"Sowing the Seeds of Bounty" is the theme of this year’s School of Christian Mission July 24-30 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The school’s weeklong gathering July 24-28 and weekend session July 28-30 are open to clergy and laity from the Florida Conference who want to learn and grow through study of the United Methodist Church’s mission.

This year’s topics include "Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians," including how Paul’s teachings on pluralism, conflict and theology relate to today’s church controversies; "Children of Africa," examining the specific life situations of children in Africa and celebrating United Methodist missions with those children; and "God’s People in an Urban Culture," exploring mission challenges and successes in urban culture.

The youth study, "Streetwise in Corinth: Paul’s Letters on an Urban Congregation," combines elements of two of the adult studies and includes a hands-on mission trip.

The School of Christian Mission is sponsored by the Florida Conference United Methodist Women. For more information, contact Opal Winebrenner, dean of the school, at 305-624-1893.

Clergy interested in developing their skills in spiritual counseling and becoming more aware of the cultural issues that may exist in their congregations and communities are invited to attend "Doing Psychotherapy at the Intersection of Spirituality and Culture" Sept. 15-16 at the Canterbury Retreat Center in Oviedo.

The Florida Conference Counseling Network has developed this continuing education event which is designed both for network counselors and interested Florida Conference clergy.

The Rev. Dr. Marsha Wiggins Frame, a member of the Florida Conference presently on sabbatical, will be one of the featured presenters. Wiggins Frame is a professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver. She is a licensed Professional Counselor and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the state of Colorado.

For more information about the conference, contact Jean Vanderslice, the Florida Conference Counseling Network Coordinator, at 863-644-3244 or via e-mail at JAJV6@aol.com.