This month is a month with 5 Sundays, which means we're collecting for the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. Here's a message from the Children's Home: Robert came to us with a trauma history that meant bedtime was a really difficult time for him. He never slept in his bed, preferring to sleep in his closet or on the ground. Staff and therapists worked hard with him to help him feel safe so...  Read More

2 The people who walk in darkness    will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness,    a light will shine.3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,    and its people will rejoice.They will rejoice before you    as people rejoice at the harvest    and like warriors dividing the plunder.4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery    and lift the heavy burden from their shoul...  Read More

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. When I had my children, I loved them from the beginning. God loved his Son, Jesus, from the beginning too and, as Jesus entered this world, God was sharing His love with us. Bible stories tell us of the significance of His birth, but sometimes it is on...  Read More

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. ...  Read More

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the vill...  Read More

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Of the four themes of Advent, “joy” holds a special place in my heart. I am not talking about the feeling of joy that comes from exciting circumstantial situations, such as catching a big fish, a grandchild’s special accomplishment, or your spor...  Read More

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. Gifts from God come in all sorts of forms.God blesses us with our talents. These talents may be musical, athletic, ability to teach, be a caregiver, be a witness, or be a friend. The list of talents is limitless.These gifts may be a s...  Read More

I'd love for you to join me in reading the Bible through next year, Chronologically. This is my favorite way to read the Bible because you get to see how the books overlap.It can be daunting to try and read the Bible in a year, so let us help. Choose whatever format you like. Do you like to hold a book? You can read the Bible like a devotional book. You just open to the date and there's your readi...  Read More

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,16 for through him God created everything    in the heavenly realms and on earth.He made the things we can see    and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.    Everything was created through him and for him.17 He exist...  Read More

I met the WIllis Family for the first time at our Back to School celebration. Jessica is a teacher and her husband Winston is in IT. I've enjoyed getting to know them this fall as they've attended worship, their kids have been part of kid's events, and they have found their place within our community.One thing I love about my job is getting to sit down with the new persons and families. Getting a ...  Read More

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel,    whose origins are in the distant past,    will come from you on my behalf.3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies    until the woman in labor gives birth.Then at last his fellow countrymen    will return from exile to their own land.4 And he will stand to lead his...  Read More

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you ...  Read More