Florida Conference pastors are invited to attend the "Preaching with Presence" workshop March 12-14 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg.

"Preaching with Presence" is more than a workshop on preaching, according to the Rev. Jim Fogle-Miller, workshop coordinator. "It is a workshop on listening, counseling, relationship building, mentoring, building personal courage and love."

The Institute of Preaching, a privately-endowed organization begun by a Florida Conference layperson to improve preaching, supports "Preaching with Presence" through an annual subsidy, which saves participants approximately $450.

The cost for the workshop is $100. Anyone serving as a pastor in the Florida Conference is eligible to attend, but registration is limited to 16 and is on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information, contact Fogle-Miller at 863-324-6347 or JIMLEAD@aol.com. 

Clergy and their spouses are invited to Cocoa Beach for the 2001 Clergy Spouse Retreat April 20-22 at the newly-renovated Holiday Inn on Atlantic Ave. The retreat is a time for couples to relax and enjoy fellowship with other clergy couples.

"In a very stressful world, couples need some time apart to consider the deeper things of God. Being rooted in scriptures and the pulse of God’s creation brings us together with greater appreciation for each other as temples of the Holy Spirit," Florida Bishop J. Lloyd Knox said.

The cost for the full weekend is $250 per couple, which includes a two-night stay, Saturday banquet and Sunday breakfast. The commuter cost is $60.00 per couple and includes regular activities and the Saturday evening banquet. The deadline to register is March 1.

For registration information, contact the Rev. John or Terri Gill at 863-675-1412. For retreat information, contact the Rev. Ivan or Debbie Corbin at 352-728-2581 or RavenCorbi@aol.com. 

Retired United Methodist clergy attending the Thirteenth Annual Reunion March 26-28 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg will vote on a proposal to form The Association of Retired Clergy of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The Association’s purpose would be to "assist retired clergy to stay connected with one another by offering a means of connection, information, support and fellowship," according to the proposed bylaws. "The Association shall not be an advocacy group."

Bylaws for the proposed association were written by a committee of retired clergy after the idea for the association was presented to the Annual Reunion’s planning committee last March, according to the Rev. Bob Fox. If retirees in attendance vote their approval, a slate of officers and committees will be presented.

The Thirteenth Gathering of the Retired Clergy Reunion, themed "Live It Up: Keep On Blooming," will also feature classes in computers, gardening, landscaping and long-term care options through Medicare and insurance, as well as the "Classics and Comedy" Gala.

The cost for the weekend is $100. The deadline to register is March 5. For more information, contact the Rev. Trall Heitzenrater at 904-767-5568.

Spiritworks, the spiritual formation and leadership ministry of the Rev. Patricia Brown, invites clergy and laity on its "Serenity Pilgrimage" to the cathedrals and spiritual communities of France May 3-15. Participants will visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a Taize community, a Benedictine Abbey and the Chartres Labyrinth.

The cost is $2,748 and includes roundtrip airfare from Orlando, accommodations and more. For more information, contact Educational Opportunities at 863-648-0383 or eo@travelwithus.com,  or Brown at 407-657-2672 or pdbrown@spiritworks.org 

The 2001 Florida United Methodist Children’s Home Day on Campus is March 17. Special invitations are extended to the Leesburg, St. Petersburg and Tampa districts. The day features campus tours, a program by the children and a picnic lunch. Contact the Rev. David Waller, vice president for financial development, at 386-668-4774 or david.waller@fumch.org.