July-2015-District-N.. - Harrisonburg District UMC

July 2015
Issue 42-7
Dear Friends,
Annual Conference is over! It was an amazing week-end filled with great speakers, wonderful
music, and a lot of voting. Our own Laura Douglass from Asbury UMC played the piano and
brought us to our knees with beautiful music. Courtney Joyner from New Hope UMC sang
and brought us to the real meaning of Holy Communion with her beautiful voice. Rev. Gayle
Thornberry was commissioned a Provisional Elder and Sarah Bailey, Evangelical UMC, and
Darin Buse, Mt. Zion-Mt. Solon, became new Licensed Pastors. Lisa Coffelt, Assistant at the
Mt. Pleasant Charge, Sam Plyamale, Assistant at the Blue Ridge Charge, and Alvin West,
Pastor at the Shenandoah Valley Charge, received their first appointments as Lay Pastors.
The speakers were great! Bishop Kammerer preached twice and Bishop Young Jin Cho challenged us to go
into the world and make Disciples. The Bishop ended the Annual Conference by saying, “Get Out of Here!”,
go into the world and tell the world about Jesus. He also told the Annual Conference to “Shut Up!” and pray
in silence - several times!
In my opinion the most inspiring message was at the Laity Banquet and the speaker was Martha Stokes. Martha told about a few drops of water from the Smith River that changed her life. She was talking about her
baptism in Henry County when she was an infant. It was her baptism that transformed her life into a life following Jesus. Thank you, Martha!
We elected eleven pastors and eleven laity to go to General Conference in May of 2016. We also elected an
additional 11 pastors and 11 laity to go to Jurisdictional Conference in July, 2016 to elect five new Bishops. I
will be one of the pastors to represent our Virginia Annual Conference to Jurisdictional Conference at Lake
Junaluska.
We only acted on four of the 26 Resolutions. Time was a major problem at Annual Conference. The Conference voted on Resolution 14 to send it to General Conference. This is the Resolution that wants to take the
words “Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” out of the Discipline. The vote was to send it
to General Conference. The resolution was not to approve the resolution. Only General Conference can make
changes to the Discipline.
There are several major summer events in our District:
1) Pastors - I will be sending you more information about this, but July 11 has been set aside as a Training
for Pastors of Small Membership Churches. This is a one day event at Blackstone. [See page 7 for details.]
2) Welcome Picnic for Pastors and their families is July 30 at Overlook. You will be receiving more information, but please set this day aside. It all starts at 6:30 p.m.
3) Something New! United Methodist Men and Family Picnic - Overlook - starts at 4:00 p.m. on August
9th. District UMMen will provide hot dogs and hamburgers, buns, drinks, plates, utensils, and napkins. Everyone is asked to bring a vegetable or dessert and a folding chair. We want all men and families to come!
I pray everyone will have a wonderful summer. Welcome your new pastor - if you get one - and celebrate
with your neighbors that Jesus has come to save us from our sins!
Tommy
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS
Page 2
From Our District Program Coordinator Glen Langston:
Twenty years ago, I had triple by-pass heart surgery. Afterwards I was out of the pulpit on
medical leave for eight weeks. What stands before me to this day was the outpouring of
love and concern extended from my church family, ministerial family, and friends. The
phone calls, cards, meals, and visits gave me a sense of security and a strong hope for the
future. It taught me, more than anything else before then, the true meaning of love when
extended by God’s disciples.
My first Sunday back in the pulpit my sermon was titled, “It is easier to give than to receive.” I talked about our natural urge to pay back when others reach out in love and our
need to balance out the scales so we are not “owing” to anyone.
I find myself back in that situation once again. First, because for six months you have
been joining me in prayer for my brother-in-law, Juan Ibanaz, who lay in a hospital for
over 180 days before receiving a new heart. I visited with him last week and he frequently
talked about the outpouring of prayers, emails, and cards received by the churches and
ministers on the Harrisonburg District and how they gave him hope, strength, and reassurance. But last
week I also had to deal with the constant question, “But how do I repay them for their kindness and good
will?” My constant answer, “You don’t,” fell on deaf ears most of the week before he realized that the payback is his allowing us into his life where we were allowed to do God’s will. I finally convinced him how good
it feels to be allowed into another’s life. He understood and remembered the feeling he always gets when he
helps another. He did, however, insist that I express his deepest and most humble gratitude to each of you
for your care and prayers.
Second, because on June 5, my younger brother died of a heart attack in California. For the week I spent
out there helping to care for his family and friends and preparing and doing the funeral, I was aware of your
love and concern. And when I arrived home on June 20, I was greeted with a mountain of cards of well
wishes and prayers.
It is times like these that we become most aware of the familial nature of the church. In God’s family, it is
true we fight, we argue, we are sometimes judgmental and self-righteous, but most importantly, it is also
clear that God’s children love each other even when we may not like each other. And it is moments like the
ones I have gone through that it is most apparent. When we are suffering, all the petty squabbles are set
aside and we truly do care for each other. For that I say, “Thank you family. I love all of you.”
Glen
The Harrisonburg District Mission Center’s Clothes Closet at Cedar
Grove UMC is open every second and third Wednesday, from 10:00
a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This wonderful ministry to the less fortunate in our
community is in need of volunteers to be added to the schedule so that the
same volunteers do not have to be there every month. Contact Artie Frederick by e-mail at dfaf5x7@comcast.net if you or your Sunday School
class or other small group would like to take a turn serving at the clothes
closet. In May and thus far in June, the Center has provided clothing for
44 families (155 children). The Mission Center is also in need of donations of children’s
clothes, especially girls’ sizes birth to 24 months.
The Mission Center will next be open on Wednesday, July 8th and July 15th.
Visit Harrisonburg District on Facebook: Harrisonburg District of VaUMC
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS
Page 3
District Council on Ministries
The District Council on Ministries Executive Committee will meet on August 27, 2015, District Office, 7:00 p.m. and
November 19, 2015, District Office, 7:00 p.m. Please see information on the Ministry Teams below.
Bob Talbott, Chairperson
Faith Development Ministry Team: Plans are already underway for our 2015 District Leadership
Training Event scheduled for November 15, 2015, at Bridgewater United Methodist Church.
Please put the date on your calendar now.
TEAM MEMBERS: Please note the dates of our meetings in 2015: September 17, District Office,
7:00 p.m.; and October 15, District Office, 7:00 p.m.
Team members are: Kemper Dadisman, Scott Dillard, Dale Dodrill, Becky Downey, Phyllis Foltz, Edith Good,
Dixie Miller, Annie Pierce, Kevin Poeckert, Ron Robey, Phil Secrist, Carrie Talbott, and Wes Van Pelt.
Carrie Talbott, Team Leader
Mission and Outreach Ministry Team: The District Mission & Outreach Team meetings are held
at Vision of Hope UMC at 7:00 p.m. The next Ministry Team meeting will be August 24. The
Team will be discussing a future District Mission trip and possible local mission projects. Members,
please plan to attend! Last meeting of the year will be November 9.
Team members are: Artie Frederick, Louise Jennings, Bill Lalla, Mary Jane Rawley, Delores Reid,
Valerie Ritter, and Lydia Weeks.
Lydia Weeks, Team Leader
Please see information on page 2 regarding the new District Mission Center located at Cedar
Grove UMC, 1712 Smithland Road, Harrisonburg, near the SPCA.
. . . to Ms. Allison Malloy who was one of the 11 laity elected at Annual Conference to
General Conference. Allison is a member of Sunset Drive UMC in Broadway. General
Conference will be held at Portland, Oregon, on May 10-20, 2016. Congratulations to
Rev. Tommy Herndon, Harrisonburg District Superintendent, who was elected to Jurisdictional Conference.
The opening date for 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will be Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at Lake
Junaluska.
RISE has given me a place where I feel free to be me. When I came to college I really struggled to
fit in. I felt like I was surrounded by people who persecuted and judged me for either believing too
much or not believing enough, but RISE welcomed me with arms wide open and a hot cup of coffee. RISE welcomed me to come as I am, unload my baggage, and stay for a while in the comfort
of people who were going to love and support me no matter what. Being involved with RISE has
given me the confidence to speak up about my faith and is the perfect vehicle to approach the topic of faith with my
peers. Thanks to RISE I have been able to make many new friends, discover my strengths, and grow closer to God while
enjoying my time as a college student at JMU. RISE is the perfect place for me to worship, question, discover, and fall
in love with my creator over and over again.
Abigail E. Willett
Sincere sympathy is extended to Rev. Glen Langston and his family on the death of his brother Curtis
who died on June 5th of a heart attack. Mr. Langston’s funeral was held in California.
Retired pastor Jim Mahaffey’s father-in-law, Jack Davenport, died on June 7th in Harrisonburg. A
graveside service was held in Sykesville, Maryland, on Saturday, June 13. The Davenports were active
members of First United Methodist Church, Hampton, before moving to Maryland. Condolences are
extended to Linda and Jim Mahaffey and their family.
Rev. Terry Hendricks’ sister Tammy Fisher died June 16. Funeral services were held on Friday, June 19th in Warsaw,
Virginia. Rev. Hendricks has served the Shenandoah Valley Charge on the Harrisonburg District and will be moving to
the Winchester District. The Harrisonburg District extends heartfelt sympathy to Rev. Hendricks and her family.
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS & CALENDAR
Page 4
July 1 (Wednesday) - Virginia Annual Conference Moving July
Day
July 2 (Thursday) - VUMCenter-Glen
Allen and District Office closes at 1:00
p.m. for Independence Day observance
July 3 (Friday) - VUMCenter-Glen
Allen and District Office closed,
Independence Day observance
July 8 (Wednesday) - District Mission
Center, Cedar Grove UMC, 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.*
July 11 (Saturday) - Small Church Membership Workshop,
24-26 (Fri-Sun) - Virginia Conference Mission
Encounter, Blackstone Conference Center *
July 30 (Thursday) - Partners in Ministry [PiM] Welcome
Picnic for Pastors and Families, Overlook, 6:30 p.m.*
August 1 (Saturday) - DUMW Planning Session, Elkton
UMC, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.*
August 4 (Tuesday) - District Lay Servants Committee,
District Office, 7:00 p.m.*
August 9
(Sunday) - District UMM & Families Picnic,
Overlook Picnic Shelter, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.*
August 24
(Monday) - Partners in Ministry Retreat,
Overlook, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.*
August 24 (Monday) - DCOM Mission and Outreach Team,
Vision of Hope UMC, 7:00 p.m.*
August 27 (Thursday) - District Council on Ministries,
District Office, 7:00 p.m.*
Blackstone Retreat and Conference Center, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00
p.m. Bus leaving district office at 6:00 a.m. with stop at
Verona UMC at 6:30 p.m.*
July 15 (Wednesday) - District Mission Center, Cedar
Grove UMC, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.*
July 18 (Saturday) - Keezletown UMC Lawn Party , 4:00 *Denotes related article elsewhere in this newsletter
p.m.*
Thank YOU to the youth leaders, pastors, and teenagers who joined the HUMDY Dodgeball Tournament on May 17th! We had a fun time and we hope you did, too! We appreciate all the volunteers at
the tournament including Beth Morris in registration; Keith Robinson, bracket master; Todd McNamara, king announcer; Dennis Zimmerman with the daily devotion; and Steven Jennings from TOPS.
If you are interested in helping with this event next year, please contact us.
1st Place winner of the Middle School Bracket:
Team “Flying Squirrels from Woodstock UMC (pictured)
Logan Yew, Anna Truban, Lander Barbour, Madison Nichols,
Cyrus Ramsey
Youth Leader Beth Dalton & Pastor Rob Hoskins
2nd Place winner of Middle School Bracket:
Team “Crazy Kinds” from Port Republic UMC
Baylor Robinson, Chandler Watson, Andrew Foltz, Dillion Taylor
Avery White
Youth Leaders Dinah Watson & Kendra Burns & Pastor Jim Joyner
1st Place winner of the Senior High School Bracket:
Team “White Chapel” from White Chapel UMC in Fort Valley (pictured)
Varsey Bright, Jonathan Riggs, Logan Baker, Coy Jimenez, Klye Clanton
Youth Leaders Jamie Foltz-Baker & Chris Baker & Pastor Larry Aikens
2nd Place winner of the Senior High School Bracket:
Team “Goon Squad” from Toms Brook UMC
Sully Eagle, Peyton McCarthy, Adam Dirting, Matt Chimento, Dylan Campbell
Youth Leader Ed Smallwood & Pastor Bob Throckmorton
Congratulations White Chapel and Woodstock for
bringing “The Trophy” home this year! What will
happen when they bring them back in 2016?
Blessings for your summer,
The H.U.M.D.Y. Team
Harrisonburg United Methodist District Youth
“Assisting youth in developing their identity with
Jesus Christ”
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS
Page 5
Partners in Ministry’s Welcome Picnic for new and returning pastors and their
families will be Thursday, July 30, at Overlook Retreat & Camp Ministries at
6:30 p.m. Clergy with new appointments will be guest of PiM. The district will provide hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks. Returning clergy families are asked to bring 1
side dish and 1 dessert.
The PiM Retreat has been scheduled for Monday, August 24 at Blessings Lodge,
Overlook Retreat & Camp Ministries, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. All Harrisonburg District pastors are expected to attend. Please reserve this date on your calendar!
PiM Executive Committee
The District United Methodist Women are taking a break for the summer. However, on August 1,
we will meet at Elkton UMC, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., for a planning session for 2016. If you have
ideas for programs for next year, please contact me with the information. Please put the following
dates on your calendar for the fall:
August 15 - “Rainbow Giver” donations due to UMW district treasurer
September 10 - All year end reports due to district officers
September 26 - UMW Prayer Breakfast at Verona UMC at 9:00 a.m. Guest Speaker - Nancy Yarborough from the
York River District
October 15 - District UMW Annual Meeting at Dayton UMC at 7:00 p.m.
November 14 - District UMW Leadership Training and Social Action, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at John Wesley UMC. Guest
Speaker - Lynn Litchfield, Prison Ministries
Mission Encounter 2015, July 24-26, at Blackstone Retreat & Conference Center. Information will include what is
happening in the mission field from Heart Havens, Virginia Interfaith Public Policy, updated news from recent teams to
Cambodia and Mozambique. Contact JoAnn Liskey at (540) 434-2997 for registration details and Nancy Yarborough at
(757) 877-2155 for scholarship information.
Come and join us for these events!
Phyllis Foltz, Harrisonburg District UMW President
Summer has begun and men are busy serving the Lord all over the Harrisonburg District! Thank you,
men for all that you are doing in your local groups to make sure that the love of Christ is expressed
through men’s ministries. At the District level we have a lot going on as well.
I am so thankful for the success of the Tri-District Golf Tournament that was held on May 30th. What
a great time of fellowship we had! The weather was terrific. The golf was. . .well, not so terrific for
me, but we were blessed with a lot of laughter on our team. And most importantly, we raised over
$10,000 for Overlook Retreat and Camp Ministries!!! Thanks to Monty Cox and his team for making this event possible.
We are excited to announce that we are planning a District United Methodist Men Family picnic at Overlook on Sunday, August 9th, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the picnic shelter. This will be a time of fun and fellowship as we try
to get to know all of our brothers and their families from around the district. We will be supplying hot dogs and hamburgers, buns, drinks, plates, utensils, and napkins. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share and a folding chair.
Also, the 2015 Virginia Conference United Methodist Men’s Retreat in Blackstone will be held November 6-8.
Rev. Clarence Brown will be the featured guest speaker for the weekend. Registrations for the retreat are already being
accepted. In an effort to foster more participation from the men of the Harrisonburg District, we are offering five, $100
scholarships to be applied to the cost of $185 retreat registration fee for first time participants to the retreat in Blackstone. Each applicant must be a male who attends a church on the Harrisonburg District. These scholarships will be
given on a first come, first serve basis. Requests for scholarships are being accepted through Friday, July 31st. Get the
word out to your men and take advantage of this great opportunity. To request a scholarship, please see the attached application.
Scott Dillard, Harrisonburg District UMM President
The District Lay Servant Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 4, 7:00 p.m. at the District Office.
The Fall Lay Servant Training will be on Saturday, September 26th, at First United Methodist
Church in Broadway, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Course offerings are: Basic; Discovering Our Spiritual
Gifts; and Evangelism. The cost is $15.00 payable on the day of the training. Contact District Director
Dale Dodrill, 770-402-0752, hdumc.layservants@hotmail.com or District Administrative Assistant Brenda
Woods, (540) 433-2382, brenda.woods@verizon.net to register. The Basic Course is open to all church
members and is the first course for anyone wanting to learn about the Lay Servant Ministry.
Dale Dodrill, District Lay Servant Ministry Director
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS
Page 6
The Virginia Conference offices at The United Methodist Center in Glen Allen will close at 1:00
p.m. each Friday through Labor Day. The Harrisonburg District Office follows the conference
policy on closings.
YOU ARE INVITED!
Keezletown United Methodist Church Lawn Party
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Keezletown Ruritan Park
4:00 p.m. until. . .
Great Food: Fried Chicken, Fried Ham Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Corn on the Cob, White Beans,
Homemade Ice Cream
Great Fun: Games for all ages - Bingo, Dime Pitch, Cake Wheel, Chance Drawing
of locally made items, Kids Games
Great Entertainment: Walnut Ridge Boys
Great Fellowship!
Job Opportunities at Charterhouse in Edinburg: Wouldn’t it be great to work at a place where
you couldn’t wait to get up and get started? Have you ever seen the face of a child who you have
helped to feel special? If you are a champion for children and families, want to be surrounded by a
supportive team, and have a knack for collaboration and problem-solving, come check us out! See
below for job opportunities for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year! Referring parties are eligible
for a $200 bonus upon hiring of new employee.
UMFS is seeking K-5th grade special education teachers and 6-12 grade special education teachers to support the Charterhouse School in Edinburg. Must be eligible for licensure by the Virginia Department of Education to teach in the areas to which assigned. Special Education-general curriculum K-12 endorsement and minimum two years of experience
teaching students with disabilities preferred. Also, UMFS is seeking K-12th grade special education teachers for an autism teacher. See more and apply online at http://www.umfs.org/careers/
District United Methodist Men
Family Picnic * August 9, 2015
Overlook Picnic Shelter
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Fun, Food, & Fellowship
Hotdogs and hamburgers, buns, drinks, utensils, and paper products provided.
Please bring a dish (dessert or vegetable) and a folding chair.
ALL
Harrisonburg District Men and their families are encouraged to attend!
Get to know your brothers in Christ & their families on the Harrisonburg District!
For additional information,
contact
Scott Dillard
Scott@hbgelec.com
or
540-269-6405
July 2015
DISTRICT NEWS
Christmas may be
six months away,
but we have to
plan ahead.
Kingsway needs
items for Inmate
Christmas such as chapstick, 6 oz size
toothpaste any kind in plastic tube, 5 x 8
mini notepads (must have wide binding at
top and #2 yellow pencils unsharpened.
Last year we provided 4,000 inmate Christmas bags. These items are greatly appreciated by inmates. One ex-offender said, he
waited all year for these items. If you or
your church group can begin collecting now
it will be greatly appreciated. We thank you
for your past and future support.
Louise Jennings, Director
Pastors, please make
copies of the monthly
issues of the district
newsletter and have
them available to your
parishioners who do not receive the
newsletter by electronic mail. Thank
you!
DISTRICT NEWS
Harrisonburg District
Virginia Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
40 South Gate Court ◊ Suite 101
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 433-2382
Fax: (540) 433-7587
Ernest T. (Tommy) Herndon, Jr.
District Superintendent
HarrisonburgDS@vaumc.org
D. Glen Langston
District Program Director
dgl7777@aol.com
Brenda P. Woods
Administrative Assistant
brenda.woods@verizon.net
Harrisonburg District on the web at
harrisonburgdistrict.org
Harrisonburg District on Facebook at
Harrisonburg District of VaUMC
Virginia Conference on the web at
www.vaumc.org
Page 7
Conference & Related Opportunities
Training Day for Small Membership Churches is
Small
July 11! All VAUMC pastors of small congregations
Membership
(those with fewer than 150 in worship) are invited to a
Congregations
training event designed specifically around the ministry
opportunities and challenges of the small congregation.
This event will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015,
from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Blackstone Retreat and
Conference Center. Dr. Lew Parks, professor at
Wesley Theological Seminary, will be the featured
speaker. Bishop Cho will be leading worship to close the day. The event
cost $25 and lunch is included. Pastors may register by visiting the conference calendar or visiting VAUMC.org/SMC-Training. Registration deadline is Wednesday, July 1.
The Harrisonburg District is providing bus transportation for this
event. The bus will leave the district office at 6:00 a.m. on July 11th
and will make a stop at Verona UMC at 6:30 a.m. After you register for
the event, please contact the district office, 540-433-2382, or
brenda.woods@verizon.net if you wish transportation on the bus.
2015 Annual Conference: The 2015 Virginia Annual
Conference was held June 19-21, at the Bergland Center in
Roanoke, VA, with Bishop Young Jin Cho presiding. In
Bishop Cho’s Episcopal Address he shared progress in four
areas that have been the focus of his ministry as bishop:
leading All Things New-Equipping Vital Congregations,
strengthening the spiritual foundation of mission and ministries, developing new faith communities, and nurturing a culture of cooperation and coordination. Bishop Cho said the upcoming year will have
many challenges and the 2016 General Conference will be crucial for the
future of the denomination. He expressed hope that in the midst of discussions and conferencing, The United Methodist Church should not forget
the most important thing: our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world.
• Thirty-one local pastors were licensed, 24 elders ordained, one deacon
ordained, 21 commissioned as provisional members, one recognized as
associate member and four elders’ orders were recognized. Forty-five
clergy took retired status;
• Annual Conference members brought 42,743 disaster relief kits for
UMCOR to Annual Conference. Kits included 23,672 Health Kits;
11,835 School Kits; 4,533 Birthing Kits; 1,965 Layette Kits; 180
Cleaning Kits; 111 Bedding Kits; and 547 Sewing Kits. The total
number of donated kits exceeded last year’s offering by more than
1,500
• Attendees of the conference were encouraged to bring 4 cans of food
or boxes of dry food to be donated to the Rescue Mission in Roanoke.
9,869 pounds of food and $174.00 were gifted to the mission.
• A total of $128,890 was received in a special offering to support the
conference focus on both international and Virginia based mission
needs.
• The Imagine No Malaria Initiative total was $916,064.16 saving more
than 91,606 lives from this deadly disease. This effort will continue
into the month of September to achieve a goal of 100,000 lives saved.
http://www.vaumc.org/pages/news/2015-news/2015vanews_2015acwrapup