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James River District E-News    April 1, 2017

What is Your Katrina?
"Every Church Must Find Its Katrina"

A message from the District Superintendent

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

These words were spoken by the Rev. Lekisha Reed at the recent Black Church Convocation I attended in Atlanta in January. The context of her remarks were born out of her frustration in pastoring an unmotivated and lethargic congregation in Louisiana until Hurricane Katrina delivered a devastating visit to their community. The supportive and overwhelming response by the church and the community brought revival and new life as they came together and rediscovered God's purpose.

Rev. Reed's words came to mind on a Friday night as I sat in the sanctuary of Waverly United Methodist Church to observe the one-year anniversary of the tornado
Canoeing the Mountains

The Clergy Development classes have begun at Courtland UMC on Wednesdays and the James River District Office on Thursdays at 10:00 am. The next class will be held March 29th (Courtland UMC) and March 30th (District Office). Contact the office to reserve your copy of Canoeing the Mountains  jamesriverdistrict@vaumc.org

Other branches on the District are also holding book studies:
 
Waverly UMC - First Tuesdays at 11:00 am 
(Contact Steve Snodgrass)

Magnolia UMC - The book study will begin after Easter  (Contact Mike Harrington)                                      
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James River District 
Clergy Spiritual Retreat 
and Day Apart
May 16, 2017 

Mark your calendars for this special event beginning at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Rev. Sylvia Meadows has graciously offered her home/farm in Blackstone for our annual spring retreat and Day Apart. It will be a "Spa Day," and there will be NO training sessions.

Come to be refreshed, renewed, and revived! 

We will also recognize and bid farewell to our pastors leaving the James River District. R etreat information will be sent to all clergy once details are finalized. 
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Apportionments

65 churches on the James River District paid 100% of their conference and district apportionments. Through their generosity, the mission and ministries of the United Methodist Church continue to touch lives all around the world:

Asbury Memorial, Barnes, Bethia, Boykins, Branchville, Capron, Carson, Centenary (Chesterfield), Centenary (Jarratt), Chester, Claremont, Concord, Corinth, Courtland, Crawford, Drewryville, Ebenezer, Edgerton, Ettrick, First, Fort Grove, Garys, Grace Memorial, High Street, Highland, Hopewell, Independence, Ivor, Joyner, Kenwood, Lebanon (Dinwiddie), Lebanon (Sussex), Main Street (Emporia), Main Street (Suffolk), Mansons, Matoaca, Matthews Chapel, Monumental, Mount Olivet, Mount Pleasant, Newville, Ocran, Pelhams, Persons, Philadelphia, Pleasant Grove, Rocky Run, Salem (Petersburg), Salem (Prince George), Sharon, Somerton, Sycamore, Trinity (Chesterfield), Trinity (Dinwiddie), Trinity (Disputanta), Vincent's Grove, Wakefield, Waverly, Wesley (Colonial Heights), Wesley (Hopewell), Wesley Chapel, Whaleyville, White Oak, Woods

Bermuda Hundred paid 102.17% conference and 113.61%  district apportionments!
 
The following 5 churches have already paid 100% of their 2017 conference and district apportionments: Edgerton (Brunswick Charge), Lebanon (Sussex) and all the churches on the W. Dinwiddie Charge - Corinth, Trinity, and White Oak!
Questions about Apportionments?

What are apportionments? How are they calculated? Where are these funds applied? A new series by the Virginia Conference Communications office will offer in-depth information about apportionments. From what they are to how they fit into the United Methodist connection, the series will publish information from Rev. Marc Brown, Conference Director of Connectional Ministries, David Dommisse, Conference Treasurer, and John Fuller, Director of Pensions office. Click here to find out more about apportionments:
 
Mr. Wesley Visits the District UMW

UMW members shop for items for personal care kits at the Dollar General. The kits will be distributed to the homeless in our area.
James River District UMW and Mr. Wesley at 
the annual UMW Advent Retreat at Carson UMC.

Mr. Wesley has been busy visiting with the James River District UMW recently. He accompanied members Marie Hawks, Sally McGrath, and Candee Speirs to Dollar General to shop for items for personal care kits for the homeless in our district. He then attended the District UMW Advent Retreat (in a supervisory position) and helped the attendees fill the kits. A total of 153 personal care kits were completed and distributed to the homeless in our area! $50 will be sent to the District UMW for this mission project. Contact the District Office to schedule Mr. Wesley today and send us a picture of your mission project. We will award $50 for your mission!
Conference-wide Week of Prayer
April 2 - 8, 2017

A prayer movement in response to the Council of Bishops initiative is called Praying Our Way Forward. Clergy and laity are invited to pray for God's guidance during this time. The Virginia Conference will hold its designated week of prayer support from April 2 - 8. The prayer focus is two-fold: We are praying that God will help us to fulfull the mission of the church, and we are praying to be one in Christ. Virginia Conference resources are available at www.vaumc.org/prayforward 
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District Golf Tournament
April 29, 2017

Make plans to join us at 1:00 pm at the Prince George Golf Course for the 5th Annual District Golf Tournament. The format is Captain's Choice, and the cost is $25 per person. Call Gary Rose (804) 520-1635 or email: GaryWRose47@yahoo.com to reserve your spot no later than April 16, 2017. Include your name, phone number, and score for 18 holes or handicap.
Workers Still Needed in Waverly

After the devastating tornadoes in Waverly last year, there is still a little work to be done to complete the housing renovations. If you or your church team could help for any length of time, please contact Shaun Smith as soon as possible RShaunSmith@vaumc.org or call 
(804) 221-7234.


Have you registered for the 2017 Ministers' Convocation? For more information or to register, please click http://www.vaumc.org/MinistersConvocation
Annual Conference 2017
June 16-18, 2017
Hampton Roads Convention Center
Hampton, VA

This year's theme is A New Thing (Isaiah 43:19 - "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.")

Please click on the following link  http://www.vaumc.org/AC2017 for important information regarding housing, Kits for Conference, the Annual Conference Offering, and other details.
Join Bishop Sharma D. Lewis
Holy Land Journey
February 26 - March 7, 2018

I invite you to join me on this Holy Land program that will expand our knowledge of the Bible and this sacred land. A journey following in the footsteps of Jesus will change the way you read the Bible, and you will learn why scholars refer to it as the "Fifth Gospel." Please consider this my personal invitation to be a part of this adventure in faith and join me in experiencing a once in a lifetime journey as we walk where Jesus walked! 

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Contact your District Office for a brochure.
JAMES RIVER DISTRICT UMC | 804.732.2538 | jamesriverdistrict@vaumc.org