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Issue 4, 01 December 2010 |
Men gathered for breakfast, prepared by the Macedonia UMM, conducted a short |
business meeting, and concluded with an inspirational message from our District Superintendent, Rev Larry Thompson and music by Mr. Bill Stover, and Macedonia’s own UMM President, Mr. Alan Holland.
Mr. Herb Drake, current WDUMM President, opened the event with an explanation of this year’s theme. Mr. Drake stated, ―We come together today in celebration, not in celebration of our own good works, but in celebration of what John Wesley considered the path to Christian perfection. This is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. It is grace that draws us into perfect Christianity, which Wesley describes as having a heart filled with the love of God and our neighbors. Loving God always implies loving our neighbors for Wesley. Furthermore, the love God placed in a believer’s life always will naturally bring about a love for one another. This love is ongoing and always has the capacity to expand and grow. - This story continued on page 2 -”Around Winchester” section.
VAUMM 33rd Annual Spiritual Retreat Nov 5-7 2010
230 Men from around the Virginia Conference converged on Blackstone to hear Dr. Harding |
REMINDER: Our 34th Annual Virginia Conference UMMen’s Spiritual Retreat will take place November 4-6, 2011 with the Rev. Rob Renfroe. - For more on the 2011 Retreat and Rev. Renfroe click here
Around the Winchester District
“Fall Rally 2010” Continued…….| This years Fall Rally Guest Speaker was the Rev. Larry Thompson, current Winchester District Superintendent. Rev. Thompson’s message came from Luke 19:1-9 ―Zacchaeus The Tax Collector. In Rev. Thompson’s inspirational message he called on all men "to emulate Zacchaeus’ enthusiasm and excitement to get a glimpse of Jesus, and to bring that same enthusiasm in reaching out to others for Christ. ―Did you notice that once Zacchaeus climbed the tree, Jesus did the follow-up. Jesus zeroed in on him and gave him personal attention and affirmation. How did Zacchaeus respond? He QUICKLY descended from the tree and welcomed Jesus with DELIGHT. He had so much enthusiasm – so much presence of God within him – that he wanted to quadruple the penance for his sins!" |
| and current President of the Virginia Conference UMM was recognized for his years of service and dedication to the men of the Winchester District, the UMM, and the mis-sions and charities we support. Right—Mr. Darwin McAfee, retiring Chaplain, Winchester District, was recognized for his selfless service to the men of Winchester after seven consecutive years of service as Chaplain, to the District UMM Executive Committee, and his |
| Mr. Bill Stover headlined our musical program with his wonderful rendition of "How Great Thou Art". And led the men in our Virginia Conference Theme Song, "Rise Up, O Men of God". |
Our own Mr. Alan Holland, Macedonia UMM President also performed, singing "If We Ever Needed You" a song made famous by Casting Crowns. |
| Local UMM Fellowships & Churches Recognized— It is an annual challenge to all Winchester District Churches and UMM Fellowships, to meet or exceed a $1000.00 donation to benefit Heart Havens each year. The monies received first go to Winchester’s local home on Saratoga Drive in Kernstown, with residual amounts going to Heart Havens Inc. in Richmond Virginia. Recognized for their generous gifts for the 2009 year were a near record 15 UMM Fellowships including; Bethel UMM, Braddock Street UMM, Brucetown UMM, Burnt Factory UMM, Duncan Memorial UMM, First UMM, Front Royal UMM, Greenwood UMM, Kernstown UMM, Market Street UMM, Reliance UMM, Round Hill (L) UMM, Stephens City UMM, Strasburg UMM, and Welltown UMM |
It is also important to note that an additional 12 Churches on the Winchester District, should receive honorable mentions for their contributions of monies, time dedicated to the Saratoga House repairs, painting, lawn care and work-days; Austin Grove UMC, Behany UMC, Grace Middletown, Harmony UMC, Orlean UMC, Redland UMC, Ridings Chapel UMC, Round Hill (F) UMC, Toms Brook UMC, Warrenton UMC, Wesley UMC, and Woodstock UMC. Way to go Winchester District!!!!Mr. Jim Green reported on our Bowl A Thon which continues to be one of the three District fund raisers that provides an opportunity for the UMM Fellowships and District Churches to come together for some fun and| fellowship. The funds raised by the Bowl-A-Thon are for Heart Havens Homes and other ministries of the Winchester UMM. This year’s event was held at Northside bowling lanes on Satur-day, 20 February, after being postponed by one of the biggest snowstorms since 1922. 27 teams comprised of 104 bowlers from across the Winchester District enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and family fun. We were again blessed by a special team of 3 bowlers from Heart Havens, Inc who came all the way from Richmond to join with us giving us a total of 28 teams and 107 bowlers. We had young bowlers…down to age 4 as well as some seasoned bowlers. Averaged scores ranged from 26 pins to 207 |
| average of 127 pins for the three games. While the turnout for the Bowl-a-Thon was about the same as usual the income generated was less thanhalf of that in 2009 ($5,100 vs $2,300). Even so we are grateful to who came out to support of the Winchester District and the Heart Havens Homes of Virginia. Once again let me say that funds raised by the Bowl a Thon designated to Heart Havens counts as a donation toward the $1,000 Challenge pledge. Our 2011 Bowl a Thon is scheduled for Saturday, February 26th, 12-3 PM and the price will remain the same as last year, $9.00. |
| Mr. Fred Rathel reported on our 4th Annual 5K Run/1K Walk conducted at the Kernstown Battlefield and thru the Saratoga Home neighborhood, on Sat. Apr 24th with 75 runners participating in the 5K Run and 35 walkers for the special 1K walk. We were blessed by 17 sponsors and other contributions allowing us to raise over $2300.for Heart Havens! You're encouraged to join us as a Participant; a Worker; a Financial Contributor by sponsoring ... or ... all three (3), when our 5th Annual event is held next spring! |
| The "Camp Overlook Benefit Golf Tournament" held annually at Shenvalee Golf Resort in New Market, this year's event took place on Sat afternoon, Jun 5th ... You don't have to be much of a golfer ... actually ... you don't have to even be a golfer, to enjoy the fun and fellowship; the surround-ing beauty of God's wonderful creation; and, at the same time, help to raise much needed money for the Camp Overlook "Endowment" fund... |
Moneys raised for this cause, is always matched by Rev Ray Wren ... This year, $7,863. became $15,726. because of Rev Wren's love of Camp Overlook and his dedication to it's ministries and missions... Remember this "Endowment" in your personal and fellowship "giving"! Presently, this fund has accumulated $778,922.70 ... Well on its way to the $1M objective! You can help!! Do it!!
The Tri-District UMM "Spiritual" Retreat, held annually at Camp Overlook, took place on Mar 5th and 6th, with Chaplain Major Parks of VMI leading the Retreat! This takes place on a Fri evening and Sat morning with food, fun, and fellowship... as well as "The Spiritual Wisdom" which is always uplifting and well worth our time spent together! Join us next year!
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| Mr. Cunningham reported on our 14th Annual Bill Owen Memorial Golf Tournament, a continuing blessing in many ways. Our tournament was held in memory of Bill Owen, who as everyone remembers was a tireless worker for UMMen ministries. We were able to raise over $12,000 with this year’s event. Heart Havens continues to be the main beneficiary of our golf tournament and we certainly encour-age all of our fellowships’ to continue to support this event through participation and hole sponsors. This has been a very good fundraiser for us and we cannot do it alone. It takes each church, fellowship and man to make this event successful. We hope that each of you will con-tinue to support this worthwhile event. |
| Mr. Steve Cunningham reported on the 2010 Gleaning Season. Gleaning is the traditional Biblical practice of gathering crops that would otherwise be left in the fields to rot, or be plowed under after harvest. This year in the Shenandoah Valley we were able to glean corn, green beans, squash, peaches, apples, turnips among other pro-duce donated by very generous farmers. Mr. Cunningham reminded us that, "Gleaners are people of all ages and income levels who want to give of themselves. Within 48 hours of picking the produce, hungry Americans are usually eating the gleaned food. The Gleaning Network is an extremely successful and cost effective program because it is volunteer-driven and biblically-based." |
| The biblical mandate comes from Deuteronomy 24:19: "When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings." (NRSV). By relying on people seeking to put hands and feet to their faith and the generosity of many local farmers, we are able to keep our costs to about 2.6 cents per serving of gleaned food. |
| Mr. Green also reported on this years Spiritual Retreat in which 230 Men converged on Blackstone to hear Dr. Kevass Harding speak 4 times on the topic, Can we Talk; it’s time to Man Up. A Man in His right Place, A House is not a Home With-out God, A Father’s Role and A Committed Father. There were also 704 Boy Scouts camping out on the ground. Other events happening |
| Mr. Green reported on Local Fellowship Charters, of which we have 20 Fellow-ships that chartered in 2010 and 12 of the 20 took advantage of the savings offered to charter for two years. This means we already have 12 Fellowships that are chartered for 2011. Two more Fellowships, Harmony UMM and Woodstock UMM have already renewed their charters for 2011 just prior to the Rally and a third Fellowship’s charter just came in to be processed through the District Channel meaning we already have 15 Fellowships chartered for 2011. It is our goal to have 28 total chartered Fellowships on the Winchester District by January 15, 2012 which will bring our total chartered Fellowships |
The importance of the Charters as the life line of our General Commission of United Methodist Men (GCUMM) was stressed by our Conference President, Jim Green. The small chartering fee gathered from the local Fellowships supports the many Ministries to Men carried out by the GCUMM that enables us as one body to move forward in being Disciples of Jesus, calling other Men to become Disciples of Jesus, and to be engaged in becoming Spiritual Fathers that will keep the light of Christ shining out into a world that desperately needs a Saviour.
Mr. Don Bowman reported on Emmaus "A SHORT COURSE IN CHRISTIANITY' There are two Emmaus Communities in our area. Shenandoah Valley Emmaus covers Winchester, Harrisonburg and Staunton Districts holding their Walks at Camp Overlook in Keezletown. Loudoun Valley Emmaus covers Northern Virginia counties and holds their Walks at the 4-H Center near Front Royal. Men and Women hold seperate Walks in October and April each year. Emmaus is a 72 hour christian experience for those who want to know Jesus more fully. 
Mr. Bowman also reported that Heart Havens now has twelve homes in operation in Virginia with the Dedication of the new Ashland District Home in Ashland on the 12th. of December. Five homes were opened in the late 1990's and the first Heart Haven Home built from the ground up was the Winchester Home (Saratoga Home) on Saratoga Drive in Kernstown opening in October 2002. Since then, the seven recent Heart Havens homes were built on this template with slight modifications.
All twelve Heart Havens homes have been purchased or "built from the ground up" with monies raised United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, Youth and members and friends of United Methodist congregatons all over the State. Thanks for your generous partipation.
And last, but certainly not least, the Winchester District UMM have truly been blessed to be entering the 2011 year with a FULL CABINET of elected officers. It is such an honor and privilege (one I am truly humbled by) to be in service to God with such a fantastic group of Godly Men!! – Herb DrakeMr. Green presented the 2011 District United Methodist Men’s Slate of Officers. As a side note, going into the gathering we had only the two incumbents; President: Herb Drake, and Treasurer: Jim Rudisill; and one new member, VP for Membership and Administration: Alan Holland. Through the moving of the Holy Spirit in the men in attendance, we had an additional three men step up to the challenge of discipling men, VP for Spiritual Life: John Moore, Stephens City UMC, Secretary: Jack Turner, Stephens City UMC, and Chaplain: Bobby Dick, First UMC. These officers were elected and confirmed as your Winchester District 2011 UMM officers.| Dear Brothers & Sisters In Christ,I want to say that for me, this is a very exciting experience, in what promises to be a very exciting and spirit filled year ahead for the Winchester District UMMen’s organization, and the United Methodist church as a whole. I am deeply humbled by the fact that going into 2011 we will have a full cabinet of elected officers, and I find it somehow fitting God has poured out His grace on this humble band of brothers, during a year we chose as our Fall Rally theme, "A Celebration". As was stated at the Rally, |
“We come together today in celebration, not in celebration of our own good works, but in celebration of what John Wesley considered the path to Christian perfection. This is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. It is grace that draws us into perfect Christianity, which Wesley describes as having a heart filled with the love of God and our neighbors.”I want to personally thank our new cabinet members as they have stepped up to answer "the love God has placed in the believer’s life". It is a great honor for me to welcome Mr. John Moore (Stephens City UMC) as our Vice President For Spiritual Life, Mr. Alan Holland (Macedonia UMC) as our Vice President For Membership & Administration, Mr. Bobby Dick (First UMC) as our Chaplain, and Mr. Jack Turner (Stephens City UMC) as our Secretary. I know that you will join me in applauding these men for their commitment to their Faith, their dedication to the men of the Winchester District, and their desire to share their personal relationships with God, with all men. In the words of Dr. Harding (2010 speaker at the Virginia Conf. Spiritual Retreat in Blackstone), “it’s time to man-up”, and I assure you that each of these men exemplify that ideal.I’d like to also share with you my thoughts on our 2011 challenge for men's ministry. We have 95+ churches spread out across several counties all the way from Frederick to Shenandoah, to Fauquier, to Loudoun (at least for now). Our Wesleyan heritage is one which is "small group" oriented, and we have done men's group well. But as we all know, doing group does not necessarily bring other men to Jesus Christ, as much as it sustains, strengthens, and grows our relationship with God, for those who choose to attend. Have we missed opportunities to intentionally disciple and mentor others to become followers of Jesus Christ? As we stretch ourselves from men doing only "group" to men doing ministry, it will be a challenge, because it is very difficult to fix something that many view as unbroken. Please pray that the men's ministry leaders at all levels within the Winchester District, will see and understand Christ's purpose for being men who make a difference in their families, churches, and communities. We are blessed to have a District Superintendent that recognizes the importance of spiritually healthy men effectively leading our families and churches. I can also assure you, that you have a WDUMM Executive Committee that is committed to supporting our local Fellowships through funding, encouragement, equipping and empowering our local leaders to reach their men.As creation unfolds before our appreciative eye, 2011 will find the Winchester District UMM, unified and supportive through coaching relationships with local Men's Ministry leaders, fully enabled by God’s Grace, through Faith in our Saviour Jesus Christ, and on the move, empowered by the Holy Spirit. May God’s Grace become not only inherent to us, but intrinsic in each of us, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and work as co-creators of His Kingdom, in the coming year.Now is the time to man-up and move out for Christ !!Grace & Peace To You, Herb Drake
| A special note of recognition, the Shenandoah Area Council has a new Scout Executive and his name is Stuart A. Williams. This is the hundred year anniversary of the BSA in America and the Shenandoah Area Council had many events to celebrate. Two of the major events were the Scout A Rama at the fairgrounds in Woodstock with over 1700 participants and the other one was participation in the 2010 Apple Blossom parade in May. |
Some Scouting participation statistics for this year include; Cub Scouts 1636 members, Boy Scouts 1299 members, Venturers 226 members, and Adults 1775. We also recognized ADVANCEMENTS; There are 50 Eagle Scouts to date, 250+ Boy Scout Rank Advancements Earned, 1000+ Boy Scout Merit Badges Earned, and 3000+ Cub Scout Badges Earned.
Our Finance recap includes income raised by Friends of Scouting $234,793, Special Events $71,710, Gifts in Kind $9,058 and Total Self Generated $315,561
What a Great Scouting for Food Drive we had this year. We had 24 Units Participate this year (4 of those will be hold-ing their Drives in December) and as of right now we have collected 15059lbs of Food for the Local Food Pantries.
Just think about that, the Scouts in the Shenrapawa District collected 7 1/2 TONS OF FOOD!!!!!
Thank You, to You and Your Scouts for getting involved in the community, making them better citizens, and making things just a little nicer for people who really need it
You can help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting in the United States. Check out the Shenandoah Area Council web site at http://www.sac-bsa.org/ - Yours In Scouting, Pat Lund
| Reminder, The District UMMen’s website is available and we try to update it frequently. Today you can find pages for District Cabinet Executive Committee members; UMMen’s Calendar, Resources (for your fellowship); Ministry Partners, News and Notes, a Chartered Fellow-ships page; and our BLOG. Additionally there are many useful links to Heart Havens, Camp Rainbow and Overlook, Scouting and EMAUS Walks. Find electronic publications like "The Circuit Rider"; "Wesleyan Report", "UMMens Magazine", "UM Reporter" and others. And DON’T FORGET to add your fellowship’s events to our calendar! Go there now |
