SW District FL Conference UMC

SW District FL Conference UMC See what the Holy Spirit is doing through the United Methodist Church in South West Florida! We pray for "hearts on fire for the Lord Jesus".

We are praying and working to set in motion a spiritual revolution in the SW District and the FL Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our mission is to discover, develop and deploy spiritual leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are a group of churches united by a common Wesleyan heritage. And our preferred way to make disciples is forming healthy

teams where we excersize mutual accountability and encourage and support each other to more fruitfulness in our ministries.

06/01/2026

After many years of ministry, the time has come for a season of renewal. đź’›

If you need assistance during this time, please reach out to the Southwest District Office, which will be available to help connect you with the appropriate resources and support.

Thank you for your prayers and support during this special time. Looking forward to reconnecting in August! 🙏✨

I had the privilege of celebrating Pentecost 🔥 and Aldersgate Day ❤️ with the congregation at First United Methodist Chu...
05/29/2026

I had the privilege of celebrating Pentecost 🔥 and Aldersgate Day ❤️ with the congregation at First United Methodist Church of Palmetto. I was grateful for the opportunity to preach while Rev. Beth Bostrom was away. Between the wonderful special music 🎶, the vibrant worship, and the joy of the congregation, you could truly feel the Spirit's presence throughout the morning.

After worship, one of the church leaders gave me a brief tour of the campus. I especially loved the beautiful stained glass throughout the sanctuary and the recently renovated memorial chapel ✨, which is a truly special space for reflection and prayer.

On my way home, I made a stop in Sarasota to walk a labyrinth and spend some time in prayer 🙏—a peaceful way to reflect on the day's celebrations.

Later in the week, I spent another day in Lakeland at the Conference Office working on Board of Ordained Ministry responsibilities and preparing with Holly Finley for Annual Conference. There are countless details that go into making Annual Conference run smoothly, and I am grateful for everyone working behind the scenes to make it happen.

Looking forward to gathering with so many friends and colleagues from across the Florida Conference next week for Annual Conference! ✝️💛

✨Church Spotlight✨At Grace United Methodist Church, they recently celebrated some very special members of their church f...
05/28/2026

✨Church Spotlight✨

At Grace United Methodist Church, they recently celebrated some very special members of their church family - their Senior Saints ages 90 and above! 🎉

The afternoon was filled with joyful conversation, musical offerings, beautifully decorated tables, delicious food, and birthday cake shared in celebration of lives well lived and faithfulness through the years. Guests were also treated to adorable performances from the children of Grace Preschool, making the day even more meaningful.

A special honor was given to two remarkable women who are over 100 years old: B.J. Hillring and Lois Stultz. What a beautiful reminder of the wisdom, legacy, and faith that continue to shape the life of the church. đź’›

05/27/2026

The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is almost here! ✨

From June 4–6, churches from across Florida will gather together for worship, celebration, important conversations, and the work of ministry together.

Be praying for all those traveling, serving, leading, and being ordained during this special week in the life of our conference - and follow along with us throughout the conference for updates, highlights, and ways to stay connected to what God is doing across Florida! 💛✝️

Last week's weekly recap:The week started at Pine Island United Methodist Church for worship, where I had the joy of att...
05/27/2026

Last week's weekly recap:

The week started at Pine Island United Methodist Church for worship, where I had the joy of attending alongside our district Lay Leader, Nancy Metz.

On Monday, I traveled to Lakeland for the ordination retreat with Bishop Berlin and Board of Ministry Chair Latricia Scriven. It was such a meaningful time preparing alongside 8 ordinands as they got ready for ordination at Annual Conference just a few weeks away.

The retreat was held at Success House, which also serves as a storage and staging location for some of our conference disaster recovery supplies and equipment - a reminder of the many ways ministry happens behind the scenes.

Other highlights from the week included leading an orientation Zoom for 11 summer pastoral interns from across the conference. We were especially excited to welcome one of those interns to our district this summer at First United Methodist Church Sarasota!

I was also grateful for time spent meeting online with our district Mission and Vision Team and for ending the week with a wonderful collaborative gathering between several Manatee County pastors and leaders from Rogers Community United Methodist Church.

Thankful for another week full of connection, collaboration, and opportunities for ministry across our district. ✨

05/18/2026

Gentleness and self-control go hand in hand. 🌱
This week in Awakened to Grace, we’re exploring two Fruits of the Spirit that shape the way we respond to the world around us.
Gentleness reminds us that strength doesn’t have to be harsh.
Self-control reminds us to pause before reacting.
Together, they help us respond with grace instead of anger, patience instead of impulse, and love instead of pride.
Because becoming more like Christ isn’t just about what we do - it’s about how we treat people along the way. ✝️💛

Sunday was spent worshiping with Trinity UMC in Sarasota, where I had the privilege of preaching for Mother’s Day on the...
05/16/2026

Sunday was spent worshiping with Trinity UMC in Sarasota, where I had the privilege of preaching for Mother’s Day on the story of Ruth and Naomi - a beautiful reminder of faithfulness, love, and God’s provision across generations 💛
The rest of the week offered meaningful moments of reflection and preparation, including a labyrinth walk and time with my spiritual director - both gifts of space to pause, listen, and discern 🙏
The Conference Office served as home base for a couple of days as we continued preparing for Annual Conference. The week included plenty of behind-the-scenes work, from a building walkthrough to dreaming together with the Institute of Preaching Committee about what’s ahead ✨
Grateful for the rhythm of worship, reflection, planning, and visioning as we continue the work God has set before us.

Address

104 S Pineapple Avenue
Sarasota, FL
34236

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19413716511

Website

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