This week's note from Rev. Bill

GENERAL CONFERENCE UNDER WAY!

               Our Florida delegates are up in North Carolina, listening and learning and praying for God’s direction for us who call ourselves “United Methodists”! There have been many moments of glory already, and we anticipate more to come!

               The Conference is live-streamed for the main worship and plenary sessions, and you can catch an update from our Bishop in the evenings as he shares his reflections on what is going on.

https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/general-conference-updates-18347761

This is our first General Conference since close to one-third of the churches chose to disaffiliate, so the crowds are smaller but the focus is still on sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with the world.

               One interesting development was that, early on in the Conference, a resolution was passed that “No petitions from persons or churches who have since left the denomination will be accepted for vote on the floor of the Conference”. This means that only we who are still an official part of the General Conference will be making the decisions for our future. It is unfortunate that there are still some groups at Conference that are actively trying to pull more people away from the denomination, but we will pray for them and continue to be strong. 

               What does this mean for us? At the moment, it means that we are trying to focus ourselves on what we can do together to be effective in the future. We anticipate that the overall budget will be reduced, that the language prohibiting LGBTQ+ will be removed, and that we will have more freedom to organize our ministry in the ways that we feel will best introduce people to Jesus – 

               Because that’s what it’s all about. It is not about whether the General Conference of the United Methodist Church survives, or whether we become the largest Protestant organization again. It’s about reaching people with the hope and healing of Jesus! 

               We have found that to be true here in our own church. Rather than fret about finances or numbers or attendees on Sunday morning, we are focusing upon being the hands and feet of Jesus in our own backyard. And because of that, God is sending us more people and more groups and more finances in order to do ministry!

               Please continue to pray for the General Conference, and for our own church. May we reflect the light of God so that those living in darkness will want to come and know Him!

• Rev. Bill

Service for April 28, 2024

"Being Pruned"

John 15;1-8

On Wednesday Rev. Bill

will be

at the church office to guide our scripture study that we use to get a

"sneak peek" at the

sermon message for Sunday!



May 1, 2024

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

MAKE REV. BILL RUN!!!

               Once again our Florida Annual Conference will be sponsoring a 5K around Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, FL! This beautiful lake is home to Florida Southern College (Go Mocs!) where Rev. Bill was a student back in the 1980’s! 

               The 5K will be held Friday, June 7^th at 6:30 AM. You are welcome to come join in, or if that doesn’t suit your schedule, just donate for Rev. Bill’s run! 

               The proceeds this year will go to benefit our Warren Willis Camp in Leesburg, FL, so that kids and adults can draw closer to Jesus. You may find more information here at https://www.flumc.org/2024-5k

               Let’s get running!

 Rejoice! We have gone over the top! Thank You, Lord!

ONLINE GIVING

Some people have commented about fees when using our online giving service. Yes, there are fees; however, many people don’t realize banks also charge fees. When we deposit checks or even cash, our bank charges us fees. We can pay these fees directly like with our online service or we can leave enough cash sitting idle at the bank where we get interest credit to pay the fees.

The problem with leaving cash idle is the interest rate is very, very low. As a general rule in banking, it is usually cheaper to pay cash fees and put idle cash in a higher interest account. Our online donations get deposited directly to our bank account. An additional benefit is it merges directly into our books and donor records. We don’t need to have volunteers count money or someone to post donations to our books. We will always have offerings in the form of

checks and cash, but the more we can move to online the better for us.

Hablas Espanol?

Classes are on Tuesdays at 10:00 am in the

CHURCH OFFICE and on ZOOM!

United Women in Faith

Eleven women gathered at 3 p.m. for the April 15 meeting of the United Women in Faith in Fellowship Hall. We were delighted to have several new women join us.  The group’s monthly business meetings on the third Monday of each month focus on mission outreach and fellowship.

Our mission outreach at this time is gathering new shoes for the children at Bonita Springs Elementary School.  The request is for children’s  small sizes:  10-13 and 1-3. We invite the congregation to join us in purchasing a pair or two of shoes.  Please bring them to church by the end of April.  They will be sorted and displayed at church before being delivered to the school.  The Saturday before this meeting six members gathered for a morning of cleaning and organizing in the church kitchen.  

The group will also be helping with a future rummage sale and sorting clothing donations for distribution at the next Free Community Breakfast tomorrow April 27.

UWF members will also play a role in celebrating the ministry of Rev. Bill and Kim.  A special coffee hour event on June 16 will celebrate our love for them as we wish them only the best as they travel to Rev. Bill’s new church assignment.  In addition to lots of tasty food (all donations welcome), a basket for cards/gifts for the Fisackerlys will be available .

In addition to saying goodbye to our current pastoral team, the UWF has traditionally provided some basic food/household items for each new pastor.  After the busy moving process on June 25, most are not excited for a grocery store run.  We will confer with the new pastor in case there are any specific food preferences/concerns.  

The next meeting will be May 20 at 3 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  The group holds regular business meetings September-May.  During the summer months, the group enjoys a monthly luncheon at a local restaurant.  In May after we select the dates and locations of our summer lunches, we will publish them in the newsletter.  All women of our church family are invited.

May Book Club Selection

Book Club members discussed the book We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin on April 3 during their monthly gathering at the Royal Scoop.  The group gathers on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:15 p.m. for lunch and/or ice cream and a good discussion. This was a thriller with a “truly shocking twist.”  

The book for the May 1 session will be the New York Times Bestseller Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.  Bestselling author Jodi Picoult writes that she read the novel “in a single breathless sitting.”  Another author describes it as “a comedy of manners that doubles as a social novel and reads like a thriller.” The novel is set in Shaker Heights, a progressive suburb of Cleveland, where everything is planned…from roads to colors of houses and to the successful lives its residents live.  That is until Mia Warren, an artist and single mother arrives.

This is another book club kit from the Bonita Springs Library.  The book will be available at church; see Susan Atkinson or text her at 239-405-9078 with questions.



Whether you have read this bestseller already or not, one of the best things about a book club is having someone to share your thoughts and insights with.  We don’t have to like all the same books, but we DO have to love reading!  During the summer months when some of our seasonal members are gone, you might want to check the book club out…see if it is something you’d like to try.  Besides, you will get to know others from our church family and enjoying lunch and ice cream is certainly a win-win!  Happy reading

"TOM AND PRINCESS' CORNER!"

The places we go and the things we see!

Tom, I just love listening to the rehearsals on Sunday morning! I'm feline the meow-sic and it's paw-sitively uplifting!

Princess, they are sure working hard on the classroom! That giant litter box is almost full! The room is looking paw-some and will be ready to use soon!

Free Community Breakfast Tomorrow 

Our monthly Free Community Breakfast is tomorrow morning from 10-11:30.  Lots of volunteers will be needed because this month the breakfast will offer more than just food.  We have gathered clothing donations that will be available to the adults attending the April event.

And, speaking of that clothing distribution…those who see this Friday newsletter early enough and are available are encouraged to come to the music room (next to Fellowship Hall) to help sort and organize the clothing from 11 a.m. to noon. Remember this is NOT a rummage sale (one of those may come later).  We are donating clothing so there is no pricing needed.

Now, back to the breakfast…as always volunteers are needed.  There are jobs for everyone.  Not everyone will be a cook – our kitchen can get too crowded.  If you want to cook, be sure and be at Fellowship Hall by 9 a.m.  If you are open to other jobs like serving, carrying trays, fixing coffee and drinks, welcoming our guests, chatting with them, enjoying the fellowship, helping with the clothing distribution, cleaning up after the cooks, cleaning up fellowship hall so it’s ready for Sunday morning fellowship time.  You get the idea!  There is some spot where everyone can serve.

For those who have been part of the Spanish class, this is a good time to put those skills to use!  Try conversing with our guests.  The school age children do speak English, so they can help you out if you get lost.  The point is:  this monthly event is ALWAYS about more than just food.  It is a way that we can share God’s love with our community.  It is a way that our neighbors can feel welcome and loved by us.  Isn’t that worth getting up earlier on a Saturday morning?  When you volunteer, you not only offer blessings to our guests, but you will feel blessed as well.  

The Upper Room

The Upper Room magazine's mission is to provide a practical way to listen to scripture, connect with believers around the world, and spend time with God each day.

PRAYER & CARE

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Altar Flowers



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