Visit our website Contact District Office January 11, 2018

Welcome to The Bridge, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the United Methodist Church

From the D.S. There's a very well known cliche that most will recognize. The phrase is, "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!" Well Friends, It's time to kick intentional disciple making into high gear. It's not a matter of putting up money, but very much a matter of every pastor and congregation taking advantage of the single most important district training offered this year.  Bishop Lewis has directed every one of Virginia's 1600 congregations to develop an intentional disciple making plan by 2020.  It is my desire to give you the resources to make this Episcopal mandate a reality for the great gospel command.  Therefore, I'm calling on  EVERY Rappahannock River (RR) District clergy  to clear their calendar for the morning of March 24th and will expect them to come  and bring a team of 3 or more to Wright's Chapel for this vital training . During our 2017 Charge Conference season every congregation spoke to the question of identifying Intentional Disciple Making Steps. I applaud the congregations that began wrestling with the question, especially those that admitted to Not having an intentional plan and those that started using "See All the People" to start developing a plan.  There were a number of churches that gave a Charge Conference report, but many did not actually describe intentional disciple making steps, but rather reported on the same programs that have been going on for decades. Now is the time to shift from patting ourselves on the back for having programs to begin getting the tools that will help us reach new people and help us guide them into significantly deeper relationships with Jesus Christ. PLEASE register your team of 3 (or more) NOW for this ministry changing training!   Ted

March 24 th 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Calling All Rappahannock River District Clergy & 3 Laity from Each Church/Charge This March 24 th training day will teach us how to be more intentional in disciple making. We will cover:   Investing in making & growing disciples: Bringing clarity to the ‘What’ ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of making disciples. Offering tools to bring the ‘Why’, ‘What’, and ‘How’ back to your ministry setting. Creating an intentional discipleship system (or pathway) - unique to your church’s context. Discipleship begins with relationships. Equipping your disciples with the right heart and motivation for disciple-making. Engaging Your Community: Listening, Learning, & Developing Strategies to reach the non-religious and nominally religious in your community Our Leader for the Day: Rev Jeff Campbell serves as the Executive Director of Conference Relationships at Discipleship Ministries. He works to strengthen intentional disciple-making across the connection. Jeff served for 13 years as a senior pastor prior to coming to Discipleship Ministries. Confirm Registration by email to rrdistrict@vaumc.org

Registration is now open!

Next Youth Retreat Planning Meeting is Sunday, Jan. 21 at New Hope UMC at 2:00pm- Please join us!

Charge from Bishop Lewis Ready for the challenge?   Bishop Lewis has charged the conference to read the Bible all the way through 2018 chronologically. You can find the whole year's schedule at the link:  https://www.vaumc.org/pages/bishop-lewis/2018biblechallenge .

Two Positions Open: 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. Organist or pianist wanted for Midland United Methodist Church. This person will be responsible for providing music for the Sunday morning worship at 9:30. Could be a part-time or full time position. For more information please contact Faith Scott at fscott424@aol.com  or  540-788-3036 .

Brain Builders Want to make a difference in a child's life? Stafford Junction's Brain Builders is looking for people to volunteer in the after school programs at several Stafford County schools: Hartwood, Rocky Run, Falmouth, Ferry Farm, Kate Waller Barrett, Drew Middle, and Hampton Oaks.  Brain Builders is held 2 days/week from 3:30pm-5:00pm (either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday) at each school. Volunteers encourage students with their homework, math skills, and reading skills. A new program, Book Busters, has started at Rocky Run with a focus on reading. A meal is provided by various organizations in the community. The students have the opportunity for their minds, bodies and spirits to be fed. If you would like to find our more or would like to visit one of these programs, please call Lynn Hamilton at  540.368.0081  or email  hamilton@staffordjunction.org .

Barbers & Hair Stylists Needed From Micah Ecumenical Ministries: Calling all stylists, barbers and people who proclaim some hair cutting skill. Micah’s soon to be ready hair studio is looking for you. With the community’s help we hope to have at least one haircut opportunity each week to keep our friends in need looking spiffy. Interested? Give us a call at  540.479.4116  or send Micah Ecumenical Ministries a Facebook message so we can follow up.

Upcoming District Meetings & Training: January 20 SPPR Committee Training, Trinity King George UMC, 10:00am January 20 UMW Local Officer Workshop, Andrew Chapel UMC, Stafford January 21 Youth Retreat Planning Meeting, New Hope UMC, 2:00pm January 22 District Board on Superintendency, Tappahannock Memorial, 7:00pm January 23 Ordained Ministry, Wright's Chapel UMC January 23 District Finance, Fredericksburg UMC, 7:00pm January 24 Heartwood Board, New Hope, 7:00pm January 25 Connectional Ministries, Wright's Chapel, 7:00pm January 27 UMW Local Officer Workshop, Providence UMC, Montross February 1 UM Day at General Assembly

WWW.RAPPAHANNOCKRIVERDISTRICT.ORG District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith DS Email:   rappahannockriverds@vaumc.org Cell: 540.419.5131 2018 District Co-Lay Leader: Debbie Dietrich      debbiedietrich6@gmail.com 2018 District Co-Lay Lay Leader: Terry Bain terry.bain@yahoo.com 2018 District Associate Lay Leader: Jim Helm jhelm320@outlook.com 2018 District Lay Servant Ministry Director  Dottie Garrison dottiegarrison@yahoo.com Heartwood Director: Rev. Gayle Porias gayleporias@vaumc.org District Secretary: Lynn Manley rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org 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)