Connections

Spring/Summer 2015

Summer Worship

Thank You & Goodbye to

Rev. Mary Ward & Venda
Horne

Childrens Ministry Updates

Have you ever caught something contagious? (And I dont mean strep throat
or the flu!) Rather, have you ever encountered a moment that made a positive
life change in YOUR life?
It happened in the first century as Jesus went from town to town sharing a
message of hope, peace and joy that the people had never experienced before.
It also happened when Jesus walked the shore and found a few men tending
nets. He simply said, FOLLOW ME. Shockingly, they did and the rest is
history. It happened when Jesus came to the tax collector, Matthew, and asked
him along for the journey. The bug caught, first a few and then the multitudes, and the name of Jesus became a household name in that region.

Youth: Summer Mission

Trip

The contagious nature of Gods love in Jesus has been passed from generation
to generation. What began with 12 disciples and a few friends has exploded
into the Christian Church today! I can almost imagine what it must have been
like to have Jesus come as close as he did to the woman at the well. Jesus knew
her. He knew her sin and reputation and yet he called her to sin no more.
While others treated her like dirt, Jesus wrapped the love of God around her
and she was transformed! She was so overwhelmed by Jesus love that she immediately shared it with her town. Thats contagious love. Thats love worth
spreading!

Windows to the World

Recap

I dont know about you but thats how Gods love found me. Just a kid who
couldnt do much right but could find trouble no matter where it was hiding.
Yet one day I heard about Jesus love and knew that was the kind of life I wanted to live. That contagious bug had me. Not perfect mind you, just forgiven.

The Growing Place:

Summer Camp

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Be on the Lookout! Campus Improvements

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Womens OASIS 2015

I wonder, have you caught it? Do you know the awesome love of God that
is yours in Jesus Christ? Its contagious! Its spreading! One by one people are
coming to know Jesus as their Savior. If youve caught it, have you shared it?
Its not a bug to own, rather it is something wonderful, powerful and transforming that is meant to share. Catch it today, then pass it around to your
family and friends. Youll be glad you did!

All four Sundays in July - one service at 10:30 a.m.

in the Sanctuary
July 5- We will welcome our new Associate Pastor, Rev. Vidalis Lopez, and her family to FUMCCG.
There will be a lunch in Founders Hall following worship.

July 12- We will celebrate the dedicated service of Venda Horne at FUMCCG. Venda is retiring as
our Business Administrator. There will be a reception in the narthex following worship to say thank
you to Venda.

July 19 - We will take a look at one of our missions: Bill Murff from Alfalit International will share
about the recent trips he has taken and help us see ways we can deepen our connection with this
wonderful mission that has brought literacy to over 7 million people around the world.

July 26- Becky Dotson, Florida United Methodist Childrens Home President, will be with us in
worship to share the great work the home provides.

Friends, we are entering that time of the year when luggage is packed and
people are off for vacation and visits to friends and family throughout the
world.We relax, visit, spoil grandkids rotten, see sites and wonders that make
us pause to thank God for His creation. What a blessing these recreation moments are for our heart and soul.
The church is never on vacation. It is alive, active, living and breathing. Please
remember to keep your financial support of this ministry healthy as you make your way to different destinations. In fact, if you can, why not make a special contribution to FUMCCG as we enter the summer months.
Your special gifts at this time of the year will be greatly appreciated.
Have a great summer, keep the faith and share the love and joy of God wherever you are on Sunday mornings.

It is hard to believe that in just a month, I will be saying goodbye to my

ministry and starting a new journey. Over the past 36 years I served in
three different United Methodist churches, but have always returned to
First Church Coral Gables.
I came to Coral Gables as a young adult and was filled with excitement to
reach out to college students and other young adults in the community.
It was a gift to see young adults get connected and grow in their faith. In
those early years here, I was supported by my mentor; The Rev. Jose Bove,
Director of Christian Education and Senior pastor The Rev. David Scoates.
Over the years, God began to open my heart to the needs of the poor and I
was influenced by the Rev. Dr. Walter Kalaf. Through our United Methodist outreach ministry, I have tried to serve the needs of the poor but there
is still so much more to do.
I have enjoyed getting people connected to our wonderful church and helping them find ways to serve. So many of you have served our Lord with love
and a spirit of willingness. I thank you for the many ways you have blessed
me and our Church. Hopefully, when you see my name on the caller ID in
the future, you wont ask what does she want now?
Coral Gables has a wonderful staff who love and care for each other and I
will miss you! I know those who will be filling my roll, Valoree McLean as
director of children ministry and the Rev. Vidalis Lopez as associate minister, will bring a new and younger spirit to the ministry. I pray that all the
staff with Pastor Durs leadership will move Coral Gables to flourish anew.
Many have asked me what I will be doing when I retire. Frankly, I am not
sure. In June, Phil (my wonderful, supportive husband of nearly 40 years)
and I will be vacationing in Maine. When I return, I want to spend some
quality time in reflective prayer and see where God leads me.
I sincerely thank each of you for your love and support over these many
years. I will cherish your friendship forever. Thank you also for celebrating
my ministry and retirement.
Goodbye for now and a big hug to each of you!
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Rev. Mary Ward as a teen participated in a Methodist district youth rally at a church south of Miami where she accidentally
went forth for an altar call for those committing their lives to full-time Christian service. Afterwards she told the minister that
she meant to go forward with those simply dedicating their lives to Christ where he counseled her to fear not as God knew
her hearts desire.
It seemed that God had a plan indeed as she came full circle back to FUMCCG. Mary first headed up to the mountains to
earn a degree in speech and drama at East Tennessee State University. Along the way a sorority sister heard her sing and
suggested she try out for a local beauty pageant. Then boom, boom, boom, she won the local pageant and soon became
Miss Tennessee, which was really wonderful. She then worked as a cruise ship singer but after two years had enough of it.
So she decided to try her hand at ministry in a position in college and young adult ministry at FUMCCG. When she came to
the church only then did she realize that she was in the same church where she had first made her accidental altar call years
earlier. And it was here that she found her over 40-year vocation to ministry. Im up in the balcony and looked down
and I realized this was the very church I had walked to the altar for the call for full time Christian service, she said.
Mary will retire in June and eventually move to Idaho to be closer to her two daughters and grandson who live in the
region. But shell continue to attend FUMCCG as her husband Philip works here another year and hopes to winter in
Miami long term. And she knows that her ministry continuesnow just from the pews. I think its time to go. But there
are so many people I love dearly, Ill really miss them. The time is right. They do need to get people with younger
ideas, younger age. Some of the old things need to pass.
In her first round at FUMCCG Mary moved into adult ministry, serving until 1979. Then she returned in 1991 for a
part-time position and before becoming the full time director of programs at Kendall Methodist, also earning a masters degree in pastoral ministry in 1993 at St. Thomas University. With a passion for outreach, she had just started
working for the Branches nonprofit when Rev. Thom Shafer invited her to return to FUMCCG in 2004. And in 2010
she stepped up to take on the additional responsibility of childrens ministry. She has watched Branches blossom and
as a board member has worked to engage church members in its work and other opportunities to uplift poor families.
Thats what I really feel like were called to do for the Gospel.
The congenial minister has also passionately worked to welcome newcomers and help people who maybe were on the
outside of the community to get connected. And members found it hard to say no when this angelic master recruiter invited
them to service opportunities. What has excited me most is either getting people connected to the church community, feeling a part of the church community, and helping them find a place to do ministry that excites them, she said. It is what has
brought me true joy.
To nourish her own faith, she has tried to spend twenty minutes three times a week in centering prayer where she empties
her mind and opens herself to God. And after reading Scripture she tries to listen as to what the words are saying to me
and then asking God, What do you want me to do and how must I change to do what you want me to do?
Exercise is also spiritually uplifting. On the first half of her morning runs she tries to breathe in the presence of God, noticing Gods beautiful world and spending some time in just being present with God. The second half is in praying for family,
friends, church and global concerns.
And with Gods help shes even become a better preacher as well. Deacons, my order of ministry, are not always called to preach
and this was VERY out of my comfort zone but it certainly has become easier for me-- and I almost enjoyed it the last couple of
times!
Also quite the ecumenical minister, Marys husband Philip is Catholic and her daughters were raised in both churches. Now shell
have a little more time to attend his church St. Augustines as well. So I may go with him a few times to the Catholic Church now
Im long overdue, she said with a laugh.
In looking back on her decades of ministry, shes grateful for her years at FUMCCG. Ive always enjoyed it. Theres never been a
time I havent loved what I do.

Business administrator Venda Horne reached new heights in her faith journey at FUMCCG, having scaled the rickety
wooden ladder to the top of the bell tower and also climbed to the organ loft and rooftops to check conditions and
ensure jobs got done right.
Venda knows every nook and cranny of the expansive church facility from the brides walk tunnel behind the sanctuary
to the Sevogia building basement. Ive climbed all around the organ loft. Ive been on every roof except the sanctuary
roof I dont think theres a closet or room in the entire church that I havent been into, she said with a smile, adding that shes spotted everything from rats to possums inside. Furthermore, this sanctuary has some of the prettiest
stained glass Ive ever seen.
Venda, 65, moved to Miami for the position in 2005 after working 20 years at two other Methodist churches in Boise,
Idaho. Shell retire in July to join her husband Gene three hours away in Lake Placid who has been caring for her
93-year-old mother living in an assisted living facility there.
Looking back, Venda especially enjoyed working with the board of trustees on issues related to building maintenance
and beautification. My passion has always been buildings and keeping them up and especially churches. When I
visit different places I visit the church buildings, she said. I love all those committees. The people are generous and
goodBeing on a committee is commitment and its pretty tough to do when everybody is working and has families.
And shes gladly participated in several upgrade projects: installing and repairing roofs, renovating the brides room,
library, counseling center, church district offices and childrens room 202, painting the facility and improving security
at the preschool. Currently the church is landscaping grounds and remodeling its Palermo rectory. Theres a lot to
be proud of. Everybody has been a part of either donating money or helping on it and trustees making decisions to
go ahead with projects. Theyve made a lot of wise choices.
She has also loved the HR side of the job in working with school and church staff and served as a sounding board
for TGP director Corina Dekker on HR issues and in making school improvements. Shes a great advocate for the
school in wanting to fix up the building and get things cleaned up and make sure people have the equipment and
things they need so that they can just teach.
And she was happy to be the go-to person on money matters. Pastors and staff dont like to talk to people about
what its going to cost them to rent the churchthat would be me, she said. And with staff I always say this is what
its going to cost us, this is what well need insurance wise and they all go boo! Miss negative! Thats how my mind
works.
Venda also valued FUMCCGs caring environment and always tried to offer a compassionate listening ear, whether with
a staff or church member in need or with a family making wedding or funeral arrangements. I always keep a box of
Kleenex on my desk. You go from laughter to tears three to four times a day, she reflected. We have a really terrific
staff. They work hard and know when to work hard. At the end of the day they seem to gravitate to my office and sit
here.
She has striven to be a constant positive force and to empower people to get involved and to grow in their faith and
to understand that this is their church and they have a voice, she said. At times I have had to be the voice of reason
and see all sides of issues. Ive had to learn patience.Nothing is done quickly at this church. Ive hopefully tried to be
faithful to the direction of the pastor and of leadership.
In retirement she looks forward to spending time with her mother and husband. Im sad. I like my job. I love doing what
I do but its time to goI want to be with my husband and closer to my mom.
And with an artistic side, she also looks forward to more time and inspiration for painting landscapes, still life and other
pictures and slowing down in the quiet town of Lake Placid overflowing with lakes, caladiums and colorful murals. And
having left her husband in charge of their home management, she said with a laugh that she looks forward to beautifying and redecorating her own house there in retirement.

By Priscilla Greear
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for the Kids

All school age kids
are invited to join us
this summer! We will
be
learning
the
Lords Prayer and
what it means. Most of the kids can already say the prayer but not many
know what it means and why Jesus
used it as an example for us to follow.
It will be a fun time of road rallies and
racing as we make our way through
the Lords Prayer. All parents are invited to take a session or assist in the
classroom. Summers are the time
when all our regular teachers take off.
There is a sign-up sheet in the classroom. Its going to be fun, join us!!

New Name for The Childrens Wing

Second Floor of the Hanger Building
Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to
such belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

The childrens space is getting a new

theme this summer and you are invited
to come and help transform the hall
leading to room 202 and the back hall
into the Kids Dive Zone. We will be
painting underwater murals with sea
creatures, fish and lots of coral! Wear
your paint clothes and bring brushes
and rollers if you have them. There is
no need to RSVP, just come ready to
paint. Our goal is to paint through the
summer and have a big reveal in the
fall. Swim by and help paint every
Wednesday beginning June 17 from 1
to 5 PM and every Sunday beginning
June 28th from 1 to 5 PM.

The preschoolers are

going to learn the 10
Commandments this
summer and why its
still
important
to
know them today.
They will learn an
easy way to remember them and we
will spend time talking about what it
means to follow these commandments
in our everyday lives. There are also
sign up sheets so parents or others
can sign up to fill in. Its going to be fun
so join us!!!!
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

I See Lots of Children Enjoying Summer Fun at TGP!

SESSION 1

JUNE 22- JULY 10 (camp will be closed on Friday, July 3rd)

Week 1 - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? / Zoo Animals
Week 2 - Draw Me a Star / Celebrating Americas Birthday
Week 3 - The Tiny Seed / Plant Science

SESSION 2

JULY 13-31
Week 4 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar / Animal Science
Week 5 - A Home for Hermit Crab / Life Under the Sea
Week 6 - The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse / Creativity/Art

What fun things will we be doing at camp?

Water Play; Messy Play; Art and Crafts; Cooking;

Wacky Science; Music and Movement; Kidokinetics;
Gymnastics; Library/Story Time; Special Visitors;
and Activities Related To Our Weekly Themes.

For pricing and more info on camp registration, please

contact The Growing Place office at (305) 446-0846.

Corina Dekker, Director

cdekker@fumccg.org
www.fumccg.org/tgp
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By Robert Gray

This June, the youth ministry will be going to Enterprise, Florida to work with the Florida United Methodist Childrens Home. Our church has supported
this amazing institution for many decades. If you
check their website you will read that The Florida
United Methodist Childrens Home was established
in 1908 to provide a home for orphans and other
children that had nowhere else to live. Members
of First UMC Coral Gables have worked at the Childrens Home, volunteered there, and sponsored activities and buildings on the campus.

are the visitors. We have had several discussions

about privacy, respect and service and I think the
group is prepared to do great things.
The campus of the Childrens Home is beautiful.
They have separate bunk houses for girls and boys.
We will have our own kitchen and bathroom facilities
as well. Our group will divide into four dinner crews
each responsible for a breakfast and dinner during
our stay. Each youth will have their own mess kit
with plastic plate, bowl and silverware set and water
bottle. This way we use less paper goods, are personally responsible for our own clean-up and work
together as a group at mealtime.

The youth are very excited about this mission trip.

I made a preliminary trip to the Childrens Home in
April to check everything out. According to Lynn Bellamy, the volunteer coordinator, we will be working
in three different areas. First, we will be working at
their resale shop called Heart & Home. Donated
items are sold there to raise money. We will be organizing their store room and the new donations that
come in each week. Some of the youth may get to
work the retail floor as well. Second, we will be organizing the kitchen pantry at the Childrens Home.
They receive donated items each week which need
to be sorted and stored. Third, we will work on the
grounds of the Childrens Home doing maintenance
items or landscaping work. The youth are also hoping to interact with the youth who live there as well.
We have to respect that this is their home and we

I am excited to say we have 20 youth going on this

years mission trip. We also have some great parents
joining us as chaperones including Carrie Bodin,
Meg Wright, Jeff Wright and, possibly, Axle Font.
The group will have some fun, too. We are planning
on visiting at least two state parks to swim, ride inner tubes and explore. At one of the parks, we will
make our own pancakes at the sugar mill restaurant
that dates back to 1830!
Please keep the youth ministry in your prayers all
summer and especially June 15-19. We look forward to sharing our experience with everyone at
church when we return. Love wins!

Windows to the World, an adult ministry that reaches out beyond our church for discovery and discipleship, has
wrapped up its second season with an original drama written and produced by Ed Baker. Entitled Suzanna Wesley
at Epworth, this theatrical presentation was humorous, educational, spiritual, and musical. The cast was led by Sally
Matson as Suzanna Wesley, the mother of the founder of Methodism (John Wesley) in England in the mid 1700s. The
setting was historically accurate as represented inside the parish rectory. Suzanna demonstrated that family matters are universal and are relevant today, even across the ages. She courageously and devoutly led those gathered in
her home for a representation of an early Methodist worship service. Applause goes to the others in the cast: Nancy
Gray, Jonathan Miles, Robert Gray, Kiera Rios, Erick Firestone, Anjane Girwarr, Franco Urra-Morffiz, and Darrell Miles.
And our sincere thanks extend to Ed Baker for bringing this experience to our church that was both entertaining and
educational.
In March, Charles W. Mark, PhD, an associate professor of history of religions and Christianity and an ordained Methodist minister, expanded our world-view with his interpretation of the dynamics of todays spiritual culture that is
challenged by the present digital technological revolution. Our brains now have so much to digest with instant access
to vast global information. Fresh understanding and adaptability is required to live in this new global village we call
earth. Dr. Marks topic, Spirituality and the Human Brain in the Digital Age, opened our perspective on the future of
churches as we are moving away from community-nurtured spirituality. Fascinating stuff!
The February audience was delighted with the performance of the Chamber Singers from Florida Southern College.
Twenty-five young adults brought a unique program of new music to our ears. Under the direction of Mary Elizabeth Beth Gibbs, we heard a variety of choral styles from classical to New Age with fresh and oftentimes intricate
rhythms and tone. We were privileged to catch them on their swing through South Florida and hope they will return
again next season.
A view into the glory days of Stiltsville delighted the January attendees pf Windows to the World. Original film and interviews were depicted on a classic video about the authentic and colorful history on this offshore bay community of
the 1960s. Don and Marilyn Hicks were some of the home-owners whose kids thought growing up in Miami included
weekends on the bay in these private homes perched on stiltsjust minutes from Miami. Hurricanes have destroyed
most of the structures and the lifestyle has gone by the way now. It was fun to reminisce and talk about what once
was a thriving community. Today the area is a national park and the exposed buildings are in peril of destruction by
future storms.
We look forward to the coming series of speakers and entertainment that encourages us to look beyond our boundaries. These presentations are free and open to the public. We hope to attract new people to our church. Please
invite your friends. If you have thoughts for future presentations, please contact Kay Murff with your ideas (kmurff@
fumccg.org or (305) 445-2578 ext. 113).

By Kay Murff

On Easter weekend of 2014, the church sustained considerable

damage from a lightening strike. Our pipe organ suffered significantly from this lightning strike. The control system for the organ
was left inoperable. The organ can be played, and it sounds pretty much the same as before the lightening strike; however, with
the control system disabled, the music that can be played on the
instrument is very limited. Its a little bit like driving a car without a
steering wheel. The car will run, but its really hard to get it to go
where you want it to go. That is what it has been like for organists
playing our instrument for the past year.
Work has finally begun to make necessary repairs to the organ.
Additionally, the 20-year-old control system will be upgraded to
current technology. The old copper wiring running from the organ
console to the pipe chambers both in the front and rear of the sanctuary will be replaced with fiber optic cable. All electronic components inside the organ console will also be replaced. The new equipment has been
built in the manufacturing facility of Integrated Organ Technologies, Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. The system is
being programmed to properly control our pipe organ. Work on site in our sanctuary will begin on June
8 and will take approximately two weeks to complete.
There will be nonoticeable change in the sound of the organ as we are not doing any work
to the pipes. This work is simply repairing what was damaged by the lightening strike and updating to current technology. The new system will meanthat the instrument will be more
responsive to the organist, and it will have some new features that were not previously
available. The most notable new feature will be record/playback capability. You might
see the organist get off the bench and walk away while the organ continues to play.
Look for signs of our newly improved pipe organ towards the end of June.

The next organ concert will be July 2 due to repairs during the month of June.

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You may have noticed a few recent changes to our campus, primarily in the south parking lot. This summer we are working on updating our campus a little bit, so be on the lookout for the following
changes! (Some have already happened)
Retaining Wall and New Landscaping on South Entrance
Resurfacing of South Parking Lot
New Landscaping around Perimeter of South Parking Lot
Removable Gate Along Biltmore Way to control traffic flow on campus
Lighting of the Bell Tower
Improved Lighting Along Coral Way

Of Water and Spirit Jan L Richardson. janrichardson.com

Womens Retreats in the Head Center

July 8, 15, 22
Dinner ($10) at 5:45 p.m.
Program at 6:45 p.m.

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This years topics invite you to examine the relevance of being a Christian in todays world. With nightly speakers and
scripturally-based table discussion, we will discover that we
cannot be holy alonewe must build bridges across communities.
Weekly topics are stand alone, so come to one session or
come to all. Baby Sitters for children up to 5 years will be available with an RSVP.
July 8 Immigration: Hospitality and Hope
July 15 Human Trafficking: A Voice for the Voiceless
July 22 Interfaith Dialogue: One River, Many Wells Islam

Stay connected to your church!

Pastoral Staff
Senior Pastor, Rev. Durwood Foshee - ext. 101; dfoshee@fumccg.org
Associate Pastor, Rev. Roberto Perez - robertopperez@bellsouth.net
Associate Minister, Rev. Mary Susan Ward - ext. 103; mward@fumccg.org
Church Staff
Business Administrator, Venda Horne - ext. 102; vhorne@fumccg.org
Communications Coordinator, Jennifer Flynt - ext. 106; jflynt@fumccg.org
Administrative Assistant, Vanessa Rodriguez - ext. 100; vrodriguez@fumccg.org
Bookkeeper, Mario Perez - ext. 104; mperez@fumccg.org
The Growing Place Preschool
Corina Dekker - (305) 446-0846; cdekker@fumccg.org; cdekker@fumccg.org
Connectional Ministries

Youth Director, Robert Gray - ext. 107; rgray@fumccg.org

Children's Director, Valoree McLean - ext. 108; vmclean@fumccg.org
Adult Discipleship & Small Groups Director, Kay Murff - ext. 113; kmurff@fumccg.org
Baptisms (church office)
Weddings, Roberta Weller - ext. 119; rweller@fumccg.org

Director of Music, Organist, Jay Brooks - ext. 124; jbrooks@fumccg.org

Choral Director, Dr. Bob Gower - rgower@miami.edu
Contemporary Director, Richard Aspinwall - (305) 801-6768; raspinwall@fumccg.org
Childrens Music Director, Rebecca Gonzalez - (305) 613-0021; rebeccagonzalez@me.com

Music Ministries

536 Coral Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134

(305) 445-2578
www.fumccg.org
/FUMCCG

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