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Roanoke Reflections
United Methodist Roanoke District January
2017 News
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Leadership Training Event will be February 4
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Saturday, February 4
9 am to 12:30 pm
Greene Memorial UMC
402 Second Street Downtown Roanoke
Workshop leaders include Conference Treasurer,
David Dommissee;
Madeline Pillow Advocate Editor;
Rev. Marc Brown, Director of Connection Ministry;
Martha Stokes, Director of Church & Community Relations for UM Homes;
Paulo Lopes, Director of Ministries with Young People;
Kim Johnson, Office of Congregational Excellence;
Roanoke County Police,
Rev. Robert Stutes, and
David Rash, Stewardship Matters. This event, sponsored by the
Common Table of the Roanoke District, will provide a variety of workshops and displays to train and encourage local church leadership. Child care will be provided. Details are in this
brochure.
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Grant Applications Available
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Each year the Roanoke District Board of Missions and Church Extension accepts grant applications in support of local church and community ministry programs and projects. Applications are now available on our website www.RoanokeUMC.org.
For a fillable version please contact the district office at
RoanokeDistrict@vaumc.org
or call 540-989-3335. The deadline for all applications is Tuesday, January 17. Mark your calendars for the Board's Annual Meeting on at Raleigh Court UMC, 1706 Grandin Road, Roanoke, Sunday, February 26 at 3 pm.
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Christmas Message from Bishop Lewis
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from Virginia UMC Conference
Bishop Sharma Lewis.
Her photo on the right is from Roanoke District Conference in November with District Superintendent Rev. Kathleen Overby Webster.
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A Message from our District Superintendent:
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Who are You Inviting?
Each year part of my Advent-Christmas-Epiphany celebration is marked by decorating our house with wreaths circled with ribbon, a fresh-cut tree hung with ornaments, candles lighting the windows, and nativities. Some nativities are carved from wood, others cast in metal. Some are brightly colored, others etched in clear glass. Some are miniature, others fill a tabletop. Some we bought back from our travels. Others were gifted to us. Some were the work of master artisans, others were crafted by children, and still others were massed produced.
About 20 years ago, when our son Joel, was just starting school, a set was given to us by the family that made it. The pieces were cut from wood and then brightly painted. Everyone in their family had a hand. Baby Jesus, swaddled in white, lies in a brown manger. Mary, kneeling, is robed in deep blue; Joseph, bearded, in forest green. The shepherds, staffs in hand, wear orange, brown, and khaki. The magi, bearing gifts, are clothed in crimson red, lemon yellow, and lime green. The white-winged standing angel's robe is purple and the kneeling one's is yellow. The animals are present too, grey donkey, white sheep, brown camel, orange cow, and pink pig.
Yes, a pink pig! How surprising! How delightful!
As we move beyond the manger, "taking Jesus to the streets", as Bishop Lewis challenged us, who are you surprised and delighted to see standing next to Jesus?
Foreign magi bearing strange gifts, smelly and exuberant shepherds, pink pigs...who is God inviting you to bring to the manger, to stand with Jesus, to take to Jesus?
In Advent joy, peace, and hope,
Kathleen
In November, Rev. Kathleen:
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Worshiped with South Roanoke UMC and Greene Memorial UMC (as they celebrated their renovations "note burning")
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Attended the November Cabinet Meeting, the Extended Cabinet Summit (with all US bishops and cabinets in Jacksonville, FL), the Conference Common Table Meeting, the Board of Ordained Ministry Meeting (BOM), the BOM Advisory Ctte Meeting, and the Clergy Effectiveness Ctte Meeting
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Convened and planned District Conference, with Bishop Lewis preaching, and Stop Hunger Now Mission event
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Participated in the District Committee on Ordained Ministry Meeting
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Attended
the United Methodist Women's Prayer Breakfast
- Conducted 6 charge conferences (with 7 churches) in November
- Led two sessions of Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee training
- Consulted with laity and clergy in person, by phone, and through email
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Thursday,
December 15
, 11 am - 2 pm, District Office Open House, 4502 Starkey Rd SW, Suite 101, Roanoke. (corner of 419 and Starkey Rd.)
December
23-28
and
January 2
District Office closed
Sunday, January 8, "Reboot Your Worship" resources available from Dr. Marcia McFee. See flyer at end of this newsletter for more information.
Monday, January 16, District Office closed
Tuesday, January 17, Final day to accept 2016 Apportionments and deadline for District Board of Missions grant applications
Friday - Sunday, February 10-12, District Youth Retreat with Wesley Foundation at VT
Saturday, February 11, UMW Officer Training, Greene Memorial UMC
Sunday, February 26, 3 pm, Board of Missions Annual Meeting, Raleigh Court UMC, 1706 Grandin Rd, Roanoke
Sunday,
May 21
-- Save the Date for a visit with Bishop Lewis in the Roanoke District
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Sharon Wilson, wife of Rev. Jeff Wilson (Huntington Court UMC). Sharon is receiving medical treatment for a recurring infection.
Rev. Milton Marks (Crockett Springs UMC) at Duke this week having follow up tests from cancer surgery.
Jean Fleischer, father of
Rev. Morris Fleischer (Newport-Mt. Olivet UMC). Jean had emergency gall bladder surgery in Kingsport, Tennessee this week.
Rev. Richard Worden and his family on the passing of his wife,
Elizabeth Worden, on December 7, A memorial service was held at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg.
Rev. Worden served the Roanoke District as Superintendent from 1994 until 1998.
The family of
Goldia B. Miller, a clergy widow, who passed away on Dec 10. Goldia was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. A. Ray Miller, Sr.
Congratulations to Rev. Charles and Nell DeHart on their recent marriage. Rev. DeHart serves Wesley Memorial UMC in Christiansburg.
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Roanoke District Collecting UMCOR Kits
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Virgil Decker, Huntington Court UMC, will be coordinating the collection efforts on our district. If your church puts together health kits or bedding kits (or any other UMCOR needs) contact him to set up a time for collection at: vdecker@cox.net or 540-797-5055. He would like to have all kits collected and ready to deliver to UMCOR by January 31.
Amy Fuselier, Director of UMCOR Sager Brown, sends the following message, "I would like to thank all of the many churches who responded to our call for cleaning buckets in September after the flooding. The response was overwhelming. I now come to you with a new request. Sager Brown is in need of health kits and bedding kits. Our inventory is not quite where we would like it be should we be called to respond to another disaster. In light of the on-going fires in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, I expect that requests for kits will soon occur. If you and your congregation are able to assist with this request, that would truly be a blessing." |
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Help After Disasters: Early (Disaster) Response Training
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Flooding from Hurricane Matthew reminds us to be prepared to help people return to their homes after disasters strike.
The ability to care about people and desire to help is the primary qualification, and a willingness to learn and follow directions. No one needs to be strong or skilled to do this work -- giving TLC, cleaning up, preparing for repairs -- most of us can do this with training and on-site guidance. United Methodist Early Response Teams (ERT) provides a caring Christian presence to storm and disaster victims.
Saturday, January 14, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Cost is $55.
Bethlehem UMC, Moneta.
Contact Carolyn Koontz (koontz77@aol.com) or 719-0555 to register. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided
Saturday, January 21, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Cost is $55.
Blacksburg UMC, 111 Church St, Blacksburg 24060
Contact Steve Cass (macass2@gmail.com) or 449-3294 to register. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.
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District Youth Retreat #lovejusticedomercy Feb 10-12
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Come to the
VT Wesley District Youth Retreat
February 10-12 for #lovejusticedomercy
Come to learn about what it means to LOVE justice and DO mercy as we talk about issues, concerns and passions. Come for a fun weekend of worship and time together as a district. Leadership provided by our wonderful VT Wesley students.
Register by February 1 at
http://www.vtwesley.com/. For registration questions, email
wesfound@vt.edu.
Checks payable to Roanoke District UMC for $10 per person should be brought Friday night. Registration opens at 6 pm with a snack, but no dinner Friday. Please note any food allergies so we can try to accommodate, but you may need to provide your own meals (for allergies). We will provide 3 meals Saturday, and breakfast Sunday.
Questions or want to help? contact Rev. Joanna Paysour at
joannapaysour
@vaumc.org.
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Conference Youth Ministry Survey
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Youth Mininstry People in Virginia, we DESPERATELY need your help!
As many of you know, we've been working since May with a Young People's Ministry Team. This team is tasked to look at the big picture of what it looks like to do effective conference-level ministry in the areas of children, youth, college, and young adults.
As we try to get a handle on what our current context reality is, we've put together a very simple survey that will be very helpful to us in our work.
It's tough to get people to respond to surveys, as you probably know! But would you kindly consider taking just a couple of minutes to respond to this on behalf of your church?
Here's the link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vaumcyp
In Jesus,
Paulo Lopes
Director of Ministries with Young People -- Virginia UMC Conference
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With Thanks from Community Outreach Program
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Families at Community Outreach Program (C.O.P.) made hand print Christmas Trees to take home. Each week families come together, share a meal, and learn about being their best and highest selves as parents and children. Photo by: Candace Hess
Thank you for your prayers as the
Community Outreach Program continues to be in ministry with children and their families by improving life through literacy. The meals you prepare and serve, through Strengthening Families Program, Blue Ridge Literacy, and Roanoke City Schools we are in partnership together. As we increase literacy, faith, and compassion for one another, may the work we all do together continue to bring about the kingdom of God's love. Come thou Long Expected Jesus! Merry Christmas!
Rebecca Parsons
Executive Director/UMC Missionary #3021143
communityoutreachroanoke@gmail.com.
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Alta Mons Celebrates 60 Years in 2017
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Alta Mons is looking for a Resource Coordinator for Summer Camp 2017. Do you have experience working with kids, being a leader, and are you comfortable being a
Christian role model? This is a spring semester & summer position. For more information and available positions, check out www.altamons.org/summer-staff.
SUMMER CAMP Registration will be opening soon for June 25 - July 21, for the 60th Year! Be on the lookout for brochures and online registration in mid-January.
Remember Winter Camp is this weekend -- Dec 16-18 -- pray for our campers and staff! Paul Bunyan Day is set for March 18, so save the date.
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District Delegates Elected at District Conference
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Lay members were elected at District Conference to attend the Virginia Annual Conference, June 16-18, 2017, in Hampton.
The
District Conference Book of Reports
, which includes the 2017 Lay Leadership, budget and ministry reports is now available on the District website.
More than 10,000 meals were packaged for
Stop Hunger Now
at District Conference. These meals are going to Haiti and will ship out in January. Bishop Lewis (photo right) joined Roanoke District laity and clergy of all ages to help package the meals. Asbury UMC choir shared in worship at District Conference.
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Ministers' Convocation May 8-10
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The
2017 Ministers' Convocation will once again be held at the Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center in Glen Allen from
May 8-10th. The theme is "Making Space for Yourself and Others." Dr. Amy Oden, Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology (Oklahoma University) will lead an exploration of hospitality as practice and spiritual discipline. Bishop Sharma Lewis and Rev. Dr. Joel LeMon, Associate Professor at Candler, will lead worship. All clergy, diaconal ministers, and professional/ paraprofessional certified ministers in the Virginia Conference of the UMC are invited. For information and registration:
www.vaumc.org/MinistersConvocation.
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Lay Servant Academy 2017 -- Registration Begins!
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Registration is now open for the
Virginia Conference Lay Servant Academy on beautiful Smith Mountain Lake,
March 31- April 2, 2017. Join us in worship, fellowship and learning!
The Lay Servant Academy is about equipping Laity (those who are not clergy) to carry out the mission of the church.
All of the courses are open to anyone who would like to take one. Each course is designed to help those serving the local church learn more about leadership, personal faith development, and a deeper understanding of the United Methodist Church. In addition to core classes we offer creative classes in worship art and music. Registration and more information.
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New Scouting Coordinator Requests Your Help
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Welcome to Darryl Adams, from First UMC in Pembroke, who is the new District Scouting Coordinator. If your church charters (sponsors) a Boy Scout or Girl Scout unit, please have the Chartered Organization Rep contact Darryl at: 540-599-3232 or email him at:
smsinnrv@yahoo.com.
Also, if anyone in your church is interested in learning more about becoming a Scouting Ministry Specialist, please contact Darryl or meet him at the Scouting Display at the Roanoke District Training Event on Feb 4.
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UM Assembly Day Celebrates 25th Anniversary
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25th Anniversary Saturday, January 14 --
A special 25th Anniversary Celebration of our Virginia Conference Legislative Network will be held at Centenary UMC in Richmond with special invited guests to include: Virginia's Gov., LT. Gov. & Attorney Gen.; our United Methodist Legislators; former CLN Chairpersons; Bishops Lewis, Cho & Kammerer; the current & former VICPP CEOs; family members of founders Leona Bailey and Elvira Shaw.
Assembly Day 2017 Thursday, February 2 -- UM Day at The Virginia General Assembly will be held on the first Thursday of February,
Feb. 2,
and the 2:00 PM time will be a continuation of our anniversary celebration with Bishop Charlene Kammerer as guest speaker.
To register for either or both events go to
www.vaumc.org,
then "Conference Calendar".
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Local Churches and Organizations Invite You ...
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Voices of Youth
, a mission choir of the Virginia United Methodist Conference, is accepting applications for high school students to travel July 6 - 23 on the "Testify to Love" tour.
Project SPY, a weeklong mission adventure for middle and high school students, at Fieldstone UMC in Christiansburg, has just announced six one-week sessions for 2017, starting June 24 and ending on August 4. Check their website http://www.fieldstoneumc.org/#/project-spy for info.
Check the Henry Fork Service Center website for their latest newsletter. HFSC is a United Methodist mission serving children since 1967.
Kindred Project is a contemplative gathering of people, laity and clergy, who wish to grow in their awareness of God's presence. Gather at Cave Spring UMC in Roanoke
on the second Thursday of each month at 1 pm in the Reception Hall.
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100% Conference and District 2016 Apportionments
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Conference and District
Andrew Chapel UMC; Bethel UMC, New Castle Charge;
Calvary UMC, Christiansburg; Fairview UMC; Goodwin Memorial UMC; Halls UMC;
Mount Elbert UMC; Mount Lebanon, Pembroke Charge;
Mount Olivet UMC; Mount Tabor UMC; Prices Fork UMC; Shiloh UMC, Catawba Charge;
Three Oaks Fellowship UMC and White Memorial UMC.
District
Buchanan Charge - Lithia UMC and Trinity UMC; Crockett Springs UMC; Ebenezer UMC;
Lawrence Memorial UMC; and
Mt. Pleasant UMC - Foothills Charge; Park UMC; St. Marks UMC.
Conference
First UMC, Pembroke Charge; and McDonald's Mill, Catawba Charge.
* as of Nov 30, 2016
The Virginia Conference Treasurer's office prepares a short newsletter,
Dollars and Sense
, each month with information important to the financial business of your church. This month's issue includes valuable information regarding the preparation of end of year payroll reporting.
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4502 Starkey Road SW Suite 101
Roanoke, VA 24018-8538
Ph: 540-989-3335
Fax: 989-0672
Sharma D. Lewis
Area Bishop
Kathleen Overby Webster
District Superintendent
RoanokeDS@vaumc.org
Brenda Brooks
District Lay Leader
Judy Job & Gary Morris
Associate District Lay Leaders
Cynthia T. Martin
Office Manager/Bookkeeper
RoanokeDistrict@vaumc.org
Jan McCall Failes Office Assistant RoanokeOA@vaumc.org
Please submit newsletter
articles by the 1st of the month
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May the Birth of Christ bring you and your ministry -- hope, love, joy and peace.
In Christ's love and service,
Kathleen, Cindy and Jan
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Roanoke District of the United Methodist Church
540-989-3335 | RoanokeOA@vaumc.org| www.roanokeumc.org
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