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Welcome to The Bridge, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the UMC
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A Deep & Insightful Question
If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.
I John 4:20 Good News Translation
Sometimes I read the bible and just have to stop reading, think, feel the convicting words, and pray. Describing it another way, sometimes the words of the bible hit me between the eyes like a sledge hammer. The words get my full undivided attention because I see clearly my spoken, unspoken, unintended, or active sin.
This is what can happen when we enter into and observe the Christian season of Lent. We look at our words, actions, and deeds to see if we have strayed from the influence of Jesus.
In addition to the question asked in I John, we see in John 21:15-17, Jesus posing a love related question to Peter. Jesus asks twice the question, "
Do you love me
?" We've come to understand that love in both John and I John call for an active love; a love in word, deed, and from the heart.
In short, if you and your church love Jesus, there can't be any limits or conditions on how you demonstrate the love.
If we love God whom we can't see, we must demonstrate an active love for a whole host of folks we can see but do not know. If we love Jesus, we are compelled to love all races of people, we must love persons from every part of the human sexuality spectrum, we must love the poor, the homeless, and the stranger with the same welcome as we do our best friends.
So, I ask you my RRD friends, Do you love Jesus? If so, show it.
Do you really love Jesus? If so, don't rest until everyone in your community knows it.
Do you really love God? Then show the world through extravagant agape actions!
Pastor Ted
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TIME WITH BISHOP WEAVER
Post General Conference and Judicial Council Conversation with Bishop Weaver
Our District is joining with the Richmond District for a Bi-District time of conversation with Bishop Weaver.
Please save Saturday, May 11 from 2:00pm - 3:30pm at Wright's Chapel UMC in Ladysmith (8064 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen). This will replace the Chat & Chew 3.0 and will be for clergy
and
laity.
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Roast Beef
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Green Beans
Salad Bar
Rolls
Butter
Homemade Desserts
Drink
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Annual Roast Beef Dinner
Fairfields UMC
14741 Northumberland Highway
Burgess, VA 22432
April 13, 2019
5 pm to 7 pm
$15
Take Out Available
Questions? Call 804.453.2631
Proceeds to to Scholarship & Mission
Sponsored by Nelia Tingle Fellowship
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MESSY CHURCH COMING TO ST. MATTHIAS UMC!!
On Friday evening, April 12, from 5 to 8 pm, St. Matthias UMC, 426 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg 22405 (Grafton Village) is holding its first Messy Church event! All are invited to gather for an evening of family dinner, crafts (messy!!) and games, with a short finale in the sanctuary.
This event, the first of what we hope will be many more, is geared toward families with kids of all ages; a night to just have fun together over food and fellowship with other families.
There is no charge for this event; just come and enjoy! For more information, call the church office at 540-373-8759.
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Lay Servant Training Offered
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Lay Servant Training can help anyone who is interested in learning more in their pursuit of being a better leader and servant for Christ’s church. These classes can be used as tools in discerning God’s call for your personal walk and ministry.
We are pleased to announce that Lay Servant Training will be offered on May 3 & 4 at Warsaw UMC.
Classes Offered include:
The Basic Course
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
Policy in the UM Church
Leading Worship
Intentional Discipleship Making
If you have any questions, please contact Lay Servant Ministries Director Dottie Garrison at
703.403.8953 or dottiegarrison@yahoo.com
We hope you can join us!
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El Salvador
UMVIM District Mission Trip
August 3-10, 2019
We are excited to reconnect with our International Methodist Mission Partner—The Evangelical Methodist Church in El Salvador. In 2019, we’ll send a District team to continue our relationship-building, food distribution and VBS.
Applications are available by clicking the buttons below or contacting the District Office.
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:
April 30
th
, 2019 - $250 deposit is due with your application. Make checks payable to “Rappahannock River District UMC”, memo: El Salvador Trip and mail to:
Rappahannock River District Office
PO Box 100
Ladysmith, VA 22501
Final payment will be due at the second team meeting – June 8. No refunds after the airline tickets are purchased.
Team Meetings
are
mandatory
(or must be made up) – May 11
th
, June 8
th
, July 13
th
(all second Saturdays) at a location to be determined, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
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BAKED SPAGHETTI DINNER
SPONSORED BY
Irvington United Methodist Church
(
Proceeds are for installing a handicap pad at the handicap entrance to the church)
Friday, April 12, 2019
4:30 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M.
Educational Building
26 King Carter Drive
Irvington, Va.
$10.00 PER PERSON FOR ADULTS
$4.00 FOR CHILDREN UNDER 6 YRS OLD
(Price includes Baked Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread, Beverage, and Dessert)
(CARRY-OUT AVAILABLE)
For tickets, call Church Office (804)438-6800; Bonnie Pettey (804)438-5101;
Audrey Lowery at (804) 438-438-6122 or Pastor Jesse Blythe at 804-580-9723
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Emmanuel UMC at Morattico is seeking a pianist/choir director. For more information, please contact
taewonkang@vaumc.org
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Peace UMC Easter Cantata
"COME, TOUCH THE ROBE"
Encounters with the Healer, the Servant, the Lord of Easter
words and music by Pepper Choplin
Please join our Chancel Choir as we present this beautiful, moving cantata, Sunday, April 7
th
at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary. Refreshments will follow in Burgess Hall.
We are located at 801 Maple Grove Drive in Fredericksburg.
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Please join Zion UMC at their
Easter Sunrise Service
which will be held on Sunday, April 21 at 6:45am at the
Merchants Square Pavilion in the Spotsylvania Courthouse area
. Please contact Carolyn at 540.538.0034 for more information.
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Bringing All God’s People together
to Worship, Connect and Serve.
You are cordially invited to Holy Week and Easter Celebration.
We will celebrate
Cantata Sunday
on April 14 at 10:00 a.m. Our Chancel Choir and Orchestra will present
“One Day”
arranged by Russell Mauldin. Please note that we’ll have only one combined Sunday morning service, while having adult Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. There will be no RC Kids or youth Sunday school. A potluck fellowship will follow in the Youth Center.
Holy Week Midday Services
April 15 through April 19, from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lunch will be provided following the service. This year, we will have guest preachers for each service.
Monday – Rev. Robin BeMiller, Salem UMC & Falmouth UMC
Tuesday – Rev. Beth Glass, Morrisville UMC
Wednesday – Rev. M. J. Kim, Pastor Emeritus of Regester Chapel
Thursday – Rev. Paul Toelke, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Friday – Rev. Thomas Swingle, Andrew Chapel UMC
Maundy Thursday Taize Service
April 18, 7:30 p.m. This will be a meaningful service with Holy Communion, contemplative music, and prayers. This year, the Ebenezer UMC Congregation will join with us in this special service.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
April 19, 7:30 p.m. at Ebenezer UMC. We will join with the Ebenezer Congregation for this special service at their church, located at 161 Embrey Mill Rd, Stafford, VA 22554.
Easter Celebration
On April 21
we will have Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. Breakfast will be provided following the service. We will celebrate the Traditional Service at 9:00 a.m. and the Contemporary Service at 11:15 a.m. There will be Easter Egg Hunt for children at 10:15 a.m., while no Sunday School meets on this Sunday.
Come, let’s celebrate the power and joy of resurrection together!
Regester Chapel United Methodist Church
85 Bells Hill Road,
Stafford, VA 22554
(540) 659-2642
www.regesterchapel.org
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Annual Conference Orientation
Annual Conference information.
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April 11 Location & Building, District Office
May 2 District Finance, FUMC
May 3 -4 Lay Servant Training, Warsaw UMC
May 9 Church Location & Building
May 11 Bi-District Conversation with Bishop Weaver, Wright's Chapel 2:00pm
May 19 Annual Conference Orientation, Wright's Chapel 3:00pm
May 28 District Superintendency, TMUMC, 7:00pm
May 29 Clergy Farewell Luncheon (for clergy and families)
May 30 Connectional Ministries, Wright's Chapel
Save the Date: Sunday, June 30 DS Farewell/DS Welcome, Wright's Chapel, 3 pm Everyone is invited!
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CONTACT INFORMATION
District Superintendent:
Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
2019 District Co-Lay Lay Leader:
2019 District Co-Lay Leader:
Cell: 804.304.8566
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)
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