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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 7, Issue 10 A newsletter for the Pastors and Lay Leadership of the Charlottesville District October 2010
A Season of Prayer and Fasting District Conference Challenge
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Bishop Charlene Kammerer is inviting Virginia At District Conference on September 12 , two risk-
Conference United Methodists to join her in a weekly taking initiatives were announced. Every congregation is
time of fasting and prayer, from now through December encouraged to develop a partnership with a public
31, 2010, to ask God to work within us for the future of school. If your church has an existing relationship, the
the church. church is challenged to increase the number of
During this time, we are invited to refrain from meals volunteers in the outreach and/or continue dialogue with
(Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast and lunch—breaking the school regarding needs in an effort to expand the
the fast at dinner on Friday evening) and use the time for partnership. Secondly, the Charlottesville District is
prayer. Of course, those with medical conditions are partnering with the Northeast Missionary Conference in
encouraged to substitute other ways to intentionally Brazil, taking a mission team in August 2011. The
spend time seeking God’s direction. Shade and Fresh Water Program is an outreach to street
The 2010 Annual Conference adopted a motion that children.
calls on all Virginia Conference United Methodists to Both of these initiatives seek to reach children and
“fast, wait before the Lord, confess our sins related to young persons, offering hope, education, and caring for
sharing our faith with those not connected with any faith basic needs.
community, and repent of all that has kept our faith
communities from being as fruitful as God desires.” District Missions
Gleaning opportunities have been disappointing but
Risk Taking Mission hopefully we will have apples to glean in October.
Merci Mission trips will resume late October. Teams
As charge conferences get under way, our district as small as six or seven are welcome! Due to recent
theme is risk taking mission. At times we have to get out changes at MERCI there will be no packing boxes for
of our comfort zone to truly help others. Our District Haiti or Pakistan. The sewing room will still be open, so
Superintendent, Rev. Brenda Biler, is using Matthew 4: if you have a seamstress in your group, they will have
18-22, for the scripture lesson during each charge plenty to do. Others may assemble health and school
conference. This is the story of Jesus calling the kits or flood buckets.
disciples. What are our call stories as related to New to MERCI is an Angel Room where small coffins
missions? Have we felt a call and responded positively? are painted and lined and small dresses are sewn to fill a
Has our call be one that we resist but that we feel need not realized earlier. Also new is an opportunity off
nagging at our spirit? Sometimes those calls from the site to help at a facility for handicapped children.
Lord simply won’t go away. We have to pray about A trip to Brazil is being sponsored by the
them, discuss them with friends and family and ask for Charlottesville District. Tentative dates are August 5
guidance from our pastors. At times we are willing to through August 14. The team members will be working
answer God’s call but feel the time isn’t right or that we with the Shade and Fresh Water program.
don’t have the money or resources to accomplish our Churches on the Charlottesville District are encouraged
goal. Doubts as to our talent in a certain area might be to partner with a local school. Many churches have
holding us back as we feel unqualified to serve. This can already stepped up and are doing BackPack Ministries,
be over come by training and sheer determination. Let tutoring, providing extra meals for identified children.
each of us rededicate ourselves in the coming months to We would also ask you take one picture of a mission
try a “risk taking mission”, either locally or further afield. project you already do and send the picture and a brief
If we put our lives in God’s hands and simply say, “Here description to Rev Vivian Utz, who manages our District
I am Lord”, our calling will be made clear and success web site. (emailpastorviv@peoplepc.com) This is a way
will be assured. to share your ideas!
Bob Forrest, District Lay Leader For more information on any of the above, please
contact Joan Wasserott, chair of Charlottesville District
Missions. joanwasserott@comcast.net
Your Campus Ministry – the Wesley Life at UVA.” How has the landscape of religious life
changed since Jefferson’s first Academical village?
Foundation at UVA This lays the framework for a panel discussion on
Thursday, October 7 at 5:30pm in Minor Hall, Room
How does campus ministry look like ministry in other 125. The panel will talk about how they navigate being
faith communities, like the local church? Every week, authentically themselves as people of faith, including
we worship and celebrate Communion, gather for dinner respectfully communicating with others, in a diverse
and a discussion on issues and events, spend time in setting like UVA. It is entitled: “Conversation,
Bible studies and other small discipleship groups, and Conversion, and Coercion: Interfaith Relations at the
blow off steam playing intramural sports (aka University.” The panelists are: Fr. Stephen Alcott,
“Methodists with Muscles”). We reach out to the Catholic Student Ministries; Saad Arrabi, Islamic Society
Charlottesville community and beyond, in mission with of Central Virginia; Evan Hansen, Eunoia; Rabbi Jake
PACEM, the Haven, and in various far-flung places on Rubin, Brody Jewish Center/Hillel at UVA; The Rev. Dr.
our spring break mission trip. Laura Sugg, Presbyterian Campus Ministry. The UVA
Like all faith communities, we are called to grapple group Sustained Dialogue will assist those gathered in
with our faith and our location, called to be involved in some small group conversation about balancing
the issues and concerns of those around us, called to let authenticity, respect, and diversity.
the love of Christ shine through our lives and our What a blessing to be part of this community and to
congregational life and out beyond the walls of the have your support! I hope you’ll invite us to worship with
church into the life of the world. you and share with your congregation all that is
For us, in our location at UVA, this means being active happening in the life of Wesley and the lives of the
participants in a diverse, academic, fast-paced students. I hope, also, that you will stop by for a visit
community of students, scholars, staff, and local folks. when you are in Charlottesville or call to find out how
For the past three years students at the Wesley you can be involved.
Foundation have gotten up in the wee hours of the The Rev. Deborah Lewis, Director of the Wesley
morning (this year we began at 2:30am) in order to cook Foundation at UVA (wesleyatuva.org)
breakfast for students in the Muslim Student Association
during the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast from
sunrise to sunset during Ramadan and for students
living in dorms and relying on dining halls, this often
means no substantial breakfast. (This year Muslims had
Rodes UMC News
to be finished with breakfast by 5am and dining halls are
not open that early.) Students chose to observe this Rodes United Methodist Church will host a Lord’s Acre
practice of kindness and radical hospitality when they sale on Saturday, October 9. Canned food items, baked
recognized a need in the larger UVA community and goods, and apple butter will be sold. A meal will be
wondered faithfully how they might be able to help served. There will be a flea market, auction and wood
address it. sale. Also available for sale will be crafts and jewelry.
Here are some other innovative things happening this Join us that day. The sale will begin at 9:00 A.M. and
fall at your campus ministry: the auction at 10:00 A.M. The proceeds support the
An interfaith worship service, “Rekindling Our Light,” building fund of Rodes United Methodist Church.
was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (on the Reverend Jim Lavender, senior pastor of Discovery
Corner) on Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30pm. United Methodist Church, will be bringing live animals to
Several religious leaders from around Grounds met the Rockfish Valley Fire Station, Route 151, in Nelson
over the summer months with representatives from the County, on Saturday, October 30. This is called Thank
UVA Women’s Center in an effort to address the tragedy God for Kids Ministries. He presents the good news of
and the issues surrounding the death of Lacrosse player Jesus as he talks about various animals. The ministry
Yeardley Love last spring. One thing that came out of event begins at 2:00 P.M. This event will be outside so
that conversation and collaboration was an interfaith you can bring a lawn chair or blanket. There is no cost
worship service focused on the themes of light, love, to this event. There will be an offering basket available
hope, and healing. Worship included prayers from for any financial donations. The event is being
various faith traditions, music, and singing. sponsored by Rodes United Methodist Church as well as
United Ministries, an umbrella organization founded some other Nelson County churches.
in 1968 and consisting of religiously based organizations
and their leaders providing service to the University, is
sponsoring two events to promote understanding
between people of differing religious views. The first
was held Thursday, September 16 at 5:30pm in Minor Newsletter Deadline: October 17
Hall, Room 125. Prof. Phyllis Leffler gave a brief lecture
entitled: “God on Grounds: A History of Religious
October 2010 2
Mount Pleasant UMC: Lakota Mission Justice: Restoration of Voting Rights
Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, part of the Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. We have
Mineral-Mt. Pleasant Charge, is sending a mission team learned that this includes loving the poor, the homeless,
of eleven people for a week to the Pine Ridge Indian the suffering --- any who are in need of help.
Reservation in South Dakota. They will depart on One of the most neglected groups in Virginia are those
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September 17 and return September 24 . This is the who have been released from prison after ‘paying their
fourth year in a row that Mt Pleasant has sent a team to debt to society’ for having committed a felony offense.
work with the people on this reservation. Pine Ridge is Even though their offense may have been nonviolent
one of the poorest counties in the United States, with and as small as embezzlement of over $200.00, under
rates of 85% unemployment, more than 50% alcoholism Virginia law they have lost their voting rights for the
and 45% diabetes. There is much need for outreach for remainder of their lives and are consigned to second-
the residents. class citizenship. Nearly 400,000 Virginians have lost
Projects for the team include re-roofing two houses, their right to vote and the number continues to grow.
replacing three front doors, filling in drainage areas, and, Our VA Conference has declared such life-long
most importantly, working with the local children in Pine disenfranchisement to be “an unjustified denial of a
Ridge. Many members of Mt Pleasant Church and fundamental human right” and called upon us to have a
Mineral Methodist Church sponsor more than thirty-five team of volunteers in each district to “provide
of these children by recognizing their birthdays, sending appropriate guidance and counsel for persons who want
Christmas presents, and continually offering words of to have their voting rights restored.”
encouragement. The team feels that the children are the Currently the only way to help such persons obtain
key to the future of this reservation. restoration of their voting rights is through a clemency
The team was commissioned on Sunday September application to the Governor. But many ex-offenders do
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12 by Pastor Bryan Copeland Buckles while wearing not know about this possibility, and others are
their team shirts and standing in front of a banner intimidated by the process. Such persons need our
recognizing the Lakota Mission Team. help. Gov. McDonnell has promised action within 60
days on each application received. We need at least
Fall at Bethlehem UMC one team of two persons to provide such help on the
Charlottesville District. If you are interested in providing
Bring your family and come to Nelson County, to such assistance, please inform Hunter Mabry at
Historic Bethlehem United Methodist Church at <hmabry@gmail.com> or 540.943.5682. Hunter, who is
Roseland in the Tye River Valley, on Saturday, October Conference Advocacy Chair for Criminal Justice and
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9 from 11 AM – 7 PM. Enjoy good friends, great food, Mercy Ministries, will then arrange for an orientation and
great music, great fun, and the Fall colors of the country provide you with the necessary materials.
mountains.
Live music all day by the James River Cut-Ups, Long United Methodist Women
Mountain Grass, and others! This is great family fun
with games for all ages, cakewalk, face painting, dunking
Charlottesville District UMW Annual Meeting October
booth, mountain countryside hayrides, prize drawings.
2, 2010, 9:30 AM at Trinity-Orange UMC; speaker is
A Silent Auction runs from 11 AM – 4 PM. A Live
John Hatcher from the Wesley Community Service
Auction will be from 4-5 PM. The Pot of Gold Table
Center Please bring paper towels, tissues, etc. to be
Lunch will be served from 11 AM – 1 PM. On the menus
given to this mission project.
are Hot Dogs, Brunswick Stew, Chips, and Beverage.
38 Annual Meeting of Va. Conference UMW Oct.
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Donations accepted.
23-24 at VUMAC. Registration is due by October 9.
A dinner of Fried Chicken or Ham, Mac & Cheese,
We will collect school supplies for the Wesley
Green Beans, Baked Apples, Rolls, Dessert, Beverage
Community Service Center.
will be served from 5 – 7 PM. $10 for Adults, $6 for
children 11 & under. Charlottesville District UMW Advent Prayer
Bethlehem United Methodist Church is located at 7539 Breakfast, December 4, 2010, 9:30 AM Bethlehem
Patrick Henry Highway (Rt 151), Roseland. For more UMC; Louise Miller, Conference UMW Vice-Pres.
information call 277.5006 Will lead us in song. In celebrating Jesus’ birthday
Proceeds for these events equally support the Nelson we will assemble baby kits. Bring items for the kits.
County Outreach and International Mission Outreach Kits will be sent to UMCOR. What a wonderful way
and church maintenance projects. to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ was sent to
us as a baby and that we are now part of the body of
Christ awaiting His return. So let us come together to
be the hands of Christ. Contact Daphne with any
Laity Sunday: October 17 questions: daphne_5678@yahoo.com or 434-973-
3901
October 2010 3
Book Review: Patterned By Grace by District Youth Retreat
Daniel T. Benedict, Jr.
February 25-27, 2011
Daniel T. Benedict, Jr. is a retired clergy member of Westview on the James
the California-Pacific United Methodist Church. From Music by the Steve Kropp Band
1993 to 2005 he served as Director of Worship Cost: $70 per person
Resourcing for the General Board of Discipleship for the $35 nonrefundable deposit per person is due with
UMC. He served as Pastor for thirty years and has registration by January 15, 2011. Money raised for SHN
written several books. will also be due at that time.
This book examines the hidden rhythms of Sunday
Worship, Holy Communion, Baptism, daily prayer and In It to Win It—The Race of Faith
the liturgical year. In it we are invited to listen more Hebrews 12:1b;2a
deeply to things we do in church all the time. In doing
this, we can develop a greater appreciation for how Our mission project at the retreat will be another Stop
worship shapes our lives. But there is another way to Hunger Now packaging event. Everyone who attended
look at worship. At a deep level, worship is the work of last year enjoyed this event and requested that we do it
God in and through us. again. So, that’s what we are doing!! However, we
Using the word “liturgy” in its Christian sense, we see it need your help! We raised just a little more than $2500
as a portal into the heart, mind, and work of Jesus Christ last year, but we would really like to raise at least $3000
by the power of the spirit to the glory of God. Pastor this year. If every youth and adult who attended the
Benedict also discusses the reasons liturgy is worship Rally gave $27 each, we would have $3000! That’s just
for the long haul. It carries us when our spiritual feet get a little over $6 per month for the next 4 months!! I know
tired and our energy level fails. As a lay person, I found we can at least do that, but I believe we can do even
the book easy to understand and it made me interested more. So, put your thinking caps on and do some fund
in looking for more information about the topic. He raising for Stop Hunger Now. For more information, call
includes some study questions and an exploration guide Rebecca Wagner at 434-823-4645.
for group study which might be valuable for any small
group. In these days of examining our worship practices Upcoming Youth Events
to enhance understanding for all worshipers, I would
recommend this book for your reflection and education. Charlottesville District Adult Youth Leader Retreat
Zion UMC
Reviewed by Margaret Hufstedler 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Mark your calendars now!!
District Youth Rally Summary
Middle School Mission Weekend
Over 110 youth and adults from 12 churches gathered October 15-17, 2010
at Trinity UMC in Orange for the Annual District Youth Cost: $100
Rally on Sunday, August 29. Supplies were collected for Westview on the James
the Henry Fork Service Center, an ongoing outreach
project of the District Youth. The youth participated in Middle School Retreat: November 12-14
games followed by a delicious dinner. The Steve Kropp and
Band led the group in singing and praising God. The High School Retreat: December 3-5, 2010
guest speaker was Steve Jennings, Executive Director The cost for these retreats is $115 per person. Both
of TOP (Teens Opposing Poverty). He is very will be held at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg, VA. For more
passionate about his work and inspired and challenged information go to www.vaumc.org/youth
the youth and adults to get more involved in serving
others. Several churches are already participating in
TOP. They are Culpeper, Hinton Avenue, Nelson and
Aldersgate. The youth group at Aldersgate was
instrumental in getting TOP started in Charlottesville. If
you are interested in getting involved, contact Steve
Jennings at teensopposingpoverty@hotmail.com . Also
check out www.teensopposingpoverty.org to get the
latest news from TOP.
Rev. Olin Herndon closed the worship time with Holy Contact Dave Bean, 540.718.2752 or Jerry Lawson,
Communion. The District Youth Council wants to 540.937.4990 for a Chartering Package or schedule a
thank everyone who attended the Rally as well as speaking team to come to your Church.
everyone who helped to make it a success.
October 2010 4
Help for Nonprofits Westview Happenings
Nonprofits, also known as the social, independent or Youth, age 7-15, are invited to celebrate Advent & the
third sector, are not just a social safety net for our Christmas season with the staff at Westview December
community, but also an important economic, civic and 10-12, 2010. Everyone will explore the meaning of
cultural engine. By becoming a Center for Nonprofit waiting in the midst of the Advent season during
Excellence member, you not only gain access to a interactive worship services and Bible study times.
myriad of member benefits for your own organization, Additionally, campers will also have time for play. 7-11
you also help us promote the health and vibrancy of year olds will have fun with Christmas cookies & crafts,
local nonprofits and the community where we live and as well as a series of cold-weather challenges; 12-15
work. year olds will choose their own schedule: maybe try
All CNE memberships are organizational; any staff, some “Polar Express” (i.e. the zip n dip into VERY COLD
volunteers or board members associated with your water), or Mtn. Boa rding, Biking or maybe even Giant
organization are considered members and can access Leaf Pile jumping? (If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even get
any of our member benefits, including resources and to play in some snow!) Students are welcome to come in
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trainings, at the membership rate. church groups or individually. Register by August 25 for
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There are three categories of CNE membership: $95 per person or $105 per person by November 25 . A
nonprofit, business and consultant. registration flier can be found online at
CNE understands that our member nonprofits may www.westviewonthejames.org. To register a group for
need legal support from time-to-time, but often have this event use the Group Registration Form found on the
limited resources for outside legal assistance. For this website.
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reason, we have partnered with several organizations in Westview also offers an “After Hours Retreat” for 7-9
the community to make legal services more readily graders February 18-20.
available to our member organizations. Middle School Confirmation Retreats at Westview are
New this fall, CNE has partnered with several local law set for March 25-27 and May 6-8.
firms to recruit practicing attorneys to provide legal For more information on any of these events go to
support to our nonprofit members. Participating www.westviewonthejames.org.
attorneys have committed to providing legal support on
discrete, transactional matters and have expertise in real
estate, tax, corporate and employment law.
CNE member organizations with operating budgets of Lay Speaking
less than $1,000,000 are eligible for this program.
If you have any questions, feel free to email our District Training
Membership Manager, Kim Bassing, or call 434-244-
3330. Training for Lay Speakers will take place around the
District in October. At each training site, the Basic
course will be offered. Other courses being offered: “Lay
2011 Annual Conference Speakers are Accountable Disciples” at Culpeper UMC,
At-Large Lay Delegates October 2-3; “Becoming Spirited Stewards” at
Emmanuel UMC, October 16-17; and “Transforming
The following persons were elected At-Large Evangelism” at Aldersgate UMC, October 23-24. For
Delegates to the 2011 Virginia Annual Conference (listed more info, check CharlottesvilleDistrictUMC.org or call
in order of election): Jim Garwood (Rodes); Anthony Nancy Palmer at 540-825-0764 x 16.
Moyers (Mt. View); Pat Cutright (Trinity, N Garden);
Katie Williams (First); Larry Baker (Rapidan); Frank
Lasley (Zion); Kimberly Moyers (Mt. View); Frank
Osborn (Mt. Pleasant, Louisa); Susan Fletcher District Heart Havens Home
(Ebenezer); Gary Myers (Ivy Creek); David Bean
(Culpeper); Janine Desrochers (Louisa); Suzy Mulford (E The District Mission Committee met with
Culpeper); Cindy Beazell (Macedonia); Nancy Webster representatives from Heart Havens in early September
(Mt. Pleasant, Louisa); Betty Zelloe (Mt. Pleasant, to explore the possibility of building a group home for
Louisa); Arline McDaniel (Westover). Youth: Macon adults with intellectual disabilities on the Charlottesville
Rowley (Bethlehem, Nelson) and Rebecca LeFon District. Since a number of options have become
(Salem, Fluvanna). Young Adult: Kimberly Rowley available to clients needing assistance in recent years,
(Bethlehem, Nelson) and Joshua Orndorff (Culpeper). including individual placement with families, Heart
Alternates: Wanda Bennett (Louisa); Barbara Gerock Havens has determined that there is not a need for a
(Trinity, Orange); Marion Schaeffer (Cunningham); and home at the present time.
Margaret Heilig Rowe (Trinity, Orange).
October 2010 5
The United Methodist Church Non-profit
Charlottesville District Office Organization
914 E. Jefferson St., Suite 104 U.S. POSTAGE
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 PAID
Permit No. 180
http://CharlottesvilleDistrictUMC.org
Charlottesville Va
Email: CharlottesvilleDistrict@vaumc.org
Newsletter Editor: Leah DeLong
Rappahannock3umc@aol.com
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
DISTRICT CALENDAR
October 2 District UMW annual meeting
October 2-3 Lay Speaking Training at Culpeper UMC
October 6 District Clergy meeting; gleaning at 10 AM; lunch / meeting 12 -1:30 PM
October 16-17 Lay Speaking Training at Emmanuel UMC (Amherst)
October 17 District newsletter deadline
October 17 Laity Sunday
October 23-24 Lay Speaking Training at Aldersgate UMC (Charlottesville)
November 20 Bi-District Training, Waynesboro
December 4 District UMW Advent Prayer Breakfast
February 25-27 District Youth Retreat, Westview
April 10 District Conference, 3 PM, Aldersgate UMC
June 15-19 Annual Conference, Roanoke Civic Center
10 Projects in 10 Days
From October 10th through 19th you will be able to learn about Global Ministries' projects around the world supported
through The Advance, the designated giving arm of The United Methodist Church, during an online event unlike anything
you have experienced before. It's called 10-Fold. Through live webcasts, streaming video, online chats, and other media,
you will see and hear about amazing projects that are changing people's lives. To get more details, download the 10-Fold
Participant's Guide at www.10-Fold.org.
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