Welcome to The Bridge, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the United Methodist Church! 
Welcome to our new newsletter format.  This new format allows  the newsletter to be read on mobile devices as well as computers.

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Registration is now open for the  Live Your Faith Bold and Brave  Women's Conference to be held on our district at Ebenezer UMC in Stafford on Saturday, September 30, 2017 f eaturing Nicole Unice, Author of  Brave Enough  and Ministry Director at Hope Church.

Sessions include:

  • Created With a Purpose
  • Navigating Life’s Up’s & Down’s
  • Scheduling Time for God
  • Be Bold & Brave with Healthy Habits

Registration: $20.00 includes breakfast and lunch

Onsite child care available, $5.00 per child and includes lunch (max $20 per family)


We hope you will be able to come and join us in this great adventure of learning how to live out our faith with courage and boldness.  

Please click below for links to information on the event:

Live Your Faith Bold and Brave Women's Conference links:
 

Lay Servant Training Offered

There are several training opportunities for Lay Servants available.


 The District will offer training at Regester Chapel UMC in Stafford on September 15 & 16.  There are also On Demand opportunities and an Online Learning Ministry.  See links below for more information.  

                 Questions?
Please Contact Greg Sokolowski at  121falcon@msn.com or Debbie Dietrich at Debbie_dietrich@hughes.net

 
Seeking Legal Counsel


Since 2011, the Rappahannock River District, United Methodist Church has been blessed to have a licensed Virginia attorney serve as the District Chancellor.  This pro bono position was created as a parallel to the Virginia United Methodist Conference Chancellor and serves in direct communication with the District Superintendent and the Rappahannock River District Office.  
 
The District Chancellor:
* serves as an advisor to the District Superintendent (D.S.); 
* provides legal opinion(s) to the DS, to district clergy, and to district congregations;
* provides referrals to local churches, and advises those giving leadership in the special ministries of the District.  
  
The ministry of the District Chancellor is an occasional ministry most often involving email and phone conversations.  The District Chancellor is not expected to provide pro bono trial work or provide pro bono court appearances.  

If you know of anyone who might be willing to serve as District Chancellor or would like a more detailed description, please contact Lynn Manley.
 
 Rehoboth United Methodist Church in Partlow is looking for someone to help us with an external audit.  We have a member of our church that is willing to swap with another church person to do their audit.  If anyone is interested, please contact Linda Gatewood at  804-241-5648.
August 14         Connectional Ministries, District Office, 7:00pm
August 15         Location & Building, District Office, 7:00pm
August 16         Heartwood Board
August 19         District Men’s Night Out, Fredericksburg UMC
August 22         District Stewards’ Meeting, Wright’s Chapel UMC, 7:00pm
 

There are several employment opportunities on our district.  Please click here for more information:   Jobs  You can also search under Resources on the conference website:  www.vaumc.org
Save the Dates: 

Sept. 15—16  LAY SERVANT TRAINING                           Regester Chapel
Oct. 12            STATISTICS TRAINING                                 St. Matthias
Oct. 24            STATISTICS TRAINING                                 Warsaw
Nov. 18           DISTRICT CONFERENCE                            & TRAINING                                                Wright’s Chapel UMC


Save the Dates Youth: 

Fall Conference Youth Retreats at Eagle Eyrie Retreat Center

Middle School Retreat -

                    November 10-12

High School Retreat - 

                     December 1-3


 
District Contact Information
  
WWW.RAPPAHANNOCKRIVERDISTRICT.ORG
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
District Lay Leader:
Ms. Debbie Dietrich         Debbie_dietrich@hughes.net  (Debbie_dietrich@hughes.net)
District Associate Lay Leaders:
Terry Bain terry.bain@yahoo.com Jim Helm jhelm320@outlook.com
Rob Gates robgates@va.metrocast.net
District Lay Servant Ministry Director  Greg Sokolowski  Gregory.sokolowski@navy.mil
Heartwood Director: Rev. Gayle Porias gayleporias@vaumc.org
District Secretary: Ms. Lynn Manley rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org
Administrative Assistant: Ms. Pam Blalock pamblalock@vaumc.org
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)
 

Free Organ
Free Technics FA 1 organ.  If you are interested, please contact  Suzanne Small at rossmall@cox.net