There will be a virtual District Conference, Monday, December 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Only registered attendees will receive a link to the meeting. You can register here:

District Conference Registration

JOINT PREFERENCE FORMS DUE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 10, 2024!


Please email your completed, signed form to [email protected] or mail it to the district office: Mission Rivers District, 6515 George Washington memorial Highway, Suite 203, Yorktown, VA 23692

Joint Preference Form 2024
Joint Preference Form 2024 PDF

Saturday

January 13, 2024

Lunch will be provided.

Ebenezer United Methodist Church

161 Embrey Mill Rd, Stafford, VA 22554


Details, agenda and registration link to follow.

Charge Conferences are finally completed! Unity made things more challenging than ever before but we made it through together.


We really enjoyed seeing and meeting everyone. And we owe a great debt of thanks to our five host churches: Tabernacle UMC in Fredericksburg, Kilmarnock UMC, Lower UMC, Chestnut Memorial UMC and Trinity UMC Tappahannock.


Charge Conference Cluster 3 Lower UMC:

Charge Conference Cluster 4 Chestnut Memorial:

A crowd of 150 people gathered to give thanks in a community Thanksgiving worship service at Trinity Smithfield Sunday, November 19th.. A choir of 50 voices, directed by our amazing Jean Harrell, raised their voices to celebrate this season of gratitude. The ecumenical service was planned under the initiative of Rev. Ileana Rosario (Benn's UMC) and Rev. Dan Kim (Trinity UMC Smithfield) to unite the churches in love. Bethany UMC Smithfield and Woodland UMC also participated. As we worshiped, prayed, and listened to God's word, we remembered that we truly are one in Christ.


Giving Thanks Together

Mission Work 2023


Members of Warsaw UMC will be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in one hour shifts on Saturday 12/2/23, to close out our mission work for 2023. Our set up will be at Ace Hardware in downtown Warsaw starting at 9:00AM. Y'all come and drop a few bucks in the kettle, all for a good cause. Special thanks to Marian Mihalcoe for doing set up and execution of this mission.

Rev. Larry Davies, retired UMC pastor living in our district, has written a daily devotional that is available now on Amazon. Larry describes the new book this way "For many years, I’ve utilized stories as a significant part of my ministry to motivate, encourage and provide comfort. And I often start each day spending a few moments of quiet which usually includes reading a few stories from the Bible and other sources. So, when I started writing, A Daily Dose of Godly encouragement: Medicine for Tough Days, I wanted to share the stories that influenced and motivated me, often during difficult days.

“Book 1: Winter” offers daily devotions from January through March and is available now on Amazon in both paperback and kindle.” https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Dose-Godly-Encouragement-Medicine/dp/B0CLRR4B87/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PDV1OPCAQ5ZQ&keywords=larry+davies&qid=1699888990&sprefix=larry+davie%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1


Shady Grove Spotsylvania welcomes Pastor David Craig.

Exploration 2024, Orlando, FL, February 16-18


You register, we’ll get you there!


Are you interested in exploring a call to ministry? The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is hosting Exploration 2024 for young adults, ages 18-26, and you’re invited to go with the Virginia Conference!


The event creates sacred space for young adults to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern whether God’s call on their life is to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church and what faithful steps they can take in response.


Registration details with GBHEM can be found here: https://www.explorecalling.org/exploration/


GBHEM Scholarship application for $300 is attached.


The Board of Ordained Ministry is delighted to subsidize the cost of airfare for young adults who register for Expo as part of the VAUMC cohort.


To join the VAUMC cohort to Expo, contact [email protected]

Application Form

Register now for UM Day at General Assembly

Have you heard of UM Day at the General Assembly? It's a day when United Methodists come

together to do amazing things by advocating for neighbors by meeting with elected representatives.


During this event, participants learn about issues that are facing people all across the Commonwealth., connect with other United Methodists, and together celebrate our United Methodist faith that values justice, advocacy, and compassion.


If you've ever wanted to learn more about what happens at United Methodist Day at the General Assembly you should sign up for the preview this November 30 at 7 p.m. You can learn about the event before taking the plunge to join us on February 1.


Already know you want to join the event? Register for UM Day here...

Local Churches

The Crooks Memorial Chancel Choir will be performing "LOVE" by Joel Raney on December 3rd, at 10 AM. This Christmas Cantata will be the joyous beginning to our Advent Season, and we hope that you'll attend and invite others to join you!


Crooks Memorial UMC, 204 Cook Road, Yorktown, VA 23690

Winter Concert


On Sunday, December 3rd at 4:30 pm, the Yorktown Chorale will put on a free Winter Concert at Crooks Memorial UMC. Under the artistic direction of Katherine M Jackson and accompanied by Miriam Davis, they will perform a full program of Christmas songs. It will be a night of music, faith, and Christmas cheer, and we hope to see you there!


Crooks Memorial UMC, 204 Cook Road, Yorktown, VA 23690

Breakfast With Santa        


Crooks Memorial UMC is hosting a Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 9th at 8:30 am, and we'll be serving a full pancake breakfast. It will be free to children under 10 and a parent, and children will get to meet Santa Clause, the Snow Queen, view a Nativity scene, and will leave with a free goody bag. Crooks Memorial UMC, 204 Cook Road, Yorktown, VA 23690

Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Christmas Charity Concert


On Sunday, December 10th at 3 pm, Phillip Higgins will be putting on a piano concert at Crooks Memorial UMC to benefit his Wildfire Ranch Ministry. The concert will be free to attend, with a Love Offering being collected to benefit the horse ranch. We hope that you'll join him for an afternoon of music and Christmas cheer.


Crooks Memorial UMC, 204 Cook Road, Yorktown, VA 23690


Messy Church – December 12th, 5:30pm


Come join us at Williamsburg United Methodist Church (500 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg) for family friendly worship! Messy church is held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Each month, we dive into a different theme with activities that range from playful crafts to interactive games, a special time for worship and celebration, uplifting music, heartfelt prayers, and often a skit that brings our monthly theme to life. And let's not forget about the food! We wrap up each gathering with a delicious family-style dinner where you can share stories and laughs with both new friends and old. The best part? This event is absolutely free, there's no dress code, and it's open to everyone, no matter your age. Join us December 12th for an Advent themed Messy Church!

Live Nativity


On Friday, December 15th at 6 pm, Crooks Memorial UMC will be hosting a Live Nativity Scene on the church lawn. Come hear the story of our Savior's birth, while our actors create a living still life of events! Throughout the story we'll have a Christmas Hymn sing-along, and we'll finish the evening off with Christmas Cookies and Hot Cocoa in the Fellowship Hall.

All are welcome, and the evening is free, so we hope to see you there! Bring your friends, family and neighbors!


Crooks Memorial UMC, 204 Cook Road, Yorktown, VA 23690

Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185

District Office Closing


The district office will be closed from noon on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 through Monday, January 1, 2024 for the holidays. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.


In case of emergency, please contact the DS directly.

Sue Haupert-Johnson

Resident Bishop

[email protected]


Rev. Dr. Charles F. Ledlum-Bates

District Superintendent

[email protected]


Administrative Assistants:

Lisa Jones

[email protected]

757.596.3476

Lynn Manley

[email protected]

757.879.9472


District Directors of Connectional Ministries:

Rev. Dr. Clarence R. Brown

[email protected]


Rev. Dr. James "Jim" O'Quinn

[email protected]



Mission Rivers District

6515 George Washington Memorial Highway, Suite 203

Yorktown, VA 23692-2182


Visit our Website