MARCH 2023

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

We are excited to welcome Bishop Tom Berlin to the NW District on Sunday, March 26 and Monday March 27. (See Bishop Berlin’s Schedule Below)

The Lenten Season calls us all to a time of prayer, fasting, and giving. I have often tried to take something “new” on during Lent as well as continue my ongoing spiritual disciplines. Let me invite you to join me in praying for Bishop Berlin as he continues his visits around the Florida Conference and especially as he joins us in the North West District the end of March. I am excited about the many ways he is already leading the Florida Conference and the intentional listening he is doing in every District in Florida. He is bringing exceptional energy to hearing from laity and clergy on what they think are the greatest needs in Florida Conference during this season.

I have observed that Bishop Berlin is a quick learner and very intentional in keeping us focused on the future rather than the past. Let me ask you during Lent to be praying about the ways the North West District can embrace a new future in the midst of this season of change.  

One of my favorite passages of scripture and life verse is 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I have discovered during this Lenten Season, that I am leaning into the power of the Holy Spirit to help me embrace his love and peace in the midst of change.

Let me encourage you to do the same as you lead your congregations on our journey together during Lent toward the Celebration of Resurrection and New Life this Easter.
 

To register for Sunday, 3/26 lunch click here.

To register for Monday, 3/27 lunch click here.
 

I Love Being Your District Superintendent,

Rev Dr. Wayne D. Wiatt

NW District Superintendent

ds-nw@flumc.org

850-386-2154


 

By Piper Ramsey-Sumner

I am excited to invite you to our upcoming team meeting on Fresh Expressions.

As you may know, Fresh Expressions is a movement that seeks to create new forms of church that are relevant to the needs and interests of today's changing culture. Here in the North West District, we are committed to this movement and its impact on our communities.

That's why I want to extend a warm invitation to anyone in the North West District to join us for this exciting team meeting. It doesn't matter whether you are a church leader, a member of a congregation, or someone interested in exploring new forms of church, we want you to join us!

I believe that this team meeting will provide you with a great opportunity to share your experiences, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded individuals. We will also explore what Fresh Expressions is, how it works, and how it can be applied in our district.

I look forward to connecting with you! The team meeting will be hosted online on Tuesday, March 14, at 5:30-6:30 pm.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88524291573

Piper Ramsey-Sumner Cultivator of Fresh Expressions, Florida United Methodist Church (940) 594-7896 | pramseysumner@gmail.com freshexpressionsfl.org

 

11 Characteristics of Effective Smaller Churches

By David R. Ray On April 13, 2016, Leading Ideas

*With added suggestions (just to get you started) from Janet Earls

Some years ago, I traveled across the United States, west to east and north to south, and back north, visiting twenty-one smaller faith communities that were noted for the quality and faithfulness of their life together. I asked probing questions and listened carefully, looking for the common denominators, the faithful and exceptional qualities that were present in most or all of these congregations. I identified eleven prevailing qualities that characterized most, if not all, of the faith communities I visited.

A smaller church that applies itself to realizing these common denominators is sure to be a dynamic, faithful, and effective church that has no need to apologize and will be a vital organ in the Body of Christ.

I believe the following practices can help your congregation be more what God is calling you to be. Imagine and strategize how each could be manifested even more in your congregation. 

1. Prioritize worship. In each place, worship was a priority, and they were working to make their worship richer and more vital. What can you do to strengthen your worship?
   1. Visit other churches in similar size to see their worship.
   2. Have someone visit your church and give you an evaluation.

2. Take advantage of your size. None were embarrassed by their smaller size; rather, they were taking advantage of their size. How could you take advantage of your size?

3. Kindle a family spirit. In each place, there was a strong family spirit and a close and caring community. How can your church take better care of one another and deepen the relationship among everyone?
   1. Formalize who checks in on whom. Choir calls when someone is not there – to check on them.
   2. Have a pew person – they know the people in their pew and check on them if they are sick or need meals.
   3. Have a call list to check on those who ask for it.

4. Have fun. In these faith communities, the members really enjoyed one another and had great fun together. How can members be helped to enjoy one another even more and have more fun together?
   1. A meal together every 5^th Sunday.
   2. A sing-along before or after service – submit their favorite songs.
   3. Have silly or unexpected celebration. Set up a spontaneous ice-cream party.

5. Commit to mission. At most of the places I visited, there was a serious, passionate commitment to mission, addressing serious needs and issues beyond their church doors. What could you do to develop or expand a deeper commitment to mission and service where you are?
   • Find out from the school nearby what is most needed. A winter coat drive? Food pantry at the school? Mid-year supply drive.

6. Find your distinctive niche. These congregations knew they couldn’t be all things to all people, but they had found and defined their particular niche and were filling it. What is your distinctive niche, and how can you better fulfill it?

• Reaching out and helping foster families? After school care. Teaching kids something they couldn’t learn another way – fishing, sewing, kite-flying, cooking, crafts.

7. Strengthen your pastor’s leadership. All those places had effective, trusted pastoral leaders (young and old, lay and ordained, part-time and full-time), and most had been in place for several years. What can you do to maximize the relationship with your pastor and, if possible, extend it?

• Offer to sponsor online leadership courses or coaching, ask for a list of books they want from their favorite bookstore and provide a gift card or fulfill the online wish list.

8. Deepen the effectiveness of laity. In all these places, there was a committed core of laity. Knowing that every congregation is dependent on its membership, what can be done to take laity to a deeper level of faithfulness, purpose, and effectiveness?

• Attend district or conference in-person or online trainings. Have them meet someone else in another district who has the same leadership role. Have someone locally who trains (United Way) to conduct some trainings on communication or how to run effective meetings.

9. Deploy resources wisely. I don’t believe any of these congregations were wealthy, but they all knew how to generate enough money to do what they wanted and needed to do. How might your congregation do more with what it has and generate more resources?

• Find out a project that needs funding and rally people to help. Yard sales, donut sales, Super Bowl Subs for sale, 2% more campaign or something like that.

10. Thrive! Don’t just survive. All of these places were more concerned with being a living church than a surviving organization. What would move your congregation beyond merely a survival mentality to becoming a contagious, vibrant faith community?

• Celebrate Glory Sightings – where you saw God at work that week, really press to change the mindset to be one of abundance – it takes practice and commitment, celebrate when you have finished an event, mission, or milestone.

11. Nurture a passionate faith. Last and most important, in each place there was real commitment to spiritual nurturing and faith development. What steps could your church take to help people, young and old, become more passionate about their faith?

• Have the church do a church-wide study on something that would gain interest, give pieces to do at home during the week, have a tangible object they can carry that week to remind them of their prayer or study or commitment.

A smaller church that applies itself to realizing these common denominators is sure to be a dynamic, faithful, and effective church that has no need to apologize and will be a vital organ in the Body of Christ.



 

Spring Event - Winona Avenue Concert at Good Samaritan UMC - Sat. April 22nd

Winona Avenue is a touring Christian pop rock band that provides performances to churches and groups nationwide. Their mission is to provide a fun-loving worship experience to all kinds of people, creating a worship environment different from what we see every week in our churches. This event will be an opportunity for youth across the district to worship together in an exciting way.

The concert will be held at Good Samaritan UMC, located at 3720 Capital Cir SE, Tallahassee, FL 32311. Doors will open at 2:30pm for games and hang time before the concert from 3-4pm. The cost to attend this event is five dollars per person. Contact Zac Prasse at zac@saintpaulsumc.org with any questions or concerns. Check out Winona Avenue here: www.winonaavenue.com

Summer Event - Warren Willis UM Camp + Conference Center - July 10th-15th (wk. 4)

Warren Willis Camp is a UMC Camp that has been providing overnight summer camp experiences for youth since 1948. A day at Warren Willis is packed full of activities, games, small group discussions, nightly worship, and much more. Youth walk away from a week at Warren Willis with a desire for Jesus that they are challenged to continue to pursue when they get home.

 This year, as a district we are striving to provide transportation and hopefully scholarships to any youth that would like to attend Warren Willis Summer Camp. We have selected the week of July 10th-15th (week 4) to attend. Transportation and scholarships are going to come solely from donations, so if you or someone you know are passionate about summer camp ministry and want to help ensure the youth of our district get to experience it, please consider donating!

 Contact Zac Prasse at zac@saintpaulsumc.org with questions, ideas, and interest. We hope to provide assistance needed to get your youth to camp this year! Check out Warren Willis Camp here: https://wwumccc.org/about-us/

 

FSU and TCC Wesley Foundation will be hosting "Camp Night" to encourage the Northwest District youth to attend Warren W. Willis UM Summer Camp this summer! The night will feature a free pizza dinner, group games, upbeat worship music, and testimonials from counselors who spent their youth at camp. Every church is invited! Please consider joining us on March 22nd from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at 705 W. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32304. Don't hesitate to contact Bryant Manning, Director of FSU and TCC Wesley, at 863-660-3714 for more information.


 

Did you feel the shift in the atmosphere in the Northwest District recently? It is because Rev. Juana Jordan has arrived and is ready to launch the ministry at FAMU Wesley. The FAMU Wesley Board of Directors and the Northwest Leadership Team celebrated her appointment as the new Director of FAMU Wesley Impact on Thursday, February 27, 2023 at a dinner to welcome her into the Northwest District Family hosted by our Northwest District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Wayne Wiatt.

This group enjoyed exceptionally delicious food, fed their spirits with great fellowship, and appreciated the opportunity to meet Juana on a personal level through hearing the story of her life through her pictures. Rev. Dr. Pamela Green put together a pictorial biography of Juana’s life through her pictures posted on FB. Juana was asked to share her life story in this innovative way of introduction. Juana was asked give a brief synopsis of the story behind the pictures which allowed us to peek through a window into her life and heart. The story behind a baby picture, trips to foreign countries, membership in AKA sorority, birthday parties, gatherings with friends, UMC Ordination, time shared with her parents and her appointment at FAMU brought laughter and tears. At the end of her storytelling, Juana verbalized her recognition of the profound responsibility she has embraced in creating a space for the FAMU students to grow their faith and have a place to call home. Juana stated that through the help of God she plans to transform the FAMU Wesley ministry as she stands on the shoulders of former directors. She has already hit the ground running through creating donation opportunities. Check out the FAMU Impact website www.famuwesley.com to discover how you might pour into this ministry through your financial donations.

Our takeaway from this event - FAMU Impact is in magnificent hands and will indeed realize their mission of Inspiring, Motivating, Preparing, and Conscientiously Transforming FAMU and the community with the love and teachings of Christ. Be on the look out for exciting, creative, and innovative initiatives as this dynamic, dedicated leader, Rev. Juana Jordan, transforms the FAMU Community as she stated “one student at a time.”


 

From the Faithful 5 students huddled in Coleman with Pastor Scriven to worship sessions of 30 under a tent, we are ready to walk into our new building. Pastor Juana Jordan and the FAMU Wesley Foundation invites you to join us for our Building Dedication and Open House Reception. On Sunday, March 26th at 4:00 PM the new Florida UMC Bishop Berlin will view and dedicate our space as our IMPACT House. We would love to see you there as you have been and will always be a Friend of IMPACT. To RSVP, please visit https://impactfamu.breezechms.com/form/IMPACTHouseDedication


 

 

Trinity and New Hope UMC where Rev. Dr. Pamela Green is pastor hosted the Matsiko World Orphan Choir on  February 14, 2023.

Rev. Dr. Pamela Green praying prior to Concert

This exhilarating concert brought together the world’s orphaned and vulnerable children to share their story of turning the pain of loss, hunger, and hopelessness into personal empowerment. The mission of the Matsiko World Orphan Choir is to use the unifying power of music to uplift every child, bring joy to all who listen, and to inspire generosity that provides a complete education for vulnerable children. It is our understanding that sponsoring the education of one of these children instills love, joy, hope, and optimism for the future. Members from Trinity and New Hope UMC sponsored 11 children. The children were a delight and a spark of joy. Plans are underway to for a return concert in 2024.  






 

By popular demand, the 2% early payment discount has been extended!  We’ve heard you and are happy we’re able to accommodate the many requests. 
 
If your church’s Ministry Protection insurance allocation is paid in full by 3/17/23, you will receive a 2% discount off the billed amount.
 
Invoices are available online and can be accessed through the Conference website, flumc.org, Monthly Reports.

 

Registration open until May 1. Call Wayne Wiatt for further information. 

407/403-4367

March 1              8:30am –  5:00pm - Appointive Cabinet

March 2              6pm White Springs Church Conference

March 4              9am Child Youth Protection Training/Ministry Protection

March 6              Gathering and Orientation for Footsteps of Paul – (Tallahassee Group Greece Trip in Fall)

March 7              2:30pm - Planning with Janet Earls, Conference Congregational Vitality

March 8              8am – 5pm - District Dcom – (Good Samaritan UMC)

                             11am Collaborative DS Mtg

March 9              Wayne Out of Office

March 12 -         Daylight Savings Time – Footsteps of Paul Greece Trip Orientation (Jacksonville)

March 13            District Office Move Begins to 1537 Lee Avenue (March 13 – 31; Lease Ends April 1)

March 14            FUMCH Board Meeting (8:30am-3:00pm)

March 15            6:00pm -Continuing UMC Presentation, First Chiefland

 March 19           Cedar Key UMC

March 25            Bishop Berlin Arrives in NW District

March 26            Bishop Berlin at Trinity, St. Paul’s, FAMU and FSU Wesley

March 27            7:30am – Florida Advocacy Days (FAD) and Capital Area Justice Ministry Leadership

                             10am – Clergy, Spouse, and Lay Leader Gathering with Bishop Berlin – Good Samaritan

                             2:30 – Tour of Madison Youth Ranch for Bishop Berlin

March 29            9am-12noon – Cabinet Mtg (Zoom)

April 6                 Maundy Thursday

April 7                 Good Friday

April 8                 Holy Saturday                 

April 9                 Easter Sunday

April 11               Reconsideration of Appointments

April 13               Conf Trustees Mtg, 10am – 12noon

April 14 -15         Wayne Out

April 17               Covenant Group Retreat

April 18               Florida Conference Retirement Seminar

April 19               DS Collaborative Meeting

April 22               Virtual Annual Conference for Disaffiliation Votes

April 27               5:30pm, District Leadership Team Mtg.  (St. Paul’s UMC)

April 29               Ochlockonee Bay 50^th Anniversary – (11am – 3pm)

______________________________________________________

FEBRUARY 2023

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Welcome Bishop Tom Berlin!

Bishop Tom Berlin was elected as a Bishop of The United Methodist Church on November 2, 2022, by the Southeastern Jurisdiction and was assigned to serve the Florida Episcopal Area beginning January 1, 2023.

Bishop Tom Berlin

We are excited to welcome Bishop Berlin to be with us in the North West District March 26 & 27. Here is a Schedule of our time together.

Sunday, March 26

Trinity UMC, Tallahassee- 9:15-10:00am. Greet members between the two early services from 9:15-10:00am.  Give Benediction/Greetings at 9:15am at the end of the 8:30am early service and bring greetings at the SUN Contemporary Worship service held in Moor Hall at approximately 9:50am. Bishop Berlin will depart by 10:00am for Saint Paul’s UMC.

Saint Paul’s UMC, Tallahassee - 11:00am- Noon – Bishop Berlin will preach at the 11:00am service at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in the main Sanctuary. District Retirees are invited to attend this service and greet Bishop Berlin following the service.

FAMU Wesley Foundation 4:00 – 6:00pm,  Dedication and Open House/Reception. Students to meet with Bishop Berlin following the Dedication.

FSU Wesley Foundation  6:30– 8:30pm, Dinner and Conversation with Bishop Berlin.

Monday, March 27 – Clergy and Lay Leaders to Meet with Bishop Berlin

10:00am – District Clergy Gathering at Good Samaritan UMC -  (Coffee and Conversation).

10:30am – Bishop Berlin to address the NW District Clergy and Lay Leaders

12noon – Catered Lunch

https://florida-reg.brtapp.com/NORTHWESTDISTRICTMEETGREETWITHBISHOPBERLIN

Mark your Calendars and Save the Dates!

 

I love being your District Superintendent,

 

Retirees Epiphany Party

We celebrated a King (Jim Mitchell) and Queen (Danielle Upton) of the Epiphany with two parties and Brunch on Friday and Saturday. January 6 & 7. 

Good Times and wonderful conversations around our tables. We added up more than 300 years of ministry by our retirees!

Leadership Team Epiphany Party

 

 


 

Rev. Clarke Campbell-Evans will follow Rev. Dr. Wayne Wiatt as superintendent of the North West District. Wiatt will retire this summer. Campbell-Evans currently serves as the Director of Missional Engagement for The Florida Conference, overseeing global missions, disaster recovery, equitable compensation, and the Young Adult Missional Movement. He previously served as co-interim superintendent of the Gulf Central District in 2021, along with Sharon Austin. Prior to his role at the Conference, Campbell-Evans was superintendent of the former Miami District from 1998 – 2004 and pastor of St. Paul’s (Tallahassee) and Fulford (North Miami Beach).

 

 

  

A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INVITATIONS FROM FRESH EXPRESSIONS FL

By Piper Ramsey Sumner

A New Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMDz7VnDOE

Fresh Expressions FL has launched a podcast called New People // New Ways. It was created to inspire, empower, and inform you in what a distinctly Wesleyan, Spirit-led movement that reaches people neglected by the church can do in the life of a community.

Hosts, Piper Ramsey-Sumner and Michael Beck, explore missional mischief-making with everyday people who are cultivating Christian communities of love and grace that serve those outside the typical church. The podcast is a partnership with Fresh Expressions FL of the Florida United Methodist Church and Fresh Expressions UM from Path 1 at Discipleship Ministries. Tune in if you desire to reach new people in new places and through new ways!

This podcast has just a few episodes released so far but has already had some incredible guests including Bishop Ken Carter, Bishop Graham Cray, and Leonard Sweet.

Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you find podcasts: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/podcast

Fresh Expressions @ Exponential

Join Fresh Expressions Florida for the second time at Exponential! Thousands of leaders will gather for inspiration, encouragement and equipping at Exponential 2023 in Orlando, FL. The conference features over 200 speakers, 150 workshops, 20 pre-conference intensives, and 75+ networks and denominations.

The FLUMC is hosting a Pre-Conference Workshop entitled: “Fresh Expressions: Spirit-led Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting for the 21st Century” on Monday, March 6, 2023, 1:00pm – 5:00pm and Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 8:00am – 11:30am. Speakers: Ken Carter, Lexi Hernandez, Rai Jackson, Kris Sledge, Michael Beck, Candace Lewis.

There is also a free lunch hosted by Path 1 on March 8 during the conference with an incredible group of presenters.

The Florida Conference has tickets at a discounted price available here: https://www.freshexpressionsfl.org/fxatexponential2023



 

We hope you are getting excited for the 28th annual Children's Week FloridaTM, happening March 26-31, 2023! Planning efforts for next year's events are currently underway, including the signature Celebration of the Hands tradition. 

Celebration of the Hands is a stunning visual of children's hand artwork from across the state that is proudly displayed in the Capitol Rotunda. These beautiful works of art serve as a daily reminder to legislators and visitors that the future of our children rests in their hands. 

We need your help to create our 2023 display! This is a fun activity that early educators can do with the children in their classroom or that families can do together at home. Break out your construction paper, markers, paints and get creative. We can’t wait to see your amazing pieces.  

More information about Celebration of the Hands is included in this link:  https://childrensweek.org/events/celebration-of-the-hands-2023/ 









 

The First United Methodist Church of Chiefland, Florida, is seeking a Music Director/Worship Leader. The position is part-time, 10 hours per week @ up to $24 per hour. Duties include preparing music for a weekly service on Sunday, leading the small choir/praise group, supervising choir rehearsals once a week, selecting, rehearsing and leading an Easter Cantata and a Christmas Cantata, and utilizing audio equipment and Proclaim software. The Director should have excellent communication skills with all age groups.

If interested, contact:

First United Methodist Church of Chiefland

707 N. Main Street

Chiefland, FL 32693

352-493-4627

"A Church Without Walls"

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




JANUARY 2023 

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

The Missing Kings

Matthew 2:1-2 (NRSV) - In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”

Most people know that United Methodist pastors move. When I was a child, I can remember our pastors moved every four years - just like clockwork. We loved getting to know all of our pastors. It was exciting when they came and sad when they moved. Until I became a pastor myself, I didn’t understand how much work went into moving; the emotional work of letting go and the physical energy of packing everything you would take with you. When we moved from Southside UMC in Jacksonville, Florida, after almost eleven years of ministry, we had a house full of furniture and had collected way too many things. As good-bye parties increased and my free time decreased, we needed help to get everything packed up for the moving van.

The moving deadline drew closer and closer, and we began to panic and got several people to help us pack framed paintings, photographs, mirrors, books, vases, and all sorts of things we had accumulated over the years. Instead of being organized, it was more of a mad dash to the finish line. Everything made it into the truck, except live plants and my propane gas tank. The moving truck was barely able to close its door and off we went to Orlando having no time to inventory our belongings. We unpacked in Orlando and the months went by.

Christmas arrived on schedule but most of our Christmas decorations were still in boxes in the garage. As we began to unpack them and decorate for our first Christmas party, I realized a certain item could not be found. One particular decoration we loved was a brass rendering of the three wise men. Ramona’s aunt and uncle had given it to us, and we always enjoyed having the Magi standing near the doorway. We enjoyed celebrating Epiphany after the busyness of December. For seven years we searched for the missing kings and wondered where they might have gone. No matter how many Christmas boxes we looked in, the Magi were nowhere to be found. I truly did miss them!

After those seven years in Orlando, I was appointed to serve on the extended cabinet to serve in the Office of Clergy Excellence at the United Methodist Conference Center in Lakeland, Florida. We began to prepare for our move to Lakeland. It was the first time in 25 years that we were moving as empty nesters. We held an estate sale and sold about two-thirds of our belongings. Being efficient, we successfully downsized. We lived in two more houses before we landed on the one that felt like home. That home had a beautiful fireplace. We thought that the fireplace needed a mirror hanging over the hearth and I remembered we had one packed away in a box in the closet that had not been opened in nine years.

When I began to remove the brown paper wrapping, guess who appeared taped to the back of the mirror but the missing kings! We cheered! We celebrated! After nearly a decade, our kings had found their way home! (They were actually there all along, just hiding.) It was a great celebration in our new home, especially for Epiphany. The Kings found their way to our front door to welcome all our Christmas and Epiphany visitors. “Field and Fountain, Moor and Mountain. Following Yonder Star!

Maybe you’ve been a little lost after the celebrations of Christmas and you need to find your way home. May the star in the sky guide you. May the light of Christ direct you during this Epiphany Season and into the new year!

I Love Being Your District Superintendent,

 

The North West District will offer SPRC Training in January for all clergy and/or SPRC committees interested. Please save the date:

January 8, 2023 (Sunday)  --  6:00 PM  --  Saint Paul's UMC Tallahassee

January 9, 2023 (Monday)  -  6:00 PM  --  First UMC Live Oak

Please CLICK HERE to register.

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. 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. 

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 Dr. Bob Bushong and .cc Claudia Sava. 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.

 

Zac Prasse

Attention all Youth and Families! We are looking forward to 2023 and kicking off our Quarterly  Youth Events. We are looking to do a Movie Night in late February to early March as our first event! We will have a popcorn bar as well as an ice cream bar. This will be a great opportunity for our youth to get to know each other and gain some excitement about coming together a few times a year! More information regarding time, location, and other specifics will be out soon. We hope you can join us!

In case you missed his article from December newsletter, here is a bit more about Zac.

My name is Zac Prasse and I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with our Youth in the Northwest District. I’m a lifelong resident of Tallahassee, I currently attend Florida State University as well as the Youth Ministry Institute. I have been working in Youth Ministry since 2019 at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp, Killearn United Methodist Church from 2020 to 2022, and now at Saint Paul’s UMC since October of this year. I am excited to create quarterly events for our youth to attend such as service opportunities, worship nights, fun events and outings, and possibly even retreats. Again, I am overjoyed to have been presented with the opportunity to serve our Youth, and look forward to working with many of you throughout this journey!




 

For me, today is a day of celebration and rejoicing as we enter the bright New Year of 2023!  We have the delightful opportunity for our Lay Servant Ministries to, once again join in community.

SAVE THE DATES!      Mark your Calendar!

Plan your schedules!     And Register NOW!

We have selected February 10-11, 2023 for our next study series. 

We have selected Trinity UMC, 310 MLK Street Lake City, FL 32055 as the meeting site and look forward to our time together. 

Registration deadline will be January 27, 2023.

Further details will be forthcoming, however Friday February 10 will begin at 5:30 PM and Saturday February 11 will begin at 8:30 AM.  We request $40.00 per person to cover cost of study material along with food and refreshments.

We are offering three classes for this session:

1. Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course – Instructor Rev. Chandra Snell

Advanced Courses:

2. Accountable Discipleship, by Steven W. Manskar – Instructor Starr Clay
3. The United Methodist Way, Living Our Beliefs, by Kenneth L. Carder – Instructor Linda Thomas

       ***    REGISTER HERE:  https://florida-reg.brtapp.com/NWDISTRICTLAYSERVANTTRAININGFEB2023 ***

Blessings to Each of You,

Randy Clay 
 

By Bishop Tom Berlin

Click here to read an excellent article written by our new Bishop.

https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/4-truths-about-ministry-revealed-by-the-pandemic/



 

                                                               

October 7-14, 2023.  Visit this link to learn more:   http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/PA23_100723A_14931_Wiatt_FINAL.pdf
Register by Dec 1 for Educational Opportunities’  discount! 
If interested in this trip or you have additional questions, contact Dr. Wiatt in  the District Office at ds-nw@flumc.org or 407-403-4367. 

Your NW District Staff,

 Janet, Piper, Wayne & Peggy