December 7, 2017
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.
Life Long Learning, an Amazing Thing! Part 2

Let’s continue the journey of what we’ve learned and when we learned it. Now, let’s pick up where I left off with one slight change from last week. As I continue the lessons learned, let me share some things in the year learned and others in the span of a particular decade.

Starting my first pastorate as a 24 year old, I came to believe and understand that there is a significant difference between God’s call on one’s life and the ability of the Church to help sustain that call.  I learned very early in my ministry that the church can be a very challenging place! I came to understand that some congregations do not work to help people see the truth of God having a purpose for our lives. I came to understand that churches are broken and in deep need of Christ because God’s people continually wrestle with breaking away from our birth sin state.   Churches are broken because we who participate in them are broken.  Once we accept it, we can begin to focus more on God’s grace, God’s plan for each of us, and how Christ is working to get us to closer relationships with God. Friends, the Church IS God’s agent for salvation, for affirming God’s creation, and even for supporting those called into ordained ministry. I know God called and I know it is my responsibility to sustain the call and remain spiritually well fed. I understand that I stand in an historic line of the called people who all wrestled to keep their call alive through Holy care, not necessarily through Church care.

At age 30 I learned and accepted that I must listen to, pay close attention to, and learn to trust my instincts. That’s not to say that my instincts are 100% correct, but it is to say I’ve come to see that God uses many techniques to speak to us. Equally important is learning to test the instinctual senses after I become aware of them.  I’ve learned that hearing the voice of instinct is only the first step to gaining awareness.

At age 33 I learned that I’m hard to live with, but my family loves me anyway. Thank God for grace and mercy.

It took me until my 40’s to really get the fact that I need daily exercise. Without exception, the human body needs exercise and constant motion. Exercise is a great antidote to negative feelings and thoughts. I used to think of exercise as just a means of staying healthy. But I’ve come to an awareness of how my disposition makes a total shift during and after working my muscles and getting the blood pumping.  Exercise is physical and has direct correlation to the spiritual.  My confession is that engaging in daily exercise is no less challenging than learning to master the English language.

One of the most enlightening nuggets of wisdom I learned came from a Chicago area emergency room doctor. We were discussing our respective roles of service and availability to those in traumatic situations and how we could be available without constantly becoming personally overwhelmed with each new situation. The metaphor the doctor used was that he saw our two professions as jobs in which we are required to be with those who are on the roller coaster but we are standing at the base of the ride rather than getting in the seat beside the rider. It is not a matter of whether one keeps a healthy distance as much as the art of living in empathy while offering the lifeline of hope in response to the ups and downs of the ride. A matter of knowing without doubt that God is at the control box and we who care for the riders are on the ground watching, waiting, hopeful, excited, and there to comfort if the ride does not go well.

What have you learned about what God desires for you and your role in God’s plan? 

More to come in part 3.


Ted
Pastor Ted
Warsaw UMC thanks
Builder's Club Members
Warsaw UMC celebrated the first Sunday of Advent by coming home to their newly renovated sanctuary. What a joy to be back in our sacred space. It was the first time our new Pastor Daniel Burch preached from that pulpit, and it was very special for all of us. We want to thank everyone across the district who prayed for us, and all of the Builders Club members who gave so generously to help us in our time of need. What a blessing it is to be part of such a loving, supportive connectional church. Thank you, and we wish you all a joyous Advent and Christmas season filled with hope!
Registration is now open!
Job Opening
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.
Christmas Break Blessings
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
Upcoming District Meetings & Training:
December 8 Clergy Family Service, Trinity KG UMC, 7:30pm

December 11 Connectional Ministries, Wright's Chapel UMC, 7:00pm

December 19 Ordained Ministry, Wright's Chapel UMC

January 2 District Board of Missions, Tabernacle UMC, 7:00pm

January 4 D istrict Board on Superintendency, District Office, 7:00pm

January 9 Full Clergy Meeting, Wright's Chapel UMC, 9:30am

January 10 Church Treasurer 101 Training, Wright's Chapel UMC, 7:00pm

January 20 SPPR Committee Training, Trinity King George UMC, 10:00am

January 23 Ordained Ministry, Wright's Chapel UMC

January 23 District Finance, Fredericksburg UMC, 7:00pm

February 1 UM Day at General Assembly

February 1 District Trustees, Hillcrest UMC, 6:30pm
  
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
District Lay Leader:
Ms. Debbie Dietrich      debbiedietrich6@gmail.com
District Associate Lay Leaders:
District Lay Servant Ministry Director Greg Sokolowski  Gregory.sokolowski@navy.mil
Heartwood Director: Rev. Gayle Porias gayleporias@vaumc.org
District Secretary: Ms. Lynn Manley rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org
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)