The Arlington District Connector Connecting local United Methodist Churches to one another and to the World

Transcription

1 APRIL 2014 The Arlington District Connector Connecting local United Methodist Churches to one another and to the World Notes from the District Superintendent As I write this column, we are preparing for Ken Jackson s memorial service. When the Cabinet heard the sad news of Ken s death on March 10th, we stopped to pray and to tell stories. While I had only known Ken as a fellow District Superintendent, many of my colleagues had known (and loved) Ken for years. The stories poured forth. One recalled the me Ken preached at St. Ma hews UMC on how following Jesus means we must be in ministry to the poor. When Ken got home, his wife Gail wanted to know what he, personally, was going to do. Shortly therea er, a homeless family moved into the first floor of the parsonage. Other people recounted the many ways that Ken was a disciple who inspired and moved others to faith. I pray that when I die, people will gather and tell stories like that about me. As Easter approaches, the whole church uses this season of Lent to reflect on our own discipleship: Where are we becoming more and more like Christ? Where do we fall short? While we can cite many inspiring and moving examples of discipleship in our district, we have to be honest about other reali es that exist, too, such as focusing our energies on people and tradi ons already inside our church walls at the expense of serving those outside of them; applying principals of scarcity (win/lose) rather than abundance (win/win) to growth and outreach efforts. Each of us knows we must share our faith stories so that others might come to know Jesus, but the very thought of doing so causes a great deal of discomfort in many faithful servants. Deepening our faith will give us the tools to confront change, and to find comfort in the uncomfortable. To that end, I urge you to come and hear Phil Maynard speak on April 29 (laity) and April 30 (clergy the event details are on page 6 in this newsle er). Phil is one of the most though ul and deep people I know on helping churches grow disciples. Phil invites us to ask ques ons around where we are in our discipleship Ken and Gail Jackson, vacationing with their grandson journey exploring, beginning, deepening, or centered in six dimensions of faith: A life of worship A life of hospitality A life open to Jesus A life obeying Jesus A life of service A life of generosity The good news is that a er the prepara on and selfexamina on of Lent; a er the long and painful journey to the Cross; we arrive at Easter morning full of hope and joy. May the Holy Spirit be at work in you this Easter, whe ng your desire to become more and more like Christ. Amen. Cathy Abbo Clergy Association Meeting Wed., Apr. 30, 9:00 AM 3:30 PM Centreville UMC, 6400 Old Centreville Rd., Centreville To purchase a boxed lunch for this event, please go to Event details on page 6 of this newsle er! West Main St., An 1

2 Abiding in the Vine Prayer is how we consent to God s healing, guiding work within us; it is how we work with God in our own growth in holiness. The type of prayer that most helps us in this is a quiet, listening, deeply a en ve prayer; one in which we reach out wordlessly with our love and longing to God. This is the same as simply being with our most beloved other. There are mes when there is no need for words; love simply radiates between the two. This type of prayer is about nurturing rela onship, which in turn shapes and forms us, as we give our all to God the Beloved. Through it, God grows us ever more into the loving image of God in which we are made. And this image spills over into the lives of others, drawing them Godward as well. Bernard Häring writes: Our life is authen cally Chris an to the extent that we know Christ and listen to his word with a readiness to respond with our whole being. Chris an life needs prayer: the integra on of faith and life. In its full meaning, prayer is joyous acceptance of life s greatest gi, the Lord s friendship, and the return of the gi of one s self to God in the service of [all]. 1 The anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, wri en in the 14 th century, also speaks to this point: This is what you are to do: li your heart up to the Lord, with a gentle s rring of love desiring [God] for [God s] own sake and not for [God s] gi s. Center all your a en on and desire on [God] and let this be the sole concern of your mind and heart. Do all in your power to forget everything else, keeping your thoughts and desires free from involvement with any of God s creatures or their affairs whether in general or in par cular. What I am describing here is the contempla ve work of the spirit. It is this which gives God the greatest delight. Your fellow [human beings] are marvelously enriched by this work of yours, even if you may not fully understand how; and, of course, your own spirit is purified and strengthened by this contempla ve work more than by all others put together. 2 When we open ourselves to God and are fully present with our love and adora on, God works within us and through us in ways that bless us and others beyond our imagining. Blessings in the Vine, Betsy Caudill 1 Bernard Häring, Prayer: The Integra on of Faith and Life, as quoted in The Carmelites of Indianapolis, People s Companion to the Breviary, vol. I, revised and expanded edi on, (Indianapolis, 1997), p William Johnston (ed.), he Cloud of Unknowing (New York: Image Books, Doubleday, 1996), p. 48. Safe Sanctuaries Training June Join in on the Safe Sanctuaries Training event at the Hampton Roads Conven on Center in Hampton. The Rev. Dr. Joy Thornburg Melton, author of Safe Sanctuaries, will lead this two day workshop covering these topics: 1.Train the Trainers: Substan ve informa on for those who will have responsibility for training in districts and local churches. 2. Children/Youth: Best prac ces for opera ng Children s and Youth Ministries. 3. Older Adults: Best prac ces for Older Adult Ministries and on the special context of church related financial exploita on/abuse of older adults. 4. Safe Sanctuaries in the Virtual World and Sexual Ethics: Substance of the newest Safe Sanctuaries volume. Expected to be in print by the me of our training, including tools/best prac ces for the church s selec on and use of technology as well as tools/best prac ces in implementa on of communica ons procedures/protocols and professional interpersonal rela onships. Addi onal informa on about this event will be posted on the website and conference communica ons (clergynet/laitynet). If there are any ques ons or concerns, please Derrick Parson (derrickparson@vaumc.org). 2

3 Changing Lives for Forty Years Colonial Village, a 162 unit renova on in Arlington We can t solve the whole problem, but we can make a contribu on. April 1974, Urban Consulta on organized by the Special Concerns Commi ee of the Northern Virginia United Methodist Board of Missions It s impossible to know if the UMC organizers of Urban Consulta on vision and planning group could have imagined the impact they would have on thousands and thousands of women, men, and children in Northern Virginia, but the process that began with those mee ngs led to the crea on of Wesley Housing, a nonprofit organiza on that con nues to change lives today and will do so for many years to come. In 1974, Consulta on par cipants were challenged to consider solu ons to meet the human needs of people and not just build more places of worship. A er many neighborhood tours, interviews, and research, the Housing Task Force, one of seven task forces appointed during the session, concluded: As a Chris an community, it is absolutely necessary that a mission program be developed to help. The poor in our community live in substandard housing, overcrowded and unsanitary condi ons. Many of their physical and social problems are a direct result of their living condi ons and they are helpless to change anything. The Housing Task Force sought to translate abstract caring into plans for construc ve ac on. They recommended the establishment of a housing development corpora on that would be flexible and free to func on to meet housing needs and have sufficient seed money to do business. Funding would come from local, state, and federal governments, private founda ons, individual donors, donated property, and church funds. The Board of Missions and the Arlington and Alexandria Districts of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church approved the Ar cles of Incorpora on of Wesley Housing Development Corpora on, issued on December 10, Virginia Peters, a re red schoolteacher, co chair of the Housing Task Force, and member of Walker Chapel UMC became the nonprofit s first CEO. During her 22 years in that role, she never missed an opportunity to advocate for more housing op ons for the working poor. From its first property along Interstate 395 bought for just $1 from a United Methodist benefactor to the mul million dollar deals needed to buy, build, renovate, and preserve affordable housing in today s highly compe ve real estate market, you the UMC family have con nued to provide cri cally needed financial and volunteer resources to Wesley Housing (WH). Because of your support, WH has: Provided permanent, affordable rental housing for more than 20,000 individuals and families who might otherwise be at risk for homelessness. Developed 26 affordable communi es in increasingly high cost areas close to job centers, public transporta on, and good schools. Created four Community Resource Centers that offer programs and services for children and families that provide valuable skills and resources to help children achieve academic success and support adults in their efforts to become self sufficient. Established five suppor ve service communi es for lowincome seniors, individuals with physical and cogni ve disabili es, and those facing long term medical issues. Designed and implemented a housing stability program that helps to keep struggling residents in their homes. As WH con nues to partner together with the people of UMC, lives are being transformed. WH is celebra ng its for eth Anniversary with a dinner on May 13 th in Alexandria. For more informa on, contact Kim Moeller at KMoeller@whdc.org or call , ext To learn more about how you and your church can offer your me, talents, and treasure to change lives, or to read personal tes monies, go to and click on Ways to Help, or Kim at KMoeller@whdc.org West Main St., An 3

4 Bi-District Youth /Youth Leader News Bi District Youth Retreat and (or) YouthFest! May 2 4 (or May 3 if just the day) Infected by Joy* *based on Mark 10:46 52 Bar maeus, the blind man healed by Jesus What can being infected with the love of Christ do in our lives? How can having faith in Christ move us to ac on? Join the Youth of the Alexandria and Arlington District for a great weekend at Camp Highroad! $80 per person for the weekend (5 meals, two nights lodging AND the YouthFest ac vi es on May 3) or $40 (Saturday, May 3 YouthFest only, cost includes one meal and all YouthFest ac vi es) Register online at The registra on deadline is April 25 * ~ * ~ * Youth Yahoo! List are you receiving the bidistrict youth program s? List is open to staff/volunteer/involved parents. Contact Sharon Sheldon (programsecretary@novaumc.org) to join the list. The ConneXion NoVA Report * Social & Service Calendar (RSVP to any via the ConneXion NoVA facebook page): Apr. 5, 10 AM Yoga on the Na onal Mall Apr. 12 Cana Winery Tour explore Biblical and prac cal history and the process of winemaking. Apr. 15, 7 10 PM Stop Hunger Now event with GMU Local Bible Studies and Small Groups: Sundays: 10:30 AM Mt. Vernon UMC, Alexandria 11:00 AM St. Thomas UMC, Manassas Mondays: 7:00 PM Herndon UMC 7:30 PM Pender UMC, Fairfax Wednesdays: 7:00 PM Centreville UMC 7:00 PM Community of Faith, Herndon 7:15 PM Crossroads UMC, Ashburn Thursdays: 7:00 PM The Vine, Dunn Loring (Lenten Study 3/6 4/17) * ConneXion NoVA is your connec on to United Methodist Young Adults in Northern Virginia. For more informa on on events (social and mission), check out their facebook page and/or website: Interested in forming a young adult ministry in your church? Check out the ConneXion NoVA planning mee ngs, held monthly on the 2nd Tuesdays, 7 PM, at St. Ma hew s UMC in Annandale. The next mee ng is Apr. 14! YOUTH: A Mission Exploration for Ministry The Bailey Pre ministerial program at Randolph Macon College and the VA Conference Board of Ordained Ministry invite high school students (entering the grades shown at the right in the fall of 2014) to an event of working and serving those in need, while exploring a call to ministry. Contact Margie Turbyfill (margieturbyfill@rmc.edu or ) or visit for more details on this event. When: August 3 5,2014 Who: High school sophomores, juniors and seniors Where: Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA Cost: $50* To register, visit and click on events. * Your church may be able to help with the cost. Scholarships available upon request

5 LOCAL CHURCH EVENTS On going by topic: DivorceCare Mondays (7 9 PM) Centreville UMC. Childcare provided. Wednesdays (7 PM) Burke UMC Exercise/Self Care Mondays, Wednesdays (7:30 PM) & Saturday (10 AM) Christ Crossman UMC, Falls Church Tuesdays & Wednesdays (7 PM) Arlington Forest UMC, Arlington Prayer & Special Services Last Sunday (6 PM) Cel c Evensong & Communion, Trinity UMC, McLean Wednesdays (6 PM) Centering Prayer, Trinity UMC, Alexandria Wednesdays (6:30 PM) Franconia UMC, Alexandria Support Mondays (2nd and 4th 5 PM) Caregiver Support Group, Dranesville UMC, Herndon ( ) Last Thursday (7 8:30 PM) Living with Cancer Support Group, Christ UMC, Fairfax Sta on ( , X113) Young Adult Weekly Studies See page 4 April Events: Apr. 2, 9 AM Alexandria District Board of Ordained Ministry, Burke UMC Apr. 3, 9:30 AM Arlington District Board of Ordained Ministry, Church of the Good Shepherd, Vienna Apr. 3 and 10, 7 PM Wesley Speaker Floris UMC, Herndon (Rev. Dr. Kendall Soulen speaks on Origins of Life in the Universe, Evolu on and Cosmology) Apr. 4 5, 7 PM The Living Last Supper, Herndon UMC Apr. 4 5 Bi District Youth Planning Council Lock In, Calvary UMC, Arlington Apr. 4 5 Bi District Lay Servant Ministries Training, St. Paul UMC, Woodbridge Apr. 4 5 UMM Getaway Retreat, Front Royal Apr. 5, 10 AM Connexion NoVA Yoga on the Mall ( Apr. 5, 10 AM Alexandria District UMW Planning Mee ng, Bethel UMC, Woodbridge Apr. 5, 10 AM UMM Conference Spring Training, Annandale UMC Apr. 5, 10 AM ARISE (Campus GMU) Annual Brunch, George s (in the Johnson Center on the GMU Campus, parking available) Apr. 6, 10 AM Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging, Spirit & Life UMC, Montclair Apr. 6, 2:30 4:30 PM Israel/Pales ne: Deep Background Forum, United Chris an Parish, Reston Apr. 7 and 14, 7 PM Two part Series on The Trinity by Rev. Dr. Kendall Soulen, Centreville UMC Apr. 8, 1 PM Kindred Project Gathering (bring your lunch), St. Ma hew s UMC, Annandale Apr. 12 ConneXion NoVA Cana Wine Tour ( Apr. 12, 9 AM Arlington District UMW Spring Prayer Breakfast, loca on TBA Apr. 14, 7 PM ConneXion NoVA Planning Mee ng, St. John s UMC, Springfield Apr. 15, 7 PM ConneXion NoVA Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging with GMU Apr. 29, 7 PM Bi District Laity Event with Rev. Dr. Phil Maynard, Lincolnia UMC (see page 6 for details) Apr. 30, 9 AM Bi District Clergy Event with Rev. Dr. Phil Maynard, Centreville UMC (see page 6 for details) Send your church s public calendar items to Sharon Sheldon (programsecretary@novaumc.org) and let us help you get the word out! EMPLOYMENT OPPORUNITIES P/T Accompanist, Floris UMC, Herndon F/T Events and Connec on Coordinator, Floris UMC, Herndon P/T Musicians, Sunday Morning Children's Ministry, Galilee UMC, Sterling P/T Administra ve Assistant, Arlington Forest UMC, Arlington F/T Director, Kids' Ministries, Christ UMC, Fairfax Sta on F/T Director, Student Ministries, Christ UMC, Fairfax Sta on P/T Pianist/Organist, Washington Farm UMC, Alexandria P/T Director of Music, Cranford UMC, Lorton P/T Director of Worship, St. Ma hew's UMC, Annandale P/T Music Director, Great Falls UMC 3/4 T (32 hrs) Finance Director, Messiah UMC, Springfield P/T Student Ministries Assistant Director, Floris UMC, Herndon F/T Youth Minister, Gainesville UMC (posi on available 6/1/14) P/T Organist, Vale UMC, Oakton P/T Music Director, Dumfries UMC P/T Director, Weekday Preschool, St. Ma hews UMC, Annandale P/T Recep onist/administra ve Assistant, St. Stephens UMC, Burke P/T Director, Church Preschool, Centreville UMC Contact the lis ng church. Employment opportuni es are kept updated at Brian MacLaren at GMU Wed., Oct 15, 10 AM 2 PM Open to all clergy and laity. Sponsored by Arise Campus GMU (arise.gmu.edu) West Main St., An 5

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7 Stewardship: Nurturing a Culture of Generosity God s people were in the early stages of building the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the call went out for contribu ons. Gi ed cra smen donated their me and talents; others made freewill offerings to the project. In fact, Scripture tells us that the people gave much more than enough (Exodus 36:5) and overwhelmed the workmen with their generous gi s. Eventually, Moses sent out a plea to stop giving, and the people were restrained (Exodus 36:6). As a church leader, that may sound like a dream that s well beyond your reach. But if we really believe God owns it all and we are called to manage His resources, incredible generosity can t become a thing of the past. God s ll wants His people to become cheerful givers, and leaders s ll have a responsibility to encourage a culture of generous giving in their churches. With that in mind, here are four ps for cul va ng a more than enough culture in your congrega on: 1. Get serious about financial discipleship. Many pastors avoid talking about money from the pulpit, but if we avoid talking about money un l there s a crisis, we only feed the misunderstanding many church members have about giving. A be er way is to find a healthy balance between speaking truth from the pulpit and equipping members through financial discipleship classes. While the pulpit emphasizes the why of stewardship, financial educa on allows you to explain the how as well. 2. Emphasize stewardship as a heart issue. The founda on of financial discipleship rests on our response to God s ownership of everything. That means genuine biblical stewardship really has more to do with our hearts than our wallets. When we understand that we are really managers CBS Special to Feature Arlington DS Cathy Abbott A NEW CALLING: SPIRITUAL SECOND CAREERS, a CBS Interfaith Special that explores the phenomenon of mature adults moving from successful secular careers into the world of religion, will be broadcast in our area on WUSA, April 20, 12 noon. It will also appear on line a er the broadcast date at this link: and culture Tune in to hear Cathy s story! not owners our hearts and hands open to His plans, and that frees us to become more generous. Encouraging believers to remember the connec on between their hearts and their generosity can ins ll a more than enough a tude in your congrega on. 3. Connect the church s giving with the church s vision. People long to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That s why your members need to know that their gi s don t just disappear into an offering plate on Sunday morning. Share victory stories from ministries their giving has made possible, as these help members connect giving and mission in a way that leads to greater levels of generosity. 4. Focus on inves ng me. One theorem states that focused intensity over me, when mul plied by God, creates unstoppable momentum. Nurturing a more than enough culture requires that kind of momentum; overnight successes are a myth. Farmers can t produce a harvest without carefully preparing the land, plan ng the seeds, roo ng out the weeds, and tending the field. Likewise, churches can t reap a benefit from areas that have been ignored. Crea ng a culture of incredible generosity takes me. Shortcuts simply don t work. We serve a more than enough God. He longs to make a difference in the world, and He wants to use His people to make that happen. He s just wai ng for us to join Him where He s at work. If you are looking for assistance in your local church in addressing the stewardship and/or gi planning issue, please feel free to contact Dave Thompson or Stephen Clark and the Virginia UM Founda on office Bi-District UMM Spring Retreat April Front Royal 4 H Center, Luray, Virginia Hosted by the UMM at Grace UMC, Manassas Guest speaker: Bishop Young Jin Cho To register, contact John Benne West Main St., An 7

8 T U M C N V 5001 Echols Avenue Alexandria, VA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED About The Connector This monthly newsletter is distributed via electronic means but can be physically mailed at no charge to clergy and key leaders within local Northern Virginia churches. Alexandria District Staff: Ted Smith, Interim District Superintendent Herb Brynildsen, Program Coordinator Martha Flanagan, District Secretary Arlington District Staff: Cathy Abbott, District Superintendent Betsy Caudill, Program Coordinator Artabia Campbell-Marshall, District Secretary Bi-District Staff: Larry Domínguez, Business Manager Melissa Dunlap, Church Dev. Coord. Sharon Sheldon, Program Secretary «AddressBlock» Submit copy by the 10th of each month to: Sharon Sheldon, programsecretary@novaumc.org Bi-District Lay Servant Ministries Training Opportunities in 2014 Please bring a lunch with you for the Saturday training dates; you will not have me to go off site for a meal. Tea/coffee/so drinks and some snacks will be available. April 4 St. Paul s UMC, Woodbridge (registra on closed 3/28) May 9, 6:00 10:00 PM and May 10, 8:00 AM 4:00 Fairfax UMC (courses being offered are Basic and Living our United Methodist Beliefs) Sept. 12, 6:00 10:00 PM and Sept. 13, 8:00 AM 4:00 Grace UMC, Manassas (courses being offered are Basic and Lay Servants Lead in Worship) Registra on fee for all courses is $20. Registra on and addi onal informa on (such as book and resource purchasing informa on) is online at the bi district website: If you have any ques ons, contact your district s LSM coordinator: Alexandria District: Rick Ko emann rpko 1@verizon.net or Arlington District: Vicki Poindexter vap328@aol.com 8