Ocala First Connection

Below is Pastor Rwth's sermon from this past Sunday (01-07-2018) including the slides she used during the 9:00 am Contemporary Service.  You can view the video from the 11:00 am service on our website:  http://fumcocala.org/sermons/ +++++ We’re not even two week past Christmas, and the Christian calendar already has us at Jesus’ Baptism. Maybe because Christmas remained fresh in my heart, I sat with the story of Jesus’ baptism with his birth still on my mind.    Maybe I had birth on my mind because I want God’s grace to birth some new things in my life and in the life of our church in 2018.    That said, connecting birth and baptism makes sense for us. There’s this conversation Jesus and Nicodemus were having in another scripture reading, John, chapter 3. Jesus says, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom. Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the moth...

For the past 18 months, Karlie Harper has been the Director of our Tuesday Morning Outreach Ministries.  And her family has been an active and vital part of Ocala First United Methodist Church for several years. This week Karlie, her husband, Jon, and their children are moving to Oklahoma.   Below is Karlie's last devotional message from Tuesday Morning Outreach. As always, her words are challenging and uplifting, convicting and hopeful.  May you be blessed by her words!  And join us in prayer for traveling mercies and blessings for Karlie and her family as they start life anew in Oklahoma!  We love you, Karlie! +++++ Today is my last day as the outreach coordinator. I have loved serving with you and for you all. I want to thank you for walking along with me while I lived in Ocala and served this ministry. It has been easily one of the best experiences in my life. Please know that as I go to my next place, I will hold all of my special moments ...