Just 2 weeks to go!

The 241st session of the Virginia Annual Conference, to be held in Roanoke, VA, June 15-17, 2023, will be focused on the theme, United as One in Mission.

The theme is based on Acts 1:8b, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” NIV

Annual Conference Orientation

Annual Conference is fast approaching. We have scheduled an orientation for both Church Lay Members and District Lay Members (elected and appointed) for Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00pm. Pastors are welcome to join as well if they would like to. Please click the link below to register and receive a Zoom Link:

Click to Register for AC Orientation and Receive Zoom Link

Become a volunteer at AC 2023

Volunteers are needed before, during and after (from June 13-17) the in-person Annual Conference at the Berglund Center in Roanoke in June. Please prayerfully consider volunteering. Volunteers will be contacted by their area coordinator and receive any necessary training or instructions. Click below for the links to the Sign Up Genius pages:

If you need assistance signing up, please contact Donna Desper, Valley Ridge District, at DonnaDesper@vaumc.org.

Electronic Book of Reports now available, view conference AC events

The electronic version of the Book of Reports is now available. If you ordered a print copy, it will be mailed out to you directly. Limited numbers of print copies will be available for purchase at the June session for $5.

Find out what events and banquets are taking place during the June Annual Conference event. One such banquet is the Missional Ministries Banquet on Thursday, June 15 at 6 p.m. which will feature a GBGM representative and two GBGM missionaries. Learn more...

All up-to-date Annual Conference information can be found at www.vaumc.org/ac2023.

2023 Annual Conference Offering #NurturingTogether

The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church is one of the largest annual conferences of The United Methodist Church. We can significantly impact the world when we all come together around a purpose. The groups and ministries supported by the offering change each year, but the goal remains the same: to assist people and ministries, both domestic and international.

The goal of the offering for 2023 is $150,000. This year, you are invited to the initiative to #nurture leadership worldwide! The Virginia Conference will support Refugee Resettlement, Food Insecurity in the Commonwealth, and Partnerships of Hope’s leadership programs in Brazil, Mozambique, Cambodia, Native Americans, Haiti, and Vietnam through this offering. The offering will be collected on June 15, 2023, during the Opening Worship at 10 a.m. Thank you for being part of the effort to #nurturingtogether! Learn more...

Videos share resources for 2023 AC members

The Conference Lay Leader Martha Stokes and the conference Communications Office created video resources for Annual Conference members prior to the 2023 Annual Conference session. Four videos have now been released:

Video 1: Welcome from Bishop Sue

Video 2: Welcome and music from AC Conference co-directors and a chance to meet the band

Video 3: Martha shares responsibilities for lay members and reporting back to local churches.

Video 4: Conference Secretary Rev. Joshua King shares information about motions and more.

Watch videos...

Kits and Cans Collection

We will again collect UMCOR kits as part of the Virginia Conference efforts in June. Start NOW making plans to collect items and assemble kits for the following three UMCOR kits (click on each to see all the details)

Non-perishable food items should also be collected by your church to give to local feeding ministries.

Collection sites are planned on Saturday, June 3 from 10 AM until noon.

Locations:

Benn's UMC - Smithfield: 14571 Benn's Church Boulevard, 23430

Carmel UMC - Kinsale: 5729 Sandy Point Rd., 22488

Susanna Wesley - Gloucester: 3900 George Washington Memorial Hwy., 23072

Tabernacle UMC - Fredericksburg: 7310-A Old Plank Road, 22407

Seaford Transfer - Yorktown: 143 Freedom Boulevard, 23692

Saturday, June 3 from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM

UMCOR asks for $1 per kit ($3 for cleaning buckets) to cover processing and shipping and $1 for toothpaste for each hygiene kit. Please do NOT bring checks to the Annual Conference. All checks (for processing and shipping, for toothpaste, and in lieu of providing kits) should be made payable to “Virginia Conference UMC,” earmarked for “kits (Advance #5041)” and mailed to Treasurer, Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5605, Glen Allen, VA, 23058 any time prior to Annual Conference and no later than August 31.

Can we contribute money instead of collecting kits?

If you prefer to make a financial contribution to enable UMCOR to purchase relief kits, you can contribute $75 for each cleaning kit; $12 for each Hygiene kit; $24 for each Menstrual Kit to Advance #5041.
If you prefer to make an online contribution Click here

#JoiningHandsTogether

We are asking all members to #joinhands for the following mission opportunities. #JoiningHandsTogther will provide hands-on mission opportunities for all who are gathered during the Annual Conference.

The various mission opportunities will be a reminder that we can do more when we come together!

Three Opportunities

1. Red Cross Blood Donation – starting Thursday to Friday by appointment

2. UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit – Thursday, June 15, 2023

3. Rise Against Hunger – Friday, June 16, 2023, 10:00 AM

Location: Special Events Center

Baseball fans....The Salem Red Sox (Roanoke) are in town during AC. They have games Wednesday - Sunday. The 14th is a double header (make-up and regular schedule) starting at 5:30 p.m., and the other nights at either 7 pm or 6pm.

This team is a Single A Affiliate (of the Boston Red Sox) and the field is located at 1008 Texas Street, Salem, Va. 24153. 540-389-3333. Tickets are $19.00 or less.

Website for information and tickets: https://www.milb.com/salem

Higher Education has always been a hallmark of the United Methodist Church. The value of resources for continued learning and higher education is fundamental to United Methodism. In keeping with our tradition of supporting higher learning, the Mission Rivers District (MRD) of the United Methodist Church has created a Student Scholarship Program. The program is maintained and administered by the MRD and is not connected with any other United Methodist board, agency, or entity. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants who meet the program criteria as funding allows. Persons eligible to apply are those who are attending or who plan to attend a college or trade school, persons who are members of a United Methodist Church on the Mission Rivers District, and persons who are enrolled in a program that presents a degree or certification. The deadline for applications is July 1.

Celebrating Our Connections:

Christ UMC Newport News Holds Joint Sudanese Service

Christ UMC wants to share some of the highlights with you from our 5^th Sunday service that we did jointly with the Sudanese church that shares our building. The Sunday, April 30^th service was presented in both English and Swahili. Our traditional church service at Christ United Methodist Church does not currently have a choir, so Light Nuru provided 2 choral anthems that were nothing short of magnificent! The children's message and main sermon were on Psalm 23. So many of us were so blessed by the service and we are looking forward to the next 5^th Sunday service coming up in July.

May 14th was not only Mother’s Day, it was also UWF Sunday. Our guest speaker at Colonial Beach UMC was JM Gallier from Trinity in King George who gave an amazing viewpoint on the “No Greater Love" theme.

The annual skit was titled “The Motherhood Hall of Fame". Paige Baker is the finder and director of our skits. Her talent is greatly appreciated. The actors who gave of their time and talent were Lois Krombholz, Lynn Lincoln, Katie Loose, Joanne Hunter and Terri Gray.

The UMM provided carnations for the ladies and cake and coffee was served afterwards.

June 18th

Peace with Justice Sunday is June 4

United Methodists relate to this special Sunday by seeking peaceful solutions, creating and supporting peace-related ministries in their conference and learning about peaceful, just efforts around the world. Our Social Principles call us to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. The United Methodist Church, with its historic commitment to peace and justice, can and should provide leadership to this social transformation. The General Board of Church and Society Church holds a non-governmental, consultative status with the United Nations. This status allows us to participate in UN meetings, consultations and conferences. We recognize and renew our call for social transformation, for the quest to open the doors of opportunity for all, to distribute resources more equitably, and to provide better care for persons in need. Donations for this special Sunday support programs and ministries to educate, equip and mobilize actions in support of identified Economic, Health, and Gender Justice Priorities. Learn more and find resources...

Mission Opportunity at All God's Children Camp

Looking for a low key mission trip for folks ages 16 and up? Or perhaps your church small groups are looking for a local mission to participate in where you can be in ministry as a group and grow together in faith. Do you have any high school or college students that need service hours? If so, All God's Children Camp is the place to be this summer! We are looking for mentors to join us for a week long overnight camp designed for children who have an incarcerated parent. Come hang out with us for a week of fun, food and fellowship. The best part is this is a low to no cost week of mission where you will encourage campers to understand that they truly are somebody! So come be a part of the All God's Children Camp team this summer and we promise you will have an excellent time! We look forward to seeing you there. For more information contact Lori Smith at agcc@vaumc.org

FREE PA System

Rev. Mina Sumpter has a 4-channel wireless microphone system and a portable self-powered PA system that would be perfect for anyone planning an outdoor event. If you're interested, please contact Lynn at Lynnmanley@vaumc.org.

Samaritan Fund Offering

The Samaritan Fund Offering is one of the five Virginia Annual Conference Special Offerings. The Samaritan Fund is a benevolent fund that provides financial assistance to Pinnacle Living residents who have outlived their monetary resources and can no longer afford the full cost of their care. The time between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is designated as the time to support this ministry at Pinnacle Living. Church treasurers can remit contributions to the Treasurer’s office by notating Fund #6411 - Pinnacle Living (Samaritan Fund) at the bottom of your apportionment statement.

For those whose congregations have voted to disaffiliate, but who wish to remain United Methodist, the Virginia Annual Conference and the Cabinet offer Next Steps, a web site with resources to remain connected as they discern where God is calling them. At Next Steps, individuals and churches may

access resources for small group gathering and other means of discipleship;
learn about Bridge Churches, which offer a safe haven for persons while they discern their next faithful step;
transfer their membership to the General Roll of the United Methodist Church, held by the annual conference, as a temporary holding space until they connect with a new congregation;
reach out for additional support from their District Superintendent and District staff.

The Bethel United Methodist Church of Lively, VA has partnered with Corrottoman Baptist Church of Lancaster, VA to create a new opportunity for youth in the Community to enjoy fellowship and learn about the Bible.

Rivah Life YOUTH GROUP (Rivah LYG) held it's first meeting on Sunday, May 7th from 5pm to 8pm. We had 30 youth (ages 5-18) in attendance and 12 adults helping. They all enjoyed pizza and fellowship. The younger youth watched Bible Stories and made crafts centered around Bible Stories. The older youth participated in Bible Study and watched a wonderful Christian movie involving a baseball team. The evening was certainly a blessing to all.

The Rivah LYG plans to meet monthly on the first Sunday evening of each month. The next meeting will be held at Bethel UMC on Sunday, June 4th from 5 pm to 8pm. We plan to enjoy a meal and fellowship time, learn about the Word of God, create colorful shirts, watch a movie and more! We even may have popcorn!

Group Hymn Sing Thursday, July 6,

at 6:30 pm

Save the date and don’t forget! Interdenominational hymn sing COCAPRAW will take place Thursday, July 6 at 6:30 pm at Lower United Methodist Church, 120 Lower Church Rd., Hartfield, 23071. COCAPRAW stands for Come One, Come All – Praise, Reflect, and Worship.

It is an interdenominational lay sponsored event. It will be a wonderful evening that will re-enforce our intimate relationship with our Triune God and unite us as we continue to experience life’s trials and are reassured that God loves, will never leave, and assures total victory for us. Of course, an agnostic friend or two would also be welcomed! It will be an evening of joy and comfort brought to us through the Holy Spirit. Please come and bring others. Also please call John Ryland at 757.871.1224 for more information and to volunteer to read one of several brief Scriptural passages. There will be no sermon. No offering. No donations. Just group song and prayerful reflection in the midst.