September 26, 2018
Welcome to The Bridge, a weekly update of the Rappahannock River District of the United Methodist Church 
Please remember to click "Display Images" and "View Entire Message" at the top/bottom of the page to view entire newseltter. The last item in the newsletter is the "Contact" page.

Discipleship Ministries Fair
Trinity King George UMC 
9425 King's Highway, King George
September 29, 2018
10:00am - 12:00 noon (Drop in)

  • Free Discipleship Ministries resources
  • One on One conversation with Rev. Jeff Campbell of UMC Discipleship Ministries about your church's Step by Step Discipleship progress
  • Discipleship Videos (that we can provide for your church)
  • Door prizes
  • Other resources available for purchase 

This is truly a "don't want to miss it" event! See You There!

Parking Instructions: The new parking lot behind Trinity (KG) UMC is not accessible from their front or side parking lots. To reach the new parking lot, turn off Kings Highway onto Courthouse Drive, go past the County buildings, and follow the drive around to your left. You can also park in front of the church, or in back of the building next to the church.

If possible, please let us know you're coming so we have adequate supplies.


2018 Fall Events will Combine District Conference & Charge Conferences with Praise & Celebration

District Celebrations are three regional events that will combine conducting district conference business, charge conference business, and a significantly greater amount of time to worship, praise, fellowship, and celebration of all God has done through our district from 2011 to 2018.

Each event will be coordinated by a Lead Lay and Clergy team. At each location we will experience a gathering featuring the most special worship and praise event possible. The event will be from 2:30pm - 4:30pm and will include light refreshments. The two business portions (district and charge conference) will occur early in the event followed by praise and celebration.

The dates and locations are:

October 21 st  – Fredericksburg/Stafford Region held at Ebenezer Stafford

October 28 th  – Southern Region held at Wright’s Chapel UMC

November 4 th  – Northern Neck Region held at Andrew Chapel Westmoreland UMC ( this is a location change )


Each church will still prepare and bring copies of all the normal reports and have copies for their members; election of nominated Annual Conference delegates and General/Jurisdictional Conferences will still take place as well as other normal district and church business. The business sessions will be like the cluster charge conference we have previously conducted. 

Why do this?  Because the District Council wants to place an emphasis this fall on ministries, praise, fellowship, and how God has used our district over the last seven years. It’s a direct response to the feedback from the last seven years of hearing, “do less business and more worship!” 

PLEASE SAVE THE DATES!

Fredericksburg/Stafford Area Churches: Sunday, October 21: Ebenezer Stafford:  (161 Embrey Mill Road, Stafford)

Central Area Churches: Sunday, October 28: Wright’s Chapel: (8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen)

Northern Neck Area Churches: Sunday November 4: Andrew Chapel Westmoreland: (16340 King's Highway, Montross)
IMPORTANT: LOCATION CHANGE FOR NORTHERN NECK DISTRICT CELEBRATION ON NOVEMBER 4.
IT IS NOW AT ANDREW CHAPEL WESTMORELAND .
At our upcoming Fall Celebrations on October 21, October 28, and November 4, the District will elect At-Large Delegates for next year's Annual Conference in Roanoke (June 20-22, 2019). We need to elect 23 At-Large Delegates and 8 reserve delegates.  

The same ballot will be presented at each Fall Celebration. In order to be on the ballot, you need to complete a nomination form by clicking the link below and  returning it to the   District Office by October 10, 2018.   Because of scheduling issues, this is a FIRM deadline. 

You can nominate yourself or someone else (with their permission).

If you have any questions, please let us know. 

Rappahannock River District Office: 
Mail: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 
FAX  804.448.8328  (call to confirm receipt)
Phone : 804.448.8326 Office or 804.304.8566 Cell


District Celebrations:

Sunday, October 21, 2018: Ebenezer Stafford
Sunday, October 28, 2018: Wright's Chapel
Sunday, November 4, 2018: Andrew Chapel Westmoreland
FIRM DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 10 FOR ANY NOMINEE FORMS
In addition to electing At-Large Delegates to the Virginia 2019 Annual Conference at our upcoming Fall Celebrations, we will also be nominating up to 9 people to attend the 2020 General Conference and 2020 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

General Conference is May 5 - 15, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN.

District lay nominations for the  2020 General Conference and 2020 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference  will be voted upon at each district conference. Laity who wish to be nominees as delegates for these conferences shall complete the lay nomination form at  evc.vaumc.org. Click on the "District Lay GC Nomination" button .

 Upon completion, the form automatically will be submitted to the district office in which the lay nominee’s church is located.  Electronic submission is preferred but if a nominee is unable to complete an electronic nomination, he/she may contact the district office. 
 
Conference Standing Rule III.D.3 contains information about the church membership requirement for nominees.
 
III.D.3. Church Membership. All nominees shall have been professing members of The United Methodist Church for at least two years preceding their nomination and must be members of churches in the Virginia Annual Conference and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years preceding their election. They also must be active members within The United Methodist Church at the time of holding General Conference and jurisdictional conference. The four-year participation and two-year membership requirements may be waived for young persons under twenty-five years of age. Such persons must be members of The United Methodist Church and active participants at the time of election.
 
A link to this form is also available on the Virginia Conference website at  www.vaumc.org/GC2020

The deadline for these forms to be submitted to the District Office is October 10, 2018.
Lay Servant Training can help anyone who is interested in learning more in their pursuit of being a better leader and servant for Christ's church. These classes can be used as tools in discerning God's call for your personal walk and ministry. You don't have to be on the Lay Servant Track to take a class.

Classes offered are:
  • Basic taught by Mr. John Nelson
  • Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts taught by Rev. Sung Il Yoo
  • Intentional Discipleship Making taught by Rev. Jeff Campbell from UMC Discipleship Ministries
  • Leading Worship taught by Rev. Brian Lamb
Lay Servant Training Offered
The Rappahannock River District is pleased to announce our Lay Servant Ministry Training for October. Join us October 5 - 6, 2018 at Regester Chapel UMC in Stafford, VA. 



Please click button below for registration form. Classes are Friday evening from 6:30pm - 10:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. Cost is $15 and includes snacks Friday evening and continental breakfast and lunch Saturday.


Questions?  
Please contact Lay Servant Ministries, Director Dottie Garrison at 703-403-8953 or  dottiegarrison@yahoo.com  or the Rappahannock River District Office at 804.448.8326 or  rrdistrict@vaumc.org .
 
District Youth Council Meetings
We are getting together at Hillcrest UMC ( 2208 LaFayette Blvd, Fredericksburg) at 2:00pm on the following dates:

September 30
October 28

We will be studying the Leadership Qualities of Nehemiah and everyone is invited! Come Join Us!
23rd Annual Fairfields Fall Festival

Saturday, September 29, 2018
9:00am - 3:00pm
14741 Northumberland Highway (Route 360)
Burgess, Virginia

North Carolina Style BBQ
Baked Goods
Clowns
Childrens ID by Local Officers
Local Vendors
Homemade Soups
White Elephant Sale
Animals
Silent Auction
Kids Activities

Proceeds to to C.H.E.F. (Covington Hurst Education Fund) and other local charities.

Spaghetti Dinner At Heathsville United Methodist Church
39 Courthouse Road
Heathsville, VA 22473
                            
When: Friday, October 12, 2018
Time: 5-7PM
Dine In or Take Out
Cost: By Donations Only

All proceeds go to The Northern Neck Free Health Clinic
Choir Festival
Grace UMC - Oak Grove

Sunday, October 14
2:00pm


Grace UMC is hosting 4 Colonial Beach Area Churches in choral presentations:

Grace Oak Grove UMC , Host
Colonial Beach UMC
Colonial Beach Baptist Church
New Life Ministries (Two Youth Choirs)


"Sing to the Lord all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day"
1 Chron 16:23


You are invited to join us for Dessert and Fellowship after the concert

Grace UMC - Oak Grove
1655 Blaymont Road
Oak Grove, VA
804.224.4444
Michael Liskiewicz, Pastor

GRACE-FULL KNOCKERS 4 U
             
Sept. 28 - Oct. 7                             

 

Meet us in the Farm Bureau Center from 2-6 PM
Fri - Sun - Sept. 28-30;
Tues - Oct. 2;
Fri - Sat - Oct. 5-6


Stop by to see what we are doing and learn how to
help someone in your community!



GRACE-FULL KNOCKERS 4 U - a knit/crochet ministry of Rehoboth U.M.C.

Our volunteer knitters/crocheters make knockers which are special handmade breast prosthetics for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast, including breast reconstruction.

COST?   Handmade Knockers are ‘FREE’ to those requesting them.

ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
8 am – 2 pm
(Early bird preview sales: Friday, 6 – 8 pm)
  
St. Matthias UMC
426 Deacon Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
(540) 373-8759

  Crafts, holiday and home décor, baked goods, “cookies by the dozen,” silent auction and HUGE yard sale (Saturday only).
    New this year: “Man Stuff Yard Sale” featuring tools, sporting goods, lawn mowers, and other stuff sure to attract the fellows in the family (Saturday only).

    Lunch for purchase beginning at 11 am. Come and bring the whole family!
Attention Rappahannock River District Clergy and Churches:
Everyone is Invited to join us!
 
Wilderness Community Church
(540 ) 972-8808
 
Bible Study Each Night
Pastor Denise Walton
Sunday Night Preacher, October 14,
Rev. Brad Phillips
Monday Night Preacher, October 15,
Rev. Larry Davies
Tuesday Night Preacher, October 16,
Rev. Ted Smith 
 
POWERFUL WORSHIP & LIFE CHANGING WORD!

AREA CHURCHES WILL BE RECOGNIZED EACH NIGHT 
 
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
 
The Power and Presence of Prayer
In Your Life

October 14,15,16
6pm - 8pm
WCC Medical Mission Announcement

Wilderness Community Church will be sending a medical team to Medellin, Colombia November 10th to 18th. We are looking for both medical and non medical individuals that would be interested in joining the team. We plan to offer free clinics in both the intercity and the suburban areas of Medellin. The cost of the trip leaving from Dulles airport is $1300 which includes transportation, lodging, and food for the week. Please contact Becky Van Renan for more information at 540-972-9264 or 540-845-5762-cell or email- rvanrenan@Gmail.com .
Emmaus 40th Anniversary Cruise
There is a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale , Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on March 28 through April 1, 2019. We will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Emmaus with guest speakers and a lot of fun aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Independence of the Seas. This cruise is being offered through Educational Opportunities. Contact EO, Bob Gochenour or Betty Jo Sims for details. Please share this in your churches and Reunion Groups so we can have more Virginia participants.

Upcoming Events & Meetings:

September 29 Discipleship Making Event, Trinity KG, 10:00am
October 2 District Board of Missions, Tabernacle, 7:00pm
October 5 - 6 Lay Servant Training, Regester Chapel
October 9 Ordained Ministry, District Office
October 10 Connectional Ministries, Wright's Chapel, 7:00pm
October 11 Location & Building, District Office, 7:00pm
October 18 District Finance Committee, Fredericksburg UMC, 7:00pm
October 21 Fall Celebration for Fredericksburg/Stafford Region, Ebenezer Stafford, 2:30pm
October 28 Fall Celebration for Southern Region, Wright's Chapel, 2:30pm
November 4 Fall Celebration for Northern Neck Region, Heathsville, 2:30pm
November 7 Full Clergy Association Meeting, Wright's Chapel
  CONTACT INFORMATION

District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Theodore Smith
DS Email:   rappahannockriverds@vaumc.org Cell: 540.419.5131

2018 District Co-Lay Leader:
Debbie Dietrich      debbiedietrich6@gmail.com

2018 District Co-Lay Lay Leader:

2018 District Associate Lay Leader: Jim Helm jhelm320@outlook.com
2018 District Lay Servant Ministry Director  Dottie Garrison dottiegarrison@yahoo.com
Heartwood Director: Rev. Gayle Porias gayleporias@vaumc.org
District Secretary: Lynn Manley rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org
Mailing Address: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 Phone   804.448.8326     FAX        804.448.8328 Cell: 804.304.8566
Office Location: Inside Wright’s Chapel UMC at 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA (do not use for mail)