Author: devadmin

Continue reading “First Full Day in Naivasha – June Trip, Post #3”

Allow me to introduce you to George.  He is the driver of our mini-van.  Mario Andretti has nothing on him!  He could be Jimmy Johnson’s Kenyan twin brother.  Please don’t misunderstand.  George is incredibly competent.  And he takes our safety very seriously.  But let’s just say there were a few times when I felt very close to Jesus this afternoon.  We drove up the lower road from Nairobi to Naivasha.  It’s a two lane “highway” that runs along the lip of the Rift Valley.  It’s rutted and dusty.  And it is absolutely jammed with slow moving semi-trucks.  This is where George shines.  He weaves that minivan seamlessly in and out of those big trucks – most of the time.  There was one moment when Pastor Craig leaned over from the front passenger seat and told George he had his crucifix with him!

This afternoon’s drive made me think of just how crowded and hectic I tend to make my life.  I have a bad habit of filling the day and night up with lots and lots of tasks and appointments.  And it quickly becomes a traffic snarl that leaves me to weaving and dashing along.  Full confession:  I have even been known to transfer that frustrated weaving and dashing to my driving in Orlando traffic!  That’s one thing a mission trip does for you.  It forces you to slow down long enough to see what is going on.  Stepping of your regular routine and being living for a time in another setting has a way of giving perspective on what is urgent and what is not.

On his first missionary journey, Paul had all kinds of challenges and pressures.  Things got so hectic at one point that he was expelled from the city of Pisidian Antioch.  And yet, it says in verse 52 of chapter 13 that the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.  This is the same guy who claims to have dotted every “I” and crossed every “T” in following the Law of Moses!  The same guy who got so riled up at Christians he literally went around the country hunting them down!  Now he is persecuted, stoned nearly to death and expelled.  And yet he is filled with the presence and joy of the Holy Spirit.

How much better would I be at handling the rush hour of tasks if I was filled with the presence and joy of the Holy Spirit?  How much better would my appointments be if I was centered on the presence and joy of the Holy Spirit?  The key question for me seems to be this.  How can I make myself available to the Holy Spirit?  How do I take my focus off the road and the rush long enough to connect with the very One who sustains me through it?  What about you?  What are you doing to open yourself to the presence and joy of the Holy Spirit today? 

It’s time for me to try and be a little less Mario Andretti and a little more Paul.  How about you?  How about you?

Pastor David 

So we are off!  We gathered at the airport at 11 this morning.  Boarding a 777, we flew 14 long hours to Dubai.  Allow me summarize the flight in two words.  Screaming.  Baby.  Right.  Behind.  Me.  Okay – that’s five words.  Did I mention 14 hours of flight time?  Not that I find it easy to sleep on airplanes in the first place.  I can never get comfortable.  Just about the time I doze off someone kicks the back of the seat.  I’m glad I don’t do this kind of traveling every day.

In a few minutes, we will board our second jetliner.  This one for Nairobi.  It’s a much shorter trip.  Only 5 hours.  For some reason my teammates don’t take a lot of comfort in that.  Fortunately, we have been able to pit stop.  Even grabbed a $30 hamburger at Shake Shack in terminal A!  We should be in at our hotel around 10 – just over 24 hours after we left Orlando.  Tomorrow we will board a van and head 2 hours up to Naivasha where we will begin the first part of our mission work.

As I have been traveling thinking about Paul’s missionary journeys.  In particular, I was reading about his mission trip in Acts chapters 13 and 14.  On that trip, Paul traveled 1500 miles.  He had to take a ship three different times.  It took him 54 days.  Some scholars estimate it cost him almost a year’s worth of paychecks.  Not only that, along the way he was stoned nearly to death, expelled, and criticized.  He went a long way and suffered much to bring the love and hope of Christ to others.

In comparison, I easily fall into the trap of thinking it’s a big deal to ride an airplane for more than 5 hours.  Or that it’s sacrificial to eat a $30 hamburger from a restaurant with a menu written in a different language.  Or to spend the night in a strange hotel that is lacking some of the amenities that I am used to.  I must admit I am ashamed as I write these words.  This trip is already begging the question:  How far would I be willing to go to share the love and hope of Christ with others?

The question doesn’t just apply to miles.  It concerns my personal comfort, my daily routines and even my sense of security.  Do I really believe that Jesus Christ offers a life that is rich, eternal and abundant?  Have I truly experienced the life changing love of God?  How far would I go to share the love and hope of Christ with others?  What about you?  How far would you go? 

The truth is, I am grateful for the life in Christ that has been given to me.  I want to share it with others.  So I am going to work on going farther than ever before.  How about you?  How about you?

Pastor David 

For this week’s fast, items are being donated to Shepherd’s Hope, a faith-based organization of volunteers that provides access to health care for the uninsured. Above is a list of suggestions. We will be collecting donations on Sunday, Apr. 9.

 

Gathered in His Name, the intercessory prayer group of the church has organized a special Lenten experience for our church community at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens on April the 9th (Palm Sunday). The Museum and Gardens will be open from 11am to 1pm for FUMCWP guests before opening to the public at 1:30pm.

The Polasek Museum contains a breath-taking array of framed artwork depicting the Stations of the Cross in its chapel. A group at a time will be taken into the chapel to be given a tour of the Stations by one of their docents, along with Rev Gary Rideout who will give a religious perspective of the work. Following viewing of the chapel’s Stations, guests can tour the sculpture garden which contains another depiction of the Stations of the Cross in bronze relief. Access to the museum in the Polasek house will also be available.

We will run a shuttle from 11am until 2:00 pm from the church to the museum and back. About 35 cars can be accommodated at the site but it is recommended that you take the shuttle. Members driving their own cars can park in front of the Capen House. The cost is $4.00 payable at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens as you enter through the gallery.

It is hoped that our members will find that this beginning of Holy Week experience touches our hearts and brings meaning as we retrace the final steps of Jesus toward his crucifixion.

The Museum and Gardens are located at 633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL

Contact: Gary Rideout at garyr@fumcwp.org

Beginning Sunday, February 12, we will be selling books and handing out free “How to Guides” to help prepare us for our church wide Lenten experiment beginning March 5.  As a community we will be reading The 7 Experiment: an experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker. In addition, there will be a weekly fast focusing on seven different forms of excess (food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress.)  The “How to Guides” will lead us through the fast and provide discussion questions each week to help us reflect on our experience. It is our hope that this Lenten Experiment will help us draw closer to God as we reflect on our weekly experience of fasting.

A free “How to Guide” will be available starting February 12 to help explain the Lenten fast and provide discussion questions for weekly group discussion. We are encouraging everyone who is practicing the Lenten fast to find a group to meet with weekly to discuss your experience and what you have learned.  Below are some ideas and opportunities to help you find a group to journey with on this weekly fast. 

Families:

Each week discuss possible ways your family might fast together.  Be careful to not make the fast too challenging for your kids.  The idea is not to overwhelm them with the task, but rather recognize our struggle together with each week’s focus on excess.  At the end of the week, use the discussion questions to talk about your experience, why it was challenging and what did you learn from the experience.

Friends:

Invite one or two friends to join you on this Lenten fast.  Meet up once a week to talk about how you will approach the new fast each week and use the discussion questions to talk about your experience of fasting.

Groups for Everyone:

Sundays- 10:45-11:15am with “How About You” Groups

Sundays -10:45-11:45am with Annette Sneaker

Sundays – 12:00-1pm with Emmy Zumwalt and Joffa Braymer

Wednesdays- 5:30-7pm with Randy Parsons (dinner and discussion of fast)

Women’s Groups:

Mondays- 11:30-1pm with Laura-Grace Anderson

Tuesdays – 8:30am with Erin Gottschalk and Sheri Mazariegos

Wednesdays- 9:45-11:15 (Christian Yoga followed by discussion of fast)

Thursdays – 7-8am with Jayne Rideout

Thursdays- 9:30-11:30am with Sandy Franks and Kelli Martin

Men’s Groups:

Thursdays- 7-8am with Ben Howell

Young Adults:

Mondays- 6:30-8pm with Jon Tschanz (dinner and discussion of fast)

Students:

Sundays- 10:45-11:15am with “How About You” for Students

Tuesdays- 6:30-8pm with high school groups for girls and guys

Rev. Gary Mason

Sunday, March 5

All three services (8:00, 9:30 and 11:00)

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Who is Rev. Gary Mason?

Rev. Dr. Gary Mason is a Methodist minister and directs a conflict transformation organisation based in Belfast called “Rethinking Conflict.” Prior to this, he spent 27 years as a Methodist clergy person in parish ministry in Belfast and has played an integral role in the Northern Irish peace process. He had a key role in establishing the Skainos project which is a world class urban centre developed in a post conflict society as a model of co-existence and shared space. It is acknowledged as the largest faith-based redevelopment project in Western Europe. Mason is a close advisor to Protestant ex-combatants on the civilianisation efforts of paramilitaries. He was instrumental in facilitating negotiations with paramilitaries and government officials in Northern Ireland, and in 2007 his contribution was formally recognised by the Queen.

In 2009, Mason’s church was the stage from which Loyalist paramilitaries announced their weapons decommissioning. Mason has lectured in political and academic forums throughout Europe, South Africa, the Middle East and the U.S.A. on lessons from the Irish peace process. He has been interviewed on CNN, BBC, ITV and various radio programs. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Ulster, completed his theological studies at Queens University and has a Bachelor’s in Business Studies from the University of Ulster. Gary is a Research Fellow at the Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention at Maynooth University in Ireland. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, lecturing on reconciliation, peace building and the history of the Northern Ireland conflict, racism, sectarianism and conflict transformation.

Join Tom Bandy on February 25, 2017

8:45am – 12:30pm
8:30am – Gathering with light refreshments

Register Here

The East Central District presents a morning with Tom Bandy. This is truly a unique opportunity–one that pastors and anyone involved with evangelism, missions or worship  won’t want to miss. Tom is the author of the 71 Lifestyle segment descriptions in Missioninsite’s Mosaic Application Guide. He will demonstrate how you use that information in your church’s local mission field. MissionInsite can be a wonderful ministry tool; come and learn how to use it. This information is for clergy and lay. Tom will have a Q & A session at the end of his presentation.

Tom is an internationally recognized consultant, conference speaker, and leadership coach for Christian organizations and faith-based non-profits.  He is the president of Thriving Church Consulting, LLC.

Bio

Thomas G. Bandy

Tom Bandy is an internationally recognized consultant, conference speaker, and leadership coach for Christian organizations and faith-based non-profits. He is the president of Thriving Church Consulting, LLC and can be found in his virtual office at ThrivingChurch.com. Tom is widely respected for his unique ability to understand diverse cultures, traditions, and denominational polities; and his grasp of systemic change and congregational mission. Denominational, congregational, and non-profit leaders appreciate his ability to discern truth, clarify options, and guide leaders for spiritual growth and mission impact. Tom listens, teaches, and empowers leaders to follow Christ faithfully in a world of change.

Tom’s spiritual journey in companionship with Christ began at an early age through an experience of healing. He was called to ministry and licensed to preach by the Methodist Church in High School. Ever since then he has mentored pilgrims, guided small groups, preached to seekers and disciples, and grown churches. He has been a pastor in three denominations in the United States and Canada; provided national leadership for the United Church of Canada in evangelism and congregational mission; and worked tirelessly as a church transformer and clergy coach.

For over ten years, Tom has traveled widely consulting with churches, training clergy and lay leaders, and speaking to Christian conferences small and large. He is a frequent traveler working with churches across the denominational and theological spectrum. He works with Anglo, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian churches in urban, exurban, suburban, rural, and even remote contexts. His books and articles have been translated into Spanish, Korean, and Afrikaans.

In the course of his spiritual journey, Tom has also been involved in academic theological teaching. He received his master’s degree from Princeton Seminary, and his academic doctorate in philosophical theology from the University of Toronto and Toronto School of Theology. He regularly participates in the American Academy of Religion and several societies related to the theology of culture and philosophy of religion. He is a favored guest lecturer and teacher for church development, practical theology, and postmodern Christian witness.

Tom has published over 16 books and numerous articles, and produced a variety of DVD’s. ThrivingChurch.com has a complete list of his writing.

Tom was born in Cleveland, Ohio; raised in many regions of the United States; and currently lives with his wife, Lynne, near Toronto, Ontario. Lynne is a pastor with over 30 years of experience, currently leading a growing church. They have been married for all that time and rejoice with two gifted children.

The mission of Thriving Church Consulting is to guide Christian leaders for ancient mission in the contemporary world. Tom’s personal mission is to help people experience the transforming power of God and walk daily with Jesus Christ. He is ready to help you follow Christ faithfully in a changing, challenging world.

PANUA CELEBRATES SELECTION SUNDAY

Thank you to all our members who have stepped out in faith and committed to partnering with one of our 200 Panua youth for the next 3 years. We even had some creative partnerships begin. Lee and Art Cross connected with Kayla Anderson to write letters and financially support Nandia in the Kihoto neighborhood. There are still 22 youth in need of Prayer Partners. If you are interested in supporting the Panua Program through a Prayer Partner, please contact Jensie Gobel, jensie@panua.org.