by Sam Duenckel | Sep 14, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox
When the Methodist movement began, people who were not pastors found new ways to grow in faith and help lead the church. We call these people lay people or laity. Dr. Daine Lobody, a retired church history professor, says John Wesley’s Methodism was like “a school for...
by Sam Duenckel | Sep 3, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox, News, Virginia News
The word “liturgy” is one of those churchy words that we United Methodists love to use when discussing our worship life. We have a liturgy for Sunday morning worship. We have another liturgy for weddings, a liturgy for funerals. Our liturgy often changes depending on...
by Sam Duenckel | Aug 28, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox, News, Virginia News
The backpacks are blessed, the buses are rolling, and the work of the school year has begun. Fall kickoff is one of the best hospitality moments of the year, a chance to support our students and teachers and open our doors wide to families who may only visit a church...
by Sam Duenckel | Aug 24, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox, News, Virginia News
Contributed by Rev. Thomas G. JamesDo you travel for work? Do you ever have your mileage costs reimbursed by your employer? If so, you will want to make sure you’re aware of the new Federal guidelines regarding the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate.As of July 1,...
by Sam Duenckel | Aug 17, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox, News, Virginia News
Is your church discerning its future or struggling to imagine what God may be calling it next? Has your attendance declined or has a ministry lost momentum? In times like these, it is easy to jump quickly into forming a committee and planning a strategy or...
by Sam Duenckel | Aug 4, 2026 | Ministry Toolbox, News, Virginia News
College students live in transition–new housing each year, new courses each semester, breaks that bring them home or take them to new locations. Your congregation can invest in the lives of college students–those from your congregation and those at local colleges or...
