“Open Hearts and Minds and Commitment to Action: July Prayer Request”
“Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name” Psalm 86:11 (NRSV)
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One year ago, excited about my new role as the Atlantic Central District Superintendent, I visited 15 new pastors to welcome them into our district. Little did we know that a year later we would be facing the greatest adaptive challenges of ministry: COVID, racism, and looming economic recession. If you are reading this newsletter article, you are a committed person of faith and serving the local church. This season calls for mature leaders to encourage others in a spirit of openness, generosity and love. Thank you for serving in such a way!
In the scripture passage, King David exemplified a humble posture before God. Asking God to teach him implies that David was open to learning and realized that he did not have a corner on the truth, his commitment to walking in truth expressed in David’s understanding that action is required, and requesting an undivided heart shows a self-awareness that his heart naturally was divided.
Friends, I have a request for our district. Would you pray this prayer individually and for your congregation in this especially difficult season? Imagine the personal and corporate transformation as we undertake this endeavor! Imagine the ways the Kingdom of God will expand as an army of Jesus followers on the east coast of FL take on this challenge! Please set an alarm in your phone to remind you to pray. And then share with me the transformation you see at DS-AC@flumc.org. Thank you - I am praying for you, your church and your community.
God is faithful. God will never leave us. The Church will prevail. May the hope of Christ enfold you and yours today +
Grace and peace ~
Dionne
Atlantic Central District Clergy Moves
Join us in welcoming the following clergy to their new appointments!
Amy Armistead, Associate Pastor - First - Ormond Beach
Macon Armistead, Deacon - Coronado Community - New Smyrna Beach
Joseph Fisher, Senior Pastor - St. Andrew - Titusville
Timothy May - United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches - West Palm Beach
Timothy Willcox, Senior Pastor - First - Ft. Pierce
Disaster Recovery Resources Survey
Pam Garrison, Disaster Response Coordinator, has asked us to share the following information.
This is the first year Disaster Recovery was not part of the calendar of reports for our churches. Instead, our conference volunteer coordinators for the Irma Recovery have captured what they've learned from you, our local churches, and have created an easily searchable database of resources for when the next disaster comes.
To supplement this information, we have developed a very brief survey - much shorter than our original! Please have one person submit this survey for your church by Friday, July 10, 2020.
The information gathered will help us continue our support of you, our local churches, when disaster strikes. Thank you for your help!
Resilient Church Academy
In May, Fresh Expressions US launched the Resilient Church Academy. The academy digitally gathered cohorts from across the country to learn together how to be the church in this challenging time. In response to many of the learning tracks selling out and lots of requests for a second iteration of the academy, we are launching a new session starting the first week of August.
Learn from N.T. Wright and other leading scholars, pastors, and innovators!
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Through a partnership between FXUS and FLUMC, you can feel free to use the discount code: FLUMC25 (25% off). This is open to all churches and church leaders in the Florida Conference for these academies, except the Master Class.
For more information and to register, please visit the Resilient Church Academy website by clicking here.
CEU's will be provided through United Theological Seminary. Dr. Michael Beck now serves as the Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary where they offer a Doctorate, Master of Divinity, and non-degree certifications in Fresh Expressions. If you or someone in your congregation is interested in further education, please visit their website by clicking here.
A Zoom Listening Panel for Worship Leaders in the Florida United Methodist Conference
Please join the Institute for Modern Worship on a Zoom call to pray, share, and connect over this challenging season of COVID-19. Design Team member, Gabrielle Toledo, will facilitate an open discussion of the joys and pains from live stream, to quarantine, etc. as well as come together in prayer for hope and inspiration. Now more than ever, worship leaders need to lift each other up in their collective calling. The Zoom call will be held on Tuesday, July 21 at 10:00 AM. If you are interested in participating, please complete the registration form by clicking the Register Here button below. You will receive the Zoom link on Monday, July 20. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Fill the Table Project (formerly Million Meals Effort)
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The Bishop's Offering for Annual Conference 2020 will go entirely to feeding the hungry across the state. Churches will be asked to take up a special offering for Annual Conference. Date will be determined.
The Conference will be partnering with local organizations and church food pantries that feed the hungry. If your church has a food pantry, partners with local organizations, or has a dinner church that feeds the hungry, we ask that you complete a "Fill the Table Project" form by clicking the button below so we can share what your church is doing with the Conference.
We will also be sharing what your church is doing with our District. If you submit photos or video for the AC District and the Florida Annual Conference to use on social media, website, and newsletters, you are certifying that you have written permission from all in the photo in accordance with the Child and Youth Protection Policy.
We hope you will join Bishop Carter and the Florida Annual Conference in feeding the hungry in our state!
Atlantic Central District Leadership Training Event
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SAVE THE DATE! The next District Training Event will be on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 9:00 AM.
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Rev. Matt Lake will be our guest speaker. He serves as the Lead Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Williamsport, PA, an urban congregation that consists of a mix of traditional and contemporary worship experiences. First Church also currently hosts a network of fresh expressions of ministry called the Acts Network in which people meet in places such as homes, gyms, and coffee shops. Matt is a graduate of Messiah College and has an M.Div from Duke Divinity School. Matt is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry focusing on Semiotics and Future Studies through Portland Seminary. He has worked with a variety of churches in a consultant role and has a passion to see God's Kingdom impacted through lives transformed in the love of Jesus Christ.
We are excited about this training event and hope you will form a team and plan to join us! There will be three locations from which to choose. The south area site will be the host site, the central area and north area sites will receive a live stream of the event. Registration for this event will be required and will begin in August 2020.
Atlantic Central District Regional Charge Conferences
This year, we will hold three regional charge conferences instead of each church having an individual conference. Each church is required to choose one (1) of the following locations and register. All charge conference paperwork must be turned in at the selected charge conference. If we are not able to meet in person because of COVID-19, we will provide a Zoom link for the same date and time.
Sunday, October 25, 2020 l 4:00 PM l First - Ormond Beach
Sunday, November 1, 2020 l 4:00 PM l Community of Hope East Campus
Sunday, November 8, 2020 l 4:00 PM l First - Melbourne
The person responsible for the charge conference paperwork will need to register your church and will receive additional instructions. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Registration deadline is two weeks prior to date selected.
Lay Servant Ministry
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Are you, or someone in your church, interested in becoming a Lay Servant? Click here to visit the Lay Servant Ministries page on the Florida Annual Conference website for details. Our Lay Servant Ministry Director for the Atlantic Central District is Kathy Megerle. She is working on classes and locations for the fall for the basic and advanced courses.
We invite you to contact the Atlantic Central District office by e-mail to flumc-ac@flumc.org if you have questions or want additional information. Kathy will contact you.
Update on COVID-19 from the Florida Conference
There are a lot of resources on the Florida Conference website regarding COVID-19. The pages are updated on a regular basis and contain guidance from the Florida Conference, as well as state and local agencies. Please check back often by clicking here.
Reminders:
- If you are reopening a preschool, school, etc. at your church, please send your plans to our office at flumc-ac@flumc.org.
- If outside groups are beginning to meet in your church facility, please update the Facility Use Agreement to include information regarding COVID-19. For specific information, please check with your local church Administrative Assistant.
Atlantic Central District Office Changes
We wanted to take this opportunity to share some District Office news with you. As we have moved into an unexpected season this spring, our monthly district budget was reduced by 29% beginning May 1. To live within our new budget, we have closed our District Office in Vero Beach. Dionne had been thinking about a different office scenario for awhile, before COVID. This decision creates substantial savings in rent and utilities. Dionne and Paula are in the Melbourne area and Marilyn is in Sebastian. Bruce will continue his work from home in Port St. Lucie.
When the need for meetings arise, Dionne will schedule to meet at local churches depending on the location needed. Most meetings are already scheduled outside of the District Office.
If you need to meet with Paula, Marilyn, or Bruce, please call to make an appointment. They are happy to meet with you.
Our business hours, contact phone number, and e-mail addresses remain the same.
This information is available on our website page at www.flumc.org/atlanticcentral
Our new mailing address is:
Atlantic Central District of FL UMC
PO Box 1898
Melbourne, FL 32902
We are confident that these transitions will not interrupt the support you receive from our District Staff team. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Atlantic Central District
Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
PO Box 1898 l Melbourne, FL 32902
772-299-0255 l www.flumc.org/atlanticcentral
Rev. Dionne C Hammond, District Superintendent
Paula McDonald, Senior Administrative Assistant
Marilyn Waldis, Administrative Assistant
Bruce Kitson, Church Health Advocate