November 5, 2020
Clergy News
AWF November Worship Service Now Available
As conference leadership encourages AWF clergy to find ways to spiritually, physically, and emotionally care for themselves at all times and especially in the midst of the challenges they have faced this year, we invite you to use this November worship service should you need to practice sabbath. The video includes a prayer exercise, musical offering, and a sermon. You may use this service any time during the month of November. We invite you to stream this service on your Facebook page, share with your congregation through email, or stream at your regularly scheduled worship time so that you may have time away. This month's focus is on the Saints: Past and Present.
Welcome and Prayer Experience: Rev. Chris Terrell, Chaplain, US Navy
Message: Dr. Ed Glaize, Dothan district superintendent
Musical Offering: Eleanor and Rebecca Wilson, youth UMC members and daughters of Rev. Robin Wilson and Dr. Jeff Wilson.
Click here for service. Please note that due to the need for clergy to be in their churches during Advent, there will not be a December worship service.
Advent Calendar Focuses on Disaster Response
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Later this month the Alabama-West Florida Conference will be releasing an Advent calendar. Each day there will be prayer suggestions related to the aftermath of the hurricanes. The conference is offering a children's version and an adult version. We are asking that each day you pray for a specific need and designate one dollar. In the end, we invite you to send the $25 sum to the conference office for disaster response efforts. Details and instructions will be released later this month.
Upcoming Trainings for Clergy
Save the Date: Next Bishop's Time Apart Announced
Join us for Bishop’s Time Apart on February 4, 2021, from 10am-Noon. Susan Beaumont, author of “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going” and former senior consultant with the Alban Institute, will join us for a time of discussion. Susan's educational background includes a M.B.A. from Northwestern University and a M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary. She is also a graduate of the Shalem Institute in Spiritual Formation. Please mark your calendar now. Registration will be available after the new year.
Clergy Resources and Tools
Advent Resource Review Archives Available
Rev. Ashley Davis, AWF Director of Connectional Ministries, offered a Zoom call in October related to Advent resources and ideas. The session is archived and available here.
Phil Maynard Presents to Dothan District: Session Archive Available
Dr. Phil Maynard serves as director, excellence in ministry coaching (www.emc3coaching.com) and director, coach training for leaders (www.empowercoaches.com). Before taking an early retirement to enter a full-time ministry of coaching, consulting, and training, Phil served as director of congregational excellence for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Phil is a certified (ICF) and endorsed (UMEA) coach. He is the author of eight books and a wide variety of training guides. Phil is a nationally recognized coach/consultant who has worked in 40+ Annual Conferences in several Denominations. He is on staff at FUMC Dothan. He shared more about discipleship in the Dothan District in October and the recording may be found here.
Ministry Partner “Vanco Faith” Offering One-on-One Help to Set Up Digital Giving
(GCFA) - The GCFA Connectional/External Relations teams are announcing that Vanco has renewed its ministry partnership with GCFA. Vanco, through Vanco Faith, has built new services and enhanced existing tools to help churches, including a free smartphone app. By putting the time and investment in advanced eGiving options, Vanco can work with churches to find eGiving plans that fit the individual church’s needs. Vanco can offer churches giving tools that help track donations, keep members connected, and provide different giving platforms for ministry supporters. More here.
