The East Central = District=20 Newsletter =

JOIN OUR = LIST=20

DISASTER = RESPONSE BULLETIN=20 INSERT = AVAILABLE

A bulletin insert = with=20 information on how churches may respond to = Tropical Storm Fay has been developed for = use=20 during worship services. The insert, which = is=20 available=20 here, is in a = landscape, 8.5 by=20 11 inch format with two=20 = columns.

WHY BE=20 A CHRISTIAN? 3D"Bishop

An e-Review=20 Commentary
By Bishop Timothy W.=20 Whitaker

If someone=20 were to ask you, "Why should I be a = Christian?"=20 what would you say? I cannot think of any = question=20 that is more challenging for a Christian = than=20 that. It makes us wonder if we have = anything to=20 say to a person who is not a Christian = that would=20 at least encourage him or her to consider = becoming=20 a Christian. It also makes us think about = . . .=20

[Read = More]

Florida=20 Conference

Visit Our Conference=20 = Website

NEW=20 - Lay Leader=20 Training
NEW=20 - Lay=20 = Member Training

September 2008

Dear Michelle,=20

Sometimes it's = hard to=20 find your way out of the storm. I had to = travel to=20 NC on Monday to pick up our family car = that was=20 being repaired in Waynesville. ( I was in = a wreck=20 following Jurisdictional Conference = when=20 pulling into stopped traffic, having been = waved=20 through the intersection by well = intentioned=20 motorists...don't ever do = that!).

As I left=20 Waynesville on Tuesday, Gustav was forming = in the=20 Caribbean and Fay was traveling north to = hit me=20 head-on above Atlanta. The Rain was making = a river=20 across the highway, 30 mile-an-hour winds = were=20 bending the trees, wrecks were abundant, = traffic=20 jams insurmountable, and I thought to = myself=20 ... "I'm never going to get out of = this=20 storm!"=20

In our District, we are = still=20 feeling the affects of Tropical Storm Fay. = Lee=20 Schneider, our District Disaster = Coordinator has=20 done an excellent job of keeping us = informed.=20 Eight of our churches sustained water and = wind=20 damage: Stewart Memorial, Bear Lake, = Covenant Port=20 Orange, First Apopka, First DeLand, Orange = City,=20 Palm Coast, Riverview, and = Tuskawilla. Our=20 Conference Ministry Protection Office was = tireless=20 in keeping us informed and processing = insurance=20 claims.

Several pastors' homes have been = surrounded=20 by water, but no intrusion as of today. = Scores of=20 residents have been evacuated, a number of = laity=20 in our churches in the Debary/Deltona area = have=20 been flooded out of their homes. The = Annual=20 Conference Disaster Response Team(s) are = ready=20 when called upon to help with clean-up and = restoration where needed. We also received = an=20 emergency Grant from UMCOR and additional = Federal=20 Funds are being made available to affected = counties.

I am reminded of an old = Cokesbury=20 Gospel Hymn by Charles Albert Tindley that = I=20 learned as a young boy...

When the storms of = life are=20 raging, stand by me (stand by me)
When = the=20 storms of life are raging, stand by me = (stand by=20 me)
When the world is tossing me, like = a ship=20 upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and = water,=20 stand by me (stand by me)

It's ironic to me that we = focused=20 on Peace Making at our September Clergy = Meeting in=20 the wake of the storm. Isn't it true that = life's=20 storms are never calendared in our = daytimers . . .=20 they just happen. We know that with = the help=20 of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, = even in=20 the midst of the storm we feel His = presence right=20 beside us! Whether we are in a personal or = 'nature=20 driven' storm, God is with us, we are not = alone,=20 Thanks be to God!

I know you will "stand = by" your=20 brothers and sisters in Christ when the = call for=20 assistance is made. With Gustav churning = toward=20 our Gulf Coast, it may be sooner than we = would=20 like.
3D"Rev.

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

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

TROPICAL STORM FAY=20 UPDATE Volunteer=20 Needs

Clean-up = after the=20 waters recede will be a major task in recovery=20 efforts.
Sites to = store flood=20 buckets close by the flooded areas.
Click here for = more=20 information

Donation=20 Needs

Canned goods and = non-perishable food=20 items for your LOCAL food pantry.
Money. Take up a special = collection=20 during your church services this weekend
Click here to=20 donate

Assistance with needs in your = community=20 should be reported to Disaster Recovery Ministry (800) = 282-8011, Ext. 149. (Click here for = more=20 information)

Damage to=20 church property should be reported to Ministry = Protection:=20 (800) 282-8011 Ext. 137. (Click here for = more=20 information)

Churches are also asked to = fill out=20 this online form = so that both Disaster Recovery = Ministry and the=20 Communications Department will know if/how a church is = damaged, how/if members are affected and how the = church is=20 responding in the=20 community.

Important Dates for your = Fall=20 CalendarSept = 13: EC=20 District Welcome Party for all Clergy Families, = Active=20 & Retired. Join the Festivities at DeLeon Springs = State=20 Park, 11am-2pm, BBQ, Swimming. Hiking, Boat Rides, Fun = for the=20 entire Family! RSVP: welcomeparty@gmail.com [Click = Here] for = Brochure.

Sept.13: Stewardship Summit, = First=20 Lakeland (see article below)

Sept = 12-13: Small=20 Membership Church Retreat, LEC in Fruitland Park. = Theme: Come,=20 Hear & Go Tell Contact Rev. Jeanine Spangenberg = for=20 information at 407-325-2745 [click for=20 = brochure]

Oct.=20 9-10: East Central District 24 = Hour=20 Clergy Retreat with Dr. Tapiwa Mucherera, Daytona = Beach, FL=20 (El Caribe Resort) [Click = Here] for more = information. [Registration=20 Forms]

Oct. 14: Bishop's = Gathering of=20 Clergy at First Lakeland, 11am-3pm. Regrets only with = letter=20 of explanation to the=20 = Bishop.

STEWARDSHIP SUMMIT=20 SET September=20 13th at First UMC of = Lakeland
Every year, as part of its ministry to = the=20 Florida Annual Conference, the Florida United = Methodist=20 Foundation brings in an outside speaker to headline a = one-day=20 conference on stewardship.

This year, our Stewardship Summit is = set for=20 Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First = United=20 Methodist Church of Lakeland. It is open to all = lay and=20 clergy members of the Florida Annual Conference, and = it=20 features Dr. Clif Christopher, a clergy member of the = Arkansas=20 Conference, whose new book is entitled "It's Not Your = Parents'=20 Offering Plate". Christopher is co-author of the = book=20 "Holy Smoke!: Whatever Happened to Tithing?" =

Cost of the one-day event is $50 and = includes=20 materials, lunch and a continental breakfast. In = addition=20 to the keynote address, the Stewardship Summit = includes a=20 worship service led by Bishop Timothy Whitaker, a = Question and=20 Answer session and six breakout = sessions:
=C2=B7Success vs.=20 Failure in a Capital Campaign
=C2=B7Making it Easy = to=20 Give
=C2=B7Pardon the Interruption: Offering = as=20 Worship
=C2=B7Planned Giving
=C2=B7Connectional=20 Giving
=C2=B7Stewardship: It's More than = Money

For more information and to download a = registration form, go to www.fumf.org, or call the Foundation, toll free, = at (866)=20 = 363-9673.

LAY SPEAKING=20 MINISTRIES A Weekend of Learning! Sept. 19-20 at = Ocoee Oaks=20 UMC
Lay = Speaking=20 training prepares lay people to be in ministry through = caring,=20 communication and leadership. The key emphasis = of Lay=20 Speaking is to equip people to teach, do visitation, = lead=20 committees and leadership teams, lead small group = ministry and=20 grow in personal understanding of God's call on their = life.=20

Three opportunities=20 offered:
1) Lay Speakers Discover Spiritual Gifts - = leader=20 Rev. Ernie Post
2) Lay Speakers are Accountable = Disciples=20 - leaders Rev. Gary and Kim Shockley
3) Basic Lay = Speaking=20 - leader Lynn Campbell

For more information = contact: Lynn=20 Campbell, Director of Lay Speaking Ministry East = Central=20 District 407-699-8155; 407-719-1630; hat9937@bellsouth.net. [Click Here] for=20 Brochure.

God's Action throughout = the East=20 Central District 3D"Kim

Praise God = for God's=20 action throughout the East Central District = congregations!=20 Some of you know that each church is requested to = submit=20 statistics to the District Office each month. Your = District=20 Congregational Transformation Team (DCTT) uses these=20 statistics to monitor, to a small degree, the health = of each=20 congregation. More important than the statistics are = the=20 stories of God's activity within the congregation = during the=20 past month. Two questions are asked each month: Where = have you=20 noticed God at work in individual lives or in your=20 congregation/community? How are you and your = leadership=20 growing in your awareness of God's work among you? = Usually=20 about ten to fifteen stories are generated to these = questions=20 posed to pastors and office administrators each month. =

I was overjoyed to read the stories = that came=20 from our request of July's activity. Here are a few = excerpts:=20

140 kids are attending = Lakeside's=20 summer camp, many of whom have not previously been = connected=20 to the school or the church. This has been a great = outreach.=20 (Lakeside Fellowship)
We had the best youth = Sunday service=20 ever On July 28th, as the youth led in every = capacity!=20 (First - Sanford)

[Read More . . = .]=20

EC DISTRICT YOUNG PEOPLE = SERVE AT=20 YOUTH CAMP =20 11 Weeks Given to Serving=20 YouthThis = summer,=20 about 25 high school graduates and college students = from the=20 East Central District served on the Leadership Team at = the=20 Warren W. Willis United Methodist Youth Camp. The = total team=20 of about 100 counselors came from all around the = Florida=20 Conference, other parts of the country and the world. = They=20 joined together and gave eleven weeks of their lives = in=20 ministry to about 4,000 children and=20 youth.

6th Annual Global Peace = Film=20 Festival Take Part in the = Celebration of=20 Peace

Mark your = calendars for=20 one of Orlando's most significant cultural events, the = Global=20 Peace Film Festival, held September 17-21, 2008. This=20 acclaimed series celebrates films that set out to make = a difference in the world.=20

With a mission to educate and inspire through = the art=20 of film, the Global Peace Film Festival uses the power = of the=20 medium to move people beyond their political, = geographic and=20 personal boundaries to embrace peace. Patrons will = have the=20 opportunity to enjoy a variety of independent films = from=20 around the world; the GPFF offers both real and = fictional=20 stories of people and cultures striving for peace - = from human=20 rights to the arts and urban=20 = planning.

2008 PEACEMAKER = CONFERENCE

Caribe Royale, Orlando,=20 FL Ken = Sande, founder=20 of Peace Maker Ministries is offering 50% off = Conference=20 Registration Price for Florida residents. Just put in = the=20 discount code "2008FL" when you register [Click Here] Take advantage of 50% off price of = $319. =20 Attend for only $159.50, an amazing=20 = bargain!

OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND YOUR = MUSIC=20 MINISTRY How about a Local UMC = "partnership" with the Orlando Concert=20 = Band! =20
Does the = East Central=20 District have a Central Florida church that could use = the=20 invigoration of an exciting music ministry? The=20 50-member Orlando Concert Band is looking for a site = for the=20 band's Thursday evening rehearsals. In exchange, = the=20 band can offer instrumental musicians for Sunday = worship=20 services, musical accompaniment for church choral=20 performances, and joint community concerts with the = church=20 choirs.=20

Directed by UCF Music Professor Dr. = Rick=20 Greenwood, the Orlando Concert Band is a 50-member = wind=20 ensemble, organized and operated as a not-for-profit = Florida=20 corporation. Founded in 1989, the band has = performed=20 regularly in Central Florida for the past nineteen=20 years. Recent venues include the City of = Orlando's=20 "Fireworks at the Fountain" 4th of July celebration, = the St.=20 Luke's Lutheran Church Concert Series, plus = performances at=20 St. Luke's United Methodist Church of Windermere and = the=20 Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Downtown=20 Orlando.

Ideal floor space for band = rehearsals is=20 an area approx. 45 ft. X 45 ft. (fellowship hall, gym, = sanctuary). Also needed are 40 parking spaces = plus some=20 storage. Contact Rick de Treville, Orlando Concert = Band,=20 Operations Manager (407) 650-1559 or (321)=20 = 332-5088.

FLORIDA CHURCH TEACHES = CHURCH PLANTERS=20 TO FERTILIZE SOIL 3D"Rev.

ORLANDO, Fla. (UMNS) - For almost two = years, a=20 Florida congregation has been helping people see = church as=20 their companion on a life journey.

LifeSong Church, a daughter campus of = University=20 Carillion United Methodist Church, helps people = participate in=20 the fullness of life through worship, discipleship,=20 fellowship, service and evangelism.

Launched in 2006, LifeSong is located = in a=20 shopping center in East Orlando where the population = of young=20 professionals with families is projected to increase = from=20 34,000 to 45,000 by 2010. It is the only United = Methodist=20 presence in the area.

The Rev. Lyndol Loyd, the pastor, said = LifeSong=20 develops its ministries around "lifestages" for = children,=20 teens and adults. The church's membership reflects a=20 neighborhood that is 54 percent white, 36 percent = Hispanic, 10=20 percent Asian and 5 percent African American.

The 350-member = congregation=20 served as a "teaching church" for a United Methodist = training=20 event on congregational development in early August in = Orlando. It was one of eight churches chosen to = illustrate a=20 variety of strengths in congregational development and = ministry for 350 participants at the 2008 School of=20 Congregational Development.

[Read More . .=20 .]

Radical Hospitality = trainings=20 highlight Living the United Methodist = Way 3D"Radical

=20

Join us as we explore, "Radical Hospitality," the = next=20 practice in "Living the United Methodist Way." The = Florida=20 Conference is sponsoring five, one-day events in = October and=20 November that are designed to help teams from = congregations=20 think through what it would mean for their = congregation to be=20 radically hospitable to the people of their community = and to=20 the next generation.

In addition to the three plenary sessions at the = event,=20 each participant will be able to choose from two = practical=20 breakout groups. The cost for one to five people is a = flat=20 $125. For each additional people beyond the first = five, it is=20 only $20 per person. Lunch and snacks are provided at = an extra=20 $15 per person.

To register for Radical Hospitality training = in the=20 EC District at First Ormond Beach on November 15th=20

[Click = Here]. A complete listing of event = locations around=20 the state, as well as an outline of the day's = schedule, is=20 also on the conference website. A brochure is = available=20 that you may print and share with your church members = or=20 duplicate in your bulletin inserts [HERE].

UNITED METHODIST=20 MEN QUARTERLY MEETING October 23 at = 6:30pm, First UMC=20 of Deland=20

The East = Central=20 District United Methodist Men's October quarterly = meeting will=20 be at First UMC, DeLand, Oct 23rd, at 6:30 PM = sharp. It=20 is "spouses night out" so plan to attend and bring = your=20 spouse. Hope to see you there as we wind up the = 2008=20 year with a celebration as well as great program = featuring the=20 Rev. Jim Hollis, general evangelist of the UMC from=20 Georgia. =20

For reservations contact First UMC,=20 Deland. 386-734-5113 or Steve Maulden at = steveandteeter@bellsouth.net

ANNUAL INSURANCE=20 REVIEW New = Dates=20 Announced
Due=20 to Tropical Storm Fay, the annual insurance survey was = postponed. Now that the storm has passed, they have = reopened=20 the CONNECT insurance database so that each church can = review=20 their information and make any necessary changes to = their=20 property, casualty, auto and workers' compensation=20 information. To ensure that your church is provided = with=20 appropriate coverage and billed an accurate premium, = they are=20 asking for your help in providing them with the most=20 up-to-date information possible for your=20 church.

It is essential that each church = review=20 its information every year to ensure it is as accurate = as=20 possible. The information you provide is grouped = together with=20 the information provided by all other Florida = Conference=20 churches and submitted to insurers to obtain the new = renewal=20 rates and quotes for the conference insurance program. = Your=20 assistance is crucial in this process and greatly = appreciated.=20 The rescheduled dates for the insurance survey = are=20 from August 25 through September = 8.

As=20 always, your cooperation and assistance is greatly=20 appreciated. Should you have any questions about this = process,=20 please do not hesitate to contact us or visit = [Our=20 Website].=20

FUSION = 2008

3D"Fusion

October 3-5,=20 2008

Fusion is an annual event = empowering=20 local churches to get involved in community service = that=20 clearly demonstrates the power of God's love through = acts of=20 empowered kindness and meeting real needs. We expect = more than=20 75 churches to mobilize thousands of volunteers = throughout the=20 Greater Orlando. Together we plan to implement = hundreds of=20 service projects that serve at organizations, = businesses, and=20 other locations in practical and tangible ways. Be = part of=20 Fusion 2008 - get out and serve!

To find out more about what God is = doing in your=20 area and to become apart of this community event=20 contact: Laura Toshie laura@connectcity.org or 407-718-4886 or go to the = website at=20 OrlandoFusion.org=20 where you will find a Welcome Packet, Church Liaison = Packet,=20 and Logos.

Small Group Study: If you are = interested=20 in implementing the 8 week small group study in your = church=20 leading up to Fusion 2008 please contact Phil Hissom = at=20 phissom@gmail.com.

An Evangelism = Opportunity like No=20 Other! =20 October 16-23, = 2008The Greater Orlando Christian Film = Festival is=20 an opportunity for impacting our community for = Christ=20 through volunteering, helping to get the word out, = praying,=20 and most importantly, bringing a friend to = attend.

Last=20 year's Festival reached over 13,000 in attendance , = 649 came=20 forward to receive the Lord, 100 churches and = parachurch=20 organizations were on board and over 300 wonderful = volunteers=20 gave of their time and resources to make this event a = success.=20

Let's make 2008 the best Christian Film = Festival=20 yet!

Grandmas, grandpas welcome = kids at=20 G.G.'s House Oklawaha, Forida=20 (UMNS)By John Gordon

For children who cannot enjoy the = smell of=20 freshly baked cookies at their own grandparents' home, = Pat=20 Frost and a band of silver-haired volunteers offer the = next=20 best thing. G.G.'s House is a place where children = from=20 underserved areas can learn to bake, play games and, = most=20 importantly, find comfort and attention. Its initials = stand=20 for "Grandma's and Grandpa's." "This is a very = depressed area,=20 so a lot of the children that we deal with come from = broken=20 homes," says Frost, director of the youth community = center in=20 the small, rural town of Ocklawaha. "They're not only = starved=20 for the necessities of life, but they're starved for = love and=20 attention."

Inspired by a sermon at her church, = Ocklawaha=20 United Methodist, Frost set out to create a special = place=20 where at-risk children can feel special. Frost and = other=20 volunteers renovated a rundown house owned by the = church and=20 opened the doors to neighborhood kids last October. = Frost, 60,=20 who has eight grandchildren of her own, says the = senior=20 mentors debated what they could do to help children in = their=20 community. "I don't have a lot of energy for little = ones=20 anymore," she says. "But it is my responsibility, it's = all our=20 responsibility. So, I thought, I can't keep focusing = on what=20 we can't do; it's what we can do." [Read More . . = .]=20

EC=20
District

Calendar

of

Events

2008 = East=20 Central District Event Calendar =20

Sept=20 13: EC District Welcome Party for all Clergy=20 Families, Active & Retired Join the Festivities at = DeLeon=20 Springs State Park, 11am-2pm, BBQ, Outdoor Fun,=20 Swimming, Pontoon Rides. RSVP:Pam Price = flumc-ec2@flumc.org=20
Sept 13: Stewardship Summit = sponsored by=20 the Florida United Methodist = Foundation
Sept=20 15: If the DS is not scheduled to at your = charge=20 conference this year (see EC Charge Conference = scheduled=20 on-line), please submit your own choice of a Presiding = Elder=20 and Conference date to the District office by = September=20 15th.
Sept 15: JFON Immigration = Clinic,=20 First UMC Pine Hills, 5 pm - 8 pm, Clients must = schedule=20 appointment in advance. Contact Mayuris Pimentel = at=20 407-896-2230 x151-English X152-Spanish=20 X153-Creole
Sept 18: EC = dCOM, Asbury=20 UMC, Maitland, 9:30 an - 3:30 pm
Sept=20 19-20: Lay Speaking Training, Fri. = 5p-8:30p,=20 Sat. 8:30a-4:30p Ocoee Oaks UMC, Ocoee
Sept = 23: District UMM-First UMC, DeLand, Oct = 23 at=20 6:30p - Spouses night.
Sept 25 = -27:=20 Peacemaker Ministries event: "The Power of a = Peacemaking=20 Church" Orlando, FL

Oct 7: = Mentor=20 Training 10a-2p at Peace UMC in Orlando
Oct = 9-10: East Central District Clergy Retreat, = Daytona=20 Beach, FL
Oct 14: All Florida = Clergy=20 Gathering 11m-pm, Lakeland, FL Invitation from Bishop=20 Whitaker
Oct 16-23: The Greater = Orlando=20 Christian Film Festival. Regal Cinemas Winter Park = Village 20:=20 8 Days-10 Movies-over 80 showings
Oct=20 17-18: UMVIM Team Leader Training, Lakewood = UMC in=20 Jacksonville, FL
Oct 20: JFON = Immigration=20 Clinic, First UMC Pine Hills, 5-8p, Clients must = schedule=20 appointment in advance. Contact Mayuris Pimentel = at=20 407-896-2230
Oct 23: EC dCOM, = Asbury UMC,=20 Maitland, 9:30a-3:30p
Oct 24-25: = Early=20 Response Disaster Team Training, Warren Willis Camp=20

Nov 11: Conference = Holiday -=20 Veterans Day
Nov 14: The final = date to=20 submit the contact information for your newly elected=20 leadership for 2009
Nov 15: = Radical=20 Hospitality Conference Event, First UMC Ormond Beach,=20 8:30a-4:30p
Nov 17: JFON = Immigration=20 Clinic, First UMC Pine Hills, 5-8p, Clients must = schedule=20 appointment in advance. Contact Mayuris Pimentel at=20 407-896-2230
Nov 20: EC = dCOM, Asbury=20 UMC, Maitland, 9:30a-3:30p
Nov = 27-28:=20 Conference Holiday -=20 = Thanksgiving =20

Dec 18: EC = dCOM,=20 Asbury UMC, Maitland, 9:30a-3:30p
Dec = 24-Jan=20 4: Conference Holiday - District Office = Closed for=20 Christmas through New Year's = Day

God bless you and keep=20 = you!

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