2023-01-15 Beacon

WELCOME

Shalimar UMC

Lead Pastor

Dr. Philip McVay

Dr. Brad Bradford Worship Pastor

Rev. David Garvin Youth Pastor

Rev. Matt Langford Associate Pastor

Gerald Batton Custodian

Chris Bennett Facility & Maintenance Manager

Pat Brantley Office Administrative Assistant

Abigail Denney Media & Communications

Joy Harris Financial Assistant

Denise Heath Finance

Sarah Hicks Children’s Director

Karen Jadin Preschool Director

Tony Mallini Interim Church Administrator

Heyward McKenzie Chef

Katie Pascoe Nursery Director

Leigh J. Rice Respite Director

Dawn Rozofsky After School & Camp Director

Ben Savage Worship Arts

Jeremy Thiess Ministries Assistant

After Hours Emergency Pastoral Assistance

Dr. Philip McVay: (850) 607-1133

Dr. Brad Bradford: (850) 227-4328

Rev. David Garvin: (850) 319-0072

Rev. Matt Langford: (334) 437-3931

Table Of Contents

Our Vision

Christ-centerd, multi-generational, family & community relevant ministries through worship, discipleship, and mission.

Tite Text Here Page No.

This Sunday in Worship Page 5

Philip’s Focus Page 6

Weekly Schedule Page 7 A Word From Our Bishop Page 8

Page 10 Church Life

Announcements & Articles Page 12 Joyful Place Page 14

The Bread House Page 15

Page 16

Trauma Reboot

Stay Connected Page 18

Our Mission

We REACH out to our congregation, community, and the world. We TEACH the word of God as provided in the Holy-Scripture.

We SEND our members and missionaries to be witnesses to God’s grace and His promise of eternal life.

Worship Services

Sunday at Shalimar

Traditions: 8AM & 11AM

Meet us in the Sanctuary as we celebrate through the rich traditions of our faith. Such as hymns led by organ and piano, seasonal vestments, and Traditional Methodist liturgy. Our Chancel Choir leads the 11AM service.

Connect: 9:30AM

Join us in the Sanctuary as we engage in a fourfold services of gathering, praise, service of the Word, Holy Communion with candle stations of prayer, and sending forth. Worship is a blend of contemporary praise songs and upbeat hymns.

Freedom: 11:07AM

Located in the Family Life Center Gym as we come together and worship through modern music, Fellowship time, and listen to an inspirational message in a contemporary atmosphere.

This Sunday in Worship

January 15, 2023

8AM

| TRADITIONS | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Message by Dr. Philip McVay

Worship Led by Dr. Brad Bradford and Gloryland

9:30AM | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Message by Dr. Philip McVay

Worship Led by Dr. Brad Bradford and the Connect Worship Team

11AM

| TRADITIONS | SANCTUARY

In Person & Online

Message by Dr. Philip McVay

Worship Led by Dr. Brad Bradford and Chancel Choir

11:07AM

| FAMILY LIFE CENTER

In Person & Online

Message by Dr. Philip McVay

Worship Led by Ben Savage and The Freedom Team

This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Philip’s Focus

Two More Info Sessions on Denominational Matters

Last November, we had an information session on denominational matters. In hopes of sharing this information with more people in our large church family, we have scheduled two informational sessions in January.

The first will be this Tuesday, January 17, at 6PM in the Sanctuary. The second will be the following Tuesday, on January 24 at 6PM in the Sanctuary. Both sessions are open to our church and community. We want everyone in our large membership congregation to attend!

The sessions will present the same information, so you don’t need to attend both. The informational meetings will be led by our Denominational Task Force which was formed through our Church Council last August. Our task force also has begun meeting again, after taking Advent off to focus on celebrating Jesus’ birth.

In addition to the content which took more than an hour in November, there will be a few additions for the January gatherings. After the presentation, there will be a Question-and-Answer session. Much of the work of the Task Force has been answering questions our congregation has asked about denominational matters.

We are so blessed to once again have the gifted communicator and organizer Renata Steiner present our information gathered. Members of our task force will also be present for the Q and A session. We hope you will plan to attend one of the upcoming sessions!

Please keep these denominational matters and all churches in your daily prayers. Let us pray also these denominational matters will not sidetrack the wonderful ministry, mission, and impact gaining momentum by the day through our congregation.

Shalom, Philip

Lead Pastor Dr. Philip McVay

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday, January 15

SS Adults 9:30AM

SS Youth 9:30AM

SS Special Buddies 9:30AM

Kidz Worship 9:30AM

Kidz Worship 11AM

Youth Choir Rehearsal 4PM Special Buddies 5PM Student Worship 5PM

Monday, January 16

OFFICE CLOSED

Bread House 9AM Threads of Love 10AM

Connect Rehearsal 5:30PM

Finance Meeting 6PM Lighthouse Rehearsal 6PM Alanon 6PM

AA 8PM

Tuesday, January 17

Joyful Place 10AM

3rd Grade Bible Study 3:30PM

Freedom Rehearsal 5:30PM

Joy Ringers Bell Rehearsal 5:30PM

Denominational Task Force 6PM

Mission Meeting 6PM

Men’s Group 6PM Prayer Group 6PM

Wednesday, January 18

Bread House 9AM Splash 1 & 2 9AM Blessings for Children 10AM

JP New Volunteer Meeting 12:30PM Open House 5PM Gloryland 6PM Rejoice 6PM Orchestra 6PM Chancel Choir 7:30PM AA 8PM

Thursday, January 19

Joyful Place 10AM 4/5th Grade Bible Study 3:30PM

Friday, January 20

Bread House 9AM

Saturday, January 21 Pickleball 8AM MOPS Mom’s Night Out 7PM

A Word From Our Bishop

Our Bishop, David Graves, has also written a letter to all the laity, pastors, and churches of our Annual Conference. Bishop Graves expresses many of my sentiments and I wanted to share his thoughts with you.

Friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference,

Last week I communicated some critical information related to decisions from our AWF Trustees. These decisions are meant to help those who wish to wait and see what happens at General Conference 2024. In that spirit, I would like to elaborate on some personal reflections about why churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference should, in fact, wait until 2024 before making any final decisions.

For the last several months, I have heard time and time again that a local United Methodist Church needs to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination because it is a good business deal. Recently, someone sent me a social media post that stated their local UM church decision was purely business and that because of the property value it made good business sense and would provide control and autonomy. In the post, the person went on to say that they did not know about the trust clause. They got one thing correct, this business dealing is about power, money and control. These comments are not Methodist. Methodism is about a movement inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Regarding the trust clause, our founder, John Wesley, instituted the trust clause in the mid-18th century when he secured property for meeting spaces and ministry sites for Methodist Societies. Wesley had several lawyers work on the trust clause, and it has been an important part of our polity helping to preserve our historic faith since our beginning 238 years ago. We are not a congregational church and have never been. The trust clause reminds us that as a connectional church, as United Methodists, we ask first what is best for the whole, not what is best for my local church and me. As Christians, as Methodists, we are in the faith business; not the business of making deals.

If this is a business deal for you, then I ask you to please do some soul searching and reflect on your motivations. I have taken a lot of criticism for allowing previous churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference to disaffiliate under paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline. Paragraph 2553 is about human sexuality, and many are trying to use it to say it is about liberal theology, abortion, or the erroneous notion that Bishops want to change the Bible, and the list goes on. Now, people want to misuse paragraph 2553 for their own business deal.

There has been traditional and liberal theology since the beginning of time. No one is rewriting the Bible. People have interpreted the Bible in their own way since it came into written form. On the issue of abortion, we have a wonderful statement on abortion in our Book of Discipline. Our social principles have spoken to the issue of abortion since 1972, and in the General Conferences that followed, our stance has only become more focused on making decisions that value life. Only the General Conference of the United Methodist Church can change the Book of Discipline or speak for the United Methodist Church. Many will give their opinions and that is simply it, their opinion. With any divisive topic there are leaders, including a few bishops in the United Methodist Church, that have expressed opinions or actions with which I disagree or find hurtful to the body of the Church. To be honest, there have been things I have said and actions I have done that have been hurtful to others as well. Bishops do not all think alike any more than clergy or members of a local church think alike. We are connected to people who think differently than we do, which strengthens us more rather than hurts us.

Yet are we going to throw away the Alabama-West Florida Conference that has given every clergy and laity in the annual conference the opportunities you enjoy today? Some of you have heard that I have remained a bishop to be a part of the solution. The Gospel message of Jesus calls us to be in the middle of all people’s lives and not those who are just like us.

People use this business deal mindset to place fear mongering into the system. The church and our institutions have been filled with so much fear around financial sustainability and vitality. Those who are encouraging disaffiliation emphasize that the clock is ticking regarding the use of paragraph 2553 for disaffiliation, which sunsets on December 31, 2023. This December 31, 2023, date reminds me of the panic around Y2K. Will the computers handle the roll over from the 1990’s to 2000? Some predicted that our world would be spun into turmoil. Some even prepared for and used words like Armageddon. I see some similarities in the Y2K panic and the United Methodist Church. We are people of faith, not fear!

Several churches have faithfully discerned that disaffiliation is what God was leading them to do. For their faithful discernment, I give thanks. However, if this is primarily a business deal for you, you need to prayerfully discern how you can continue to push your church towards disaffiliation in good conscience. How can any church request to disaffiliate under the disguise of these actions? I have said since the day that I began my assignment in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, I will follow the leading of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Book of Discipline.

What has disheartened me in recent weeks is that I asked this annual conference to not have disaffiliations discussions from November 20th through the rest of 2022. I asked everyone to focus on Advent and sharing the Good News of the Christ Child. This was an ask not a mandate. Our world, our communities, and frankly, all of us need good news and simply put, we need a word of hope. Many of you did just that and I thank you for your efforts in sharing Jesus. Yet others held disaffiliation meetings in groups or in the church, others had official leadership board meetings or congregational meetings, congregations circulated petitions or made phone calls urging people to support a particular position. Just think what might have happened if those efforts were focused on sharing Jesus. As I had one church member tell me recently, “the only contact that I have gotten from my church in years was a phone call about would I sign a petition about disaffiliation.” What if people made phone calls to invite people to Advent and Christmas Services? As my former Bishop Ray Chamberlain said to me one time, “David, as much as your heart hurts over this, you can’t even imagine how the heart of God hurts.” That was 25 years ago, but I have been reminded of this time and time again as I have encountered hurtful times in my life and ministry.

I have repeatedly asked all our churches to wait until after the 2024 General Conference, that we now know will be held April 23-May 3, 2024, to discern next steps for their local church. After that General Conference, we will have more accurate information so that annual conferences and local churches can make strategic, Holy Spirit-led decisions and not business deals.

I know that I am opening myself up to criticism with this article. I have been given many labels as a bishop and some have even questioned my salvation. I am not alone in what I endure on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this just helps me empathize with so many of our United Methodist clergy and laity who have experienced overwhelming verbal and emotional abuse. That should not happen in our churches. Jesus was characterized as a radical, and church people back in the day cut a business deal with the Roman Government to put Jesus to death. Over my 40 years of ministry, I have seen a lot of church business deals. It pains me to even think about many of them.

For me, I am going to keep preaching Jesus and hope you will join me in our 2023 year of prayer. At our upcoming June 2023 Annual Conference, this scripture will guide our time together:

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”

-Acts 4:29-31

When is the last time you prayed for boldness?

In Christ, Bishop David Graves Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference

REACH | TEACH | SEND

Here at Shalimar we value reaching, teaching, and sending out all of our members, especially those of our future! Some of the ways we do this are by offering Preschool, having our kiddos go to winter retreats, and having confirmation for our youth. If you’re interested in learning more read down below!!

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION: Preschool registration for the 23-24 school year will start on Tuesday, Jan 17 in the Family Life Center (rm 106) at 9am. Before registration, please go to The EarlyLearning Coalition on Emerald Coast’s website to get your child’s VPK certification.

If you have any questions, please contact our Preschool Director, Karen Jadin at (850) 651-0721 ext. 109 or at preschool@shalimar-umc.org

KID’S WINTER RETREAT: Registration is open for our Kid’z Winter Retreat at Blue Lake Camp! The retreat is for Students in 3-5 grade. It’s from February 3-5 and costs $135 (scholarships are available if needed).

Registration ends Monday, Jan 30.

If you have any questions, please contact our Children’s Director, Sarah Hicks at (850) 651-0721 ext. 116 or at children@shalimar-umc.org

CONFIRMATION MEETING: Students in grades 6-12 are invited to our annual Confirmation class, meeting weekly from February to mid-March.

If interested, visit shalimar-umc.org/confirmation or attend our Confirmation Parents Meeting on Sunday, Jan 22nd at 12:15pm in the Family Life Center (rm 106).

OPEN HOUSE

We want to start the New Year off right and get everyone together at our Open House on Wednesday, Jan 18 at 5pm in the FLC. This will be an opportunity to learn all about what Shalimar is doing! There will be representatives from our Sunday School classes, and each age-level group, from nursery to adults, to our Men’s and Women’s ministries to our Military group.

We would love for you to come and find a group to grow with. (this will be in replacement for regular Wednesday night programming)

UPCOMING DENOMINATIONAL TASK FORCE MEETINGS

We have two upcoming denominational task force meetings open for the congregation. The first one is this Tuesday, Jan 17 at 6pm in the Sanctuary. The second one is the following Tuesday, Jan 24 at 6pm in the Sanctuary.

Come learn from our Denominational Task Force who have been working tirelessly to collect accurate information to better inform our church.

announcements & articles

HELP WANTED BUS DRIVERS

MEMBERS OF OUR GREATEST GENERATION LIVING AT THE MERIDIAN NEED ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND OUR 11AM SERVICE.

OUR SUMC BUS LEAVES THE CHURCH AT 10:10 AM TO GO PICK UP OUR MEMBERS AT THE MERIDIAN. WE RETURN THEM TO THEIR HOME AFTER THE SERVICE.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE 11:00 SERVICE TO SERVE SUMC AND OUR MEMBERS NEEING A RIDE. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AT (850) 585-6377 IF YOU CAN ASSIST US IN THIS MINISTRY.

MISSIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Advent Bags

To all the Friends and Families who created colorful Advent bags and boxes full of goodies for a nice meal.

Your support helped those in need through the Bread House and Blessings for Children!

This was a true blessing for those less fortunate! Thanks again!

Financial Peace University is BACK ON CAMPUS!

This time we want to have as many people as possible to be able to attend this course, so we are mixing it up! We want to hear from YOU on when the best time and day works BEST for you to be able to attend.

If you’re interested please contact Matt Langford. The class is $75.

MILITARY MINISTRY

ReBoot is a faith-based combat trauma healing course, designed to address the spiritual wounds of war.

Combat veterans are healing, divorce rates are dropping, medication abuse decreases, and suicide numbers are reducing at ReBoot locations across the country.

For more information about our Military Ministry, or to register for the class visit our website at shalimar-umc.org/military

If you have any questions please contact Deb Hutto or Jeanne Racquier at aveclite@gmail.com or racquier@cox.net

SPLASH 1 & 2

Join us for fellowship with other women and establish deep connections.

Splash 1 starts back January 11 with a new Exodus study from Jen Wilkins, Freedom

If you have any questions please contact Sara Michaelson.

Splash 2 also starts back January 11 with a new 1 & 2 Kings study from Lysa Terkeurst, Trustworthy.

If you have any questions please contact Cathie Buckman.