Opening Worship: A capacity crowd attended the Opening Worship Service of the 2019 Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference session, which was held Sunday evening, June 2, in the sanctuary of Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL. To begin the service, Stephanie Jeck passionately sang the first verse of the opening hymn, "The Church's One Foundation." The Call to Worship was led by Beverly Maddox, Lay Leader of the conference. A mass choir from around the conference, and led by Frazer Memorial UMC Music Director, Wayne Sigler, provided inspiring music for the service including powerful renditions of, "Come, Christians Join to Sing," "O, Praise the Name" and "Amen," which featured soloists Courtney Selman and Adam Murphy. Bishop David Graves, presiding over his third conference as Resident Bishop of the AWF Conference, welcomed those in attendance. Bishop Graves emphasized how honored the Alabama-West Florida Conference was to have two special guests this evening. Bishop Tracy Smith Malone of the East Ohio Conference and Rev. Eric Soard from the Tanzania Annual Conference were participants in tonight's service. Bishop Malone preached her heartfelt sermon based on 1 John 1:1 entitled, "This We Proclaim," which was appropriately titled to reflect the theme of the 2019 Annual Conference. She mentioned that she grew up in the United Methodist Church as a preacher's kid and has heard many different ways people proclaim to be the church. She noted, "What does it mean to proclaim to be children of the most high?" In her message of mission she emphasized that the church is the instrument of God’s mission in the world revealed in Jesus Christ. "Jesus was not sent to the church but to the world," Malone expressed. She passionately said, "Do we show up in judgement or do we show up in love?" She continued by sharing that we are then sent by Christ as an instrument not of OUR mission, but of God's mission. Our baptismal covenant outlines what that mission is and who we are as God's people in the world. She invited us to reflect carefully on how we are doing as a people sent to the margins of the world. And she called us to rely on the Spirit's power to extend God's love into the world that God loves so much. The scripture lesson was read by Rev. Amanda Messer, a deacon currently serving in the South Georgia Conference who called Alabama-West Florida home for four years.
Jarvis Wilson and Keith Wilson, talented worship leaders from the Atlanta area, led an inspirational and spirit-filled communion medley that had the congregation on their feet by the final song. For the third year, communion was served as a part of this service and celebrated all phases of ministry including elders, deacons, lay members, licensed local pastors, associate members, seminarians, and persons in extension ministry from our conference. Rev. Amanda Messer and Rev. Billy Luttrell of Enterprise UMC prepared the communion elements. Rev. Michael Precht of Crestview FUMC coordinated the service along with the gifted annual conference worship team.
AWF Missional Offering: Wesley College, a part of Teaming with Tanzania, was tonight's recipient of the missional offering. Rev. Eric Soard, Global Ministries Missionary appointed to the Tanzania Annual Conference, was present and shared a few words about our partnership. A brief video was shown as part of his presentation. Wesley College has quickly outgrown their current space in downtown Mwanza and plans have been made to build a campus that will offer more courses and will feature dorms, classroom space, a cafeteria, offices, and more for the projected 2,500 students who will become part of Wesley College. Our annual conference offering will help Wesley College realize this dream of a campus that will better meet the needs of their students. Click here for more.
Biometric Health Screenings: As part of the conference health initiative, biometric health screenings will be offered during annual conference in the rooms 3013/3015 (note this change from last year) at Frazer Memorial UMC on Monday, June 3rd, Tuesday, June 4th and Wednesday, June 5th from 7:30am-12:30pm. This is offered as a part of our health and wellness initiative designed to help you maintain good health. You may visit rooms 3103/3015 to make an appointment with Belinda Carnegie, AWF Benefits Coordinator. For more information, click here.
UMCOR Relief Kits: Bring your UMCOR relief kits and supplies to the truck in the parking lot during annual conference. All assembled and unassembled kits and supplies are welcome. Thank you to Coleman American for providing the truck again this year, and for transporting the supplies to Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA. The truck will be open to receive the kits and supplies during the following hours:
Monday: 7:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday: 7:30am-12:30pm
Wednesday: 7:30am-11:00am
Photos
View photos from the 2019 Annual Conference session (added daily, all photos by Luke Lucas).
Live Streaming
Watch selections of the 2019 Annual Conference LIVE from your home or office.
Remaining Streaming Schedule
All sessions available at www.frazerumc.org/live, except the Service of Commissioning and Ordination. See special link for that service below. All times are CDT.
Monday, June 3
-Morning Worship, 8:30am
-Conference Business Session, 9:30am
-Service of Remembrance & Holy Communion, 1:30pm
-Conference Business Session, 3:00pm
-Recognition of Retiring Clergy (following afternoon business session)
-Service of Ordination: 7:00pm (click here for this service)
Tuesday, June 4
-Morning Worship, 8:30am
-Conference Business Session, 9:30am
-Conference Business Session, 1:30pm
-Conference Business Session, 7:00pm
Wednesday, June 5
-Morning Worship, 8:30am
-Conference Business Session, 9:30am
-Sending Forth Service (following the morning business session)
WFRZ TV Schedule
The following service will be broadcast live on Frazer TV, WFRZ. Check your local provider listings for channel.
Monday, June 3
-Service of Remembrance & Holy Communion, 1:30pm
Get a Copy: CD and DVD copies of many portions of annual conference are available for purchase. Click here for the order form.
Follow the action of the conference live.
Hashtags: Use #awfac19 to join the Twitter and Facebook conversations and to tag your Instagram photos.
Stay connected throughout Annual Conference at www.awfumc.org/ac2019.