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Dear Hyde Park Family,
This Sunday, we join with Christians around the world in celebrating Pentecost Day, the birthday of the church, when the Holy Spirit touched the earth and ushered in a fresh experience of God’s presence and power on earth.
On that day, Peter stood before the crowd and preached his very first sermon, referencing the ancient prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)
Peter’s words cast a vision of a time when all people, younger and older, are captivated by a sense of God’s love, and compelled to share that love with others.
It is in that spirit that our Bishop Tom Berlin has asked United Methodists across our state to take up a special offering this Sunday, in observance of Pentecost. It supports two vital ministries in our connectional system:
YOUR YOUNG WILL SEE VISIONS: THE WARREN WILLIS YOUTH CAMP
Part of the special offering will support the youth camp at our Warren Willis Campground in Leesburg, Florida, which for decades has introduced thousands of children to the saving love of Jesus Christ. Many of our most dynamic lay and clergy leaders in Florida first experienced God’s love at Warren Willis, and our support of this ministry will ensure that “young people will see visions” of God’s grace for years to come.
YOUR ELDERS WILL DREAM DREAMS: SCHOLARSHIP AT GAMMON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
The special offering will also support a special scholarship at Gammon Theological Seminary, one of our denomination’s historically black seminaries. Gammon’s endowment is small relative to other, better-known seminaries, affecting its ability to support and train bright, gifted African-American ministerial candidates to serve in the wider church. This scholarship is named after the Rev. Dr. Geraldine McClellan, one of the pioneering clergy of our Conference, and a graduate of Gammon.
To give to this special offering and help the young and old dream dreams, click here.
See you Sunday!
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