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TOP FIVE
for
[August 6, 2026]
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Upcoming listening sessions address housing affordability
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The Faith in Housing Act (HB1279/SB388) provides new opportunities for places of faith to make both community-centered and sustainable impact in the affordable housing sector, so Virginia Housing is inviting you to their upcoming Listening Sessions on the Faith in Housing Act. These conversations are designed to ensure that your perspectives, experiences, thoughts, and aspirations help guide their path forward.
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They will be hosting two separate listening sessions to ensure each group has the space to share insights most relevant to their work. The first session (10 a.m.- 12 p.m.) will be dedicated to faith leaders and will focus on how the Faith in Housing Act aligns with their mission, community needs, support needed, and approaches to property stewardship. The second session (1 p.m.- 3 p.m.) will convene government officials and housing developers and will provide an opportunity for us to hear about your partnerships, affordable housing projects, and support needed. Both sessions are designed for us to hear your thoughts to help us better understand your projects and to support meaningful collaboration moving forward.
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As these sessions will be held throughout the state, they ask that you express your interest by completing this form. Sessions will be held in:
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Roanoke--August 17, 2026
Northern--Virginia August 24, 2026
Hampton Roads--August 26, 2026
Richmond--August 27, 2026
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The Wonder Summit:
Reimagining Congregational Worship & Prayer with Children
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Southeastern Jurisdiction Conference--
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SEJ Pastors, Youth & Children's Leaders, you are invited to The Wonder Summit! Come explore new possibilities for engaging children as full participants in the worshipping life of the church!
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Congregational leaders from across the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church will gather at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center on November 4–6, 2026, for The Wonder Summit — hosted by the Western North Carolina Conference's Cultivate Grant and Lake Junaluska.
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Through keynotes, interactive workshops, collaborative conversations, and hands-on experiences, participants will dig into theology, practical ideas, and contextual application — discovering approaches that invite people of every age to encounter God through worship that is meaningful, participatory, and experiential.
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Learn more and register: thewondersummit.org
Use coupon code SEJ for early bird pricing of just $155 per person — good through September 1
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Supporting our College Students–at Home and Away
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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 universities, as an integral part of your ministry. These students often feel cut off from home, and you can help them feel connected to your congregation as a reminder of home or as a home away from home. August is here, and colleges and universities are gearing up for students to return. Now is the time to think about how your church can intentionally engage with the students in your community: those who grew up in your church, and those who’ve come to your area for college. Read more...
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Season of Creation starts September 1
Celebrate a new Holy Day for the Christian Year with Creation in Christ (to be celebrated September 1 or the first Sunday following September 1). This day is being added to the Lectionary this year during a time of crisis for the environment and a crisis all of us who depend on it for life. (The Consultation on Common Tests which produces the Revised Common Lectionary. Despite the fears we have about the change in the atmosphere that is changing patterns of storms, fires, precipitation, forests and ocean currents and the way that we grow food and raise families, we find ways to adapt and to lessen our part in the change.
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This Holy Celebration has ancient roots. The Eastern Orthodox Church is credited with originating the day God began creating the Cosmos and the beginning of time itself in the 7th century. The date of September 1 was chosen to coincide with the Eastern Orthodox celebration.
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The Worship Team of the United Methodist National Creation Justice Movement has been writing comprehensive Sermon and Liturgical resources, not just for Creation in Christ Sunday, but also for a 4 week worship series, Season of Creation (using Year A Scripture texts.) They have also written an additional 6 week Adult Study to complement the worship resources.
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Theme for 2026: Salt +Soil+ Seawater.
Week 1 Look to Jesus
Week 2 God’s Breath
Week 3 The Cosmic Dance of Creation and Our Place Within It
Week 4 The One in Whom We Live and Have Our Being
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Hatching Faith Cohort Year 3 Registration open soon
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"Before Hatching Faith, we were swimming upstream"
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"It's different when children aren't performing in worship, but they are comfortable in worship"
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"We are being more intentional now"
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"When we try to make worship accessible for children, we engage adults more as well"
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"She insists that she goes to church on Sunday mornings"
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The registration for Cohort 4 and Cohort 5 opens August 3, 2026 and closes February 14, 2027. Cohorts 4 and 5 will run simultaneously, joining together in a Kick-Off event in Spring 2027. The registration link as well as FAQs, cohort timeline, and contact information can be found at vaumc.org/hatchingfaith.
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Subscribe to VAUMC communications
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Individuals can opt in to curated email subscriptions from VAUMC Communications.
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Offerings are:
• Obituaries (sent out as they are received by the Communications Office)
• Local Church events (sent out biweekly)
• Jobs (sent out biweekly)
• The Top Five (Every Thursday, this is a news wrap up to give clergy and laity the tops five news items going into the weekend
• Advocate newsletter (sent every Tuesday featuring Virginia UM and denominational news, grants, connection and educational opportunities)
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Public Notice Board
Have questions to crowd-source or looking for something? Find announcements or send in a posting to share conference-wide. Learn more...
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