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News from the Virginia Conference – June 29, 2010

Nearly $195,000 given to Annual Conference offering so far
As of June 29, $194,894 has been contributed toward the 2010 Annual Conference offering to fund leadership development in Brazil, Mozambique and northern Virginia. Funds are still being received by the Virginia Conference Treasurer. More ...

2010 Annual Conference evaluations requested
The 2010 Annual Conference is just finished — and now we start to plan for next year's Annual Conference session. Please e-mail your concerns, questions, suggestions or opinions about the 2010 Annual Conference, while they are still fresh in your minds, to MarcBrown@vaumc.org. Let us know what you liked and what you would like to see changed.

You can still order DVDs of 2010 Annual Conference highlights
The Virginia Conference Communications Office is producing two sets of DVDs containing highlights of the 2010 Annual Conference. Cost of both DVD sets is $35 (or $25 for Set 1 and $15 for Set 2, if purchased separately). Fee includes shipping and handling. SET 1 ($25) will include Conference Preachers and Bible Study: Memorial Service, Ordination Service, Bible Studies, three worship services led by the Rev. Vance Ross and Plenary Teaching Session. SET 2 ($15) will include Special Services and Reports: Laity Address, Upper Room 75th Anniversary recognition, Common Table Report, Retirement Service, Redistricting Task Force and Witness by the Rev. Jim Gulley. Click here for order form. For credit card orders, call Peggy Cribbs toll-free at 1-800-768-6040, ext. 110; or direct at (804) 521-1110.

DVDs of 2007 Stockton Academy workshops available
The Conference Office of Congregational Development has DVDs from the 2007 Stockton Academy of Evangelism workshops, featuring Tyron Gordon and Dan Kimball. These are available for distribution to churches or individuals in the Virginia Conference. Copies can either be picked up at the Conference Center through July 30 or mailed. Contact jacobevans@vaumc.org to request that a copy be mailed. For more information, contact the Office of Congregational Development at (804) 521-1155 or toll-free at 1-800-768-6040, ext. 155.

All God’s Children Camp needs Arts and Crafts leader
An Arts and Crafts leader is needed for All God's Children Camp (AGCC) at Camp Highroads Aug. 1-6. The volunteer would need to lead campers in crafts throughout the week during activity times. If interested, contact Dawn Skinner, Camp Highroad AGCC Onsite Director, (703) 303-0362 cell, (540) 822-4876 landline or dawn@skinnerenterprises.com. For more information about All God’s Children Camp, go to http://www.vaumc.org/agcc.

Volunteers needed for flood damage repair project in Norfolk
Workers are needed for a mission project July 6-16 in Norfolk to help with repair and remediation of flood damage from last November's nor’easter. Anticipated start date is July 6 for mold abatement and demolition. Project leader is Joe Bone. Contact Bone at bonejj1@verizon.net or (757) 471-2939 or Kathy Girdler at allthingsgreen@cox.net or (757) 435-9931 if you are able to help one or more days. Let Joe or Cathy know of any special construction skills or equipment you may have to offer.

Pathways certified by GreenNonprofits
Pathways Ministries, a private, nonprofit, community development corporation working to rebuild and strengthen the city of Petersburg and surrounding counties, has become one of the first 10 organizations in the country to be certified by GreenNonprofits. Pathways’ commitment to a healthier environment is not limited to office practices, but stands at the heart of the organization’s vision for Petersburg – from the EarthCraft certified homes it builds, to the organic food it grows on the roof of its offices. For more information, call (804) 862-1104. Or visit http://www.pathways-va.org/.

 

 



Voices of Youth to sing concert at Camp Rainbow on July 11
As part of its 25th Anniversary celebration tour, Voices of Youth (VOY) will perform a concert at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at Camp Rainbow at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center, 707 Fourth St. in Blackstone. Camp Rainbow Connection is a weeklong respite camp held once in July and once in August for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Voices of Youth is a mission outreach and education program of the Virginia Conference. This summer youth vocal choir participates in mission work in the U.S. and abroad, and then shares their mission experiences via music and testimonies. To view the VOY schedule, go to www.voicesofyouth-va.org.

Children offered two chances to experience ‘Helping Hands’ mission
“Helping Hands,” a two-day hands-on mission experience for children, will be held July 8-9 at Main Street UMC in Waynesboro and again July 22-23 at Woodlake UMC, Midlothian. All rising fourth- through sixth-graders, parents and adult leaders of Virginia Conference churches are invited to participate in one of these events and learn about mission opportunities and the importance of being a caring Christian. Cost is $35 per person and includes a T-shirt, meals, snacks and overnight stay. Registration for the July 8-9 event is now closed, but registration will be open for the July 22-23 event until June 30. Click here for registration information and a brochure about the July 22-23 event.

School of Christian Mission offers opportunity to come alive to mission
The School of Christian Mission is a cooperative school offered by the Virginia Conference Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Women (UMW). It offers an opportunity for women, men and youths to come alive to mission by participating in the weekend school or the weekday school, both held at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center (VUMAC) in Blackstone. Click here for information and online registration for the July 22-25 weekend school. Click here for information and online registration for the July 26-29 weekday school. Registration deadline is July 10.

General Conference Commission selects theme, logo for 2012
The Commission on the General Conference has selected “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ to Transform the World” as the theme for The United Methodist Church’s 2012 General Conference, scheduled for April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla. The logo which complements the theme depicts a graphic image of the cross with circles extending from the cross imposed against a bright sun and blue water. Click here for more. Click here for a graphic of the logo and more detailed interpretation of the theme. The commission also announced that the official General Conference 2012 Web site will be gc2012.umc.org. The site is expected to be available by early fall.

2010 State of the Church report available online
The 2010 State of the Church report is now available. You can view data and download the PDF at www.umc.org/sotc2010. You can also view the report online at http://issuu.com/gunderwood/docs/sotc_final. This report is a collaborative effort of the Connectional Table, Council of Bishops and General Council on Finance and Administration with production assistance from United Methodist Communications. A printed version will be included in the July-August edition of Interpreter magazine. A limited number of printed copies are available free of charge. For more information, contact Cynthia Dopke, Connectional Table Special Projects Coordinator, (773) 777-7133, (773) 301-0857 or cdopke@umc.org.

Revised book offers help for mentors
Mentoring Into Vocation: Touchstones for the Journey, updated to reflect changes made by the 2008 General Conference and with a new introduction, offers a comprehensive framework for guiding people into ordained or lay vocations. The book provides a spiritual and theological focus for the work of leaders in annual conferences who are charged with oversight of candidacy and clergy mentoring programs. Written by Mark A. Fowler, Murray E. Leiffer Associate Professor of Congregational Leadership and Director of the Institute for Transformative Leaders and Communities at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., the book is written specifically from the perspective of United Methodist polity and theology. The revised edition, available in August from the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, can be pre-ordered now from Cokesbury at www.cokesbury.com or 1-800-672-1789 for $12.95.

UMCOR working to aid Central Americans recovering from Agatha
Recovery from Tropical Storm Agatha, which left a trail of destruction May 29 in Central America from Guatemala to Nicaragua, is expected to take at least a year. Guatemala was hardest hit, with 174 dead, 113 missing, 147 injured and more than 160,000 survivors evacuated and displaced from their homes. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working with the ACT Alliance through a Central American partner, the Conference of Evangelical Churches of Guatemala, to provide immediate relief and long-term recovery. Click here to make an online donation to support that work.

UMVIM teams needed because of more flooding in northwest Tennessee
Recent flooding in Dyer County in northwest Tennessee has devastated the lives of hundreds of people. Areas hardest hit include uninsured older homes in a low-income area. The result is a need to demolish and rebuild most of these homes. Skilled volunteer teams are needed to defray some of the costs for these families who cannot afford to rebuild. Teams are encouraged to bring funds to assist, if at all possible. Housing is being provided by Dyersburg First United Methodist Church which can accommodate up to 60 people. Kitchen, three laundry units and 12 showers are available. Contact the Rev. Robert Craig at Dyersburg FUMC, (731) 285-6454, to register a team.

UMCOR supporting disaster response teams in West Ohio
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is supporting disaster response teams of the denomination's West Ohio Annual Conference as they mobilize to help survivors of a series of tornadoes that tore through Ohio June 5, killing six people and destroying more than 100 homes. Click here to make an online donation to support their efforts.

For in-depth news and features about United Methodist mission and ministry, subscribe to the Virginia United Methodist Advocate, the Virginia Conference’s award-winning monthly newsmagazine. Click here to subscribe online. Or call Peggy Cribbs at 1-800-768-6040, ext. 110, or (804) 521-1110. Or e-mail Advocate@vaumc.org.

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— Virginia Conference Vision Statement

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Virginia United Methodist Center
Mailing Address: PO Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5606
Physical Address: 10330 Staples Mill Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
1-800-768-6040 or (804) 521-1100
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