Come Sing with Us!
The Southern Company Chorus is an energetic group of women who gather together in celebration of the art form known as barbershop music. We are a local chapter of Sweet Adelines International.
Our director is the wonderful Linda Verzosa, who inspires us to reach new heights with each performance. We can be heard throughout the year singing for civic and charitable organizations, private groups, churches, community events, and fundraisers.
COME SING WITH US ! Southern Company Chorus rehearsals are held at RUMC on every Monday (except holidays) from 7:00-9:00 PM. If you are a woman who loves to sing, we have a place for you!
News from Our Community, District
and Conference
The 2018 Bishop’s Offering
The Bishop’s Offering is generally taken on the last Sunday before Annual Conference, which this year will be next Sunday, June 3rd. This year, the Bishop’s Offering will be divided evenly between ZOE Ministries and funding for training laity and clergy in innovative forms of evangelism.
ZOE Ministries. There are approximately 385 million children living in extreme poverty throughout the world. They suffer from disease, hunger, exploitation, abuse, illiteracy, and hopelessness. However, children living in poverty also hold the greatest capacity to create lasting solutions for themselves, their families, and their communities.
ZOE Ministries invest in local, indigenous leaders in seven countries on three continents. ZOE’s holistic international development model provides the vital relationships, training, and resources to empower young participants to overcome the isolation and stigmatization associated with extreme poverty. Part of the Bishop’s Offering will be given to assist ZOE Ministries to empower children and youth to become self-reliant and able to give back to their communities and churches. Learn more about ZOE Ministries at this link.
Training Laity and Clergy. Many of the churches in the Florida Conference are engaged with their communities in new and exiting forms of evangelism. Training or laity and clergy in creative and contextual ways of reaching out will be essential to sustaining and creating vital churches in the future, and in reaching new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Celebrating 90 Years
Happy birthday wishes to our beloved longtime member, Lucile Robinson, who will soon be celebrating her 90th year of life and love. We are going to celebrate her milestone birthday on Saturday, June 16th at 4:00 PM in Crichton Fellowship Hall. Her family invites everyone to join them on this special occasion (no RSVP needed).
Verlin O'Neal's Memorial Service
Our long-time member Verlin O'Neal has crossed the river to be with His Savior. His Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 15th at 11 AM. Please keep Verlin's family in your thoughts and prayers.
Calling All Crafters
Do you like to knit, crochet, or sew? The Prayer Shawl Ministry needs shawls, wraps, and lap blankets. If you wish to participate in this ministry of the church, contact Bev Plett at 349-9000.
Volunteer Opportunities at RUMC
We are looking for volunteers to help Sharon Cayce with Children’s Moments on Sunday mornings. If you are interested, please contact Sharon at 802-8325.
We need counters to help after church services on Sundays, usually for about an hour or so. If you have time available, please contact Mike Plett (at 349-9000) or stop by the library immediately after church.
We need additional Communion stewards to help Debbie Stephens on the first Sunday of every month. If you can help, contact Debbie at 689-0109.
Purchase from AmazonSmile
We are reminding everyone in our congregation to do their shopping throughout the year at smile.amazon.com. Amazon will donate a portion of each purchase to our church. Shop at this link and help the church financially at the same time.
RUMC Book Club News
The RUMC Book Club is currently reading Agatha Christie’s “Peril at End House.” This book features Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot who is trying to save the reckless mistress of End House. The lady, Nick Buckly, has narrowly escaped a series of life-threatening accidents, and Hercule believes that her life is imminent danger. He is certain that the killer will soon strike again, and, this time, Nick may not escape with her life.
The RUMC Book Club meets every Saturday morning at 9:00 AM—usually at the home of Connie Mosley, 9720 Lorrayne Road in Riverview. You can contact Connie at 766-7104 for more information.
Remember Our Shut-Ins
Don’t let our Shut-Ins feel like forgotten members. Here is a current list of those who would appreciate a card, a visit, or a phone call.
Jean Borgen. The Crossings at Riverview, 8451 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578. 671-0222
Mildred (Milly) Frye. Ernest P. Barka Assisted Living, 117 North Road, U252-2, Brentwood, NH 03833. Phone: (603)591-6205.
George Cornell. 14610 N. 42nd Street, Apt. #104, Tampa, FL 33613.
Mary Fortney. Write in care of Dan and Ricanne Daniels 2204 285 Lane, Ocean Park WA 98640. (Her daughter will collect her mail and get it to her.)
Margaret Sparks. 10039 Martin Bowden Road, Gibsonton, FL 33534.
Johnny Jones. 13220 Balm-Boyette Road, Riverview, FL 33579. Phone: (813)677-0709.
Rudy Rattman. 6509 Reed Drive, Riverview, FL 33578. Phone: (813)677-1750.
Sandra Sprang. 12406 Tocci Lane, Riverview, FL 33579. 677-0709
8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578 813-677-5995
Normal Weekly Recurring
Events at RUMC
(Call the church office at 677-5995 for more information about these or other events sponsored by the church.)
SUNDAY
9:00 AM Faith Groups for All Ages
9:00 AM Children's Choir
10:00 AM Refreshments & Relationships
10:30 AM Worship Service
11:45 AM Prayer Warriors, Rm 8
11:45 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry (Knitting Witness)—Rm. 6
12:00 PM Hispanic Congregation Service
6:00 PM Youth Band Rehearsal
7:00 PM R. U. S. H. (Youth Group) Meeting
MONDAY
11:30 AM Women's Bible Study, Rm 6
7:00 PM Cub Scout Pack Pack 83
7:00-9:30 PM Southern Company Chorus Rehearsal
TUESDAY
10:00 AM RESTORE Food Bank and Thrift Store Open*
6:30 PM Boy Scout Troop 83
7:00 PM ESOL Instruction
WEDNESDAY
6:30-7:30 AM AA Meeting
6:00 PM Potluck Dinner and Fellowship
6:45 PM Children & Youth Activities
6:45 PM Pastor’s Bible Study
6:45 PM Hispanic Church Bible Study
7:00 PM Ladies Bible Study
7:00 PM Christians Connecting with Christ
THURSDAY
6:30-7:30 AM AA Meeting
10:00 AM RESTORE Food Bank and Thrift Store Open*
6:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal
FRIDAY
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SATURDAY
9:00 AM RUMC Book Club
11:30-12:30 PM Metropolitan Ministry
Meal Partnership
*RESTORE is an equal opportunity provider and is open to the public.
Fruitland Park Camp Schedule
The Warren W. Willis Camp and the Life Enrichment Center have both announced their upcoming camp schedule for the remainder of 2018. Both the camp and the enrichment center are located in Fruitland Park, Florida and serve the United Methodist churches in central and southern Florida. The Warren W. Willis Camp is designed for children and youth events, whereas the nearby Life Enrichment Center accommodates adult and family events.
Warren W. Willis Camp Retreats
and Summer Camp
Created by God Camp, April 20-22
Youth Summer Camps, June and July
Confirmation Retreat, October 5-7
Connect Retreats, October 19-21 and November 9-11
Life Enrichment Center Weekends
Dad and Me Weekend, April 13-15
Grandparents and Me Weekend, June 25-28
Family Camp, June 29-July 1 and July 20-22
Mom and Me Weekend, September 14-16
Young Adult Opportunities
through YAMM
Not sure what to do after graduation? Do you need a summer internship before you head back to college? Are you interested in missions?
If this is you, please note that the Young Adult Missional Movement (YAMM) has opportunities that you should check out. For example, our STEP Mission Internship program provides summer placements working at day camps around the state of Florida. STEP is an awesome opportunity to get hands-on experience working with children and you in underserved communities. Check this program out at this link.
Our Micro Missional Communities program are one-year commitments to mutually transformational experiences between young adults, their living communities and the neighborhoods and organizations in which they’ll serve.
If you have questions about these programs or would like to learn more about how we equip young adults to engage in mission, please contact Jessica Weseman at jweseman@flumc.org.
The ZOE Ministry in Kenya
Molly McEntire has learned to look at evangelism in many ways. The mission training and volunteer coordinator for the Florida Conference recently returned from Africa overflowing with enthusiasm and a growing admiration for the various styles of ministry practiced around the globe. But nothing touched her heart like the ministry that teaches orphans how to provide for themselves and their siblings. That ministry continues to grow, and that is the message she will bring to the Florida Annual Conference in June.
On this trip, McEntire rode a bus for six hours in Kenya, through mountains, along rural back roads and within sight of Mount Kilimanjaro. It wasn’t a sightseeing trip though. It was a vital outreach as part of the Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor, better known as the ZOE Project.
The ZOE Project was founded in 2004 by the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. It was a response to the AIDS crisis in Africa where many children were in desperate need after losing their parents to disease.
The ZOE Project attempts to help children survive without needing charity. Volunteers go into a village or community and meet with the local government or tribal chief to learn about the most vulnerable children. Those children are invited to a gathering to hear about the ministry. “Within three years, an orphan is completely self-sufficient because of this program,” McEntire said. “They are able to live the life that every human should live.”
The kids decide if they want to join the program. If they agree, they are put into working groups of up to 100 others, ranging from 14 to 21 years old. The groups learn to farm during planting season, so they start growing food right away. They are given small grants to rent property, a common practice in rural Africa, or there may be a child that has inherited land. They are not given hand-outs.
“That’s the whole point of empowerment,” McEntire said. “The kids are trained in various areas like beauty or barber, tailoring, electrical, plumbing, all different types of things.”
They decide which businesses they will start and are given small grants to do it. They are fully responsible for their finances and keeping each other accountable. In addition to learning trades, the orphans are taught basic hygiene and other self-care. They help each other often.
To learn more about the ZOE project is helping children in Kenya, click on this link.
