Here at Burke UMC, we welcome all to experience Christ's life-changing love as we worship, learn, and share in caring community!

We believe that a holistic approach to discipleship includes engaging in all the core ministry areas of worship, learn, care, and share. This includes all ages, from the youngest to oldest members of our community. Be sure to scroll through this newsletter and read about upcoming opportunities to connect and engage in October.

I am in a book club with my sister-in-law, Kelly, who is a therapist and has her own practice. We have been reading various leadership books and it has been such a rewarding experience to read, reflect and engage the joys, challenges and opportunities being a leader brings. We recently read a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. In it, Clear talks about the ways that habits can help us to live the life we hope to and want to live. That when we think about forming good habits, we have to take small steps (like very small) each day and then build on it until it becomes second nature. He also names that we need to shape them around the identity we want to be. So if you want to be a healthy person, you would say, “I am going to do this because this is what a healthy person does.” And it might be that you get up and start by putting your gym shoes on for three days. Then you add starting the car. Then you add driving to the gym. And little by little it becomes a habit. Now, like you, as I read that I thought, “Am I really going to drive to the gym and not go in…or start the car and then walk back inside and eat my breakfast?” But Clear’s point is that we start with what we know we can consistently do until we do that without hesitation and build on it little by little.

           As I related this to our life of discipleship, I thought about what it might mean to say, “This is what a person of faith does” and make small decisions to build ourselves up into forming habits around our life of faith. Maybe you want to read the Bible more. Start by just getting the Bible out at the same time each day. And then maybe open it and read one verse. And then add from there. Or maybe you say, “a person of faith prays everyday”. Then maybe you find a time where you pause each day for 1 minute, then you add on lifting up one name, and so forth. You can relate this to caring, learning, worshipping or sharing as you focus on your discipleship. I talked in September, in relationship to our stewardship campaign, about thinking about what we put our finances, our time and our energy toward. If you find that there are things you want to be or areas you want to stress, I encourage you to create habits. So much of living our faith life is creating spiritual practices around generosity…around justice…around being graceful. It takes intentionality on our part. Help yourself by creating the space to live into the ways you believe God created you to be. Let this Fall/Winter season be a time of focus and renewal. As you look through this newsletter, we hope you will make a point to fill out our worship survey and estimate of giving cards by October 9^th. We hope you will look through the many opportunities there are to take a step toward life-giving habits through the ministries of the church. We hope that you can find space to connect with community and with God this month in meaningful ways, within the church and beyond!

Blessings,

Pastor Jason

Estimate of Giving cards are due on October 9th! Thanks to everyone who has taken time to pray, discern, and submit your card so far. 

We invite you to go to burkeumc.org/stewardship to hear stories from fellow community members, download this year's brochure, and fill out your online Estimate of Giving card. We're so grateful that God is with us and we are with each other, through it all.

Worship Survey:

We invite you to take a survey regarding service times and preferences moving into the fall. Please take the survey before October 7th so we can make plans accordingly. The survey can be completed as a family unit or by individuals! Click HERE for the survey.

CALENDAR UPDATES!

We are delighted that the church building is being utilized daily, as it was before the pandemic. Before announcing a class, committee or group meeting, please call the church office (703) 250-6100 or email juliechapman@burkeumc.org to learn if a room is still available. Thank you for your cooperation!

Burke Church shirts are still for sale! Click HERE to see the various options of colors/styles and purchase yours today. $4 of each purchase goes to our co-op!

October Highlights:

Oct 2, 9:30 am - World Communion Sunday

Oct 2, 4:00 pm - Mark Kroos, double-neck guitarist will be performing

You can learn a little more about World Communion Sunday by watching this week's "Did You Know" below!

Volunteer Spotlight - Altar Guild

Services at BUMC don't just happen. There are many things that happen behind the scenes before the door is even unlocked on Sunday morning. If you are looking for a way to serve God and BUMC why not consider joining the Altar Guild or the Communion committee!  

Altar Guild picks up flowers at Flowers 'n' Ferns on Friday or Saturday, places them on the Altar, makes sure the paraments match the color assigned for that week, and making sure the candles have oil. That's it. You've prepared the sanctuary for Sunday's service. Your time commitment would be approximately 30 minutes.

If your Saturdays are busy, consider the Communion committee. We generally have Communion on the first Sunday of each month. Setting up Communion takes about 30 minutes prior to the service. Your supplies will be in the sacristy. You would set up before and clean up communion after the service.  

Interested in Cherub Choir??

Cherub Choir will be returning on November 7 for 4 year olds and Kindergarteners, pending enough interest! Let us know that your child is interested HERE. Cherub Choir will meet from 4:30-5:00 pm on Mondays at Burke UMC. 

Ongoing Worship Opportunities:

• Weekly Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30 am, In Person and Online on our website at burkeumc.org/online
• Children's Church: Children age 4 - 2nd grade begin worship in the Sanctuary with their families. They will be escorted to Children’s Church when directed and will return to the Sanctuary  Contact Katie Glick with questions.
• Altar Flowers: we all enjoy seeing flowers on the altar! If you would like to donate flowers, click HERE. 
• Interested in volunteering for worship? Click HERE.
• Missed a worship service? Really loved a sermon and want to listen again? Check them out by clicking HERE.

Prayer is simple and complex, a profound and practical skill that offers peace for challenges in our daily life and a deep joy that tragedy, age or death cannot take away from us. It is a central focus when we gather in corporate worship and as a faith community. A daily prayer life, like riding a bicycle or cooking, improves with practice and deepens our relationship with our Creator.

A newly formed Prayer Focus Ministry is now meeting to discuss prayer life at Burke United Methodist Church. Our vision comes from the recognition that prayer is an integral and necessary part of Christian Discipleship. Our focus is to call attention to the hands-on tools now available at BUMC (see video below) as we explore educational opportunities to learn and teach about prayer through classes, workshops, and resources.  

Prayer resources will be available in mid-October (in alcove just prior to kitchen) to borrow and announcements regarding upcoming events.  

If you have questions or suggestions for classes or prayer fellowship gatherings, contact Rev. Judy Fender via the church office. 

LEARN Updates:

Fall LEARN classes are in full swing! As a reminder, we have both short term and ongoing classes, so there is always a place for you to plug in. Visit our website using the link below or reach out to Rev. Evelyn if you need help choosing the right class for you!

There are lots of great videos that you can watch on your own time with Amplify! This faith-based video platform is free to church members who use the code WHBLZG. Click HERE to access Amplify and enjoy learning together as a family on your schedule.

October Events:

10/16 - INOVA Blood Services Blood Drive, 9 am-1 pm in front circle of church. We need at least 22 people to pre sign-up in order for INOVA to come. There's a critical need for blood in our area, so please consider signing up. Click HERE to sign up now.

10/30 - Trunk or Treat: sign up today to decorate a trunk! The more trunks, the more love we can spread to our neighbors. We also need donations of candy. Drop off in the Donation Center at any time.

Looking Ahead:

11/13 - Cards of Comfort Card Sale. After church on November 13, browse the selection of beautiful handmade cards to send to friends and family during the holidays and beyond. All sale proceeds go back into sustaining this ministry. Holiday and All Occasion cards will be available. Bring cash or checkbook!

College Student Ministry Updates:

It's October which means apple cider, pumpkins, and Halloween decorations; but for us at BUMC, it is thinking about our College Students who have returned to classes or have begun their freshman year and many are away from home. We can help with that as we begin our College Card Ministry for this school year. Each week we will identify a student (or perhaps two) and have a card out at the Connection Center for you, the congregation, to stop by and sign. And, if you are not attending in-person, the mailing addresses are provided, as well. You could even do both!! It only takes a couple minutes to let them know you are thinking of them and offer encouragement. Some of our Freshman, especially, need that now.  

Our first college students for the year are: Abby Sawin and Josh Sawin. 

Their addresses are:

Abby Sawin, Freshman, University of South Florida

21320 South Campus Mail Center

Tampa FL 33620

Josh Sawin, Junior, James Madison University

JMU Box 1030

800 South Main Street

Harrisonburg VA 22807

Burke Gives Back is back!

We hope you will plan to join us on Saturday, October 22nd for our Burke Gives Back event! We will be collecting food donations at several local grocery stores and then will be sorting and packing the food at Terra Centre Elementary School. Mark your calendar now and be on the lookout for a sign-up link soon!

Community Co-Op

Our co-op continues to grow and to serve the community in meaningful and profound ways! In August we registered over 90 new families! We always welcome non-perishable food donations in our donation boxes in front of the church. You can also sign-up to volunteer with us by visiting the BUMC website and clicking on the Share tab.

Burke Gives Back Community Co-op Thanksgiving Boxes

We will be preparing 200 Thanksgiving Boxes to be distributed to families that are members of our community co-op. We need your support in order to supply all of these boxes. Be on the lookout for a sign-up link coming soon!

Next up: Teddy Bear Brigade!

Our annual Teddy Bear collection this fall to support Gleaning for the World, an organization that distributes teddy bears to children in need as a result of trauma, disasters, and more, is underway! Drop off donations of stuffed animals in the donation bin in front of the church. To learn more about the initiative, click HERE.

Feeding Ministry Volunteers

We are in need of volunteers for our various feeding ministries! Interested in joining a team that cooks monthly for organizations in our community? Be in touch with Katie Glick (katieglick@burkeumec.org).

We have many ongoing opportunities for children and youth at BUMC! We hope you'll check out our newsletter designed specially for children and youth to see all of the opportunities during the month of October by clicking the button below.

Our leadership board continues meeting monthly. We are grateful for their wisdom and commitment. Their next meeting will be October 20th at 7 pm via Zoom. If you'd like to attend, you can register for the meeting by clicking HERE.

District At-Large Lay Delegates

The Northern Virginia District will vote for 47 at-large district lay delegates and 16 alternates. They are currently taking nominations for at-large delegates. Those elected on November 12 will begin serving at Annual Conference June 15-17 in Roanoke. That Annual Conference may be responsible for electing new delegates to General Conference, depending on a Judicial Council Decision. If you're interested, you can apply using the link below.

Northern Virginia District At-Large Delegate Nomination Form

Questions about being an at-large district lay delegate? Email NoVaDistrict@vaumc.org.

Our team continues to meet and will update you as there are more decisions to be made and information that is ready to be shared. In the meantime, you can use the contact form on our website at any point with comments/questions. You can also keep up with the latest information on this website page. You can check it out at burkeumc.org/betterburke!