Messenger The March 2012

TAIZÉ WORSHIP

Every Sunday evening, now thru March 25

Taizé movie at 6:10 p.m. In Fellowship Hall

Taizé Worship in the Chapel from 7:00 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.

Williamsburg United Methodist Church 500 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Ph: 757-229-1771 Contact: Richard Sowers

General Conference 2012 (Part II) By Senior Pastor Bill Jones

Last month I gave an overview of the 2012 General Conference, the United Methodist Church’s top legislative body. Nine hundred and eighty-eight delegates from around the world will gather in Tampa, Florida, for 11 days beginning April 24. The assembly will set policy and direction for the church for the next four years. This month’s article focuses on how General Conference works.

An equal number of clergy and lay delegates will revise The Book of Discipline. The denomina-tion’s law book regulates the manner in which local churches, annual conferences and general agen-cies are organized. The book sets policies regarding church membership, ordination, administration, property and judicial procedures. The assembly may modify most disciplinary paragraphs by majority vote, but the Constitution can only be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote, followed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate number of members voting in annual conference session (There are 63 annual conferences in the U.S. and 59 outside the U.S., so changing the Constitution is a difficult process). Delegates may not revoke or change the Articles of Religion or the Confession of Faith unless two-thirds of the delegates agree to change this provision and three-fourths of the annual conference members agree.

Delegates also revise The Book of Resolutions, a volume declaring the church’s stance on a va-riety of social justice issues. The book contains more than 300 resolutions that are considered instruc-tive and persuasive, but are not binding on members. In addition, the assembly approves plans and budgets for church wide programs for the next four years and elects members of the Judicial Council and the University Senate. The General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table are proposing a budget of $603 million for the 2013-2016 quadrennium for general church op-erations, 6.04 percent lower than for 2009-2012. The $603 million is 3 percent of the total expendi-tures of the denomination.

Primary sources of legislation are petitions and proposals from church agencies and organizations. Petitions must be submitted 210 days before the opening of the conference. Any organization or gen-eral agency, local congregation, ordained minister or lay member of the church may petition the Gen-eral Conference. Approximately 1,200 petitions are expected to be before the delegates in 2012.

As in the U.S. Congress, the bulk of General Conference business is conducted in legislative com-mittees. Each petition is assigned to one of 13 legislative committees. Each committee consists of 70-80 delegates who review all petitions related to a specific part of the Discipline, debates them, and determines whether to approve, amend, combine or reject them for recommendation to the full body of General Conference for final action.

The longest petition comes from the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits and outlines a new retirement program. The Ministry and Higher Education Legislative Committee will receive the most petitions, more than 150. It is estimated that about 70 percent of those petitions will address topics in a new ministry study document that comes from a commission that was charged with study-ing ordained ministry within The United Methodist Church. The General Administration Committee will deal with structure proposals stemming from a Call to Action study. It will review over 85 petitions. Two Church and Society legislative committees will address social justice issues and are expected to work through about 85 petitions. One will review all petitions related to human sexuality, abortion, rights of immigrants and sexual orientation. Another will consider all other petitions concerning the Board of Church and Society and the Social Principles.

All proposed legislation – from individuals, organizations and church wide agencies and annual conferences – is printed in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate and online at the General Con-ference’s Web site, www.gc2012.umc.org.

Our third installment in the April edition of The Messenger will preview some of the issues dele-gates will face at the 2012 General Conference. Please continue to pray for the assembly and pray for God’s will to be clearly discerned throughout the decision-making.

Thoughts from Allie

When I arrived here in Williamsburg in summer the of 2010, one of the first things I learned about our church is that people were excited about our mission relationships in Honduras. Over the next few months I heard more about Leo-narda’s Home of Hope (LHOH) and the Carolina Honduras Health Foundation (CHHF). It seemed like every time a church member joined a mission team to

Limon to work with those ministries, they would come back excited to tell their story—and then more people wanted to go. And those who didn’t go were excited too. Our children made blankets to sell at the Alternative Giving Fair to benefit Leonarda’s. This fall many of us gathered for lunch at Outback to benefit the orphanage as well.

Meanwhile, in the Global Outreach committee, we’ve been talking almost since I’ve been here about how we want to be a church that sends people out in mission. In the past few months we’ve been talking more seriously about what that might look like on an international level. After a lot of discussion and prayerful dis-cernment, we have some exciting news: Williamsburg UMC is sending a mission team to Honduras in early 2013.

We feel that this is the way to take the relationship we’ve already begun to develop with Honduras, LHOH, and CHHF to the next level. Though individual church members have joined mission teams to Limon, we haven’t yet sent a whole Williamsburg UMC team. In fact, it’s been years since we’ve sent a whole WUMC team anywhere, except for our youth. (Our youth are wonderful missionaries—but of course, mission should never be a youth-only activity!) Now seems like the perfect time to strengthen our connection to our brothers and sisters in Christ in other areas around the world by living, worshiping, and serving with them.

Intrigued? I hope so. We are still at the beginning planning stages of this trip, but here is some prelimi-nary info to whet your appetite a little further.

We are looking at dates around February/March 2013, and hope to know more soon.

The work we will do may vary according the interests and skills of team members. We do plan to have a medical component to the mission, but you don’t need to be a doctor! We’ll also have the opportunity to do some construction, work with the children at Leonarda’s, and have Bible study with other members of the community, especially women.

The cost per person will be around $1500. We do plan to do some fundraising to cover other group costs (such as construction materials) as well as a portion of those individual costs.

You have some time to discern whether God is calling you to be a part of this team—we’ll need commitments from team members by around August.

There will be a joint Sunday School hour on May 6 where we’ll talk more about why we’re in mis-sion, why international mission, and tell you more about plans for the trip and some things that are happening in Honduras these days.

If you’re interested or you just want to know more about Honduras 2013, Barbara Monteith is the person to talk to. You can email (bgmonteith@verizon.net) or call her (253-7595).

Is God calling you to mission in Honduras? We invite you to think, pray, ask questions, and of course,

stay tuned.

Update on Mission Work in Honduras

At this time of year, folks here look forward to spring. In Honduras they look forward to the passing of the rainy season when once again mission teams are able to travel to the re-mote areas of Honduras. At the beginning of February, the year’s first medical mission team to the Carolina Honduras Health Foundation clinic saw more than 1200 patients in one week! They also had volunteers who visited the children at Leonarda’s Home of Hope and found them doing well, excitedly preparing for a new school year. Twelve of the children are now living with host families in the city in order to attend high school; there are five new children, making the total at the orphanage 52. (Remember these 52 children live in three bedrooms with two functioning bathrooms!)

During the week of February 19 – 24, Ken and Peggy Hook led a mission team volunteer-ing at the clinic and the orphanage. From our church, volunteers were Steve Shield and Dick and Mary Jo Bennett. Local nurse practitioners Beverly Coleman and Lonna Cole, mem-bers of Williamsburg Baptist Church, volunteer with the Hook team twice each year. Other volunteers were from Kansas, Oklahoma, California, and North Carolina. Thanks to the Sis-ters in Faith circle for their donations of over-the-counter medications and to the Aldersgate Sunday School class for their donation to the new orphanage construction which is currently underway.

LHOH sent a shipment of Stop Hunger Now food to Honduras in December. Unloaded on Christmas Eve, the food was a welcome gift for hungry families in the cloud forest area where children are malnourished and dying from starvation and parasites. Other packets of SHN food went to 7 orphanages, 2 clinics, 10 day care centers, 16 nurture centers, and one school.

Mission teams to the Carolina Clinic and to Leonarda’s Home of Hope are changing lives

by providing health care to the poor and by providing for the needs of orphaned, aban-

doned, and abused children. Doing God’s work in this remote, poverty-stricken area of the

world, members of these mission teams will tell you that their lives are also changed as a

result of the week’s mission work.

A Heartfelt Thank You! The board members and faculty of the Early Childhood Music School sincerely thank all who

supported the second annual Sweetheart Banquet February 10. The event generated more than $1,000 for the school’s two outreach missions:

Jessie Elizabeth Scholarship Fund annually enables 15 – 25 financially disadvantaged stu-dents to participate in classes on-site either tuition free or at a reduced fee.

Project Outreach annually serves 250 students (and their teachers) in Head Start, Bright Be-

ginnings and Child Development Resources.

ReNEW Youth Ministry in March!

From Rev. Todd Query and reNEW Youth Ministry!

As I write, members of reNEW Youth Ministry are busily preparing for the first full-fledged Youth Sunday since I came to Williamsburg in 2006. It’s an exciting time for us as three youth craft their sermonettes and another works on a Children’s Message, various musicians practice their crafts and still other youth learn the ins-and-outs of “behind-the-scenes” (yet extremely important) pursuits like Ushering and Greeting. Understandably, still a few days away from Youth Sunday, we’re a bit nervous about the whole thing. But we’re extremely thankful for this opportunity to lead worship in our Church Home, and we know that

whatever happens, Youth Sunday will be an authentic expression of worship—and an opportunity for our church to get a glimpse into the amazing faith possessed by our youth! Yet even as Youth Sunday seems to have dominated our thoughts over the past few weeks, there is still so much more going on...

Our AFRICA Mission Sponsor fundraiser is in mid-swing! No doubt, you’ve seen the display in the Atrium...the one with all the envelopes and the informational video loop. It’s a simple concept, really: If you would like to offer financial support to our AFRICA 2012 trip, we simply ask that you take an envelope from the board with a number that corresponds to the amount you’re willing to donate. Then return it (via the Offering Plate or to the Church Office) with a check or cash equal to the number on the outside of the envelope. Donations are 100% tax-deductible, and you may keep the Mission Sponsor Card inside the envelope for information and tax purposes. Please remember to return your envelopes on-or-before March 18. Thank you for your support!

reNEW Youth Ministry would also like to invite you to a unique Africa-Themed Fundraiser Luncheon on Sunday, March 18! The luncheon will feature a menu of African-inspired foods, information about our July 2012 trip to Mutare, Zimbabwe, and (if all goes well) a video chat with a current student at Africa University in Mutare. A “silent auction” for an original, commemorative painting by Michigan artist, Joel Schoon-Tanis will also be part of the day’s events. This special painting will be on display Sunday morning, March 18, and will be awarded during the luncheon that afternoon. Limited-edition prints, signed-and-numbered by the artist, will also be available for individual sale while supplies last. Purchase tickets for the Africa-Themed Fundraiser Luncheon at our table in the Atrium!

The usual slate of reNEW Youth Ministry events will continue through March, including Sunday School, Youth Group and Wide Open Wednesday activities. March 25 marks the return of “Take the Students Bowling” at our special “private” bowling alley. Pizza, soda and 2 hours of bowling for $5. Watch for more information in the reNEWsletter, on our Facebook Page and in the weekly Bulletin.

reNEW Youth Ministry:

Nurturing, Empowering and Welcoming the youth of Williamsburg UMC and beyond.

Condolences

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who have passed

away during the month of February:

Jean Boatwright Susan Calver

Helen Langton Brian Murphy

Opal Nagey

The Greater

Williamsburg Outreach Mission Chosen To

Receive Lenten

Offering Funds

The Greater Williamsburg Outreach Mission (GWOM) has been selected by our church’s Local Outreach Committee to receive some of the funds collected in the special Lenten offering. Williams-burg UMC is one of eight churches in a coalition seeking to address the needs of homeless people and to prevent others from becoming homeless.

GWOM has grown out of an effort by several churches to support a centralized intake and referral system to respond to the needs of the homeless. This new Community Resource Center is housed an office area in the United Way facilities on Waller Mill Road. This center is running with the help of volun-teers and two United Way staff members. It cur-rently serves about 1100 people—500 families—monthly.

The number of homeless people in the Williams-burg area has grown about 30 percent within the past two years. The need to help these people now is considered critical, as local agencies, with limited resources, struggle to assist this burgeoning popula-tion.

GWOM is inclusive of all faith-based groups and is led by a Board of Directors appointed by the faith groups of the local community. Carl Gerhold, Wil-liamsburg UMC, is one of the members of the Board.

This article is one of a series of articles about some of the charities supported by our church. For more information about GWOM, please contact Carl Gerhold.

Thank you Aldersgate! Aldersgate stepped up to the plate again, offer-

ing support requested by Respite. Four volunteers helped Respite staff clean, repair, sort and reorgan-ize the food pantry on a Saturday morning, labeling shelves and checking dates. Many members have also volunteered to do Costco shopping for Respite. Thank you from the Respite staff!

the Way to the Cross During the six Sundays in Lent we will ponder

the relationship Jesus had with six characters whose lives were changed by their encounter with Jesus on his way to the cross. These characters face choices and experience feelings very similar to our own as we encounter Jesus in the Bible. During Lent as we walk our path in Jesus’ footsteps we may learn from them what it means to have a life-changing encoun-ter with God. Please invite your family and friends to join us each Sunday in Lent at our 8:15 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. worship ser-vices for this provocative sermon series.

March 4 Barabbas

March 11 Mary Magdalene

March 18 Joseph of Arimathea

March 25 Mrs. Pilate

April 1 Peter

Lenten Sermon Series Encountering Jesus on

UMCOR: One Great Hour of Sharing — With this offering, The United Meth-odist Church rebuilds lives and communities around the world by helping the United Methodist Committee on Relief keep its promise that 100% of your desig-nated gift goes to specific relief causes.

Latvian Pastor's Salary Relief — New pastoral leadership is emerging in the the Baltic country of Latvia, but help is needed to pay clergy of developing congre-gations in a severely depressed economy. Current salaries are between $300 and $400 a month, far below a living wage.

Carolina Honduras Health Foundation — CHHF maintains a clinic in a remote area of Honduras along the Mosquito Coast. Prior to the establishment of the Foundation in 1995, these people had no regular medi-cal care. Now the clinic is staffed every other week by volunteer medical teams who pay their own expenses and also purchase needed medications for the pharmacy. Because the closest medical care is approximately one hour’s drive from the village, and because most of the people cannot afford medical care, this free clinic has become a life-line for the poor. By providing health care to those in need, volunteers are doing God’s work and sharing His love. Many teams working at the clinic also provide Christian outreach in the commu-nity.

Virginia Chaplain Service Fund — Since 1920, this non-profit organization has changed the lives of thousands of inmates throughout the Commonwealth. By distributing bibles, conducting worship services, providing counseling and coordinating volunteer programs, their staff of Chaplains has reached even the most violent offenders through much needed prison ministry.

Global Outreach Beneficiaries For

Upcoming Lenten Offering

Adult Sunday School for Lent

Bishop McKendree Class (Room 102) and the Parenting Class (Room 158) are doing a weekly study that corresponds to the Lenten sermon series. If you are interested in learning more about the people Jesus encountered on the way to the cross, you are welcome to join one of these classes.

The Searchers Class (Room 171) is studying, the new book, Mosaic, by Shane Stanford. With this study, you will examine how the God of the universe uses the broken pieces of our lives to reframe our purpose.

The Adult Bible Study Class (Room 174) continues Pastor Allie’s study of Bishop Will Wilmon’s book, This We Believe: The Core of Wesleyan Faith and Practice.

The World Religions Class (Room 101), led by Rev. Jeanne Forrest, is beginning a study of Buddhism.

The Fellowship Class (Room 103) continues to work with the Adult Bible Study series from Cokesbury.

For information on these and other Sunday School opportunities, contact Cindy Banek (229-1771).

Williamsburg United Methodist Women March 2012 – UMW Circle Meetings

Olive Casey Circle – Monday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. in the church den. We will have a speaker from Avalon. Members will be assembling 50 birthing kits following the business meeting.

Mary Lou Clarke/Heritage Circle – Tuesday, March 6, at 9:45 a.m. in Room 309.

Jean Craig Circle – Tuesday, March 6, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chambrel Activities Room. Avalon Director of Development and Communications, Kimberley Laska, will speak.

Susannah Wesley Circle – Wednesday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 309.

Friendship Circle – Monday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 309. We will host guest speaker/storyteller Ory Stefaniw who will share her story of terror and faith as her family escaped the Nazi forces in the Ukraine during World War II. Guests are invited to hear this inspirational story.

Windsor Meade Circle – Monday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m. in the Ballroom of Windsor Hall. The program will be a speaker who is a member of the Mormon Church.

Carol Scott Circle – Tuesday, March 13, at 1:00 p.m. in the church den.

Sisters in Faith Circle – Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 309. Following a short business meeting, members will be assembling Layette Kits. This is always a fun evening as we handle all the

“baby outfits.”

Williamsburg Landing Circle – Tuesday, March 20, at 10:30 a.m. in the Main Building of the Williamsburg Landing.

Important Date(s) to Remember

WUMW Local Board Meeting – Monday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m., Room 309 District Spiritual Growth Retreat – Saturday, March 31, Warwick Memorial UMC

Do you have an article for the Newsletter?

If you would like to submit an a r t i c l e for publication in the Messenger, the deadline for submittals is the 15th of the month. Articles submitted should be typed or neatly printed, limited to a 1/2 page in length and are subject to editing for grammar, spelling and content. They can be submitted by e-mail to Lianne Koch at lkoch@williamsburgumc.org. If you have any questions, please e-mail Lianne or call (229-1771).

Upcoming Classes You and Your Spiritual Gifts:

"Discovering God's Vision For Your Life"

8 weeks beginning Monday, March 5, 11:00 a.m. - noon in Room 206

Grief Support Class: "To Mourn Well is to Live Well and Love Well"

10 weeks beginning Monday, March 5, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in Room 206.

Creating Happiness in Your Life

Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. – noon

If you ever have a moment, stop by our website to see what’s going on at our church. The address is www.williamsburgumc.org. Find out about all the ministries and other activities that you or your family may be interested in join-ing!! We have something for everyone!!

If you have any questions about some-thing you see on our website, contact the church office (229-1771).

Have you checked out our Website?

The Duruflé

REQUIEM

The WUMC music ministries department will present the REQUIEM

by Maurice Duruflé on (Palm) Sunday, April 1 at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary featuring the Williams-burg Bach Choir, Sanctuary Choir, and Chancel Choir with soloists Bekah Hughes Davis, alto, and Steven Kelly, baritone. Also on the program will be the “Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens” by Duruflé and sung by the Williamsburg Bach Choir. Richard Sowers will conduct and Thomas Marshall will accompany the choirs on our new Peragallo Pipe Organ which was designed for this unique French style of music. Our concert is dedicated to the sol-emn spirit of Holy Week.

Maurice Duruflé (1912-1986) was born in France. He is a graduate of the Paris Conservatory where he won first prizes in organ, accompaniment and composition. In 1927, Louis Vierne hired him as his organ assistant at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Later, Duruflé became titular organist of St. Etienne-du-Mont in Paris in 1929, a position he held for the rest of his life. Duruflé’s Requiem is the most fa-mous of his few compositions.

Music Ministries March 2012 Calendar

March 4

Lent 2/Communion Sunday: adult choir an-

them, “Give Us a Pure Heart” by Christopher Wilcock.

Taizé Worship in the Chapel from 7:00 p.m.

to 7:40 p.m. Movie about Taizé origins at 6:10 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

March 11

Lent 3: adult choirs off; Canticles of Praise

and Bells of Praise will lead music in worship.

Taizé Worship in the Chapel from 7:00 p.m.

to 7:40 p.m. Movie about Taizé origins at 6:10 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

March 18

Lent 4: adult choir anthem, “God’s Amazing

Grace” arr. by Susan M. Bell, daughter of WUMC choir members Warren and Annette Bell. Carol choir sings at 8:15 a.m. service and Wesley choir sings at 11:00 a.m.

Taizé Worship in the Chapel from 7:00 p.m.

to 7:40 p.m. Movie about Taizé origins at 6:10 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

March 25

Lent 5: adult choir anthem, “Let All Mortal

Flesh Keep Silence” by John Rutter; WUMC Orchestra in worship.

Taizé Worship in the Chapel from 7:00 p.m.

to 7:40 p.m. Movie about Taizé origins at 6:10 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Silver Saints Luncheon Our monthly Silver Saints luncheon group will

meet on Wednesday, March 14 for lunch at the Surry House. We will meet at the Church at 11:00 a.m., and leave by 11:10 a.m. in carpools. We look forward to seeing you!

For information about our Silver Saints group, contact Cindy Banek (229-1771).

Attention all Families – Mark Your Calendars for these

Exciting Upcoming and Family-Friendly Events:

Senior Pastor’s Wednesday Bible Study

Making Sense of the Words Christians Speak: A Biblical Study of the Words that Shape our Faith – redemption, salvation, righteousness, mercy, sacrifice, and more. We will explore how these words are used in the Bible and how they are used by Christians today. “The language of Christianity is in a state of crisis, warns bestselling author, Bible scholar, and theologian Marcus J. Borg. Christian words and phrases have not only diminished in meaning, but they’ve become distorted and virtually stripped of their biblical and historic meanings.” Join us on Wednesday evenings in the Fellowship Hall (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) beginning March 21 for this stimulating discussion of the language of Christianity and its power to illuminate us and transform our world.

Graphic courtesy of Surrey House Restaurant & Country Inn http://www.surreyhouserestaurant.com/

Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29:

Vacation Bible School! 9:00 a.m. to noon

Registration begins on Palm Sunday, April 1

Saturday, April 7: Annual Easter Egg Hunt

and Hot Dog Lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

for children ages birth through 5th grade

Please bring one dozen (12) filled plastic eggs per child participating and place them in the designated collection bin in the atrium by

April 4.

Eggs may be filled with wrapped candy and stickers – no small toys, please.

2012 Church Operating Budget

For your information, following is a summary of the currently approved 2012 Church Operating Budget.

A more detailed copy of the 2012 Budget is being mailed to your home.

Watch your mail for this important document.

Budget Category Dollar Amount Percent of Total Budget

Programs $61,150 3.8

Outreach $92,900 5.7

Office Operation $69,000 4.2

District & Conference $209,265 12.8

Church Staff $640,992 39.3

Building & Grounds $296,000 18.2

Debt Retirement $259,806 16.0

Total $1,629,113 100.0

D’Orsogna Named Respite Client Care Manager

Ellen D’Orsogna, RN will assume the position of Client Care Manager of Respite Care at Williamsburg United Methodist Church on March 5. Ellen began as a volunteer at Respite in June 2009, then became a staff member in October 2009.

Prior to joining Respite, Ms. D’Orsogna held positions locally at Chambrel of Williams-burg, Ruxton Health Care (now Envoy Nursing Home), and Eastern State Hospital. Her experience as Director of Nursing, Assisted Living Administrator, Activity Director and staff nurse, will serve Respite well.

Ellen is a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and a volunteer for Faith in Action.

After her education in South Dakota, Ellen became a navy wife, raised two children and lived in England, Hawaii, California, and Washington, DC!

“Ellen is a real treasure, with compassion, leadership skills and experience, “ states Carolyn Yowell, Ex-ecutive Director. “Respite’s staff and board look forward to her proactive management in this important min-istry of WUMC.”

For more information on Respite Care, an afternoon social enrichment program for adults with special needs, call 229-1771.

The Messenger

A Monthly Publication of

Williamsburg United Methodist Church

500 Jamestown Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23185

Church Office (757-229-1771)

www.williamsburgumc.org

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Permit #18 Easter Lilies

You’re invited to provide one or more Easter lilies in honor or in memory of a loved one. Return this form by March 25 with a check for $20 payable to WUMC and write “Easter Lilies” on the memo line.

Place my gift of Easter Lilies

In memory of:

In honor of:

Given by:

Phone: