The Florida United Methodist Children's Home has been a part of our church's missions list since our founding. I love hearing all the stories that come from this incredible ministry as much as Val and Eddie love to go visit every year.Last year, we chose as a church to downsize our missions list and focus on organizations that embodied who we are as a church, and that gives our congregation ways t...  Read More

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,    for the Lord has anointed me    to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted    and to proclaim that captives will be released    and prisoners will be freed.2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.3 To all who mo...  Read More

 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory...  Read More

Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
 and righteousness to the king’s son.
 Help him judge your people in the right way;
 let the poor always be treated fairly.
 May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
 and may the hills be fruitful.
Help him to defend the poor,
 to rescue the children of the needy,
 and to crush their oppressors.
 May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
 as long...  Read More

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
 the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
 He will not judge by appearance
 nor make a decision based on hearsay.
 He will give ju...  Read More

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting...  Read More

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God,...  Read More

Though he was God,
 he did not think of equality with God
 as something to cling to. 
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
 and was born as a human being. 
When he appeared in human form,
 he humbled himself in obedience to God
 and died a criminal’s death on a cross.Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name...  Read More

I am not sure what is more exciting then welcoming a new child into the church family. It's a sign of life, regeneration of the church, but also our commitment to the future generations. Sunday, we got to make a commitment as a church to the Coppage family, as Eddie and Val stood with their children, raised in our church, and now their granddaughter, who is being raised in our church. No one has a ...  Read More

The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and to keep his vow. But Hannah did not go. She told her husband, “Wait until the boy is weaned. Then I will take him to the Tabernacle and leave him there with the Lord permanently.”“Whatever you think is best,” Elkanah agreed. “Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise.” So she st...  Read More

Jerusalem is a well-built city;
 its seamless walls cannot be breached.
 All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
 as the law requires of Israel.
 Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
    the thrones of the dynasty of David. Have you ever waited for something good so long that you just didn’t think you coul...  Read More

This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
 will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth. 
It will be raised above the other hills,
 and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
 to the...  Read More