Week on the Road

From Naples to Lakeland, Sarasota and Venice and off to Orlando

Things started with worship at East Naples UMC welcoming the Rev. Javier Barroso and his family to the district (and the conference!) Javier plays guitar and sings and his daughter also has a lovely singing voice and did some special music.  

I was able to get in a walk around Lake Wire in between meetings in Lakeland on Tuesday. 

Thursday was our district clergy gathering at Grace UMC in Venice. We set up one of our labyrinths and had a great time of fellowship, worship and connection. 

After the meeting I headed to two meetings in Orlando that lasted until late so I had a hotel room.  I blew off steam in the gym with some treadmill time and then worked out again in the morning. 

As I left the hotel I drove nearby to Colonialtown Square Park and walked the Pulse memorial labyrinth. 

In the evening after I got home, I drove to Sarasota National Cemetery to participate in the 25th Anniversary vigil for 9/11. The musicians from First UMC in Sarasota presented all the music and I gave the benediction. 

 

Evening Walks

On one of our evening walks this past week we spotted this rainbow - and there is a hint of a second one above it. 

 

Saturday Fun Around Town

No yoga classes today because of the holiday weekend so I found my way to the library and then to the Bay Park downtown to sit and journal. 

Our Selby membership perk this month is free admission to the Sarasota Art Museum so I visited again and took my time looking through these exhibits. Also found the way outside to the statues on the Great Lawn this time. 

 

And then I wrapped up my me time at the Unity Labyrinth. 

Sightseeing in Bradenton - Riverwalk

Friday Daryl and I took a walk along the Bradenton Riverwalk. It was a nice 2 mile roundtrip stroll. They've done a lot with art and public spaces along the way. 

 

Sarasota to Fort Myers and Back Again

Sunday I worshipped at Cypress Lake UMC in Fort Myers to welcome their new pastor, Rev. Andy Whitaker-Smith. The transition is going well and he is doing a great job. I stayed for their modern worship service and then their 11am traditional. 

This is me with Andy and the two associate pastors there - Kayln and Grady Wiley. 

Tuesday I worked from Sarasota and was on Zoom for 8 meetings! 

Then on Wednesday, Daryl and I went to Fort Myers to Faith UMC for our District Committee on Ordained Ministry. I got to welcome my friend the Rev. Morgan Whitaker-Smith as a new member of our team. 

And Nancy Metz our district lay leader was able to join in person for hospitality. She recently had hip replacement surgery and is doing great. 

Thursday I was back in the office to finish out the week...AND I finally finished answering all of my email from renewal leave (it took me three weeks to wade through the 2,000 messages I had. 

 

Ministry around the District

My second week back at work went well and I spent time in Boca Grande, Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice. Had the opportunity to visit Lighthouse UMC in Boca Grande for worship with their new pastor, the Rev. Beth Demme. 

I spent part of Tuesday filming media content for our district socials with Samantha Mosher - she is on staff at Trinity UMC Bradenton and works part-time for the district. 

I also got to have lunch with another one of our new pastors, Rev. Jennifer Ahrens-Sims at Trinity UMC in Sarasota. 

Lots of meetings online (Pension and Health Benefits, meeting with a pastor interested in transferring here) and several in person meetings with our district leadership (Operations and Mission and Vision). It was a good week of reconnecting with folks.