UNITED METHODIST WOMEN MARK YOUR
CALENDARS!! Greetings to you from the UMW of
the Farmville District. We have
many District events already
scheduled for 2014.
If you have concerns or questions,
please contact me. Betsy Hanmer,
Farmville District UMW President,
434-736-9241,
The UMW District Prayer Breakfast is Saturday,
March 8, at Brian’s Steakhouse in South Hill. The theme for the meeting is “The
Kingdom of God is a Party”.
Registration is at 8:30 am, and
breakfast is at 9 am. Cost is $9.
A registration form can be found in
the Winter District UMW newsletter.
Deadline for registration is February
25. Everyone is invited – just make
sure to register because we need an
accurate count for the restaurant.
Our District Mission Study
is scheduled for Saturday, April 12. Ken and Linda Carty
will speak on the Roma of Europe.
They taught classes on these people
at Mission Encounter in July. It was
very interesting. The location will
be announced soon.
I hope that we have good
attendance at each of these events.
Farmville District
United Methodist Church Newsletter
February – March 2014 DISTRICT UMW EVENTS ON PG 1
BOB TALKS ABOUT 2014 GOALS FOR YOUR CHURCH ON PG 2 CONNECTIONAL CIRCLE NEWS ON PG 2
DISTRICT OFFICE NOTES ON PG 3 SCHOOL OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING IS COMING TO FARMVILLE UMC – SEE INFO ON PG 3 FARMVILLE DISTRICT YOUTH NEWS ON PG 4 YOUTH RETREAT INFO AND MUCH MORE! CONFERENCE UMM TRAINING INFO ON PG 5
FRIENDS OF THE EDISTO TRIP INFO ON PG 5
SEE WHAT MT. TABOR’S UMW DID WITH “MARY’S ADVENT” BIBLE STUDY ON PG 5
CONFERENCE SPONSORED EVENTS ON PG 6 LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM:
CLERGY SPOUSES RETREAT
LAY SERVANT ACADEMY
PAUMCS CONFERENCE
UNITED METHODIST DAY AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
BISHOP’S CONVOCATION ON PRAYER
DISTRICT LAY LEADER’S COMMENTS ON PG 6
2013 CHURCH ROLL CALL ON APPORTIONMENTS ON PG 7
DISTRICT CALENDAR ON PG 8
From our D.S. - We are one year into living our Annual Conference initiative “All Things New - Equipping Vital Congregations.” I chose to introduce one of the Equipping Vital Congregations goals beginning in 2013. The goal for last year was “Disciples in Worship” (increasing worship attendance). I am having positive reports from many of our churches. They report having an increase in attendance. I will let you know when our 2013 calculations are complete if the Farmville District can celebrate an increase in the area of worship attendance. In 2014 another goal has been added “Disciples making Disciples” (increasing professions of faith). Setting goals are an important part of the church. I believe it is the responsibility of the pastor to equip the saints in setting goals. By now you should have set at least two goals. Once a goal has been set, you should list some objectives (how do you plan to reach the goal set). If we pray and discern over the goals we set, God will lead us in fulfilling them. If you need me to resource your church in goal setting please do not hesitate to contact me. God is doing a new thing here on the Farmville District. All churches can be a part of God’s new thing.
Blessings, Bob
CONNECTIONAL CIRCLE NEWS
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES—Training is sponsored by individual
circles and is open to any clergy or laity who desires to attend.
Circle 9 Sponsored Training:
* They are hosting a Prayer Conference on February 9th at 4 PM at
South Hill UMC. Their speaker will be the district Lay Leader, Johnnie
Morris.
* On March 7 & 8, Bethany UMC will be hosting the "Lord, Teach Us
to Pray" seminar put on by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. The schedule
is from 7PM Friday to 9PM Saturday. $15 covers the seminar book and $8
for Sat lunch. Scholarships may be available. To register contact: Sandra
Malone 4895 Gov. Harrison Pkwy, Broadnax, VA 23920 phone 434-848-
4397.
If your church needs training of any kind please contact Sue Mayo,
[email protected] or Bob Parks. This info will be passed on to the
appropriate circle for action.
Future Connectional Leadership Team Meetings:
February 26, 2014, 10-Noon, Halifax UMC
Bob’s Itinerary
December 2013
Four worship services:
Union Chapel UMC,
Memorial UMC,
Payne Memorial UMC,
McKendree UMC
Nativity drive through at Salem (N. Amelia
Charge)
District Leadership Team meeting
Olive Branch (S. Brunswick) Charge
Conference
Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer Planning
Meeting (UMCenter)
Union Charge Conference
EVC Prayer Team meeting (UMCenter)
Funeral
Bob travelled 1,164.5 miles
3
DISTRICT OFFICE
PASTORS and TREASURERS
Thank you so much for your help
in seeing that the apportionments
were sent to the Conference
Office before the end of the
year. I know some were sent
later but most were made on
time. This will help so much with
our Annual Audit bookkeeping.
Reports: by the time you receive
this letter the end of the year
reports should be close to being
completed. The deadline for
Tables II & III is January 31.
Thank you so much for your work
in getting this information online
in a timely manner. To complete
these reports several people need
to be involved. Once again it
takes us all working together to
make it happen.
Other reports that were recently
due are the Pastor and Church/
Community Profiles, Tables I (Jan.
15), the Appointment
Recommendation Report and left
over charge conference reports
that had not been submitted
earlier.
In March the Pastor evaluation
will be mailed to the PPR
Chairperson and emailed to the
pastor. These forms will need to
be completed by June 1 and
returned to the District Office.
We encourage you to make copies
of the Staying In Touch
Newsletter and have them
available for others in the
congregation who might like to
read them.
As always if you receive this letter
by mail and would like it as an
email please let us know at
VitalSigns data entry
has moved to
www.evc.vaumc.org in
2014. Weekly email reminders
that include a link to EVC website
will be sent from the conference
data office to persons who enter
VitalSigns data information for
their churches. In addition to the
5 current categories of data, other
ongoing information will be
available for churches that wish to
track more detailed information
than is currently available.
Information about data entry on
the Conference EVC website has
been emailed to persons who
currently enter VitalSigns data for
their churches. Churches that are
not currently participating in
VitalSigns may email a request to
begin entering data at
Please email this address also if
you encounter any problems or
have questions.
It is the prayer of the All Things
New-Equipping Vital
Congregations Data Processing
Team that this new tool will add
value to the weekly recording of
information for Virginia
Conference congregations.
SCHOOL OF CHILDREN’S
MINISTRY TRAINING AT
FARMVILLE UMC
APRIL 5, 2014, 9AM—4:30PM
Who should come?
Sunday school teachers, all
children's ministry staff and
volunteers, VBS directors and
volunteers, church preschool
staff, and anyone in your
congregation that has the
passion and the calling to work
with children. Please contact
Beth Christian with any questions
about the event at
Becky Tate at
[email protected] with
questions about registration.
Cost is $20 and includes lunch.
STANDARD MILEAGE RATES
From www.irs.gov—Beginning on
Jan. 1, 2014, the standard
mileage rates for the use of a car
(also vans, pickups or panel
trucks) will be:
· 56 cents per mile for business
miles driven
· 14 cents per mile driven in
service of charitable org.
5 Talent Academy—Saturday,
March 8 · A STEWARDSHIP
TEACHING event will be live
streamed to 8 locations from
Floris UMC. Featured speaker will
be J. Clif Christopher, author of
Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate,
Whose Offering Plate Is It? and
Rich Church-Poor Church.
Learn how to convince potential
givers about the real significance
and impact of their gifts. Ideal for
clergy looking to reinvigorate
their stewardship campaigns and
lay persons eager to cultivate
ways to help increase church
giving in a meaningful way, this
event is not one to miss.
Registration is $25 per person
and includes lunch. Go to
www.vaumc.org, events, March
8, to register.
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE UMW
4
Report from the Farmville District Council on Youth Ministries
J. Rodney Lewis, District Youth Coordinator January 2014
Greetings! It is again my pleasure to share with you the activities of the DCYM. Below is a
partial listing of our calendar for your information. Please come and join us when you can.
2014 Jan 25 - 26 @ the Buckingham Charge, church to be determined
Feb 16th @ Main Street UMC, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, DCYM (Fusion 14 planning meeting)
Feb 23 - 24 – Worship Team @ Victoria UMC 11:00am worship service.
MARCH 7TH -9TH – YOUTH RETREAT “FUSION14” AT EAGLE EYRIE, LYNCHBURG, VA Theme is “Illuminate” based on Matthew 5:14-16. Retreat leader is Amy Valdez Barker. The Band is the Keith Elgin Band from Northern Virginia. Registration is $95 if received by
February 1, 2014. Fee after February 1 is $105. Starts at 7 pm on Friday so get there around 6 to get settled and ends on Sunday. Visit the www.fusionretreat.org website. Or
check with Farmville District Youth Coordinator, Rodney Lewis, 607-7442. We are excited about this upcoming event and ask that you please be in prayer that this event will be
pleasing in God’s eyes and change lives.
March 15 -16 – Centenary UMC on the James River Charge, 12247 S. Constitution Rd, Scottville VA 24590 (Note this service is on the third weekend not the fourth as usual.) Service is at 11:15 am.
If your congregation would like for the Worship Team to come
and worship with you, we are available in April, May, August, and Sept. of 2014. Please call if you would like for us to come. Qqqqq It is a very special and spiritual time for us when we can come
and worship with you.
JULY 6 – 11, 2014 - FARMVILLE DISTRICT MISSION WEEK - We are currently seeking projects within the Farmville District for Mission Week. Please help us find worthy
projects; you know your community so much better than we do. We need your help!
2013 was an amazing year for us. Last Winter Retreat was awesome, the spiritual/elections retreat was most meaningful, Mission Week was amazing, and the Worship Team continues
to grow in the spirit and the meaning of true worship. God will put many opportunities in front of us in 2014 and we look forward to each one. We are excited to spread the word and
expand the kingdom one soul at a time. We, the District Council on Youth Ministries, fully realize what a privilege it is to be able to serve and we thank each one of you for your
financial, physical, and prayer support. The DCYM especially wants to thank the parents, grandparents, and other adults that have given so much so these young Disciples of Christ can excel in this good work. Thank you and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all not only through 2014, but throughout the rest of our days.
Week
WORK PROJECTS NEEDED
5
MT. TABOR UMW, WEST BUCKINGHAM CHARGE...
On December 12th the United Methodist Women of Mount
Tabor UMC on the West Buckingham Charge met to
complete “Mary’s Advent” a one session bible study, which
includes instructions to make birthing kits for UMCOR. The
study was well received and the ladies enjoyed putting the
kits together. Mount Tabor is an example of how a small
church can do big things.
NEW CHURCH STARTS AND
CONGREGATIONAL REDEVELOPMENT -
This district team stands ready to assist in
Farmville District Circles and local church
training events as needed. Members of this
team have been chosen because of their
training, experience and interest in various
aspects of church revitalization and would be
glad to assist churches and groups of
churches in their training activities. In
addition, Crenshaw UMC has a fairly large
library of recent books, DVD's, study guides,
etc. available for groups to borrow for
training events.
Contact Pat Inge (434- 292- 3428 or
[email protected]) for information.
Pictured from left to right :
Doris Davis, Sue Bryant, Lucile Moniuszko, Faye Taylor, Judy Carroll, Winnie Amos and Phyllis Carroll.
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE
UNITED METHODIST MEN
SPRING TRAINING
MARCH 8, 2014, 9AM TO 3:30PM
Want to get more men excited about serving JESUS
CHRIST and their fellow men? Bring them with you to our
annual spring training!!!
March 8th at 3 REGIONAL locations. Annandale UMC,
Annandale; St. Luke's UMC, Yorktown; First UMC,
Charlottesville. Check out the topics below!
WHY are you here? It's no accident!
What is the importance of Men?
Getting men more involved in their church
What happens when we get back home?
Tools, tips and tricks to help your men
A strong UMMen fellowship is organized and
connected.
Why/ how are we connected?
And what difference does it make anyway!?
Contact Jim Butts, VA Conf UMMen VP- Membership &
Development, [email protected] or 757-421-0161
FRIENDS OF THE EDISTO SPRING TRIP
The spring trip of the Friends of the Edisto
mission team will be from May 17 to 24,
2014. The cost of the trip remains at
$125.00, which includes registration and
insurance through UMVIM, and food and
lodging for the week. For more information
or to request a registration form, contact
Gary Lied at [email protected] or call at 434-
223-2672. Completed registration forms
and fees need to be received by April 30.
Thanks, Gary Lied
________________________________
US professions of faith increase for the
first time in 11 years. U.S. Annual
Conferences reported an increase in total
professions of faith in 2012. “Clearly this is
the beginning of everything that we’ve been
working toward for the past couple of years
as we strengthen congregations to make
disciples who engage in the world in justice
and mercy ministries,” said New Jersey Area
Bishop John R. Schol, who has led the
denomination’s Vital Congregations
Initiative.
Chuck Knows Church: Apportionments
In the United Methodist Church your gifts to
your congregation impact not only your
local church's ministries, but also mission
and ministry around the world. "Chuck
Knows Church" is a weekly online series
that explains the meaning behind some of
the objects, symbols, terms and rituals in
church. Episodes can be downloaded for
free at www.ChuckKnowsChurch.com and
used as needed for ministry. Chuck is on
6
CLERGY SPOUSES' RETREAT
Thursday, February 27, 3PM -
Saturday, March 1, 4PM
Location: Blackstone Conference
and Retreat Center in Blackstone.
Theme:
“Faith, Family and Forgiveness”.
Our speaker will be Dr. Carol
Fletcher who is a social worker,
mother and grandmother! Please go
to http://www.vaumc.org, Events,
February 27, for information and
registration. Hope to see you there!
Blessings, Susan Parks
LAY SERVANT ACADEMY
February 21-23, 2014
BC&RC, Blackstone
Theme:
“Lord, Renew Us with Your Spirit”.
Classes being offered:
Basic Course, Six classes on Prayer,
10 classes for Certified Lay Servants.
There also will be sixteen Mini-
classes about various topics. Classes
are open to anyone, not just Lay
Servants and Lay Speakers. Friday
evening is optional for most classes
with the academy starting Saturday at
8AM. Information/registration can be
downloaded at www.vaumc.org,
events, (then the date of) Feb. 21.
You may register online. Commuters
only pay $25 registration fee for
classes and $7 per mini-class, plus
meals. Deadline to register -Feb. 14.
PAUMCS CONFERENCE,
April 3-6, 2014,
Asheville, NC
Theme: “Reaching the Peak of Our
Profession”. Open to church
administrative staff, full-time, part-
time, paid and volunteer, office
managers, newsletter editors. For
registration go to www.paumcs.org.
UNITED METHODIST DAY
AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Thursday, 6 Feb, 2014
7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
You are invited to celebrate the 22nd
United Methodist Day at the General
Assembly! This is our opportunity to
help faith communities become
empowered to serve as missionaries of
justice, as well as the more traditional
missionaries of mercy.
United Methodist Day and other
avenues of faithful advocacy help us to
look beyond mercy ministry to ask:
“What caused this problem? What
causes hunger? Global warming?” By
joining together and establishing
relationships with our elected officials,
we empower members of our
congregations to wonder, “How can I
make a difference? How can I be a
Good Samaritan in our world to its
fullest sense?”
The cost is $35. Register by Jan. 31.
Space is limited to 300. This fee
includes information packet, hot
breakfast, lunch, parking, transportation
to the grounds and afternoon speakers.
Go to www.vaumc/org, EVENTS, Feb.
6, for details.
THE 2ND BISHOP’S
CONVOCATION ON PRAYER
is scheduled for March 29 at Trinity
United Methodist Church (903 Forest
Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229) from
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Tom
Albin, Dean of the Upper Room
Ministries, will be the plenary speaker.
Workshops on spiritual disciplines will
be offered as part of the convocation.
Registration for the Convocation is $10
(registration includes lunch). To
register for the convocation click on
Events tab for March 29. This will
bring up brochure and registration
information.
DISTRICT LAY LEADER Here we go, a brand new year
and I already have many days
marked on my calendar. As we
make these commitment's we are
called by God to do our very best
to be his representative within
our churches, meetings, and
daily walks in our communities.
Each church has been assigned
to a circle in hopes of making
our training more accessible and
our churches more connected as
we come together to worship and
study to make Disciples of Jesus.
Our circles are in the process of
setting up training sessions that
will equip us to better serve on
our appointed boards and
committees of our own churches.
Please make a special attempt to
be a part of this training that is
being designed with you in
mind. If you are not on a board
or committee there should be
personal growth classes
presented to help in your walk
with Christ.
The "Lay Servant Academy"
will hold its training on February
21 through 23rd 2014 at The
Blackstone Conference and
Retreat Center. This is a good
time to become a lay servant as
we reach out with our gifts and
graces. You do not have to be a
registered lay servant to attend
these classes. Registration on
line at: www.vaumc.org -
"events".
Your District Lay Leader
Johnnie Morris
REMEMBER TO SET YOUR
CLOCKS FOR DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS TIME on MARCH 9th.
7
January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 Honor Roll 1-16-14 as reported by the VA. Annual Conference
Apportionments
Charge/Church Conference District Charge/Church Conference District Charge/Church Conference District
Antioch 100% 100% Jamieson Memorial 74% 100% Oakwood 100% 100%
Amelia Charge: Kenbridge 100% 100% Pamplin Charge
Tabernacle 100% 100% Keysville 100% 100% Centenary 100% 100%
Trinity 100% 100% LaCrosse-Sardis Charge Evergreen 100% 100%
Boydton Charge LaCrosse 59% 92% Pamplin 100% 100%
Boydton 100% 100% Sardis 100% 100% Piney Ridge 100% 100%
Easters 100% 100% Lakeland Charge Plantersville 100% 100%
Brodnax Charge Kingswood 100% 100% Prince Edward Charge
Bethany 100% 100% Rehoboth 100% 100% Beulah 100% 100%
Brodnax 100% 100% Lawrenceville 100% 100% Mount Harmony 100% 100%
Buckingham Charge Lunenburg Charge Mount Pleasant 100% 100%
Browns Chapel 100% 100% Antioch 100% 100% Prospect/Ebony 100% 100%
Hanes Chapel 100% 100% Williams 100% 100% Prospect Charge
Rocky Mount 100% 100% Main Street 100% 100% Olive Branch 100% 100%
Burkeville Charge McCanless Memorial 50% 46% Prospect 100% 100%
Bethel 52% 98% McKendree-Asbury Charge Smyrna 100% 100%
Wards Chapel 100% 100% Asbury 100% 100% Providence-Trinity Charge
Centenary 100% 100% McKendree 100% 100% Providence 100% 100%
Charlotte Charge Meherrin 100% 100% Trinity 100% 100%
Charlotte Ct House 100% 100% Memorial 100% 100% Rehoboth 100% 100%
Hebron 100% 100% Mount Cana 100% 100% Shady Grove 100% 100%
Lebanon 100% 100% Mount Carmel-Phenix Charge South Brunswick Charge
Mount Calvary 100% 100% Mount Carmel 100% 100% Olive Branch 100% 100%
Cherry Hill 100% 100% Phenix 100% 100% Rock 100% 100%
Crenshaw 100% 100% Mount Laurel 100% 100% South Halifax Charge
Crewe 100% 100% New Hope- Southall Mem Charge Cedar Grove 100% 100%
Cumberland Charge New Hope 100% 100% Harmony 100% 100%
Centenary 0% 0% Southall Memorial 100% 100% South Hill 77% 67%
Hobson's Chapel 78% 100% North Amelia Charge Thomas Chapel 100% 100%
Payne Memorial 83% 100% Epworth 100% 100% Union 100% 28%
Dillwyn Charge Jetersville 100% 100% Union Chapel 100% 100%
Bethel 100% 100% Salem 100% 100% Victoria 78% 100%
Salem 100% 100% North Brunswick Charge West Brunswick Charge
White Hall 100% 100% Antioch 100% 100% Bethel 100% 100%
East Halifax Charge Lebanon 100% 100% Macedonia 100% 100%
Clover 100% 100% Rocky Run 100% 100% West Buckingham Charge
Scottsburg 100% 100% North Mecklenburg Charge Mount Tabor 22% 61%
East Nottoway Charge Pleasant Grove 100% 100% Trinity 100% 100%
Butterwood 59% 100% Salem 100% 100% Woodland 49% 100%
Grace 100% 100% Shiloh 100% 100% West Mecklenburg Charge
Rocky Hill 100% 100% Zion 100% 100% Ephesus 100% 100%
Farmville 100% 100% Nottoway Charge Fields 100% 100%
Glenwood Charge Bethel 100% 100% Friendship 100% 100%
Glenwood 100% 100% Saint John's 100% 100%
Olive Branch 100% 100% Nottoway-Lunenburg Charge TOTAL 93.31% 96.29%
Halifax 100% 100% Laurel Hill 61% 0%
James River Charge Saint Mark's 74% 100% All percentages have been rounded
Arvonia 100% 100% Thrifts Chapel 24% 8%
Centenary 75% 75%
Glenmore 100% 100%
8
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #89
FARMVILLE, VA 23901
DISTRICT OPPORTUNITIES February 2014
2 Disability Awareness Sunday
3 District Superintendency Committee, 10AM, DO
4 District Ordained Ministry Committee,
Crenshaw UMC
6 UM Day at General Assembly
9 Circle 9 Prayer Conference, (pg. 2)
9 Boy Scout Sunday
17 President’s Day
21-23 Lay Servant Academy, BC &RC
23-24 DCYM Worship Team, Victoria UMC, 11AM
26 Circle Leadership Team, Halifax UMC, 10-Noon
27 Clergy Spouses’ Retreat, BC&RC
March 2014
2 Transfiguration of the Lord
4 DCOM, Crenshaw UMC
5 Ash Wednesday
7 World Day of Prayer
7-8 Circle 9 Seminar, (pg. 2)
7-9 Youth Retreat, Eagle Eyrie
March 2014
8 UMW Prayer Breakfast, 8:30 AM
8 5 Talent Academy—Stewardship (pg. 3)
8 UMM VA Conf. Spring Training, (pg. 5)
9 Girl Scout Sunday
9 Daylight Savings Time begins
10 Newsletter— Deadline for articles
26 Circle Leadership Committee, 10-12
29 Bishop’s Convocation of Prayer,
Trinity UMC, Richmond, 10AM
30 One Great Hour of Sharing (offering)
April 2014
3-6 PAUMCS Conf., Asheville NC
5 School of Children’s Ministry,
Farmville UMC, 9-4:30
12 UMW Mission Study, Location TBA
13-19 Palm Sunday / Holy Week
18 Office Closed for Good Friday
20 Easter Day
30 Reg. deadline -Friends of Edisto -
mission trip
STAYING IN TOUCH Farmville District
Virginia Conference The United Methodist Church
204 High St., Farmville, Virginia 23901
Phone: 434-392-4687 * FAX: 1-877-233-6168
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web site: umcfarmville.org
Young Jin Cho Area Bishop
Robert J. Parks, Jr. District Superintendent
Phyllis Goin Administrative Assistant
District Leadership:
Johnnie Morris Lay Leader
Betsy Hanmer President, UMW
Rodney Lewis Youth Coordinator
Ruth Horn Children’s Coordinator
Sue Mayo Newsletter Editor
From the
“Staying In Touch”
Editor…..
Schedule for submissions
to the newsletter:
Mar 10, 2014
for Apr-May letter
All articles need to be
submitted as you wish them
to appear and sent to
Sue Mayo, editor
Email:
Mail: 521 Walnut Hill Rd,
Crewe, VA 23930
Phone: 434-292-5486.
We reserve the right to edit
all articles submitted for
publication.