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News from the Virginia Conference – April 13, 2012
Protesters target Waynesboro store selling bath salts drug
On Good Friday, approximately 150 people gathered on streets of Waynesboro to raise community awareness about the bath salts epidemic. Many at the vigil came from a prayer service at Fishersville United Methodist Church and surrounded Trinity Glass & Tobacco, a store notorious for bath salts sales. (The store takes its name from a popular bong, which has three combustion chambers for marijuana or other drugs.) “Truth be told, I never led a street protest before,” said the Rev. Larry Jent, pastor at Fishersville UMC. “Less than half of these people were (my) church members. Most of them were under 30. By the time I arrived, they were chanting, ‘Bath salts kill — Jesus saves!’ Methodists. On the street. Yelling. Who knew?” More …
Annual Conference members urged to bring ‘4 Cans 4 Conference’
Each clergy and lay member of Annual Conference is encouraged to bring at least "4 Cans 4 Conference," canned goods or boxed dry foods for the Southwestern Virginia (SW-VA) Food Bank in the Roanoke-Salem area. Requested are: one can of vegetables or fruit, one can of meat or fish, one can of soup or stew and one can with a pop-top. In addition, there is a need for cereal (hot, cold, or instant), peanut butter and jelly, cooking oils, dry preparation aids (like Hamburger Helper, pasta, etc.), flour, etc. As you are able, please bring your 4 Cans in recyclable grocery bags, rather than plastic bags. Please do not bring home-canned items, out-of-date cans, glass jars, damaged cans, fresh fruits/veggies, or already-opened or partially used supplies. Contributions for the food bank will be collected at a U-Haul (or similar) truck parked near the Kits Collection truck in Parking Lot A, from Thursday noon until Saturday afternoon. For more information, contact the Rev. Jim Earley, revsrus@comcast.net or 703-538-5200.
Native American Ministries Sunday is April 22
Native American Ministries Sunday is just one week away. Be sure to order your free offering resources for this April 22 offering now. It supports scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist schools of theology and ministries that reach out to Native Americans. More …
World Malaria Day is April 25
World Malaria Day is April 25. Use this new church bulletin insert to bring awareness to this day and what United Methodists are doing to combat this preventable but often deadly illness. United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) works in various countries around the globe to form comprehensive plans to combat malaria. You can donate to Imagine No Malaria, UMCOR Advance #3021190, by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted; or by giving online on the UMCOR website. And pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them. More …
Register now to ‘Change the World’ May 19-20
Again this year, the church will come together to change the world. United Methodists will extend justice and compassion in their communities May 19-20. Click here to register. United Methodist Communications will chart your event on the rethinkchurch.org map. National advertising will draw thousands of visitors to the website. They will see your church on the map and know how to join your event. If you register for “Change the World” before April 16, you will receive a free lawn banner, sermon series bundle and T-shirt. Last year, more than 2,000 events were registered worldwide as part of 2011 “Change the World.” Projects ranged from developing and enhancing community gardens to fighting human trafficking. Think now about how your congregation will change the world. More …
Older Adult Retreat has been cancelled
Due to very low registration numbers, “ReFirement: A Creative Spark,” the retreat sponsored by the Older Adult Council which was to be held April 20-21 at Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center, has been cancelled. For those who had registered for the event, the conference office of Inclusivity and Lay Leadership Excellence will be processing refunds in the coming week. For more information, phone (804) 521-1154 or e-mail: MarthaStokes@vaumc.org.
UMVIM Team Leader training events announced
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader training will be held Saturday, April 21, at Farmville UMC, Farmville; Saturday, June 2, at Floris UMC, Herndon; and Saturday, Oct. 13, at Timberlake UMC, Lynchburg. Each training event starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. More …
Training to help small churches meet Vital Congregation goals
District training events focused on helping small churches (averaging up to 150 in worship) achieve their Vital Congregation goals are scheduled for April 14 – Lynchburg District (Timberlake UMC. Registration deadline is April 6); April 15 – Danville District (First UMC, Martinsville. Registration deadline is April 6); April 22 – Harrisonburg and Winchester Districts (Woodstock UMC, Harrisonburg. Registration deadline is April 13); May 12 – Alexandria and Arlington Districts (St. Matthew’s UMC, Annandale. Registration deadline is May 4); May 19 – Elizabeth River and Eastern Shore Districts (Community UMC, Virginia Beach, Registration deadline is May 11); Sept. 29 – Staunton District (Location TBA. Registration deadline is Sept. 21); Sept. 30 – York River District (Location TBA. Registration deadline is Sept. 21); Oct. 13 – Fredericksburg District (Tabernacle UMC. Registration deadline is Oct. 5); Oct. 20 – Farmville District (Location TBA. Registration deadline is Oct. 12); Jan. 13, 2013 – Richmond District (Location TBA. Registration deadline is Jan. 5). To register on the Virginia Conference website, go to “Events,” then click on the date. For more information, contact your District office or the conference office of Inclusivity and Lay Leadership Excellence at 1-800-768-6040, ext. 153, or (804)-521-1153 or e-mail marthastokes@vaumc.org.
Conference UMW Spiritual Life Retreat to be May 4-6
Virginia Conference United Methodist Women’s Spiritual Life Retreat will be May 4-6 at Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center. Retreat theme is “Near to the Heart of God: Images of Spirituality from Holy Women of the Middle Ages.” Retreat leader is the Rev. Dr. Deborah Fair, an elder in the Virginia Conference who enjoys leading worship, preaching and teaching and frequently brings the arts into all areas of her ministry. April 24 is registration deadline. Registration forms are available through the Virginia Conference UMW website, www.vaumw.org.
Ecological pilgrimage for young adults to be May 21-25
“A Sojourn to Sacredness: A Theological Ecological Pilgrimage for Young Adults” will be May 21-25 on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Young adults age 18-35 years old will spend five days on the Eastern Shore and on the Chesapeake Bay as part of a theological, ecological pilgrimage to foster and develop relationship with God, each other and God's creation. Deadline to register is May 11. More …
Second year of Camp Loud and Clear set for July 13-15
Camp Loud and Clear will be held July 13-15 at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center in Appomattox County. This is the second year for the camp which is specifically designed to meet the needs of children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing regardless of their degree of hearing loss or their chosen communication mode. Camp Loud and Clear is being supported by the Virginia Conference Commission on Disabilities, Longwood University, Radford University and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center. More …
Mission Encounter set for July 27-29, July 30-Aug. 2
Virginia Conference Mission Encounter 2012 (formerly called School of Christian Mission) is an opportunity for men, women, youths and children to learn about being partners in God’s global mission and to grow spirituality through study and worship. Click here for information about the weekend session July 27-29. Click here to learn about the week-long session July 30-Aug. 2. Both will be at Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center.
‘SERVE’ will help students explore call to ministry
Do you know of a high school student who may be interested in or has the potential for ministry? An event at Randolph-Macon College, Aug 5-7, will help students explore this calling. The event, “SERVE,” will have a work camp focus and include small groups, Bible study, recreation, special worship services and much more. Click here for more information, or call Margie Turbyfill at (804) 368-7276 or e-mail her at margieturbyfill@rmc.edu. The program is co-sponsored by the Bailey Pre-ministerial Program at Randolph-Macon College and the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
‘Night in a Box’ to help homeless Aug. 10
Would you sleep in a cardboard box for one night to help the homeless? Teens Opposing Poverty is hosting "Night in a Box" the night of Friday, Aug. 10, at Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School off of Route 522 south of Winchester. “Night in a Box” will raise awareness of the challenges homeless people face every day and will raise funds to help the homeless and poor of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and other areas in Virginia. The event is open to individuals, families and groups of all ages. In addition to sleeping in a box, there will be a street fair with musicians and other artists, a KidZone, a build-a-box contest and other fun activities. Participants will learn about life on the streets from former homeless people. Those who don't want to sleep in a box can attend for the evening activities only. Early bird registration by June 1. For more information, call toll free 1-866-955-6260 or go to www.nightinabox.org.
General Conference to include ‘Act of Repentance’
Historically, the treatment of indigenous people by Christian churches — including United Methodists — has been good, bad and ugly. As The United Methodist Church gathers here April 24-May 4 for its worldwide legislative session, it will recognize that history and take steps toward healing with Native Americans and other indigenous people around the world. An “Act of Repentance for Indigenous People” worship service is planned April 27. More …
General Conference 2012 goes mobile
You don’t have to be in Tampa, Fla., or anywhere near there, to watch the proceedings of General Conference 2012 April 24-May 4. There will be live streaming of worship and conference sessions – as well as news stories, photos and videos – to your mobile devices. If you’re planning on being at General Conference, there will be hands-on information, including maps of the convention center, locations of restaurants and local points of interest. More …
Visitors to General Conference 2012 may pre-register online
Visitors to the 2012 General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly, may now pre-register online. General Conference will meet in Tampa, Fla., at the Tampa Convention Center April 24 - May 4. Registration is $10 per person and may be paid online by credit card or in person at General Conference by cash. Visitor registration is not required to attend General Conference sessions. However, registered visitors will receive a name badge and program book by bringing their confirmation e-mail to the visitor registration booth on the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center. To register, visit www.umcevents.org/visitorregistration.
What difference does our polity make?
The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Frank, university professor at Wake Forest University and an authority on United Methodist history, offers a framework he hopes General Conference delegates will keep in mind when considering proposed structural changes. More …
Older Adult Ministries raises concerns about restructuring
The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries has issued a statement affirming the work of the Call to Action Interim Operations Team but raising concerns about the group’s proposed restructuring. “We are confused by the complete omission of older adults in reference to the future of the Church,” the statement said. “God has given us the gift of longer life, but there are church leaders who do not fully understand God’s gift of aging and purpose for long life.” More …
Small, rural churches seek voice in restructured church
Will small, rural churches have a voice in a reconfigured United Methodist Church? In its “values” statement for General Conference, the United Methodist Rural Fellowship declares that “the health, vitality, and sustainability of each local congregation should be held as the primary value of the denominational structure.” More …
Native American Caucus joins call for inclusive church
The Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church has joined a coalition advocating for the inclusion of all people — regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. “It is time to join our brothers and sisters who continue to seek a place in The United Methodist Church and provide that space as we should for all people of God,” said caucus chair Anne Marshall. More …
Interfaith letter to President Obama opposes war with Iran
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is among the 13 national interfaith organizations that sent a letter to President Obama, asking him not to go to war with Iran. The letter supports the Obama administration’s efforts to employ diplomacy to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear program and resulting tensions among Iran, Israel and the United States. More …
Spark12 seeks innovative projects from young adults
Spark12, a young-adult justice-ministry project of The United Methodist Church, is looking for innovative projects that push the boundaries of ministry to transform the world. Spark12 is open to young adults, ages 18-35, and project ideas must be submitted by June 29. More …
Upper Room offers online seminar on retirement
The Institute for Discipleship and Upper Room Multimedia will offer an online seminar for those approaching retirement. The seminar, titled “Retirement Matters: Transitions, Opportunities, Challenges,” will be led by Jack Hansen and Jerry Haas and use their book “Shaping a Life of Significance for Retirement.” The seminar is $50 and will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week May 7-18. More …
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 — now available in both print and digital formats. Click here to subscribe. 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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