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Dear Friends,
I attended Mountain Day Weekend at my Alma Mater Berry College (www.berry.edu). Berry is a unique college founded as a Christian mission to teach "mountain" children how to read. Martha Berry was an amazing individual and her legacy cannot be measured. As anyone who knows me will quickly discover my love for this place. I have been reflecting on why Berry holds such a special place in my heart and for countless others. I came up with two thoughts...
First, Berry is a uniquely beautiful and historic location. It is the largest college campus in the world with over 30,000 acres of land. Berry boasts accurately more deer than students. The campus has some amazing "sites"; from the historic Ford buildings to Frost Chapel (a design I hope Incarnation will emulate when we build some day) to the Old Mill, to the Mountain Campus with assorted log cabin structures and the list seems endless of these amazing locations, all on the campus. The Berry community works hard, paying attention to detail to keep the campus pristine and beautiful. Berry possesses tradition that is transferred to students. It becomes part of our DNA as we embrace the heritage of "not to ministered unto but to minister". The buildings and environment, nature itself all speak and support this way of life. So the first thing is an environment that breeds a sense of belonging, history and tradition and this leads me to the second thought... Family.
I visited with folks on Saturday that I have not seen in thirty years. There is still a bond and a connection that holds us together. I was blessed to be part of a Christian community that formed me and anchored me in faith and love for Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. We shared our lives as a family. We prayed, worshiped, sang, laughed, served, gave, played and lived together in a true Christian fellowship (we studied a bit too). There is a genuine love we share because of Christ in us, among us and through us.
I share all this because as we move forward in ministry and our calling to be a church, I see these two principles as core to our mission. At Incarnation I hope we are building the necessary structures and traditions to support and foster real community. There are things we can do that will make the "space" of Incarnation; whether it is virtual, at Canterbury, in home groups, youth group, catechesis, wherever; a place that breeds Christian community. So let us attend to the details of our common life. Let us increase our bonds of affection. May Jesus make is us a sacred space where He resides and makes His love known to a world desperate for Good News and so very much wants to know they belong.
May God grant us favor and success...
in the mission,
Father Jon+
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HOME GROUPS...
Home Groups begin this week with Dessert & Coffee or Shared Meal at the Following Locations & Meeting Times. To learn more about the TrueFaced Experience,
go to www.truefaced.com, contact Pastor Robin or one of the Home Group Leaders below.
UCF/Waterford Area on Thursdays at 6:30pm:
Faciliator: Heather Starr - 407.257.4641
Hosts: Paul & Christina Madak - 407.257.7027
14518 Stonebriar Way
Orlando, 32826
Winter Springs Area on Wednesdays at 7:00pm:
Facilitators: Russ & Kathy Irvine - 407.365.7489
Hosts: Lon & Roseddy Montgomery - 407.695.7949
4990 Courtland Loop
Winter Springs, 32708
Downtown Oviedo Area on Wednesdays at 7:00pm:
Facilitators/Hosts: Jose & Heather Rodriguez - 407.325.6148
260 Stallworth Court
Oviedo, 32765
Oviedo/Canterbury Area on Wednesdays at 7:00pm:
Facilitators: Jim & Robin Morical - 407.234.8771
Hosts: Mike & Lynda Piercy - 407.334.5388
2359 Winding Cove
Oviedo, 32765
Mission House/Chuluota Area: TBA
If interested in participating, facilitating, or hosting
Please contact Pastor Robin at 407.234.8771
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Fall launch of many programs and places to plug in and grow...
Check the left column for details.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA'S NEXT BISHOP For information on the search process for our next Bishop check out... http://bishopsearch.cfdiocese.org Here is a link to the Diocesan Profile - Who we are and what we want in our next Bishop... http://www.cfdiocese.org/sites/default/files/dioprofile0611.pdf Meet the Candidates... (the virtual walkabout)
CLICK HERE ASK the Candidates - an interactive forum
http://bishopsearch.cfdiocese.org/ask-candidates | 
