From the DS: Hearts Warm

This past summer I travelled to England for a Welseyan pilgrimage to major sites within our tradition. One of which, was the place where John Wesley encountered Christ and when his heart was [famously] strangely warmed.

Our whole trip and the previous year, focused on the revival, renewal we are seeing in our communities as leaders within the United Methodist Church. We culminated our year long sojourn together to the very roots and starting points of the Methodist movement. And I cannot speak for others but for me, it was with a prayer in my heart to sense renewal and revival again. For our church and for the kin-dom of God here on earth.

See What's New on the Mission Rivers District Website

We're excited to introduce the redesigned Mission Rivers District website! Head over to missionriversdistrict.org and take a look around.

The site has an updated look and feel that makes it easier to navigate and find what you need. A new Resources section pulls together information for clergy and church leaders in one place, covering everything from S/PPRC support to grants and scholarships. We've also added an interactive map of our congregations, a great way to explore the district and learn more about the churches we serve together. If you'd like to get to know our district team better, check out the staff bios.

This is a work in progress, and we plan to continue building it out over time. We encourage you to explore the site and get familiar with it so you can begin using it as a go-to resource.

If you have thoughts, suggestions, or spot something that needs attention, send us an email at missionriversdistrict@vaumc.org.

Atlantic Union Bank Center

at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

June 17-20, 2026.

Volunteers still needed for Annual Conference session

The Shenandoah River District is excited to welcome the Annual Conference in June. Many volunteers are needed in order to provide the best experience for Annual Conference members. Please consider picking up a volunteer shift or two. Volunteers can sign up HERE. A full list of volunteer opportunities and position descriptions can be found HERE.

Upcoming clergy gatherings

We value the time we spend together, nurturing relationships and building community among the clergy on our district. All Mission Rivers District Clergy—actively appointed, on leave, serving in extension settings, and retired—are invited and encouraged to join us.

Gatherings later in the year, ongoing updates to the schedule, and more details can be found on the clergy events page on our website.

For questions, please contact Rev. Deborah Lewis.

Bethany United Methodist Church, Reedville, VA Announces its

220th Anniversary Homecoming

Bethany United Methodist Church at 454 Main Street, Reedville, Virginia was established in 1806!!

Anniversary Homecoming details

The Mountain View District is hosting its Second Annual Summer Book Club, and friends from the Mission Rivers District are welcome to join in. Seven books are on the list, each with its own Zoom discussion session, and several sessions will feature the authors themselves. Clergy can also earn up to 1.5 CEUs. Register at HERE or contact leighannetaylor@vaumc.org with questions.

UMM News

Upcoming UMM Events

UMM Retreat

UM $10 Campaign

All God's Children Camp

Looking for a meaningful way to spend a week this summer? (And maybe need to log some last-minute service hours? )

All God's Children Camp needs 1 female and 7 male mentors to join our team! Mentors are the absolute soul of camp—without you, the fun, games, and memories just aren't possible.

Life is better with friends, so grab a buddy (or two!) and come hang out with us for a week of pure fun and impact.

Please contact Lori Smith at allgodschildrencampva@gmail.com. Let's make camp happen!

District clergy, staff and families enjoyed dinner and a ball game together. We met at the brand new Richmond Flying Squirrels stadium and enjoyed fellowship and minor league baseball on Friday, May 8th. And, in case you missed it, that's our DS and her family front and center!

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