the 2007
Journal. This period for requests ends November
30. Grants will be awarded during December 2008. We will
continue to receive applications from that point through
February 23, 2009. These grants will be awarded in March
2009. The grants are for small amounts up to
$3,000 to help a congregation in servant evangelism,
hospitality ministry, a special evangelism outreach event, or
evangelism training in the local church. Include the goal,
strategies, target group, budget, timeline, and the amount the
church is financing. Send your proposal to: Dr.
David L. Brazelton, Mandarin UMC, 11270 San Jose Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32223, Telephone: (904) 268-5549 dbrazelton@mumc.net |
Annual Open Enrollment for Benefit Plan
Coming
Some
of the news is good; some of the news is less than good
First, the good news. Those participants in the retiree
category will see their premiums reduced by either 13 or 29
percent, depending which of two new plans they choose. The
Conference Board of Pension & Health Benefits made the
decision to change providers for retirees only in
2009. A communications campaign is underway for
retirees to help them understand the changes and make
decisions for 2009. Now, the less-than-good news:
active clergy will see their contribution rates climb in 2009,
with clergy paying 28 percent more per month than in 2008.
Clergy will pay 20 percent of the overall premium; churches or
other entities will pay the remaining 80 percent. The
so-called "blended rate" for clergy serving local churches
will be $839 per month in 2009. The single rate for
clergy will be $96 and the family rate will be $236 per
month. All 2009 health insurance premium rates are listed
on the Conference website at www.flumc.org/hr
Everyone who participates in Conference benefits is
invited to view the live Open Enrollment webcast on
Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. sharp. Understanding
your benefit plan is critical to your receiving the maximum
benefits. To view the webcast, visit www.flumc.org on
that day and click on the appropriate button. Please
make sure you encourage lay employees at your church who are
also participating in the plan view the
webcast. [Read More . .
.] |
Ministers' Mates Retreat
"A
Merry Heart is a Cure for a Broken
Spirit" November 6-8, 2008
Join other ministers' mates for a wonderful weekend full
of support, affirmation, fellowship and fun. This year's theme
is centered around Proverbs 17:22 -- "a cheerful heart is good
medicine; but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." The
featured speaker for the weekend will be Jim Patch, husband of
Rev. Sharon Patch. The cost for the event is $120. This
includes a room at the LEC and meals. However, if you register
before June 6th for the 2008 retreat, it is only $100! (If you
require financial assistance there are scholarships
available.) [Click
Here] for the brochure. We have some great
Minister Mates helping this year: Sarah Baldridge, Lil Black,
Marti Peavy and Amelia Wines. Rev. John Peterson from the
Florida United Methodist Foundation has also agreed to lead an
enrichment group on "Joyfully Debt
Free." |
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November 12-14 at Anona UMC in Largo,
Florida
If you came to The Gathering in January 2006 you know
what a great experience this will be. We gather together many
of our ChurchSmart Resources authors and provide eight tracks
of training from some of the best practitioners we know of who
are doing ministry in churches and towns just like yours.
Learn from these national authors and leaders in Church
Health, Demographics, Multi-site (Jack Stephenson, Christian
Schwarz), New Church (Bob Logan), Turnaround Church (Gene
Wood), Leadership Development (Grip/Birkman, Paul Ford),
Advancing Leaders (Terry Walling), Pathways to Peace (Jim
VanYperen), Small Church, and Practical Ministry Issues.
Signup is through Churchsmart and $150 covers all books for
each chosen course, lunches, and assessments [More
information . .
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ZOE Ministry Hosts Rwanda Genocide Survivor
United
Methodist Advance Special Mission for African
Orphans
This ministry for the care and empowerment of orphans in
Africa is hosting our Rwanda Project Director, Epiphanie
Mujawimana, a genocide survivor, and one of the teen
orphans in the Giving Hope Empowerment program. She
is the founder of the "Giving Hope" methodology and oversees
all of ZOE's Giving Hope activities in Africa.
Epiphanie is married. She has four children of her
own and has raised four nieces and nephews.
They will be in the East Central
District from November 15-17 sharing their stories
of struggle, hope, and the mission of ZOE in transforming the
lives of orphan-headed families. Event locations and times
coming soon.
Please contact Rev. Janet Chilcote at 407-754-6102, or
email at janet@zoeministry.org if you are
interested in partnering with this ministry. |
Special Event for Potential Young
Clergy
"SCREAM: Get Ready for the
Ride"
The Center for Clergy Excellence will be holding a
special event February 20-22 for young adults, ages 18 to 25,
who exhibit gifts for ministry. "SCREAM: Get Ready for the
Ride," will help young adults discern whether they are being
called to full-time Christian ministry. The event will be held
at the Holiday Inn in Orlando near the entrance to Universal
Studios. The cost to participate is a $25 registration fee.
The Rev. David Dodge, executive director of the Center, asks
clergy in the Florida Conference to forward names of young
adults who would then be invited to attend this event. Clergy
may send the names and addresses of young adults in an email
to Winnie Dean at wdean@flumc.org.
Space is limited to the first 75 registrants. |
Real Ideas Conference 2009
February 6-7, 2009 at Van Dyke UMC in Lutz,
Florida 
You and your team will be encouraged, challenged and
equipped to move to the next level of effectiveness in all
areas of ministry. You will discover real ideas that actually
work that you can use immediately for high-impact in your
church and community. Past attendees have been transformed by
their experience, whether they've learned something that
changed the trajectory of their ministry, made new friends, or
heard from God in a way they never had before [More
information . .
.] |
Small Church Opportunity
The
Summer Collegium: A Project in Support of Small Congregations
 This ecumenical project,
generously funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., is preparing
for its fourth summer. The 2009 theme is Body,
Mind and Soul: Celebrating, Strengthening and Sustaining
Clergy Wholeness in Small Congregations.
Spouses/partners are invited to attend the first half of the
nine-day conference to strengthen their support of their
spouse/partner's ministry.
All expenses for the 25 participants chosen, including
travel, meals, lodging, books, pulpit supply and child care at
home, are paid by the grant. There is no cost for
participants. Single clergy and non-ordained local
clergy are encouraged to apply. Conference dates are
June 24-July 2, 2009. For more information visit
www.vts.edu/education/collegium, call
or email Marilyn Johns, Virginia Theological Seminary,
3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304.
Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2008.
The application is rather lengthy so look into this
today. |
| Free Sanctuary Items
Pews,
Modesty, Pulpit and Podium
Rev. Carmen
Arnett of Faith UMC in Olrando will be removing several
sactuary pieces and offering them as donations to any church
who can come and pick them up. Located at 1411 N. Dean Road,
Orlando 32825, please call (407) 275-1771 for
details.
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Life Enrichment Center begins room
renovations
New Tile Floors - one room at a
time
In an effort to reduce mold and mildew in the overnight
rooms at the LEC, they are tiling floors, one room at a
time. Last month, Janet Kelley previewed the
first renovated room and said it was beautiful - "new tile
floor, new paint, new furniture, pictures on the wall.
Simple and clean - very refreshing. They have one room
complete and the second underway." The plan is
to manage this project "one room at a time" as donations
come in to support it. If you or a group in your local
church would like to participate in this project, it costs
under $1,000 to remodel one room and they will accept
donations of any amount. Contact Rev. Jess L. Schload,
LEC Director for more information on how you can
participate. jschload@flumc.org
352-787-0313. |
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Calendar of
Events
Oct 3-5: Dare
to Care-Youth Event in Orlando for Student Leaders
grades 6-12 and their adult leaders. A great way to
get student leaders trained, resourced, and connected to
other students who are also in leadership. Location:
Holiday Inn Resort, Orlando Kelly Minter; email:
kelly.minter@flumc.org
phone: 407-694-2167
Oct 7:
Mentor Training for Clergy Ministry Candidate
Mentors, 10a-2p Peace UMC, Orlando
October
9-10: Postponed to a later
date. District Clergy Retreat, El Caribe
Hotel, Daytona Beach, Spring date TBA
soon.
Oct 10: Health
Insurance Adoption Agreements due to HR Benefits, FL
Conference Office, Lakeland
Oct
14: All Florida Clergy Gathering
11am-3pm, Lakeland, FL Invitation from Bishop
Whitaker.
Oct 16-23:
The Greater Orlando Christian Film Festival, Regal
Cinemas, Winter Park Village, 8 Days-10 Movies-over 80
showings. People invited by your congregation will
be referred back to your church [website]
Oct
17-18: UMVIM Team Leader Training, Lakewood
UMC Jacksonville
Oct 20:
Clergy Team Peacemaker Training Makeup Meeting - FLUMC
Children's Home, Enterprise 9a-12noon
Oct
20: JFON Immigration Clinic, First UMC Pine
Hills, 5-8p, Clients must schedule appointment in
advance. Contact Mayuris Pimentel at 407-896-2230
x151-English X152-Spanish X153-Creole
Oct
23: EC dCOM, Asbury UMC, Maitland,
9:30a-3:30p
Oct 23:
District UMM - First UMC, DeLand, 6:30p - Spouses
night.
Oct. 24:
Radical Hospitality Conference Leadership Training
Event. Harvest UMC, Bradenton
8:30a-4:30p
Oct 24: Radical
Hospitality Conference Leadership Training Event. First
UMC, Lakeland 8:30a-4:30p
Oct
24-25: Early Response Disaster Team
Training, Warren Willis Camp
Oct
25: District United Methodist Women at
First Deland, 9a
Oct 31:
Deadline for Clergy Assessment Process
Nov
1: Florida Conference United Methodist
Women Annual Meeting, Florida Southern College,
Lakeland 10a-5p "Called To God's
Mission"
Nov 1: Radical
Hospitality Event, Church of the Palm Beaches
8:30a-4:30p
Nov 2-3: District
Leadership Team Retreat; Nov 2 from 4p to Nov 3
at 4p Chick-Fil-A Lodge in New Smyrna
Beach
Nov 3-14:
Conference Benefits Open Enrollment for Clergy and Lay
Staff
Nov 6: Conference
Benefits Plan Open Enrollment webcast 10a sharp
See Conference website for complete details and log-on
information
Nov 6-8: Ministers' Mates
Retreat, LEC, Fruitland Park
Nov
11: Conference Holiday - Veterans
Day
Nov 14: final date to
submit contact information for new 2009
leadership
Nov 15:
Radical Hospitality Event, First UMC, Ormond
Beach, 8:30a-4:30p
Nov
17: JFON Immigration Clinic, First
UMC Pine Hills, 5-8p, Clients must schedule appointment
in advance. Contact Mayuris Pimentel at
407-896-2230 x151-English X152-Spanish
X153-Creole
Nov 20: EC
dCOM, Asbury UMC, Maitland,
9:30a-3:30p
Nov 27-28:
Conference Holiday - Thanksgiving
Dec 8: Staff Parish
Relations Training, 7-8:30p, Trinity UMC,
Orlando
Dec 16: Staff Parish
Relations Training, 7-8:30p,Tomoka UMC, Ormond
Beach
Dec 18: EC dCOM,
Asbury UMC, Maitland, 9:30a-3:30p
Dec 24 -
Jan 4: Conference Holiday - District
Office Closed for Christmas through New Year's
Jan
17: Local Church Leadership Training
Event, 8:30a-12:45p, First UMC, Winter Park.
Opportunities for all laity in the local church,
specific training for elected leadership. Advanced
registration details coming soon
Jan
31: Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) Citrus
Drive, Greater Orlando Area
Feb 6-7: Real Ideas
Conference at Van Dyke Church in Lutz,
Florida
Feb 20-22: "SCREAM
Get Ready for the Ride" for young adults ages 18-25,
designed to help young adults discern whether they are
being called to full-time Christian ministry.
Feb 21: Radical Hospitality
Event. Trinity UMC,
Tallahassee, 8:30a-4:30p
Feb
21: Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) Citrus
Drive in DeLand
Mar 20-21: Lay
Speaking Weekend at First UMC, DeLand. Mar 20 from
5-8:30p, Mar 21
from 8:30a-4:30p. Registration details coming
soon
Jun 10:
Pre-Annual Conference Events, Bethune Cookman
University, Daytona Beach, FL
Jun
11-13: Florida Annual Conference, Bethune
Cookman University, Daytona Beach,
FL
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| God bless you and
keep
you!! | | | |
