Conference Vision: "to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are lifelong learners who influence others to serve." |
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A Message from your
District Superintendent
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I sit to write this letter, it is exactly nine weeks from moving day. Although it’s hard to believe that I am coming to the end of my full-time ministry, the end is definitely in sight.
I’m excited to have the freedom to spend more time with my family, especially my mother who needs more of my time. I am saddened to say goodbye to many relationships that are cherished. I am reminded of the Michael W. Smith song, “Friends Are Friends 4rever.” You will be my friends forever AND I will no longer be your District Superintendent. I am comforted to know that I leave you in the able care of Rev. Jay Carey.
As Mary Dadisman and I have worked to plan a farewell worship service, the words from Ecclesiastes 3 continue to resonate with me. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…a time to keep and a time to throw away.” I just threw away most of my sermons…and it is yet to be determined if I will add the few remaining to the trash can. I really don’t think that I will be needing them.
I’m wondering if there might be other things that I need to throw away. Maybe there are things that you need to throw away. I’m not just talking about the extra stuff that we have accumulated. What about those things that clutter our hearts, minds, and souls? What about those things that keep us from realizing the fullness of God within ourselves…so that we can walk with others on the pursuit of realizing the fullness of God within themselves? Do we struggle to trust God fully? Do we hear negative thoughts of self-doubt or judgement? God wants us to throw this stuff away…God will help us throw it away. Maybe in this season of spring and summer cleaning, we can ask God to show us what it is that needs to go.
Loving God and loving neighbor are so connected with loving ourselves. This isn’t a vain, self-centered love for self, but a holy love that honors self as a creation of God. Please repeat after me, “I am a precious child of God. I am a precious child of God. I am a precious child of God.” This is true AND who do we need to see as a precious child of God. Who do we struggle to love? Is there anyone who we can’t see Christ in because of our judgments of them?
I will continue to throw things away…and give things away…and pack some things away…and unwrap some things…physically and spiritually. Will you join me?
“Packing up the dreams God planted in the fertile soil of you.
Can’t believe the hopes God’s granted, means a chapter in your life is through.
But we’ll keep you close as always…it won’t even seem you’ve gone
‘Cause our hearts in big and small ways will keep the love that keeps us strong.
And friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them.”
Praying with you and for you,
Sylvia
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Celebrating the Ministry of Rev. Sylvia S. Meadows |
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The James River District will celebrate the ministry of our District Superintendent, Rev. Sylvia Meadows, as she retires from the Virginia Annual Conference at the end of June and prepares for ministry in new directions.
The Committee on Superintendency invites you to honor Sylvia with cards, letters, photos, and other remembrances to be placed in a Memory Book. If you would like to send an item for the Memory Book, please send it to:
Rev. Sylvia S. Meadows
James River District UMC
PO Box 3413
Petersburg, VA 23805
ATTN: CELEBRATION
We must receive submissions by May 20th.
RSVP now to attend the celebration on June 3rd
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News from your
Director of Congregational Excellence
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Dirt as Discipline
A good word to describe much of how Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God would be “earthy.” He ties many of his stories, parables, and teachings to the dirt (and things that grow therein) and the animals God has placed on this earth. The life of discipleship is like a vine (John 15); whether people will thrive as Christ’s followers is like planting seeds (Matthew 13); God’s love for those who are lost is like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep (Luke 15); Jesus’ own death and resurrection is like planting a seed (John 12).
We can learn a lot about these stories by studying first century agriculture, but there is something about the discipline of growing vines, caring for sheep, and planting seeds which has the power to help us connect with the God who created the dirt, feathers, and fur we are studying. More than that, the first calls from God in scripture are the very same practices Jesus talked so much about: nurturing human life, taking charge of the animals God created and called “good,” and tending the garden God placed us in. These practices ground us in the dirt. They remind us this is God’s world. They force us to grow in patience and invite us to humility.
I have found that much of my own practice of faith has become too disconnected. I need to be better rooted in the dirt. I need to help my family see God in the sheep and birds (Remember: not a single one falls without God’s knowledge!). We need to recognize that even in our digital age, roots still go down, leaves still come up, and a seed may bear 30, 60, or 100-fold. As a result, I will be stepping away from my position as the Director of Congregational Excellence for the James River District (effective July 1) in order to be more focused on my family and our sheep, goats, dogs, fruit and nut trees, grapevines, tomato plants, and all the rest. These are disciplines we need as a family.
As much as we need these disciplines, we are not the only ones who need them. Connecting with dirt, feathers, and fur is a deeply spiritual practice, and we will approach it from both faith-based and secular perspectives. My wife is a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), and we are moving towards offering her clients to a more holistic type of practice where they are invited to our property to spend time with the animals, work in the dirt, take time in the memorial garden, and even make things from the products they help produce (soap from goat milk, cooking with items from the garden, knitting from our sheep’s wool, and more). We will also be creating opportunities for faith-based community. Some of these opportunities will involve partnering with existing churches, homeschool groups, and clergy to help them deepen the roots of their faith. We will also be doing the slow and intentional work of gathering a community which will be rooted in the soil of this property by sharing food together, digging in the dirt together, and seeking God together.
I have no assumptions of where this path will lead us, only that it is planting us in a well-watered place beside flowing water. Like the trees of Psalm 1, I am confident we will bear fruit each season!
Rev. Andrew Book
Director of Congregational Excellence
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Updates from the Virginia Conference
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The March 2021 Appointments have been announced by
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis and her Cabinet.
You may view the new appointments
on the conference website at this link:
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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?”
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District Alignment Team Listening Posts |
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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 first listening session will be held Monday, May 3 from 6:30-8 p.m. 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 at this link: https://vaumc.org/dat/
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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Updates about Ministry Post-pandemic
What is ministry going to look like as we move out of the pandemic? A live webinar event hosted by the Back to In-person Worship Work Group (led by the Rev. Alex Joyner) and Mission and Ministries Work Group (led by the Rev. Doug Forrester) on Monday, April 26, 2021, shared more information including a progress report and other developments.
A news release also went out on April 27, 2021, detailing more information. Find this information, a schedule of upcoming learning opportunities, and the updated Technical Assistance Manual (TAM) at https://vaumc.org/prg/.
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District Missions
This year, the Virginia Annual Conference has taken a new vision regarding the collection and distribution of UMCOR kits and canned goods. The Conference Serving Ministries office is asking each district to connect with local ministries such as homeless shelters, food pantries, afterschool programs, etc., to determine needed items and to distribute these items throughout our local communities. The James River District Missions Team has already received requests from the following local ministries. If your church or missions team has a local mission that wish to be included on the district list or if your church wish to donate any of these items, please contact Tish Borden at JamesRiverDistrict@vaumc.org.
Distribution day will be Saturday, June 19, 2021. Click on the links below for details.
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The Wood's UMW began a mission in 2010 to help feed the needy in their surrounding community. The mission was to organize an ongoing food drive, requesting staple foods donated from their congregation on a regular basis. The UMW would take the donations to local food banks on a monthly basis. Praise God, this mission is still active today!
On a rotating monthly schedule, the UMW delivers these items are delivered to the Colonial Heights Food Pantry or the Chasm Pantry located at St. Anne’s church in Colonial Heights. Each month, Mary Chalkley faithfully loads her car and delivers the donated food to one of these facilities. The March delivery to the Colonial Heights Food Pantry resulted in 195 pounds of food.
Thank you to the UMW for their faithfulness in organizing and promoting this mission, to the Wood's congregation for their steadfast donations, and a special thank you to Mary Chalkley for her dedication each month in successfully delivering the food to one of these facilities.
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Churches and Pastors in transition
Mrs. Kitty Dadisman (Rev. Mary Dadisman's mother)
Rev. Garland Hines
Bishop Sharma Lewis and Cabinet
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Next Newsletter Deadline
May 19th, 2021
Send your news and pictures to
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Rev. Sylvia S. Meadows, James River District Superintendent
Gerry Fuss & Keith Jordan, Lay Leaders
Tish Borden, Administrative Assistant
Rev. Andrew Book, Director of Congregational Excellence
Audrey Smith, Petersburg Project Coordinator
Ronnika Davis, Communications Coordinator
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