Your monthly news & updates
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This month's newsletter includes important dates, documents and events around the District.
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A Message from your District Superintendent
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I sit writing to you, it has been
seven
weeks since we have gathered to worship in our congregations. We have experienced half of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter from our homes. We are making plans, hopefully, to begin to reopen our church doors soon in ways that will continue to keep us safe from COVID-19 infections spreading
.
This social distancing is unprecedented. I have not spoken with a single person who has ever experienced anything like this, not anyone who ever imagined such a time.
There are times when I feel overwhelmed by the challenges that are before us.
If you are reading this, I believe that you love the Lord. If you are reading this, I believe that you are striving to grow in grace. If you are reading this, I believe that you want to please God in serving according to the gifts that you have been given.
Join me, please, as we look for God in each day.
When I realized one day that I was feeling overwhelmed often, and the word overwhelmed kept coming into my mind in a negative way, I remembered the Christian song, “Overwhelmed.” I think that the Holy Spirit planted it in my mind. The words to this powerful song reminded me that I’m overwhelmed by the goodness and beauty of the presence of God…that God is bigger than my worries and distractions. I can choose to be overwhelmed by God! “All that you are is so overwhelming. I delight myself in You, Captivated by your beauty.
I’m overwhelmed by You
.” Google it and be overwhelmed.
May God overwhelm us!
When I was writing that no one had ever imagined a time like this would come, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the words from Ephesians 3:20, “
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine
, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
It is no accident that the spirit of God speaks in our distress and need.
I didn’t feel inspired to write a newsletter article on this very busy day, and here in the midst of the writing, God has spoken to me in ways that I had not imagined, overwhelming me with glory!
And so, I share these other powerful words of the letter to the Ephesians 3: 14-19:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,
and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God
.”
In the year 2020, may we see with 20/20 spiritual acuity the fullness of God.
There is power in the word of God to transform even a wretch like me…
In God’s abundant grace, Sylvia
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Bishop Sharma Lewis Announcements
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Stay the Course, Stay Strong: Serving God While Social Distancing
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Dear Virginia Conference,
I hope you and your families had a very blessed Easter celebration. Let us remember that our hope as believers is in Jesus Christ.
Though our Easter services looked quite different this year, I hope that, especially in this challenging time of a global pandemic, you heard the Easter story anew and, with confidence assured in the resurrected Christ, said, “Alleluia! Christ IS risen!”
Thank you to our pastors, church staff and volunteers who are continuing to find creative worship opportunities through livestream, phone, print, and many other communications avenues, so we can worship, promote fellowship and do the mission of the church.
The commitment of so many of you to be flexible and to take on the challenges that COVID-19 presents empowers us to do God’s work effectively and SAFELY. It brings joy to our congregants, communities and the heart of God. And we must persevere.
Governor Northam’s statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until June 10.
As such, in-person worship cannot take place until June 11. If the Governor’s executive order is rescinded or revised before June 10, we will re-evaluate the status of in-person worship.
In-person, “drive-thru” or “drive-in” worship services on or off Virginia Conference property remain canceled until further notice.
I ask that our Virginia Conference clergy and laity stay the course by continuing to observe social distancing, proper hygiene and follow the stay-at-home directive.
This is not an easy time for any of us, but in Christian love, we need to look out for our vulnerable communities and do our utmost to decrease the strain on our healthcare system and emergency services. It is hard not to be able to meet in-person as a community of faith, but we know God is not the church building. God is so much more than a building.
May the promise of Easter remain with us during the pandemic and through the rest of our year.
Peace and Blessings,
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis
(
Click here
to download a pdf copy of this message or see attached.)
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Bishop Lewis Daily Prayer Invitation
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Bishop Sharma D. Lewis has issued an invitation to the Virginia Conference to join her at noon every day in praying a prayer she has provided. "Let us invoke the power of the Great Physician to do a mighty work in eradicating this disease all over the world," she writes.
Click here
for the invitation and the prayer or see attached.
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A Message from your Director of Congregational Excellence
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A river brings joy to the city of our God...God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed
!
-Psalm 46:4-5 NLT
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Rev. Jack Meservey shared the following story with me recently. May you be blessed as you hear how God works in unexpected conversations!
I was at the churches on Thursday to get some work done and video some segments for tomorrow’s service. While I was there, a service technician came to perform planned maintenance on the HVAC system. We started talking and I asked him what church he attended and he responded that he was between churches at the moment.
I asked him if he knew Christ, he then sat down about three pews away from me and provided one of the most powerful conversion testimonies I had ever heard. The spirit came over him during a service he attended to such a degree that he was openly crying. He accepted Christ at that moment and after the service he spoke with the pastor, was baptized and I could tell just by the way his eyes lit up when he talked about Jesus that he knew without a doubt whose he was. I listened without interruption or comment for nearly an hour which for me is an eternity. That church was in another state so he is looking.
I realized he was one of the lost sheep that Jesus left the 99 in search of just as I am.
I shared some of my testimony, we prayed and I invited him to our video services and to come and experience the love of our little church once we reconvened.
Even in isolation, we meet people whose lives we can affect and who can affect ours. As a result, I missed a meeting but I gained so much.
With His continued blessings,
Jack
Remember, God is working in many different ways during this season. So, keep your eyes open for how God is working. Take some time to share those stories with me, either through email (
andrewbook@vaumc.org
) or phone (757-771-4224).
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Virginia Annual Conference June Session postponed until September
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the June 2020 session of the Virginia Annual Conference has been postponed until September 18 -19, 2020. Information regarding the September 2020 Annual Conference meeting location is forthcoming.
The Annual Conference session postponement will not impact the clergy appointment process.
The moving date for pastors is Tuesday, June 30
th
.
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New Virginia Conference website
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You may have noticed a new conference website was quietly launched late last week. The Communications staff is thrilled to release this new resource and the new possibilities it allows for future communications and resources.
Look around the website at
www.vaumc.org
to familiarize yourself with the new features and the new layout. You will notice the magnifying glass icon at the top right of the website which will allow you to search the website for anything you might need.
Unfortunately, all the internal and external links had to be changed with the move to a new platform and host. Please be aware of this if you have shared documents from the conference website. You will need to redo links you have shared in the past.
Please know that we are working speedily and diligently on any questions or concerns you may have. Please be patient with us during this process as we are continuing to update content and to process the technical aspects of the website.
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Connectional Ministries Office Continues Multi-Year Alignment:
Common Table makes structural, financial, staff changes
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Beginning in 2018 and with a more intensive focus in the fall of 2019, the Common Table sought structural, financial, and human resource alignment to fulfill the conference vision adopted in June 2017. It is a living vision of mission and ministry; “to be disciples who are lifelong learners who influence others to serve.”
The Virginia Conference Common Table is now announcing an update to the
Connectional Ministries Vision Alignment process
as of March 2020. The process included a review of all current staff positions under Connectional Ministries (IT, Communications, Justice and Missional Excellence, Next Generation Ministries and Congregational Excellence).
The Common Table Personnel Committee is creating new offices centered on Learning Ministries, Influence Ministries, and Serve Ministries. These will replace the current offices of Justice and Missional Excellence, Next Generation Ministries, and Congregational Excellence. These offices will be led by an Assistant Director of Learning Ministries, an Associate Director of Influence Ministries, and an Associate Director of Serve Ministries. Position descriptions and details about the application process will soon be released.
Current staff positions are effective until June 30, 2020. The new alignment team structure and newly hired staff will both begin July 1, 2020.
The financial impact of the Alignment process has created a 2020 Common Table spending reduction of $254,200.
The immediate staff impacts as a result of the vision alignment include the retirement of Mrs. Cindy Ingroff with 27 years of service as an Administrative Assistant in Connectional Ministries. The position of News Associate in the Communications Office has been eliminated, in which Mr. Forrest White was employed. Effective June 30, the positions of the Rev. Mark Ogren, Director of Congregational Excellence; the Rev. Glenn Rowley, Director of Justice and Missional Excellence; and Mr. Paulo Lopes, Director of Next Generation Ministries will cease. For these staff, the conference is extremely thankful and grateful for their service.
Questions may be directed to the Rev. Dr. Ted Smith, conference Director of Connectional Ministries, at
TedSmith@vaumc.org
.
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Sheltering in Love… Loving Others with Compassion and Care
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As each of us shelters in place to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we cannot help but be impacted by the scale of illness, death, and financial distress all around us. We could even be led to believe that this is a hopeless situation. But, thank God, that is not true!
Together, we can give compassion and care to others in this time of great need.
Since the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, UMCOR has been working with health boards, medical professionals, disaster management coordinators, and faith leaders to prevent the further spread of this disease. Now it is clear that the impact of COVID-19 will be far-reaching and demands a greater response.
Even as you shelter in place,
you can be there for others.
The new UMCOR COVID-19 Response fund will equip partners in the U.S. and around the world to assist our most vulnerable populations. Grants from this fund will be disbursed quickly and efficiently to address health concerns, food insecurity, water and hygiene limitations, and other pressing needs.
When you say “yes” to supporting the UMCOR COVID-19 Response, you will help bring God’s love to life for those who need it most.
Join the
UMCOR COVID-19 Response
with your gift today
who don’t have a safety net and need compassion and care as a result of the pandemic.
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Online Faith and Science Event for Youth Groups at Randolph Macon College
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VaUMC Youth Ministry leaders: Are you looking for meaningful ways to engage your youth online? Randolph-Macon College is offering a free online gathering (via Zoom) for youth groups Sunday evenings from 6-7 p.m. May 3
rd
-24
th
. These gatherings will be focused on the topic of Faith and Science, using content & resources that R-MC has developed during three years of hosting our Convergence Youth Theology Institute on Faith and Science. The event is open to both middle and high school students and includes time to be in a “breakout room” for discussion with only your group. Youth Leaders can register your group at:
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Please check the District Calendar for updated information on postponed events, rescheduling, Pastoral meetings and more!
We will make it through this!
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We will have more events coming soon!
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Main Street UMC (Suffolk) is “A Light in the Darkness”
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Awards - Grants - Assistance
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The Family of Frank Cloud (Rev. Bert Cloud’s father)
Tish Borden (James River District Administrative Assistant) and family in regards to the passing of Tish's sister, Grace Vidal.
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Rev. Sylvia Shepard Meadows, James River District Superintendent
Keith Jordan & Gerry Fuss, Lay Leaders
Tish Borden, Administrative Assistant
Rev. Andrew Book, Director of Congregational Excellence
Ronnika Davis, Communications Coordinator
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