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Jan. 2, 2023 - Jan. 8,2023
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I have been preparing three lessons a week now for a while and reading my daily devotional. It just happens the devotional I am reading is right in the place where I am preparing. I always take that as a push from God to share.
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Jeremiah 29:11 is familiar to many of us. “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Nine years ago, this was our key verse for our future campaign. The context is quite astounding. The people of Jerusalem have been taken captive and are exiled in Babylon. Their holy city sacked and burned, many they knew, family, have been killed. Jeremiah had warned them of this because of their disobedience, yet they did not repent. In preparation for captivity, God tells the people through Jeremiah to go there and “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters: find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage so that they too may have sons and daughters. “ Jeremiah 29:5-6
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It sounds to me like God intends His chosen people to be in exile a long time,
generations maybe. How does that lead to “I have plans to prosper and to bless you?”
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Often in life we only see what affects us. Rarely do we see ourselves as a player in a much larger, longer game, a part of a plan that takes thousands of years to fulfill. And yet that is exactly what we are for God, a part of a much larger plan. Each person, each generation, each civilization all play a part in the plan. Our work today is to believe THE PLAN is to bless His people, no matter what our immediate part in the plan might be. That is called trust.
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I want to encourage you to trust the Lord for His goodness. He knows what He is doing.
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I love being your pastor,
Ernie
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We are excited to announce a new Wesley Facebook group has been set up for anyone who would like to join in a home study of the New Testament under the framework of the 27/90 Study developed by Pastor Ernie Post. If you have not already received an invite via Facebook,there is a link below where you can sign up.
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Each week a short video along with reading assignments and questions will be posted and everyone will be encouraged to comment and discuss. We hope both newer and more mature Christians, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible, will join and support each other as we grow in our spiritual journey. Get togethers will be planned occasionally for us to join in person and discuss what we are learning and/or just to have some fun! We encourage all to participate and invite your family and friends! Also, prayerfully consider finding a buddy to get together with to read and discuss the lesson!
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If you are hesitating to make a committment to do the whole New Testament in 90 days, that is perfectly fine. Everyone is welcome to work at their own pace. The important thing is just make the time to read through the New Testament and give God the opportunity to speak truth to your soul.
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To get a preview of the study on our Facebook group and join now, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/2790study
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If you do not do Facebook, materials will be available on the website.
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We have a new private Facebook group for the Women of Wesley and their family and friends. If you follow Wesley on Facebook, check your notifications for an invite. If you did not receive an invite and would like to be part of this group, click button below.
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HABANA HEALTH CARE MINISTRY
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Some members of Wesley spent New Years Eve afternoon at Habana Health Care Center making a New Years banner and singing songs! We hope to be bringing more music into the art activity the last Saturday of each month. Volunteers needed!
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Click button below for short video of the afternoon!
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Thank You to Morgan Church who has been a big supporter of the Ukranians who have come to the Agape House in Vermont for a new beginning.
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I can't think of a better way to begin the new year than to pray for our loved ones including those in waiting, Ukrainians waiting to come over. May our prayers for their safety and well being be heard by our loving Father in heaven.
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1. Please pray for Alla & Yurii. This young couple in their 20s are expecting their first child very soon. They left Ukraine to find water, electricity and a good doctor. They are waiting in Romania with plane tickets to come to Boston this Friday, Jan. 6th and will become the newest residents of Agape House. Alla's sister Sasha lives in Agape House and will enjoy being an aunt. Alla is at 33 weeks and a bit anxious that the baby will come preterm. Please pray for their anxious thoughts, for their safety and especially for the baby's safety especially as they fly from Bucharest to Munich (6 hr. layover) to Boston. Please pray they will be warmly welcomed by everyone in Agape House.
2. Please pray for 7-year-old Mariam, the child who was adopted by the Shapovalovs, she came from an orphanage with burns from the hips to the feet. She is slated to have surgery this Friday to make the scar tissue on her legs tender for an upcoming skin graft.
3. Please pray for all of the residents of Agape House by name, that they would each feel at home where God has planted them and that God will expedite work visas and provide the plan for each to further their education:
THE SINGLES
Dariia - a single young professional woman, will get her driver's license soon.
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Sasha 20 - a single young woman who almost completed theological training and who will be expecting her pregnant sister by the end of the week.
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Jose & Misha - the two single men who are Ukrainian-Peruvians and such sweethearts, Jose helps with leading worship .
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DJ - a man with special needs in his 30s.
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Bill - an older man with special needs who is a real delight
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Sasha 21 - an extraordinary young woman who needs to rest and regroup to find
Carlos - not yet a resident of Agape, Carlos is a transplant from Cuba trying to find God's leading
THE TEENS
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Thanks to a volunteer, several of these are learning to play stringed instruments! They are learning online and a volunteer comes in to supplement instruction. All except Gabe need to sharpen their English. Diane is the youngest and has really gained a lot of language
James
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Miaha -special needs being served through homeschool teacher-volunteers
Bogoslav -special needs who is being served in the local public school
Diane
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These children are so precious. We are almost always greeted with a hug and smile. (photos included here)
Yaroslav
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Prayers for great academic gains and strong English skills as we look ahead to their inclusion in the public school.
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Please pray for wisdom as they parent and live with the uncertainty of knowing what will happen when visas expire.
Tatiana & Oleg for Oleg & Tatiana to make the right decisions for their family as they may be shifting to a more independent living situation soon. Oleg has received two job offers which will require transportation. Pray for discernment
Olesia & Sergii - new meds are helping Sergii. He went on a long walk yesterday. For health issues for Olesia
Dmo & Sasha - for spiritual rest and for God to provide Dmo the right job (medical) at the right time
Theresa & Scott the founders of Agape -that they will find rest amidst the sometimes chaos of communal living
Olena - a single mother who does not yet understand the love of Christ
Alla & Yurii - the new young couple who will be parents for the first time
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These are all prayers for people being supported by Agape House in Vermont, a mission that Wesley has been playing a part in.
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This pic is of the Agape kids sleighing. Please also pray for Jose & Misha (they are brothers). They are beginning a Youth Group at Morgan Church!!
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CUBA MINISTRY
We will be having a Lenten Covenant Renewal with Cuba starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
thru Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023
with instruction on how we can support
the Cuba Medicine Program.
Below is a poem written by a refugee and translated & Paraphrased by Renee Kincaid.
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WHILE THEY’VE SUFFERED FOR SO LONG
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THE MISERY OF THOSE WHO SUFFER
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KNOWING LIFE THERE IS SO MUCH rougherTOUGHER
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IN A COUNTRY WHERE EVERYTHING IS SO WRONG
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AND SUFFERING IS PROLONGED
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THE SORROW OF THOSE WHO CRY
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IT IS JESUS WHO IS SO STRONG
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FOR GOD TO END THIS SORROW
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FOR CUBA TO HAVE A BRIGHT TOMORROW
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EVEN THOUGH HERE WE HAVE IT ALL
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DO NOT FORGET OUR COUNTRY
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IN A MOST INTENSE PRAYER PINNACLE
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THAT THEIR SORROW MAY TURN
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INTO GOD S SWEET LOVE & EMBRACE
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(I returned to my country in 1997 as a missionary with the Cuba ministry, after being away 36 years- Renee)
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Pastor Ernie welcomed his first great-grandson
Luka Monzon
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If you would like to have an event or celebration (birth, graduation, marriage, travel, etc.) added to the ANNOUNCEMENTS section, please email [email protected] , including description of announcement along with any photographs.
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Wesley, you are such a faithful church! We thank you for your generous and giving hearts! You can Text To Tithe your offerings for Wesley Memorial UMC at this contact number - 813-699-4304. Within a few minutes, you’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt of your donation via email. You can even text “repeat” to make it a recurring donation. Give + Text is one of the fastest and easiest ways to give.
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Or by standard mail by sending cash or check to
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6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa FL 33615
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Office hours are Monday - Thursday 9am-3pm.
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We are here to help you with any of your needs.
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Church Contact Information:
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Pastor Ernie is continuing his series "Finding Jesus in the Old Testament". This is a not to be missed study focusing on a spiritual approach to the Old Testament that needs to be watched and shared with neighbors and friends! Join us every Tuesday morning at 7:30 am on Facebook or you can watch it later as well.
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"No matter what comes your way this year, trust in God and do your part and believe He's got a Great Plan."
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We need more Prayer Team Members!
It's really very simple. You will receive an automated email message when someone posts a prayer on the prayer wall. You can pray, hit button that says "I prayed" and comment if you wish, all from the email notification without going to the website. This can be done on your phone, laptop, or computer.
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If you would like to be part of the Prayer Team , text the word "Prayer" to
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813-592-1788. (Save this number in your phone as Wesley Memorial Tampa.)
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Please note, you must wait for text prompts to fill out form with your information.
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If you do not text, you can simply reply to this newsletter.
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Let's be a Praying Church for each other,
the church, and the world!
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Sunday Sermon Jan. 8, 2023
"Consider the Lilies"
Matthew 6:28
A Lesson in Trust
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9am Traditional Service 11:15am Contemporary Service
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