Volume 16 Issue 12 | December 2019
TOP STORIES
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In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while[ a ]Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  12  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
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Glory to God in the highest heaven,
     and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  17  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  19  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
News from the Central Virginia Mission HUB
The HUB has had its own glory sighting since April this year! Owen Butler has been working on the requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout since he was 10 years old. Now at age 14, he has achieved that honor. On November 17, Owen received the rank of Eagle Scout during this very special ceremony. As part of the requirements Owen chose the HUB as his service project. While working at the HUB, Owen mowed grass, helped with a flea market, made repairs to HUB storage trailers, applied water sealant to the trailers and raised funds for a scouting hygiene assembly event. Well done, Owen!
Dates to Remember
Westview on the James- Winter Camp
Cost:  $135
Ages:  6-14 years old
When:  December 13-15th; Check-in at 7pm on Friday  (please feed your camper dinner before arriving, we will have snacks, but no meal on Friday
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Community Hygiene Kits
"Give Yourself Away" 
The HUB would like to collect three items (toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo) for community hygiene kits to be given out in December. 
We would also like to invite people to our packing event at Woodland UMC, 14280 Woodland Church Road, Culpeper, on Tuesday, December 10 at 9:00 am to assemble hygiene kits.
Tips: 1.     The best place for toothpaste is Walmart - Get 2.7 oz. or larger, Crest $.97, Colgate $.94, Aim $.85, Ultabright $1.00.
2.     The best place for deodorant and shampoo is Dollar Tree - VO5 or Other brand
For more info contact Darryl Lam at 540.219.2829
Items can also be dropped off at the District Office or Trinity UMC- North Garden.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT
And from Ebenezer UMC in Louisa: Fun, Fellowship and Ministry witnessed at the recent community dinner hosted by the willing workers at Ebenezer UMC.
Salem UMC in Palmyra recently held a prayer bear ministry activity. The bears were tagged and donated to New Hope Baptist Church in Esmont and distributed to members of the Scottsville Senior Center, who will share them to those in need of prayer. 
From Cunningham UMC in Palmyra:
Thanks to generous contributions from individuals and churches we are getting closer to our goal of $6829.92 for the December 29th packaging event at Cunningham UMC. We've raised $1060.65 leaving a balance of $5769.27. 
Of the amount collected over $125 of it has been in quarters!! 
As we all count our blessings, may we continue to reach out to bless others. Checks should be made payable to  Rise Against Hunger  and mailed to 
Rebecca Wagner 
7071 Jarmans Gap Road 
Crozet VA 22932 

UMW REPORT

December 7, 2019 Our annual Advent Breakfast and Worship will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Trinity UMC, 143 W. Main Street, Orange 22960-1528. The Trinity UMW is most graciously providing breakfast, and our featured speaker is Renyatta Banks, director of the Wesley Community Service Center in Portsmouth, the only United Methodist National Mission Institution in Virginia. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 9:15 a.m. All women are invited – please come and join us! 
FROM THE WESLEY FOUNDATION UVA
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Voices from the Wilderness : An Advent Devotional

LGBTQIA+ students, alumni and friends of the Wesley Foundation at UVA are collaborating to provide a collection of daily devotions to help all persons—gay or straight, conservative or progressive, and everything in between—nurture and grow their faith. Allow this Advent season to bring Light into the darkness as these silenced voices offer insight and understanding of our shared journeys of faith.

We are pleased to amplify these voices and to offer the devotional to you for a small donation to support the mission and ministry of the Wesley Foundation at UVA. Perhaps you want to share this with a small group or Sunday school class in your church? We encourage that!  
Voices from the Wilderness  will be available beginning November 15th. 
 
 And a special thank you!
If your church is interested in participating in the meal ministry, please contact Sandra Thornton by email or by phone at 757-442-0847 (cell). Thank you to Maury Early from Wesley Memorial UMC in Charlottesville for volunteering to feed the students on December 10th. Dates are available for the 2020 Spring semester. Thank you for your gifts, prayers, presence, and service to the students at Wesley! Please visit the Wesley Foundation website for more information on this United Methodist ministry and for directions and information on parking.

The Wesley Foundation at the University of Virginia
1908 Lewis Mountain Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-977-6500

Donations needed for
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CAMP
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This year All God's Children Camp participated in #givingtuesday again. Our goal was to get all 90 kids sponsored for 2020 camp. This camp is for children with an incarcerated parent. Here they will learn self esteem building and conflict resolution as well as enjoy and experience camp life! Each child cost $425. This covers a full week overnight camp where they will be involved in the activities camp has to offer (stand up paddle board, boating, fishing, swimming, tubing, canoeing, archery, ropes coarse, rock walls, zip lines and much more). Please consider helping us out this year during #givingtuesday either through Facebook, our website below, or mailing it in to The Virginia United Methodist Conference Center at P.O. Box 5606 Glen Allen VA, 23058, attn: Becky Tate. If you missed #givingtuesday (November 26). You can donate through mail or our website at anytime. Thanks to all of you in advance for supporting this wonderful United Methodist Ministry put on by our conference! The website is listed below. Please contact Lori Smith at 571-245-9591 or  lttlelori@gmail.com  with any questions.
 
Rachel's Haven Fundraiser:
The Best of Godspell
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday October 26 and Sunday October 27th at Hinton Avenue UMC for The Best of GODSPELL!
 
The prime cast and choir were made up of members from choirs at Hinton Ave. UMC, First UMC, and the community. Everyone joined forces to raise money to benefit Rachel’s Haven which is a proposed fifteen-unit apartment building on the site of Hinton Avenue UMC in Charlottesville. A love offering was taken up during both performances and raised over
$ 8,500.00 for the project. Praise God! Your continued support is greatly appreciated to make the Rachel's Haven ministry a reality. A special thank you to all who wrote checks or gave cash! It is not too late to make a love offering as we understand DVDs of the performance may become available in the near future. Additional information to be provided later.

At Rachel’s Haven, apartments will be available for adults with developmental disabilities. The remaining apartments will be rented to the public as affordable housing. People with disabilities and those without disabilities will live as neighbors to each other. At Rachel’s Haven, adults with developmental disabilities will live safely, meaningfully, and as independently as possible in an inclusive, integrated apartment building. Rachel’s Haven is a ministry of the Charlottesville District of the United Methodist Church. Additional contributions not related to The Best of Godspell totaled over $1,000.00 in October. During November, additional funds were raised: Rodes UMC ($1,000), Portion of proceeds from Sale of Bethel UMC ($6,762.40) and Mineral UMC ($240). Total for October and November $17, 502.40


From The District Superintendent:


  • Rise Against Hunger Appeal
  • Exploration 2019 for college students exploring call to ministry Contact Joanna Dietz
  • Be sure to check out the Blues Trio spotted at the District Conference in November. They were on a Mission from God.

SPECIAL UMFS OFFERING IN DECEMBER
United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) is the Virginia Conference designated offering for December. UMFS deeply appreciates the support of local churches in this ministry, helping high-risk children create a brighter future. By November 15, each church in the district should receive a packet to support you with the offering, including 25 bulletin inserts and 25 offering envelopes. If you contacted us earlier for a different amount, you will receive a custom order with the amount you requested. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like additional materials. We are also happy to provide an electronic printer-friendly version of the bulletin insert, a short UMFS video, and other worship resources on our website. Please contact Jill Gaynor at 804-254-9463 with any questions, or to place an order for additional materials. Thank you for your support!
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