Abound In Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”|
- Romans 15:13 (NRSV)
“Hope”: the expectation that some desire will be fulfilled
Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Atlantic Central District ~
Greetings in the Name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! As we live in the resurrection power of Easter and prepare for the day the Church was birthed on Pentecost, we follow Jesus with hope. As the definition above states, hope encompasses a positive expectation for something better than today. That is why we are people who share our story of Jesus with others – we know that the hope found in Jesus creates a better tomorrow no matter who you are!
At the same time, having hope does not mean we are wearing blinders. For us as United Methodists, we do not pretend that we have not been in a challenging season. The United Methodist Church and the Florida Annual Conference are seeking God’s direction and resetting for the future. As we move toward our in-person Annual Conference on June 8-10, 2023, at Florida Southern College, we intentionally will be celebrating how we are taking steps to be:
* Future Focused * Wesleyan Rooted * Passionate about People
* Strengthened by Diversity * Adaptive
We join the Early Church in doing this work. The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to change, reimagine, and grow in faithfulness in his own faith walk and he set the example for us. As Paul wrote the Church in Rome, his words challenged the people as they began breaking down long-established walls of racial and ethnic prejudice. Only God can do that kind of work! And that is true for us today as well. In our own efforts, we will fail. But when we surrender everything to God – Father, Son and Holy Spirt – letting go of our own agendas and priorities and allowing the Lord to show us what our next step is, amazing things happen.
To prepare our hearts and minds for Annual Conference, I personally invite you to join our Zoom Concert of Prayer on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 12:00 Noon or 7:00 PM. Even if you will not be attending Annual Conference, I would love for you to join us in this time of prayer. We will have music, corporate prayer, quiet meditation, and reflection. Several people from the Atlantic Central District will be leading us. To receive the Zoom link, please register here. Invite your friends and your church to participate!
Finally, I leave you with the writer of Hebrews’ beautiful words to bless you:
“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.
It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary” (Hebrews 6:19 NLT)
May you have a wonderful month and I hope to see you for prayer on May 31!
With the Hope of Jesus ~
Dionne
District Superintendent,
Atlantic Central
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Gleaning is the collection of crops either from farmers' fields that have already been mechanically harvested or from fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest, due to low market prices. Partnership with local growers allow us to access the fields with volunteers to recover the produce that would otherwise go to waste. The fresh produce is distributed to food pantries and meal kitchens through distribution partners.
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On Saturday, April 26, we had a great day of gleaning in the fields of Martin County. Thanks go to everyone who participated in gathering food that will be distributed to those in need! Here are some photos from our morning together.
We invite you to join us for another day of gleaning on the following day:
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Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 8:30 - 11:30 AM in Palm City, FL near Exit 110
For more information about Gleaning and the Impact Report, click on the links below.
Gleaning Brochure l CROS Ministries Impact Report
To sign up to join us for a day of gleaning, please complete the registration form by clicking here.
All who join us must complete a waiver. Please click here to download and print the waiver, and bring it with you the day of gleaning.
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Join us on Zoom for a Concert of Prayer on Wednesday,
May 31, 2023 at 12:00 Noon and 7:00 PM for one hour.
This will be a time of interactive prayer as we prepare for Annual Conference, "Abound in Hope."
Register to receive the Zoom link by clicking here.
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Are you, and the youth, of your church looking for something fun to do this summer? Well, we've got you covered!
Every four years, youth from United Methodist Churches all over the country gather together for a time of dynamic worship, engaging speakers, service opportunities, and so much more ... and we would love to see you there!
This July 25 - 28, 2023, Discipleship Ministries will host Youth2023, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The theme for this year's event is "BOLD - Being Ourselves, Living Different" and this event is open to all students in Grades 6 - 12.
Now . . . we know it may be difficult for you to join us for the entire event, but don't worry, we've got you covered!
The Atlantic Central District is hosting a special One Day gathering on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 6:30 - 10:00 PM for opening worship with The Rend Collective and speaker, Rachel Fast Billups. Additionally, we will be hosting an Atlantic Central District meet up for all of our students and leaders which will include a special treat for everyone who joins us.
The cost for the One Day event is $40 per student, and the AC District Team would like to help offset the cost for adult chaperons. If you are interested in joining us for the One Day event, please email Pastor Chris at PastorChris@fumcpsj.com with the following information:
- Student/Adult Name
- Church Name and City
- Group Leader Name & Email
- Birthday
- Any Accessibility Needs
We look forward to seeing you there!
Come and let us help amplify your voice and demonstrate the good that gathering together can bring!
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For details and to register for the entire event, visit the BOLD website at https://www.umcyoungpeople.org/youth2023
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This year's in-person event will be held June 8 - 10 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Click here for the AC2023 webpage. You will find the schedule for clergy and lay members to annual conference. Information will be uploaded as it is available.
There will be a Pre-Conference orientation webinar on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
If you are interested in serving as an Atlantic Central District at-Large Lay Member to Annual Conference 2023, please contact your Pastor.
NEW DATES - November 6 - 16, 2023
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Imagine walking where Jesus walked and praying where Jesus prayed! Dionne personally invites you to join her and others on a pilgrimage of faith journeying to the Holy Land 11/6 - 11/16/2023!
There will be an Informational Zoom Meeting on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM where additional information will be provided. This will include payments due, what to expect, and a time to answer your questions. To register to receive the Zoom link, click here.
Everyone is welcome - it is not necessary to attend a United Methodist Church in our district!
Join Dionne and others for this life-changing experience. Be in prayer and anticipate how God will move +
For details about the tour of the Holy Land, click here. Information includes dates, cost, and what's included.
Click here for full brochure.
If you are a pastor who would like to lead a group from your church, please contact the AC District Office at flumc-ac@flumc.org to receive the recording of the informational meeting for clergy. A customized brochure with your name and tour host number will be provided upon request. The group you will be leading will need to provide the information so you get credit.
Please contact Bob Brown at eobobbrown@gmail.com or 386-314-4779 if you would like to lead a group. He can also assist you with details of the trip and lead an informational meeting at your church.