FRUITLAND PARK -- Summer camp begins June 11, but you can enjoy a preview of the newly updated Barnett Lodge at Warren W. Willis Camp on Saturday June 2, as we join together to consecrate the newly renovated and expanded facility.  The $4 million renovation and construction project has been the focus of the TOGETHER! For Kids and Camps campaign, which supports the shared Camps and Retreat Ministries of the Florida Annual Conference.

New administrative offices for the Warren W. Willis Camp are part of the new construction at Barnett Lodge are set for consecration on Saturday, June 2.

According to Camp Director Mike Standifer, festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with an open house and tours of the Barnett Lodge.  Bishop Timothy Whitaker will officiate at a service of consecration beginning at 11:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Afterwards, all attendees are invited to stay for lunch in the new Lakeside and Roadside Dining Halls.

The enhanced facility, now enlarged by 7,131 square feet, is the central activities center for the camp, housing a fellowship hall, a modernized kitchen serving two expanded dining halls, new administrative offices, a welcome center with snack bar and two new meeting rooms with outdoor terraces overlooking Lake Griffin.

According to Standifer, Steve Edwards, whose company Edwards Construction is the project’s general contractor, has kept the project on track and even a bit ahead of schedule.  “They have done an amazing job of bringing everything in the more than 60-year-old building up to modern standards,” he said.  “The structural upgrades, as well as the cosmetic changes, will make this a facility a showcase for years to come.”

Standifer said that having the building completed in May means that the camping staff will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new Barnett Lodge before the actual camping sessions begin.  “It’s like getting used to a new home or a new car,” he said, “but this one has more than 9,500 square feet and is the focal point for hundreds of guests at any given time of the year.”  According to Standifer, Warren W. Willis Camp is open year round to serve churches and meeting groups.  Approximately 10,000 guests visit the camping and retreat center every year.

To attend the consecration celebration, please RSVP to Ginny Wood at the Florida United Methodist Foundation, (866) 363-9673, extension 7101, or send an email to gwood@fumf.org.  To donate to the Together! For Kids and Camps campaign, which continues to raise money for the Barnett Lodge renovation, please contact the Foundation or make an online pledge or donation at www.fumf.org/together. 
 

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference comes to an end under the music direction of Marcia McFee. Click here for follow up stories and news.  A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry.

Click here to go to GC2012 site

For about 450 singers from around the state of Florida, 4 p.m. on April 24 will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity.  On that day, they will join voices to provide music for the opening worship for General Conference 2012, and Methodists across Florida are invited to attend service.

Opening worship at 2008 General Conference.

The prospect of such an amazing chance to use their gifts for good is not only thrilling, but also daunting, according to the local worship coordinator, the Rev. Lee Lallance, minister of music and the fine arts at First UMC of Lakeland.

While the volunteers, who come from 35 different churches all over the state, will have had lots of practices at home, on the big day, they will have just two rehearsals earlier in the day before they go “live” at the 4:00 service.   Lallance admits that this performance, which includes an orchestral accompaniment and a procession, will be hard to pull off, but he has faith that it will be a rousing success.

“This is a once in a lifetime event for musicians, and it will be exciting to participate in worship on this scale,” he said, adding that some churches are sending their entire choirs, whereas others are sending only two or three vocalists.  All the singers (the number had reached 451 about a week before the event) will be pulling together to perform two pieces of music commissioned especially for the event, as well as a song in Swahili.

“The opening piece is called ‘Follow Me’ by Mark Miller,” said Lallance, who said that some of the lyrics use text from the UM Hymnal and offer the message that “God Has Work for Us Today.”  Another commissioned work is by Chuck Bell with arrangement by Kathleen McGuire.  Another challenging work, called Baba Yetu, is a rendition of the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili.  In addition, the service will include choral responses, he said.  Preaching at the service will be Bishop Larry Goodpaster, from the Western North Carolina Annual Conference.

Bob Drick, director of sacred arts at Pasadena Community UMC in St. Petersburg, said the performance will be a challenge.  “Having two rehearsals on that day is kind of tricky, and also the pieces of music have some tricky rhythm, besides the Baba Yetu,” he said. He is taking about eight to 10 choir members, and said they have been practicing the music about 40 minutes a week.  “We’ve been working on the music and have extra rehearsals and we’ll get it. This is an opportunity we won’t see again in our lifetime,” he said.

 

Opening worship at 2008 General Conference.

The Rev. Sarah Miller, associate pastor at New Horizon UMC in Haines City, said her church is sending 25 people for the event--one of the largest groups on board.

“My congregation is full of ‘veteran’ Methodists, and when they heard there would be an opportunity to sing at General Conference, they jumped at the chance.  They realized this will be the closest General Conference to them for the rest of their lives, and they are eager to share their gifts and talents,” she said.  “I’m so proud, as one of their pastors,” she said.

“It has been intimidating for them to learn the music by themselves and then know they have only two run-throughs, then it’s show time, but Lee Lallance and his team have been so good to send them audio tracks and they’ve already practiced for six weeks, with one more to go,” she said.  Miller said that as of Easter, the participants from her church felt they had mastered the Swahili piece.

In addition to the music at the opening worship, there will be all different kinds of music every day for attendees to enjoy at noon in the rotunda area, said Lallance.

As for the opening worship and the hard work and nerves which will accompany it, Drick said, “It would be good if it is bathed in the Holy Spirit--we’ll shoot for that.”

Riverside Retreat Director Martha Pierce is already enjoying the benefits of the Together! For Kids and Camps campaign and looks forward to added impact. “We received the first major campaign gift from Mrs. Alice Lockmiller,” said Pierce. “That gift enabled us to build the Lockmiller Program Center truly transforming our ministry. It has taken us into the small conference center realm and also makes our summer programming ever more successful.

An ideal setting for groups of all sizes, the natural beauty of the area is within an easy drive from most locations on the east and west coasts of south Florida. Guests have the option of modern lodges, each housing 48 with kitchen facilities, a dorm able to accommodate 28, an adult lodge for five and five rustic cabins with heat and air conditioning for housing 44.   Camping is also available with hookups for 30-units, various sites for tents and restrooms/showers within an easy walk.

FRUITLAND PARK -- Summer camp begins June 11, but you can enjoy a preview of the newly updated Barnett Lodge at Warren W. Willis Camp on Saturday June 2, as we join together to consecrate the newly renovated and expanded facility.  The $4 million renovation and construction project has been the focus of the TOGETHER! For Kids and Camps campaign, which supports the shared Camps and Retreat Ministries of the Florida Annual Conference.

New administrative offices for the Warren W. Willis Camp are part of the new construction at Barnett Lodge are set for consecration on Saturday, June 2.

According to Camp Director Mike Standifer, festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with an open house and tours of the Barnett Lodge.  Bishop Timothy Whitaker will officiate at a service of consecration beginning at 11:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Afterwards, all attendees are invited to stay for lunch in the new Lakeside and Roadside Dining Halls.

The enhanced facility, now enlarged by 7,131 square feet, is the central activities center for the camp, housing a fellowship hall, a modernized kitchen serving two expanded dining halls, new administrative offices, a welcome center with snack bar and two new meeting rooms with outdoor terraces overlooking Lake Griffin.

According to Standifer, Steve Edwards, whose company Edwards Construction is the project’s general contractor, has kept the project on track and even a bit ahead of schedule.  “They have done an amazing job of bringing everything in the more than 60-year-old building up to modern standards,” he said.  “The structural upgrades, as well as the cosmetic changes, will make this a facility a showcase for years to come.”

Standifer said that having the building completed in May means that the camping staff will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new Barnett Lodge before the actual camping sessions begin.  “It’s like getting used to a new home or a new car,” he said, “but this one has more than 9,500 square feet and is the focal point for hundreds of guests at any given time of the year.”  According to Standifer, Warren W. Willis Camp is open year round to serve churches and meeting groups.  Approximately 10,000 guests visit the camping and retreat center every year.

To attend the consecration celebration, please RSVP to Ginny Wood at the Florida United Methodist Foundation, (866) 363-9673, extension 7101, or send an email to gwood@fumf.org.  To donate to the Together! For Kids and Camps campaign, which continues to raise money for the Barnett Lodge renovation, please contact the Foundation or make an online pledge or donation at www.fumf.org/together. 
 

Several young delegates shared their impressions of General Conference 2012, talked about some of the things that surprised them (or not) and described their expectations for General Conference 2016 during  the last week of the 2012 sessions.  The Florida Conference's video news team, Don Youngs, Tom Mulryan and Anne Dukes, captured their thoughts.  (Photo by Mike DuBose, courtesy UMNS).

Need some focused prayer time, but can't leave your desk?  Visit Lost in Wonder, an online prayer path offered by the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

Click here to go to Lost in Wonder.

Joshua Atchley of First UMC Spring Hill with toys donated for families served by the church's food pantry.

Amid tough economic times, carrying out extravagant generosity may be the most challenging of the five practices of fruitful congregations, which also include radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, and risk-taking mission.

But a Hernando County congregation and the surrounding community recently witnessed first-hand the fruits of such selfless philanthropy, and it all originated from a surprising source – a seven-year-old boy.

“About a month before his birthday, we were driving to school and Joshua just announced that he wanted to do this, and I said OK,” said Tara Atchley, Joshua’s mother and a member of First United Methodist Church of Spring Hill.

On the surface, what Joshua Atchley wanted to do didn’t seem that unusual – he wanted to host a party for his birthday in October. But instead of being the recipient of gifts, Joshua asked that invitees bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate for the children of the 300 families served by Spring Hill UMC’s Food Pantry.

“My room is kind of overflowing with toys already,” said Joshua simply. “So I just thought it was a good idea.”

“We talk all the time about the how it’s our job as Christians to help others,” said Tara. “We sponsor a child in Africa, and we always pray for him, and we spend about 30 minutes a night reading books about conditions in Africa.”

With his mom’s help, Joshua created the party invitations explaining what he was doing and then distributed them to his entire first-grade class at the Christian school he attends.

Few people were surprised by Joshua’s selfless idea, especially since he long ago announced he wants to pursue an evangelical mission when he grows up.

First UMC Spring Hill

“He truly is an extraordinary young man,” said Rev. Mike Oliver, pastor of Spring Hill. “I don’t think he has a selfish bone in his body. He really has a deep faith for someone as young as he is.”

And everyone thought collecting toys for families in need was a wonderful idea, even adults and other children who are not Joshua’s classmates.

“I told Miss Peterson, who works at the Learning Center at school about it, and the next day she brought in a bag that was overflowing with toys for girls,” Joshua recalled.

As word of Joshua’s unique party idea spread, so too did the involvement of others. After “Pastor Mike” heard of Joshua’s generous act, he announced at Sunday’s services that the church would accept donations in the same spirit as Josh, and they, too, would be passed out to the Food Pantry participants.

“Joshua is surrounded by a great group of people with Christian values – from his teachers at school to Miss Pat, the children’s minister, to his church family,” noted his father, Josh.

The party and subsequent donations garnered more than 100 toys, filling several large plastic bins and covering three conference-size tables. And even though the bounty included some hard-to-find Star Wars toys that Joshua really liked, the first-grade philanthropist was able to help the donated toys find new homes among needy families, all with a joyful heart.

“It just worked out that he didn’t have school on the day the toys were to be distributed so he was able to volunteer at the Food Pantry, helping the children pick out toys and suggesting others,” said his mom, Tara.

Nor has Joshua stopped there. While he hasn’t decided how he’ll mark his next birthday, he is already working on ideas to raise money to build schools and help orphans in Africa. 

For his family, church and community, Joshua’s selfless actions have been a real-life, inspirational example of extravagant generosity. Though the church had recently completed a study of the five practices of fruitful congregations, Rev. Oliver and Joshua’s parents believe the timing was just coincidental and that Joshua’s motivations are borne of the Holy Spirit.

Nor is Rev. Oliver surprised that it took a seven-year-old boy to inspire others. “Josh taught us a good lesson, and as Isaiah 11:6 says, ‘And the children will lead them.’ ”

Bishop Ivan Abrahams, top executive for World Methodist Council, speaks at Lighten the Burden IV, sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund April 23. CBS was filming the event for a show which will air June 17 called Helping Those With AIDS. --A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry.

Walk into a Methodist Church in South Africa and one of the first things you might see is a big poster with a shocking statement: “The Church Has AIDS.”
 
Bishop Ivan Abrahams, top executive for the World Methodist Council and former presiding bishop of the 650,000-member Methodist Church of South Africa, is proud of those posters. In a country with one of highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, they are a symbol of churches starting to “put our houses in order.”
 
“Skewed” reading of Scripture has stigmatized people with HIV/AIDS and the Bible has been a source of pain and suffering, he said.
 
Abrahams opened “Lighten the Burden IV,” a one-day conference sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund April 23 at Hyde Park United Methodist Church. The event preceded the April 24 opening of the 2012 General Conference, which will meet through May 4 a few blocks away at the Tampa Convention Center. The top legislative body of The United Methodist Church, General Conference meets every four years to determine church policy, establish positions on social issues and set the denominational budget.
 
The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund was created by the 2004 General Conference. Since that time, more than $3 million has been raised and used for projects around the globe related to HIV/AIDS. The fund is administered by an interagency committee and chaired by the Rev. Donald Messer. It recently launched a new initiative: 20/20: Visioning an AIDS Free World.
 
“Over the past 30 years … 30 million have died (from HIV/AIDS). Yet many of our churches won’t devote 30 minutes to speak about it,” Messer said.
 
The real killer is the silence, stigma and exclusion suffered by those with the disease, Abrahams said.
 
“AIDS is the new apartheid. I have personal knowledge of the ugly face of discrimination.”
 
Treating HIV/AIDS is expensive. It can cost $12,000 a year to treat one person, said Dennis Flores, a charge nurse in the AIDS unit at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and spokesperson for the Greater Than AIDS Campaign run by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
 
Flores said 10 to 15 states are on the waiting list for medications used to treat AIDS.
 
Pauline Muchina, senior adviser for UNAIDS and a native Kenyan, said she is inspired by what The United Methodist Church is doing.
 
“We are at a tipping point,” she said. “AIDS is declining; technology is working. The faith community needs to take ownership of AIDS.”
 
One of the barriers to eradicating AIDS is that it is no longer a “hot button topic,” Messer said. “Poverty doesn’t cause HIV but the two are closely related.”
 
Bishop Yvette Flunder, a clergywoman of the United Church of Christ, closed the event by saying the AIDS movement needs an epiphany. Flunder and her staff at the City of Refuge UCC operate the nonprofit agency in San Francisco. It provides housing, direct services, education and training for people affected by HIV/AIDS in the Bay Area, throughout the United States and in three countries in Africa.
 
“The only way to end the epidemic is to speak it, make it known. The people of God need to decide it is time to destroy HIV/AIDS,” she said.
 
“The faithful need to get involved again, and we can stop this virus in our lifetime.”
 
*Gilbert is a writer specializing in young adult issues for United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.
 

Some of Florida’s delegates shared their passionate hopes for the outcomes of the 2012 General Conference recently.  The plenary sessions are in full swing at this mid-week point, and the agenda has the Conference wrapping up on Friday afternoon.

Conference Lay Leader Sharon Luther during committee meetings.

Florida's delegates to the 2012 General Conference in Tampa worked long hours on tough issues last week.  The Conference's video news team caught up with several delegates to learn about what they believed were their committee's most important issues, how their committees had organized to accomplish their work, and what their passionately hopes are for the outcomes of the 2012 General Conference.

The delegates move to plenary sessions this week to continue the decision and policy making process for many signficant issues, including the restructuring of the agencies/boards, the elimination of guaranteed appointments for clergy and potential changes in the clergy pension plan.

The 2012 United Methodist General Conference comes to an end under the music direction of Marcia McFee.  A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry.

Click here for complete General Conference coverage.
 

Since 1995, when New Church Development (NCD) became a cabinet-level ministry office, the Florida Annual Conference has launched between 120 and 130 new church starts. According to Dr. Montfort C. Duncan, there is an overall survival rate of 76% of these new starts.

Duncan, executive director of NCD for the Florida Annual Conference since 2001, understandably is a passionate advocate for church starts.  But the real story, he insists, is that of new people finding God in new places and the testimony of changed lives.
 
For example, in Tallahassee, Good Samaritan UMC just turned five and has an average Sunday morning attendance of 174. Pastor Betsy Ouellette is thrilled to be involved with something so new and vibrant.

“It’s exhilarating to become something from nothing under the guidance of the Spirit, and without the constraints of an existing culture,” she said. “We have the ability to reach new folk who are new to Christ. They are invited to create a new community and in doing so many meet Jesus personally and deeply for the first time.”

Ouellette said her most effective ministry is in the local neighborhood. “The gym, Rotary, book club, community events,” she said. “Just because you have an office does not mean you have to sit in it. So I don’t; I am back out doing the work of an evangelist.”

At Hillsborough County’s South Shore UMC, Pastor John Legg was appointed to organize its startup in 2005. Since it started meeting in 2006, it has grown to an average attendance of 400.
 
“I’m excited by the ability of an NCD to be nimble and respond to change quickly,” Legg said. “Sometimes established churches are slow to change and navigating the change process can be difficult.  With a new church, change is a constant and welcome friend.  You may start in one direction only to discover that it doesn’t work in your particular context.  Out of survival and limited resources you have to change to something that works.  And you never have to hear, ‘we’ve never done it this way before.’  You have never done it any way before!”

In Valrico, just a few miles east of Tampa, Rev. Kim Uchimura is in the initial stages of planting “The Well: A United Methodist House Church Community” from her “office” --- a table at the Starbucks on Hwy. 60.   There, she studies sermon notes at her laptop or talks with someone she’s met through networking.

“I know there are people of faith out there who have dropped out of church or never felt comfortable going in,” she said, “That’s our target. For the person standing outside sometimes the church doors are too hard to go through.”

“I’m not cocooned in a church building,” she explained. “I’m working to be visible in the community.  Uchimura devotes her time to networking and visibility in order to meet people exactly where they are.

In all these efforts at new church development, there is the Wesleyan foundation. The heart of John Wesley's initial movement was calling, equipping and sending  regular people to spread Methodism through small groups and new congregations.

Today, according to the NCD office in Lakeland, planting new congregations is one of the most vital initiatives for United Methodism in the 21st Century.

“History shows that NCD is the best way to reach new people… the un-churched, the de-churched, the non-Christian and those turned off by the church,” Duncan said.

In 2008, the Council of Bishops recommended seven “Vision Pathways” for the future of the UMC and “Creating new Places for New People” was number one on the list.

Duncan was on the team that seized the moment and created “PATH 1.” Its goal was to plant at least one new church each day to reach new people with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Mont Duncan

Duncan offered an update, saying, “nationally the goal is 600 church starts in four years, and to asses equip and train 1,000 planters. So far there have been 497 with only 23 of 69 conferences reporting.  Plus we’ve assessed, trained and equipped 1,300 church planters.”

With 32 starts this quadrennial, The Florida Annual Conference is ahead of other conferences. The next highest is Northern Illinois with 28.  Currently, The Florida Conference supports between 30 and 40 NCD projects in process with a $1.1 million annual budget.

“Our strategic plan calls for nine per year,” Duncan said. “My staff determines strategic locations and hot spots, then the districts massage that information and come back with plans. We work really well together.”

 “Any Christian movement has got to have ‘Reaching New People’ on the front burner,” Duncan said, adding, “(there must be) lives being changed and commitments to Christ. When we fail to reach out we have lost the heart of the Christian movement.”

For more information, contact the office of New Church Development at the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church 800-282-8011 ext.147

We arrived safely back in Belfast 10 days ago, and have gotten settled back in after 5 weeks back in Florida.  Everyone has greeted us here by saying, ‘welcome back to the cold’!  The weather, and returning to the routines of life, is indeed a bit of an adjustment after being away for a period of time like that.  We are thankful for the time that was given to us in Florida - the experience of meeting with other mission servants sent out by the UMC, the time with family and precious friends, and the hospitality we received at two churches we hold dear – First UMC, Orlando and St. Lukes UMC in Windermere.

View of the Skainos project on May 16th

One fascinating thing after being away for a month was to see the progress of the Skainos project while we were gone.  On the left side of the picture below, you can see some of the panels that face the road, all of which have been handpainted by a local artist to reflect the different views of the Belfast sky, along with a few splashes of yellow to represent the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes.  On the right side of the picture you can see the newly planted vertical garden, which is literally making news (see the article below).
 
BBC article about the vertical garden at Skainos
 
What is exciting about this to me is the thought and prayer that has gone into the project over the past 10 years, and now seeing it so close to fruition.  A large part of the ethos of this project is that of ‘shared space’ – space that will be open to all in the community – no matter your age, your economic standing, your level of education, or your practice of religion.  In a city that has known a large degree of division and segregation, the idea of sharing space speaks to me of the kingdom of God.  Paul speaks of how Christ Jesus has broken down the hostility between us – Ephesians 2.
 
In a similar manner, the design of the Skainos site shares the possibilities of both beauty and life in the artwork and the vertical garden along the front of the site.  By God’s grace, the activities, projects, and the variety of organizations within Skainos will help bring those possibilities to life in the day to day experience of people here.
 
Peace be with you. 

Britt & Alison Gilmore, along with Ellie, Emily & Jake

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During the last 4 years it has been my privilege to co-chair the 7th round of the dialogue between the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United Methodist Church.  Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Washington was the Catholic co-chair.  Up to ten scholars from both churches were selected by the co-chairs to conduct this dialogue.  We met twice a year at St. Paul's College (home of the Paulists) at Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C.

The dialogue between Catholics and Methodists has been going on since 1965.  There is an international dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Vatican.  There is also a national dialogue between the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the United Methodist Church.  Generally, the international dialogue has focused on the major ecclesial differences between Methodists and Catholics.  The national dialogues have focused on a variety of issues.

This time we chose to focus on a common concern from a shared theological perspective.  Our focus was on the Eucharist and ecological responsibility.

Many churches throughout the world are addressing the need to develop a Christian perspective on stewardship of the natural world.  Patriarch Bartholomew of the Greek Orthodox Church, known as the "green Patriarch," has been a leader in articulating an Eastern Christian perspective.  Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have been strong spokesmen for a new Christian practice of ecological stewardship.  Many Protestant churches and evangelicals have made their contributions.  As the chair of the Council of Bishops taskforce on God's Renewed Creation, I have had a special interest in this concern.

We believe that our dialogue has made a unique contribution to ecclesial statements on ecological stewardship because we have addressed how eucharistic worship shapes our understanding of our relationship to God's creation.  There is much creative scholarly work being conducted by biblical scholars and theologians.  We have come to realize that we have often misunderstood Scripture because we have read it through the lens of modern assumptions about humanity's relationship to the natural world.  The new scholarship enables us to  better recover the original biblical perspective that demonstrates our human responsibility to care for the earth and not exploit it.  In our dialogue, we shared a conviction that our vision of the world is shaped most fundamentally by our worship of God.  We need to do biblical and theological study, but they are a supplement to our primary experience of the worship of the living God.  The distinctive form of Christian worship is the Eucharist or Holy Communion.

This dialogue proved to be challenging since sacramental theology and practices in our two churches differ.  Yet we were able to find sufficient common ground in our traditions and official liturgies to develop a shared eucharistic perspective vis-a-vis its implications for humanity's relationship to God's creation.

We have published a paper, Heaven and Earth are Fuil of Your Glory:  The Eucharist and Ecology.  It is accessible at http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/dialogue-with-others/ecumenical/methodist/ and http://www.gccuic-umc.org/.

It is our hope that it will be used in seminaries and local church study groups.  The paper demonstrates how the Eucharist is a cosmic liturgy in which the universe has a sacramental meaning, and how the main actions of the Eucharist enable us to experience the creation redeemed by Christ as God's gift to us which requires our faithful response of reverence, justice and stewardship.

Heaven and Earth are Full of Your Glory states, "When we celebrate the Eucharist we join with the rest of creation in acknowledging our dependence on the Father.  Confessing our faith in God, singing praises to the maker of heaven and earth, elicits and requires a humble and reverential bow toward all that exists--including humans--as gifts from God.  'Our' Creation is not only humanity's but the whole world's.  Our Creator is the triune God, who out of the superabundance of divine love in the communion of Father, Son, and Holy spirit, freely bestows being on that which is not God."

I encourage your to read Heaven and Earth are Full of Your Glory:  The Eucharist and Ecology.  Use it in a local church study group and as a basis of common study with members of your local Catholic parish.

We Methodists have a relationship with Catholics that is different from that of other Protestants.  We never broke with the Catholic Church like others since we were an evangelical movement within the Anglican Church.  Moreover, we share a similiar perspective on the doctrine of sanctification.  We pray that Catholics and Methodists may grow in communion with each other and continue to move toward that unity for which our Lord prayed in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John.

The theme of worship at the 2012 General Conference was "Discipleship by the Sea."  The Scripture readings and sermons were those about Jesus at the shoreline calling his disciples to follow him.  This was an apt theme for a conference held on the shore of Tampa Bay.

When the conference was over, it seemed that a more fitting Scriptural reference might have been the story of the apostle Paul's shipwreck in Acts 27:1-28:10.  Paul and 275 others on a ship were caught in a hurricane.  After 2 weeks of terror they approached a bay, but "striking a reef, they ran aground, the bow stuck and remained unmovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves."  They all survived, but the experience was harrowing.

After 2 weeks of General Conference it seemed that the good ship UMC had run aground on the shore of Tampa Bay.

The primary agenda of the conference was to adopt a new plan of organization for the church.   However, the plan proposed by the Connectional Table and the Council of Bishops never got out of a legislative committee.  At the last minute, an alternative plan was submitted by some members of this committee, and it was approved, only to be declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council on the afternoon of the last day of the conference.  The hope of producing a new organization for the church had run aground.

At least, that was the feeling of many who were in the session, but that feeling has to be put in context.  After all, the church still has a structure for fulfilling its connectional ministry, and it will even be more economical than the structure we have had.  The constructive work in 4 areas of focus will continue and prosper.  Creative action by congregations, districts, and annual conferences will proceed.

Nevertheless, to many delegates and bishops, the 2012 General Conference did feel like a running aground at Tampa Bay.

Many people at the conference saw the failure to approve a new structure as a breakdown in trust.  There was a lack of trust in the Council of Bishops, the Connectional Table, the task forces that developed the proposals, and one another.  Despite this feeling, it must be remembered that the conference did agree on a plan although it turned out to have a constitutional flaw.

We ought to pay attention to this perception of mistrust.  It seemed to be a major factor in the failure to get the proposal from church leaders out of the legislative committee.  A certain degree of critical evaluation of the work of leaders is healthy, but a critical spirit can devolve into a pathology of mistrust.

Facing this reality of mistrust is necessary in order to repent and to renew the life of the church.

We were praying to be open to the Spirit of God at this conference and to come out of it with both a new organization and fresh energy for our connectional ministry.  Too often we assume that the Spirit ought to bless our plans on our own timetable.  Could it be that the Spirit is leading us to confront the lack of trust that exists among us in the knowledge that, unless we are redeemed from it, we will not be ready for a healthy new future?  As it turns out, being open to the Spirit is not a mechanical matter of approving a plan of organization, but a spriritual event of experiencing the judgment and grace of God in our relationships with God and one another.

Building trust is more than treating one another with mutual respect and love and dealing with one another openly and honestly.  Trust is also built throughout the connection on the recognition that leaders are primarily interested in the truth and transmission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord,  than in merely denominational well-being.  One way to convey this is to be very intentional in our speech and to use language that is not dominated by institutional cliches.

What is hopeful is that the Spirit only chastises those whom the Spirit seeks to bless.

When the storm was raging against the ship, Paul told his fellow passengers to keep up their courage, for he had faith in God.  He also added, "But we will have to run aground on some island."  Sometimes God's plan for us includes running aground so that we can be rescued in the future.  It is not something we want or ever plan, but the Spirit who searches our hearts and lives blows where the Spirit wills for the sake of our salvation.

I’ve often imagine worship guests as gifts from God. How we respond to them while they are with us and how we follow up after their visit is our gift back to God. How are you stewarding the guests that God leads your way? While many congregations work at being friendly while they are with them, I’m often surprised at how many congregations have no organized follow-up system in place. That’s like receiving a gift without saying, “Thank you!” And it doesn’t have to be terribly elaborate. Let me share with you my top ten ideas.

Ten, if they give you their contact information, assume they want you to contact them. In today’s world where we receive solicitations by mail, phone, door and email regularly for just about everything under the sun, most people have learned how to say, “No,” quite well. So, we can assume that when people give you their email or phone or address that they have been checking you out and are ready to take things to the next level. If you don’t respond, they will assume that you don’t care. And they will probably be right. 

Blessings, Jeff                                          Dr. Jeff Stiggins The Center for Congregational Excellence

I have yet to meet a group of church leaders who said, “Our church isn’t friendly.”   But I have met a lot of people who have visited congregations and reported based on their experience: “This isn’t a very friendly church.” Why the difference? I suspect that the main reason is that people in a congregation are visiting with their friends – and overlooking the strangers in their midst. While that’s a pretty natural thing for people to do, it isn’t a very welcoming response if you are visiting a congregation for the first time.   Here are five quick things to keep in mind if you want to welcome your worship guests well.

First, remember that most people feel pretty uncomfortable visiting a congregation for the first time.  Perhaps that has not always been the case, but it is today. Lots of people grow up never or only occasionally going to church. They are not sure where to sit, when to stand, what to do. And since about 60% of people self-select that they are shy, it is for them an uncomfortable social situation. Add to this the fact that often when people seek out a church, it is during a time when something in their life doesn’t seem to be working well. They are looking for answers, for help, for connection with something more. How do you help people who are unsure and ill at ease sense God’s welcome through you? 

Blessings, Jeff                                          Dr. Jeff Stiggins The Center for Congregational Excellence

Moses was wandering in the desert looking for grass for his flock of sheep and keeping an eye out for predators. He stumbled upon a bush that was ablaze but not burning up. As he approached he heard a voice: Take off your sandals, Moses, this is holy ground. Then God told Moses that he wanted Moses to go to Egypt and confront the Pharaoh about letting God’s people, the Hebrew tribes, go free. Moses immediately started back peddling. ‘But I can’t speak publically.’ God said he would send silver tongued Aaron. ‘But they won’t believe me.’ God asks what was in Moses’ hand and when Moses responded that it was his staff, God showed him how to use it effectively to do what God was asking. This continues for awhile as God patiently addresses Moses’ concerns. But there came a point when God simply said, ‘Moses, just do it!’ 

What does “Just do it!” mean for congregations with fewer resources? It means that remembering who we are and what God calls all disciples and all congregations to do, use what resources you have to join Jesus in being a kingdom blessing today. Not tomorrow, not in a month or two when it is more convenient, not in a year or two when we have more money or more people. Just do it, now! Start where you are. Respond to the needs of those God brings your way. Use what you have – the passions, the energy, the commitment, the connections, the skills, the experiences, the buildings, and the finances – and respond prayerfully to Jesus’ call TODAY to join him in ministry. Go with the flow and then see what God blesses.

Blessings, Jeff                                       Dr. Jeff Stiggins           The Center for Congregational Excellence

The sounds and sights of life are all around at ARI. Cherry Blossoms, birds chirping, grass growing and insects buzzing. The warmth of the Sun and the smell of the flowers is nice, but the bees coming close to our windows, spider webs reappearing and mosquitoes starting to appear takes a little more will power to thank God for. But we do thank God that the spring is here and that the community is alive at ARI. Since we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus 2 weeks ago many events have happened here. The two big exciting events have been the 40th opening ceremonies of the Asian Rural Institute’s training program and the annual hanami picnic. For those of you who need to brush up on your Japanese, Hanami literally means flower viewing. It is a tradition of elite Japanese society that goes back hundreds of years with it becoming common place during the Edo era (1603-1867) and now one of the big events in Japanese society to begin the new year. Many Japanese companies and schools have a day to where the community goes out and sits under the Cherry blossoms on blue tarps, eating and usually enjoying rice wine a little too much. We had our picnic this past Thursday with all the trappings of Hanami, minus the rice wine. The Cherry Blossoms are really beautiful on the one hand and really sad on the other. Cherry Blossoms appear and within a week or two disappear and do not reappear until the following year. In fact one Japanese Christian compared the morning fog in James 4:14 to the Sakura…James asks “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

I think it is an interesting comparison. Not only is our live short, but our life is many times a beautiful thing that God has carefully crafted, but at the same time it is so short and therefore sad, because like the Sakura, it’s here only a little while, then it’s gone.

So Hanami is a wonderful time to cherish the short glimpse of beauty that we are given through the blossoming of Cherry Blossoms. And as it is a time to take off from the daily routine and spend some time enjoying God’s beautiful creation, it is also a chance, a reminder to encourage us to live in the present and take advantage of the moments of life God has given us, offering our lives back to Him, remembering that He gave us this beauty to be a blessing to the world around us. Last Saturday we could see the beauty that God has created as ARI held it’s 40th opening ceremonies. Many of the participants dressed in their traditional clothing and they all had the chance to practice their newly learned Japanese. With their introductions they also shared about prominent issues they are facing in their home communities and countries. In that we were reminded of reality, enjoying but not lost in the beauty of the day and the nervousness of each participant trying out their new Japanese. For at the same time, we were reminded that what we were celebrating at ARI in this 40th class of participants also comes from brokenness of our fragile world. While there is so much beauty that we can see in each other, it is so easy to disregard that beauty, forget the fragility of life and see sin destroy all the good that should be. Thus ARI is now in its’ 40th year of training people for rural development. Yet, as we begin to live with this new community and see the desire and determination of many to work for the transformation of the world, we are encouraged not to look at the problems that might be before us, but to look beyond them to the God for whom nothing is impossible. This is the way that God’s people throughout history have faced insurmountable problems. From Jeremiah to Jesus we are reminded that although things seem difficult with human strength, with God nothing is impossible. Since we believe that God has called this ministry into being and this past year has shown us again that this ministry is of His doing, then all we can do is trust that what God has called out will be accomplished.

We ask that you would claim in your prayers that promise with us, that nothing is impossible for God. Claim that promise for all of the hurt happening throughout the world, particularly Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. As the 30 leaders are trained at ARI this year, pray that they will learn here to rely on God and to know the love of Jesus Christ so that they can work for their people and work for the transformation of their communities. Pray that we as staff at ARI and all those who support the ministry of ARI will also be encouraged to work for the transformation of the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. And pray that our lives, actions and words will share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to those around us in Japan, to those who are searching for healing to their own hurt. After all in scripture we are constantly reminded that the Kingdom of God is at hand and that God has given each one of us gifts to be used for the actualization of the Kingdom.

Finally, as you pray for us consider whether God is calling you to support our ministry financially. We were recently informed that another church has decided to sponsor us which we are thankful for, but we are still looking for those individuals and churches that feel a burden to financially support what God is doing here at ARI. If you do feel that tug, go over to the Advance webpage and donate or sign up to enter into a covenant of your support to us.

Thank you as always for taking your time to learn about what we are doing and we pray that God would continue to strengthen us all so that His will be done and His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Jonathan
 

¿Se acabó la Semana Santa?

Texto Biblico: S. Juan 20:19-20 :Cuando llegó la noche de aquel mismo día, el primero de la semana, estando las puertas cerradas en el lugar donde los discípulos estaban reunidos por miedo de los judíos, vino Jesús, y puesto en medio, les dijo: Paz a vosotros. Y cuando les hubo dicho esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Y los discípulos se regocijaron viendo al Señor.
 

INTRODUCCIÓN: ¿Se acabó la Semana Santa?

Atrás quedan las escenas crueles que representaron la Última Semana de Jesús como ser humano.  Atrás quedaron las escenas de la tortura a la que fue sometido el Justo, El Cordero de Dios, el humilde y sufriente Salvador.  Atrás quedaron las escenas de traición, de arresto, de crucifixión.  Atrás quedaron las escenas de la pasión y muerte del Señor de la Vida, el Justo dando su vida por los injustos; el Creador dando su vida por sus criaturas, el Señor dando su vida por los siervos(as).  Atrás quedaron todas esas escenas de la llamada “Semana Santa.”  Se le llama “Santa” por el eje central fue El Santo, Jesús, El Cristo, el Ungido de Dios.  Nada de los que le pasó a Jesús pareció “santo,” pero, ÉL murió por nosotros(as) pecadores para darnos Su Vida a través de Su Resurrección y Victoria.     

Por eso es que para los cristianos, la Semana Santa no termina nunca, pues el Sacrificio, la Oblación, la Pasión, la Muerte y la Resurrección de CRISTO cambiaron nuestras vidas PARA SIEMPRE y ahora vivimos en la Gracia del Señor constantemente. “Si vivimos para ÉL vivimos y si morimos para ÉL morimos; sea pues que vivamos o muramos, ¡Somos del Señor!”  Celebramos su victoria, constantemente.  Celebramos su resurrección todos los días.  Y, si fallamos, Su Gracia permanece constante, buscando maneras de alcanzarnos para bendecirnos. Porque: “El bien y la misericordia me [per]seguirán todos los días de mi vida...(Sal. 23:6)    

Amados(as): CRISTO nos anda persiguiendo para bendecirnos, para amarnos, para restaurarnos, para perdonarnos, para sanarnos, para rescatar nuestras vidas, para traer paz, gozo y victoria a nuestras vidas. ¡Acéptalo hoy!  JESUCRISTO quiere renacer en ti y en mí.  ¡Uno más para CRISTO!  ¡Uno más para predicar, uno más para proclamar, uno más para adorar apasionadamente a DIOS, uno más que sea hospitalario y generoso abundantemente; uno más que sea un discípulo radical; uno más que sirva arriesgadamente; uno más que ofrezca testimonio del cambio operado en su ser cuando CRISTO lo alcanzó!  ¡Uno más para anunciar las virtudes de Aquel que nos llamó de las tinieblas para que  anunciemos Su Luz admirable!  DIOS quiere que te dejes alcanzar por Su Misericordia, por Su Amor, por Su Gracia.  ¡Para eso resucitó el Señor! ¡Por ti y por mí! Para alcanzarnos un día con Su Paz.

El texto bíblico nos viene del Evangelio de San Juan.  Ustedes conocen muy bien la historia de la Resurrección.  Pero, hay algo impactante que se nos puede pasar por alto: es el  simple hecho de que los discípulos se volvieran a juntar.  ¡Escuchen bien! ¡Los discípulos se volvieron a reunir, se volvieron a congregar, a pesar de todo lo que había acontecido! A pesar del dolor; a pesar de la tristeza, del tormento, de la traición, de la negación, del susto, de la persecución.  ¡Se volvieron a reunir! 

Se volvieron a juntar, a pesar de que ellos tenían que haber estado muy avergonzados. ¡Dejaron solo a Jesús en el huerto! Todos huyeron, corrieron, escaparon, abandonaron al Señor cuando lo vinieron a arrestar.  ¡Cuando más necesitaba Jesús la compañía de sus amigos, de sus discípulos, de sus seguidores, de sus fieles!  Huyeron. Corrieron.  Desertaron. Se evaporaron. Desaparecieron. Dejaron solo a Jesús. Se escabullaron.  Por eso es tan grande el hecho de que volvieran a juntarse, a pesar de haber cometido tan grande falta.  Volvieron a la Casa, al Aposento Alto, a la Iglesia; a pesar de haber pecado contra DIOS; a pesar de haber mentido en la planilla; a pesar de haber visto la película sucia; a pesar de haber utilizado palabras groseras; a pesar de haber mentido a sus esposas(os); a pesar de haber fracasado en el intento; a pesar de no haber recibido el premio que esperaban; ¡Regresaron al lugar de reunión! Volvieron al Aposento Alto, volvieron a La Casa de Papá; volvieron a la Iglesia. Volvieron para encontrarse con los demás. 

¿Ustedes creen que la historia de la Semana Santa terminó?  ¿Ustedes creen que la Semana Santa se trata solo de lo que le pasó a Jesús?  Hoy se nos invita a reflexionar sobre dónde estamos nosotros(as) en esa historia.

Mientras se sentaban uno junto al otro ese domingo deben haberse sentido muy mal; deben haberse sentido culpables, sucios, indignos del perdón de DIOS.  Solo dos noches antes el horno se había calentado y ellos habían salido corriendo. Todos escaparon. No pararon hasta que llegaron a todo posible escondite que había en Jerusalén.

¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez qué hicieron los discípulos ese fin de semana? ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez si algunos fueron por las calles o se quedaron pensando en sus casas? ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez qué dijeron cuando la gente les preguntó qué había pasado? “Este... bueno... como ustedes saben… no era fácil...” ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez si permanecieron de dos en dos o en pequeños grupos, o solos cada uno? ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez qué pensaron, qué es lo que sintieron? “Tuvimos que correr”. “¡Nos hubieran matado a todos!” “No entiendo qué pasó”. “Lo dejamos a ÉL allí”. “ÉL tenía que habernos advertido.”

¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez cuál de ellos estaba cuando el cielo se oscureció? ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez si estaban cerca del templo cuando la cortina (El Velo) se rasgó? ¿O cerca del cementerio cuando las tumbas se abrieron? ¿Se ha preguntado alguna vez si algunos de ellos quisieron volver sigilosamente y mezclarse entre la multitud y contemplar las tres siluetas allí en el Monte Calvario? ¿Y nosotros(as), qué hicimos, dónde nos metimos, dónde nos escondimos durante esta semana?   ¿A qué le huimos?

Sobre lo que hicieron los primeros discípulos de Jesús, nadie sabe. Esas horas quedan para la especulación.  Ninguna culpa, ningún temor, ninguna duda está registrada en La Biblia sobre esto.  Pero sabemos una cosa. Ellos regresaron lentamente.  Uno a uno.  Regresaron. Mateo, Natanael, Andrés. Salieron de sus escondites. Salieron de las sombras. Santiago, Pedro, Judas Tadeo. Tal vez algunos estaban ya camino de su casa, de vuelta a Galilea, pero se dieron vuelta y regresaron. Tal vez otros se habían dado por vencidos, pero cambiaron de parecer.  Tal vez otros estaban llenos de vergüenza, pero aun así volvieron. ¡VOLVIERON! Regresaron. Se juntaron. A pesar de los pesares, volvieron.  ¡Regresa a Casa de Papá! Hijo, Hija: ¡Regresa a los brazos abiertos del Señor que te ama!

Oh, Amados y Amadas: ¿Cuánto debemos aprender de esta escena?  ¿Cuánta sabiduría se refleja en el hecho de reconocer que actuamos mal, que hicimos lo malo o dejamos de hacer lo bueno, y que DIOS está ahí para perdonarnos: en Su Casa, en Su Santuario, en Su Tabernáculo?  Está aquí esperándonos, para bendecirnos con Su Gracia que nos dice: “Paz a vosotros.” Está con Sus Brazos Abiertos, a pesar de que le abandonamos, le dejamos, huimos de ÉL.  Está con Sus Brazos abiertos para abrazarnos y dejarnos saber que no podemos hacer nada para que Dios nos ame mas, ni menos, que Dios ya nos ama, por Su Gracia. 

Uno a uno apareció en el mismo aposento alto en donde habían compartido el pan y el vino con Jesús.  Tienen que haber hallado consuelo al encontrar a otros allí.  Si, el mismo consuelo que se encuentra en la congregación de los fieles a DIOS.  El consuelo que se encuentra en la congregación de los perdonados por DIOS. El mismo consuelo que se encuentra entre la congregación de los que han aprendido que lo más importante es el Amor y la Gracia de DIOS.     ¡Díganlo los redimidos del Señor: Que para siempre es Su Misericordia! Aquí hay Paz; aquí hay Gozo; aquí hay Esperanza. Aquí hay Consuelo. Porque aquí está El Consolador, el Espíritu Santo de Dios. 

De todos los barrios de la ciudad aparecieron. Demasiado convencidos de irse a casa. Sin embargo, también estaban demasiado confundidos para irse a casa. Cada uno con una desesperante esperanza de que todo hubiera sido una pesadilla o una broma cruel. (¡Cuantas veces no hemos nosotros(as) deseado lo mismo!) Cada uno esperando encontrar alguna clase de paz, de consuelo. De estar juntos. Y volvieron.

Algo en su naturaleza se rehusaba a permitir que ellos se dieran por vencidos. Algo en aquellas palabras habladas por El Maestro los impulsó a regresar y a juntarse. La Semilla había caído en buena tierra.  Y se juntaron, se congregaron.

Ciertamente era una posición incómoda la que ellos tenían en ese terreno sin igual, entre el fracaso y el perdón. Entre la desesperación y la esperanza.  Suspendidos en algún lugar entre “no puedo creer lo que hice”, y “nunca lo volveré a hacer”. Demasiado avergonzados para pedir perdón, pero demasiado leales para darse por vencidos. Demasiado culpables para ser contados entre los discípulos; demasiado fieles para ser contados fuera de ellos.  Me imagino que todos(as) hemos estado allí.  Diría que todos nosotros hemos visto nuestras promesas barridas como castillos de arena por las olas del pánico y la inseguridad. Me imagino que todos nosotros hemos visto nuestras palabras de obediencia y promesa cortadas en pedacitos por el serrucho del temor y del miedo. Todavía no he encontrado a una persona que no haya hecho algo que juró que nunca lo haría. Todos nosotros caminamos las calles desoladas de Jerusalén, como aquellos discípulos…atemorizados, culpables, cabizbajos, tristes.

¿Qué hizo regresar a los discípulos? ¿Qué los hizo volver? ¿Los rumores de la resurrección? Eso tenía que ser parte de la razón.  Los que caminaban cerca de Jesús habían aprendido que ÉL haría lo inusual. Lo habían visto perdonar a una mujer que tuvo cinco maridos. Lo habían visto dar un trato honroso a un ladrón que era tan despreciado como un cobrador de impuestos, y había amado a un vagabundo que hubiera hecho sonrojar las caras de muchas personas.  Lo habían visto sacar fuera a los demonios de algunos poseídos, y poner el temor de DIOS en algunos religiosos que iban al templo. Las tradiciones se habían derrumbado, los leprosos se habían limpiado, los pecadores habían sido perdonados, los fariseos se habían esfumado, las multitudes habían sido movidas por ÉL.  Nadie puede hacer las maletas e irse a casa tan fácilmente después de tres años como esos. ¿Qué habrá hecho el Señor en tu vida?  ¿Cómo es posible que se nos olvide?  ¿Cuánto tiempo hemos caminado con Jesús?

Tal vez ÉL realmente se había levantado de entre los muertos, pensaron los discípulos... ¿Y nosotros(as), qué pensamos?

Pero fue algo más que los rumores de una tumba vacía lo que los trajo de vuelta.  Había algo en sus corazones que no los dejaría tranquilos con su traición. Por justificadas que fueran sus excusas, ellos no fueron lo suficientemente buenos como para borrar la verdad de la historia. Habían traicionado a su Maestro. Cuando Jesús los necesitó, habían escapado. Y ahora tenían que aceptar la vergüenza. 

Buscando perdón, aunque sin saber dónde hallarlo, regresaron. Volvieron al mismo aposento alto que guardaba el dulce recuerdo del pan partido y del simbólico vino. Allí todavía se podía respirar y oler el perfume del Señor, “el Suave Aroma de Cristo.”  Allí se sentía todavía la Presencia del Señor.  El simple hecho de que ellos regresaron dice algo de su líder.  Dice algo sobre Jesús el hecho de que aquellos que lo conocían bien no podían permanecer en su contra.  Para los doce primeros discípulos había sólo dos opciones: rendirse o suicidarse.
Sin embargo, esto también dice algo sobre Jesús: aquellos que lo conocían bien sabían que aunque no hubieran hecho exactamente lo que habían prometido, podrían todavía encontrar en ÉL, el perdón.

Así que regresaron. Cada uno con toda una colección de recuerdos y una débil sombra de esperanza. Sabiendo cada uno que todo estaba terminado, pero esperando en su corazón que lo imposible sucediera una vez más. “Si yo tuviera sólo otra oportunidad”.

Allí se sentaron. La conversación giró sobre los rumores de una tumba vacía. Alguien suspiró. Alguien tocó la puerta. Alguien arrastraba sus pies. Y cuando la oscuridad vino y se hico espesa, cuando el pensamiento fue cayendo víctima de la lógica, cuando alguien dijo: “¡Cómo daría mi alma inmortal por verlo una vez más!”  un rostro familiar atravesó la pared.  ¡ES JESÚS! ¡HA RESUCITADO! ¡Verdaderamente, ha resucitado! ¡ALELUYA!

¡Oh, amados y amadas: que final! Mejor dicho, ¡Que comienzo! No pierdan de vista la promesa revelada en esta historia. Para aquellos(as) de nosotros(as) que, como los primero discípulos, hemos dado la vuelta y hemos corrido cuando deberíamos haber permanecido y peleado, este pasaje está saturado de esperanza. Un corazón arrepentido es todo lo que ÉL demanda. ¡Salga de las sombras! ¡Salga de su escondite! Un corazón arrepentido es suficiente para permitir que el mismo Hijo de DIOS atraviese nuestras paredes de culpa y de vergüenza. ÉL, que perdonó a sus seguidores, está aquí listo para perdonar al resto de nosotros(as). Todo lo que tenemos que hacer es volver a ÉL.  Con razón lo llamaron, Jesús, el Salvador.  Con razón, resucitó para estar con nosotros(as) hoy y siempre.

¡Por ti y por mí!

As we sing Alleluia to the risen Jesus during the season of Easter, it is an excellent time to meditate on the names or titles of Jesus given to him by the primitive church in its first 100 years to express the church's awe and love.

There are about 55 names or titles for Jesus in the New Testament, and about 35 of them are still in use today when we teach, preach, sing, and pray.  He is the king, the judge, the mediator, the high priest, the savior, the expiation, the last Adam, the firstborn, the pioneer, the Word, etc.

Consider the most important titles for Jesus in the New Testament.

                                                                                              Lord

The dominant title for Jesus, both in terms of its frequency of use and its significance, is kyrios, Lord.  In the Greek version of the Old Testament, kyrios is often used as a substitute for the proper name of the God of Israel, YHWH.  To call Jesus kyrios is to acknowledge that "God...highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name," which is the name of God, or kyrios (cf. Philippians 2:9).  This is the name for Jesus that was on the lips of Christians when they worshipped, lifting their hands and praising him as Lord.  It was the title used in prayers, hymns, and creeds ("Jesus is Lord!").  The place where this title originated was the passionate worship of the first Christians when they gathered together to celebrate the Lord's Supper.

Some modern scholars speculated that this title arose in the worship of the Gentile Christians who borrowed the title from pagan cults and the ascription to Caesar as lord in the civil religion.  However, the Aramaic invocation of Maranatha, "Our Lord, come!" proves that Jesus was praised as Lord in the church of the Jewish Christians.  Its source is the name of the God of Israel ascribed to Jesus following his resurrection from the dead.  It was the name par excellence for the risen Jesus in the worship of the early church, but it was never ascribed to Jesus in the religious sense during his lifetime.

                                                                                         Son of God

The other great title of Jesus in the New Testament is Son of God and its variants.  This title is different from Lord in two important ways.

First, this title is not used to address Jesus in worship, but it is used to describe him in teaching doctrine.  In Romans 1:3-4 Paul cites a creed or doctrinal formula when he says that the message of the Gospel is about God's Son.  In the epistles of Paul, the epistle to the Hebrews, and the Gospel of John, the Son of God pre-existed before Jesus was born, he is the one through whom God created the universe, and he is the one who"'came" or was "sent" as Jesus.  In the 4th century, the church taught in the Nicene Creed that the Son is of "the same essence" as the Father; this later idea is not in the New Testament, but it is implied when it is said that the Son shares in the glory of God and in other similiar expressions.

Second, the title of the Son of God differs from Lord in that it is earlier than Lord.  Lord was ascribed to Jesus following his resurrection, but Son of God was used during his lifetime.  Indeed, its source is Jesus himself.  Despite the attempts of some modern scholars to explain this title as one ascribed to Jesus by the church following his resurrection, the best judgment of critical scholars is that it was used by Jesus during his career (cf. Matthew 11:27).  It was Jesus' secret.  It was a revelation to him from his Father given to him in high moments like his baptism and nurtured during his long periods of solitary prayer.  While it was his secret, it is manifest at times in his sayings, such as his references to "my Father (abba)" and in his parable of the wicked servants (cf. Mark 12:1-11 where "a beloved son" is finally sent to the people).

The notion of some 20th century theologians like Karl Barth that we have no information about the inner consciousness of Jesus is unwarranted by a close study of the Gospels, and it is a credit to the 19th century liberal theologians that they affirmed Jesus' consciousness of his unique relationship to God as his Father.

The teaching in the Gospels, the epistles of Paul, the  first epistle of John, and the epistle to the Hebrews that Jesus is the Son of God is rooted in Jesus' own consciousness and vindicated by his resurrection from the dead.  The direct manner in which Jesus is portrayed as speaking openly of himself as the Son in the Gospel of John reflects the author's devotional purpose and his long meditation on the meaning of Jesus' life, but its historical basis is the secret of Jesus that he manifested to his disciples, some of whom also received their own revelation about his identity, according to Matthew 16:16-17.

                                                                                          Son of Man

Jesus' primary title which he used to openly describe himself during his lifetime was the Son of Man.  The writers of the Gospels hardly ever use this title as their own description of Jesus, but they frequently use it as Jesus' own description of himself.  For example, Mark, who wrote the earliest Gospel, describes Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:1), but he depicts Jesus as calling himself the Son of Man (cf. Mark 2:10).

This title occurs frequently in all of the Gospels as Jesus' own designation of himself, but it almost completely disappears in the rest of the New Testament (the exception being Stephen's last words at his martyrdom in Acts 7:56).  The reason it disappears is because the church preferred to name Jesus as Lord in its worship and Son of God in its teaching.

No doubt another reason Son of Man disappeared is because of its strangeness.  It was strange to Jesus's disciples both during his lifetime and following his resurrection.

The fact that Jesus chose this title for himself demonstrates that he considered it to be the primary concept in the Jewish Scriptures and culture of his time to express his unique identity and mission.  Jesus would not openly disclose his secret of being the Son of his Father, nor could he hardly claim to be Lord during the struggles of his career, but he did claim to be the Son of Man.  By this title, he was making extraordinary claims for himself that would require God's action to vindicate in the future.

What is this Son of Man?  In many usages, such as in Ezekiel, the phrase means simply "a man."  However, the specific reference in the Scriptures which Jesus applied to himself is Daniel 7:13-14.  In Daniel, the Son of Man is the pre-existent heavenly one like a human being who comes with the clouds of heaven to receive glory and everlasting dominion over the world.  All apocalyptic imagery is strange, and it is no wonder that Jesus's disciples and the early church considered the concept of the Son of Man to be strange.  Strange as it might be, it was the one image in the Scriptures which Jesus apparently considerd approximate to his own understanding of his transcendent origin, authority, and destiny.  It was the one claim that he declared openly to the high priest after he was arrested (cf. Mark 14:61-62).

However, Jesus did more than apply Daniel 7:13-14 to himself.  He also combined and integrated it with Isaiah 52:13-53:12, which describes the Suffering Servant.  In other words, he came to understand his destiny as the Son of Man ,who will receive authority to rule the world, as requiring a passage through vicarious suffering as the representative of many.  He disclosed this to his astonished disciples when he told them that "the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31).

This self-understanding by Jesus that he was the Son of Man/Suffering Servant is the core of the teaching about Jesus in the New Testament even though the writers of the New Testament almost never directly call him the Son of Man or the Suffering Servant in their own descriptions of him.  Here is the basis of much of the church's understanding of his transcendent heavenly origin, his vicarious suffering, and his triumphant appearing at the end of history.  The names fall away, but their meaning is taken up in other titles and expressions in light of his divine vindication in his resurrection and his presence in the church as the risen Lord who died for our sins. 

                                                                                            Messiah

Following his resurrection, the church proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel and the Lord of the world (cf. Acts 2:36).  The Messiah is the "annointed" of God, and the Greek New Testament follows the Greek Old Testament in using Christos or Christ to interpret the Hebrew mashiah or Messiah.  As the church spread quickly to Gentiles, Christ ceased to function as a title and became a personal name, Jesus Christ.

Jesus demonstrated an ambivalent attiude toward this title.  He did not deny that he was the Messiah when others so hailed him, and he clearly understood his vocation as messianic in the sense that he was the representative of Israel in whom the history of Israel would reach its climax.  Yet he also knew that it was the term associated with Jewish nationalistic politics and with a military insurrection against Roman rule, and therefore he put distance between himself and the title.  This explains both why Jesus confessed to the high priest that he was the Messiah in the sense of being the Son of Man (Mark 24:61-62), but he refused to answer when the Roman governor asked him if he were the Messiah (Mark 15:1-5).

Jesus even relativizes the importance of the Davidic lineage of the the Messiah.  In Mark 12:35-37, he does not absolutely deny that the Messiah is the "son of David." but he views that idea as inferior to the idea of the Messiah as "lord,"  Although there was a strong tradition of his Davidic descent in the New Testament (probably from a non-royal line according to Luke 3:31), Jesus seemed to view the Messiah as a concept which must be purified of its nationalistic meaning and subsumed under the eschatological concept of the Son of Man.  After his resurrection, the church freely proclaimed him as the Davidic Messiah but in accordance with the transformed meaning Jesus had given to the title.

The very important fact that is disclosed by a study of the titles of Jesus in the New Testament is that both in the primitive church and even in the ministry of Jesus himself the message of the Gospel was a claim about Jesus' identity and mission.  There is no message of Jesus without a Christology or doctrine about his unique person and place in God's history of salvation.  The attempt by older Protestant liberals like Adolph von Harnack to assert that the Gospel was originally a message of Jesus about God the Father rather than a message about Jesus Christ is a huge distortion, as is the contemporary attempt to separate the "Jesus of history" from the "Christ of faith."  For fruitful scholarly study, see Oscar Cullman's The Christology of the New Testament, Vincent Taylor's The Names of Jesus and The Person of Christ in the New Testament, and Larry Hurtado's Lord Jesus Christ and How on Earth did Jesus Become a God?

Moreover, the study of the understanding of Jesus in the New Testament discloses how the later church dogmas about the Trinity and the two natures, human and divine, of Jesus were not concoctions, but were the outgrowths of the traditional views of Jesus from the beginning and expressed according to metaphysical language necessary to refute misunderstandings of him that emerged in the 4th century.

Think on these names of Jesus and sing Alleluia!

Director of Christian Education

Christian Education plays a key role in the mission and ministry of Cypress Lake United Methodist Church in Ft. Myers, Florida.  We are seeking a person with a strong personal commitment to Christ and Christian education who is supportive of the Methodist tradition to be a part of our program staff and provide leadership to our growing education ministries.   

The Ministry Goal
The ministry goal for this position is to cast the vision for Christian Education and the coordinate and develop Christian Education programs and opportunities that will attract and involve a growing number of persons in the educational ministry of the church as participants and leaders.

Qualifications
Good relational skills with people of all ages
Bachelor’s Degree as a minimum
Good verbal and written skills
Able to use Microsoft Office programs

Primary Responsibilities
This person will be responsible to provide and promote a wide range of Christian Education opportunities:
•    Provide oversight and counsel to Children and Family Director regarding Christian Education opportunities for children and families
•    Provide oversight and counsel to Youth Director regarding Christian Education opportunities for youth
•    Provide general administrative and spiritual leadership to the Sunday School program in developing the structure of the program, choice of curriculum, and inclusion of the congregation in the Sunday School process.
•    Provide general administrative and spiritual leadership to the Adult Sunday School program including the development of leaders.
•    Provide general administrative and spiritual leadership to the weekday Christian education programs featuring small groups, Bible Studies, and a variety of Christian exercise programs.
•    Special events and ministries.
•    Development of new Christian Education opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities
•    Assist in enlisting and screening weekday and Sunday nursery workers.
•    Identify and procure curriculum and other educational resources as needed
•    Train, communicate and provide resources to teachers.
•    Administer the church’s Child and Youth Protection Policy
•    Attend weekly staff meetings
•    Attend yearly Willow Creek Leadership Summit at local setting
•    Attend Church Council meetings
•    Write and submit as needed information to the church newsletter regarding educational programming.
•    Be a member of church’s pre-school

Church Provides
•    Health Insurance
•    Pension

 

This is a Part-time position, about 10 hours weekly.

Ministry Goals and Expectations:
Support the Church in maintaining membership records, new member classes and church spiritual growth classes through Shelby,

Hyde Park United Methodist is a vibrant, 2,000 member, century-old, urban-center congregation committed to Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, united in the love of God and called to make that love real to others. We're about transforming lives, creating Christian community, and healing the city and the world. We are seeking a Director of Children's Ministries to train, equip, and support leaders in our ministry with 500 children aged birth to fifth grade and their families. Candidates must be growing in their own faith journey, warm-hearted, high-energy, well-organized, fun persons who are committed to mainline Christian faith in the Methodist tradition. Email cover letter and resume to apply@hydeparkumc.org.

Associate director for after school and summer programs for children and youth in the local community.  Along with Director, provides oversight for the curriculum, worship, operations, goals, staffing, discipline and administration of the Neighborhood Ministries program.  Full time position with full compliment of benefits including paid vacation, PTO, and health insurance.  Visit church website for requirements and instructions on how to apply.

Administrative Assistant
Grace Community United Methodist Church, located in Lithia, FL, is seeking a part-time Administrative Assistant that would report directly to the Pastor.  As a young, fast growing church with an average attendance of 225, we are interested in individuals who are committed followers of Jesus Christ, striving to grow in their own faith and who are interested in helping others grow in theirs by sharing their spiritual gifts.  Hiring criteria includes, but is not limited to:
• Must be committed to support and fulfill the mission, vision, and values of the church.
• Proficient in word processing, desk top design and computer skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including the ability to remain calm in difficult situations

Please visit: www.gcumconline.com for a full job description.  To apply, please submit cover letter, and resume via email to employment@gcumconline.com, or mail to Matt Wallis, 5708 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Lithia, FL, 33547 no later than June 8th, 2012.


Please send all questions via email to employment@gracecommunityumc.org. 

gcumconline.com
Pastor Matt Wallis
employment@gcumconline.com
5708 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
813.661.8858
5/8/2012 10:33:46 AM

Children's Ministry Intern
CrossRoads Community UMC located in Wesley Chapel/New Tampa seeks a part-time children's ministry intern. If you love Jesus and love helping children discover their potential in Christ, we would like to talk with you. This candidate should have formal college or seminary training - or in school presently with an eye to become a children's pastor or director.

Contact Pastor Jeff Smith at jeff@crossroadsum.com
www.crossroadsum.com

Pastor Jeff Smith
jeff@crossroadsum.com
CrossRoads Comm UMC
26211 County Line Rd
Wesley Chapel FL 33544
813-907-5815

Church Steward

Our mission is “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transforma-tion of the World.”  Our vision is “Celebrating God’s Love for ALL!”

Minimum Qualifications:
Of utmost importance to the people of Calvary UMC is that our staff genuinely represent Christ as well as the church.  We are praying for
and seeking staff of spiritual maturity whose character is shaped by God through a strong personal devotional life and the historic Methodist practice of small group Bible study for life-long intentional discipling.
Recognition of the sacred worth of persons in all circumstances is re-quired to meet our standard of courtesy, team-building, and account-ability.  Professional confidentiality is essential.  We are a permission-giving church whose authority is used for problem-solving, not blame or control.  We are not here to gain a position or prove we are right.  We are here to greet, win the hearts, and make disciples of people from all walks of life by demonstrating God’s servant heart, ready to love.

A high school diploma is required for this position with some post-secondary education as well as computer experience.  Fluency in Spanish is a plus.  The Church Steward must be outgoing, pleasant in demeanor, be a responsible self-starter on the job, and must properly reflect the Christian beliefs of the Calvary UMC congregation and operational policies of the District and Conference. The Church Steward must, by either experience or education, demonstrate an ability to perform all of the duties specified or inferred in this job description.

Function: Under the policy guidance and cyclic review of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the routine oversight of the CUMC Pastor, the Church Steward provides a range of financial, administrative, public relations and support services necessary to the efficient conduct of CUMC business, using a network of paid staff, casual labor, volunteers, formal special-function committees, and social and community-outreach program initiatives. The Church Steward undertakes specific duties in several key areas.

Hospitality and Communication
1.   Sets and maintains the standard of Christian hospitality by all who answer the phone, door, or inter-act with people in any way.
2.   Makes sure phone and other messages are taken, transmitted  properly, and addressed promptly.
3.   Takes responsibility for the management, maintenance, and
supplies for filing, data systems, office equipment, custodial services,
curriculum, and hospitality.
4.   Recruits and reminds volunteers to pray for, call, visit, and write to parishioners.  Family news and prayer requests are to be forwarded to the Pastor.  
5.   Works with the Marketing Manager to create and update a Master Campus Calendar.  Both the Church Steward and Marketing Manager
must acknowledge the scheduling and revenue impact of all changes.
6.   Uses this calendar to contribute to the church newsletter.
7.   Maintains a professional relationship with Atlantic Central District staff, requests advice and assistance, and works with the Pastor to meet all Florida Conference report deadlines.
8.   Maintains the church roll and directory.
9.   Maintains personnel/hiring records, including background checks.
10. Works with a team including the Church Custodian and Director of The Way Café to provide and supervise community service hours.
11.  When a person needs to be corrected, one must take them aside privately, treat them with respect, and work to solve the problem rather than make the person “wrong.”
12.  Provides a back-up communications link for the pastor as required by pastoral duties, sickness, vacation, or other causes.

Financial Management
1.    Manages all internal accounting functions; preparing and submitting a monthly written report for the Finance Committee; attends Finance Committee meetings as called.
2.    Prepares draft annual budgets for the review and amendment of the Finance Committee including general projections of revenues from available sources and likely deficits, if any.
3.    Provides clerical support for and oversees CUMC accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll functions, preparing relevant statements and reports to be reviewed and verified by the Accountant prior to submission to State and Federal governments.
4.    Monitors and prepares required records for pledges and weekly/ monthly contributions; supervises, when necessary, the counting of offerings and other contributions, instructing volunteers in the general procedures and in the preparation of deposit slips, etc.; and, maintains an accountable petty cash fund for CUMC needs.
5.   Ensures that giving statements and acknowledgements are sent to donors in a confidential, timely manner.  
6.   Monitors programs of assistance to the needy to assure that contributions are directed correctly to the intended recipients, e.g. CROS Ministries, FL UM Children’s Home (FUMCH), funds for missions, other special purpose collections, and casual distributions to visiting transients and the hungry.


Property Management
Works closely with the Church Custodian and Trustees to provide  
1.   Records of vendors and supply orders.
2.   Records of vendors and machine maintenance.
3.   Records of vendors and building maintenance.
4.   Contact information with the City of Lake Worth or others for necessary inspections, code enforcement, zoning, and permits.
5.   Along with the Marketing Manager provides back-up to the Church Custodian for unexpected opening, closing, or addressing of special needs.

Other Duties and Conditions
In addition to these specific responsibilities, the Church Steward may perform other duties appropriate to the position and not specifically indicated in this position description. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: The Church Steward will need to consult with the Pastor and prioritize these duties, placing greatest emphasis on those which are most urgent at any given time, and calling for back-up support from volunteers, Church members and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee as needed.

Classification:  Permanent part-time, 20 hours per week

Terms:  Character references and job experience references must be provided.  Monday through Friday, 4 hours per day; 8 a.m. to Noon. general schedule.  Log hours.  Paid legal Monday through Friday holidays.  Coverage must be arranged prior to vacations: one week paid vacation after six months; two weeks paid vacation after the first year.

Rev. Dr. Christopher M. Dillon
Chris.Dillion@flumc.org
301 1st Ave. South, Lake Worth, FL 33460
561-582-5497


 

Director of Children's Ministry
Grace Community United Methodist Church, located in Lithia, FL, is seeking a part-time Children’s Ministry Director.  As a young, fast growing church with an average attendance of 225, we are interested in individuals who are committed followers of Jesus Christ, striving to grow in their own faith and who are interested in helping others grow in theirs by sharing their spiritual gifts.  Hiring criteria includes, but is not limited to:
• Volunteer Champions: People who are able to lead and work with the volunteers Grace Community UMC has been blessed with.
• Those with exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Those with a minimum of two years experience working with children and children’s leaders with a proven record of excellence in children’s ministry.

Please visit: www.gcumconline.com for a full job description.  To apply, please submit cover letter, resume, and a detailed vision of what a Children’s Ministry under your coordination would look like via email to employment@gcumconline.com, or mail to Matt Wallis, 5708 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Lithia, FL, 33547 no later than June 8th, 2012.


Please send all questions via email to employment@gcumconline.com. 


gcumconline.com
Pastor Matt Wallis
employment@gcumconline.com
5708 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
813.661.8858
5/8/2012 10:36:11 AM
 

Our mission is “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transforma-tion of the World.”  Our vision is “Celebrating God’s Love for ALL!”

Minimum Qualifications
Of utmost importance to the people of Calvary UMC is that our staff genuinely represent Christ as well as the church.  We are praying for
and seeking staff of spiritual maturity whose character is shaped by God through a strong personal devotional life and the historic Methodist practice of small group Bible study for life-long intentional discipling.
Recognition of the sacred worth of persons in all circumstances is re-quired to meet our standard of courtesy, team-building, and account-ability.  Professional confidentiality is essential.  We are a permission-giving church whose authority is used for problem-solving, not blame or control.  We are not here to gain a position or prove we are right.  We are here to greet, win the hearts, and make disciples of people from all walks of life by demonstrating God’s servant heart, ready to love.

A high school diploma is required for this position in addition to some post-secondary education or experience in marketing.  Our Marketing Manager must not only be computer savvy, but desirous to maintain and mentor others, especially young people, in a skill set that seeks to be state-of-the-art.  Fluency in Spanish is a plus.  The Marketing Manager must be outgoing, pleasant in demeanor, be a responsible self-starter on the job, and must properly reflect the Christian beliefs of the Calvary UMC congregation and operational policies of the District and Conference. The Marketing Manager must, by either experience or education, demonstrate an ability to perform all of the duties specified
or inferred in this job description.

Function: Under the policy guidance and cyclic review of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the routine oversight of the CUMC Pastor, the Marketing Manager provides a range of community engagement, advertising, technology, training, recruiting, revenue enhancement, team-building, coordinating, and public relations services.  These are necessary to the growth of Calvary UMC and our campus partners in the fulfillment of our mission and vision.  Special emphasis is placed on coordination with our Youth Leader, reaching out to and expanding our ministry with young adults, families, other compatible congregations and agencies.  The Marketing Manager undertakes specific duties in several key areas.

Campus Culture
The Marketing Manager must work closely with the Church Steward, Church Custodian, and Trustees to understand what space is available both in our buildings, campus calendar, and campus culture.  The Marketing Manager works closely with the Church Steward to create and update a Master Campus Calendar.  Both the Church Steward and Marketing Manager must acknowledge the scheduling and revenue impact of all changes.  An annual campus census is required to docu-ment the number of people, variety of activities, and current schedules.  

The Marketing Manager must devise a method of assessing the value of each space and time period based on its individual merits.  It is essential that the Marketing Manager meet each current tenant, pray for them, get to know their needs and aspirations, look for ways our congregation can help them succeed, and discern a strategy for recruiting new tenants that will contribute to – not compete with – our campus culture.  Our goal is not to be a religious shopping mall of independent ministries.  Our goal is to build up the Body of Christ so we can all be successful making disci-ples while celebrating God’s love for all.  To facilitate and understand our campus culture, the Marketing Manager will work with the Pastor to hold occasional Leadership Luncheons and other events that bring the residents of our campus together.  One goal that has yet to be fulfilled is to discern an inclusive name that accounts for the totality of the front-line urban ministry that occurs on our campus.

Rental Agent
The Marketing Manager seeks appropriate new tenants, negotiates con-tracts (including verifying insurance), collects rents, encourages tenant success and satisfaction, and monitors changes in schedules (announced or unannounced).  It is essential to work closely with the Church Custodian to monitor any changes in building usage so that the Church Steward and Marketing Manager can determine the scheduling and revenue impact of all changes.  

Sometimes improvements must be made to make space usable as well as available.  Maintenance issues are inevitable.  Energy efficiency is vital.  The Marketing Manager is the point of contact for our tenants, and must work closely with the Trustees and Church Custodian to get resolution.
When a person needs to be corrected, one must take them aside privately, treat them with respect, and work to solve the problem rather than make the person “wrong.”  Along with the Church Steward, the Marketing Manager provides back-up to the Church Custodian for unexpected opening, closing, or addressing of special needs.  

Maximum Usage
The Marketing Manager will contact Wedding Planners and Funeral Directors to promote use of our elegant Main Sanctuary.  (You may also offer your services as a Wedding Planner upon approval by our Staff-Parish Relations Committee).  We are seeking creative use of our parking lot as a staging area for events, and our classroom space for a nursery school or women’s exercise group.   Our members speak of having a Movie Night but need encouragement and coordination.  

Publicity, Technology, Social Networking, and Young People
The Marketing Manager will work closely with the Pastor in production of the church newsletter.  We are seeking a higher level of sophistication, effectiveness, and value in publicizing all we do, both as a congregation and in support of our campus community.  The Marketing Manager will work closely to fulfill this goal with the Youth Leader and everyone interested, especially young people.  This includes taking the lead and empowering others (using weekly bulletin announcements, the church newsletter, and other sources) to continually update our YesCalvary.org website, Facebook page, and tweets.  Your leadership is required to provide streaming video (plus providing feedback mechanisms for on-line prayer requests and donations).  Our young people have expressed interest in internet radio and music recording.  We expect our Marketing Manager to help us use technology to raise the visibility of Christ, enrich our worship, and improve our networking.

Other Duties and Conditions
In addition to these specific responsibilities, the Marketing Manager
may perform other duties appropriate to the position and not specifically indicated in this job description.  SPECIAL CONDITIONS: The Marketing Manager will need to consult with the Pastor and prioritize these duties, placing greatest emphasis on those which are most urgent at any given time, and calling for back-up support from volunteers, Church members and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee as needed.

Classification:  Permanent part-time, 10 hours per week to start.

Terms:  Character references and job experience references must be provided.  [The work schedule must be flexible to meet the demands of the position.]  Preferred schedule: afternoons Monday through Friday, 2 hours per day.  Log hours.  Paid legal Monday through Friday holidays.  Coverage must be arranged prior to vacations: one week paid vacation after six months; two weeks paid vacation after the first year.  Everyone who works with children or youth must submit to a background check (at our expense), and subscribe to our Child/Youth Protection Policy

Rev. Chris Dillon
Chris.Dillon@flumc.org
301 First Ave. South, Lake Worth, FL 33460
561-585-1786
5/8/2012 12:00:38 PM

 

Dear friends –

Just a few days after the 2012 General Conference held at the Tampa Convention Center, I’m still trying to process all that I lived there, as well as reflecting about the future of our denomination in the aftermath of this global gathering.

988 delegates from the United States and Central Conferences in Africa, the Philippines, Europe and Asia had the opportunity to produce some radical changes in the life of our church. But no significant change happened.

The Call to Action some of us so enthusiastically supported through the last months won’t even pass beyond the correspondent Legislative Committee. In its place, a compromised formula called “Plan UMC” was voted and approved by the body, but declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council and such announcement was made almost at the time of closing the Conference business.

Yes, some other things I personally supported were approved by the Conference. There will be no more guaranteed appointments for the elders in our connection, a decision that, in my view, will help Cabinets to appoint those who have had a proven record of producing church vitality and churches to receive pastors who are really committed to bring people to Christ and to make a difference in the communities they serve.

Our Book of Discipline will retain the same language regarding human sexuality: homosexuality will still be considered a sin and a practice that is incompatible with the Gospel’s teaching. In the words of Bishop Whitaker, we made a clear option to continue being a “historic” rather than a “cultural” church, a church that will continue upholding the historic teachings of the Christian faith and is not driven by cultural tendencies.

After these 12 days of “holy” and sometimes “not so holy” conferencing, I believe change, restructure, transformation won’t come from the top down. We will need to produce a “holy revolution” from the local church all the way up to the top of this denomination once called “the enthusiasts” and “the Wesleyan revival." I have always believed that it is the life and practice of the church that is the one that produces the changes in the Book of Discipline. More than ever before, I am convinced that transformation and renewal cannot be mandated by the Book of Discipline, but needs to be the heart and core of the daily practice in the local church.

During this “after Conference” days, as I have been living through my “post traumatic GC stress disorder," I have come back to my core convictions and my most useful tools for revival: the Bible and Wesley’s Works.

Instead of asking for restructure, I believe we need to be asking for revival that will produce restructure. Instead of asking for changes in the church, I believe we should be praying and fasting for changes in the hearts, minds, words and ways to fulfill the Great Commission.

We need to go back to basics, and basics to me is asking for the fire of the Holy Spirit to be rekindled in our hearts, so we may feel our heart’s experience once again that particular warmth that is the sign of true Methodists. Back to the preaching of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, back to the preaching about personal and social holiness, back to the religion of the heart, the practice of the means of grace for our spiritual growth, the kind of enthusiasm that makes Christianity contagious and Churches refuse to die, leaving the coldness of the no-mission to embrace the passion for the co-mission.

Let us hear again the words of that holy man that was transformed at Aldersgate:

“I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God's creational intentions.”

Let us live into the mission of the church, into the passion for the unsaved, into the development of programs and strategies to be more effective in ministry and more open to change.

I can’t deny it. I come from that tradition. I was once a Christian who practiced a nice summer religion. I was part of a declining church that was about to disappear because of persecution and lack of meaning in the life of a nation. I have seen this before. I have seen how the Holy Spirit can change the depressing reality of a declining institution into the glorious reality of a powerful and transformative movement.

Once again, after General Conference, I was reignited by the words of one of the persons who has been more influential in my Christian journey. This is an entry in his Journal dated January 1st, 1739, just a few months after Aldersgate. He is describing what happened at a prayer vigil he and a group of friends had (yes, good Methodists have prayer vigils until 3.00 AM) on New Year’s Eve of 1739:

"Mr. Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield, Lane, (were present) with about sixty of our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing in instant prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of his Majesty, we broke out with one voice, `We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord."

Let us claim this power again for our personal lives as well as for our denomination. Let us join in the words of the ancient hymn: “Revive us, oh Lord."

Truly yours in Christ’s service,

Rev. Dr. Rinaldo (Rini) Hernandez
Southwest District Superintendent
 

The other day, in an attempt to get some distance between me and the traumatic event now forever etched in my brain as General Conference 2012, I decided to brave the Texas heat and work on my flowerbeds and ideas for the lawn. Isisas Barrario, my faithful landscape and lawn man for over eight years, stood by me in the heat as we discussed what to do about the yard. It’s important to know that when Isisas and I first met, I was single, working toward tenure and couldn’t have cared less about my yard except I wanted it cut and to look good—which meant he had the run of the yard. Now, married with a bigger yard and in a nicer neighborhood, I have become more involved. (Gender roles are very hard to break sometime, but that’s another column).
 
As we looked at the deck, I told him that I saw some nails popping out and that he should get the carpenter to fix them and then get the deck  painted. He said, “My friend, the earth around the deck has changed. The sun and rain have taken their toll. It is warped and nailing it won’t fix the problem—the structure is bad. You must tear it down if you want it to do any good.” A gardener had become a prophet right before my eyes and ears.

Click here for the rest of Maria Dixon Hall's commentary.

Here in the South, Mothers’ Day is one of the “high holy days” of the church year, ranking in the top five worship attendance Sundays of the year (sorry, dads, Fathers’ Day doesn’t make the cut). It’s been that way for a long time.

My wife LeeAnn recalls childhood Mothers’ Days at Wildwood (Florida) United Methodist Church, where her grandparents, assorted aunts, uncles and cousins were members. She and her family would make the pilgrimage from Winter Park to observe the day with her extended family. Tradition held that one wore a red flower, usually a camellia, if one’s mother was alive; or a white flower, usually a gardenia, if one’s mother had died. Awards were given to the oldest mother, newest mother, youngest mother (not always a coveted prize) and the mother with the most progeny in attendance. LeeAnn’s grandmother Mimi was the perennial winner of the most progeny award, the prize for which was usually a hydrangea plant, which she would lovingly plant in her treasured garden. What mattered, though, was not the prize, but the warmth and love that was celebrated at those gatherings, which centered on family, church and gratitude for the blessings God had bestowed on her family.

My own mother taught me my first lesson about gratitude and generosity. As a child growing up in central Indiana, I remember the weekly Sunday morning ritual of her bundling my dad, brother and twin sisters into the 1963 Buick LeSabre station wagon to get us to church. The last thing she would do before we left for church was to retrieve her checkbook from the bureau drawer, write a check to our church, and place it in the little green offering envelope that we kids took turns placing in the offering plate each Sunday. Ritual, discipline, commitment.

I was probably ten or twelve years old when I remember asking her, “Do they make you do that?” Stifling a laugh, she took the time for a “teachable moment” to explain to me that she and my dad gave out of gratitude to God for the blessings in their lives and to support our small church so that our family would have a place to worship, learn and serve.

Both of my parents were children of the Great Depression. My mother grew up in the far northwest corner of North Dakota on a dustbowl-era homestead farm with her Norwegian immigrant parents and five brothers and sisters. No electricity (rural electrification was decades away in that remote place), no running water (there was a hand-cranked pump in the yard), and an outhouse out back. In the winter months her school bus was a horse-drawn sleigh that ferried her, her siblings and friends to a one-room schoolhouse miles away. From those humble beginnings, and thanks in large part to the GI Bill which created the middle class of the 1950’s and 60’s, my parents had a lot to be grateful for, and they were determined to instill that value of gratitude in their children, who would never know the deprivations of their parents’ childhoods.

My wife was the second person to teach me about giving. When we met, she was a single mom with three young children serving a church in suburban Chicago. At the time I was working for the investment banking and securities trading division of Swiss Bank Corporation (now part of UBS), and I thought I was pretty generous to my church, although it was a long way from a tithe. She, on the other hand, was tithing on her clergy salary and seemed strangely happy about it. While she did not explicitly make tithing a requirement of our marriage, I got the picture, and we both have been blessed by it. Ritual, discipline, commitment.

I am enormously grateful for the influence of the women in my life—my wife, Mom, mother-in-law, step-daughter—who have patiently taught me about sacrificial love, gratitude and generosity; women who understand that one’s life is not measured by the material things we accumulate, but by the way we share what God has given us, grace upon grace.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and all the women who have mothered us on our journey of gratitude and generosity.

Tom Wilkinson is Vice President, The Florida United Methodist Foundation

Bishop Woodie W. White

The date, April 15, 1947, is remembered by many of us, although the memory is fading fast. In fact, the media scarcely noted that date last month. Yet it forever changed and impacted the social fabric of American life.

Sixty-five years ago, on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black baseball player to walk onto a Major League playing field, as first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Today, of course, the team is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The array of players, the nation and our “favorite pastime” have changed so much that Robinson’s achievement is now largely forgotten. For most Americans, the only Major League baseball they have ever known is one with players of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, competing together in this still-popular national sport.

Click here for the complete commentary, courtesy of the United Methodist Reporter.

Florida Conference Connection contributor and Upper Room author Derek Maul divides his time between writing and travelling to speak about the fully engaged Christian life. Paul encouraged readers to, “Take hold of the life that is truly life!” (1 Tim 6:1-19, NIV); Jesus offered his followers, “More and better life than they ever dreamed of!” (John 10:10, The Message). Derek Maul’s blog, “The Life-Charged Life,” is designed to facilitate a daily conversation about what it means to respond to the invitation to "truly" live. Click here to visit Derek's blog.

  Community Arise: Basic Disaster Ministry Training

An introduction to the unique and important role the faith community plays in disaster mitigation, preparation and response in the United States.

Basic Disaster Ministry teaches people in the faith community how to identify and address unmet needs of all survivors, particularly people who were vulnerable before a disaster, and how to provide a larger vision of life that includes emotional and spiritual care as well as physical rebuilding to assist in long-term recovery of those in need.

At the conclusion of the training, your church will have a practical foundation for how to effectively respond to disaster in your community in cooperation with other churches, emergency management officials and the Disaster Recovery Ministry of the conference. You will understand the importance of communication and collaboration in meeting the needs of disaster survivors and the importance of being the church in the midst of crisis.

This one-day training is based in part on “Community Arise: A Disaster Ministry Curriculum”. This curriculum was developed by Church World Services in collaboration with other faith-based organizations, including the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Lutheran Disaster Services, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Catholic Charities and others.

There is no cost for this training.  Check-in starts at 9:30 on the day of the event.
Lunch will be provided; donations are welcome. 

The United Methodist Men's Golf Fundraiser is going to support Young Days Development Center. Young Days is a ministry of East Lake United Methodist Church. Children attend chapel, celebrate Christian holidays and are encouraged to develop Christian values.

More info:

 Shotgun Start 4 person scramble

$40 per person covers: Golf, Cart, Prizes, and a Meal afterwards

There will be closest to the pin, long drive contests, and chipping and putting contests and a hole in one contest for a trip to Hawaii

Clergy Team Meeting &
Clergy Spouse Gathering
Cleveland UMC

May 22, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.

Gathering at 9:00am with refreshments. 

All full-time clergy are expected to attend.  Part-time clergy are encouraged to attend if possible.
All requests for absence from this clergy meeting must be done in writing to
the District Superintendent by May 15th.

Dear Pastor,

It is that time of year again, for our Spring Clergy Meeting with the District Superintendent.

Meeting Information
May 23rd 9:00a.m. - 10:30a.m.
Trinity UMC
 

THIS IS A REQUIRED MEETING AND ALL CLERGY APPOINTED TO A CHURCH ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND.

Cultivating Vital Personal Foundations: The quality and quantity of leadership can only grow when core leaders have strong spiritual, relational, financial, physical and intellectual foundations.

Helping Disciples Discern their Calling: the difference between a consumer and a biblical model of ministry rests on whether leaders help disciples discern how God is calling them to make their contribution to Jesus' Kingdom work - and then help them make it.

Multiplying Congregational Leaders: Congregations can't grow without expanding their leadership base. Expansion can't happen without making peace with the roles of pastor and staff, and without key leaders exemplifying that power expands when shared.

THERE WILL BE A $5 COST FOR THE EVENT.  PLEASE PAY AT THE DOOR.

Annual Conference 2012 Offering Letter from Bishop Whitaker.

Annual Conference 2012 Offering  Bulletin Insert

The Florida Annual Conference and First United Methodist Church of Lakeland are pleased to offer child care for Elementary and Pre-school age children, Thursday, June 14, through Saturday, June 16. There will be age appropriate programming as a part of the care for the children during Annual Conference sessions.  In order to provide this service, it is imperative that the child is pre-registered. If you have not pre-registered, there is a very good possibility that spaces will be filled and you may be turned away. Pre-registration ensures that there are an adequate number of child care workers on duty to meet the child/worker ratio (required by law) and also prevents too many workers on duty, which hurts this program financially.   If your need for child care changes from your pre-registration request, please notify FUMC Lakeland so they might offer childcare for others needing this service.

Deadline:  May 20, 2012 Pre-Registration Is Required

Click Here for more information and registration form.

CAMPUS HOUSING RESERVATION DEADLINE:  MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012

The Chaplain's Office at Florida Southern College will coordinate campus housing.  To make your stay at Florida Southern College as comfortable as possible, please read this letter carefully and follow the procedures. 

IMPORTANT:  The Office of Church Relations coordinates only campus housing and campus meals.  All other information or materials should be obtained from the Florida United Methodist Conference Center.

The Lakeland Center requires advance notice to reserve rooms. Those requiring a room for their group meals, and those groups planning meals outside of The Lakeland Center, are asked to submit this form so we can publish the day and time of each meal function on the Annual Conference webpage.  Deadline - March 15, 2012

Group Meal Coordinator Form

United Methodist Youth Workers – Thursday, June 14
Location: The Lakeland Center – Room TBD

http://flumc.s3.amazonaws.com/D5C18E7AAB8E48FDAB3EA67940A05098_pre-conference_mailing.pdf