In this Week's Update:

HopeSpring Update

Worship This Week

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Small Groups, Classes & Sign-ups

Upper Room Daily Devotional

A Note from Pastor Bill

Dear family in faith,

I returned last week from our medical mission trip to Jamaica, where for five years we have been in partnership with two churches in the Ocho Rios area offering medical, dental, and optical care. This year there were 953 contacts for these much needed services. In addition, we were present for the dedication of a permanent clinic/community center in Lauriston, Jamaica. The remodeling of what was a church sanctuary more than 100 years old was made possible through your generous gifts to the "70 in '07" campaign that raised $70,000 for three of our mission partnerships.

As we came to the end of 2008, we concluded Phase 1 of our BodyBuilding campaign. While some faithful folks are continuing to give as they fulfill their commitment to the campaign, the majority of us have completed our three year pledges. Most capital campaigns will see up to a 20% drop off in receipts against the pledged amounts over the period of giving, but that was not the case for us! Even with the challenges of the economy we were able to claim an amazing victory for Christ.

We endowed mission capital projects. We paid off all of our debt. We remodeled and upgraded our Children’s ministry areas. Work will begin soon on the covered walkway connecting the Sanctuary, A and B buildings and the circle drive, made possible from a designated gift.

Next week we anticipate receiving the keys for the HopeSpring ministry site at The Shoppes at Lake Butler. Some additional interior work, installation of fixtures, furniture, and equipment will begin, and we anticipate worship services and mission outreach to commence at that site on CR-535 (Winter Garden-Vineland Road) in April. The faithful HopeSpring family members who have been setting up for ministry in Bridgewater Middle School for so many months will no longer be needing to get up before the roosters in order to create a warm and welcoming worship environment. You will be hearing more about the exact date when services begin there, but for now, you are still encouraged to attend worship at Bridgewater.

We are also currently half-way through the due diligence period for the much-anticipated purchase of property just about .4 miles south of The Shoppes at Lake Butler on CR 535 for a truly permanent home for a new church. This was our top priority in the BodyBuilding campaign. You will be receiving detailed information about this purchase opportunity in advance of a Church Conference vote that we will be taking in late March or early April. I will let you know when our website posts all of the pertinent information and Frequently Asked Facts.

This week I will be preaching at my home church. Pasadena Community United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg for their annual missions emphasis. It has been 25 years since I last preached there, so I know some will be shocked at the middle aged, bald guy who shows up in the pulpit. I also am keenly aware of what happened to Jesus when he went back home to Nazareth to preach. Fortunately, there are no cliffs in St. Pete.

One last note, we will be sending our love offering of thanks to Gary Shockley next week, so if you are planning to make a gift honoring his ministry with us and have not done so, please make your check to St. Luke’s and memo it "Shockley gift."

With faith, hope, and love,

Bill