What Does a DS Do?

What does a DS do? A lot of church visits. 

This is the new worship space that opened earlier in the year at Parrish UMC in the north end of our district. I met with their pastor to hear the story of the church over the last decade and to talk with him about the upcoming agenda for our Leadership Council (he's the chairperson). 

 

This is Cleveland UMC in Punta Gorda in the more central part of our district. I visited there on a Thursday to meet with the pastor and some lay people and to see their food pantry and community dinner in operation. They run the largest church food bank in Charlotte County. And they have a labyrinth on the floor of their Fellowship Hall! 

 And sometimes we get to preach....and even baptize babies and lead communion. My friend and colleague Tamara Isidore invited me to come and speak at her church this weekend - Faith UMC in Bradenton (the northern third of our district). Tamara and I started candidacy together 25 years ago and she is the first Haitian woman ordained in the Florida Conference of the UMC.