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VALLEY RIDGE DISTRICT
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Newsletter
April 15, 2024
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At our best, we are the spirit-filled, resilient, connected, missional, faithful, diverse, deeply rooted, committed, disciple-making, Jesus-seeking, generous, justice-seeking, world-changing people of God called The United Methodist Church.
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IN THIS ISSUE
Fresh Expressions
District Celebrations
General Conference Resources
Annual Conference Information
UMCOR Kits
Safer Sanctuaries/Culture of Vigilance Training
Local Church Events
Lay Servant Ministries Training
United Women in Faith
edges church culture registration
Job Openings
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FRESH EXPRESSIONS
IN THE VALLEY RIDGE DISTRICT
In the past few newsletter articles(here and here), the District Superintendent and I have shared details about Fresh Expressions United Methodist (FXUM), including the six steps churches need to take in developing a new form of ministry by connecting to the community around them. In essence, as we have said before, “It is about taking ministry to people where they are already gathering, rather than attempting to attract people to your church’s gatherings.”
Believe it or not, Fresh Expressions are taking place across the District, the Annual Conference, and across the nation. A few years ago, while I was in Pennsylvania, I saw a poster at a pizza parlor entitled “Pizza Church”, held every Friday from 5-6:30. Pizza is free, join us for a time of food, fellowship, singing, and prayer. It was held in the Domino's Pizza restaurant and sponsored by the local United Methodist Church. It was their largest weekly event. THAT is a Fresh Expression.
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Here are Some Fresh Expressions going on in the Valley Ridge District:
Biker’s Church on the Mountain is a ministry to bikers sponsored by St. James UMC Churchville and led by Certified Lay Minister Tom Rose. This ministry brings bikers together to ride, pray, fellowship, and have a Christian support network. Originally it started as an annual blessing of the bikes, and now gathers 8+ times a year for church and special rides. For more information, email Tom Rose at: tomkat1978@gmail.com
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Embrace, a Center for Community in Waynesboro, is the ultimate in Fresh Expressions. With its first location in Waynesboro and second location developing in Covington, Embrace follows the FXUM steps of first listening to the community, then secondly loving the community, then thirdly building community. By hearing that the community needed food, they began producing fresh vegetables in raised garden beds, green houses, and exterior Freedges. By hearing that veterans needed a gathering place, they host a weekly vets breakfast. By hearing that bullied kids need clothing, they turned former Sunday School classrooms into clothing boutiques. By hearing that access to medical care was a need in the community, they host a bi-weekly Augusta Health clinic, which treats and feeds hundreds of clients each month. So many people have been touched by this ministry, they are now asking for some form of worship, which will be tailored to their needs in forms such as Dinner Church. For more information, contact Director Rev. Jenelle Watson: jenellewatson@vaumc.org.
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Wow Wednesday @ Mt. Pleasant UMC Roanoke: In a day and age where our church Sunday School classrooms are underutilized or empty in many cases, Mt. Pleasant UMC took the step of crossing the street to the local elementary school to offer an after school program entitled WOW Wednesday. So many families wanted their children in the program that the church had to put a cap on registration. Children grades 2-5 are met by church members at the school, escorted across to the church, met with snacks, and a well designed program including prayer time, Bible Jeopardy on a big screen, and many activities to keep their interest high. Visit their website to learn more: https://mpumc.church/wow-wednesday/ | |
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“What distinguishes Fresh Expressions from other church groups is that these are not gatherings of church members in outside spaces (a Bible study at Starbucks). These are groups of people from outside the church already gathered, and church members connected to those people find new forms of church in society.” Here are a few examples:
- Dinner Church: Church service around a meal
- Tattoo Church: Michael Beck holds a worship service in a tattoo parlor!
- Cigar Church: A pastor who frequents a cigar shop now holds a service there
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Holey, Wholly, Holy: A bagel-based pop-up Christian community
Thinking about how your church can connect with the community by way of a Fresh Expression?
- Contact the District Office to learn more about models, grants, and other support.
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Visit the FXUM website for the Virginia Annual Conference at https://vaumc.org/freshx/
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Dale White
Director of Congregational Excellence
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Windsor Hills and Kidsoar celebrated their new partnership with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 1. | |  |
Tom Rose and St. James UMC in Churchville will hold a Blessing of the Bikes on April 20. For more info, click here. | | |
General Conference
April 23-May 3, 2024
Below are prayers and educational resources to help prepare you for the upcoming General Conference.
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We encourage your church to use these prayer prompts and enter into a
time of prayer before and during General Conference. We also encourage you to pray for all 862 delegates each day of General Conference. VAUMC delegate bios are also linked below.
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LEARN
Kim Johnson, General Conference Delegate and Northern Virginia District Communications Director has created these infographics, below. To download a printer friendly version, click here.
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General Conference Presentations: Recordings of the General Conference Presentations by Delegate Jill Gaynor can be found at the links below. | |
Podcasts: The VAUMC has a series of podcasts discussing the areas of focus for upcoming General Conference. View them here. | |
ANNUAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION
The 242nd Session of the Virginia Annual Conference will be held
Thursday, June 20 – Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the
HAMPTON ROADS CONVENTION CENTER in Hampton, Virginia.
Annual Conference Voting Requirements This year's Annual Conference is getting a tech boost with the Annual Conference app! The app is not yet available, but we will let you know where and how to access it once it becomes available.
All annual conference members must bring an internet-enabled device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Additionally, ensure you have a valid and unique email address for logging into the app.
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Reminder: Annual Conference Service of Remembrance
Please submit to the District Office by emailing robinbarge@vaumc.org the names of any local church or district members of the Annual Conference from your congregation who have died since April 15, 2023. These persons must have been a member of the previous Annual Conference (2023) or elected to represent their charge or district at the 2024 Annual Conference. Please send the full name of the person, church, and date of death. The deadline to receive these names is April 30. Names received after this date will be honored at the 2025 Annual Conference.
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KITS FOR CONFERENCE COLLECTION
Relief supplies provide care for the most vulnerable following a disaster or during times of crisis.UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) collects relief supplies in the form of cleaning kits, hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits that are assembled by United Methodist volunteers for distribution in the United States and its territories.
This year we will be collecting the three official UMCOR Kits: hygiene kits, cleaning kits, and menstrual (period pack) kits. All of the kits collected will be ready to deploy to help communities affected by different disasters. Below are the links with instructions on what is inside and how to pack these kits:
Kits are being collected at the districts prior to Annual Conference. You will find our Valley Ridge District collection points below. Please do not bring kits to Annual Conference in Hampton in June. Please do not bring or attach cash or checks to your kits. See below for shipping cost instructions.
Collection will be on Saturday, June 8, from 10 AM until noon at
Please bring your completed kits (no extra supplies accepted) in boxes labeled with the type and number of kits.
Is there an additional cost for shipping and extra supplies?
Yes! Each church that is collecting will be asked to contribute an additional amount to cover the cost of shipping and extra supplies asked for by UMCOR. The formula for each kit is as follows:
- Cleaning Kits: Total Number of Cleaning Kits x $3 = Cost to support the purchase of sponges and shipping
- Hygiene Kits: Total Number of Hygiene Kits x $2 = Cost to support the purchase of toothpaste and shipping
- Menstrual Kits: Total Number of Menstrual (Period Pack) Kits x $2 = Cost of shipping (for instance, your church packs 10 Menstrual Kits x $2 = $20 cost for shipping)
Once those are calculated, add them all together and submit them in one payment either via check or through online contribution.
If submitting via check, please make all checks payable to “Virginia Conference UMC” with “Kits (Advance #5041) in the memo line and mail to:
Treasurer
Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 5606
Glen Allen, VA 23058
If submitting via online contribution, please click here.
Volunteers will be needed at a later date to help load the delivery truck that will transport all kits collected in the Valley Ridge District and transport them to the UMCOR mission hub.
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REQUIRED TRAINING IN MAY
In May, we are bringing the new Safer Sanctuaries expanded program to the Valley Ridge District. Formerly Safe Sanctuaries, the training is now known as Culture of Vigilance: A Safer Sanctuaries Program. This new language, given to us by Bishop Sue, reflects our call to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults and to maintain church security. The Valley Ridge District Training will be Thursday, May 23rd 6:00pm-8:30 pm at Greene Memorial UMC in Roanoke, VA. Every church in the Valley Ridge District is required to send a representative to this training. Your church representative will be equipped to bring the Culture of Vigilance Training to your congregation. Light refreshments will be served. Led by Debbie Brown and Rev. Tina Yates.
Register at the link below.
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Events happening around the district: spring bazaars, musical events, and more. Check out the events on our webpage by clicking the link below.
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LAY SERVANT MINISTRY TRAINING | |
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Valley Ridge District in-person Lay Servant Ministry Training April 27 at St. James UMC in Churchville, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Offering Basic Course, Christian Heritage Course, and Leading Worship Advanced Course. Advanced book purchase and reading is required. Register at the link below.
Register here for April 27!
More opportunities for training:
June 1 at Genesis in Roanoke
August 24 at St. Paul in Christiansburg
Throughout the year with BeADisciple.com
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UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH RETREAT
Make your reservation today for the upcoming Valley Ridge District United Women in Faith Spiritual Life Retreat on Saturday, April 27 at 10 AM (with an option to stay overnight before the event) at Alta Mons Camp and Retreat Center in Shawsville.
Rev. Dr. Patricia Jones will be our featured speaker. The theme of the SLR comes from this year's UWF program book: Food, Faith and Fellowship. We will also hear from members of our recent District UWF mission team who recently returned from the Wesley Community Center in Portsmouth. We will enjoy worship, music, and fellowship in the beautiful setting of Alta Mons and conclude with a wonderful box lunch. Our mission focus will be Alta Mons, and we will collect donations of money and Walmart gift cards for their summer camp supplies.
Use and share the attached flyer. Bring a friend. Please help us spread the word to your congregation! The registration deadline is April 15. Contact Mona Tolley at 540-556-5238 or monamax@aol.com with any registration questions.
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Find job openings with our local churches and ministry partners, on our website HERE. | |
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Upcoming Important Dates
April 18 District Leadership Board meets at Genesis UMC in Roanoke, 2pm-5pm
April 23-May 3 General Conference in Charlotte, NC
April 27 UWF Spiritual Life Retreat at Alta Mons
April 27 Lay Servant Ministries Training at St. James
June 20-22 Annual Conference in Hampton, VA
July 26-28 Mission Encounter VAUMC Conference Center, Registration Coming Soon
November 9 Save the Date District and Charge Conference, Location and Time, TBA
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