Richmond District Opportunities

February is Heart Havens Month!
Heart Havens provides residential services for men and women with intellectual disabilities through the development and operation of group homes across Virginia. With your help, Heart Havens is able to support 55 adults in 12 Christ-centered homes; offering individuals supported independence and providing their families with peace of mind. Your financial gift, or a gift of your time, talent or service, can make a profound difference in the life of your neighbor living in a Heart Havens’ home. This February, Heart Havens will send materials to your United Methodist Church. If you would like a Heart Havens representative to speak to your church group or congregation, please call Heart Havens at 237-6097. Speaking points will be included in the materials being sent to your church. Local churches are asked to have someone in your church speak for Heart Havens. One Sunday out of the year is all it takes to change a life.

5 Talent Academy
How do we raise resources during these challenging times? How do we encourage generosity when so many seem to be just keeping their heads above water? How do we use technology to help our people respond liberally? These questions and others will be addressed at the next gathering of the 5 Talent Academy 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 19, at Floris UMC, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon. Consultant Ted Hart will offer practical stewardship advice. This is a great opportunity to bring Finance Committee members and anyone else who needs to hear a helpful word on stewardship during these tough times. If your church has not yet signed up to be a part of the Academy, now is the time to join. For more information email or call 521-1155.

UMW Hearts for Justice Tea
The Richmond District United Methodist Women will meet Saturday, February 19, 10 a.m.-12 noon, at Ginter Park UMC, 1010 W. Laburnum Avenue, for their Hearts for Justice Tea. Come enjoy tea, table conversation and a time of learning together. Bring your favorite teacup. Tea and finger food will be provided. Then the District UMW will hold their Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 26, 8:30-11 a.m. at Belmont UMC, 3510 Broad Rock Boulevard. The theme is “Finding Peace: Loving God and Loving Our Neighbor.” The speaker will be the Rev. Janice Prentace, pastor, Bermuda Hundred UMC. The Mission Emphasis will be the food pantry of Belmont UMC. Participants are invited to bring canned goods, any size or variety. Reservations may be made by sending a check for $7 per person, payable to the Richmond District UMW, to Mary Jo Whipple, 1753 Raintree Commons Drive, Henrico, VA, 23238-4222. The reservation deadline is March 12. For more information, call 795-1208.

Reveille Spiritual Retreat
Are you over burdened with the demands of family life, work and, yes, church? Come and refresh your soul at the 5th annual Spiritual Life Retreat at Reveille UMC, 4200 Cary Street Road, on Saturday, February 19. Denise Bennett, the spiritual guide for the day, is a professional storyteller and a chaplain at the Hermitage in Richmond. She is also a gifted musician and will be playing the harp to calm and sooth us. Denise will help us to survive the seasons of our lives and help us to put God at the center, no matter how busy we are. The Spiritual Life Retreat is sponsored by the Reveille United Methodist Women and is open to all women in the Richmond District and beyond. Childcare will be provided. Registration and coffee begins at 8.30 a.m. and the event will conclude with lunch at 12 noon. The cost for the morning is $25. This includes materials and guest speaker, welcome coffee and breakfast snacks, a lunch of crab cakes (or chicken) with coleslaw, corn bread and Key Lime pie for dessert. For registration information call Lili Boyd 763-5655.

Celebrate Life
Good Shepherd UMC, 9155 Hungary Road, is presenting a 70’s musical about the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus: Celebrate Life by Buryl Red and Regan Courtney. The musical will be performed on Sunday evening, May 1. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, March 16, 7-7:30 in the sanctuary. All parts are needed. No auditions are necessary. Please contact Tom Heaton at if you’re interested in being part of this celebration.

Mission Opportunities
Being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ means showing His love to our brothers and sisters through our acts of compassion. Our Conference Mission Opportunities booklet has many missionaries and mission projects that need our financial support and prayers. All of us working together make mission possible. Your little and my little add up to a lot when we put them in God’s hands. This month I would like to lift up United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond/Shalom Farms (UMUMR). This organization in our own backyard works for food security, educational supports and faith development in Richmond primarily through an organic farm and related community and faith-based programming. Volunteers are needed to work with inner-city youth to help them experience the great outdoors. You can learn more about UMUMR by going to their Web site . Financial support is needed for Shalom Farms’ planting and harvesting of vegetables that are distributed in the inner city. Shalom Farms is located at Westview-on the James. Please mark the dates of October 15-16 on your calendar for our district Mission Event and watch for more information. (Linda Porter, Richmond District Mission Coordinator)

Investment Seminar Offered
The Virginia United Methodist Credit Union (VUMCU) is offering an investment seminar to church members of the Virginia Conference 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, February 12, at the Virginia United Methodist Conference Center in Glen Allen. Sue Lewis, a VUMCU board member and retired financial advisor, will be the speaker. During her 25 years as a financial advisor, she worked for UBS, PaineWebber and A.G. Edwards. She will discuss the basics of investing, ranging from types of investments to personal risk tolerance. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and registration is required. Email Janie Hightower at to reserve your spot.

This Spring…
Come on the Alaskan Sawyer Glacier Cruise with Bishop Robert E. Fannin speaking on “A Masterpiece...God’s Creation and the Word,” May 20-27. This is an Educational Opportunities Tour with a 1-day optional extension to Seattle. For more information, contact Rev. Lisa Sykes, 740-7128.

District Youth Retreat
The Richmond District Youth Retreat is scheduled for Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg on February 25-27. The retreat is open to all youth grades 6-12. The cost is $110 per person. Contact district youth coordinator Rick Vance at 512-9725 for registration information.

Westview Opportunities
*Middle School Confirmation Retreat; Following Jesus; March 25-27. Students will have the opportunity to see how Jesus lived his life and his effect on people. Youth will consider the experiences of their own lives in light of Jesus’ example and will be challenged to commit to Christ and Christ’s way. Students will be lead by former and current Westview staff as well as interaction with leaders from their home churches. Justin Hicks, youth director at River Road UMC, joins us as the weekend’s keynote speaker and Steve Kropp will lead us in energetic worship experiences. Register by March 12 for $92 per person.

*Middle School Confirmation Retreat: The Walk; May 13-15. Youth will encounter the commandments and the example of Jesus, recognize the need for trust and for action in response to Christ’s call, and strengthen their relationships with Jesus. They will be challenged to discover new ways to walk the talk. Confirmands will be lead by Westview staff in cooperation with youth pastors, Sunday school teachers, and Christian educators. Justin Hicks, youth director at River Road UMC joins us as the weekend’s keynote speaker and Steve Kropp will lead us in energetic worship experiences. Register by February 15 for the early-bird rate of $85 per person or by April 21 for $92 per person. On-line registration, as well as full brochures are available at .

UMMen Workday Planned
For the past two years, the UMMen of Cunningham UMC (Charlottesville District) and Welborne UMC (Richmond District) have joined together for a workday at Westview on the James. Other UMMen’s groups are invited to join this work team. Some of the projects worked on were electrical, plumbing, painting, roofing, tree trimming and general repairs. The workday is scheduled for Saturday, April 23. The day will start about 9:00 a.m. and finish up around 3:00 p.m. The group will receive a work list prior to arriving at the site. In the past Westview has provided tools and lunch. For more information call Emerson Shelton at 741-7266.

District Opportunities Calendar
February 3–UM Day at General Assembly, 323-9134.
February 12–Investment Seminar, VUMCC, 672-0200.
February 19–5 Talent Academy, Floris UMC, Herndon, 521-1155.
February 19–District UMW, Hearts for Justice Tea, Ginter Park UMC, 795-1208.
February 19–UMW Spiritual Life Retreat, Reveille UMC, 763-5655.
February 25-27–Lay Servants Academy, VUMAC, 521-1154.
February 25-27–Richmond District Youth Retreat, Eagle Eyrie, 521-1124.
March 20-21–VA PAUMCS Spring Retreat, Camp Overlook, 521-1124.
March 25-27–Confirmation Retreat, Westview on the James, 457-4210.
March 26–District UMW, Prayer Breakfast, Belmont UMC, 795-1208.
April 23–District UMMen Workday at Westview, 741-7266.
May 1–Celebrate Life, Good Shepherd UMC, 270-7613.
May 13-15–Conference UMW Spiritual Life Retreat, VUMAC, 795-1208.
May 13-28–Spanish Immersion Trip, 513-3291.
May 13-15– Confirmation Retreat, Westview on the James, 457-4210.
May 20-27–Alaskan Sawyer Glacier Cruise, 740-7128.
May 21–District UMW Mission Trip, Wesley Community Service Center, 795-1208.
June 15-19–Annual Conference, Roanoke Civic Center, 521-1124.
October 15-16–Richmond District Mission Event, 674-5520.
November 12–Richmond Marathon, 521-1123.