"Because He Lives" is the theme for this year’s Mature Years Retreat, held for all older adults in the conference April 10-13 at the Life Enrichment Center in Leesburg.

Worship leaders include the Revs. Fred Bonsteel, Carol Sue Hutchinson, Jackie McMillan and Geraldine McClellan, and Drs. Robert Barber and Paul Hartsfield. Enrichment classes include "Ministering to the Chronologically Blessed," "Good Comes From Bad" and others.

The cost is $115 per person, double occupancy, or $139 per person, single occupancy. Register by March 31. Contact the Conference Council on Ministries Discipleship Ministry office at 1-800-282-8011.

Bishop invites confirmands to worship and work

This year’s confirmands are invited to attend a celebration featuring worship and mission work. The "All New Bishop’s Confirmation Convocation" is April 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando.

The morning will be spent designing the afternoon worship service. Worship opportunities include drama, interpretive dance, clowns, puppets, multimedia presentation and others. Worship will be led by Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson; the Rev. Scott Smith, pastor of Community of Faith Mission in Davenport; and the praise band from First United Methodist Church, Clermont.

Each confirmand is encouraged to bring one school kit for a child in Kosovo.

The cost is $6 per person. Register by March 31. Contact the Conference Council on Ministries Discipleship Ministry office at 1-800-282-8011.

Tornado-hit Georgia needs help

More than 100 people were injured and 19 killed Feb. 14 in the deadliest tornado system to hit Georgia in the last 50 years.

The area’s immediate need is money to rebuild, according to Bill Rhan, the Florida Conference’s disaster response coordinator. He said volunteer groups should not go to the area without first contacting one of the volunteer organizations to get an assignment. Churches are also asked not to send clothes.

Volunteers should contact the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Hot Line, 1-800-918-3100; Larry Rankin, the conference’s Missions Ministry director, 1-800-282-8011, extension 132, or LRankin@flumc.org; Rhan, 1-800-297-4233 or TentDoc@aol.com;  or Tom Griner, the conference United Methodist Volunteers in Mission director, 352-326-5672 or TomGriner1@aol.com. 

Monetary gifts can be made to UMCOR’s domestic disaster response through Advance #901670–1 and designated "Georgia Tornadoes." Checks should be written to "Florida Conference Treasurer," with the designation in the memo, and mailed with the church’s monthly remittance form or directly to Florida Conference Treasurer at P.O. Box 3767, Lakeland, FL 33802.

Short Bites

Bethune-Cookman College’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is offering free tax help to people with low and limited income and disabilities, non-English speaking persons, and elderly taxpayers. For more information, contact the school’s division of business at 904-255-1401, extension 339 or 355.

A new booklet published by Discipleship Resources addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) new Christians have. The 48-page "10 FAQs of New Christians," addresses such topics as if God is good, why do bad things happen; why do I need to go to church; and how do I talk to God? The cost is $19.95 per set of 10 booklets. Contact Discipleship Resources, 1-800-685-4370, http://www.discipleshipresources.org; or Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789, http://www.cokesbury.com.