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e-Review archive
August 2007
Agreement with McDonald’s advances workers’ rights
United Methodist think-tank leader takes on new role
In Memoriam — Aug. 3, 2007 {0713}
Cluster contemplates starting new church
| Cluster contemplates starting new church |
Aug. 8, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0714}
An e-Review Feature
By John Michael De Marco**
The Florida Conference’s church cluster concept has been steadily giving birth to new and deeper relationships among congregations.
One cluster is taking that dynamic to another level by potentially starting an entirely new church. full story
| Seniors find a home away from home at church’s adult day care program
| Seniors find a home away from home at church’s adult day care program |
Aug. 9, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0715}
An e-Review Feature
By J.A. Buchholz**
Eddie Nelson could spend his days rambling alone in a house, waiting for his sister to return home from work.
Instead, the 81-year-old spends his days at the Mount Moriah United Methodist Church Adult Day Care Program.
The program, which greeted its first clients about four months ago, is a welcomed change for older people living with children or grandchildren who are away from home during the day at work or school. full story
| Once homeless man makes the homeless his ministry
| Once homeless man makes the homeless his ministry |
Aug. 10, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0716}
An e-Review Feature
By John Michael De Marco**
The former mayor of St. Petersburg was so intent on getting Doug Brown’s ministry off his streets that he directed employees to remove trashcans outside City Hall where Brown served meals and shared the gospel with the city’s homeless residents.
No trashcans meant no way to clean up, making the ministry a nuisance.
At least that was Brown's take on the disappearing trashcans, but that didn't stop him and he continues his working with the poor and homeless in the St. Petersburg area. full story
| In Brief — Aug. 12, 2007 {0717}
Mission week brings denominations together to connect with neighbors
| Mission week brings denominations together to connect with neighbors |
Aug. 15, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0720}
An e-Review Feature
By Debbie Corbin**
DELAND — Catholics, Episcopalians, Assemblys of God, United Methodists — they all came together under the umbrella of a Celebrate Jesus mission July 21-28 to blanket parts of Volusia County and Tampa with acts of kindness and non-confrontational door-to-door outreach.
Although Celebrate Jesus is nothing new to the Florida Conference, the breadth and ecumenical character of the event made this mission unique.
full story
| One United Methodist pastor faces church trial, another reaches agreement
Q&A: Michael Frazier trial
Are clergy, laity even on the right bus?
| Are clergy, laity even on the right bus? |
Aug. 16, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0721}
NOTE: A headshot of De Marco is available at http://www.flumc.info/photo_gallery2.shtml.
An e-Review Commentary
By John Michael De Marco
As a commissioned pastor in the Florida Conference, I served churches in West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. A few years ago I was led to move into the business arena in order to more fully utilize gifts, insights and experiences I felt could equip persons to ignite their potential within and beyond the walls of the church.
My perception from being around churches for many years is that we do not offer enough coaching for pastors, staff members or lay leaders. Too often we tolerate a haphazard awareness or approach to spiritual gifts or natural talents, as clergy, staff and laity fill seats on the bus without necessarily giving careful thought to whether they are occupying the correct seats — or even traveling on the correct bus.
One solution is an organizational development approach that can help members unleash and pair their hidden talents with the avenues of ministry that are right for them, having implictions of eternal significance.
full story
| Church campus becomes water park for neighborhood’s children
| Church campus becomes water park for neighborhood’s children |
Aug. 17, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0722}
An e-Review Feature
By Jenna De Marco**
As the hot days of summer dragged on, friends and staff at Christ United Methodist Mission in east Gainesville found a way to make cooling off easier for the community’s children.
“Every Thursday morning throughout the summer, we convert the church yard into a beach,” the Rev. Don Denton said. full story
| Early writers shed light on church's beginnings
| Early writers shed light on church's beginnings |
Aug. 20, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0723}
An e-Review Commentary
By Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
If I were the pastor of a local church, one of the tasks of teaching I would undertake would be to direct a group of laity in selected reading in primitive Christianity.
I have read the writings over and over. In them one finds the beginnings of the whole Christian tradition in its faith, doctrine, discipline, spiritual practices and organization. full story
| Oklahoma camp teaches peace to inner-city children
| Oklahoma camp teaches peace to inner-city children |
Aug. 15, 2007
United Methodist News Service
OKLAHOMA CITY — It's an unlikely place to start a lesson in peace-the site of the deadliest domestic-terrorism attack on U.S. soil. "Sixteen buildings in the area were destroyed, and between 300 and 350 buildings in about a 20-block radius were damaged," explains Rachel Winters, National Parks Service tour guide at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Listening attentively to details about the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building are fifth- and sixth-graders attending a weeklong Peace Challenge Camp. The program, in its third year, is sponsored by Skyline Urban Ministry, a mission of The United Methodist Church's Oklahoma Annual (regional) Conference. full story
| United Methodist Women take to the road for justice
| United Methodist Women take to the road for justice |
Aug. 16, 2007
United Methodist News Service
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 200 United Methodist Women boarded buses and traveled to communities in the Nashville area to see what it means to be homeless, an immigrant or without health care. The community visits were part of the organization's 2007 "For Christ's Sake, Turn the World Upside Down" National Seminar Aug. 11-16 at Scarritt-Bennett Center. "The whole idea of community visits is to broaden our knowledge, to go beyond ourselves to gain insights and listen to the voices of those on the margins …," said elmira Nazombe, executive of the Women's Division, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the administrative arm of UMW. "This will help give us the landscape view we need to look for patterns and discern what the issues are telling us about our faith imperatives." Nashville community groups served as guides for the women in visits to a mosque, landfill, community clinics, farmers market, community garden, homeless shelters, public high school and Civil War monument. full story
| Summer camp: it’s not just for kids
| Summer camp: it’s not just for kids |
Aug. 21, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0724}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard**
FRUITLAND PARK — You never know what you’ll see at church camp.
Maddie, age 6, was working hard. Gripping the handle firmly, she cranked it with all her might. Making ice cream the old-fashioned way, she discovered, was hard.
Good thing Gail and Bob Hogan from Dade City were standing next to her, helping her keep her balance. Maddie was standing on a chair, just tall enough to move the crank.
Making ice cream was just one of the activities grandparents and grandchildren were able to do together at the second annual “Grandparents and Me” camp, held at the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) in Fruitland Park this summer. full story
| Community groups, churches join forces to help local families
Children, struggling families get ‘fresh start’ at camp
Pastor acquitted of all charges
| Pastor acquitted of all charges |
Aug. 24, 2007 News media contact: Erik J. Alsgaard*
800-282-8011, ext. 505 ealsgaard@flumc.org Lakeland {0727}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard
LAKELAND — The Rev. Michael Frazier, a Florida Conference pastor, was acquitted of all charges by a jury of his peers during a church trial Aug. 21-23. full story
| Opportunities — Aug. 26, 2007 {0728}
| Opportunities — Aug. 26, 2007 {0728} |
Aug. 26, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0728}
An e-Review News Item
This series includes:
Conference-related:
n Fall Confirmation Retreat offers insight on membership vows
n United Methodist Women hold spiritual enrichment retreat
n ‘Road show’ helps churches jumpstart their outreach effectiveness
n Laity, clergy asked to consider needs of older adults
n North West District holds lay speaker training
n Disaster Recovery ministry seeks HAM radio operators
Global/national:
n National conference offers tips for starting health ministry
n Sing, celebrate rhythms of Christian year
n Weaving a Web of connections
n Bible study looks at parables through Middle East eyes
n Resources for Laity Sunday available
n Children's Sabbath manual available
n Church asked to advocate against torture
n Christians from around the world join journey of justice
n Grants available to help churches engage youth with vocational call
n United Methodist asked to share favorite, least favorite hymns full story
| Members, supplies sought for first mission team to Haiti
| Members, supplies sought for first mission team to Haiti |
Aug. 27, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0729}
An e-Review Feature
By J.A. Buchholz**
LAKELAND — The Rev. Montreuil Milord is encouraging all Florida Conference churches to support the conference’s first mission trip to Haiti since the signing of the Haiti/Florida Covenant last year.
Scheduled for Oct. 9-15, the trip will be a medical mission, with the team functioning as a mobile health unit. Team members will visit a different site each day in the southern part of Haiti. Ideal team members will be people with a medical or heath-care professional background. full story
| School of Ministry put on hiatus, joins The Methodist Way
| School of Ministry put on hiatus, joins The Methodist Way |
Aug. 30, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0730}
An e-Review Feature
By Erik J. Alsgaard**
LAKELAND — For decades an important event in the lives of many pastors in the Florida Conference has been the annual School of Ministry.
But with attendance decreasing in recent years and leaders wanting to offer an opportunity for clergy and laity to learn together, the school's leadership is providing an alternative to the traditional model of learning and connection. full story
| Back-to-school health fair offers more than physicals
| Back-to-school health fair offers more than physicals |
Aug. 31, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0731}
An e-Review Feature
By Steven Skelley**
LARGO — As if school supplies and physicals weren’t enough, there was a medical helicopter, a fire truck, an ambulance, a bloodmobile, a balloon artist, an obstacle course — and people who wanted to show the neighborhood’s families and children they and God care for them. full story
| Immersion experience helps members reach Hispanic neighbors in their own language
| Immersion experience helps members reach Hispanic neighbors in their own language |
Aug. 31, 2007 News media contact: Tita Parham*
800-282-8011 tparham@flumc.org Orlando {0732}
An e-Review Commentary
By Bonnie Brown
“We’re required to speak only Spanish when we get out of our cars at the retreat center?” I asked, unbelieving.
“Si, es cierto,” replied the Rev. Kirk Reed, founder of Pueblo Hispano.
Twenty-five people — 12 learners or “pilgrims” (peregrinos), 12 native Spanish-speaking “guides” (guías) and one facilitator — spent one week earlier this month at the Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford, Ill., speaking only Spanish. full story
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