|
|
Birthdays |
|
|
JULY
1 - Cheryl Knight
3 - Robert Roseberry
3 - Debbie Machtel
4 - Jackie Walker
6 - Patti Martin
10 - Megan Dorsey
15 - James Mitchell
16 - Anne Butcher
17 - Gary Eldred
17 - Don Ringland
20 - Terri Ebert
21 - Donna Ratzlaff
27 - Mason Dorsey
27 - Heather Kirk
AUGUST 2 - John Hay
5 - Susan Gill
6 - Kathy Moore
8 - Phyllis Haas
11 - Sallie Vandervort
11 - Pam Cribb
12 - Jerry Partney
13 - Chuck Engelhardt
17 - Lisa Degrenia
18 - Bert Blomquist
20 - RayaSue Hallman
21 - Jim Rosenburg
24 - Judy Angel
26 - Jane McCloskey
28 - Bill Oakley
30 - Sharon Patch
30 - James Patch
31 - Wayne Vaughan
31 - Lena Misener
|
|
|
Anniversaries |
|
|
JULY
2 - Bob & Jackie Wooten
10 - Daryl & Debbie Allen
Rich & Robin Hager
15 - Chris & Katia McNeill
Joe & Jackie Walker
25 - Sallie & John Vandervort
AUGUST
4 - Herbert & Sylvia Lange
6 - Craig & Kathy Moore
Henry & Pam Cribb
10 - Timothy & Phyllis Haas
11 - John & Martha Peavey
12 - Eric & Barbara McCrea
25 - Dan & Martha Campbell
26 - Alex & Cheryl Knight
29 - Mark & Iris Whittaker
| |
|
|
The Gulf Central District August 2008 Newsletter |
|
Greetings!
Theologian Jean Vanier claims Christians receive two different calls... In the first, we are Peter who leaves behind his fishing nets and boldly promises to stand by Jesus no matter what. In the second, we are the disillusioned faithless Peter who sits by the campfire wondering why he denied Jesus. Here Peter, wounded by guilt and self doubt, is open to healing transforming grace.
These two types of calls, one of empowerment, the other of grace, have certainly been part of my faith story. I remember times in my life when I felt bold, confident and faithful.... during my senior year of high school when I received God's call to be a minister of the Gospel and also during my first years of ministry in Tampa. Actually, I was probably too bold and confident. Cocky might be a better way to put it. I also remember those dark nights of the soul, when all I could do was come to God, wounded, and with empty hands. The death of my brother, Andy, and the death of my sister, Linda, have been two particularly difficult times.
But you know, both calls have been important and meaningful. My bold and confident side has led me to take some chances and serve Jesus with courage and faithfulness in some difficult circumstances. Yet, when wounded and empty, I come to Jesus and to my neighbor with humility, gratitude, and a longing for grace. When wounded and empty, I come to understand what it means to be vulnerable and interdependent; i.e., to be truly human. May God's power and grace move you to bold and faithful action for the cause of Christ. May God's power and grace sustain you, mold you, and fill you during your dark nights of the soul.
 Peace,
|
| Sympathy |
Keep Dionne Hammond, the new Associate Pastor at East Lake UMC, and her family in our prayers for the recent loss of her father. Also, keep Herb Angel, Fred Bonsteel, George Douglas, and Joyce Douglas in your prayers for recent health concerns.
| |
|
 Welcome New GC District Pastors
John Powers - District Superintendent
Bill Bailey - Rogers, Bradenton Lawrence Barriner - Mt. Zion
Bert Blomquist - St. Paul, Largo
Anne Butcher - Hope Trinity (Associate)
Gary Eldred - Faith, Bradenton
Robin Hager - Christ, St. Pete
Dionne Hammond - East Lake (Associate)
Tim Machtel - First, Dunedin
James Mitchell - McCabe, St. Pete
Charlie Reeb - Pasadena Community
Jim Rosenburg - Trinity, Bradenton
Chris Schmidt - Shady Hills
Joe Teague - First, Hudson
Daniel Vizcaino - Verdad Y Vida
Brandon Wise - Heritage (Associate)
Gabe Wright - Asbury, New Port Richey |
|
2008 Online Educational Series
This educational series is a monthly webinar style online presentation. It is designed to be approximately 30 minutes in length and provide clear, timely and relevant information to Conference churches, schools and affiliated ministries.
August: Mitigating Damage, Keeping a Small Loss Small
OK, your church has just sustained a property loss . . . Maybe a small fire or seemingly minor water damage. Minor incidents can escalate out of control quickly if they are not addressed properly from the beginning. Learn how to handle these issues proactively. Presented by: Gina Dolezal, Regional Director Belfor USA.
September: Child/Youth Protection and Sexual Abuse Response
What do you do if an incident or allegations occurs? Do you notify DCF? What about the parents of the other children and youth? Hear from one of the coauthors of the Conference Child/Youth Protection Policy regarding sexual abuse and molestation issues. Presented by: Mark A. Hanley, attorney Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty and Hooker, PA. An accomplished trial attorney, active member of Hyde Park UMC and valued friend of the Conference, Mark is an expert in issues of sexual abuse and misconduct as well as employment issues.
September: Managing the CONNECT Database
What is the CONNECT Insurance Database? How do I navigate it? Is it important to my church and the Conference insurance program? Get a professional tour of the system and hear why it is crucial to your church and the insurance program. Presenter: Tom Gill, Account Executive - Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services. Based out of Boca Raton, FL. Tom is the senior account executive for the Florida Annual Conference account. Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services is the fourth largest insurance brokerage in the world, providing extensive services to the Annual Conference and local churches. |
Remember . . . Further information will be distributed prior to each monthly session that will note the exact date, time and login/access information for each webinar. For further information, please visit Ministry Protection online at www.flumc.org/ministryprotection
|
| Radical Hospitality is the second of five elements for Living the United Methodist Way
 A one-day event, held in five locations across the Florida Annual Conference, is designed to help teams from congregations think through what it would mean for their congregation to be radically hospitable to the people in their community and to the next generation. In addition to the three plenary sessions, each participant will be able to choose from two practical breakout groups.
Jesus is our model for radical hospitality. He welcomed into his presence tax-collectors, prostitutes, lepers, sinners of all sorts, political-radicals, men, women, children - in fact, anybody and everybody!
How can the people who follow him not do likewise? God "reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (II Corinthians 5:18-20)
Registration and other information will be available soon.
Visit the OCT website for more information [click here]
|
|
Dates:
Trinity UMC, Tallahassee - October 4
Harvest UMC, Bradenton - October 24
First Lakeland UMC - October 25
UMC of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach - November 1
First Ormond Beach UMC - November 15 |
|
Check Your Email Weekly
Clergy in the Florida Conference are reminded that they need to check their @flumc.org email inbox at least once a week. The Florida Conference is only responsible for sending emails to this address. It is each clergy person's responsibility to check this email inbox or have their emails forwarded to other email addresses. If you find old messages in your @flumc.org account that you no longer need, please delete them and then delete them from your "Deleted Items" folder.
In addition, to make it easier for you to access your @flumc.org account, simply go to the Conference Website and click on the "Clergy email login" button in the top right corner of the page [click here]
|
|
 Cleaning Up Bad Communication Habits
by Kibbie Simmons Ruth and Karen A. McClintock
Of the several negative communication patterns congregations practice, three habits are particularly problematic: triangulation, pass-through communication, and anonymous feedback. While these three may be strategies for getting needs met, they all block rather than help healthy communication. Even if well intentioned, they are deadly habits that in the long run allow people to dodge accountability, gain power, and alienate others. Once everyone understands how to break these habits, those who persist will eventually have to stop or they will become so uncomfortable and isolated that they will leave the congregation. To clean up bad communication habits, congregations can do three things: reduce the triangulation, eliminate pass-through communication, and reject anonymous feedback.
Continue reading "Cleaning Up Bad Communication Habits" |
|
|
FUNDING THE CHURCH
A Stewardship Newsletter from the Foundation for Lake Junaluska and the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church |
Funding the Church is designed to help pastors and church leaders strengthen the discipleship of their members through a heightened understanding of stewardship and giving. We hope to offer suggestions that will help in the development of solid financial church resources [MORE]
|
15 Passenger Van Update
As an incentive for churches that still own and operate 15 passenger vans to transition to safer transportation, the Conference is offering a full "rebate" of the 2008 van premium ($4000), if the church sells the van by June 1, 2008. After June 1 through the end of the year, the Conference will "rebate" 50% of the van premium, ($2000). Questions should be directed to Mark Thomas, Director of Ministry Protection for the Florida Conference at 800-282-8011 Ext. 137. |
| |
Attention Pastors:
Please send the District your Spouse's email address. We would like to include them on our general mailing list and Sharon Powers would like to send them occasional emails. Thank you!
|
DISTRICT CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 1-5: John Powers will be at the School of Congregational Development in Orlando
August 7-8: Willow Creek Leadership conference at various sites including Van Dyke, UMC
August 10: 3:00PM Round Table on Genera and Jurisdictional Conference at Riviera UMC
August 12: 11:00AM North District Refocus Network meeting, First UMC, New Port Richey
August 19: 6:30PM Multisite meeting at Faith UMC, Largo
August 21: 10:00AM - 1:00PM Clergy Team Meeting at St Paul, Largo (9:30 Refreshments, Noon lunch will be provided--we will have no more than three per year, so please make every effort to come).
August 22-29: John Powers away at DS Boot Camp
August 25: Charge Conference forms available on the Conference web page
August 25-27: New Ministers Orientation - Mandatory for anyone serving for the first time in the Florida Conference - Life Enrichment Center, Leesburg
Annual Ministry Protection Property, Casualty renewal Survey on CONNECT
Annual Workers Compensation Salary Survey - CONNECT
September 2-5: Cabinet Meeting
September 15-18: Residents in Ministry Retreat for First provisional (formerly probationary) members - Lake Wales
October 7: Candidacy Mentor Training at Peace UMC, Orlando (Check with Center for Clergy Excellence for details on the above three events.
October 10: Health Insurance Adoption Agreement
October 14: 11:00AM - 3:00PM convocation of the Clergy at First UMC of Lakeland - Get this on your calendar (More information will follow)
October 15-16: Cabinet Meeting
October 24: Radical Hospitality - Harvest UMC Bradenton (see info above) October 31: Clergy Assessment Process "Understanding our Ministry Together" and Continuing Education
November 10-11: Cabinet Meeting
November 12-14: The Gathering at Anona UMC Check the district website for more information
November 26: Final due date for Charge Conference materials to be in the District office
December 2-4: Cabinet Meeting
| |
