Posts with the tag “philips-focus”
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Eighteen Lives and Eternal Life
April 22nd, 2021
We lost our pet cat, Dasher, last year. Dasher was with us eighteen years! He was remarkably resilient. The old saying that cats have nine lives proved very true for Dasher. He likely had double the n... Read More
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What have we missed? What will be the same? Different?
April 15th, 2021
The post-pandemic church is emerging before our eyes! What have we missed the most? What might be the same? What will be different? What are the unprecedented opportunities? I do not know anything mor... Read More
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Some Clues for the Unforgettable Message After Easter
April 8th, 2021
About a quarter of a century ago, I began preaching a message billed as the “unforgettable message after Easter!” Why? Because the Sunday after Easter often felt like the antithesis to Easter. On Eas... Read More
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God Has the Final Word!
April 1st, 2021
We have and, to some extent, are still enduring one of the craziest times in history. In such a time, we look for a person to reassure us and say, “It will be over soon.” Who will have that word we l... Read More
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Updated Shalimar UMC Covid Protocol for Holy Week
March 25th, 2021
As of Palm Sunday, March 28th, we will slightly revise our Covid-19 Protocol. As the positive trends show an upward number of vaccinations and a lower number of Covid cases in Okaloosa County, we beli... Read More
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Save the Dates…A Month of Special Sundays
March 18th, 2021
In the coming four weeks, we will have special Sundays one after the other. As we move deeper into Lent, this means special worship is rising on the horizon. You will want to be present in-person or o... Read More
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Time Change is This Sunday
March 10th, 2021
This weekend is time change Sunday! Remember to move your clocks up one hour for worship in-person or on Livestream! In speaking of the time change, have you ever forgotten to change your clocks? I di... Read More
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Time to Nominate this Year’s Hospitality Award Winner
March 4th, 2021
Last year, we created the first-ever hospitality award and presented it to David Dale. The award also took on the name of David Dale because he exhibited extraordinary gifts of hospitality. There is a... Read More
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Learning from History and Including All as Jesus
February 25th, 2021
I choose to remain a United Methodist because we know our denomination is more than a "fad" or a "short-lived movement." We can learn from our rich history, and we can be sparred some of the same mist... Read More
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Announcing a New Children's Ministry Director
February 18th, 2021
We are happy to announce that Mrs. Nicci Fahle will be joining our church staff as our part-time Children's Ministry Director. Nicci and her husband Brodie have been in our congregation for a long tim... Read More
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In Praise of our Ministry Teams
February 10th, 2021
In previous weeks of Beacon articles, I have praised our congregation, staff, and lay leadership. In this article, I want to lift up some additional ministry teams and offer praise for their good mini... Read More
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State of Shalimar United Methodist Church 2021
February 3rd, 2021
As a part of our Nation's fabric, one tradition is customary to give a State of the Union Address for late January. Somewhere along the way, I began a tradition by giving the "state of the church" eac... Read More
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Praise of Our Lay Leadership
January 28th, 2021
In previous Beacon articles, I have praised our steadfast congregation and last week our phenomenal staff! Today, I praise our amazing lay leadership! As we move forward from the most challenging year... Read More
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Praising Our Staff
January 21st, 2021
In the last ten months, we have not had "church" as usual. We have had to adapt, be flexible, and exercise additional caution at most every turn. Through it all, we have found a way to move forward wi... Read More
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History is Prelude and Righteousness Exalts a Nation
January 14th, 2021
The events of the last week have been disturbing, sobering, and saddening. We have so much division in our country! There is so much anger and angst. What do we do to channel the powder keg of emotion... Read More
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21 Challenges 21 Days to THRIVE!
January 7th, 2021
We have begun this week our 21 days of worship online for 2021! I hope you are joining in each day at 6 am or at a time that works for you. The 21 days will offer a daily key to thriving. Practicing t... Read More
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We Have Survived, Now Thrive!
December 31st, 2020
This week we flip the calendar into a new year! I do not remember, in my lifetime, more anticipation of starting a new year. Most people wrote 2020 off months ago as the strangest, most chaotic, crazi... Read More
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As Christmas Eve Approaches Shalimar UMC, I am So Grateful for You and Merry Christmas
December 17th, 2020
This is our last Beacon for the year and my last article for 2020. I had some things I wanted to say to our congregation from the heart. Here goes with some grateful sharing with you and for you!You h... Read More
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Upcoming Events at Shalimar
December 10th, 2020
WE SURE HAVE MISSED SEEING YOU IN PERSON! In recent weeks, the pastors visited friends and members in their neighborhoods. This allowed us the opportunity to visit with some persons we have not seen s... Read More
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An Advent Reset is Really Needed This Year
December 3rd, 2020
Just like that, Advent has arrived. The leftovers from Thanksgiving were still delicious when the quick shift happened last weekend. In just hours, we moved from turkey, dressing, and wonderful family... Read More
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Giving Thanks in 2020
November 24th, 2020
As I pondered what to write about for this Beacon, Julie Covert reminded me I do an annual list of reasons to be grateful each year just before Thanksgiving. Of course! This has been a long-standing t... Read More
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Dr. John Ed Mathison
November 19th, 2020
This Sunday we are delighted to welcome Dr. John Ed Mathison as our guest preacher. John Ed is a national speaker and is very knowledgeable in the area of stewardship. We are especially grateful for h... Read More
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Numerous Challenges No Problem Shalimar UMC Just Keeps Moving Forward
November 12th, 2020
How is the church doing? This is a question I receive often. My answer, we have a lot of steep challenges right now, yet Shalimar UMC keeps moving forward! In a year of uncertainties, adversities, and... Read More
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Some Tuesday Afternoon Thoughts Prior to Election Results
November 5th, 2020
As I write this article, it’s Tuesday afternoon and still hours before we should know who the President will be for the next four years. I wondered if I wait until tomorrow or write some thoughts abou... Read More
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Let Us Be Renewed As A Nation
October 29th, 2020
We have begun our “BE RENEWED” time as a church! In the continued challenges and adversities of this unforgettable year, 2020, we will gain the most to renew ourselves in heart, mind, spirit, strength... Read More
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Lead Pastor’s Annual Conference Report Part Four
October 22nd, 2020
This article is the final part of the series of my annual Charge Conference Report. The previous three parts in this series can be found in the recent Beacons and on our blogs. Below are the final tho... Read More
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Lead Pastor's Report to Charge Conference Part 3
October 15th, 2020
Type your new text here. In a continuation of sharing my annual pastoral report, below is part 3 for this week’s BeaconOur new wineskin will consist of a heavy diet of discipleship with the goal of ha... Read More
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Report to Charge Conference Part 2
October 8th, 2020
My report this week to the Annual Charge Conference (October 11, 2:30 PM) is way too long for one Beacon article. As a result, I am sharing over three Beacon articles. This week is part 2.Our new Fall... Read More
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Part One of Lead Pastor's Report to the Charge Conference
October 1st, 2020
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing segments of my annual report to Charge Conference for the year 2020. The Charge Conference report gives a yearly review, shares realities and hopes for the upcom... Read More
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One Week of Happenings Around Shalimar UMC
September 24th, 2020
Type your new text here. One of the most asked questions I receive is “what is happening with the church?” In this Beacon update, I will briefly list some of the happenings I am aware of around Shalim... Read More
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Categories
Archive
2021
January
February
State of Shalimar United Methodist Church 2021Week 42 Bread House40-Day Lent DevotionsCheck It Out! Feb 7, 2021Using the New Church AppIn Praise of our Ministry TeamsWeek 43 Bread HouseA Word from Our Librarian - Feb 14, 2021Bread House Week 44Announcing a New Children's Ministry DirectorBread House Week 45How You Can Help Refer Families to Blessings for ChildrenLibrary NewsLearning from History and Including All as Jesus
March
Time to Nominate this Year’s Hospitality Award WinnerBread House Week 46Bread House Week 47Around the SUMC LibraryTime Change is This SundaySave the Dates…A Month of Special SundaysBread House Week 48Updated Shalimar UMC Covid Protocol for Holy WeekBread House Week 49Giving DandelionsEaster Lily Project
2020
April
May
June
July
August
Welcome Rev Carlos JonesBeasley See Our FaithI Hear An OutstandingNew Sunday TimelineWould You Like to Have A Stephen Minister?Immediatley UpcomingCasa de PanThe Library is Open AgainBlessings For Children School SuppliesHarsh Realities and More OpportunitiesBread HousePray to Keep Discipleship a Priority
September
October
Bread House Week 24A Word from Dr. Brad BradfordPart One of Lead Pastor's Report to the Charge ConferencePastor Appreciation MonthBread House Week 25Check It Out!Report to Charge Conference Part 2Lead Pastor's Report to Charge Conference Part 3A Prayerful NeedBread House Week 26Lead Pastor’s Annual Conference Report Part FourChurch Organist NeededChurch Pianist NeededWeek 27 Bread House ReportLet Us Be Renewed As A NationThank You from Pastor BradBread House Week 28Help A Family In Need At ThanksgivingAll Saints' Day
November
December
Thanksgiving Bag UpdateCome and Go Reception2020 Angel Tree Update #1Trunk or Treat WinnersA Word from our LibrarianAn Advent Reset is Really Needed This YearBread House Week 33Bread House Week 34A Word from Our Librarian - CHRISTmas!Upcoming Events at ShalimarA Very Merry, Thank YouIntroducing Mrs. Tracy MankBread House Week 35As Christmas Eve Approaches Shalimar UMC, I am So Grateful for You and Merry ChristmasGod with us...Thanks be to GodBread House Week 36We Have Survived, Now Thrive!
2019
September
December