8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578 813-677-5995
County Vaccination Locations
There are many COVID-19 vaccination locations open in Hillsborough County. Some locations require an appointment while many others don’t.
The No Appointment Sites:
- Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., Tampa, FL 33604. Open every day from 7 AM until 7 PM, including weekends. Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine and provides a limit of 3,000 shots a day. You must book an appointment for your second shot.
- Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33607. Open daily from 8 AM until 7 PM on weekdays only. Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine and provides a limit of 1,600 shots a day. . You must book an appointment for your second shot.
- Children’s Board, 1002 E. Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM until 5 PM. Closed on Friday, April 16th and Thursday, April 22nd. . Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine and provides a limit of 250 shots a day. You must book an appointment for your second shot.
The Appointment Required Sites:
- The Vance Vogel Sports Complex, 13012 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton, FL 33578. To make an appointment go to this link. The idea is to register and create an account so that you will be notified when appointments become available. Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine. This is a drive-thru site, and a vehicle is required.
- The Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL 33626. To make an appointment go to this link. The idea is to register and create an account so that you will be notified when appointments become available. Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine. This is a drive-thru site, and a vehicle is required.
- TPepin’s Hospitality Center, 4121 N. 50th Street, Tampa, FL 33610. To make an appointment go to this link. The idea is to register and create an account so that you will be notified when appointments become available. Offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine. This is a drive-thru site, and a vehicle is required.
- USF Yuengling Center Parking Lot, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, FL 33617. This site is run by the Veteran’s Administration and serves Veterans only. To make an appointment go to this link. This location offers the Pfizer (2 shot) vaccine. This is a drive-thru site, and a vehicle is required.
Local Pharmacies also have a limited number of vaccination sites available, including Publix Pharmacies, Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies, Winn-Dixie Pharmacies, and CVS Pharmacies. To find the nearest location or to find out more, access the appropriate pharmacy website.
If you have Medicaid and need transportation to get your vaccine, there is help. Florida Medicaid will take you to get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. All you need to do is set up a time to get your vaccine. Next, let your Medicaid plan know you need a ride, and they will take care of the rest. Call the Medicaid Helpline at 877-254-1055.
As of Monday, April 5, 2021, all individuals aged 16 and older will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. This will mean that an additional 1.2 million Hillsborough County residents will now become eligible to receive vaccines. Persons without proper applicable credentials will not receive a vaccine and will be turned away. You will need to be able to show a valid government issued ID showing your residence within Hillsborough County.
Global Methodist Church
Traditionalists committed to leaving The United Methodist Church have chosen “Global Methodist Church” as the name for the denomination they plan to launch.
The group also unveiled on March 1 a logo and a website. The work toward a new denomination is guided by a transitional leadership council, which includes some retired United Methodist bishops.
“The primary mission of the Global Methodist Church will be to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly,” said the Rev. Keith Boyette, chair of the transitional leadership council.
But the official start and legal organization of the Global Methodist Church may well be more than a year and a half away.
Boyette and other leaders are counting on passage of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation, a plan negotiated by centrist, progressive and traditionalist United Methodist leaders to end the denomination’s longstanding conflict over how accepting to be of homosexuality.
The protocol would let traditionalist churches and even annual conferences vote to leave and form another denomination, with $25 million to start.
However, the protocol requires approval by General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s global lawmaking assembly.
For more information on the proposed formation of the Global Methodist Church, go to this link.
A Special Called Conference Announced
On February 25, 2021, the Council of Bishops called for a virtual Special Called Conference to be held on May 8, 2021. This abbreviated virtual General Conference will address 12 specific pieces of legislation that all relate to continuing the administrative functions that will allow our denomination to function effectively until we can meet in person in August, 2022.
As the elected Florida Delegation to General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference, we understand the circumstances necessitating these actions by the Commission on General Conferences and the Council of Bishops. However, we also publicly lament our inability to take any action on the denomination’s divide over the issue of LGBTQ inclusion. We recognize that each day that passes is yet another day of harm to our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. We reiterate our continued discernment of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, and we urge the ongoing abeyance of complaints related to LGBTQ marriage and ordination.
We maintain our support for regional conferences throughout our global body that would order the life of our vital, diverse, and dynamic denomination. We look forward to reaching resolution to our denomination’s current impasse at the next General Conference in 2022. While this delay is both a setback and disappointment on many levels, we reiterate our commitment as a delegation to the work of building an inclusive church that welcomes, nurtures and supports all who seek to grow as followers of Christ.
In the meantime, we hope that you will join us in our ongoing calling to be in mission to the communities in which we live and serve. We have much to celebrate at home here in Florida and we will keep our focus on the initiatives of Anti-Racism, Clergy Care, Fill the Table, and our response to COVID-19. We are grateful for the laity and clergy of our conference, and for all they do.
We pray God’s continued countenance and blessings on each of you and covet your prayers we enter into a time of preparation for the Special Called General Conference. May the peace of the Lord be with you, now and in the days ahead.
The Florida Annual Conference Delegation
The Next Emmaus Walks
In a sign that things are beginning to open up, the Tampa Bay Area Emmaus Community is planning to hold their next set of walks (retreats) at Florida Camp Rotary in the Fall of 2021. They are planning a women’s walk for the weekend of September 30-October 3, and a men’s walk for the following weekend of October 7-10. It is assumed that all participants—both the pilgrims and the support staff—will have been vaccinated against COVID by then, and that we will be looking at the Pandemic in our rearview window. If you are interested in “taking the walk” and meeting other Christians from the Tampa Bay Area, you can contact Connie Mosley or Bev or Mike Plett, and we will be glad to sponsor you for the Fall walks.
Current COVID Guidance from the Florida Conference
It has been a year since we first asked you to suspend worship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, you have been doing the work of innovation and providing virtual and safe in-person gatherings. We continue to applaud your efforts to provide ministry online and to safely return to in-person activity using the guidelines we have created after discernment with your church leadership. We know every context is different. We continue to promote shared leadership among clergy and laity as you continue to reach the needs of your community.
We know there will come a day when the CDC will make changes in their recommendations for indoor gatherings. Vaccine distribution has increased, and positive cases have decreased. The light at the end of this tunnel is getting brighter. Thanks be to God!
We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC. For now, we ask you to continue to practice these essential guidelines:
1.
At all times persons must maintain at least six feet of distance between family groups.
At all times persons must maintain at least six feet of distance between family groups.2.Masks or cloth face coverings are required when any group gathers (except for children under the age
Masks or cloth face coverings are required when any group gathers (except for children under the age of 2).
3.Monitor your symptoms. Stay home if you are sick or displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive should adhere to the CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine.
Monitor your symptoms. Stay home if you are sick or displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive should adhere to the CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine.4.All inside activities must be in well ventilated spaces that allow for persons to maintain at least six feet of distance between family groups. Outside activities are preferred over inside activities.
All inside activities must be in well ventilated spaces that allow for persons to maintain at least six feet of distance between family groups. Outside activities are preferred over inside activities.Our COVID-19 safety protocols and guidelines are connected to the ongoing guidance and recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Although they have updated their guidance related to persons who have received the vaccine and for schools, their guidance for gatherings related to churches remains the same. Without knowing the vaccination status of all parishioners, continuing the aforementioned protocols will be the most responsible action.
We encourage local churches to continue the offering of online worship. We pray for patience as some persons return to in-person worship, while others await the vaccine.
We appreciate your perseverance. We are a people of hope who continue to press on as we remain On Mission Together.
The Peace of the Lord,
Bishop Ken Carter and The Cabinet of The Florida Annual Conference
