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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 14, Issue 2 A newsletter for the Pastors and Lay Leadership of the Charlottesville District February 2016
Contributions
$57,808 as of 12/31/15
$400,000 Goal
Do you like to BOWL?Would you like to BOWL for a good cause??? The Charlottesville District Mission Team is planning a bowling event in support of Heart Havens... "Bowling for a Cause", to be held on Sunday afternoon, February 14, from 2-4 PM at Keglers Bowling Alley. The District Mission Team is currently putting together 10 teams of 6 people. (NO degree of skill or prior bowling experience is required). Shoe rental is free and plenty of bowling balls will be available.
Each TEAM Member is asked to get pledges from ANYONE who will donate any amount of money from $1.00 to $100.00. The TEAM is responsible for raising a minimum of $600 total. Of course, we would love to raise more. If you would like to sponsor a TEAM or a member of a team, your check can be made to the Charlottesville District UMC with Heart Havens Bowling Event in the Memo line. All proceeds will be used to help build/buy a residential facility in the Charlottesville District for adults with intellectual disabilities.
If you have ANY questions or would like to sign up for a team or as an individual, please contact Deb Reynolds [email protected] or give her a call 434- 295-8217. You can help build “the community that love built” in the Charlottesville District! Help us “open a heart.”
Kudos to Stanardsville United Methodist who has already put a team of 6 people together. Hearts off to you!!
Heart Havens Donations
The above donation button is located on the home page of the Charlottesville District website. http://charlottesvilledistrictumc.org. This is a secure website, through PayPal, where you can go to donate to Heart Havens.
Blackstone Cross TalkTo read the newsletter with information about all of the activities provided at Blackstone, go to www.vumac.org. Click on the blue bar: “Blackstone Cross Talk,” and it will open the newsletter for you to read.
An early start to spring cleaningAlthough Lent starts early this year, before spring appears in many areas, it’s an appropriate time for spring cleaning. Indeed, Lent comes from old German and English words for “spring.” So, while it might be too soon to open windows or hang clothes on the line, now is ideal for some spiritual spring cleaning.
Lent calls us to examine our beliefs, confess and dispose of old grudges and selfish habits, dust off our Bibles for a new routine of study and prayer, air out our hearts and brighten up our attitudes. “Lent cleaning” lets the Holy Spirit freshen our faith – and it’s never too early for that.~Reprinted from Newsletternewsletter, Feb. 2016 issue
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Michael Joiner – God’s Smart Aleck!
Michael Joiner is funny. Very funny. 1st Place winner of the Hollywood Improv’s “FUNNIEST COMIC IN L.A.” 2008, and 2010 Christian Music Hall of Fame “COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR” nominee, Joiner has attracted wide praise for his routines that blend a sarcastic edginess with a devotion to clean humor. Joiner has headlined at The LA AREA Improvs, The Funny Bone, The Ice House and other comedy clubs across the country while also performing at colleges and sold out Clean Comedy Concerts nationwide. He’s also written for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”
Michael has been performing nationwide for over 18 years and is rated one of the nation’s funniest Clean Stand up Comedians. The TV Guide Network calls Michael “One of the funniest, most original, stand up Comedians working today!”In 2006, Michael was one out of only four Comedians chosen worldwide to star in the top selling DVD, “The Clean Stand Up Comedy Tour.”Michael has also starred in the Hit Comedy TV show “Bananas,” as well as The Gospel Music Channel”s “Stand up for Clean Comedy.”
Check out www.Eventbrite.com and type in Michael Joiner. He is a Christian comedian. There you will find three shows that the C’ville District Vision team for Heart Havens is sponsoring as a fundraiser for the apartment project. The shows are April 29, 2016 at 7pm at Culpeper Baptist Church and April 30, 2016 at 3 and 7pm at the C’ville High School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center. We have created facebook events for the Michael Joiner concerts: Michael Joiner Culpeper Event Michael Joiner 3 pm Event Michael Joiner 7 pm event
Youth Ministry
Hello everyone, Hope you are enjoying the snow and staying warm and safe. Because of this storm, I am going to make the deadline for the retreat February 1st with no penalty. The cost will be $40 up to February 1st. We still will not be able to take registrations after that date.
Reminder!Fifth Sunday Praise and Worship
Our next one is May 29, 20163:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Bring the family and enjoy fun, fellowship, worship and praise with friends from around the Charlottesville District. Save your plastic grocery bags and bring them to the retreat. NOTE: The speakers for the retreat are two men who were homeless and who are now working with TOP (Teens Opposing Poverty). They have powerful testimonies to share with the youth. Stay warm and safe.Rebecca
Save the Date!District Youth RetreatFebruary 26-28, 2016
We will be collecting Toiletries for TOP and Campbell Soup Labels for Henry Fork Service Center. Each church is challenged to raise at least $150 so we can have another Stop Hunger Now packaging event.
Like us on Facebook at Charlottesville United Methodist District Youth.
Wesley FoundationNadia Bolz-Weber, founding pastor of the House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado, is visiting UVA in March! She is the author of “Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint” and her latest book, “Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” She’s a popular speaker who preaches prophetically while maintaining a surprisingly salty vocabulary.
Nadia will lead a vespers worship service at St. Mark Lutheran on Friday, March 18th at 7:30pm (stmarklutheran.org).
On Saturday, March 19th at 1pm in Newcomb Hall Theater, Nadia will give a public talk as part of the Festival of the Book, entitled, “Finding God in All the Wrong People” (virginia.edu/deanofstudents/eventplanning/newcomb-hall-theatre/).
The Wesley Foundation, St. Mark Lutheran, St. Paul’s Memorial, and the UVA Department of Religious Studies are partnering to sponsor this visit. Both events are free and open to the general public. Directions and parking info can be found at the link for each venue.
The Rev. Deborah E. LewisCampus Minister & DirectorThe Wesley Foundation at UVA434-977-6500www.wesleyatuva.orgFind us on Facebook
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Charlottesville District Lay Servant Ministries Rev. John C. Ward - District DirectorGreetings from your District Lay Servant Ministries! My name is John Ward and I have been appointed as your new director of the Charlottesville District Lay Servant Ministries. I am currently appointed as the pastor of Mt. Moriah UMC in the village of White Hall – about 15 minutes west of Charlottesville. I am also a local high school football coach, serving as an assistant coach at the Blue Ridge School in Greene County.
I am an ordained Elder in the UMC and have served as a pastor for 23 years. I am also wrapping up my Doctor of Ministry degree at Liberty University with a specialization in homiletics.I have a great passion for preaching as well as a passion for the encouragement and training of potential preachers. That’s why I am so excited about this opportunity! I look forward to working with our Lay Servants and providing the best leadership, training and encouragement I possibly can. I wish to express my appreciation to Evelyn Jones, who provided great leadership for this committee for several years. Plans are in the works to provide a Lay Servant Academy for our District. My hope is to have a major program in place for this fall – most likely in September or October of 2016 offering at least three or four classes in a convenient location in the center of our District on a weekend. I want to invite your ideas as well as hear your vision for our ministry for the upcoming year(s). Please feel free to call or email me with any ideas, visions, thoughts or concerns at any time! I am here for you!In other upcoming news and events:The Virginia Conference Lay Servant Academy will be held February 26-28, 2016 at the UM Center in Blackstone. The Academy is about equipping Laity (those who are not clergy) to carry out the mission of the church. All of the courses offered are open to anyone who would like to take one. Each course is designed to help those serving the local church learn more about leadership, personal faith development, and a deeper understanding of the United Methodist Church. Lay Servant Ministries offers two avenues of recognition and training that go beyond the local church. Many of the courses offered this year will support those who are seeking to become Certified Lay Servants and Lay Speakers.For Registration Contact: Cyndi Vanzant [email protected] (434)292-5308 Other Questions: Beth Christian [email protected] (804) 347-5999 For more information about Lay Servant Ministries in general please contact me at: [email protected] (434) 823-9557There is also a new format for training to be available on line. For several years there have been courses available online where the actual presentation is only live. Some classes have been available one night a week for several weeks at a scheduled time. Now we have, On Demand Learning, where the student can participate any time for the amount of time they are available. The class schedule is their schedule. All the classes can be used for Lay Servant recertification. The general United Methodist
website (umc.org) has more information concerning this innovative way to participate in Lay Servant Courses (Look under Lay Servant Ministries).John
Lenten ChallengeThis past summer, I had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a program called the Clergy Health Institute sponsored by Pfeiffer University in North Carolina.
We learned lots about health, exercise, etc. while staying at Lake Junaluska. The Virginia United Methodist Pensions, Inc. (VUMPI) offered me a scholarship.
As part of the program, we have follow up meetings and our group is trying an experiment and I wanted to invite you to join in as well, IF you desire.
During Lent, I am going to try the 5-2 Plan. Basically, you eat your normal, healthy, way for five days in a week and fast two days in the week.
On fast days it is recommended that women have 500 calories and men can have 600 calories. It is suggested fast days would be like Tuesday and Thursday. Basically, not back to back on fast days.
Google Michael Mosley to learn more about the plan.
If interested, please let me know and I can email you the handout I received about Intermittent Fasting and some of the benefits.
I am trying this first as a spiritual discipline and second in an effort to improve my health. You up for the 40 day journey/challenge?
Danny J. KesnerCharlottesville District Superintendent
District UMWFebruary 4UMW members are invitedto attend the UM Day at General Assembly on Thursday, February 4 in Richmond. For more information, anyoneinterested should contact District UMW President, Dian McNaught,[email protected] or District UMW Social Action Coordinator, WillowDrinkwater, [email protected]
March 5Charlottesville District UMW 'Clusters' Lenten Spiritual retreat. The title of the retreat is “Fill My Cup.” It will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Light continental breakfast; bring your own sack lunch.
Locations are: North cluster – Trinity Orange UMCSouth cluster - Nelson UMCCentral cluster - Wesley Memorial UMCEast cluster - Mount Pleasant UMC
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New Bethel Renovations
Danny, Happy New Year and may God continue to bless you
in all you do to glorify him in your life and as you lead the Charlottesville District. Many thanks for your help in getting to the current accessibility grant application process. As you know, you signed the application and we put it in the mail on 12/14/15. I discussed the application with someone at the conference on the grants committee and we received a check dated 1/7/2016. New Bethel UMC received the maximum grant of $700.00.
Also, on behalf of all members of New Bethel UMC, I want to thank you for the District gift of $500.00 that you presented to me on 12/14/2015.
Our upgrade is complete (some exterior painting remains when the weather warms up) and the occupancy certificate approved. The conference grant and the district gift are really inspiring blessings that reflect the true love of God's Kingdom through the greater UMC church family. Our small rural church has been truly touched by that love. Thank You!-James Payne
Reprinted from NewsletterNewsletter, Feb. 2016 issue
Bishop's Convocation on Prayer - March 5The Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer will be held Saturday,
March 5, at Trinity UMC, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond. Theme is "Deepening Discipleship: Piety and Mercy through Prayer." Plenary speaker will be Dr. Frederick Schmidt, Reuben P. Job Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.
More info go to-http://www.vaumc.org/ncfilerepository/Events/2016BishopsConvobrochure.pdf
Prayer Covenant Congregation GatheringOn Palm Sunday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m., Bishop Young Jin Cho will be on the Charlottesville District at Aldersgate UMC, 1500 E. Rio Road, C’ville, Va.
All prayer covenant churches and anyone interested in prayer are invited to this gathering. Bishop Cho will offer some encouraging words, as well as, hear how prayer has changed or transformed us.
The Bishop would also like to hear about any useful resources you have used on the subject of prayer. We will close praying together for a renewal and revival of our churches!
Invite a friend! Everyone, laity and clergy, are invited to this gathering with Bishop Cho!
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Credit Union Loans“The Virginia United Methodist Credit Union currently has church vehicle loans starting as low as 2.20% APR. Contact Mike at 804-672-0200 or email: [email protected] for details or to apply. All loans are subject to approval and credit restrictions apply”
Janie HightowerMarketing ManagerVirginia United Methodist Credit Union(804) 672-0200 Office
(804) 672-0444 Faxwww.vumcu.org
Clergy/Family Epiphany PartyWillis Chapel UMC on the Rappahannock Charge hosted the C'ville DistrictClergy/Family Epiphany Party on Saturday, January 09, 2016.It was a terrific event!!!
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The United Methodist Church
Charlottesville District Office 914 E. Jefferson St., Suite 104Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 http://CharlottesvilleDistrictUMC.org Email: [email protected]
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Newsletter Deadline - February 15Please send your submissions for the March 2016 issue ofThe Ambassador to Carol Frost at [email protected] by February 15.
The Ambassador by emailIf you would like to receive The Ambassador by email, or if your email address has changed recently, please send an email to the District Office with your request to [email protected].
February 4 UM Day at General Assembly in RichmondFebruary 14 Bowling for a Cause, Keglers Bowling AlleyFebruary 15 Deadline for the March issue of The AmbassadorFebruary 26-28 District Youth RetreatFebruary 26-28 VA Conference for Lay Servant Academy
March 5 Charlottesville District UMW 'Clusters' Lenten Spiritual retreatMarch 5 Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer at Trinity UMCMarch 8 5 Talent AcademyMarch 18-19 Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks at The Wesley FoundationMarch 20 Prayer Covenant Congregation Gathering
April 29 Michael Joiner at Culpeper Baptist ChurchApril 30 Michael Joiner at C’ville High School-MLK, Jr. Performing Arts Center
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