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THE AMBASSADOR “So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians
5:20).”Volume 13, Issue 10 A newsletter for the Pastors and Lay Leadership of the Charlottesville District November 2015
Contributions
$50,064 as of 9/30/15
$400,000 Goal
Heart Havens Donations
The above donation button is located on the home page of the Charlottesville District website. http://charlottesvilledistrictumc.org. This is a secure website, through PayPal, where you can go to donate to Heart Havens.
The School for Children’s Ministries is On The Road again!
Learn Extraordinary Lessons from Ordinary Objects offers two more workshops. .5 CEU offered as well as certificates for preschool teacher accreditations. Please encourage your children’s ministry team to attend. Only $20 per person. Brochure and Registration online:http://www.vaumc.org/Events?cid=3&ceid=1272&cerid=0&cdt=5%2f30%2f2015
Fall date and location:
November 7, 2015 Good Shepherd UMC Dale City
Save the datesDistrict Missions Committee, Tuesday, November 3 at Stanardsville UMC, 10:00 am
District Common Table, Tuesday, January 5 at Madison UMC 10:00 am
Nadia Bolz-Weber will be speaking at The Wesley Foundation at UVA on March 18 & 19, 2016.
Region Ten Community Services Board Hosting 2015 Mental Health First Aid TrainingsWHAT: Mental Health First Aid is similar to First Aid and CPR. Mental Health First Aid helps individuals to support those experiencing mental health problems and aids in getting people professional help and support. It is an interactive 8-hour course that teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self- help care. For more information on Mental Health First Aid, please visit www.thenationalcouncil.org or www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.We offer two versions of Mental Health First Aid: the Adult Version and a Youth Version for Adults who work with adolescents. Choose the one that is right for you.WHO: Local citizens, families, school personnel, police officers, corrections staff, nursing home staff, hospital staff, government staff, faith communities, employers, teachers, front desk staff, nurses, resident advisors, social workers, lawyers, Scout leaders, coaches and more. WHEN:
November 13, 2015 8:00 AM-5:00 PMAdult Version
December 11, 2015 8:00 AM-5:00 PMAdult Version
WHERE: Region Ten Community Services Board500 Old Lynchburg Rd. Conference Center
Room 500A, Charlottesville, VA 22903COST: Classes will be $25 per person for materials and lunch.REGISTER: Contact: Jane Lewis, 434-970-1282 or [email protected] Ten provides mental health, intellectual disability, crisis and substance use services for adults and children living in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson. Since Region Ten's inception in 1969, we have grown to more than 500 employees working to enrich our community one life at time.
UMW EventNOVEMBER7th...........2016 Executive team training, 10 am TBANewsletter articles to Communications coordinator by the 14th
DECEMBER5th...........UMW Advent Prayer Breakfast - possible cluster event, 9:30 a.m. at Gordonsville UMC
Sharing the Journey in Caregiving WorkshopOn Saturday, November 7, 2015, Stephen Ministry congregations in Charlottesville and Hospice of the Piedmont will offer a workshop at Aldersgate United Methodist Church (AUMC) from 9:30 A.M.–12:00 NOON. Dr. James Avery, CEO of Hospice of the Piedmont, and Donna Authers, author of A Sacred Walk: Dispelling the Fear of Death and Caring for the Dying, will present information to prepare people to effectively care for, support, and simply relate to a person diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The event is free and open to the public. AUMC is located at 1500 E. Rio Road in Charlottesville, right behind Fashion Square Mall.
Youth MinistryFifth Sunday Praise and Worship
Location: Madison UMC
505 South Main St.Madison, VA
3:00 to 5:00 PMNovember 29, 2015
Worship ● Fellowship ● Fun ● PraiseCome and Enjoy worship with friends from around the
Charlottesville District! All Ages Welcome!
Questions? Contact Rebecca Wagner. DCYM Coordinator@ [email protected]
Save the Date!District Youth RetreatFebruary 26-28, 2016
We will be collecting Toiletries for TOP and Campbell Soup Labels for Henry Fork Service Center. Each church is challenged to raise at least $150 so we can have another Stop Hunger Now packaging event.
Like us on Facebook atCharlottesville United Methodist District Youth
Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov. 1 at 2 am. Be sure to set your clocks back!!
Charlottesville District Conference and Training
Saturday, November 14, 2015Aldersgate UMC, 1500 E. Rio Road, Charlottesville, VA
Everyone is invited to Participate!!!Child Care will be Provided for the entire event.
9:30-11:00 am Worship and District Conference11:00-11:30 am Refreshments and a time to view the Resource Tables11:30 am – 1:00 pm Training ClassesThe “Joyful Noise” band from Amissville UMC will lead our music for the morning and Martha Stokes, Director of Church and Community Relations, Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. will be our guest speaker. Her message will be “From Members to Disciples.”The following five classes will be offered:
Changing Our Focus: From Age-Segregation to Intergenerational MinistryNo organization is better equipped or a more natural fit for developing and sustaining meaningful relationships across generations than the church. Yet, too often we just assume these relationships are going to happen, when they require intentional focus and sustained effort. This workshop will explore how to create and nurture Intergenerational Ministries with a focus on older adults and provide an opportunity to share best practices.
Martha Stokes serves as the Director of Church and Community Relations for Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. Established by the Virginia Annual Conference of the former Methodist Church in 1945, the mission of the communities of Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. is to provide facilities, services, and programs to enhance the quality of life for older persons. A major focus of Martha’s work is to strengthen the relationship between VUMH, Connectional Ministries, districts, and the local churches of the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church. This takes her into the churches and surrounding areas to:
promote the mission and services of the VUMH communities,
raise awareness of outreach and support opportunities with residents,
increase volunteerism, and offer resources related to Boomer and Older Adult
Ministries.
Martha is a Certified Lay Servant, holds professional certification through The United Methodist Church in Older Adult Ministries, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for The UMC Discipleship Ministries. She and her husband, Steve, are members of the church family at Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
"Let the Little Children Come" This workshop will be an opportunity for churches to examine the many ways we are called by God to minister to children and their families. We hope to offer a variety of meaningful and effective ways that all churches, no matter the size, can help form young disciples that follow Jesus. Julie Nitzsche currently serves as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Stanardsville United Methodist Church. She is also working towards a MDiv degree at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Julie's most life giving part of ministry with children and youth, is watching children and youth grow stronger in their love and knowledge of Jesus Christ and walking with families as they develop deeper spiritual lives together.
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Rachel Miller currently serves as Director of Ministries with Young People at Aldersgate UMC. She recently graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with her MA in Theology. Rachel feels that God's current calling in her life is to help raise up Christian leaders. She believes that congregations must take a deep and real interest in their youngest sisters and brothers in Christ and must model true compassion and service for and with them.
The Lord Looks on the Heart: Hope and Help for Small Congregations If bigger is better, then smaller must be…subpar? God never says this. In fact, God seems to delight in working through what is small, humble, and unimpressive by worldly standards. In this class, we will highlight the blessings and strengths of small churches. Then we will discuss practical ideas and tips for the challenges all charges of this size face.
“God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the LORD sees into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b CEB)
Rev. Erin Geoffrion is the pastor of the Mineral-Mount Pleasant Charge in Louisa County, VA. She is an alumna of Eastern Mennonite Seminary. In her ministry, Erin has been blessed to serve eight churches (in five communities), with average active congregations ranging in size from nine to 95. Erin, her husband, Rev. Pete Geoffrion, and their son, Isaac, live in Unionville, VA.
SYSTEMS THAT FACILITATE CHURCH GROWTH It has been said that “your church is perfectly structured for the results you are currently experiencing.” Simply put, if you want to change the results, a great place to start is to take a fresh look at your ministry systems.
In this workshop we will explore the major systems each church needs in order to be healthy and grow. We will also discuss how to begin to build strong systems for worship, assimilation, discipleship, stewardship, evangelism, communications, nurture, and leadership that will fit your church’s unique context.
Jim Chandler has over 25 years of experience as a pastor and new church planter in the Virginia Conference. In 2008 Jim invested a year serving with The Journey Church in NYC, a multi-site church known for its emphasis on small groups and effective ministry systems. Jim currently serves as the Senior Pastor at Crozet UMC.
“No, We Ain’t Got a Barrel of Money”Let’s look deeper and find strengths we may not know we have in the congregation. Find a new song to sing. Open new doors of giving. Explore new opportunities. Build generous and faithful stewards in your church. It is possible!
David Rash, Stewardship Matters, is a retired United Methodist Elder providing financial stewardship consultations for churches, pastors, and districts. David lives in Waynesboro.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP: all ordained & commissioned clergy, licensed local pastors, lay supply pastors, certified lay ministers, diaconal ministers, deaconesses and home missioners related to the district; church lay leader, church council chair, church school superintendent, president of UMW, president of chartered UMM, each charge’s district steward, lay member to annual conference, three members at-large to district conference, one of whom shall be a youth elected by each charge conference.
At District Conference we will elect 21 District members at-large to the 2016 Annual Conference and 7 Alternate members At-Large. Look inside this newsletter for a NOMINATIONS PROFILE. To have your name typed in on the ballot, you must turn in your Profile no later than November 6th. After that you will have to be nominated from the floor.
Annual Conference will be June 17-19, 2016 in Roanoke.
New PianoBethany (Norwood) received a new piano as a gift from Karl and Rita Heeter. The Heeters’ are members at Mt. Pleasant UMC in Louisa. Pictured at the
piano is Patsy Turner. Patsy is the church musician.
The Credit Union Wants To Donate To Your ChurchOur new vehicle loan program is benefiting churches across the Virginia Conference and so far we’ve donated over $2300 to conference churches. Each time a church member finances their next vehicle purchase with the credit union or refinances a vehicle loan that they currently have with another lender, the Virginia United Methodist Credit Union will donate $25 to their church. Take advantage of our current special and refinance the vehicle loan you currently have with another lender at a rate 2% less than the rate you
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have now down to a minimum of 1.95% APR. We finance church vehicles too! Visit www.vumcu.org or contact Mike at 804-672-0200 for details. (For Virginia Conference clergy, church members and their churches. All loans are subject to approval and credit restrictions apply. Rates are based on credit score. Not applicable to the refinance of current VUMCU vehicle loans)
Janie HightowerMarketing Manager(804) 672-0200 Office(804) 672-0444 Faxwww.vumcu.org
An update on our Recycled Blessings mission for All Blessings Flow...Things have blossomed this summer and we are now giving out more than 40 pieces of equipment each month to those in need. We are handing out a bag to each client in which we lovingly place a bible and a bible tract to further our Lord's mission. Sadly, though, we are giving out more than we are receiving donated items and now we are having more difficulty filling all the needs. Kroger has now partnered with us and are allowing people to drop off their donated used medical equipment at any Kroger pharmacy in Charlottesville. This happened relatively recently and we are not yet receiving the benefit from this--but, hopefully we will soon!
Could you please send an email out to all the churches connected with Love, INC to spread the word to their church families that we are in need of donations of used medical equipment? If they could announce to their congregation that they can drop off their items at any of these locations:
* Kroger pharmacies in Charlottesville (Rio Hill, Emmett, or Barracks Rd)* Earlysville Exchange Thrift Store in Earlsyville* Ruckersville Baptist Church in Ruckersville (place by the front door that is a covered entryway)
If they would like to help our Recycled Blessings mission and plan a day to collect items one Sunday morning, then we will gladly drive to their church and pick up a load in our van. Large items such as hospital beds and recliner lift chairs, unfortunately, we currently don't have room for, but will take their name and number and connect them directly to someone in need and they will make arrangements to pick up that item from them. We already have a wait list for hospital beds and lift chairs, so we are anxiously waiting for donations of these items as well. If anyone would like a tax receipt we will happily mail them one if they will leave their name, number, and address with that donated item.
Thank you, Susan, for all that you do and thank you to all who support and pray for our mission!
Love and God bless,Annie Dodd, All Blessings Flow
phone: (434)882-0135email: [email protected]
1An Autumn Quiet Day RetreatA Quiet Day Retreat offers a time of quiet rest, renewal, and communion with God in prayer. The Rev. Betsy G. Caudill will offer an Autumn Quiet Day Retreat on Saturday, November 7, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The retreat will be held at the lovely setting of Rose Park United Methodist Church, 318 Shelby Road, Wolftown, VA 22748, just off Hwy. 230 W. It is limited to 24 adults, so please make your reservations soon.
The Quiet Day Retreat will be centered around Lectio Divina or “Praying the Scriptures,” using several texts suitable for autumn. The day will include an orientation for praying the assigned Scripture texts, periods of silent prayer, time for silent reflection and walking (weather permitting), journaling or sketching, and a brief, concluding group discussion. A light lunch consisting of a sandwich, cookie, and drink, will be provided. Please dress casually and comfortably. Materials will be supplied; bring a floor pillow and a favorite journal, if you wish.
The cost is $5 for lunch. RSVP by Nov. 5, by mailing a note with your name on it, and a check made out to “Piedmont Deli,” to: P.O. Box 383, Madison, VA 22727; Attn: Quiet Day Retreat. For more information, please click onto Nov. 7 on the website calendar for Rose Park at: www.mrpumc.org.
If you would prefer a salad (with no dessert), please write “Tossed Salad” in the memo line of your $5 check; or, for a chef salad, send $6.
Salem UMC in Palmyra Dedication of new playground on October 11, 2015
Christian ComedianFundraiser for our Heart Havens Apartment ComplexTickets Go on Sale Dec. 10th Clean comedian Michael Joiner will do two performances on April 30th as a fundraiser for a Heart Havens apartment complex which is to be built in the Charlottesville District. The shows will be at 2:00 and 7:00 on Saturday, April 30,
2016 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School. Tickets will be $20 and will go on sale on December 10th (just in time for Christmas gifts!) through Eventbrite.com. All profits will go toward building an apartment complex for adults with intellectual disabilities in the Charlottesville District. Currently in our district, roughly 140 adults with intellectual disabilities are extremely
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vulnerable because they have an aging or disabled caregiver, are at risk of homelessness, abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or have physical or behavioral needs beyond what their caregivers can meet. You can help by attending this comedy show.
Michael Joiner is the 1st Place winner of the Hollywood Improv's "FUNNIEST COMIC IN L.A." 2008, and 2010 Christian Music Hall of Fame "COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR" nominee, Joiner has attracted wide praise for his routines that blend a sarcastic edginess with a devotion to clean humor. Joiner has headlined at The LA AREA Improvs, The Funny Bone, The Ice House and other comedy clubs across the country while also performing at colleges and sold out Clean Comedy Concerts nationwide. He's also written for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
Michael has been performing nationwide for over 25 years and is rated one of the nation's funniest Clean Stand up Comedians. The TV Guide Network calls Michael "One of the funniest, most original, stand up Comedians working today!" For more information, contact Kim Crater at [email protected].
Discipleship Circles: Connected, Accountable, Spirit-LedThere is a new small group initiative within the Virginia Conference designed to bring groups together that will help each member move toward increased fruitfulness. This is accomplished by holding each other accountable for improvement and by supporting each other spiritually. Discipleship Circles came about through the Virginia Conference Equipping Vital Congregations initiative and have as their focus relationship – relationship with God and relationship with each other. Each Discipleship Circle is to be made up of clergy and lay, especially those who want to draw closer to God through collaboration with peers for “spiritual growth, relationship, and learning”. Members grow as disciples and become better equipped to lead the church in making other disciples. When a Discipleship Circle forms, a facilitator who has completed specific training, will work with the group until the group has determined its focus and begun the specific work related to goals set by the group. Training for Discipleship Circle Facilitators teaches that these requirements will lead to successful groups.
1. Commitment to personal spiritual development and to a group practice of accountability-based discipleship.
2. Willingness to enter into a new level of trust and collaboration: clergy and lay partnerships in ministry and church-to-church interaction centered upon earnest prayer, spiritual renewal, and supportive relationships.
3. Sharing of local church data through fact-based discussions around each church’s Vital Signs and mutual accountability for work toward established goals.
You might wonder what makes Discipleship Circles different from other small groups that you might belong to or have belonged to in the past. Here are some differences; this is not a study or support group, membership is a mix of clergy and lay (six to 12 members total), members will come from different churches to work together toward Vital Congregations goals, and each Discipleship Circle will have an end point determined by the group and based on the goals and covenant each group sets.
Vital Congregation measurements provide a good starting point for Discipleship Circles because they will point out trends that you might be interested in changing or redirecting. Be assured, there are other churches in the District that have similar ideas about addressing a particular trend. For example, one of the measurements is “disciples growing in their faith” and looks at small group ministry. By coming together in a Discipleship Circle with the shared focus of looking at small group ministry, the group will learn together about what works and what didn’t work, and together form new ideas for small group development.There are three trained facilitators on the Charlottesville District who will be available to help get groups started. This is a new endeavor so you will likely have questions and facilitators will be happy to talk to you and try to answer your questions. If you want to get in touch with a facilitator, please leave a message at the District Office.
Breaking NEWS- Another Michael Joiner show has been added in the Culpeper Area on Friday, April 29, 2016!!!! Please support this Heart Havens fundraiser.
Voices Of Youth 2016Voices of Youth: Awakening The United Methodist Church to Mission, has been a mission program of the Virginia Annual Conference for 30 Years, since 1985. This coming Summer’s trip will be the 31st. Voices has traveled around the nation as well as internationally to such places as Zimbabwe, Estonia, Mexico, and the Bahamas, just to name a few. Voices is a very unique experience that has greatly impacted and transformed youth of the Virginia Conference and led them to deep spiritual growth and for some led to a calling into ministry. Voices is unique in that it takes youth who have a passion for mission and a love of music and infuses the two into a 3 week mission experience. A week – 10 days of the trip is spent immersed in mission at the set destination. Upon completion the youth travel back to Virginia touring around the annual conference offering worship services that share the message about mission and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These worship services are comprised of several musical selections as well as scripture and a time of testimony by the youth. Today we invite you to pray for our 2016 trip. We ask you to share this information with youth that may be interested in participating in this year’s trip. Also take a look at our Website to see what other ways you may be involved. More information and applications can be found at vavoicesofyouth.orgVoices of Youth 2016BE STILL AND KNOW TOURVoices of Youth 2016 BE STILL AND KNOW TOUR is going to be so exciting and we are well underway in planning the trip!
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We will be travelling to Taize, France!! After a time of orientation and rehearsal, and a short stop in Paris for some sightseeing!!, we will make our way to Taize. While there, we will be participating in a weeklong pilgrimage of worship and contemplation. We will be staying at the monastery of the brothers of Taize and immersing ourselves in their style of worship and musical meditation. The Dates for VOY 2016 are JULY 9-30, 2016!! Thank you,Rev. Rebecca L. MinorConference Coordinator of VOY [email protected]
NOMINEE FORMCHARLOTTESVILLE DISTRICTAt-Large Lay Delegate Annual Conference 2016
(Return to District Office by Nov 6th.)
Name: ______________________________________________ □Young Person (Between ages of 18 & 30)
Address: ☐ Youth(Between ages of 12 & 17)
Phone: _ E-Mail:
Gender:
Ethnic Background_:
Name of Local Church:
I have held the following position in my local church:
I have held the following position in the Annual Conference: I have held the following position on the District as: I am presently serving in my local church as:
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I am presently serving on the District as: I am presently serving on the Annual Conference level as:
I hereby give my consent to have my name placed on the ballot for election of the 2016 Annual Conference.
If elected, I will be able to attend.
Date _____________________________Signature_______________________________________
707 Fourth Street • Blackstone • Virginia • 23824 • (434) 292-5308 • www.vumac.org Attn: Mission-minded individuals and/or small groups looking for an affordable day mission trip.B3 Missions in conjunction with VUMAC/BCRC will have their first Commuter Mission Day. If you are an individual or a small group (youth, women, men) who wants to participate in this day, here’s what you need to know:Who: YOU! If you are *13 and up we want you!
When: Saturday, November 21st, 2015 (rain or shine)Where: The Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center 707 Fourth Street, Blackstone, VA 23824Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PMCost: $15.00 per personThis cost covers your lunch and snacks for the day.What to bring: Work gloves and/or rubber gloves, if you have a favorite broom, cleaning product, vacuum, gardening tools, buckets, trash bags, etc., bring them! We will be cleaning, edging, weeding, trimming; we may possibly do a little light sanding and painting.November 2015 Page
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Call 434-292-5308 to make your reservation to attend; your paid reservation reserves your snacks/lunch and place for the day. We will email you participant forms to complete and return.Be a part of history as VUMAC/B3 has the first of many commuter days. *Teens 13 – 18 should have adult representation present.
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The United Methodist Church
Charlottesville District Office 914 E. Jefferson St., Suite 104Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 http://CharlottesvilleDistrictUMC.org Email: [email protected]
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Newsletter Deadline - November 15Please send your submissions for the December 2015 issue ofThe Ambassador to Carol Frost at [email protected] by November 15.
The Ambassador by emailIf you would like to receive The Ambassador by email, or if your email address has changed recently, please send an email to the District Office with your request to [email protected].
November 1 Daylight Savings Time EndsNovember 3 District Missions CommitteeNovember 6 At-Large Lay Delegate Nominee form due to District OfficeNovember 7 2016 Executive team training, 10amNovember 7 Autumn Quiet Day RetreatNovember 7 Sharing the Journey in Caregiving WorkshopNovember 14 Charlottesville District Conference and Training at Aldersgate UMCNovember 29 Fifth Sunday Praise and Worship at Madison UMC
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Non-profitOrganization
U.S. POSTAGEPAID
Permit No. 180Charlottesville Va
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