Mission Rivers District Newsletter | | |
Hello Mission Rivers!
The Missions Committee finds itself in the unusual position of having additional Missions grant money to offer district churches and groups. We received $64,413 in grant requests in December and awarded $66,441 in grants.
That leaves us with $33,559 to award this spring. The form has been updated and the
spring deadline is May 15, 2025. Please note that this grant will also need to be spent by December 31, 2025.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please let us know. You can contact Lisa at lisajones@vaumc.org or 757.596.3476.
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This year for Annual Conference, Cleaning kits, a.k.a., flood buckets, UMCOR Cleaning Kit - Global Ministries, Hygiene kits (UMCOR Hygiene Kit - Global Ministries) and Feminine hygiene kits (UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit - Global Ministries) will be collected and stored until pickup for delivery to Mission Central in Mechanicsburg, PA.
The kits have to be dropped off by June 7. We have several sites around the district. Please note the dates and times.
YORKTOWN
Seaford Transfer, 143 Freedom Blvd, Yorktown
757-898-8019
Monday through Friday 9 am until 4 pm before June 6
On June 7 – 10 am until 2 pm
HAYES
Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church
3900 George Washington Hwy, Hayes
804-642-7551 Call for drop-off time info
SMITHFIELD
Benn’s United Methodist Church, 14571 Benns Church Blvd, Smithfield
757-357-3373
Church Office hours - Tuesday- Friday, 9:00-3:00 for drop off before June 7th.
On June 7th from 10:00-12:00
KINSALE (Northern Neck)
5729 Sandy Point Road, Kinsale
Contact Mark Lawrence at 540-903-3568 to arrange a drop-off.
FREDERICKSBURG
Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 7310-A Old Plank Road, Fredericksburg
540-786-6162
Monday through Thursday from 1pm to 4pm, and Saturday from 10 to 12pm. Call to notify.
Annual Conference will be held in Roanoke June 12-14. Volunteers are still needed. Please use this link to sign-up: https://vaumc.org/ac2025/volunteer/
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Service of Hope and Healing.
Wednesday, May 7 6PM Atrium
Williamsburg UMC
500 Jamestown Rd
The Service of Hope & Healing is a quiet, contemplative service in our church's atrium intended to bring peace and comfort for those enduring loss or other challenges. Similar to the Service of Hope & Light offered in the Advent season, this service is a space to seek God's light and love, encouragement in community, and healing of our hearts.
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Upcoming Events at Wesley UMC, 2510 N Armistead Avenue, Hampton
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 AM – Chair Yoga in the Fellowship Hall
Friday, May 9, 7:00 PM – Harmony House Christian Coffee House in the Fellowship Hall - Linda Boles will perform
Friday, May 23, 7:00 PM – Tidewater Friends of Acoustic Music in the Fellowship Hall – Cindy Kay will Perform
| Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church at 7801 Church Lane in Toano will be having its Annual Church Yard Sale and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 17 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM rain or shine. Hot dogs will also be sold by the men's group. Turn at intersection of Richmond Road and Church Lane in Toano. | | Kilmarnock United Methodist Church | | On Easter Sunday the congregation decorated the cross at the altar with fresh flowers. | KUMC recently hosted the well known Raleigh Ringers Hand Bell Choir. They performed some of their familiar pieces and delighted the audience with some newer music as well . | |
Wright’s Chapel Afterschool Program Supports Local Students
The 3rd–5th grade students in Wright’s Chapel’s Afterschool Program have been hard at work this school year, assembling weekend food bags for children in our community. Each month, they prepare 50 bags for elementary students facing food insecurity, providing two days’ worth of shelf-stable breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
The food is provided through our Mobile Ministry, supported by generous donations of both funds and groceries. This school year, the students have assembled an impressive 400 bags!
Susan, who leads our Afterschool Program, and our dedicated volunteers, Kelly and Shirley, help make this outreach possible. Shirley, who serves with both the Mobile Ministry and the Afterschool Program, takes the lead in inventorying, gathering, setting up, and coordinating the food items for the weekend bags.
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Lunch with Love Holy Week Services
The First Annual "Lunch with Love" Holy Week Services was a new tradition to bring together the churches in the Hampton area. Under Rev. Dr. Marcus Stallworth's initiative, pastor at St. James UMC, area pastors were invited to share a message of hope to the congregation and community friends as they shared fellowship and lunch together.
In a very relaxing and loving atmosphere, this welcoming congregation offered delicious lunch, friendship, and listened to the word of God every day at noon from April 14 to the 18.
On Holy Monday, Rev. Archana Samuel from Wesley UMC message was “Jesus Cleanses the Temple”. On Holy Tuesday, Rev. Brian Sixby from 1st Fox Hill UMC message was "Jesus' Teaching on Love". On Holy Wednesday, Rev. Ellis Crum from Wallace Memorial spoke about " Betrayal and Forgiveness". On Maundy Thursday, Rev. Ileana Rosario from Benn's UMC, preached on "The Last Supper", while Rev. Dr. Marcus Stallworth preached the Good Friday sermon about " Jesus's Crucifixion".
| | Community Good Friday Worship Service | | |
A powerful Good Friday worship service centered on “Jesus’ Seven Last Words”, brought together friends and members of the United Methodist Churches in the Hampton area. An initiative of Rev. H. Ellis Crum, this community service featured seven preachers, each offering a 7-minute meditation on one of Jesus’ final sayings from the cross.
The community worship service that included inspiring music led by the talented Betty Warren was celebrated at Wallace Memorial UMC on April 18th at 6:30 pm.
| | Following the traditional format for the 7 words of Jesus, seven pastors offered their message including Dr. Clarence Brown from Mission Rivers District, Pastor Kelly Morris from Central UMC, Rev Kerry Greenhill from Fox Hill Central UMC, Mrs. Deborah Crum from Wallace Memorial UMC, Rev. Ileana Rosario from Benn’s UMC, Rev. H. Ellis Crum from Wallace Memorial UMC and Dr. Marcus Stallworth from St. James UMC. | |
Community Easter Sunrise Service at Smithfield
A hundred and twenty people gathered for an interdenominational worship service at the amphitheater of the Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield to remember and celebrate Jesus Christ resurrection. This is the third year that United Methodist Churches in the area invite other denominations to worship together at the Community Easter Sunrise Service.
According to Rev. Ileana Rosario, the pastors at Trinity UMC, Bethany UMC and Benn’s UMC organized the event. The purpose is to gather different churches, pastors and community friends to restore a very old tradition were Christians of various denominations in the area coming together in worship creating precious memories in their faith journey. The hope is that through hymns, scriptures, an inspiring message and communion together, we foster unity among the area churches.
This year, six different pastors lead the worship service, including Rev. Chris Andress from Bethany UMC, Rev. John Ericson, Director of St Luke’s Historic Church & Museum, Rev. Korri Garrett from Oak Grove, Uzzell and Riverview UMC, Rev. Dan C. Kim from Trinity UMC and Rev. Rosario from Benn’s UMC.
“We were inspired by the powerful message that Rev. Jesse Spencer, Associate Minister at Main Street Baptist Church, shared with us”, she expressed. “It was a beautiful spiritual experience for our congregations to see many pastors and congregations united in Christ and worshipping together to the glory of God. We look forward to continuing to offer this community shared events and sharing a wonderful Christian fellowship with all the community”.
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