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A Note From Pastor Jamie...

Some of you may be aware that the United Methodist Church is facing an important decision in February of 2019. Every other mainline denomination (for example, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, etc.) has either split or lost many members as they have changed their understanding marriage to be defined as between two people instead of between a man and a woman. The UMC is the only mainline denomination that hasn’t yet made this shift in the United States. This February there will be a called General Conference (the only group that can speak officially on behalf of the UMC) to attempt to resolve our profound differences as a global church. There will be three basic proposals that the 864 delegates will consider at the gathering in St. Louis: 
  1. The Connectional Conference Plan features components designed to keep us mostly united in a way that also provides significant space in our togetherness; that is, there will be three distinct branches of the one UMC- progressive, centrist, and traditional. However, the number of constitutional amendments, which require a 2/3 vote of the GC delegates and AC members, seems like too high of a bar to get over. 
  1. The One Church Plan features a change in the language in our Book of Discipline that would declare marriage is between two people, which would mean pastors could conduct same-gender wedding services, congregations could choose to either allow these weddings in their facilities or not, and Annual Conferences could choose to ordain GBLTQ individuals to serve as pastors. 
  1. The Modified Traditional Plan features no significant changes in the language in our Book of Discipline related to our understanding of God’s best regarding human sexuality, but it does add enhanced enforcement of our current agreed upon covenant. 
I am a grace-loving traditionalist; that is, I agree with our current standards and I’m not angry about it. I support the Modified Traditional Plan not because it is perfect, but because it seeks to live out the truth with grace as revealed in God’s Word and honored through 2000 years of church history, encourages us to love all people, allows those who can no longer in good conscience live within the framework outlined in the Book of Discipline an opportunity for a gracious exit (local churches who disagree with our policy and decline to live it out can leave the UMC with their property and facilities), seeks to resolve the decades long conflict that has ensued at every GC since 1972, and will most certainly cause the least amount of disruption and pain at New Hope as nothing will change for us locally. 
 
I hope and pray we will find God’s best way forward as a denomination. I don’t know how those 864 delegates will vote. I have no idea what is going to happen, but I know God holds the future. I keep the following statement just to the right of my computer, so I can see it every day: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.” For now I simply ask you to pray. In January and February we’d like our pastors to talk about the implications of all this in our Connect Groups. This will allow us to have a conversation and open dialogue in an informal setting.
 
For more information on what our denomination affirms about human sexuality go to: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-denominations-position-on-homosexuality. For more information on all of these plans and what they mean many resources have been compiled in one place from many different perspectives at https://peopleneedjesus.net/.
 
If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. If you would like us to come to your Connect Group before the new year or you’d like to schedule one of us for January or February, please contact Pastor Vicki at Vicki@findnewhope.com.
 
God is with us,
Pastor Jamie

 
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Campus Work Day!  We appreciate the hard work and time that you dedicated to keep New Hope looking it's best!
Zoe is our newest international mission partner.  The work they do is incredible - it's all about empowering orphans so that never have to accept charity again.  New Hope will have an empowerment group in Zimbabwe over the next three years. Children in the group will be offered skills and resources to start their own businesses, educational guidance, and emotional and spiritual support.  Do you think God might be calling you to go to Zimbabwe and meet the children in our empowerment group?  If so, contact Rev. Vicki.  Maybe you want to offer support in other ways.  We will have "alternative Christmas gifts" outside on the patio starting the first Sunday in December - all proceeds go to our specific empowerment group.  Want more info on Zoe? Go to wearezoe.org.

November Mission Emphasis

Gift of Hope

Over the month of November, we will be collecting items for Gift of Hope which provides holiday assistance and spiritual support to needy families in our area. New Hope joins with other local churches and several organizations to provide hope and tangible resources to almost 800 families.  Our church is collecting canned fruit and toys for children ages 3-5 years old.  For more info, check out the Green Send Insert on Sunday morning.    


 

Upcoming Events


Join us as we begin a new adventure in prayer. Every Monday at 9:00am the Sanctuary will be open for staff, church leaders, and all members and friends of New Hope for a time of prayer. Please join us as you are able.
Make your calendars for our Military Mailing on December 2, 2018 in S1.  

For more information contact the church office at (813) 689-4161.  
No time to do holiday baking?  No problem!  Family Promise is selling Christmas cookies on Dec. 1 & 2 in S4 to raise money for their amazing organization!  Come prepared to buy cookies for your family OR purchase cookies and donate them to our military mailing.

We want your opinion on how we’re doing in communicating: What’s working? Where could we do better? How do you want to be communicated with?

A survey will be sent to all of you on our email list and paper copies will be available also. Your opinion matters!

For more information contact Mandy@findnewhope.com.

Our DR trip in 2019 will take place June 22-29. The purpose of the trip is to plan and implement a Christ-centered camp in Bani for youth from LaHoya and Bombita, the two small villages we’ve worked with for many years.  A deposit of $100 holds your spot on the mission team and must be paid by March 1.  Total cost of the trip is $1250 per person and includes transportation, fresh water, food, housing and gas. This is a life changing experience for all involved. Contact Frankie Cross, Dominican Republic Coordinator, at (813)362-6316 for more information.
This trip is for adults and youth (rising 11thgraders and up).The mission team will train with the staff of The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Wicklow, Ireland.  Our team will learn first-hand from the staff so as to fulfill Jesus' call to become more effective peace makers in our respective spheres of influence. This trip requires a mission trip application (potential team members will be asked to discuss their walk with Jesus, previous mission experience, spiritual giftedness, among other things.) For more information, contact Rev. Vicki at vicki@findnewhope.com or Chris Temple at chris@findnewhope.com.
Thank you church family for your support of the flower ministry...it is continually showing rewards. From the donation of vases and the flowers, to the skilled floral arrangements into smaller portions for many to enjoy (thanks Miss Audrey), to the suggested locations and prayer offerings- people are noticing your love, which glorifies God.
Just this week- a lady (not from our church) who had cancer and now in remission had received some flower donations from our New Hope church. She is moving, and returned some vases we had given her. She left this note on the vases for us to see (notice the photo.) Keep it up, church...let us be noticed for spreading God’s ❤️ love.


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120 N. Knights Avenue
Brandon, Florida 33510


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New Hope United Methodist Church · 120 N. Knights Avenue · Brandon, Fl 33510 · USA

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