Following a Dream and Taking a Risk

“When it was time to leave,
they returned to their own country by another route,
for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod”
- Matthew 2:12 (NLT)

“I have a dream ...” MLK Jr.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The time had come to head back east.  Preparations ensued.  Then God spoke to the Magi in a dream ... a new dream different than they were expecting.  The original plan was to go back to Jerusalem and let Herod know about Jesus so that he too could worship him.  But it didn’t feel right.  They sensed something had shifted and they had their questions.  Then that night, right before they were ready to go, as they were sleeping, God came to them in a dream telling them to return home by another route.

Waking up, over breakfast, with hesitation and perhaps fear, I imagine that one of the wise men dared to share his dream.  Pretty quickly the group realized they all had the same dream and it required courage and obedience.  It would mean that their plans would change, maybe more time and money would be spent, and perhaps they would lose out on something they had hoped would be part of their trip home.  But probably the biggest cost - risking their lives angering Herod and his people.

But as they worshipped Jesus the Christ for the last time before departing, the Magi came to the place that they were willing to take the risk, believing that Jesus was worth it all, and they went home by another route.  What dream do you need to listen to today?  Where is God changing your route?  Where do you need to ask God to increase your trust?

As 2023 begins, God has a future that involves you, your church, and your community that ushers in God’s Kingdom.  It will mean surrendering your plans to God, accepting the course corrections when they present themselves, and scrapping our plans when they are not God’s plans.  It will mean risk and sacrifice, and at the same time, we will experience God’s peace and joy that only come when we are faithfully following Jesus. 

Let’s let God dictate our dreams as we step into God’s future.  Happy New Year and may God bless you +

Grace and peace ~
Dionne

The trip to the Holy Land dates have changed to November 6 - 16, 2023. Details will be available soon.  

Click here for details and to register to receive the Zoom link for the Monthly Prayer Gatherings and the Weekly Lenten Prayer Gatherings. 

The next gathering will be on Wednesday, January 25 at 12:00 Noon. 

 

Church Profile  – reviewed and updated annually. 

These forms are to be reviewed and updated annually by all church SPR Committees and all clergy in the Florida Conference. All church SPR Committees must update online annually and may begin after December 1. The Church Profile deadline requires it be completed online no later than one week prior to the pastor’s DS consultation, if having. The final date to update the Church Profile is January 31, 2023. 

If someone other than your SPRC Chair listed in your church dashboard will be completing the Church Profile, please contact the AC District office as soon as possible.

Pastor Profile – reviewed and updated annually.

All pastors in the local church must update online annually and may begin after December 1. If you are currently appointed to Extension Ministry and want to be in the Local Church for the 2023 Appointment Season, please email Rev. Dionne C. Hammond and copy her office. The Pastor Profile deadline requires it to be completed online no later than one week prior to the DS consultation. Though you may not anticipate a move, it is important that both the Pastor Profile and Church Profile be current and up to date at the first appointment-making session of the Cabinet. The reports should be an honest reflection of the pastoral ministry and the profile of the church. The final date to update the Pastor Profile is January 31, 2023. 

Click HERE for the detailed instructions for accessing both the Church and Pastor Profiles. Follow the step-by-step instructions to access the appropriate profile. The final date to update Profiles is January 31, 2023.

This year, the end of year statistics report is accessed through your church dashboard and is now on a new software platform. Please click here for complete instructions. 

The AC District Office will provide trainings on Wednesday, January 11 at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Zoom. Both sessions will be the same. To receive the Zoom link, please contact your local church Administrative person or send an email to the AC District Office at flumc-ac@flumc.org. 

If you have any questions about the new software platform or the content of what is needed for the report, please contact the AC District Office at 772-299-0255.

AC District SPRC Training for Local Churches

Tuesday, January 24, 2023
11:00 AM or 7:00 PM

Click here to register to receive the Zoom link..

AC District BOT Training
for Local Churches

Wednesday, January 25 at 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 26 at 11:00 AM

Click here to register to receive the Zoom link.

For details and to register, click here.