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To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
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Top Stories
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How to help post-Hurricane Helene
UMVIM Team Leader Training *This training is for long-term disaster recovery work, after Emergency Personnel and Early Response Teams have come in and done their triaging and stabilizing work. If you are interested in Early Response Team training, please contact Rev. Jo Ann Batteiger at [email protected]*
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Join us for the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Raleigh Court UMC (1706 GRANDIN ROAD SW, ROANOKE, VA 24015)!
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This training is for individuals who have attended at least one UMVIM trip and who are ready to take a deeper dive into servant leadership and leading UMVIM teams. This training will be led in collaboration with Kip Robinson, Lead Trainer VAUMC, Rev. Jo Ann Batteiger, Assistant Director of Missional Engagement, along with support and shared lessons learned from other certified/experienced team leaders. Check in will begin at 8:30 AM with light refreshments available, and the class will begin promptly at 9 AM with breaks in between. Registration for the class is $20, and lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday, October 25, 2024. The link to register and pay online can be found here: https://na.eventscloud.com/umvimtraining
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Once you have registered, an online training manual will be provided via email, however, if you desire a printed copy, we ask that you print and bring it with you in whatever format you prefer. Additionally, we ask for you to bring a little team spirit and a servant’s heart! For further questions, please contact Tim Wells via e-mail at [email protected] or call 703-517-0183. We look forward to having you and serving alongside you!
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In a video released last Wednesday (October 1), the Office of Missional & Community Engagement shared an update on how to assist in Hurricane Helene disaster recovery and relief. Learn how to assemble flood buckets and where to take them, learn about ERT training and register for upcoming training events, and have a direct link to give financial support through UMCOR. Read full article...
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Posts for this week
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VAUMC receives $1.25 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant
The Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce that Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a $1.25 million grant to the conference through its "Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative." The aim of the initiative is to help Christian congregations more fully and intentionally engage children in intergenerational corporate worship and prayer practices.
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The Virginia Conference proposal, known as “Hatching Faith Cohorts” (HFC), focuses on the creation of an environment throughout the Annual Conference where churches learn the joyful art of integrating and promoting children in worship, in all of their chaos, their questions, and their joy. These cohorts, made up of 10 local ministries per cohort, will launch seasonally with the anticipation of having 10 cohorts engage the HFC process over the next five years. Cohorts will be made up of congregational teams that include and prioritize the voices of children and families as they journey through three phases: nesting, hatching, and nurturing. Read More...
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Bishop Sue leads first webinar in Soul Feast study
Bishop Sue and Martha Stokes, conference lay leader, invite the Virginia Conference to explore spiritual disciplines from September 2024 to June 2025. The book, Soul Feast, by Marjorie J. Thompson will help guide this initiative with a different spiritual practice focus each month.
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“Chewing the Bread of the Word, the nature and Practice of Spiritual Reading.”
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Bishop Sue led the first session discussing Chapter 2 from Soul Feast: An invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson. We are reminded that we should read God’s Word with the intention of absorption rather than just to gleam tidbits. Another way that Thompson reiterates this is to think of reading the Word as you would a love letter, rather than the news.
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Wesley Housing celebrates 50 years in November
Wesley Housing has been at the forefront of affordable housing and community empowerment for 50 years. Beyond putting roofs over heads, they strive for our housing to be a foundation to thrive.
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Through collaborative efforts with partners and donors, Wesley Housing offers a range of enrichment and supportive services with the goal of empowering residents to break the cycle of poverty and reducing deep racial inequities throughout the region.
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As Wesley Housing celebrates 50 years of service in November, the organization is reminded of the power of community and the change that can be made together. Your support will help them continue to provide affordable housing and supportive services that build up the lives of individuals and families with low incomes across the region. Learn More
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Ferrum College Welcomes 5 Lees-McRae College Athletic Teams After Hurricane Helene Devastation
"Due to the devastating effects Hurricane Helene caused to the Lees-McRae College campus, including to the Fred I. Dickerson Athletic Complex, President Lee King and Director of Athletics and Club Sports Marty Favret announce a partnership with Ferrum College and Queens University of Charlotte to house the college’s fall athletics teams on their campuses.
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In addition to the student-athletes, Ferrum and Queens have generously agreed to house each team’s coach and assistant coach, and athletic training staff at each institution. These Bobcats will live and practice at these institutions' facilities, and this partnership gives the teams the ability to continue competing in their sport at the collegiate level." Read More...
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Weight Loss Online Group for Rural Area Residents
Researches at the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia want to discover the best online behavioral weight loss program to help individuals lose weight and keep it off. Read More
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VAUMC announces Grantmaking Cooperative
In an effort to model collaboration and connection toward large scale community transformation
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within the Virginia Annual Conference, the Common Table for Church Vitality, Church
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Development Team, and Virginia United Methodist Foundation are pleased to announce the
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formation of the Grantmaking Cooperative. In 2024, the Grantmaking Cooperative is seeking
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to fund initiatives in the Virginia Annual Conference that embody connectionalism for the
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purpose of large scale community transformation. Applicants may request a maximum one-time
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Mountain View District leads “3Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide”
Dr. Sarah Calvert, District Superintendent of the mountain View District, contributed to this article.
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This summer, the clergy in the Mountain View District read the 3Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide book. They discussed the lessons learned in this post-disaffiliation, pre-election season of possible conflicts. They invited 12 people from neighboring districts to become trained referees in this process. The newly trained referees modeled the process at a Mountain View clergy meeting, followed by the clergy joining in a circle to experience the process themselves.
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It was a very powerful clergy meeting, with several levels of conflict and hurt placed on the table. The process was healing and was immediately useful in many different ways. Mountain View District plans to teach and train lay leaders later this fall.
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VA Interfaith Center for Public Policy Announces "Congregations & Housing Workshops"
Have you ever wanted to learn how congregations can support housing? Some faith communities in Virginia are building affordable housing on their land. Join the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy at a workshop in October to learn what that process looks like and how you can get involved. More information at https://virginiainterfaithcenter.org/affordable-housing/ (Interpretation will be available in Spanish at all three events)
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Dates: October 15, Hampton Roads Time: 3:00-6:00 pm Location: C-VUU, Virginia Beach
October 22, Greater Richmond Time: 3:00-6:00 pm Location: Village of Faith Ministries, Sandston
October 29, Northern Virginia Time: 3:00-6:30 pm Location: Central UMC, Arlington
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New Life International at St. Andrews UMC Consecrates New Church Building
In a joyous and spiritually uplifting ceremony, New Life International at St Andrews United Methodist Church officially consecrated its new church building this past Sunday. The event was a testament to the faith, dedication, and perseverance of the congregation, who have worked tirelessly to make their vision of a new worship space a reality.
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The ceremony was presided over by Rev. Kirk Nave the Northern Virginia District Superintendent who led the congregation in prayers of blessing for the new building, dedicating it as a house of worship, fellowship, and service. “This is more than just a building,” Rev. Dr. John Obeng, the resident minister addressed the attendees, reflecting on the journey that led to this day. “This building is the fulfillment of years of prayer, planning, and faithfulness. We thank God for providing us with this space, not just for ourselves, but for our community, and we are committed to using it to glorify God in all we do.” Read More
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Resource Highlight
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VAUMC clergy to lead at Small Church Gathering in November
It's a BIG event for the SMALL church! Register by October 15 for the Small Church Gathering, a resourcing event unique to small church contexts, at Virginia Beach UMC on November 2. Space is limited. Several VAUMC leaders will share at the event, some include:
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- Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page- Learning to Engage your Church's Community
- Rev. Jeff Witt- Stewardship Made Easier
- Rev. Amanda Webber- Cultivating Talent
- Rev. Kyungsuk Cho- Beauty Across Cultures
- Martha Stokes- Role of Laity in the Church
- Rev. Jason Stanley- Transforming Stories using a Storyboard tool
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Learn about Ministry Innovator internship from Wesley Theological
Wesley Theological Seminary's Ministry Innovator Internship brings together people from a variety of backgrounds in a 1-year program that equips them to harness the power of their imaginations in the service of the Church and the world. Deadline for applications is October 15, 2024.
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The program begins in January with an immersion experience to help form the interns and orient them towards the frontiers of modern ministry. Throughout the Spring semester, interns take a course called "Innovative Ministry by Design," learning tools of design thinking to develop new ways to approach old problems. During the summer, participants prepare a course based on the principles they've learned, then proceed to teach that course to church leaders in the fall. Learn More
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Join growing number of Certified Lay Ministers in VAUMC
Are you a leader in the church seeking to deepen your learning of the UMC and how you might better serve your church and community? CLM (Certified Lay Minister) may be a direction for you to go. CLMs serve as leaders in their church and community as assigned by the District Superintendents. They can be lay supply ministers (serving a congregation in the absence of a clergy), parish nurses, church planters, Christian educators, musicians, food pantry workers, or in nearly any other capacity you can imagine. CLMs require some basic courses through LSA (the Lay Servant Academy) and then four modules specifically designed for practical application within the church. Courses to become a CLM: Module One (prerequisites: BASIC and Spiritual Gifts) Module Two (prerequisites: Module One and Preaching) Module Three (prerequisites: Module Two and Polity) Module Four (prerequisites: Module Three and Heritage) To Register for Module One, go to CLM Registration to choose the correct module and register. Registration closes October 11. Class begins October 13 from 6-8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a hybrid class, so there is online work and Zoom meetings to fulfill the requirements. For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. Joanna Dietz.
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Other VAUMC Communication Channels
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Public Notice Board
Clergy and laity can crowdsource for ideas and resources within the connection through the Public Notice Board. Find the newest notices and share your question or find past queries at the conference website. Also find free items for giveaway at the conference website.
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Please send in questions you have that you would like to find answers to: [email protected].
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