Melissa Shortridge, D. S.

October & November 2020

Contact Us

Greenbrier District P O Box 764

Lewisburg, WV 24901

304.645.1357

greenbrierdistrict@suddenlinkmail.com

m_shortridge@hotmail.com

Visit us on the web at:

greenbrierwvumc.org

Take Jesus With You

The Ad-

Please bring a package or two of new boxers, briefs,

undies, t-shirts, long johns or janes, socks and or training pants to church on October 18th.

Spread the News!!!

Undie Sunday is October 18th

Undies collected can be given to your

parish coordinator, passed to Melissa at Charge Con-ference or brought to the office. Please try to have them in the office by the

middle of November!

Collections from our district will go to the Tyrand Cooper-ative Ministries. The undies

we contribute are an im-portant part of their

ministry!

Happenings A Plenty at Camden/Bethel

Much has happened at

Camden/Bethel!

We added the donated Blessing Box to our front

lawn in Camden on Gauley. In no time the community became involved. People

are taking what they need and have been generously

leaving lots of items as well.

A couple from Elyria Ohio traveled to Camden to be

married in our sanctuary. After officiat-ing the ceremony I was approached by a young lady who asked to be

baptized.

Naturally, we had a baptism as well!

Spring Heights Camp@Home FREE youth resources for Local Churches

We are excited to announce that Camp@Home will remain available online for free un-til May of 2021! There are two age groups for activities, Children (5-11) and youth (12-18). Some churches are using this material as Sunday School curriculum for the fall.

Camp@Home started July 6 and ran through the month of July. Thanks to the Camp@Home program Spring Heights Camp and Retreat Center ministered to campers in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Iowa, South Carolina, and Ken-tucky! Seventy-nine percent of campers had never been to Spring Heights Camp before. The camp was able to connect with young people ages 5-18 who would have never come to camp otherwise.

The success of Camp@Home this summer testifies to how God can use the church to reach out in new ways. Spring Heights Camp and Retreat Center gathered a team of gifted and created people together and connected with children and youth throughout the United States. Campers grew as disciples of Jesus Christ by learning new ways to pray by using bubbles, a prayer labyrinth, prayer stations, and crafts. God shows up in powerful ways during summer camp, and Camp@Home was no different.

One of the youth campers said, “Camp at home was an amazing way to connect with God and experience camp while staying safe at home!” An eight-year-old camper said, “It is fun and good to do! The activities were great, and Jesus is important to us.” You can download a “welcome letter” with instructions and a supply list so you can cele-brate Camp@Home with your family or church community.

If you have any questions about the program or hosting Camp@Home, please contact Shea James sjames@wvumc.org or Amy Mullins amy@springheights.org for more infor-mation. http://springheights.org/camphome/

Do you need to replace your wireless

microphone service?

Please check your wireless microphones—If your church is cur-rently using wireless microphones in the 600 MHz service band, you will be re-quired to cease operations no later than July 13, 2020 (or earlier if they cause interference with new licensees), OR face a severe penalty. If you want help purchasing replacement microphones, please let the Conference Communica-tions Team know (email Deborah Coble at dcoble@wvumc.org). You can see what frequencies your microphones operate on by looking at the receiver. It needs to be in the 500 range to be compliant. For more information visit: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/operation_of_wireless_microphones.pd

The Celebration of Mission Event

The Celebration of Mission Event had

to be cancelled this year due to Covid-

19. However, the needs of our mis-

sions have only increased during this

uncertain time. Melissa and repre-

sentatives from Tyrand and New Vi-

sion Depot gathered on August 5th in

the parking lot of Bascom United

Methodist Church to collect items do-

nated from our churches.

Belinda and the folks at Tyrand Parish want to

thank everyone for all of the items donated

through COME. The needs have been great this

year and your contributions are truly appreciat-

ed! We needed two trucks to bring back all of

the items from Rupert. Thanks to Tom King

who let us fill his truck and for delivering our

bounty!

It was an awesome day getting to catch up with

friends!

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you

think you’ve been bur-ied. But actually you’ve

been planted. Be pa-tient...Your time to grow

is coming!”

—Christine Caine

OCTOBER

6 Bishop’s Lead Team

7 Lay Servant - Zoom—Baby Boomers 6pm

12 District Lead Team—9am

14 Lay Servant—Baby Boomers 6pm

19-21 Cabinet

21 Lay Servant—Baby Boomers 6pm

28 Lay Servant—Baby Boomers 6pm

NOVEMBER

2 Ministry Team Meetings 6pm

4 Lay Servant—Baby Boomers 6pm

8 CLM Class

9-11 Cabinet

16 District Lead Team 9am

17 Bishop’s Lead Team

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, most underrat-ed agent of human change. Kindness that catches us by sur-prise brings out the best in our natures.”

—Bob Kerrey

“We do something for someone else that we may not even re-member, but can cause that other person’s life to turn in some way that’s positive.”

—Ann Curry

Greenbrier District Lay Servant Ministries ZOOM Academy

Registration

Advanced Zoom Lay Servant Course “Ministry By/With & For Baby Boomers and the Ag-ing” Registration cut off is 10 days before the first class.

To register for the Advanced Course (Ministry By/With & For Baby Boomers and

the Aging”), please complete this form. Course books will be mailed upon receipt

of the registration and payment.

PLEASE PRINT Name:______________________________________________________________

Mailing address: _____________________________________________________

City: State: ______Zip: _____________

Phone:________________________ E-mail: _____________________________

Local church: _____________________ Pastor: __________________________

Advanced course ~ fee is $20.00

The classes will be online with Zoom. You must participate in all five classes to

receive credit.

Oct 7, 2020 06:00 PM

Oct 14, 2020 06:00 PM

Oct 21, 2020 06:00 PM

Oct 28, 2020 06:00 PM

Nov 4, 2020 06:00 PM

Send the completed form and payment to: Greenbrier District UMC

PO Box 764

Lewisburg, WV 24901

Round Two: Online Worship Technology Matching Grants Available!

From Ken Willard

Congregations of the West Virginia Conference have done amazing ministry these past few months! In March when the COVID-19 pandemic caused our churches to stop meeting in-person for worship, many of our churches were able to move their services online in a week or two. That was a remarkable accomplishment!

We are now moving into a season where many of our churches are making plans to safely begin or increase their in-person worship. God has used these past few months as a way for many churches to reach new people, connect with people who may have not attended for a while, and even reach people well outside our normal mission fields. As we strive to be good stewards and continue to learn as we go, may we continue to move forward and not go backwards. Let us keep moving for-ward by continuing to do our worship services in new ways. Continuing, even ex-panding our use of technology for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and evangelism, is critical.

With all this in mind, we are again offering matching grants to help offset expenses related to online worship technology (ex: equipment, software licenses, etc.). The maximum grant amount it $500. (Churches who received a grant earlier this year are not eligible.)

If you would like assistance in determining equipment, software licenses, etc. that would work best in your context or if you’d like to have a conversation about how to best integrate new technology into what you already have at hand, we suggest that you contact your Conference Communications team. (Director of Communica-tions Deborah Coble may be reached at dcoble@wvumc.org)

GRANT DEADLINE: submission deadline is Monday October 5, 2020.

You may go back to August 1, 2020 for items already purchased related to your new online worship technology strategy.

APPLICATION : To get an application or see the guidelines, visit:

https://www.wvumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Application-Form-On-line-Tech-Grant.doc

When submitting this application, send it to cridgway@wvumc.org

You must copy the church/charge pastor, Church Ad. Board Chair, Lay Leader, and the District Superintendent.

NOTE: Priority will be given to churches/charges which have a history of faithful payment of apportionments and for those focusing on reaching new people.

We have a maximum of 50 grants available at this time.

Greenbrier District of the United Methodist Church

Partnering with You to Reach New People

While COVID 19 has presented many challenges, God has shown us that the church is not just a building, and we have many opportunities to reach new people in new ways. The WV Conference and the Greenbrier District desire to partner with your church to help underwrite the cost of these new ministry opportunities. We are willing to fund a maximum of $250.00 to help with equipment purchases for online ministry, website fees, ZOOM subscriptions for Bible studies, and numerous other creative ideas you may have to reach the unchurched people in your community.

The Partnership funds will be limited to a maximum of $250.00 per application. With the money available, this will allow us to partner with up to 20 churches in the district. Funds will be distributed on a first-come basis and approved at the discretion of the GO Ministry Team and the district superintendent.

Name of Contact:______________________________Church:_________________________

Phone: ___________________________________Email:___________________________

Describe your project or program:________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

How will your project or program reach people outside the walls of the church as we seek to make disciples:_______

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tell us about the total cost of the project of program. If additional funding other then support funds is needed, from

where will they come? If this will be an on-going project or program, how will it be funded in the future?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your goals for the project or program? How many people will be reached? What is the plan for follow-up to

maintain new relationships that may be formed?____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once the project or program has taken place, please send pictures and/or a story for the District Newsletter.

Amount Requested: $___________________

Applicant Signature:_________________________________________ Date:_____________________

Pastor’s Signature:__________________________________________ Date:_____________________

Lay Leader’s Signature:_______________________________________ Date:_____________________

Special Annual Conference (We have never done it this way before!!!)

That was a common theme recited throughout the 2020 Special Annual Conference that, in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, met in multiple locations across the state. Instead of gathering at Wesley Chapel on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College, the annual conference session was held at 12 locations across the connection in order to comply with social distancing requirements.

“We know God creates all things new,” Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball said as she opened the legislative session.

The work of the Special Annual Conference was limited to specific items that had to be vot-ed on by delegates so the Annual Conference could continue operating in accordance with

both the Discipline and state laws. Only items on the called agenda could be brought before the delegates. Other matters were postponed until the 2021 Annual Conference.

Legislative work took place over two sessions on Aug. 1. Both sessions covered the same agenda and conducted the same votes, but were broken up in this manner in order to comply with health and safety standards. Only delegates in attendance at assigned sites could vote. Votes were totaled from each session and across the 12 sites and announced later in the after-noon during a live stream of the Celebration of Ministry.

Each district had its own site, with some having to utilize multiple sites within their districts. Wesley Chapel served as the presiding table for the conference and, also, the voting site for the Wesleyan District.

Other locations that hosted district sites were: St. Luke UMC (Craigsville), Mt. Pleasant UMC (Mineral Wells); Epworth UMC (Ripley); Aldersgate UMC (Sissonville); Cross Lanes UMC (Cross Lanes); Life UMC (Fairmont); Suncrest UMC (Morgantown); Christ UMC (Wheeling); United Methodist Temple (Beckley), Steele Memorial (Barboursville); and the McKee Performing Arts Center at Potomac State University (Keyser).

“Our agenda items attempt to maintain and honor decisions made and voted upon by the entire body of the conference in 2019,” Bishop Steiner Ball said. “We tried to keep things relatively similar and the same, since we cannot all gather together in one space and have discussion and dialogue.”

Prior to the events that were held in Buckhannon, West Virginia Wesleyan President Joel Thierstein said the college was un-sure how it would pull off hosting this year’s Special Annual Conference. He said the setting could be similar to Jesus’ cur-rent status in heaven at God’s right hand. “Since the Ascension, Jesus has been working from home,” he said. “Inspiration for us all.”

Special Annual Conference delegates approved a $12.8 million operating budget for 2021. Rev. Ken Ramsey, chair of the Committee on Finance and Administration, said it is the overall same amount approved for 2020, with no increases.

Changes were made to the conference’s health care plan. Delegates approved a switch to Cigna Preferred Provider Organiza-tion (PPO) for medical coverage. They also approved a small employer exception regarding Medicare. According to Jamie O’Brien, who serves as the chair of the Board of Pensions, the moves will benefit churches and the conference.

“Both actions are recommended to enable better coverage and greater discounts for participants and potentially reductions in costs for the local churches and the conference,” he said.

Nominations were approved for various committees across the conference, districts, and ministry sites. Among the nomina-tions approved were Kristi Wilkerson as the new conference lay leader, Eva Faulkner as association conference lay leader, Kim Matthews as the director of lay servant ministries, Judi Kenaston as conference secretary, and Jamion Wolford as confer-ence treasurer. The full nomination report is available on pages 24-37 of the conference workbook.

“I love you all,” said Bishop Steiner Ball. “I’m so proud that we are doing ministry in a new way and reaching people for Jesus Christ.”

Other matters before the 2020 Special Annual Conference included:

Apportionment funding for the conference health care program was maintained at $4,325,000.

Full-time minimum salary for clergy was set at $37,000 (Category I), $35,000 (Category II), and $34,000 (Category III).

The minimum Accountable Reimbursement Plan was set at $2,000.

Maintained the CRSP and medical insurance benefit paid by the local church at 70 percent.

Approved the report from the Board of Trustees, which offered no changes from its report in 2019.

Rev. Krysta Rexrode Wolfe, chair of the Annual Conference Programs and Arrangement team, encouraged delegates to pray for the 2021 Annual Conference. The dates for the 2021 gathering are June 3-6 at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

“I am grateful to each of you for the flexibility and hope in which we gathered here to-day,” she said. “Thank you to each of you who are doing things in a new way so we can continue mission and ministry in the West Virginia Annual Conference.”

Birthdays & Anniversaries

October Birthdays

5 Mike Howard

6 Renee Gamble

13 Louise Smith

15 Nellie Fowler

16 Kathy Keadle

19 Eugene Fullen

Tonja Hamrick

22 LauraAnn Tiller

23 Linda Dyer

25 Barbara Dotson

29 Cassie Fisher

November Birthdays

1 Sue Morgan

2 Tim Halloran

5 Carl VanStavern

13 John Sauvage

14 Roberta Butcher

17 Charles Miller

18 Jane Hicks

21 Tim Scott

26 Patty Adkins

October Anniversaries

1 Sam & Betty Groves

16 Charles & Carolyn Wilson

25 Patricia & Gene Adkins

26 Pat & Meredith Gray

November Anniversaries

20 Jay & Mary Beth Cook

20 Teddy & Debbie Wilson

23 Phil & Marva Hickman

23 Tonja & Jerry Hamrick

26 Bev & Rudy Colombo

“Every day I recognize

the power of kindness to

change our world. I’ve

never been so convinced

that kindness is the es-

sential antidote to the

divisions and disconnec-

tions we’re seeing.”

—Daniel Lubetzky

5 Things I Need from a Sermon By Larry Buxton What do those in the pews and on line need from a sermon? Larry Buxton says it’s more than plati-tudes and common sense. An effective sermon needs to speak to people’s real needs and individu-al situations, challenge them with meaningful truths, share Jesus, and re-mind people that God is at work in our lives and the world. Since retiring from full-time parish ministry last year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit

different churches and hear many different sermons. It’s been a new experience to live a

non-parish-focused life during the week, then walk into church on Sunday and hear for

the first time a Scripture and sermon.

By hearing sermons all along the quality spectrum in a wide variety of denominations,

I’ve gotten clearer about what I’m most looking for in that preaching moment. Other peo-

ple often reflect on the welcome, the liturgy, the coffee, and so on. Here’s what I most

need from the few minutes that you stand in the pulpit.

1. I need your sermon to grab me. I need it to be important. Is there an insight or

action here that’s captured you, too? Your heart, your imagination, your mind? Has it

caused you to see things differently? If it’s important to you, I’ll hear your passion, no

matter how you speak. If it’s not significant to you, then volume or humor won’t matter.

2. I need your sermon to pinch me. I need to hear a gospel that isn’t like ordinary

life. Call into question what I take for granted. Make me wince at how I live. Jesus’ early

preachers didn’t “turn the world upside down” by sharing simple platitudes and common

sense. The good news in your sermon needs to address with strong medicine some star-

tling realizations about my life.

3. I need to hear about Jesus. I know sometimes your sermon is from Exodus or

Amos and you want to honor the integrity of that text. But these are all Scriptures of our

Christian church. There’s not a God-action anywhere in the Bible that doesn’t align with,

and gain power from, the story of Jesus. “God” can sound vague after a while. Every Sun-

day, say something about Jesus. (And remember, Jesus was never boring.)

4. I need to know God is doing something. If I leave thinking it’s up to me to make

these noble changes, then even if God is “with” me, you’ve told me Jesus is just a by-

stander and a judge. If it’s up to me to give more, try harder and do better, that’s a heavy

burden to carry. But if I know Jesus is still working today — creating, healing, speaking,

redeeming, forgiving — then I want to pitch in and help him do that good work.

5. I need your sermon to help me. “What’s in it for me?” sounds like a selfish ques-

tion. I know all too well how you may need to preach about the budget, salute moms and

dads, build up the choir, and honor the Scouts. But all of us who have come want to hear

something that helps our individual situation. Fosdick once said, “No one goes to church

to hear what happened to the Jebusites.” Make it personal. Please talk to me.

The United Methodist Church

Greenbrier District

PO Box 764

Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901

“We rarely ever see the full spectrum of God’s plan, and our

simple deeds can spiral into much bigger blessings.”

—Delilah

“Counting your blessings builds up your thank account.”

—Thomas Butler

“Be A Blessing.” Three simple words, but what a profound im-pact we experience when we

act on them.”

—Debbie Macomber