Flagler Beach UMC

 

A recent report from Pastor Doug Swan shared some exciting things that are happening at Flagler Beach!  Nearly $2000 was raised to help their sister Cuban Church procure a house for a parsonage and worship purposes.  With Revival Services in February, "Youth with a Mission" performance of the gospel and two church leaders attending the women's Walk to Emmaus retreat there has been lots of evidence of God's work among the congregation!  Their attendance is growing and giving is up for 2010!  Pastor Swan credits this work to the lay leaders who are open to partnering with God through prayer to see things happen through their congregation for the benefit growing God's Kingdom in Flagler Beach.  This congregation participated in a ReFocusing Network during 2007 through 2009.  Go God!

A time for pastors to share their joys and concerns regarding the church and its direction. A space for listening and hearing, with opportunity for honest feedback.

 

Tuesday, May 11  from 2p-4p: University Carillon UMC, Oviedo - Rev. Joe MacLaren
Tuesday, May 18  from 2p-4p: Trinity UMC, DeLand - Rev. John Campbell

 

by Kim Shockley
 
I was visiting a church several years ago and arrived in time for the fellowship time before the worship service.  Within a few seconds of walking in the front door I was greeted and ushered to the hall where coffee and snacks were available.  The gentleman who ushered me introduced me to a few other people, and within a minute, I was learning all about the welcoming ministry of this congregation; I even received a short tour of the church!  Needless to say - I was blown away by the selfless attitude of this gentleman who was willing to look for the guest/visitor/stranger and offer hospitality!
 
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that your congregation's fellowship time, whenever it is offered, is a time that should not be focused on your congregation!  I truly believe that if every individual within a congregation took on the responsibility of offering simple hospitality - a friendly hello, smile, or handshake, then our churches would be full to overflowing!  Your Coffee Hour is the perfect place to begin practicing this kind of hospitality. 
 
As an experiment, the next time you attend the fellowship time or coffee hour, look around to determine what is happening.  Is everyone engaged in a conversation?  Are there obvious guests/visitors/strangers?.  [Continue reading]

Renfro Trust Grants due September 1, 2010 

 

Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
The Lakeland Center - Sikes Hall H (Doors open at 11:30)
Cost: $16.00 [Click Here] to register. Reservation deadline: Tuesday, June 1, 2010

On The Menu. . .   A Meal of Solidarity
Stand in solidarity with the majority of the world's population. Our diet is vastly different than much of the world. Half the world's population lives on $2 a day or less. Meal options are few, and portions are small.

As an act of solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world, we encourage you to join us in eating a meal of similar portion size and content -  black beans and rice. While this seems meager by American standards, it represents diets in the broad middle of the world's population. 

Please join us in experiencing what life is like for the other half of the world. A portion of the cost of this meal will go toward the Annual Conference Offering to Haiti and End Childhood Hunger.

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 your church are presently involved or want to get involved in prison ministry, please tell us the details.  Send information to  Bob Crowley, EC District Prison Ministry Chairperson, at rcrowley6@cfl.rr.com; and Tammy Fisher, Florida Conference staff, at tfisher@flumc.org. 

Grandparents & Me Camp

Be a feeding site during the summer for children who are on the free lunch program during the school year. Local churches serve the meals to children and keep records on number of children fed. You do not have to do the administration or food preparation. There are still slots for this summer in many locations. Lunch can be combined with activities for the children. To see if your church qualifies or if there is another site nearby that needs assistance.

 

What happens when a smart, talented young man desires to serve God, but is mostly driven by his fear of death and hell?  How is a conflicted heart torn by love and desire?  And what happens when that heart finally discovers grace?

 

 

In this powerful true story, based directly on the private journals of John and Charles Wesley, we glimpse the private struggles of one man who would go on to found the Methodist movement - and another who would become one of the most prolific and beloved hymn writers of history.  Together, they would transform the face of England with revolutionary ministries to the poor and downtrodden, creating a movement that laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery. Download bulletin insert [Here].

Leaders from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) have been in Haiti to meet with Methodist Church leaders, to plan for sending teams and to look at priority projects.  The infrastructure in Haiti is still very fragile. Working through UMVIM is the best way to optimize the assistance your team will be able to give, to ensure you do not tax an already severely overtaxed system (considerations such as food, supplies, transportation, trash disposal, etc.) and to ensure the safety of your team. This is a very unique and challenging setting even for experienced mission teams.

 

Criteria for UMVIM teams are as follows:
1. Teams should be no more that 8-12 members.
2. The team leader should have previous experience working in Haiti.
3. Team leader must have UMVIM Team leader training.  (Next training May 14-15, LaBelle, FL)

4. All team members must have the necessary immunizations recommended by the CDC.
5. Early Response Training (ERT) is not necessary but is helpful for team members.  

 

UMCOR has three staff people who will be coordinating the work including a Volunteer Team Coordinator.  They will be in place starting April 1.  Workteams are expected to begin work Easter week 2010.  Work teams can register at www.umvim.org. Going through UMVIM will mean meals and housing through the Methodist guest house in Port Au Prince; work projects, building supplies and logistics being prepared for your team; UMVIM insurance to cover your team; translators provided to work with your team.  All teams will be asked to hire at least two Haitians to help with the work.

 

If you are planning a team and need to find someone with the team leader qualifications of having been on a mission trip to Haiti and having been through the VIM team leader training, please contact Marilyn Beecher or Florida Conference VIM. We may be able to match you up with someone who could co-lead a team - your local church team leader can still provide the coordination of your group and with on site supervision of the work while the "experienced" co-leader could assist with logistics.