THE AMBASSADOR



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 3 A newsletter for the Pastors and Lay Leadership of the Charlottesville DistrictMarch 2016 Heart Havens DonationsThe above donation button is located on the home page of the Charlottesville District website. . 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 . Click on the blue bar: “Blackstone Cross Talk,” and it will open the newsletter for you to read.United Methodist Online coursesYou’re invited to participate in United Methodist-specific online courses, designed to better equip you and your ministry. Registration ends Mar. 8, so get in while there’s room. Course titles include: “Increase the Vitality of Your Church,” “Train Like a Pro,” “Engage your church and community digitally,” “Take Your Church’s Hospitality to the Next Level.”To read about the courses and to sign up, go to . (Copy and paste in your browser.) You will earn CEU credits for these classes.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 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 EventMichael Joiner 3 pm EventMichael Joiner 7 pm eventYouth MinistryHello everyone,?Reminder!Fifth Sunday Praise and WorshipOur 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.RebeccaDistrict Youth RetreatFebruary 26-28, 2016We 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 (). ?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 UVA434-977-6500Find us on FacebookCharlottesville 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 CyndiVanzant@ (434)292-5308 Other Questions: Beth Christian bethchristian@ (804) 347-5999 For more information about Lay Servant Ministries in general please contact me at: revjohn71@ (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 () has more information concerning this innovative way to participate in Lay Servant Courses (Look under Lay Servant Ministries).JohnDistrict UMWMarch 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 UMCBishop's Convocation on Prayer - March 5?04508500The 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- 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 Praise Band from Aldersgate will be providing some music.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!Zion United Methodist ChurchZion UMC is excited to announce the addition of a new contemporary service to our Sunday?morning worship. "The Lighthouse" features?uplifting and?current music, a fun and unique?KidZone, coffee and breakfast goodies, Children's Church,?and a dynamic message?from Pastor David Lagerveld! "The Lighthouse" is being held in the gym at Zion and?starts at 9:45am.???Zion invites you to come as you are,?and experience?worship?in a new and special way!?Zion is located conveniently off route 250 near Zion Crossroads. 1674 Zion Road Troy, VA 22974. | ZionUMC | 434-589-1665 | info@ | Traditional Worship 8:15am & 11:15am | Contemporary 9:45am1280160127000Bowling for a Cause What an awesome time we had on Sunday, Feb. 14 while Bowling For A Cause.?If you missed the video that was aired on CBS 19, you can go to and type in the search box bowling for a cause.? You can?watch the video and read the article.?There are also two links which you may want to check out. This has been great advertising!? We raised a bit over $4,000.?Not too?bad for two hours of fun.?Thanks to each of you for getting your teams together and supporting our Charlottesville Apartment Project. And thanks Kim for giving such an awesome interview to CBS 19 on short notice.? I don't like to be on camera. We had wonderful fellowship together. GOD IS GOOD.Blessings,Deb ReynoldsThank you from Wesley UVA!We are thankful to the churches of the Charlottesville District for your support of campus ministry! In addition to the District’s annual support, churches like Aldersgate, First, Ivy Creek, and Wesley Memorial make additional annual pledges from their own budgets. We want to take this moment to give them a “shout out” in gratitude. These pledges are a tremendous help to us as we make plans and set budgets each year, and they are also a statement of faith, that our Church knows the importance of being with students in their college years. Thank you!Some of the highlights of our ministry this academic year, include: spending Thursday nights enjoying home-cooked meals from churches like yours throughout the District, while exploring topics from the Syrian crisis to the Black Lives Matter movement at UVA to listening for the Holy Spirit in “secular” music to learning about our upcoming General Conference; gathering for a “Refresh Your Spirit” retreat at Wintergreen; visiting the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women to help lead worship; slowing down for special weekly worship services in Advent and Lent; partnering with Wesley Memorial to welcome the PACEM men’s shelter; and baking 200 dozen cookies to help support our interfaith spring break service trip to Tuba City, Arizona, where we’ll be living on a Reservation, serving, and learning from the Navajo people, alongside our Jewish friends from the University’s Hillel group.In March, we will welcome Lutheran pastor, writer, and speaker Nadia Bolz-Weber, who will lead a vespers worship service on Friday, March 18th at 7:30pm, at St. Mark Lutheran Church. On Saturday, March 19th at 1pm, she will speak as part of the Festival of the Book, reflecting on “Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Both events are free and open to the general public, and we’d be delighted to see some of our Charlottesville District friends that weekend.As you know, we have also been engaged in our Building a Foundation for the Future capital campaign, which has raised $785,000 in gifts and pledges so far! In the fall we began work on a limited “phase one,” as we continue to work towards our total fundraising goal. It’s never too late to help support our campus ministry through your gifts, pledges, prayers, and support. Our Board is comprised of people from around the District, many churches help provide Thursday night dinners for students, others take up special offerings for the ministry, we’ve been invited to help make apple butter at one church, and a member from another has graciously provided her time and expertise to conduct our annual financial review. Have an idea about how your church can connect with us? Contact campus minister Deborah Lewis to chat: deborah@Thank you for helping us provide “a place to be and become” for students navigating their college years and growing into deeper expressions of their Christian faith! Part-time Accountant PositionCulpeper UMC is seeking a part-time Accountant with current accounting experience. The primary task of the Accountant is to provide appropriate and accurate accounting records and financial statements to the church and it's ministries. We are looking for someone who has a love for Christ and people. Job description and application are on the CUMC website. employment.Applications and resumes can be emailed to Pam Wyke –SPRC Chair at pjw3340@ or sent to the church at 1233 Oaklawn Drive, Culpeper, Va. 22071 Attention: Pam Wyke SPRC Chair.2308860-1714500Leapin’ Leprechauns! Teens, join us at Jump for a leapin’ good time on Friday, March 18 from 7-9 pm. Jump is rented out only for our group. All proceeds go to Belize mission trip. Bring friends! All are invited!Cost: $20—bring to Jump the day of the eventDrinks and snacks are available for a small fee.Parents need to complete the waiver and email to Amy Turner. Contact Amy tor Rev. Jessica Fuller at to get a copy of the waiver ahead of time.RSVP to amyturnerrn@ or text to 434-284-2622.Rescue Squad AvailableBrothers & Sisters in Christ,The Madison County Volunteer Rescue Squad has a rescue squad available free to a good home. At this time we are putting out feelers to see if such a home exists. Final approval still awaits our board's decision. We would prefer it went to a location that is in need of a primary ambulance and not as a secondary one.Due to how the ambulance was decommissioned, it can no longer serve as an ambulance in the state of VA. This has nothing to do with mechanics, and everything to do with the terms of the grant used to purchase its replacement.?Our next Board meeting to formally approve giving away the unit is 3/8.??Please feel free to contact me directly.?Blessings & Peace!?Rev David LeFon?434-466-2321Thank you from Westview on the JamesDear Charlottesville United Methodist District,On behalf of the Board of Directors and camp staff of Westview, thank you for supporting our outdoor ministry with a gift. Your gift of $2,000.00 toward a bouldering wall is greatly appreciated and will benefit the thousands of children and adults who come to this “place apart” to listen, learn, recreate and grow as a disciple in Christ.Camp is a special place that can offer life enriching moments. They can happen during a weekend retreat, a family camping trip, mission outreach or a week of summer camp. The combination of being away with friends or friends you just met in the beauty of the outdoors with caring leaders opens up the possibilities for real discussion and learning. This time together can make a real difference in ones life and is sure to include fun and laughter in the mix. Thanks to you and other friends of Westview, your gift will allow us to make needed improvements and additions around camp that will allow us to provide quality facilities that will ultimately help individuals and groups grow and affirm their faith and expand their service as Christian disciples.Thank you again for your donation in affirmation and support of this ministry; it is appreciated. We hope to see you soon at camp!Sincerely,Pete AlbertExecutive DirectorWinter, 2016, Emanuel Youth Mission, P.O. Box 582, Lovingston, Virginia 22949-1143005524500 2016 began with exciting news for Emanuel Youth Mission. Marvin Benavides, our Salvadoran in-country missionary, enrolled at Liberty University to improve his English reading, writing and speaking skills. Hannah Helbert, a former mission team member, is a senior at LU and very kind to be our guide, introducing Marvin to LU. Out of 4 levels of English, he tested already in the 3rd level. It is now 2 weeks of classes, he is doing well, and making friends. Most of his classmates are oriental, so he has even learned a few words in Chinese.5029200292100002921000Coming to Virginia in January from tropical El Salvador, cold weather was an adjustment, and then we got “snow of the decade.” Again, mission friends who traveled to El Salvador have given him some new experiences. Many thanks to all who have welcomed Marvin so warmly!Yanci, our first mission sponsored student who has graduated from high school, is now being sponsored by Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston,?Virginia for college toward her medical?degree. She is in San Salvador, a big city and582930018415004000500184150028575001841500huge change from very rural Taura, but she is?adapting well, receiving the best grades from?her orientation class. She returns to Taura?every weekend to help manage the mission?projects and help with the Taura clinic,?which is held on Saturday. These pictures show her at work with a clinic patient, in the middle of her family, and working in her class at university. Thank you to all who donate for this opportunity, which will change Yanci’s life, her family and her whole community.05588000As good as 2016 began, the last half of 2015 was very hard for the people of Taura. Taura is an agriculural community that depends upon the 6 month rainy season to grow their annual food and income crops. This year, it did not rain, and the people lost all their crops. They were in serious trouble. Children were starving. EYM sent your very kind donations for emergency food supplies and seed, fertilizer and fuel to replant some irrigated fields. Marvin planted corn and beans while he continued to contact non-profit organizations in El Salvador for emergency food until that harvest.He finally received portions of lentils and rice for the people this autumn and then harvested the beans and corn around Christmas time to give to the people. The people praised God for His faithful provision, and EYM thanks all of you who donated as servant angels of God in this emergency.5257800-13144500228600-1714500Everyone did their part to help, young and old alike.Marvin’s daughter, Katy, is also helping.95250013906500Emanuel Youth Mission always has projects we pray to accomplish to help the people of Taura; however, we are also here as brothers and sisters in Christ when they have disasters and need our help. 100% of the funds you donate go to these projects and for emergencies like this. Listed below are some of the projects we continue as well as pray to be able to provide with your help.Sponsor students: $300 per student per year. Any contribution to Yanci’s college fund is appreciated.Sponsor medical clinic: $600/ month. Mosquito fumigation(Zika, Chickungunya prevention): $150Irrigation systems: $1,500 Food sustainability projects: $500 per familySolar panels for reverse osmosis clean water system: $10,000 to make electricity affordable and consistentTruck to deliver clean water: $30,000, Taura has only 1 truck with many obligations as the only community transportation/school bus and cannot deliver as much clean water as is possible and needed by more families.Funds to build church in neighboring community: $10,000Funds for church to help the people, Sunday school supplies, food for children, occasional community dinner: $400/monthAs you can see, mission friends, there is always much need. We greatly appreciate you partnering with us to be God’s hands and feet, to literally “feed my sheep”, as Jesus commanded us to do. All that Emanuel Youth Mission does we do in His name, to bring His love to the people and give them Hope. Taura has made much progress in 10 years, because you care. Children are surviving and thriving with clean water and medical care, receiving an education, and have prospects for a better future. All of you have made this difference! Thank you very much! Blessings to you and yours,John and Jonna Clarkson and Marvin Benavides Emanuel Youth Mission, P.O. Box 582, Lovingston, Virginia 22949Emanuel Youth Mission is a 501-c-3 non-profit charity. 100% of all donations go to the mission projects. 09271008382000Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. One gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy.A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ Risen.~ Mother Teresa251460072400080001098550013081000Remember to move your clocks FORWARD one hour, on Sunday, March 13 at 12:00 am54864000Non-profitOrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPermit No. 180Charlottesville Va00Non-profitOrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPermit No. 180Charlottesville VaThe United Methodist ChurchCharlottesville District Office 914 E. Jefferson St., Suite 104Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 Email: CharlottesvilleDistrict@ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTEDNewsletter Deadline - March 15Please send your submissions for the April 2016 issue ofThe Ambassador to Carol Frost at cifrost@ by March 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 CharlottesvilleDistrict@.February 26-28District Youth RetreatFebruary 26-28VA Conference for Lay Servant AcademyMarch 5Charlottesville District UMW 'Clusters' Lenten Spiritual retreatMarch 5Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer at Trinity UMCMarch 85 Talent AcademyMarch 18-19Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks at The Wesley FoundationMarch 20Prayer Covenant GatheringApril 29Michael Joiner at Culpeper Baptist ChurchApril 30Michael Joiner at C’ville High School-MLK, Jr. Performing Arts Center ................
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