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Welcome to The Bridge, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the United Methodist Church
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Is Your Church Serving or Just Wanting to Be Served?
41
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
42
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
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Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
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and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:41-45
Do you remember the context of this passage from Mark (and recorded in Matthew)?
Do you remember why Jesus said these words about "coming to serve, not to be served?”
Jesus said these important words about who should serve whom when the two sons of Zebedee asked to be seated in heaven at the right and left of Jesus. I don’t think Jesus is trying to be mean spirited in telling the two sons that they can’t truly know the magnitude of what they have asked and they are not prepared to accept the weight of responsibility that comes with their request. All throughout the travels of Jesus and the disciples, Jesus tried to help the disciples understand that His rule as Lord was nothing like the secular Lordship of that era.
Jesus tried to help the disciples understand that the nature of his leadership centered on selfless sacrificial giving of one’s life.
My lifelong understanding of my call is that I should be willing to serve and to be leery of being served. I must admit that this view of who should serve whom carries over into my belief of my ministry and my view of the proper relationship between the local church, the district, and the Conference.
More specifically, it is my core belief that 1) the Virginia Conference exists to resource the church and the districts, 2) the district exists to resource the local churches, and 3) the local church exists to make disciples.
Because of this belief, our district has been vigilant in providing resources that will help churches grow in vitality, membership, worship attendance, and financial strength.
This is why the Rappahannock River District has tried to make every district training a useful resource; and this is why the Rappahannock River District leadership have offered two Lay Servant training events across the district almost every year. We believe the district office exists to provide resources for the strengthening and vitality of the local church. This is why the Rappahannock River District budget directs the bulk of the local church askings to ministries that benefit the local church. Lastly, this is why we’ve continued to offer seed money to any congregation that seeks to initiate a mission or outreach ministry.
If we don’t and won’t do a better job as churches of “giving it all away” God may stop entrusting to us enough to keep our doors open. Because the purpose of the church is to serve, not to be served!
Friends, there will be no glory nor seats of honor for our churches, there are only opportunities to humble ourselves and serve.
On March 24
th
we are offering our most important opportunity to learn how to better serve and reach the unchurched. Every pastor is expected to be present at Wright’s Chapel along with 2-3 church members for the “See All the People” training. We must get exponentially stronger at implementing specific steps to making disciples!
If we don’t get better and stronger at making disciples, God may not choose to allow all our congregations the privilege of remaining open and of keeping the disciples we currently have.
Let’s gather on March 24
th
and learn more about being the servers rather than being the served. Email the district office today to register your church team.
Ted
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Making Sense of God and Suffering
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Join us Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to discover the depth of God’s love in the midst of human chaos, devastation and trauma.
There are times when we question where God is in the midst of suffering.
There are days when we journey through the valley of the shadow of death and wonder how a loving God could possibly have allowed or willed this trouble or trauma we, and the world, are experiencing.
Come join us in a time of exploration and discovery as we worship, share, study Scripture, enjoy lunch and fellowship. Register by emailing Carolyn Messer at
Messer7054@comcast.net
or calling
540-538-0034
.
We encourage you to register in advance so that we might have enough handouts and food for lunch. We will take a free will offering to cover the cost of lunch. When you register please advice us to any dietary restrictions you might have.
"Making Sense of God and Suffering" is hosted by Zion UMC in Spotsylvania Courthouse, 8700 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553. Directions are on the website at
www.Zionumc.us
.
The workshop speaker is Rev. Dr. Teresa Smith, Pastor at New Hope UMC and Director of New Pathways, author of
Through the Darkest Valley
. To contact Teresa email
TeresaSmith@vaumc.org
or text
571-236-9753
.
All are welcome.
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"
SACRED SPACE
"
Rappahannock River District United Methodist Women
SPIRITUAL DAY APART
Trinity (King George) United Methodist Church
9425 King's Highway, King George, VA 22485
Rev. Emily Moore-Diamond
Chaplain, Mary Washington
Hospital
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Registration:
9:30 - 10:00 AM
*
Program:
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
(
11:30 - 12:30) LUNCH**
*
Childcare provided if you request
by February 24
** Love offering collected for lunch
Please pre-register by February 24.
(See your local UMW President or call 804-633-5415)
BIO ~ Rev. Emily Moore-Diamond has been serving in ministry in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church for over 25 years. Currently, she serves as a Chaplain at Mary Washington Hospital. Rev. Emily is the former pastor of Warsaw UMC and former president of the Rappahannock River District Clergy Association. She has also served churches in the Richmond, Harrisonburg, Danville, and Arlington Districts. She is married to Scott Diamond, and they live in Woodbridge. She enjoys writing, running, reading, and word games.
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Next Youth Retreat Planning Meeting is Sunday, March 18 at Hillcrest UMC at 2:00pm- Please join us!
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The Heartwood Center will be packing food bags for the Easter break on March 27th beginning at 9am at St. Matthias UMC
426 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg
. In addition to packers we will also need volunteers to deliver the bags to the Stafford County schools
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Financial Peace University Offered
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With Dave Ramsey’s class Financial Peace University, you CAN take control of
your money and start planning for your future. If you’re interested in learning more
about the class, email Michelle Pinheiro at admin.assistant@tabumc.org! Because
we’re offering it at Tabernacle United Methodist church just for you starting
April 4, 2018 at 7 p.m. You may sign up and order you kit today by going to
on the link to Financial Peace University.
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Rappahannock River District
El Salvador (UMVIM) Mission Trip
July 2 – 6, 2018
We are excited to reconnect with our International Methodist Mission Partner – The Evangelical Methodist Church in El Salvador. In 2018, we’ll send a District team to continue our relationship-building and food distribution. Interested team members may have an opportunity to engage in some construction work as well.
Applications are available from the District Office, the District website, or by contacting Rev. Craig Muffley, Team Leader, at
craigmuffley@vaumc.org
.
Trip Cost
: Expected to be in the $750-$850 range, including airfare. $300 scholarships will be available to persons under 30 years of age.
Application and Deposit Deadline
: March 15
th
, 2018 - $250 deposit is due with your application. Make checks payable to “Rappahannock River District UMC”, memo: El Salvador Trip and mail to:
Eastland UMC - Rev. Craig Muffley
10718 Courthouse Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Final payment will be due at the first team meeting – April 7. The application fee is non-refundable after airline tickets are bought.
Team Meetings
– are
mandatory
(or must be made up) – April 7
th
, May 5
th
, June 2
nd
(all first Saturdays) at a location to be determined, 9:30 am – 11:30 am.
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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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The
Heartwood Center is seeking a Youth Mission Camp Coordinator for 2018. The camp will be held July 16-20 and August 13-17, 12 noon to 8pm Monday through Friday. For a copy of the position description, please email Rev. Gayle Porias at
heartwoodcenterfredericksburg@gmail.com or visit
www.theheartwoodcenter.org. This position includes a paid stipend.
4.8.2018
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Upcoming District Meetings & Training:
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February 24 Chat & Chew 2.0,
Ebenezer Stafford, 9:00am
Registration Closed
March 1
District Trustees, Hillcrest, 6:30pm
March 6
Full Clergy Meeting, Wright's Chapel, 9:30am
March 8
Church Location & Building, District Office, 7:00pm
March 10
UMW Spiritual Day Apart, Trinity KG
March 13
Ordained Ministry, District Office
March 14
Heartwood Board, New Hope, 7:00pm
March 24
Intentional Disciple Making Training, Wright's Chapel, 10:00am
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District Superintendent:
Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
2018 District Co-Lay Leader:
2018 District Co-Lay Lay Leader:
Mailing Address: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 Phone 804.448.8326 FAX 804.448.8328 Cell: 804.304.8566
Office Location: Inside Wright’s Chapel UMC at 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA (do not use for mail)
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