Motherly Compassion toward Children by Rev. Stephen Lee, Colonial Beach UMC |
Whenever we celebrate Mother’s Day, I remember my mother, Hwa Soon Choi (1915-2004) showing me who the man of prayer is all about. I can remember that she never stopped praying until she moved into heaven. I mean that she was almost never absent with the early morning prayer meeting at church during weekdays, usually 4:30am in the Summer and 5:00am in the Winter since she became a Christian at her age of seventeen. As a Methodist preacher’s wife, she supported overwhelmingly my father in prayer. Very frequently, she prayed through the night and fasted in prayer a lot.
My mother’s ardent prayer life made her two sons become pastors. My older brother, a currently retired pastor in Korean Methodist Church was a sort of wayward son throughout his twenties. My mother prayed for him in tears for a long time. Once she told me, “the amount of my tears for your brother may be as much as one bucket of water.” God answered my mother’s persistent prayer: my brother’s life was changed and he made a decision to go to seminary and become a pastor.
This wonderful prayer life of my mother is nothing but her love for children. Doubtless this love resembles the love of God. Though the people of Israel committed unforgivable sin to nail Jesus the Son of God on the cross to die, God had not given up on them. To the end, God loved them and wanted to restore them.
If the only begotten Son of God was killed by His chosen people, could there be a worse betrayal than this? If this happened to ordinary people, they would gnash their teeth and pursue thorough revenge. But God had never given up on them. Here we can read the minds of God like motherly compassion toward children. No matter how bad children betray parents out of ingratitude, there is no parent who would give up their children. Paul expressed such great compassion of God the Father as follows: “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (Romans 11:29). Yes, it is true! Henry W. Beecher said, “God pardons like a mother, who kisses the offense into everlasting forgetfulness.”
May God continue to bless our mothers and fathers with His power and strength!
Happy Mother’s and Father’s Day!
Pastor Stephen
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Listen to Connectional Ministries podcasts including the brand new “Audio Advocate”
There are new VAUMC podcasts. Both available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
“The VAUMC Connection” is a series of standalone projects that will include news from the conference center, “The Audio Advocate” and a collection of resources and conversations shared by the Connectional Ministries Office. Available on Spotify and Apple.
“1000 Question Christian” is a weekly podcast where clergy are asked off-the-wall questions–anything from weird stories in the Bible to pastoral advice.
Episodes include
Dinos, Donkeys, & Doubts
Teenage Jesus, Bears, and Prayer
Death, Unicorns, and Bible Reading
Angels, Alcohol, and Anger
Available on Spotify and Apple.
To view all podcasts available from Virginia Conference Connectional Ministries, visit the Digital Hub on the conference website at https://vaumc.org/digitalhub/
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May 15 Spiritual Life Retreat via Zoom
June 5 UMW Day at Ferrrum College, Ferrum College
Summer Mission Encounter via Zoom TBD
September 10-11 UMW Young Women's Event, Camp Overlook, Keezletown
September 25 RRD UMW Annual Meeting
October 23 UMW 48th Annual Meeting- 4H Camp at Smith Mountain Lake
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District Alignment Team Listening Posts |
Bishop Lewis formed a work team in May 2020, after being asked by the conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) to evaluate the Virginia Conference’s district structure, to consider this important question: “How can districts most effectively order themselves for the adaptive challenges of the 21st century?”
The District Alignment Team (DAT) and the subsequent team called the Implementation District Alignment Team (iDAT) have been diligently deliberating the question posed by Bishop Lewis over the last 12 months. The teams are now inviting all clergy and laity in the Virginia Conference to two opportunities to learn more about district alignment and take part in this ongoing conversation.
The second session will be held Monday, May 17 from 6:30-8 p.m. Both sessions will be held through Zoom with registration and log-in information to be provided soon.
Interested clergy and lay members should choose the session that works best for their schedule. Each listening session will begin with a short update on the efforts thus far, a few discussion questions, and a period of Q&A.
Recordings of both sessions will be shared following the May 17 listening session.
To view current district alignment information and resources, visit www.vaumc.org/dat.
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Although All God's Children Camp will be canceled this summer, we will be reaching out and ministering with our camp families by sending resources and care packages. If you would like to get involved check out the list below.
Care Package List: All packages are due by June 1
Jump rope
Hand size nerf ball of your choice
Sidewalk chalk
Crayons
Activity paper/construction paper
Kids puzzle book/workbook/coloring books
Individual size snacks of your choice-no chocolate candy or peanuts
$25.00 grocery gift card
You or a group of people can put together one or more care packages for our All God's Children Camp campers. You may also send monetary donations to the address below to help support this ministry. If you live in the Richmond area, contact Lori Smith at lttlelori@gmail.com to make arrangements for delivery. If you live outside the Richmond area, please mail care packages to:
Virginia United Methodist Conference Center
All God's Children Camp
10330 Staples Mill Rd.
Glen Allen, VA 23060
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Clergy Evaluations Due June 1
Parsonage Reviews Due May 3
Scholarship Applications Due May 17
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Regester Chapel UMC in Stafford is seeking a Director of Music Ministry. Please click here for a complete job description. |
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District Scholarship Applications Now Available
In keeping with our tradition of supporting higher learning, the Rappahannock River District (RRD) of the United Methodist Church has created a Student Scholarship Program. The program is maintained and administered by the RRD and is not connected with any other United Methodist board, agency, or entity. Please see the guidelines & intructions and applications below.
Deadline is May 17, 2021.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
District Superintendent: Rev. Charles F. Ledlum-Bates, Ph.D.
DS Cell: 804.724.0202
2020 District Co-Lay Lay Leader:
2020 District Co-Lay Leader:
Cell 804.304.8566
Mailing Address: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 Phone 804.448.8326
Office Location: Inside Wright’s Chapel UMC at 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA (do not use for mail)
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