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Welcome to The Bridge
News
Section, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the United Methodist Church! Local Church
EVENTS
are in separate email.
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Life Long Learning, an Amazing Thing! Part 1
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Hi Friends,
- Do you remember when you learned how to spell?
- Do you remember when you learned how to drive?
- Was there ever a point in your life of learning and accepting that God has a purpose for your life?
For the next few weeks I’m going to focus on one part of our Conference Vision of “being lifelong learners.” Learning takes a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it.
I have to laugh at myself in pondering the question of when I learned to spell because I often discover that I have not come close to mastering the thing known as spelling. While in college I had a work study job in the office of the Dean of Students. One of my clerical jobs was to post notices on the outside signs. There were a number of occasions when my spelling errors provided for some great laughs. For the “stiff necked” it provided a source of frustration. For the suspicious my spelling errors raised the question of whether my misspelled words were intentional pranks. Obviously, I’m still learning how to spell words correctly.
I love learning, but it truly is a labor of love.
I want to know more about Jesus! I want to learn more about what God is thinking, doing, and desiring. But I have to continually read the bible, pray, study, and go beyond my comfort zones to learn.
Right now, Bishop Lewis is leading us, the Virginia United Methodists, to engage in lifelong learning. We agreed at the 2017 Annual Conference that we would embrace a vision that includes lifelong learning. Are we ready to embrace lifelong learning?
I think learning is something that happens in the analogy of baby steps. Learning begins with earnest pursuit and is achieved though faith and works. The subject of lifelong learning has led me to ponder what I’ve learned over the years and when I learned it. In this first series of newsletter articles, here are some examples:
At age 11 I learned in the United Methodist Church (and embraced the wonderful news) that Christ “did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” That was an important learning lesson for me because at age 11 I, like many teens, felt condemned and worthless;
At age 12 I learned (and again embraced the news) that Jesus wanted a personal relationship with me. As a result of this learning, I prayed for and accepted a covenant relationship with Jesus. In short, I made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ;
At age 13 or 14 I learned that I was being called into the ordained ministry. I initially didn’t like or accept the call, but I knew I was being called. Some have heard me say I didn’t want to be a preacher having witnessed the challenges up close. I was ok with being an active lay person, but I had other vocational dreams. But when God calls...one will answer sooner or later;
At age 24 I was ordained and heard Bishops Leontine Kelly and Robert Blackburn say “Take Thou Authority.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant, but I heard it. When I began to serve my first congregation a year later (as a 25 year old), I fully understood the “take thou authority” command. I realized the “take thou authority” command was an ordination vow to be pastor, spiritual leader, and one who must order the life of the Church. I also learned how very difficult and challenging it would be to honor the vow and the command.
As we engage the goal of being lifelong learners, I invite you to join me by taking a mental journey back in time to what you’ve learned, when you learned it, and actions you took as a result of the learning. I’m sure you’ll find some very interesting things that confirm the great value of being a lifelong learner.
Ted
Pastor Ted
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Congratulations to the following who were elected as District Delegates to the 2018 Annual Conference (shown in alphabetical order):
Annette Ashton
Suzie Britton
Harold Britton
Ellen Brown
Mary Beth Bryant
Karen Elmore
Mary Ella Fuquay
Dottie Garrison
Linda Gross
Gary Gross
Jim Helm
Pat Martin
Sylvia Massie
Kevin Mooers
John Nelson
Carolyn Nelson
Sue Oliveri
Charlotte Parrish
Wayne Parrish
Judah Perez
Ramona Ritter
Pam Smith
Barbara Swingle
Larry Tubbs
Mary Wildy
Kelsey Wilson
Terri Wiseman
Kay Wright
Also, congratulations to the alternates (shown in alphabetical order):
Laura Barrett
Bill Blaine
Patty Erickson
Ted George
Stormy George
Tony Schroth
Stephanie Serrett
Robert Stephens
Joanne Wilson
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District Conference Offering
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Thank you to everyone who contributed for the District Conference Offering for UMCOR Hurricane Relief. We donated almost $1,100 !!!
Thank you!
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Part-time Organist/Pianist wanted for Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church, Tappahannock, VA. This person will be responsible for providing music for two Sunday worship services, choir rehearsals and special worship services of the church. Salary negotiable. For more information, please contact the church office at
tappmethodist@gmail.com or 804-443-2278.
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UM Day at General Assembly
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Registration Now Open! Join us February 1, 2018
United Methodist Day
at the General Assembly
Thursday, February 1, 2018
7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
at
Bon Air United Methodist Church
North Chesterfield, Virginia
REGISTER EARLY
Space is LIMITED.
Due to construction at capitol square this year and the relocation of the General Assembly Building, space will be more LIMITED this year.
Ever wanted to know how to create real change in our state government? Ever wanted to know more about real issues facing our legislature? United Methodist Day at the General Assembly is the place for you! This is our opportunity to help faith communities become empowered to serve as missionaries of justice, as well as the more traditional missionaries of mercy.
JOIN US for the BRIEFING
Wednesday, January 31
7:30 p.m. - Briefing at Bon Air UMC,
1645 Buford Rd
, North Chesterfield, VA 23235-4274
Hotel Reservations
Rooms for the night of January 31, are available at the Hyatt Place,
201 Arboretum Place
, Richmond, 23236, near Bon Air UMC. Call
(804) 560-1566
to make your reservation and mention “Virginia United Methodist Conference” to receive a special room rate of $91/night (single or double). Hotel reservation deadline is January 1, 2018.
Registration
Credit Card will be required at time of registration.
Register by January 1
and pay
$30 early registration
. After January 1, pay $40 until January 12 when registration closes. Registration includes information packet with reusable bag, hot breakfast, box lunch (sandwich or salad), parking, transportation to the Capitol grounds, and afternoon speakers. All registration materials, maps, information on advocacy and other important documents will be sent to you by email. No refunds will be available.
Presented by the Board of Church Society and The United Methodist Women of the Virginia Conference.
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Christmas Break Blessings
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Sisters and Brothers,
The Heartwood Center will be sponsoring the Christmas Break Blessings food distribution for children in 8 Stafford County Schools. A packing event will be held at St. Matthias UMC 426 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg on Monday December 18th 10am.
Here is the list of food items needed for the Stafford Christmas Break food bags
Chef Boyardee micro. cups 290
Cup of Soup 200
Mac & Cheese micro. cups 490
Crackers / Granola Bars / Cookie packs 490
Fruit Cups / Fruit packets / Raisin boxes 490
Cereal (Indiv. boxes or bags) 490
Oatmeal packets / Nutri Grain Bars 340
Nutri Grain / Breakfast Bars 150
Capri Suns 490
Juice Boxes 490
Monetary Donations can be made payable to Heartwood Ministries and mailed to
PO BOX 187
Hartwood, VA 22471
Blessings,
Gayle
Rev. Gayle Porias
Pastor Mount Horeb UMC
The Heartwood Center Director
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District Meetings & Training:
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December 2 UMW Advent Prayer Breakfast, Regester Chapel UMC
December 6 Heartwood Board, New Hope, 7:00pm
December 8 Clergy Family Service, Trinity KG, 7:30pm
December 11 Connectional Ministries, Wright's Chapel, 7:00pm
December 12 DCOM, Wright's Chapel
December 14 District Board of Church Location & Building, Wright's Chapel
January 2 Board of Missions, Tabernacle, 7:00pm
January 23 DCOM
January 23 District Finance, Fredericksburg UMC, 7:00pm
OTHER UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS:
Jan. 10 TRAINING FOR NEW TREASURERS Wright's Chapel UMC
Jan. 20 PPR COMMITTEE TRAINING Trinity King George
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District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
District Lay Leader:
District Associate Lay Leaders:
Mailing Address: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 Phone 804.448.8326 FAX 804.448.8328
Office Location: Inside Wright’s Chapel UMC at 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA (do not use for mail)
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