The James River Journal

February 2022 | Issue 1

2022 Lay Servant Academy

Winter Training Day

The 2022 Lay Servant Academy will be a virtual-only event on Saturday, February 26, from 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. There are opportunities for both full-day and half-day courses and several courses fulfill requirements toward Lay Servant Ministries. Leadership courses are taught by both clergy and laity who are actively involved in ministry. These courses serve to provide practical ideas and takeaways so that leaders are better equipped to shepherd their ministries more fully. Lay Servant Academy is also a day to come and be refreshed and renewed in leadership and discipleship. Both clergy and laity are welcome to engage in these courses! If you have questions, reach out to Tianna Durbin, Director of Lay Servant Academy, at TiannaD@arcolachurch.org. Learn more and register here.

Begin Your Lenten Journey with A Bead and A Prayer

Join the James River District UMW on Saturday, March 12th as Marie Hawks of Carson UMC shares how prayer beads have helped her connect more deeply with God. Participants will create their own prayer beads to take home, discover ways to pray with beads and explore the history and art of using beads in prayer. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. at Wakefield UMC (205 W. Church Street, Wakefield, VA 23888). $20.00 (payable at the door) covers the materials for the prayer beads and a boxed lunch. Contact JamesRiverDistrict@vaumc.org if you have any questions. You may register at this link.

James River and Farmville Districts Youth Retreat

Jesus Camp - March 11-13, 2022

Airfield 4-H Center, Wakefield, VA

"Meet Jesus again for the first time"

Mark your calendars for a weekend of fellowship, fun, and friendships!

This event will provide thought-provoking conversation and spiritual growth for middle and high school youth.

Cost: $100 per person if registered by February 6, 2022 (The cost is $120 per person after February 6th)

RSVP & Deadline: The registration deadline is February 28th. Email HerbBrynildsen@vaumc.org if you have questions.

Click here for details and the registration link

Will You Serve on a Conference Board or Agency?

Are you an encourager? A trailblazer? A mentor? A communicator?

Learn where your gifts are needed on one of the conference’s boards and agencies: https://vaumc.org/conferencenominations/.

Your gifts and graces through boards such as Missional Ministries and the Virginia United Methodist Pensions, Inc. (VUMPI) will help United Methodists across the Virginia Conference.

In this new year of 2022, pray on how God may be encouraging you to serve then download the nominations profile form at the link above, fill it out, and send it to your District Office to be considered by the Conference Nominations team for election to a board or agency.

Harry Denman Award for Discipleship

Is anyone in your congregation a deeply formed spiritual leader who has the ability to assist others in their discipleship? Perhaps they are involved in youth, family, or senior ministry and have helped people to become a disciple or encouraged their growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. They may be involved in local mission and/or ministries that have influenced lives in the name of Christ. They can be clergy, laity and/or youth. Each year the Board of Discipleship recognizes one person in each category who displays fruitful discipleship in their lives. The deadline for nominations is March 4, 2022. Information and nominations may be obtained at https://vaumc.org/denmanawards/. Nominations should be sent to Kathy Gochenour at kathygochenour@vaumc.org or Becky Tate at beckytate@vaumc.org.

One Matters Award

We are looking for churches which have an intentional and effective discipleship ministry! Has your church gone from zero Professions of Faith in the past to a positive number of Professions of Faith in 2021? If so, you may be eligible for the One Matters Award. Churches are chosen by a process that looks at the past four years and the most current year for positive changes in Professions of Faith, Confirmations, and/or Baptisms. The church that is chosen will receive a One Matters plaque and $1,000 to continue their ministries of intentional discipleship. The intent of this award is to lift up churches who have moved from zeros in Professions of Faith and/or baptisms to positive numbers in recent years due to their renewed focus on intentional discipleship. The church’s story of renewed transformation will be shared during the annual conference session, and we will share their story across the connection through Discipleship Ministries website and publications. The deadline for applications is March 4, 2022. Applications may be obtained at https://vaumc.org/board-of-discipleship-one-matters-award/. They should be sent to Kathy Gochenour at kathygochenour@vaumc.org or Becky Tate at beckytate@vaumc.org.

The Family of Patrick Comstock

(Rev. Ellen Comstock's son)

Revs. Clara and Doug Gestwick

Rev. Rita Kanten &

her Daughter's Family

The Family of

William L. "Red" McClung, Sr.

(Rev. Bill McClung's Father)

Rev. Sylvia Meadows' Mother (Marion)

Email JamesRiverDistrict@vaumc.org

to add names to our prayer list

Church Pianist Needed

Lebanon UMC (12450 Courthouse Rd, Dinwiddie, VA 23841) has a passionate choir and seeks a pianist who can play regularly for the worship service every Sunday or every other Sunday.

If you know anyone who is interested in serving the church and choir, or if you have questions, please contact Rev. SeungHae Yoo-Hess at (804) 469-3614 or email

SeungHaeYooHess@vaumc.org

Next Newsletter Deadline

February 21, 2022

JamesRiverDistrict@vaumc.org

Annual Conference Cleaning & Hygiene Kits

The Conference will be accepting only Cleaning and Hygiene Kits this year. It is important that churches follow directions concerning the kits and how they are to be packaged. See instructions below. Churches may bring their kits to the James River District Office (11605 S. Crater Rd, Petersburg) no later than Saturday, June 4th. Please bring a list of the number, type of kits with the church name. The VA Conference will send a truck to the District Office to pick up our kits for Annual Conference.

The Serving Ministries recommends collecting non-perishable food for local food banks and pantries. Please submit your total amount (in pounds) of food collected by each church to Tish Borden at the District Office. Do not drop off food items at the office or other types of kits.

Click here for instructions how to fill UMCOR Cleaning Buckets

Click here for instructions how to fill UMCOR Hygiene Kits