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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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Ministry Partnership:
Together in Disciple Making (part 1)
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor." Ecclesiastes 4:9
I wholeheartedly agree with the words in Ecclesiastes, two together is better than one alone, especially in the context of using the best of our resources to make disciples of Jesus Christ! That’s why the UM General Board of Discipleship Ministries and the Rappahannock River District are preparing to work together. Combining the passion, resources, commitment, and ministry focus of the RRD laity and clergy with those of Discipleship Ministries, we can go much deeper in forming and shaping Christian disciples throughout our twelve counties and the city of Fredericksburg.
I am grateful and thankful to every RRD congregation that took time last fall during the Charge Conference season to answer the question, “what steps are your church taking to be intentional disciple makers?” I’m equally grateful to the 200 plus district folks who came together on March 24
th, 2018 to meet Rev. Jeff Campbell and hear more about Intentional Disciple Making. Those two efforts to engage disciple making were just the beginning. We want you and your church to have every possible tool available for effective disciple making. That’s why we are first following up our previous events with the
September 29
th Intentional Disciple Making Fair and then the
October 5
th
and 6
th Advanced Lay Servant class at Regester Chapel, led again by Rev. Jeff Campbell.
But that’s not all friends. The staff of Discipleship Ministries and the leadership of the RRD are “All In” and committed to being a resource for you and your church. At the moment of your reading this article, we two are refining a ministry partnership agreement to identify how to best offer you the tools needed to make disciples. We have resources for the large churches, resources for the middle size churches, and resources for the small and very small churches.
As we begin the partnership, I’d like to introduce to you the Rev. Dr. Junius Dotson, author of “See All the People” and of “Engaging Your Community: A Guide to Seeing All the People.” Dr. Dotson is a recognized visionary leader in church revitalization and is the General Secretary (chief executive officer) of Discipleship Ministries, an international agency of The United Methodist Church. He began his tenure on July 1, 2016. Prior to his present position, Rev. Dotson was pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, where he was instrumental in transforming the church into a 3,500-member multi-campus congregation.
“When churches create an intentional discipleship system, they move from "tinkering and fixing" to "relationship and discipleship." And we do this not to fill our pews, but rather to simply show Christ's love to those around us.”
Dr. Dotson
This isn’t another top down cookie cutter program! We are genuinely interested in hearing what disciple making assistance, what disciple making tools, and what resources your church needs so that we can provide them. We want your church to keep discussing what hasn’t worked, what has worked, and what might work over the next two years. In my 30+ years of ministry, many laity and clergy have said, “lay low and wait for this new Conference program to pass overhead.” In many cases that was true and the Conference did move on to the “next great program." Glory and praise to God that we don’t have that attitude about the United Methodist goal of disciple making. Thank God that we have an entire agency that has committed itself to being a resource for our churches. It’s up to us to use the tools prepared for and handed to us.
Pastor Ted
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Rev. Dr. Junius B. Dotson
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The UMW Mission Outreach Program featuring Peg Arnold scheduled for September 11, 2018 at Kilmarnock UMC has been cancelled because of Ms. Arnold's recent serious skiing accident.
Please remember her in your prayers.
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"
THE WAY FORWARD
"
To:
United Methodist Women
An opportunity for conversation
sponsored by the
Richmond District United Methodist Women
and
Rappahannock River District United Methodist Women
When:
August 11, 2018
Where:
Wright’s Chapel United Methodist Church
8063 Ladysmith Road, Ladysmith, VA 22501
Leaders:
Karen McElfish, VA Conf. UMW Vice President
Scotty Doyle, Richmond Dist. UMW President
J.M. Gallier, Rappahannock River Dist. UMW Pres.
Registration:
9:30 - 10:00 AM
Program:
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
(
11:45 – 12:30) Brown Bag Lunch
(beverages and dessert provided)
Preregistration requested by July 28, 2018
to facilitate planning and preparation.
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FACE TO FACE – an encounter with the Risen Christ
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FACE TO FACE – an encounter with the Risen Christ –
is an experience in the tradition of the Walk to Emmaus designed for persons 60 and older. Open to Christians of all denominations who want to strengthen their spiritual lives,
FACE TO FACE
allows the opportunity to rediscover Christ’s presence, gain understanding of God’s grace, and form friendships that foster faith and spiritual maturity.
The Fredericksburg Emmaus community is having its first
FACE TO FACE
Encounter in August at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. The Encounter will be August 14, 16, 21, and 23, all Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9am to 3:30pm. Lunch is provided. The cost for this amazing experience is $25.00. Yes, $25.00!
FACE TO FACE
is an experience for both men and women.
FACE TO FACE
information is displayed on the Upper Room Website. Prayerfully consider who among your congregation would benefit from an Encounter. August will be here soon, so don’t delay. If you have questions, contact Kitti Mann,
kittimann5@gmail.com
or John Mann,
slowjet@live.com
or call, 540-891-1671. We will be glad to send registration forms and brochures to you.
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ROLLING RIVER RAMPAGE
EXPERIENCE THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME WITH GOD!
AUGUST 6 – 10, 9am – Noon
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at
ST. MATTHIAS UMC
426 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
(540) 373-8759
Kids ages Pre-K through rising 5
th
grade are eligible for a week filled with crafts, science, outdoor games, skits, music, Bible stories and snacks with other great kids! Register online at
RRR.COKESBURYVBS.COM/STMATTHIAS
or in person on the first day of VBS. POC: Liz Morris,
momx3gnmad@verizon.net
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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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Mark your calendars for
Saturday, September 8
at 10:00. The District Superintendent Ted Smith will be serving as the Grand Marshal for the Edwardsville Day Parade. Join us at Galilee UMC located at 747 Hull Neck Road in Edwardsville for a wonderful day!
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The Heartwood Center summer food distribution is underway. Caroline County site at Bowling Green UMC served 45 children. Fauquier County site at Mary Walter ES served 89 children. The Stafford County site at Howell (formerly England Run) Library begins Saturday June 23rd at 2pm.
Volunteers are welcome to come:
- unload food bins,
- set up,
- help families with selections,
- carry bags to cars.
For more information or to volunteer click
here
.
The Heartwood Center Youth Mission Day Camp will be held July 16-20 and August 13-17. 1pm-8pm. If you would like to volunteer for a day, provide an evening meal or snacks and beverages, click
here
.
We are also collecting the following items for care bags for people who are without a permanent residence:
Baby wipes, lip balm, lotion, sunscreen, apple sauce and pudding cups, trail mix, beef jerky, travel coffee mugs, gift cards, socks, band aids, mini sewing kit, Q tips, nail clippers, dental floss. These bags will be assembled during the Youth Mission Camp.
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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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