Mission Encounter
July 2024
Mission Encounter will provide an opportunity for members to choose a course, which encourages us to live out our faith!
Theme: “Welcome Home”
Dates: July 26-28, 2024 (Friday-Sunday)
Location:
Good Shepherd UMC
9155 Hungary Rd, Henrico, VA 23294
and
VA United Methodist Center
10330 Staples Mill Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Registration Period: April 22 – June 30
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Mission Encounter prepares United Methodists for faithful living and action by participating in a transformative education program based on biblically grounded curricula in order to be in ministry for a more just and equitable world – locally and globally. Mission Encounter lives out our Virginia Conference vision, “to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are lifelong learners who influence others to serve.”
Mission Encounter is a joint effort between VA United Women in Faith and Missional Engagement Ministries, inviting members to be involved in the mission of God.
In other conferences, this gathering is known as Mission U, hosted by the United Women in Faith. Uniquely in Virginia, however, we made it a joint event and call it Mission Encounter. We pray that every member will hear the call of our Lord to be part of the mission, and be sent to the world!
For participants, Mission Encounter is an opportunity to study current issues impacting society based on current social justice and mission-related topics. Participants grow in understanding the mission of the church in the current world context; conference events are open to all.
Mission Encounter is a cooperative event sponsored by the Virginia Conference Missional Ministries Board and the Virginia Conference United Women in Faith.
CEU credit is available upon request on the registration.
Welcome Home
“Welcome Home” is an adult curriculum that explores how we can know God as an intimate friend who welcomes us. Abiding in God’s safety and dwelling in God’s provision, allows us to open our hearts to a fuller embrace of the power and presence of God so that we may find our home in God. Participants are invited to dig deeper into what it means to live in the kin-dom of God and how this helps us to develop practices for building and existing in healthier communities.
Author Neomi Fletcher leads participants through a journey in eight one-hour explorations that start with examining home and redefining what it means in light of Scripture’s repeated invitations to dwell with God as individuals, community members, and persons of faith.
The explorations lead participants outward so that what starts with our personal homes expands to welcoming others to join us in our work as co-creators to establish God’s kin-dom on earth.
Explorations
Exploration 1: Who’s in Charge? Understanding God’s Sovereignty
Exploration 2: Reflecting the Image of Our Sovereign God
Exploration 3: Embracing Kinship
Exploration 4: Untangling Personal Tensions
Exploration 5: Receiving the Kin-dom at Hand
Exploration 6: Defining a Place Called “Home”
Exploration 7: Presenting Home to Another
Exploration 8: Welcome Home
Plenary: Rev. Audrey Smith
Class Leaders:
Rev. Dr. JaeHaeng Choi (Korean)
Rev. Brenda Laws (English)
Rev. Evelyn Penn (English)
Rev. Eduardo Carrillo (Spanish)
Registration:
Event Schedule
Friday, July 26 —Good Shepherd UMC
5pm Registration, Check-in
6 pm Dinner and fellowship
7 pm Worship and course introduction
Saturday, July 27 —VA United Methodist Center
9 am Classes
12 noon Lunch (in the classrooms)
1 pm Classes
5 pm Hands-on mission project—Good Shepherd UMC
6 pm Dinner and fellowship
7 pm Music, Mission Evening
Sunday, July 28
8:30 am-9:30 Classes—VA United Methodist Center
10 am Worship and Communion—Good Shepherd UMC