Mission Rivers District Newsletter

January 2025

January Dates to Remember

January 6

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 20

Register Here

January 25, 2025: District Training at Williamsburg United Methodist Church, 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.

Colonial Beach UMC sponsored a Hot Chocolate Social in conjunction with the Town's second Friday Art Walk. Children and adults were treated to Hot Chocolate with toppings, cookies, crafts for the children, along with a young local artist who showcased some of her artwork and pottery. The Marshmallow Toss game was a favorite for children and adults alike! Each child was invited to take a Prayer Bear home.

Colonial Beach UMC put together gift baskets and stockings for our Shut-ins and those who find themselves homebound during the Christmas season. Candy, activity books, an Advent devotional, and other useful and fun items were donated by our Congregational Care team members. These gifts, along with Christmas cards from the congregation, are delivered in person. What a joy and a blessing to bring smiles to the faces of our sisters and brothers in Christ.

Honduras Medical Mission Team Needs More Members


Medical and non-medical folks are needed to complete a Friends of Barnabas Foundation (https://www.fobf.org/) team going to Honduras.  We are scheduled for February 15-22, 2025.  Prayerfully consider becoming a member of this group, sponsored by Main Street UMC in Suffolk and Warwick Memorial UMC in Newport News, as it provides medical/dental/eye care to five mountain villages.  God may be calling you to this very mission.  The experience is both rewarding and life changing.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact co-leader Dr. Carlos Liceaga, P.E. at 757-768-2223 or Carlos.Liceaga@gmail.com.

On loss and the gift of life


On Christmas Day 2017, a reckless driver crashed into Brianna Sulc’s car on a tight turn in Mathews County. Sulc, who had just turned 19, was driving to a family celebration. The wreck was devastating.

 

 Brianna’s mother, Kristie Askew, and her family sat by her side in the hospital for days while doctors tried, unsuccessfully, to keep her alive. 

 

 The family learned that Brianna was an organ donor. Her commitment gave new life to a man suffering from liver failure and helped two other donor recipients. The Christmas season, once a blessing for the family, is now an emotional celebration of Brianna’s life.

 

 “Brianna was, just, light in this world. Full of smiles, sunshine. She lit up the room everywhere she went,” Askew said. “I'm always mindful to take some time to celebrate Brianna for her birthday. But also remember her life and everything that happened that day.”

 

 Our latest Virginia Voices shares the story of loss and new life.

 

VCIJ at WHRO is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to in-depth coverage of issues important to Virginians. Thanks for your support.

 

Christopher Tyree

Senior Director, Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO

Read the full article

Grace United Methodist Church

1209 Country Club Road

Newport News, VA 23606

Job Description

Executive Director, Respite Care Program

Williamsburg United Methodist Church

FLSA status: Non-Exempt, Part-time 26+ hours/week not to exceed 29

 

Respite Care is a weekday afternoon ministry of Williamsburg United Methodist Church, open to all faiths and non-faiths. We provide time off for family members who care for dependent seniors. Respite Care provides social engagement and stimulating activities for dependent seniors in a safe and secure setting to maximize their cognitive & social abilities.

https://williamsburgumc.org/respite-care/

 

Position Description:

The Executive Director of the Respite Care program provides leadership and oversight to ensure the effective operation of program delivery and the organization's financial stability. This position focuses on increasing organizational visibility, supervising day-to-day operations, and ensuring the program meets its objectives. The role requires a proactive, strategic leader who is committed to the mission of Respite Care. 

The Executive Director is supervised by the Associate Pastor for personnel matters and has a reporting relationship with the Respite Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for setting program policies and procedures which the Executive Director is charged with implementing. This position is governed by the Personnel Policy Manual of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church as adopted by the SPPRC. This is a part-time job not to exceed 29 hours per week and includes limited benefits as identified in the manual. The Executive Director is expected to be on-site at the Church during the majority of the program’s hours at least 4 days a week. Attendance at off-site conferences is included in the total weekly hours.


For questions, please contact Rev. Meghan Roth Clayton:

757-229-1771 ext. 261

mclayton@williamsburgumc.org

meghanclayton@vaumc.org


Sign Up Here

Sue Haupert-Johnson

Resident Bishop

Bishop@vaumc.org


Rev. Dr. Charles F. Ledlum-Bates

District Superintendent

MissionRiversDS@vaumc.org


Administrative Assistants:

Lisa Jones

LisaJones@vaumc.org

757.596.3476


Lynn Manley

LynnManley@vaumc.org

757.879.9472


District Director of Connectional Ministries:

Rev. Dr. Clarence R. Brown

ClarenceBrown@vaumc.org


Lay Servant Director:

Jenn Robinson-O'Brien

MRDlayservants@vaumc.org



Mission Rivers District

6515 George Washington Memorial Highway, Suite 203

Yorktown, VA 23692-2182

https://www.missionriversdistrict.org/