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To submit news items, events, or corrections, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
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September 28, 2021
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How can you take part in learning, influencing, and serving this week?
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How can you be a lifelong learner?
Intentional Older Adult Ministry with Retirees (and Those Considering Retirement)
Discipleship Ministries is offering this free webinar at 2 p.m., ET, Sept. 30, 2021. Retirement can spark joy but often comes with new challenges. Is retirement just about living in a permanent state of vacation? About sitting in rocking chairs and eating earlier? Surely there is more to retirement than this. Even in retirement, we desire to be people with a purpose. As we approach and enter the stage of retirement, new questions emerge: “What will I do? Who am I in relation to what I do now (and what I don’t do now)? What and who will I focus on? How can I leave a legacy?” Churches can help those who are retired or soon-to-be retired grow as disciples enabling them to discover their purpose, passion, and mission for retirement. Learn more...
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- How can you be an influencer?
Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15-October 15. Fuller Youth Institute offers some insights into the complexities of Latino/a ministry that, while focused on youth ministry, apply more broadly. Learn more about how to engage faithfully with persons of Latino/a heritage by clicking here.
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Fall is a great time to pray and plan for upcoming mission trips!
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United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) provides excellent resources for churches to prepare for a mission trip. We ask all churches to have UMVIM leaders who can coordinate and lead the trips. Keep an eye out for future UMVIM leader training or contact Terri Morgan. Visit the Virginia Conference UMVIM page at https://vaumc.org/umvim/
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Virginia News
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Scott Bach-Hansen (left), a certified candidate in the Virginia Conference, has shared a unique way of sharing ministry during COVID-19:
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Pastoral Care in the Officiating Community
(Shared by permission, referee.com)
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As COVID-19’s reach expanded globally during the spring of 2020, people and the organizations of which they were members scrambled to adjust to everything from an avalanche of job losses to illnesses and, in some heartbreaking cases, deaths of family members and friends. One wouldn’t normally think of an officiating association as an organization equipped to or capable of providing its members with this kind of support during those turbulent and dismal months, particularly when one of the pandemic’s first major U.S. casualties was organized sports at all levels. What’s the purpose of an officiating association when there’s nothing to officiate? At least one association did, in fact, have a structure in place to provide valuable member support even as gyms were darkened and ballfields sat empty nationwide. Northern Virginia’s Cardinal Basketball Officials Association (CBOA), also IAABO Board #255, “an organization of amateur basketball officials from all walks of life” according to its website, has a four-member Chaplain Team — active since 2016 — that provides members with pastoral care in good times and bad. Read more...
(If you would like to learn more about being a part of this community, click here.)
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Bishop Lewis will be guest speaker for Oct. 12 United Methodist Men Zoom webinar
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Mark your calendars now, and please join us on Tuesday evening, October 12, 2021 at 6:30 PM EDT for a Love, Learn, and Lead webinar on inclusion with Bishop Sharma Lewis.
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Bishop Lewis will be sharing with us the need for more ethnic involvement within UMM, larger cluster UMM fellowships, and a potential relationship between UMM and the Pan-Methodist movement.
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+19292056099,,89824607164# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
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+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
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Meeting ID: 898 2460 7164
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Heather Gomez shares her thoughts on 'Holy Disruption' in Serving Ministries Blog
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Heather Gomez is a lay member of Post-COVID Re-Entry Group [PRG] team. She has written a blog post on 'Holy Disruption" for the Serving Ministries office.
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Then Jesus said to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21
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Gomez writes, "First a humble confession – I have an unfortunate bad habit of interruption. It is not an attempt to be rude or disrespectful. In fact, I thought I was affirming and supportive. I jump in to help others to finish their sentences or share my agreement and mutual perspective for what is being stated. However, I am reminded by my family that (that) in fact is not supported and can be distracting or disturbing. It can rise to the level of being an obstacle or causing misunderstandings. I am working on this. Promise!" Read more...
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New Doctor of Ministry in Digital Ministry course starting at Wesley Seminary
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many churches to innovate with digital technologies and ways of being the church. Even as we anticipate a return to “normal,” some ways of being in ministry will be forever changed. Recognizing this, Wesley Theological Seminary has created the new Doctor of Ministry in Digital Ministry, with classes beginning May 2022. This 30-credit D.Min. track will refine ministerial skills and theological reflection of innovative leaders seeking to “lean in” to this transformation and embrace digital ministries.
This program will require a project seminar and two elective courses. For more information, please contact the Rev. Dr. Chip Aldridge at [email protected] or go to https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/doctorofministry/digital-ministry-2/
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Laity Sunday - Oct. 17, 2021: Rise Up! And Revive God's Gift
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From Martha Stokes, Conference Lay Leader
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Laity Sunday is a special Sunday defined by General Conference “to celebrate the ministry of all Christians” (The Book of Discipline - 2016, ¶ 264.2). Traditionally observed on the third Sunday in October, Laity Sunday is one way we express the deep conviction that all are called to participate in God’s mission and live this calling through the ministry of the church. Ministries of the laity include lay leaders, lay servants, lay speakers, lay ministers, lay missioners, deaconesses, home missioners, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, The Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, missionary service, and so many other significant forms of ministry.
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The Laity Sunday themes for this quadrennium come from 2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NRSV). In this passage we hear a call to rise up and revive God’s gift that first lived in those who have loved and passed it on to us. We hear a call to rise up and recognize and reveal the grace in Christ that destroys death and brings life. As we rise up and remain committed to sound teaching with faith and love, we also rise up and retain the good thing placed in our trust by the Holy Spirit.
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The 2021 theme is Rise Up! And Revive God’s Gift (2 Timothy 1:3-7). While there are currently not any specific Laity Sunday resources on the Discipleship Ministries website, I would encourage you to look at the liturgical resources for the third Sunday of October. They are beautifully worded and may fit well with your worship plans. https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/born-to-trouble/twenty-first-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/twenty-first-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-liturgical-resources
You might also want to look at other resources following the Common Revised Lectionary for Year C, Proper 22(27) - Seventeen Sunday after Pentecost - which includes the 2 Timothy 1:1-14 passage.
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Prepare now for Dec. 3-5 Youth Retreat!
Youth Min Chat - Learn about the Virginia Conference upcoming Youth Retreat, theme, and how to register. Rebuilding plans for the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) will also be shared. Join with others across the conference every second Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. - Sign up here
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Sept. 29 PRG webinar: Preparing for our churches to heal; All Saints Sunday
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Advent is a time to present hope to the world. Immanuel, Christ with us, brings hope to the lost and weary. How is your church preparing for Advent? We will invite other churches to share their Advent plans, as we also listen to the conversation between Rev. John Obang and Rev. Tony Arnold of their experience of ‘Online Discipling.’ Learn More...
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Special and Sustaining Grant Applications for 2022
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Applications are now available for the 2022 Common Table Special Grants and Sustaining Grants for local churches and ministries. Forms may be found at https://vaumc.org/special-and-sustaining-grants/ The deadline to receive complete applications (must include all supporting documentation and be signed by the District Superintendent) is October 15, 2021. Questions may be directed to Bev Myers at [email protected]
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General Church News
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UMNS Photo by Mike DuBose
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Adam Hamilton: Leading in polarized times
No question, these are challenging days for United Methodist congregational leaders.
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For more than 20 years, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has held its annual Leadership Institute with the aim of providing practical ministry tools to deal with church challenges. The multi-campus congregation, based in Leawood, Kansas, sits near the center of the United States and at the center of many of the crosscurrents affecting church life.
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With U.S. political divisions, the strain of the pandemic and a proposed denominational split on the horizon, this year’s institute on Sept. 29-Oct. 1 focuses on helping pastors and laity serve as bridge-builders in their communities. The event will be both online and in-person.
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Ahead of the institute, United Methodist News spoke with the Rev. Adam Hamilton, Church of the Resurrection’s senior pastor, about how the congregation has navigated COVID-19 and divisions in the wider society. Learn more...
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Celebrate World Communion Sunday, Oct. 3
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World Communion Sunday is this Sunday, Oct. 3. Resources UMC has assembled a Pastor and Leader’s Kit, a collection of resources that you can use to promote this Special Sunday. This kit has everything you need to empower your congregation to give generously. You can post some of these resources on all your social media outlets. Learn more...
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Connectional Table hosting new discussion series every Tuesday
“Tuesdays at the Table: Should I stay? Or should I go?” is a new discussion series for United Methodists, presented by the Connectional Table in cooperation with general agencies and contributors. Weekly segments will explore topics aimed at helping viewers better understand their faith, their church and themselves. For Session 1 of Tuesdays at the Table, The Connectional Table talks with Dr. David N. Field, the Ecumenical Staff Officer for Faith & Order and Theological Dialogue for the Council of Bishops, about why he is a United Methodist and how he is thinking through these personal decisions.
Where to watch the series: The sessions will premiere every Tuesday at 11:00 am ET from October 5 – December 21 on the UMC Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch
It will later be available for viewing at UMC.org/ComeToTheTable and the UMC YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/umcvideos.
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United Methodist Men Give Day is October 18, 2021
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The General Commission on United Methodist Men (UMM) wants you to join them as they transform lives of men and youth around the world. UMM offers resources and training to help local churches develop places where men can “coach men and youth to THRIVE through Christ." UMM is unique in that it receives only part of its funding from the general church. That is why they will be holding Give Day 2021 on Monday, October18, 2021.Everyone can be a part of this important mission work of United Methodist Men. If you would like to make a donation before Give Day, or have questions, UMM staff is available by calling 866-297-4312. To Give: Text: UMMEN to 44321; or donate online
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One Last Word
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Please send any issues or concerns to [email protected]. If you have issues with the formatting trying to forward (especially in Outlook), you can use the following link. More...
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