This week, we're introducing a modern version of the classic hymn, "Breathe on Me, Breath of God." The hymn was  written by Edwin Hatch in 1878, an Anglican theologian and scholar, best known for his contributions to early church history and his involvement in theological education.The hymn expresses a deep desire for spiritual renewal and divine inspiration. The “Breath of God” refers to the Holy...  Read More

The Boomers met this week to start back their "Mailbox Motivations" for the teachers at Bannerman Learning Center. With it being the first of the school year, they went with "No Waffling Around". We want to give a big shout out to Waffle House for donating these coupons for waffles and hashbrowns, along with everyone from the church who donated waffles. The team is placing the frozen waffles in the teachers breakroom so they have breakfast/sna...  Read More

Starting in 2 weeks, September 11th, we're holding groups for all ages on Wednesday nights. We'll do this for 5 weeks during the Wesleyan rooted series. Why? Multiple reasons: Sunday isn't enough. If the only place you're getting your spiritual growth is in worship on Sunday, you aren't getting enough. Sunday is designed to be an amplifier for what we're doing independently and in small groups. It's...  Read More

This week, we're singing a song we started this year by Shane & Shane which is a revamp of an old hymn Be Thou My Vision (Lord You Are).“Be Thou My Vision” has become one of the most beloved hymns in Christian worship. Its timeless message of focusing solely on God and seeking His guidance resonates across denominations and cultures. The hymn’s enduring popularity is due to its profound spiritual ...  Read More

I'm so excited to be preaching this next series called Wesleyan Rooted. Churches all across the Florida Conference will be participating in this same series some time this fall which was developed by pastors within our conference.This series will help us do all three: love God, love others, and share Christ. For those of us who have been United Methodist for a long time, it will recenter us on the...  Read More

We're kicking off worship on Sunday with a song we've been singing at Fleming Island UMC since 2018 called "In the River" by Jesus Culture. This worship song captures God as our life-giver and his presence refreshes our soul. The song draws heavily on the images of the Bible to help us express the life, freedom, and joy that only comes from the presence of God. Let's look at some of them: Lyrics: “Th...  Read More

Bishop Berlin shares a word about Residing Hope, its impact, and why it's so vital to our community. Click to watch. We are hosting a 10th Anniversary Celebration for our Madison Youth Ranch on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The gates will open at 10:00 a.m. We will have a celebratory program with a catered lunch and very special music and speakers beginning at 11:00 a.m. Ranch tours will be availabl...  Read More

This Sunday, we'll start wroship with a song we've sung since 2021 called Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham. I love this song because it reminds us that whatever life presents us, God is bigger. The song’s central message is about surrendering our battles to God and trusting in His power and sovereignty.The song echoes the biblical theme that our struggles and battles are not fought in our own stren...  Read More

On Sunday, we'll introduce a new song, "Unstoppable God," by Elevation Worship. This song will complement our sermon series and theology well. It celebrates God’s unchanging power, creative work, victory over sin, and enduring faithfulness.Here are some ways the "Unstoppable God" connects with scripture: Lyrics: “Unstoppable God, let Your glory go on and on. Impossible things in Your name, they sh...  Read More

Something we do at Vacation Bible School every year is God Sightings. During VBS, we ask the kids to keep an eye out for ways God works in our lives and the world around us. These are called God Sightings.  Each morning during our opening we encourage the kids to share their God Sighting with their crews and we post them on the walls in the sanctuary.  So I thought I would share a few of our God S...  Read More

The Book of Acts tells the story of the early church, where the disciples lived out Jesus's last words to "go make disciples of all nations and baptize them." In Acts 16:15 we read:[Lydia] and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. (NLT)This is ju...  Read More

Did you know that teachers rely on parents and donations for many of their school supplies? Those supplies can be anything from Clorox wipes to pencils to the decorations in their rooms. I feel so blessed to have many teachers (and retired educators) in our church who help us stay connected with how we can support our local schools.With school starting, I wanted to share with you who in our church...  Read More