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Prayer Concerns
Rev. Fred Bonsteel went to his eternal home on November 4 - please keep his wife Joyce and family in prayer.
Rev. Betty Batey (First New Port Richey) broke her one leg and sprained the ankle on the other leg- but preached both services on Sunday - from a wheelchair. |
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December Birthdays
4 - Alex Knight
4 - Lin Osborne
5 - Cristina Stube
6 - Melba Whitaker
9 - Brandon Wise
9 - Dave Clouse
14 - Steve Price
16 - Bob Green
19 - Bill Bailey
20 - Jeffrey Ice
26 - Claire Teague
29 - Kelly Smith |
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December Anniversaries
December 9 -
Craig & Dionne Hammond
December 16 -
Cliff & Suzan Melvin
December 17 -
Robert & Heather Roseberry
December 28 -
George & Joyce Douglas
December 29 -
George & Nan Hubbell | |
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| Gulf Central District
December Newsletter |
Greetings!
Are you overwhelmed every year by Christmas hustle and bustle? Does Christmas seem overly materialistic, even crass? Here are two traditions from a country in Central America, I think capture the spirit of the season with simplicity and joy.
In Costa Rica, where Sharon and I were in language school before going to Miami several years ago, gift giving at Christmas is limited to giving and receiving tamales. The tamale is an American-Indian food made of cornmeal, seasonings, nuts, fruits and meats, all wrapped in corn husks and boiled. I have to admit, tamales turn my stomach, but the people of Costa Rica love them. During Advent, Costa Rican families make hundreds of tamales to give to family and friends as a sign of Christmas love.
In the other Costa Rican tradition, neighborhood children portray the Holy Family and walk on a "posada", along luminary-lined streets, searching for shelter, yet are rejected by innkeepers until welcomed to the manger where Jesus was born.
 May each of you find simple meaning and joy in the midst of the chaotic season. May your family traditions bring peace, and not stress, to your holiday.Merry Christmas,
John |
Maggie Minute:
Charge Conferences are in full swing. Please, remember to sign all of the forms and to include a copy of the attendance sheet(s).
The Training events are coming together for February - soon you will be able to register online for the event and workshop you are planning to attend - see below the list of workshops. | |
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Gulf Central District Training Events for 2010
February 8 - First UMC, Bradenton, 6:30 - 8:30PM
February 9 - Heritage UMC, Clearwater, 6:30 - 8:30PM
February 11 - First UMC, Spring Hill, 6:30 - 8:30PM
Congregational Transformation
February 8 & 11 Jeff Stiggins - "Worship Planning Team"
February 9 Phil Maynard
Disaster Training: Marilyn Swanson & Pam Garrison
Equipped to Minister - The important role of the church in disaster. Are you prepared? If a hurricane or other disaster was heading toward your community, would your church know what to do? In the aftermath of a disaster, would your church know how to respond? Who to call? How to help in cooperation with other responding organizations and agencies? This session will offer an overview of Disaster Recovery Ministry and the resources we offer the local church to assist them in helping their community prepare, respond and recover from disaster.
Faith Community Nursing - Building a Health Ministry: Grant Corrigan, RN FCN
What does being healthy have to do with building the kingdom of God in 2010? In the gospel of Matthew Jesus instructed his disciples to go out and teach, preach and heal! How is your church doing at fulfilling those three specific instructions of Jesus? If your church is like many others there is lots of teaching and preaching, but what are you doing about the health (healing) of the congregation? Learn how to answer this and other questions that concern the health of your congregation and the ministry team! Come and learn about Faith Community Nursing and the Ministry of health.
Finance: Mickey Wilson & Ron Byers
Are you the church Financial Secretary, Treasurer, or member of the Committee on Finance? Then this class is a wonderful opportunity to learn about your "job" from the "master" and ask all those questions you have been wondering about and did not know whom to ask. The Treasurer for the Florida Conference will address a variety of subjects, ranging from clergy tax issues to the importance of annual audits. W2/1099, who gets which, and why? 941? Housing allowances/Housing Exclusions what is the difference? Bring your questions and have them answered. This is a class for the entire local church finance team - staff and elected committee.
Lay Leader: Walter Dry and Helen Morrill
This class will be a discussion-based class for new and experienced local church lay leaders. How did we get here? Why are we here? What are we supposed to do? How much time will this take? We will answer all these questions and more.
Missions: Pam Qualls United Methodist Cooperative Ministries
Whether you are a new missions committee member or have several years on the job, this workshop will have ideas and information for you. We'll talk about and find answers to the following questions:
How do we evaluate and choose missions to support?
How do we allocate mission funds?
How do we start new missions?
How do we communicate with our congregation about missions?
How do we encourage church members to participate in missions?
Feel free to bring any other questions you might have, and we'll tackle them, too!
Staff Parish Relations: Wendy McCoy (Feb. 8 & 9 only)
Human Resources for the Local Church. This year's content will focus on Clergy Compensation and Benefits. Understand how Pension is calculated and billed and eligibility for Health Insurance. Question and Answer session on Human Resource Basics for local churches. This presentation will focus on YOUR questions, on what YOU want to discuss.
Staff Parish Relations Committee: John Powers & Arch Johnston
This class will give Staff Parish Relations committee members an understanding of what is required of them and an overview of procedures for conducting this committee, with an opportunity for question and answers.
Trustees: Mark Thomas
An interactive discussion about the organization and role of the trustees in supporting the vision and mission of your church. Topics will include facility usage and management, annual tasks, insurance coverage as well as loss prevention and safety issues.
United Methodist Children's Home: Stephen Hartsfield
We will explore the important role the Local Church Representative has as advocate for the Florida United Methodist Children's Home in their local Church. Topics will include a job description, printed materials, and other tools available for your use, update about the current state and needs of the Children's Home and a time for questions and answers. Come and learn how to be an effective Local Church Representative for the Children's Home.
Connecting with Young Adults in Today's World: Emily Oliver (February 9 at Heritage ONLY!) Young people ages 18-35 are considered "the missing generation" from our churches. Come and hear about this vital group from a young clergyperson. Discover how your church, no matter your size or average age, can be a safe place for young adults to grow spiritually. Topics will include; understanding young adults, reaching young adults, creating a young adult ministry, incorporating young people into an older congregation, and raising up young leaders.
JUST ADDED!
United Methodist Men: Chet Klinger creating and sustaining a men's discipling ministry at your church. |
2009 Apportionments Payment Cut Off Date
January 15, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010 is the last day for receiving 2009 apportionments. This is not a postmarked by date, but is the last day by which monies must be received in the Conference office to be included in 2009 receivables.
Monies received after this date will be credited to 2010. Include a completed apportionment giving form with your payment. Always include your church's GCFA number on all forms and checks. When paying in January, mark clearly if the payment is for 2009 or 2010 apportionments. |
Deadline for completing church and pastor profiles
January 22, 2010
These forms should be reviewed and updated annually by all church SPR-Committees and all Clergy in the Florida Conference. Pastors having January consultations with their district superintendent should insure that their church and pastor profiles are completed one week prior to their scheduled consultation. All other clergy should review and update these forms annually during the time frame allowed, December 4 to January 22.
Though you may not anticipate a move, it is important that both the pastor profile and church profile be current and up to date at the appointment-making session of the cabinet. It should be an honest reflection of the pastoral ministry and the profile of the church. |
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Summer Camp Registration Opens December 1
 In an effort to allow churches and individuals to begin registering for Warren W. Willis United Methodist Camp earlier, camp staff has moved the opening date of summer camp registration to December 1. In order to register and have your space at camp reserved, register online or fill out a paper application. Both options will be available at the camp's Web site, www.warrenwilliscamp.org, or a paper application may be obtained at your local church. A deposit of $75 for online registrations, and $100 for paper registrations, must be paid in order to hold your spot. For more information, call the Warren Willis Camp office at 1-866-UMCAMPS (opt. 3). |
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Retirement Seminar Set for Jan. 11-13, 2010
Clergy and spouses who are contemplating retirement in the next 10 years are encouraged to enroll in "R-10 and Counting," an intensive two-day pre-retirement planning seminar set for Jan. 11-13, 2010 at the Radisson World Gate Resort, 3011 Main Gate Lane in Kissimmee. The event is sponsored by the Florida United Methodist Foundation in cooperation with the Florida Conference's Center for Clergy Excellence and Office of Human Resources and Benefits.
The program covers such critical matters as funding your retirement, living arrangements, estate planning, Social Security, pensions and benefits, relationships and wellness. A scholarship to help offset conference fees is provided to all participants by the Preacher's Relief Board. Fees are $175 per couple and $125 for singles and cover accommodations for two nights, four meals and workshop materials.
Registration and a conference agenda are available on the Foundation's Web site, www.fumf.org. Deadline for registration is December 12. For more information, contact the Foundation toll free at (866) 363-9673. |
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Farm Workers share about justice in Florida
 Farm workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) are available to share with churches, Sunday school classes, youth groups, and others about their efforts to ensure dignity and justice in Florida's fields. The CIW has uncovered and assisted the U.S. Department of Justice in successfully prosecuting six farmworker slavery rings, freeing over 1,000 workers.
Moreover, the CIW's Campaign for Fair Food has resulted in groundbreaking agreements with Yum Brands (owner of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC), McDonald's, Burger King, Whole Foods, Subway, Compass, and Bon Appetit to directly improve wages and conditions for tomato pickers. These agreements resulted in three Florida tomato growers implementing these improved wages and conditions, including the first real wage increase for farmworkers in 30 years, a code of conduct against abuses with zero tolerance for slavery, and a voice for farmworkers in monitoring conditions. The CIW is now inviting other large purchasers of tomatoes, including Publix, to join in improving wages and conditions for the farmworkers who pick their tomatoes.
If you are interested in having a farmworker from the CIW and someone from Interfaith Action share with your youth or adult classes about the reality faced by farmworkers and how people of faith can join in improving wages and conditions, please contact brigitte@interfaithact.org or 239-986-0688 . |
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TAPESTRY III CONFERENCE: "Maturing Spiritually"
February 26-28, 2010
Hosted by the Beyond 50 Ministries Task Team of the Florida Annual Conference, Tapestry III will be held at the Life Enrichment Center.
The Keynote Speaker for Tapestry III will be Jane Marie Thibault, a clinical gerontologist and associate clinical professor of Family and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. In her first book, "A Deepening Love Affair: The Gift of God in Later Life she explored the inner work that is the spiritual life task of the mature adult who chooses to embark on a new vocation - an ever-deepening love affair with God in this life. In her second book, 10 Gospel Promises for Later Life, she explores the promises of God's good news for the older adult and the aging process. She is a warm, motivating and inspiring speaker!
 Tapestry III workshops include: 1. Fearless Aging in a Youth-Oriented Society 2. Wholistic Faith: Body, Mind and Spirit 3. Living Fully, Dying Well 4. Nothing Off Limits: Money and Christian Maturity 5. Someone I Love is Aging....and so am I 6. Transforming Suffering into the Gift of Love 7. Reaching Out |
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Workshops in March aim at increasing Salty Service
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Largo
A series of five workshops, spread throughout the Florida Conference, will help congregational leaders learn practical strategies for joining Jesus in mission to the least, the last and the lost. The Salty Service events are the fourth in a series of events focusing on the five discipling practices of effective congregations known as "The Methodist Way."
 Paul Chilcote will be the keynote speaker for each of the five events. Chilcote is professor of Historical Theology and Wesleyan Studies at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Participants will have the opportunity to choose two breakouts. Some of the topics for these sessions include helping church leaders find what community needs exist; being in ministry with the poor; prison ministry; adopting a neighborhood school; ending childhood hunger; mission trips with a difference; disaster response; and earth care.
Dates and locations of the Salty Service events are:
Thursday, March 4 Grace United Methodist Church, Cape Coral
Friday, March 5 Harris Chapel United Methodist Church, Oakland Park
Thursday, March 11 St. Paul United Methodist Church, Largo
Friday, March 12 First United Methodist Church, Deland
Saturday, March 13 Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, Tallahassee
Each event will start with registration at 9 a.m. and end by 4 p.m. Cost to attend each event is $45 and includes snacks and lunch. Online registration is available through the Florida Conference Web site at www.flumc.org. When people register, they will not be signing up for breakout group sessions, just the event date/location they wish to attend. About two weeks before each event, people will receive additional information about the event by e-mail and will then have the opportunity to select their breakout group sessions. For more information, contact Vicky Valdez at the Florida Conference at victoria.valdez@flumc.org. |
 Scholarship Program Seeks Applicants
The United Methodist Foundation will accept applications for the 2010 Sinclair Scholarship from January 1 through March 12, 2010. The undergraduate scholarship is available to United Methodist students who will be incoming freshmen in the fall of 2010. The scholarship provides $1,500 per semester or $3,000 per year to help defray tuition costs for students who plan to attend a Florida or a United Methodist college or university.
To be considered, a candidate must be an active member of a United Methodist Church in the Florida Annual Conference, be a full-time student with a 3.0 grade point average or higher, and engaged in church and community service. A complete set of scholarship guidelines and applications forms is available online from the Foundation website, www.fumf.org. Candidates are encouraged to read the guidelines and application forms carefully. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. |
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| District
Calendar |
Dec 1: Summer Camp 2010 Registration Opens Dec 7: Retired Clergy Christmas party Dec 8-11: Cabinet Dec 24-31: District and Conference offices closed for Holidays
Jan 7: Year End Statistics go live on Conference Web Page
Feb 8: District Training Event, First UMC, Bradenton
Feb 9: District Training Event, Heritage UMC, Clearwater
Feb 11: District Training Event, First UMC, Spring Hill
Feb 26-28: Tapestry III Event,LEC
Feb 26-28: Confirmation Retreat
Mar 19-21: Confirmation Retreat |
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