James River District
Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
Conference Vision: "to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are lifelong learners who influence others to serve."
Your monthly news & updates
This month's newsletter includes important dates, documents and events around the District.
A Message from your District Superintendent
Previously released article. Please keep Sylvia in your Prayers.

Dear Friends,

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

Will General Conference decisions separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will a pandemic be able to separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will racism be able to separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will protests and riots be able to separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods be able to separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will leaders and rules separate us from the love of Christ? No
Will presidential elections be able to separate us from the love of Christ? No
So, are we trying to blame someone or something else for the state of things? 
Am I blaming others for my attitude, my thoughts, my words? Am I seeking God’s grace for me and all others?

Am I using my days and energy for good or harm? Am I examining myself each day in God’s presence? 
Are those around me blessed by my presence? Do I spill poison or peace into a space?
If everyone was saying and doing what I am saying and doing, would the church and the world be stronger or weaker? 

If everyone was giving to God through their church the percent that I am giving, would the church flourish or fail? 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” (Psalm 23: 1-3a)

Lord, restore our souls. Lord, remind us that nothing can separate us from your love. Lord, help our lives to be a witness that you are bigger and stronger than any of the challenges that we face. Help us to learn the lessons that you are trying to teach us, even as we continue to run from stepping into the pain, trusting in your promises. Lord, may we choose to live your love, so that the world may know your love in and through our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers…sylvia
Bishop Sharma Lewis Announcements
Bishop Lewis Daily Prayer Invitation
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.
Scouting’s Silver Torch award presented to Bishop Sharma D. Lewis
The Virginia Annual Conference Ministry of Scouting team presented the Silver Torch Award to Bishop Sharma D. Lewis on Monday, Oct. 12. Mr. Bill Chaffin, conference director of Scouting, said, “I first met our new bishop in May of 2016. From day one, she has exemplified everything that would identify a candidate for the Silver Torch.”
 
The Silver Torch is awarded to an adult whose exemplary service to these programs shine beyond their own annual conference. Many laity and clergy serve above and beyond supporting youth.
 
“Bishops hold a special place within the Silver Torch,” said Chaffin. “They provide encouragement and growth for the spiritual well-being of youth within the church and surrounding communities. The torch itself is an emblem of Christian faithfulness. A torchbearer carries the light with them. They share the light with others extending the reach of ministry. This award recognizes builders of Christian character and service to others.”
 
Chaffin said in an early meeting with Bishop Lewis when she was new to the Virginia Conference, “She immediately embraced our Scouting Ministry and has continued. Bishop Lewis has supported and lived this calling to ‘go into all the world.’This has been seen not just by us in the Virginia Conference but her ministry has shown far and wide.”
 
(This story may also be viewed on the Virginia Conference website.)
 
A Message from your Director of Congregational Excellence
Re-Focus your Church on Ministry!
Kay Kotan is a nationally known speaker and leader who has helped many churches to reshape their committee set-up and church structure to streamline administration and make more space for ministry. Meetings are not ministry! Let's focus on ministry while making meetings fewer in number but larger in meaning. The Simplified, Accountable Structure Workshop is a deep dive into the why, what, and how to move into this model with both adaptive shifts to help us prioritize mission as well as technical shifts to help us implement the ministries we want to do! Whether you have already move to this model and need to hone your understanding for further implementation or whether you are considering the move, you will find this workshop well worth your investment of time. Topics covered are: who should and should not move into this model, setting up the organizational chart, leadership covenant, guiding principles, the leadership rhythm, and much more! 
Kay will be joining us November 21st from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM via Zoom for a joint event with the Richmond District. Churches of all sizes would benefit from considering moving to a simplified, accountable structure, so please mark your calendars now and start recruiting a team from your church to join us. We would love to have the pastor and a few key lay leaders from many of our churches! We believe so strongly in this training that we are offering full scholarships to every church team. Registration is available at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fzyct6pab&oeidk=a07ehbg14r3d97c1d71. Andrew Book, our Director of Congregational Excellence, is certified to coach churches in the implementation of the Simplified, Accountable Structure and will be available to help churches live into a new way of organizing and focusing on mission. Contact Andrew (andrewbook@vaumc.org) with any questions about either the event or coaching!
New documents from Return to In-Person Worship Work Group posted
October 15, 2020--Three new documents have been shared by the Return to In-person Worship Work Group, including a modest revision to the Technical Assistance Manual (TAM). This is now the third revision since the TAM’s initial release in June. The three significant changes in this version include:

1) a provision for the use of paper bulletins when they are placed by masked and gloved volunteers 24 hours before the service,
2) guidance for Sunday school classes that want to meet at times adjacent to worship, and
3) a clarification on distancing seating in pews to ensure 6 feet of separation.
In addition, the Work Group has posted guidelines for recording and streaming sessions to encourage best practices in these settings. Also, there are some new ventilation recommendations. The Work Group continues to meet regularly to review and consider revisions based on the feedback of United Methodists from all across Virginia. Learn more...
UMFS December offering - new resources now available
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. We have created a variety of digital assets to support the offering this year, and help you share the work of the ministry with your congregation. You can find the following resources at www.UMFS.org/church: 4 short videos, an electronic bulletin insert, church offering scripts, and images for newsletters, emails, social media, and websites. Please contact Jill Gaynor (jgaynor@umfs.org or 804-254-9463) with any questions. Thank you for your support!
A NOTE FROM YOUR DISTRICT YOUTH COORDINATORS
STAY CONNECTED AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THE E-ADVOCATE
Thank you for your dedicated service and ministry in your local church and to the larger denomination. To aid you in your ministry, we want to make sure all persons are fully informed with the latest United Methodist news from the Virginia Conference and The United Methodist Church nationally and worldwide.

The e-Advocate is the official newsletter of the conference. Visit https://vaumc.org/e-advocate/ to view past issues or subscribe.

In this newsletter, you will find a variety of information to enrich your local ministry:
  • News from around the Virginia Conference
  • Ways to weekly live into the conference vision "to be disciples who are lifelong learners who influence others to serve."
  • Events and training information
  • Mission and outreach opportunities
  • Ideas and highlights of local church ministries from across the Virginia Conference
  • Letters and news from Bishop Lewis
  • National and global United Methodist news

We hope the e-Advocate can be a useful tool to help support and enrich your ministry.


Grace and peace,

Madeline Pillow White
Director of Communications 
Calendar Updates!
Please check the District Calendar for updated information on postponed events, rescheduling, Pastoral meetings and more!

View the District Calendar for more information and keep for your records!

We will make it through this!
Around the District
We will have more events coming soon!
Main Street UMC (Suffolk) Seeking Administrative Assistant


Main Street UMC in Suffolk is seeking:

Duties include general bookkeeping and payroll, welcoming on-site visitors, general administrative duties, answering telephone calls, maintaining church calendar, and assisting other church staff as necessary.
Candidates must have strong computer skills, bookkeeping or accounting skills, highly organized with general administrative ability, ability to greet and work with church staff and church members
 
Interested Candidates should contact Richard Meiser at richmeiser@vaumc.org or Jordan Webb at jordanwebb72@hotmail.com.

Awards - Grants - Assistance
man_praying_holding_bible.jpg
Prayer Requests
Rev. Joe Hammond
Rev. Sylvia Meadows

JAMES RIVER DISTRICT UMC | 804.732.2538 | jamesriverdistrict@vaumc.org 
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