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Featured Article
I was
recently forwarded a BLOG from Dave Ferguson on the Power of Passion in
Ministry. He made some great observations reflecting on Ben Zander’s “Passionate” interview
with Bill Hybels at the Willow Creek Leadership
Conference last August. Here are some paraphrased highlights:
What is it
that makes passion so powerful?
1. PASSION IS CONTAGIOUS
We all have unique gifts given to us by God. We all have a particular
personality that was given to us starting at birth. God also places into
each of our hearts a passion. Of the three: gifts, personality and
passion; passion is transferable. Passion is the one I can give to
someone else. Passion is contagious.
2. PASSION
IS EXPERIENTIAL
We can’t learn how to do it . . . we have to experience what it is
like to feel passionately about a calling.
3. PASSION
IS ENROLLING
Because of someone’s passion we want to be a part of whatever they
are leading. If we can relay and live out our passion for Christ, others
will want to follow . . .
4. PASSION
MAKES A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE
Without Passion, life and work can often feel fruitless. We end up going
through the motions and feel as if we are never really able to accomplish
our hearts desires.
Find
out more....
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Our next Clergy Gathering will be in early spring,
(Date to be Announced Soon). I promised you that I would not gather us
together unless we accomplished one of two things: Building Community or
Learning Together. The Epiphany Open House at the District Residence on
January 6 will obviously be a Community
Building gathering
and Ramona and I are looking forward to sharing our home with you during
this time. (See details below)
Our Clergy Gathering will be focused on the Possibilities for Ministry
together in the East Central District for both Clergy and Lay Leaders in
our local churches. At our EC District Leadership Retreat in late
October, we studied the book, “The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
and previewed the Video by the same name. We all unanimously agreed that
it needed to be part of our next District “Learning Together”
event. Some of the areas we hope to offer in “mini-courses”
for Clergy and Lay Leaders include topics on Mission Opportunities in our
District, Leading the Small Membership Church, Partner Ministry with
Ethnic Churches, Spiritual and Physical Self Care, Cultural Trends
Impacting the Church, Skill Development (Preaching, Worship, Leadership,
Pastoral Care), Excellence in Ministry - Professional/Personal
Expectations, and other topics you might deem helpful. (E-mail me at
ds-ec@flumc.org or Janet Kelley at jkelley@flumc.org and give us your
suggestions. We are currently in the process of putting together this event
to include both Clergy and their Lay Leaders. Let us know what
you’d like to focus on as we “Learn Together!”
My hope and prayer for you in 2007 is that you can claim your passion for
ministry and live it out in the fullness of your calling. I am grateful
for your leadership and ministry in the East Central District. Thank your
for your faithfulness to the tasks at hand, and as we answer God’s
call together in this Church that we love, may our passions be evident
and our work for the Kingdom be fulfilling!
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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· OPEN HOUSE AT
THE WIATTS
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 Ramona and I would like to
extend an invitation to all clergy and their families to the District
Parsonage, 1123 Buckwood Drive, Orlando
(32806) on January 6 [Epiphany Day] from 11am-2pm. Join us for food, fun,
conversation, games and crafts for children, and an opportunity to look
in the District Superintendent’s closet! R.S.V.P by January 3 by
calling 407.859.4389 or by email to epiphanyparty@hotmail.com
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· HEALTHY
CHURCH INITIATIVE TRAINING AT ASBURY SEMINARY
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 HCA is the creation of
Congregational Transformation, New Church Development, and Connectional
Ministries. Churches, lay and clergy leaders can
all participate in the Academy. Registration is open for HCA 101
“Growing a Healthy
Church” a
four day, 3 CEU course, Jan. 5-6; 19-20, 2007 at Asbury Theological
Seminary, Orlando.
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Register at ...
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· IGNITING
MINISTRIES CONFERENCE
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 Do you want to have open hearts,
open minds and open doors? If so, a great opportunity is coming your way!
On January 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Life Enrichment
Center in Leesburg
our Conference has an opportunity to learn more about how to use Igniting
Ministry (IM) resources!
Three of the national trainers will spend the day with us teaching in
three areas: Welcoming Basics, Advanced Welcoming Skills, and Creating a Unique
Identity. You will learn about resources developed for Welcoming,
Inviting and Discipling ministries; how to
partner with IM to do your own media blitz; and how to use radio and
print resources to promote your church’s ministry!
Register through the link below. Each church can register as many people
as you want to attend for $40 – see how many United
Methodist’s you can get to an event!!! Additional costs include
$10/person/lunch.
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More at ...
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· EC DISTRICT
MISSION OPPORTUNITY
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Help
feed Central Florida's Hungry with
Citrus grown in your own backyard! Pick the fruit and bring it to a drop
site . . . volunteer to pick someone else's fruit . . . or donate your
citrus for someone else to pick.
Seminole and Orange Counties - January 20
5 Volunteer Sites in Greater Orlando - Reeves UMC, College Park
Presbyterian and Saint Luke's in Orlando, University Carillon UMC in
Oviedo and Grace UMC in Lake Mary.
Volusia
County -
February 3
First UMC, Deland
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For more
information call Society of Saint Andrew 407-650-1956 or go to . . .
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· YOUNG CLERGY
RECRUITMENT
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FEB.
6 - YOUNG CLERGY RECRUITMENT EVENT
PEACE UMC
David Dodge in the Center for Clergy Excellence wanted to remind all
pastors and laity of the event planned for February 6 on the Recruitment
and Development of Young Clergy. It will be held at Peace UMC in Orlando, beginning at 10:00 am and concluding at 4:00
pm. Dr. Lovett Weems from the Lewis
Center for Church
Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, and Rev. Susan Hay, Director
for Ministries with Youth and the General Board of Discipleship, will be
our featured leaders. Bishop Whitaker will be leading us in worship at
the beginning of the event.
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· 23rd ANNUAL
WOMEN’S RETREATS
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January
19-21 Reverend Geraldine McClellan
February 2-4 Reverend Debbie McLeod
February 16-18 Reverend Jackie McMillan
March 2-4 Maisie Hartsfield
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Download
brochure . . .
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· PASTORING THE
SMALLER MEMBERSHIP
CHURCH
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FEBRUARY
12-15
Hinton Rural Life
Center
Plenary sessions will focus on the culture and dynamics of the small
membership church and legislative changes to Town and Country ministry.
Plenary Groups
· Music Diversity In the Church
· Small Membership
Church
· Ethnic Focused Ministries
· Comprehensive Plan for Town and
Country
Key Note: The Reverend Geraldine McClellan
Contact: mollie@hintoncenter.org
866.389.8336
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More...
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· 2007 COUPLES
SPIRITUAL RETREATS
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March
9-11: John Riley and Dr. Riley Short
March 16-18: Rev. Charley Reeb and Rev. Joyce
Payne
March 23-25: Dr. Dale Locke and Rev. Max Wilkins
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Register Online
at...
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· CUBA
CARAVAN MISSION GIFT
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We
are planning two Caravans in February to attend our sister District
Conferences in the Holguin
and Las Tunas Districts. Those planning to attend the Conferences
include: John Powers, Travis Riner, Carla Bitterling, Bob Brown, Teresa Martin, Joe Willingham , Sarah Freuer.
(Holguin District, February 6-13) Rafael Rivera, Rusty Belcher, Wayne Wiatt, Ramona Wiatt, (Las
Tunas District, February 20-27).
We would like to take with us a special gift to our Sister Districts to
help with Transportation needs. Currently, their District Superintendent,
Enoc Rodriguez does not have any transportation
to make his way around the District to support and supervise his pastors.
Our goal is to purchase a van for the Las Tunas and Holguin Districts to
help with this need. We are estimating the cost for a used vehicle to be
around $20,000. Our District Leadership Team is behind this goal and we
would like every Congregation in the East Central District to
participate. Mission Coordinators and Pastors can help us get the word
out! Contributions may be sent to the East Central District Office, c/o
Pam Price, Financial Administrator.
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· HELPFUL STUFF
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Institute of Preaching Launches New Format
The Florida Conference's Institute
of Preaching begins
a new season of ministry in 2007. After a time of prayer and discernment,
the institute has decided to shift from large, annual gatherings using a
lecture format to a small-group format that will meet three times during
the year for hands-on mentoring and development of preaching gifts. Up to
12 applicants will be selected for the 2007/2008 class. All clergy will
receive a brochure in the mail in the coming weeks. Information about the
institute is also available on the Florida Conference Web site at
www.flumc.org.
Interested clergy who have questions after visiting the Web site or
receiving the brochure should e-mail Jack Jackson, chairman of the
Institute of Preaching, at: TGJacksonIII@gmail.com , or Nathan Kirpatrick, director of Duke University's Continuing
Education Programs, at: div- conted@duke.edu.
Demographic
Information is available
All UMC local churches can access the PERCEPT Link2Lead website.
To access go to: www.link2lead.com
Account number: 5957
Password: To be set by user
Click: “My Community” (tab at top)
Click “Select Zip Code” – enter zip code – click.
Two choices: Select from left column either:
- 10 Facts Series
(receive 4 10 Fact Reports)
- FirstView Report – click Download FirstView: click “Open”
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· ONLINE
TRAINING COURSES – SPRC, FINANCE, TRUSTEES
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 Courses currently available include
training for members of church Staff Parish Relations and Trustees
Committees and members involved in dealing with Church Finances,
including stewardship and connectional giving.
Future courses will focus on teacher training, leader development and
responsibilities of membership secretaries and lay leaders, among other
topics.
For more information about the courses or to provide feedback on the
process or suggestions for courses contact the Rev. Carol Sue Hutchinson,
director of the Connectional Ministries office's Congregational Life
Ministries, at chutchinson@flumc.org or 800-282- 8011, extension 140.
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All courses can
be accessed through...
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· BACKGROUND
CHECKS ONLINE
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The
Florida Conference and Trak-1 Technologies are working together to enable
ministries to operate in a safe and secure environment. Through Trak-1 services
churches and church-related agencies can obtain comprehensive background
checks without incurring extensive charges. The new online service
provides access to the information churches need to make informed hiring
or volunteer placement decisions. The documents needed to utilize this
service are available on the Florida Conference website at www.flumc.org.
For other information or questions contact the conference ministry
protection office at 800-282-8011.
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More information
about Trak-1 is available at ...
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· UPCOMING
CONFERENCE EVENTS
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January
13 - IGNITING MINISTRY TRAINING, LEESBURG
February 6 – SUMMIT ON CLERGY
RECRUITMENT, PEACE UMC
August 9-11, – WILLOW CREEK LEADERSHIP SUMMIT.
We have purchased 25 tickets for the District. Let us know if you would
like to join us next summer!
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Conference
Calendar...
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· EC DISTRICT
CALENDAR DATES
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January
6 Open House at District Residence for appointed Clergy and District
Leadership from 11am – 2pm (Epiphany Party)
January 13 Igniting Ministry Training starting at 8:30am @ LEC
January 20 Society of St Andrew’s Citrus Harvest for Seminole and
Orange Counties
January 21 College Dinner for UM UCF, Stetson, and Valencia Students at
District Residence beginning at 5pm
January 22 Justice for our Neighbors from 6 to 10 pm – First UMC,
Pine Hills
January 25 United Methodist Men’s Quarterly District meeting @
Edgewater UMC beginning with dinner at 6:30pm
January 27 Conference Table “Shaping a Common Social
Witness”.
February 3 Society of St Andrew’s Citrus Harvest for Volusia County
February 6 Young Clergy Recruitment Event @ peace UMC 10a-4p February
6-13 Cuba Caravan to Holguin District
February 19 Justice for our Neighbors from 6 to 10 pm
February 20-27 Cuba Caravan to Las Tunas District
March 3 Conference Table “Young Adults”.
March 6-8 Tapestry (Ministry with persons over 50) @ St Luke’s,
Orlando
March 9-11 Couples Spiritual Retreat – LEC
March 10 Local Church Educational Ministries Training
March 11 Clergy/Lay Leader Gathering 2- 7pm
March 16-18 Couples Spiritual Retreat – LEC
March 19 Justice for our Neighbors from 6 to 10 pm
March 23-25 Couples Spiritual Retreat – LEC
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EC District
Calendar...
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· EC WEBSITE
AND UPDATES
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We want to feature your local
church ministry and mission highlights on our Website. If you have a
special Mission or Ministry event that you might share with the rest of
the East Central District, please Contact our Webmaster, Michelle Colan
at mcolan@flumc.org and share with her your article and pictures!
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· CHOIR
DIRECTOR NEEDED
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Choir Director needed for small
choir and congregation and able to play electric keyboard. Position
requires choir rehearsal one evening per week, one service on Sunday
mornings and seasonal specials. Please call church office at (407) 295-
6723
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;)