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| East Central District Newsletter
January 2009 |
Dear Michelle,
As we get ready to ring in a new year, I am reminded of a family tradition in which my parents gathered our family every New Year's Eve and we had to share a "wish" for the coming year. The only catch was this...the wish couldn't involve us. It had to be a wish for someone else. It was early training in being "externally focused!"
Rather than a personal New Year's Resolution for 2009, in grateful memory of my parents' guidance in my life, I have taken a little time this week to write down some "wishes" for the New Year, These "wishes" will begin my prayer list for 2009...
 - Peace - Economic Hope and Stability
- Loving Congregations
- Renewed Clergy
- Spiritual Leadership
- Freedom for the Addicted
- Healing
In Max Lucado's Book, It's Not About Me, I was gently reminded again how to bump my life off of Self-Center! In short, it's not about us... it's about what God can do through us.
But all of us who are Christians... reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. -- 2 Corinthians 3:18 (Phillips)
Thank you for all you are doing to bring about the Kingdom here and now. I am grateful for our ministry in the EC District and look forward to our ministry together in the New Year.
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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e-Learning Module Expanded |
The Florida Conference continues to expand its long-distance, e-Learning opportunities with the introduction of "Come Let Us Worship," a training module for worship teams and leaders.
The new online module, available free at the Conference website [click here], is the 8th component designed to help local churches strengthen their mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Other modules include trainings for staff parish committees, trustees committees, finance committees, lay leader and lay member positions, plus a Bible study on "Where is the fruit?" |
| Year-End Statistical Report - Jan. 5 - Feb. 13 |
The time is now to collect information from all areas of church ministry -- statistics that reflect the church's presence, hospitality, and service. The statistical report will be available for completion online January 5 to February 13 on the Coference website. Please do not wait until the last week to complete the report. | |
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Open House for District Clergy
January 10
Join us for an Epiphany Open House
on Saturday, January 10, 2009
11am-1:30pm at the District Residence at 1123 Buckwood Drive, Orlando, FL. Great Food and Conversation, Crafts and Games for Children
Have A Blessed Christmastide! We hope to see you there!
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Important Upcoming Dates
January 10: Epiphany Open House for Clergy at District Residence, 11am
January 16: Deadline for 2008 Apportionments to be received in Lakeland
January 17: 2009 Leadership Training Event, First UMC, Winter Park, 8:30am
January 31: Citrus Gleaning, Orange, Osceola & Seminole Counties
February 21: Scream Event, Islands of Adventure
February 26-27: 24 Hour Clergy Retreat, Daytona Beach |
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Check out this new resource on the Florida Conference Website | |
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Local Church Leadership Training Event - January 17 |
An opportunity for all Local Church Laity... especially newly elected leaders and committee members for 2009. Training sessions are targeting specific Church Leadership Roles.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend two sessions from the following topics and leaders:
♦ Congregational Transformation - Kim Shockley, Congregational Transformation Coordinator
♦ Disaster Recovery - Marilyn Swanson, Conf. Disaster Recovery Director
♦ Finance - Mickey Wilson, Conference Treasurer
♦ Lay Leaders & Lay Members to Annual Conf. - Janet Kelley & Carol Conner,
District Lay Leaders
♦ Lay Speaking Ministry - Lynn Campbell, District Lay Speaking Coordinator
♦ Outreach Ministries: Reaching Immigrants - Marilyn Beecher, Church & Comm. Worker
♦ Outreach Ministries: Being Salt & Light in Your Community - Marilyn Beecher
♦ Staff/Parish Relations - Wendy McCoy, Conference HR Director
♦ The Methodist Way - Jeff Stiggins, Director of Congregational Transformation
♦ Trustees - Mark Thomas, Conf. Ministry Protection Director
♦ Web Ministry - Doug Bevis, Conference Webmaster
Held at First UMC of Winter Park, 125 N Interlachen Ave., from 8:30am - 12:45pm. No cost to participants. Refreshments will include breakfast snacks in the morning and at break.
Please pre-register for the two sessions you wish to attend. Go to [ONLINE REGISTRATION] All are welcome to come and learn together at this Annual East Central District Event. Expand your understanding of local church ministry. Learn and share new ways to be God's light in your community! |
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"Ministry from the Kitchen" Event January 10 |
How can your church connect the practice of Radical Hospitality with service to end childhood hunger? Does your church operate a food pantry or homeless feeding program? How much ministry is done in and from your church's kitchen?
Join others for a fun, energizing day exploring "Ministry from the Kitchen" to be held Saturday, January 10 at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. with the opening session starting at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $8 at the door.
The day will include Bible study and discussion on hospitality and food; resource materials; lunch and snacks; times for fellowship and networking; and presentations from experts and discussions from church members who have developed fruit-bearing ministries in their local settings. For registration information, contact hleab@flumc.org |
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Apportionment Deadline January 16 |
Local churches are reminded that the last day for receiving 2008 apportionment money is Friday, January 16, 2009. Please mark your calendars accordingly and be aware that January 16 is the date when the Conference must have received your apportionments and not the day that you send it in. After January 16, any money received for apportionments will be put toward your 2009 apportionment. The Florida Conference Treasurer's office knows that, often, at the end of the year, time is short. There are two special, one-time options to consider when sending your funds if you are running short on time.  1) Overnight your check, using the following address: Florida Annual Conference of The United MethodistChurch Attn: Apportionments 1140 E. McDonald Street Lakeland, FL33801 2) Wire-transfer the money, using the following information: ABA Number: 062000019 Account Number: 0060077417 Bank Name: Regions Bank Account Name: The Board of Trustees United Methodist Please note that if you send a wire transfer, the Florida Conference will still need a copy of your Apportionment Giving Report. Please fax that report to 863-686-7363, or e-mail a copy to Ivette Valentin. In an effort to apply 2008 apportionments accordingly, we ask that you refrain from sending 2009 apportionment until after January 16, 2009. Regular apportionment remittances, as always, may be sent to: Regions Bank, PO Box 850001, Orlando, FL 32885-0207. |
| Property & Casualty Insurance Program Update |
 The comprehensive Florida Conference property and casualty insurance program renews annually on December 31st. Mark Thomas, Director of Ministry Protection reports that the overall program insurance costs have been finalized, resulting in a premium reduction for 2009 of over $1.6 million dollars (10% reduction). This reduction, coupled with the substantial reduction last year, brings the two year overall premium reduction to 30% or approximately $5.5 million dollars. A complete E-Review article on the insurance renewal is available on the Conference website. [Click here to read]
While the figures for the overall program have been finalized, Ministry Protection is now in the process that allocates those costs out to each church based upon a wide variety of individual factors, such as their square footage, insured value, location, payroll, number of vehicles, etc, etc. This process has continued over the Christmas and New Year break. It is expected that individual church bills will be available within the first 2 weeks of January.
Of course, should you have any questions or need any information in the interim, please do not hesitate to contact the Ministry Protection Office.
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24-Hour Clergy Care Retreat February 26 & 27 |
  El Caribe Hotel Daytona Beach, Florida10:00 AM Thursday - 11:30 AM Friday
Teaching, Worship, Renewal and Reflection Time Alone, Beach Time, Fun Time, Dessert Theatre with Tony Chance. Optional: Miniature Golf at Congo Golf (additional cost $6.95).
Retreat Cost includes Hotel Room on Thursday night and Three Meals: Thursday-Lunch and Dinner; Friday-Breakfast. $125 per person for a single room or $82 per person for a double room. Each room has two queen beds, TV, Refrigerator, Microwave, Ocean view with Balcony. Extend your renewal time: Additional Nights available at a cost of $89-$130 each. To Register, contact Janet Kelley in the District Office jkelley@flumc.org GUEST LEADERS:
Rev. Robbi Walker, M.Div. Candler School of Theology, Two-year Academy for Spiritual Formation; Founding Team for Florida Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation; Workshop leader in Spiritual Formation. "Nurturing My Own Spiritual Formation Through Meditation and Prayer".
Dr. Tapiwa Mucherera, Assistant Provost and Professor, Asbury Seminary, Orlando Campus "Personal Wholeness & Holiness: our work depends on it."
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| "REAL IDEAS" Conference February 6 & 7 |
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH - 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH - 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM
Van Dyke United Methodist Church
INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION! That's what the REAL IDEAS CONFERENCE is all about.
You will be filled with practical and positive ideas you can use immediately for high-impact in you ministry, the church and the community. For more information, click the icon above.
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Congregational Transformation in the District |
 By Kim Shockley & Michelle Colan, ReFocusing FacilitatorsThe Congregational Transformation Team offers several opportunities for renewal and growth in congregations. You will hear about these opportunities at the January 17th Leadership Training Day at First UMC Winter Park (see info. in previous article). One of those processes is ReFocusing, and we would like to take this opportunity to let you know what has been happening in the East Central District as our congregations ReFocus! It has been our pleasure to work with fourteen congregations in the past two years at one level or another as they ReFocus.
The end result of ReFocusing is a new vision of missional impact focused towards the work of the congregation to its community. In other words, the vision tells how the community will be impacted with God's Good News because this congregation exists! A five-year plan that encompasses structure and disciple-making as well as the externally-focused piece is the final product of a ReFocused congregation.
In the East Central district we have three churches that have finished the whole ReFocusing process and are working their five-year plans: [READ MORE] |
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Children's Home Local Church Representative Training February 7 |
The Training Session for Local Church Representatives for the Florida United Methodist Children's Home in the East Central District is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2009 on the campus of the Children's Home (51 Main Street, Enterprise). The session will run from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. We would like for the LCRs from all of the churches in the district to attend as we introduce some new ways to resource each other for ministry.
For more information contact Bess Bussey, Coordinator of Local Church Representatives and Volunteer Services at 386-668-4774 ext. 2223. |
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PEACE WITH JUSTICE Grant Program 2009 deadline February 15 |
 Check out this grant opportunity from The General Board of Church and Society! The Conference usually receives more in grants each year from the Peace with Justice Grants than they contribute! It is a source of funds from our connectional system for programs in the local church, district, or Conference. The deadline is February 15th. Click here for their [Application Form]. |
| Spiritual Formation Event - February 21 |
The Spiritual Formation Gathering for February, sponsored by the Conference Spiritual Formation Team, will take place right here in the East Central District at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park (125 N. Interlachen Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789 Room 236) on February 21 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The topic of the day will be "Knowing Where God is Leading Me" and will be led by Rev. Robbi Walker. It will be a true "day apart" focused upon spiritual discernment for living out our journey. Christian conferencing, bible study, and meditation will guide our time together as we seek to know God's Will for our lives.
Cost is $25.00 to the Florida Annual Conference. Participants must provide their own boxed lunch. Register by contacting Heidi Leab at hleab@flumc.org |
| A Weekend of Learning: Lay Leadership Training - March 20-21 |
Friday, March 20, 2009 from 5 pm - 8:30 pm Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Cost of Course Materials and Meals: $45.00 First UMC of DeLand, 115 E. Howry Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 Registration form available on-line at: www.ecdistrictumc.org (advanced registration required) Download form & mail to: East Central District of the UMC, 2125 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32803 Advanced Lay Speaking: Lay Speakers Create Disciple Making Faith Communities Rev. Owen & Mrs. Barbara Stricklin
The goal of this course is to provide church leaders with key tools and principles that can be used to create disciple-making faith communities. Lay speakers will learn about discipleship systems, the term faith community, and how the theory of displacement affects their congregations, as well as considering the realities of call and leadership, 21st-century structures for ministry, and new opportunities for ministry.
Advanced Lay Speaking: Dimensions of Prayer
Mr. Michael BriggsThe goal of this course is to hopefully provide answers to common questions and concerns about prayer. This course will offer an engaging introduction to prayer while providing valuable wisdom for mature Christians. Basic Lay Speaking
Ms. Lynn Campbell & Ms. Shannon Elswick
Are you listening to God's call? How do you respond to such a call and where do you go from there? This course is intended to help laity discover their unique call to serve God, their neighbor and the church.
For more information, contact Lynn Campbell, East Central District Lay Speaking Director at tumcoffice@cfl.rr.com or (407) 699-8155. |
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Small Churches Need Your Extras! |
Many times larger churches order special bulletin covers for a holiday and do not use them all. These may be perfect for a smaller church to use in the future. If you have extra bulletin covers of 100 or more that you cannot use, consider passing them on to a smaller church to use in the future. If you have extra bulletin covers or are in need of bulletin covers, contact Linda Tice at pastorlinda@bellsouth.net and she'll try to match you up! |
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Arts school encourages students to use talents for others |
 By Sarah Alsgaard | Dec. 23, 2008 {0958}
ORLANDO - From ballet lessons for children to percussion classes given by a nationally-renowned percussionist, the School of the Arts run by St. Luke's United Methodist Church strikes a positive note for children and adults.
"We just want the children to realize that the talents they have are God-given talents and that we encourage them to develop whatever gifts that they've been given," said Pam Hultberg, director of the school, based at the Orlando church. [READ MORE] |
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New Membership Vows & Ritual Now Available |
The new baptismal and professing membership vows of The United Methodist Church adopted by delegates to the 2008 General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, will take effect January 1, 2009. The new membership vows and ritual are now available on the GBOD Worship Website [click here]
The resource includes the following information:
- an explanation of the changes made by the 2008 General Conference;
- a reminder, due to changes made at the 2004 General Conference, to please discontinue use of the vows of Baptismal Covenant III, and;
- replacement texts for those portions of the Baptismal Covenant in The United Methodist Hymnal that were updated by 2008 General Conference action.
GBOD's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.gbod.org for more information or call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017. |
| Asbury Seminary hosts Kingdom Encounter on February 2 - 4 |
 Asbury Theological Seminary will host "Kingdom Encounter: Reaching the World" from Feb. 2-4, 2009, on its Orlando, Florida Campus. The keynote speakers are Danny Wuerffel, 1996 Heisman trophy winner and executive director of Desire Street Ministries, and Tyron Inbody, professor emeritus of theology at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. The 2009 Kingdom Conference features plenary and break-out sessions with both keynote speakers and ministry leaders in and around Orlando who are reaching the world for Christ. Attendees will also experience vibrant worship and interactive small-group seminars together. Seminary credit and continuing education units will be available. For a complete schedule and conference registration information, visit their [website] or call 1.800.2ASBURY. |
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"SCREAM" Event February 20 - 22 |
 This event includes workshops led by outstanding Conference leadership, powerful worship led by Bryant Manning from our summer camp team and J.D. Walt of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, and an afternoon at Islands of Adventure. Young adults will learn how to be more effective leaders, how to serve the Church and the world, how to listen for God's call, and will build community with other young adults from around the Annual Conference. Scream will be held in Orlando, February 20-22. The cost is only $25!
To register, visit www.screamumc.org. Please help us spread the word and encourage your young leaders to register early and attend. Space is limited! |
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Evangelism Workshop February 28 |
The "Hitchhikers Guide to Evangelism" workshop, scheduled for February 28, 2009, has changed locations and will now be held at the Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Onsite registration opens at 8:30 a.m.; the workshops begin at 9 a.m.
Sponsored in part by the office of Congregational Transformation of the Florida Conference, the Hitchhikers Guide to Evangelism features Bill Easum and Bill Tenny-Brittian, two renowned leaders in the field of teaching understandable, practical and effective evangelism. The sessions begin with a reminder that culture has changed and the church is largely operating as if the community is what it used to be. From there, the conference will explore how effective evangelism is changing (and must change) to reach the growing population of unchurched and never churched people.
Registration is open now. Early registration (before Feb. 7, 2009) is $85. Clergy who bring four people attend for free. For more information and to register, visit www.easumbandy.com |
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Florida Conference Advocacy Days - March 29-31 |
 You are invited to an exciting opportunity to come together with other United Methodists in Florida who are advocating for children and families in poverty. Come be a part of the Florida Conference Advocacy Days (FAD) at Children's Week in Tallahassee March 29 through 31, 2009. As you may know, a resolution was passed at Annual Conference 2008 addressing the participation and celebration by local churches in Children's Week advocacy. Children's Week has for years raised awareness of the needs of children in Florida to state legislators and others in Tallahassee, and this year the Conference is working to increase the number of participants and the effectiveness of the training for advocacy.
Your presence is vital! We encourage you to attend and to bring along a delegation from your church. For more information, please contact Melinda Trotti, Director of Justice and Spiritual Formation Ministries, at mtrotti@flumc.org or Nancy Dougherty, Florida Conference Advocacy Days Coordinator at nancycumc@verizon.net |
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Calendar
of
Events |
Jan 10: Epiphany Open House for District Clergy Families; 11a-1:30p at the Wiatt's Home
Jan 10: Kitchen Ministry Workshop; 9a, First UMC Winter Park
Jan 16: Last Day for Conference to receive 2008 Connection Giving dollars.
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 at www.ecdistrictumc.org .
Jan 23: Church & Pastor Profiles due to be completed online. Jan 23-25: Clergy Kids Weekend LEC
Jan 28: EC Leadership Team (Nominations) 2nd meeting for District and Conference Nominations for 2009; 11a-1p; District Office Conference Room - working lunch
Jan 31: Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) Citrus Drive in the Greater Orlando Area
Feb 6-7: Real Ideas Conference at Van Dyke Church in Lutz, Florida
Feb 7: UM Children's Home Representative Training, Enterprise, FL, 9a-12noon
Feb 13: Year-End Statistical Report due complete online. Feb 15: Peace with Justice Grant Program Deadline Feb 20-22: "SCREAM Get Ready for the Ride"
Feb 21: Radical Hospitality Event, Trinity UMC, Tallahassee 8:30a-4:30p
Feb 21: Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) Citrus Drive in DeLand
Feb 21: Spiritual Formation Gathering, First UMC, Winter Park, 10a-3p Feb 26 & 27: East Central District Clergy Care Retreat, El Caribe, Daytona Beach
Feb 28: Evangelism Workshop, Lake Magdalene UMC, Tampa, 8:30a Feb 27 - Mar 1: 35th Annual Secretaries Seminar, LEC, Leesburg (by PAUMCS)
Mar 12: EC dCOM, Asbury UMC, Maitland, 9:30a-3:30p
Mar 20-21: Lay Leadership Training: Lay Speaking Weekend at First UMC, DeLand. Fri. Mar 20 from 5pm-8:30pm and Sat. Mar. 21st 8:30am-4:30pm. Registration form available on-line at www.ecdistrictumc.org Mar 29-31: Children's Advocacy Days in Tallahassee
Jun 10: Pre-Annual Conference Events, Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL
Jun 11-13: Florida Annual Conference, Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL |
| Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given; While angels sing with tender mirth, A glad new year to all the earth. --Martin Luther | |
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