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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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“Jesus said it. I believe it. That settles it.”
That adage has been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. And, yes, there is truth in it. But for many people, it just isn’t enough. If they don’t know Jesus very well (or don’t know him at all), why would they think his word is, well, gospel?
In the Great Commission Jesus told us to go and make disciples. Disciple making is how we reproduce. If we don’t reproduce, we as the church will die out.
In looking at discipleship, we are faced with the “Why” questions. Why does it matter that Jesus said to do it? Why are we tasked with making disciples? Why do we find it hard?
In the See All The People booklet you downloaded, I related how as a parent, my children asked me “Why?” about almost everything! I’m sure you parents had the same experience. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why do worms live in the dirt?” “Why does spinach taste yucky?”
They asked me these questions for a simple reason: They didn’t know, and they believed I did.
As we go along in our churches, making disciples will require answering a lot of “Why” questions.
Your people may ask why you think it is important to get outside the walls and get to know your neighbors. They may ask why you want them to see unchurched people as brothers and sisters they don’t know yet. They may ask you why they need to look at serving in the church as a means of making disciples. Your job is to have the answers to these “Why?” questions.
If we rediscover and communicate from the “why” of intentional discipleship in all that we do, we will reconnect with an ongoing Jesus movement that reaches back to his original ministry, continued through the ministries of early Methodism, inspiring and moving each of us still today.
Be prepared to be patient. The “Why?” questions take a lot of time to answer. But, as your people see you making disciples as you go along, your life will be the best answer to their questions.
Coming next time: Bippity-boppity-boo. It’s not just for Cinderella!
Praying for you,
Rev. Junius B. Dotson
General Secretary
Discipleship Ministries
The United Methodist Church
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Mark Your Calendars:
Fall Celebration which INCLUDES Fall Charge Conferences & District Conference Assigned Dates:
Sunday, October 21: Ebenezer Stafford:
Fauquier
Grace (Hartwood)
Liberty
Midland
Morrisville
Mt Horeb
Remington
Trinity (Catlett)
Wesleyan
Stafford
Andrew Chapel (Brooke)
Antioch
Ebenezer (Stafford)
Falmouth
New Hope
Regester Chapel
Salem
St Matthias
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg
Hillcrest
Spotsylvania
Eastland
Olivet
Peace
Shady Grove
Tabernacle
Wilderness
Zion
Sunday, October 28: Wright’s Chapel
Caroline
Bethel (Hanover)
Bowling Green
Hopewell (Caroline)
Mt Vernon
Rehoboth (Caroline)
Shiloh
St Paul's
Wright's Chapel
King George
Dahlgren
Fletchers Chapel
Trinity (KG)
Upper Westmoreland
Colonial Beach
Grace (Oak Grove)
King William
Epworth
McKendree
Essex & King and Queen
Mizpah
Shepherds
Trinity (Essex K&Q)
Lebanon (Essex K&Q)
Providence (Essex K&Q)
Tappahannock
Sunday November 4: Heathsville
Richmond
Calvary
Hopewell (Richmond)
Oakland
Warsaw
Lower Westmoreland
Andrew Chapel (Mont)
Carmel
Coles Point
Ebenezer (Oldhams)
Edgewater
Lebanon (Montross)
Providence (Montross)
Lancaster
Asbury
Bethel (Lively)
Emmanuel
Irvington
Kilmarnock
White Stone
Northumberland
Afton
Bethany
Bluff Point
Fairfields
Galilee
Heathsville
Henderson
Melrose
Mila
Rehoboth
Wicomico
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The Heartwood Center, a mission on the Rappahannock River District has the following part-time, summer seasonal position available:
Mission Ministries Coordinator
The Coordinator leads a group of volunteers to provide a 2-week day camp for Middle School Students with a focus on mission in the local community. The home base for the camp is at the Heartwood Center property on Hartwood, Virginia in Stafford County. During the camp, the students have the opportunity to participate in team building skills, low ROPES course, hands on local service projects, Bible study, and recreation. The local churches support the camp with experienced and enthusiastic volunteers and evening meals.
Call: Rev. Gayle Porias at 540.788.9838
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Afton UMC BAKE SALE
At Allison's Ace Hardware
Saturday, April 21
st
from 9:00 AM ‘til 1:00 PM
Afton United Methodist Church will hold a bake sale at Allison’s Ace Hardware, Rt. 360, Lottsburg, Virginia, on Saturday, April 21
st
from 9:00 AM ‘til 1:00 PM. This sale is a cancer fundraiser which will benefit the Northern Neck Relay for Life. There will be an abundance and variety of delicious cakes, pies, and other concoctions to tempt your taste buds. Please mark your calendars and plan to stop by Allison’s on the 21
st
. Don’t miss this one!
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WHAT IS THE LAY SERVANT MINISTRY?
Do you like to help people? Are you wondering what you can do to help someone, or help your church, or help your community?
Then our Lay Servant Ministry may be just what you've been looking for. In the Lay Servant Ministry we explore ways to serve others and to increase our walk with the Lord.
We have two trainings scheduled this year. One is May 4-5 at Warsaw UMC in Warsaw and the other is October 5-6 at Regester Chapel UMC in Stafford.
We always have the Basic Class which is a good introduction to Lay Servant Ministry and the many opportunities available for service. Then we usually have three more classes scheduled on various topics. These topics can be about prayer, heritage, ministering to the elderly, storytelling, understanding your gifts, and many more.
Our Bishop's vision for the Virginia Conference is to be lifelong learners who influence others to serve. That is exactly what Lay Servants do!
Step up to the challenge! Our denomination needs you!
Come to training!
For more information, contact your District Director for Lay Servant Ministry, Dottie Garrison at 703-403-8953 or
dottiegarrison@yahoo.com
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Lay Servant Training will be offered at Warsaw UMC on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5.
Please join us!
Classes will be:
Basic Course
Teach us to Pray
In Ministry with Boomers & Beyond
Preaching from Your Heart
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Dear Friends,
Now is the time to sing his praise!
Join us on the lawn for
Holy Thunder, a Contemporary Christian Music Festival
, Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 1 – 5 p.m., at Regester Chapel United Methodist Church, 85 Bells Hill Road, Stafford, VA.
Bring a friend and a chair as we lift our voices in worship with performances from eight local area church praise bands. Reverend Randall Snipes will deliver a message of salvation, that is sure to touch hearts and lift spirits. FREE admission, FREE refreshments and FREE face painting for kids!
Thank you, and we hope to see you there!
The Regester Chapel Family
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NEW LISTING:
Wilderness Community Church in Spotsylvania, VA is seeking a Director of Youth Ministry. Primary responsibilities are to coordinate along with a team of youth ministry volunteers Christ-centered ministries that serve Youth (6th to 12th grade). This is a part-time, salaried position. If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to
pastordenise@wildernesschurch.org
. For more information on the position,
wildernesschurch.org/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.
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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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May 2
District Finance Committee Fredericksburg, 7:00pm
May 3
Heartwood Board, St. Matthias, 7:00pm
May 4 - 5
District Lay Servant Training, Warsaw
Save the Date! Annual Conference Orientation May 20 at Wright's Chapel at 3:00pm
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Lynn will be out of the office the week of April 23. The next newsletter will be May 3.
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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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