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Rev. Missy Turbeville *From the June 2025 FUMC of Bartow Newsletter
On the very first Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus and remember Jesus telling the disciples, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) These words have become the cornerstone of our mission as a church as we witness to Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit in Bartow and beyond.
June 5-7 we will have our Florida Annual Conference where we will be making decisions about how we plan as United Methodists to witness to Christ in the world. While our mission does not change: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,”
a new vision statement has been formed to help us better live out our mission as a denomination. Seem a little familiar?
We are living in a time when loneliness is rampant; civility, much less love and respect, are hard to find; greater and greater numbers of people are unchurched or dechurched (nones and dones) and have no anchor amidst the storms of life; and people just plain need Jesus. This is going to take being bold, joyful, and courageous as we love, serve, and lead.
Some of you have already noticed that people are desperate for hope and have been responding in beautiful ways. People need to know that they matter and that they are of infinite worth to God. We know that, but they may not, and someone has to tell them. That’s our job. It’s our mission. To witness to the good news of Christ: that people are loved unconditionally by the God of the universe.
On the second Sunday of June we will celebrate Pentecost. When we wonder how we are going to participate in these things that must be done, we remember that we are not alone. We have not been abandoned nor left orphaned to do the joyous and difficult work of witnessing and discipling. The Holy Spirit of God is with us individually and as a church. On Pentecost, we will commission our leaders and remember that we have been gifted specifically for all sorts of words and deeds to together witness to the love of God in Christ in Bartow and beyond.
In coming months, we are going to more clearly identify the ways we are already and can better equip each other through worship, nurture, and discipleship to be the body of Christ in the world through evangelism, outreach, and missions. You may remember that when Jesus ascended, the disciples stood staring after he disappeared from their sight and two angels had to refocus them on their next tasks. We are already witnessing in many ways and we want to capitalize on those strengths even as we identify other ways the Holy Spirit is calling us to serve. We are seeking focus because our community needs us!
The good news is that we don’t have to wait to witness to Christ! If you are thankful to know that God loves you; to have this church family; and to know that you are not alone, then share that good news! Share that the love of God is stronger than any of the divisions of this world. Let others know that this church family is here for them just as you are. In you, someone is experiencing Christ. In us, the body of Christ is at work in the world. In God, we are empowered!
-Pastor Missy
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Worship on Sundays at 10:30AM both at the sanctuary and streamed online on our Facebook page.
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