A word from our District Co-Lay Leader on the District Initiative

I had the opportunity to meet a young medical student, from the Czech Republic, who spoke fluent English. We had a lively conversation as he told me they were required to learn several languages. I asked him if he could choose which languages he studied in school. He gave me a quizzical look, so I tried another word. Can you pick which language you want to study? After trying several synonyms, I realized he had never had a choice in school or even, it turned out, to be a medical student. Everyone is tested and placed where the leaders feel they will excel. That was a huge eye-opener for me. I literally could not imagine a world so controlled.

We are the luckiest people in the world. If we study hard and have a good work ethic even in our first 12 years of school, we have the freedom of choice in most everything. As children, we need the same supervision and guidance children worldwide need. As we mature, we are given broad areas to explore and help us find out where our strengths lie. How many people have you known who have shown such great potential, only to squander these gifts? The young people who come here to study from other countries are often amazed at how many wonderful opportunities are taken for granted in our country.

Let’s take a moment of reflection and think about the joining of our two districts. We are two groups of Methodists combining our God-given talents, our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, and our ability to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s embrace the immense freedom we have in this country to make changes, large and small, that allow us to come together in Christian love and togetherness. 

Respectfully,

Judy Craun

Co-Chair District Lay Leader

Rappahannock River 

Presentation of Current Information May 15 at 5:00pm

Hello Rappahannock River District Clergy & Laity,

With the further postponement of the General Conference session to 2024, Virginia Conference clergy and lay members have questions:

What does this mean for the mission of the Church and my local Church? 

What does this mean for ongoing questions concerning full Inclusion of persons who are LGBTQ+ in the Church?

You are invited to a presentation of current information on topics including General Conference and disaffiliation from the denomination. The presentation will begin with a brief reminder of The United Methodist Church’s Wesleyan heritage and focus on the future of our United Methodist local churches who remain the vital and vibrant core of our denomination and disciple-making in the Commonwealth and around the world. There will be space for questions related to any of these topics.

This presentation was created by Team Jeremiah, whose goal is to develop and implement proactive strategies for the Virginia Annual Conference to help address the uncertainties surrounding the General Conference session. The Rev. Denise Bates, Dean of the Cabinet, will share this presentation with us.

Please join us in person at Tappahannock Memorial UMC, 345 Earl Street, Tappahannock, VA on Sunday, May 15 at 5:00pm.  

This event is open to all Rappahannock River District Laity and Clergy.

Registration is required.

Click here to register for May 15 at 5:00pm Team Jeremiah event

Unable to attend? The conference will provide a webcast version of the same information later in May.

Note:  Some folks have asked for more information on Team Jeremiah. We will share that as soon as we receive it from the conference.

Annual Conference Orientation Meeting Moved

Please note that the date for the Annual Conference Orientation Zoom meeting has been changed to May 31, 2022.    Church and District Lay Members to Annual Conference should have received a notice with a link to register for the meeting.  If not, please click here to contact Lynn.

We need your help! 

Hosting the Annual Conference requires a large number of volunteers, and the York River district is in need of support.

The Rev. Charles Ledlum-Bates, district superintendent, is asking pastors and laity in leadership positions to solicit volunteers from congregations to help the annual conference sessions run smoothly.

Lisa Jones, the York River District Administrator, has put together a Sign-up Genius to help facilitate the process. The Sign-up Genius will also help volunteers see where to share their gifts.  

Here are the links to the Sign Up Genius pages:

Registration    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CAFA923A5F94-2022

Ushers             https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CAFA923A5F94-20221

Platform          https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CAFA923A5F94-20222

Questions may be directed to Lisa at YorkRiverDistrict@vaumc.org

We are excited to announce that the Annual Conference Cans and Kits collection will continue this year! We are thankful for this opportunity of serving together.

The collections will all take place before Conference.  Lay Members will NOT take those items to Conference;

Cans, Local Food and Community Items: Your local church will specify dates and needed items for local ministries. 

Kit Collection: The emphasis is on Cleaning and Hygiene kits this year.  We will have 3 drop off sites across the district.

UMCOR Cleaning and Hygiene Kits Drop-Off Locations:

• North Part of District

          Trinity UMC, 9280 Old Dumfries Rd, Catlett

        Collection: Saturday, June 11, 10 AM - 12 Noon; any day by appt.                            appointment

• Central Part of District

           Fredericksburg UMC, 308 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg

Collection: Kits and Diapers (Size 3 - 6) from June 1st thru 12th,        Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm/Sundays 11:00 am - 12:00 PM

• South Part of District

           McKendree UMC, 4347 Manfield Road, Manquin

ollection: June 11 from 10-Noon or contact Rev. Betty Jo Sims: 804-839-2769; email: BettyJoSims@vaumc.org

Instructions to pack UMCOR Kits

• Click here for UMCOR Cleaning Kit instruction 
• Click here for UMCOR Hygiene Kit instruction

For additional information such as transportation/toothpaste cost donations or sending funds instead of kits, please visit these sites:

www.vaumc.org/collecting    

www.vaumc.org/acmission 

Thank you for supporting this ministry.

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All God's Children Camp is happening and we need your help! We still need 8 more mentors for each week of camp:

June 19-June 24 Camp Chanco on the James (Richmond area)

July 24-July 29 Occohannock on the Bay (Eastern Shore)August 14-August 19 Camp Chanco on the James (Richmond area)

Come join us for a week of camp with some amazing kids! Without you, camp will not be possible! PM me for more details or check out the website at https://vaumc.org/agcc/

United Methodist Mens' Breakfast

Please Register for this very Important meeting and Breakfast. Please share this with your congregations and UMM Fellowships.

• Event Name: VA Conference United Methodist Men's Breakfast
• Date/Time: June 17, 2022, 7:00 AM
• Location: Bethany United Methodist Church, 1509 Todd’s Lane, Hampton VA 23666
• Registration: Email David Collins, djcoll@icloud.com, 757-434-9393
• Cost: $14.00 Suggested Donation
• Payment: Cash or Check At The Door

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Guidelines and Applications for the 2022 RRD Scholarship Program are now available.  

The firm deadline for applications to be received in the district office is May 16, 2022 at 4:00pm.

Tabernacle UMC in Fredericksburg, Virginia has an immediate need for a Child Care/Nursery Care worker to care for children in the church nursery on Sunday mornings and during special events. The Sunday morning hours are 9:15 am to 11:30 am. 

Interested persons must meet VA state and TUMC Child Protection Policy requirements.

For further information and full job description, please contact Pastor Ted Smith at TedSmith@vaumc.org.

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Dahlgren UMC (DUMC) has an immediate need for a Nursery Attendant meeting or able to meet VA State and Church Child Protection Policy requirements for paid child care staff. 

 This is a permanent, part-time, hourly-wage position to care for young children, ages infant-to-Pre-K, placed in the nursery during church services and special events.

Details of the requirements of the position are posted on the Church Web Site. 

Questions or expressions of interest can also be directed to the Church Office by phone: 540-663-2230 or email to office@dahlgrenumc.org. 

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