Orlando - Bradenton - Venice - Lakeland

I spent last Friday and Saturday at St. Luke's UMC in Orlando at the Beloved Community Summit. We had some great presentations and worship and conversations about how to help churches look more like the diversity of God's kingdom. We had about 8 churches represented from our district there including some clergy and laity and worship leaders. 

Sunday morning I worshipped with Emmanuel UMC and First UMC Bradenton. They are nesting together while they both work on some redevelopment projects. Both churches honored their pastors at the end of the service for Pastor Appreciation Month. 

Then in the afternoon I was at First UMC Palmetto for their West Manatee Mission Field Charge Conference. Six churches gathered together for worship and their church business. 

We introduced our newest district co-lay leader also - Donna Jungman on the right, who will be helping Nancy Metz on the left. 

Monday I spent at Grace UMC Venice to meet with the Sarasota County clergy 1:1 conversations. And in the afternoon I took a walk down to the beach to sit and talk with my spiritual director on the phone. 

Tuesday through Wednesday I spent at the Conference Office in Lakeland for meetings. I got in a couple of walks around the lake. 

 

Furry Friends

Caspian and Fergus really love each other. 

 

Saturday Fun

After a conference in Orlando this weekend, I got to spend a couple of hours with Parker in Epcot. We enjoyed several great food stops at the Food and Wine booths. 

We got to see the drummers in Japan and catch a couple of rides - Figment and then Nemo. 

 

After I dropped him off, he headed to InterCo stadium to see Orlando City play. He got to hang out with his college roommate Eddie and his family at the game. And OC won! 

Port Charlotte to Sarasota to Bradenton

Sunday I visited Gulf Cove UMC in Port Charlotte for worship as they celebrated their 42 anniversary and the completion of their Hurricane Ian repairs this year. Their pastor is Mike Weaver, who went to seminary with Daryl; they also started candidacy together in the old Fort Myers district. 

In the afternoon I was back there as they hosted the Charlotte County Mission Field Charge Conference with five churches total. 

As I left, I discovered this bird perched on the fountain in their lake. 

During the rest of the week, Lynn and I made visits to three smaller churches in the district to have some growth planning conversations. First stop, Friendship UMC in Punta Gorda. 

And I discovered they had a labyrinth near their prayer garden out back. 

Then we spent a day in Bradenton. We started off visiting at Faith UMC in the western part of Manatee County. 

And we finished up the day meeting with the folks at Manatee Life UMC in the central part of Manatee County. 

And in between we stopped off at Trinity UMC for some lunch and planning time. And I filmed the next several reels for the district social media pages. They had this awesome chalkboard art in the hallway - this is a line from a contemporary worship song that I love. 

 

 

Rays PostSeason

Parker and Wesley both got to attend the 2nd game of the Rays post-season home stand on Monday night. Parker went with one of his old college roommates Will and Wesley went with Lydia and her family. 

Wesley got this awesome video as they won and it was SO loud in the stadium. 

They got a selfie together after the victory!!!! 

 

Saturday Fun

Daryl, Wesley and Davis worked on unloading pumpkins at Grace UMC Venice today. They were hot and sweaty up in the truck. 

Meanwhile Parker and I met up at Madeleine Hill's 18th birthday party in Auburndale.