Join the Florida Hospitality Team
For the 2012 General Conference

The next General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be held in Tampa from April 24th to May 4th, 2012.  During these eleven days, almost 1,000 United Methodist delegates from around the world will converge on the Tampa Convention Center.  They will debate changes to our Book of Discipline and make policy changes in the areas of church membership, ordination, administration, property, and judicial procedures.

During the first week of the conference, general business is conducted in legislative committees.  Decisions are made to approve, amend, combine, or reject changes prior to their referral to the full body of the General Conference.  The Full General Conference meets during the second week.
The Florida Conference elected our representatives to the General Conference at our 2011 Annual Conference.  The Florida Conference is serving as the host conference during this event.  We will offer hospitality to more than 5,000 delegates and visitors from every United Methodist Conference from around the world.

Our conference is now assembling our hospitality team.  More than 1,000 volunteers from across Florida will be needed.  Hospitality team volunteers serve in one or more 4 hour shifts.  Volunteers will be needed as greeters, registration personnel, prayer support, worship support, clerical support, and other categories.  The positions available are listed on the FL UMC website enrollment module—www.flumc.org/GC2012.  Volunteers will be needed for the three weeks from April 16th (when conference bishops arrive) through May 5th.

Some opportunities available to Hospitality Volunteers include:

  • Airport Greeters:  Be the first to greet delegates to Tampa!  Provide information about available transportation options from the airport to the various hotels and the convention center.  Assist delegates in troubleshooting luggage problems, currency exchanges, locating translators, and other services as needed.
  • Convention Center Greeters.  Be that friendly face who provides information about Convention Center facilities and who welcomes visitors from around the world.  Convention Center greeters will be positioned at the entrances, escalators, and at main walkways.
  • Hotel Greeters.  Meet and greet delegates at area hotels.  Provide information about transportation, area restaurants and attractions, and directions to the Convention Center.
  • Information Booth.  Provide information about the city, the Convention Center facility and General Conference scheduling and events.
  • Lounge Hospitality and Refreshments. Ensure visitor lounges are clean and supplied with refreshments.
  • Prayer Ministry.  Provide prayer support for all aspects of planning, preparation and participation in the Prayer Room, or as a Prayer Delegate.
  • Registration.  Distribute I.D. badges and registration packets to delegates as they check in.

Training for all of these positions and other positions will be provided.  To sign up or to learn more go to the Florida UMC website — www.flumc.org/GC2012.  Volunteers who enroll will receive a confirmation email, and periodic updates will be provided regarding the specifics for each volunteer position.

The overall mission of the Hospitality Team is “To offer a gift of warm welcome that enables the setting for the unity, health and growth for the church”.
Links That May Be Helpful
to our Members and Friends

If you have additional sites to recommend, please suggest them by contacting the webmaster.

  • The Upper Room Devotional http://www.upperroom.org/ (This site  contains information about Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis programs, too.)

Happy Surfing!

8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL  33578  813-677-5995
RESTORE
RESTORE's operating hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 AM - 12 PM (Summer Hours).    Contact RESTORE by phone at 741-2222.
UMC Mission Work in Zambia

The Rev. Delbert Groves and his wife Sandy are United Methodist missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries based in Kitwe, Zambia. They serve at New Life, a center they helped establish in 2001, that has grown into a resource for the young United Methodist Provisional Conference of Zambia. Here, Delbert and Sandy share words of gratitude for a fruitful ministry in 2011 and hope in the Lord for 2012.




Dear Partners in Ministry,









Here we are in 2012… Wow! When I was a young boy I would watch a movie or TV program and see the projected ideas of what this year would look like. We would be flying around in some space-age car, going shopping on the moon and traveling to galaxies far, far away. Admittedly, a lot has changed over the last fifty years with technology, air travel and Internet shopping, but we're all still here on good old planet Earth.

As we look back at 2011 we see there were many successful outreaches, both spiritually and practically. Thousands were saved and helped in hundreds of different ways. And we know it was God that gave the vision, desire, and strength to bring it all together combined with your help. Before getting too far into this New Year, we want to thank you again for the many ways you've partnered with us, and the New Life Center!  It must be said, we could not have done it without you!

As we look into this New Year of 2012 we will not be traveling to galaxies far, far away--we'll travel once again to villages right here in Zambia. Villages that still need to hear about Jesus Christ and His love. We know that once again this year will be filled with a lot of hard work and sacrifice.  We will see the children and widows fed and clothed. We will see hundreds of disabled people helped with PET bikes.  We will see sister churches built.  We will see hundreds of students and pastors helped with their education and health.  We will see hundreds trained, taught and encouraged in the things of God so that they can live out the commandments that Christ left with us to, "Love one another" and to "Make disciples so that souls will be saved".  And yes, hundreds will give their lives to Christ!  And once again, many of you will come to Zambia and help us with your hands & feet and God-given talents, while others of you commit yourself in prayer and support so that this too will be a great year for our Lord!

We stand amazed with you with all that has been done and will be done. We also know this year will be filled with lots of unexpected challenges.  But let us all remember what Jesus said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit -fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command:  Love each other…” (John 15:16-17)

With all this said... 2012 here we come!
Remaining faithful,
Delbert & Sandy Groves
Couples’ Spiritual Retreats in March

The 2012 Couples’ Spiritual Retreats will be held on March 9-11 and again on March 23-25 at the Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park (Leesburg).  The theme for the 2012 retreats is “Living By Faith.”  Speakers include John Riley and Debbie Nelson (“Revvie Debbie”) for the March 9th Retreat and long-time favorites Roger Watts and Charley Reeb for the March 23rd Retreat.

These retreats give Christian couples the chance to take time away from their everyday hustle and bustle and to enjoy the peaceful environment of the surroundings of the Life Enrichment Center and Lake Griffin.
What are the highlights of the Couples’ Spiritual Retreats?

  • The combination of wonderful messages and music.
  • Help in calmly dealing with difficult relationship issues with love and respect.
  • A chance to share some quality time as a couple.
  • A chance to reflect on your relationship and re-commit to strengthening them.
  • And did we mention that the food is fantastic?

Retreat information and registration forms may be downloaded from this website.
Real Ideas Conference Coming
to Lutz in March, 2012

Van Dyke UMC of Lutz and Grace UMC of Tampa have teamed up to their annual Real Ideas Conference.  It promises to be the best Real Ideas Conference ever.  The conference will take place on March 1-2, 2012 at Van Dyke UMC in Lutz.  The purpose of the conference is to provide church leaders with tools to make new disciples of Jesus this year, develop more generous givers in their churches, and create high impact in their communities.

Click on this link for more information about the conference.  Click on this link  to register for the Real Ideas conference online.
The Florida Children's Home Recruiting
Foster Homes in Hillsborough County

Several years ago the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home had a vision. They wanted to take the Children’s Home ministry statewide.  Their statewide outreach program is called Open Hearts Family Services, and it attempts to plant Methodist foster families in communities across the State.

An Open Hearts Family Center has recently opened in Temple Terrace (at the old UMC district offices).  In three years, this facility has created 16 licensed foster homes, caring for 21 children.  Altogether, Open Hearts Family Centers in Florida have licensed 69 homes, caring for 125 children.  This is more children than the Children’s Home itself can accommodate.

Open Hearts Family Services urges individuals and married couples in our congregations to respond to the nudging of the Holy Spirit that God might be calling them to a ministry of foster care, in partnership with Florida Children’s Home.  We believe that the best, most loving and most stable homes are those where foster parents are motivated by their faith, and have a congregational family to support them.

The Rev. John Gill is someone to contact if you are called to be a foster parent.  He can be emailed at john.gill@fumch.org, or called at (386) 299-8142.  Or, you can go to the Open Hearts website for more information.
RESTORE Christmas, 2011 Update

During 2011 the RESTORE Food Bank distributed emergency food to 3,610 families consisting of 11,457 men, women and children.  Just in the month of December, during which RESTORE was closed between Christmas and New Years, the Food Bank served 380 households consisting of 989 persons.

During the Christmas season, RESTORE distributed 104 $15 grocery certificates for Christmas dinners, passed out sweatshirts and other clothing items to children, and had a very successful toy drive.  The RESTORE Toy Store served 112 families and 325 children.  The generosity of all those individuals and organizations that support RESTORE was converted into holiday blessings throughout the Riverview community.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to help make Christmas, 2011 the busiest and most fruitful in our history!
The Riverview Boys & Girls Club Is Already at Capacity

For years, Riverview residents have said that the area needed a Boys & Girls Club in the area.  How right they turned out to be.  Now that the new club has been opened on the campus of Resurrection Catholic Church, it has maxed out its membership.  It currently has 120 kids enrolled in its programs, and an additional 30 children on ever growing waiting list.  It has reached its capacity after only three months of operation.

Until the founders of the club can raise enough money to enclose the outdoor pavilion and build additional restrooms, the club cannot accept any more children.  However, the Boys & Girls Club, at 6809 Krycul Avenue, held its grand opening ceremony on Friday, January 27th.

The Boys & Girls Club of Riverview provides wholesome activities to engage children when school is out and no one is at home. The facility includes a spacious lobby and five classrooms full of fun activities and learning programs.  One of the classrooms is fully stocked computer lab, and the facility also includes an outdoor kitchen, where staff members will work with children to develop healthy meals and food handling habits.

The Riverview Chamber of Commerce is the largest private sponsor of the Riverview club.  The local Boys & Girls club took 10 years to go from a concept to an actual operating facility.  The project was helped immeasurably by a large bequest by local philanthropist Ray Campo, and by significant fund raising by our own Earl Lennard, Joe Garcia (a Brandon resident and Tampa lawyer) and George Hunter (a Riverview lawyer).

Now, the club is seeking donations to keep the doors open and the facility in operation.  The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a “Bricks of Hope” campaign to help the facility.  For a donation of from $50 to $500, donors may buy bricks of various sizes to be engraved with a company name or memorial message and installed in a walkway at the clubhouse.  For information about Bricks of Hope, call the Chamber at 234-5944 or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay at 875-5771.

(Article and pictures courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times)
Women Invited to Participate
in Haitian Mission Study

Local UMW organizations are coming together to complete an upcoming mission study on Haiti.  The first session will be held on Saturday, February 18th at St. Andrews UMC with a follow-up session scheduled for Saturday, March 10th, at First Brandon UMC.

These are Saturday morning sessions that run from 9:00 AM to Noon.  If you come at 8:30 AM, a continental breakfast will be supplied.

The coordinator for this study is Mary Jane Trimble of the St. Andrews United Methodist Women.  She has invited the Riverview UMW unit to become involved with the study.  She can be contacted at this link.

This is a great opportunity for our women to become a Mission Study Unit, to meet committed women from other local churches, and to learn about the needs and people of one of our Caribbean neighbors.