Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church

Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity

The podcast feed for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.

  1. 2d ago

    Beyond Sunday Morning: Cultivating a Life of Worship

    Worship is more than songs on Sunday, it's a whole-life response to the greatness and goodness of God. In this episode, Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Sofia Friedley Fernandez, worship ethics specialist with the Institute for Modern Worship, to explore what true worship really is. Drawing from Romans 12:1, the theology of liturgy, and Sophia's own pioneering work in contemporary worship ethics, the conversation unpacks the difference between presence and performance, why we shouldn't show up to church empty, and how the patterns we rehearse on Sunday are forming us the other six days of the week. Show Notes 1:25 — Sophia's three roles: worship, youth, and worship ethics 6:11 — Defining true worship: presence, response, and open hands 13:44 — Performance vs. authenticity in corporate worship 19:00 — The ethics of emotional manipulation in worship spaces 26:57 — Daily liturgy: how habits become character 32:00 — Worship tethered to justice, mercy, and humility For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  2. 4d ago

    Born of Fire: Pentecost and the Birth of the Church

    Wind and fire. Many languages. Walls that simply ceased to exist. In this episode, Brian, Jen, and Derrick dig into the story of Acts 2 and what Pentecost means for the church today: the Spirit-empowered birth of a missional community, the call to multilingual gospel proclamation in an increasingly diverse world, and the partnership between clergy and laity that makes it all work. They explore what it really means to be an "Acts 2 church," why ordinary time is actually the point, and how Pentecost is less a moment to commemorate than a way of life to inhabit. 0:30 – Introducing the Pentecost story 3:04 – The Spirit's empowerment of the laity 8:27 – Pentecost as a reversal of Babel: unity, diversity, and multilingual proclamation 22:32 – Clergy, laity, and the partnership for mission 34:37 – What it actually means to be an Acts 2 church For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  3. Jul 17

    More Than Willpower: Finding Freedom in Self-Control

    Self-control is one of the hardest fruits of the Spirit to talk about honestly . In this episode, Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Rev. Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, for a rich conversation about why willpower alone keeps failing us and what the Spirit offers instead. Drawing on Greek Stoicism, Wesley's Holy Club questions, and the psychology of self-differentiation, they explore self-control not as restriction or punishment, but as a gateway to the freedom of our truest selves. 0:11 — Introduction and episode overview 2:53 — Self-control as strength: unpacking the Greek root and Wesleyan agency 12:19 — Romans 7 & 8, the sound mind, and wisdom through Scripture 16:10 — Wesley's questions, self-awareness, and the inner work of triggers 27:35 — Daily practices, the subconscious, and solvatur ambulando 36:57 — Closing reflections and prayer For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  4. May 27

    Gentleness: Power Under Grace

    Gentleness gets a bad reputation. It is often mistaken for passivity, timidity, or just being overly nice. In this episode, Brian Myers and Jenn Stiles Williams are joined by Rev. Will Newton to reclaim what Scripture actually teaches: gentleness as power under grace and strength directed by love toward restoration. From Psalm 23 to Matthew 18, they trace the biblical vision of the gentle shepherd, explore how gentleness disarms shame and fear, and offer practical norms for cultivating this often misunderstood fruit of the Spirit in our homes, churches, and public life. Show Notes 00:30 — Gentleness introduced: strength, not weakness 02:22 — Why gentleness is misunderstood today 08:01 — A biblical vision of gentle power 10:55 — Gentleness vs. mere politeness 17:31 — How gentleness disarms shame and fear 27:00 — Practical norms for cultivating gentleness For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  5. May 20

    A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: The Beauty of Faithfulness

    What does it look like to live faithfully when life is hard, boring, or uncertain? In this episode, Brian and Derrick welcome Mirhonda Silva, Co-Lay Leader of the East Central District, for a rich conversation on faithfulness as both a spiritual discipline and a fruit of the Spirit. Together they explore how God's unchanging character becomes the foundation for our own steady trust, what it means to steward our time and gifts in the everyday moments, and how honest doubt can coexist with persevering faith. From a brewery to a flooded home, their stories illuminate how faithfulness is less about grand gestures and more about showing up, again and again, in the small and the ordinary. Show Notes 0:30 — Faithfulness as a fruit, not a feeling 3:01 — God's character as the ground of Christian identity 9:22 — Time as our most sacred, irreplaceable resource 15:06 — Ordinary spaces as mission fields 23:08 — Normalizing doubt within community 33:10 — Faithful endurance without performance anxiety For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  6. May 20 ·  Bonus

    Laity Space: Interview with Brian Myers

    Jessica Scott sits down with Brian Myers, North West District Co-Lay Leader, agricultural education professor, and host of the Awaken to Grace podcast. Their conversation included thoughts about the winding road of faith, the power of lay-clergy partnership, and what it actually looks like to sustain a spiritual life when you're juggling a full-time career, family, and church commitments. Brian shares how a frustration with research sitting on shelves sparked two podcasts, why the Wesleyan rhythm of seasons has reshaped his devotional practice, and why "not enough" might be the wrong frame entirely. Honest, practical, and full of grace. Timestamps 05:59 — How a podcast became the excuse to ask better questions 13:47 — Why rhythm and seasons matter to a spiritual life 20:21 — Work, life, and faith aren't separate people 27:50 — "Jan in the flower beds": why every act of service counts The Laity Space Podcast is presented by Florida Conference Board of Laity and produced by the team at Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. For more information, go to laityspace.org.

  7. May 13

    The Power of Kindness and Goodness: Small Acts with Big Impact

    In this episode, Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Pastor Anil Singh of Trinity UMC Jensen Beach to explore what some might call twin fruits of the Spirit: kindness and goodness. These two aren't soft virtues — they're the strength of God's character made visible in everyday life. From a Wesley anecdote about a missed moment of grace to a hospital chaplaincy that left a lasting impression years later, the conversation uncovers how small, intentional acts reflect God's heart, become spiritually contagious, and ripple outward in ways we rarely get to see. The group also wrestles with social media's role in cultivating unkindness, the Wesleyan call to "do no harm," and the sometimes-surprising truth that real kindness includes speaking hard things with love. Show Notes 0:30 — Introducing kindness and goodness as strength, not softness 3:46 — Wesley's carriage, a poor stranger, and a missed moment 11:23 — Hospital chaplaincy: the unseen ripple effect of kindness 15:37 — Decentering self; kindness as spiritually contagious 20:07 — "Do no harm": choosing goodness as a disciplined refusal 25:00 — Clarity as kindness: truth-telling as an act of love For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

  8. May 6

    The Slow Work of God: Learning to Cultivate Patience

    In a world addicted to speed, patience stands as one of the most counter-cultural fruits of the Spirit. Brian Myers and Rev. Jenn Stiles Williams welcome Heather Pancoast, co-director of Gator Wesley Campus Ministry in Gainesville, for a rich conversation on the slow work of God. Drawing on Kate Bowler's insight that patience is not passive waiting but an active, generous form of love — and resonating with the wisdom of Kosuke Koyama's Three Mile an Hour God and John Mark Comer's Ruthless Elimination of Hurry — the conversation reframes patience as a Spirit-grown fruit that de-centers us, roots us in humility, and aligns our pace with God's own. From breathwork to phone boundaries, from Wesley's sermon on patience to a hard-won personal acronym, this episode offers both theological grounding and practical handles for trusting God's timing. Show Notes 0:30 – Introducing Heather Pancoast and Gator Wesley 3:45 – Why patience doesn't come naturally 12:29 – Active waiting, not passive avoidance 15:29 – Impatience in Scripture: Sarah, Peter, and Judas 21:03 – Moving at the pace of Jesus: breath, margins, and phone boundaries 26:48 – Spirit-grown patience vs. willpower: decentering self For more information on the year-long Awaken to Grace series, visit awakentograce.org. Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley. Original music by the Institute for Modern Worship.

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The podcast feed for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.

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