GREENBRIER

GREETINGS

Contact Us

Greenbrier District

P O Box 764

Lewisburg, WV 24901

304.645.1357

greenbrierdis-

trict@suddenlinkmail.com

m_shortridge@hotmail.com

Visit us on the web at:

greenbrierwvumc.org

Melissa Shortridge, D. S. May & June 2018

Please join

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

For Way Forward

Conversations

Clergy & Laity are encour-

aged to attend.

Tuesday, April 24 at 1 &

6 p.m.

Perry Memorial United

Methodist Church

Shady Springs, WV

Mark Your Calendars for

the Greenbrier District

Conference!

Sunday, May 6, 2018

At 3:00 p.m.

Marlinton United

Methodist Church

806 6th Street

Marlinton, WV

Hope to see you there!

Greenbrier District

Conference

Hungry

Yet???

Mark Your Calendars for the Greenbrier

District Breakfast!

Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 7 a.m.

Pastors, retired pastors, lay delegates and family members are

all invited! Those newly appointed to the district as well as re-

tired clergy & family will be our guests. However, your reserva-

tions are still needed.

Please call 304.645.1357 or email greenbrierdistrict

@suddenlinkmail.com to save your space. Our number is lim-

ited, so don’t miss this opportunity. The cost is $10.00 with

checks made payable to the Greenbrier District.

Everyone is encouraged to wear your district t-shirt on that day.

( If you don’t have one, just let us know and we can remedy

that!)

Summer is just around the corner!

We have the “Rolling River Rampage” Super Starter Kit from

Cokesbury available through the District Office for churches to

borrow. Reservations have been made for part of the summer, If you would

like to take advantage of this kit, please call or email . We will try to arrange

a time for you. You can see the details of the kit on Cokesbury’s website:

https://www.cokesbury.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?

Vacation Bible School Opportunity

Cowen Trinity's three God and Me Award Recipients--Rihannon, Ava, and Leila., showing the

congregation some sign language they learned in Girl Scouts.

Part of New Hope’s collection for

C.O.M.E. It is filling almost half of the

vestibule!

Clergy Connections

Meeting

The next Clergy Connections Meet-

ing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15th at James Chapel United

Methodist Church in Clintonville, WV. This will be from 9:30

a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

Please call or e-mail the office if you are unable to attend.

(This meeting is required for all full-time pastors and highly

recommended for part-time.)

The WVCC 2018 Substance Use Disorder Conference will be May 31st at West

Virginia Wesleyan College. This conference will cover topics such as preven-

tion, stigma reduction, kinship care, and community action.

Registration for this conference is $15.00 which includes a free lunch provided

by the campus food services. The conference will run from 10 AM – 3:30 PM,

with registration sign-in starting at 9 AM outside of the Chapel. To attend this

conference you must register on line at :https://wvcc.givezooks.com/events/2018-

wvcc-substance-use-disorder-conference

West Virginia has the highest rate of overdose deaths in our nation. Substance

use disorder has become an epidemic in our state. It’s because of this reality

that the West Virginia Council of Churches has felt a call to action. The WVCC

has met with people throughout West Virginia during listening events aimed at

hearing the concerns, experiences, and stories of people affected in one way or

another by the consequences of substance use disorder.

The results of these events have become the motivation behind mobilizing

clergy and laity around this issue. Those results will be discussed during this

year’s conference. In addition, presenters from the front lines of the struggle

will share practical tips regarding Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, and Re-

covery.

This conference will be an opportunity for anyone from across the state to

learn more about the central issues connected with substance use disorder,

have a discussion around those issues, and take concrete, actionable solutions

back to their communities.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONFERENCE West Virginia Council of Churches

May 31, 2018

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Register at WVCC.org

Event is 10 AM—5:30 PM

$15—Includes Lunch

When : Saturday, April 28, 2018

Where: Jordan Chapel United Methodist Church,

Groves Road off Rt. 39 East , Canvas

What to bring: Monies from pre-event fund raisers. Church, charge or par-

ish checks made to West Virginia Conference Treasurer.

Items for the silent auction – please bring by 9 am. Please

have a minimum price. Please limit items to antiques, col-

lectibles, new items or crafts.

NO YARD SALE ITEMS!!

Donated items for emphasis mission:

Please make a monetary estimation of the total goods. Sug-

gestions for donations have been listed in Greenbrier Greet-

ings newsletters.

Personal funds to purchase silent auction items

A prayerful attitude for worship and fellowship

What we are doing: Continental breakfast : 8:30 am to 10:00 am

Silent Auction set-up : 8:30 am to 9:00 am

Mission Displays, fellowship time and silent auction bidding: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Worship and mission presentations: 11 am

Worship leader: TBA

Presentation of certificates to participating

churches: 12:00 noon

Lunch: 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm

Silent auction ends 1:00 pm

Celebration of Mission Event Please have this completed upon your

DONATED GOODS INVENTORY arrival at the event !!!!

Complete this form and bring it to the event on April 28th.

Bring only new items (check expiration dates). Home-canned foods cannot be accepted.

All undamaged, commercially packaged foods are appropriate.

Please estimate a total value for the items

Greenbrier District emphasis project for 2018 is Ebenezer Community Outreach

ITEM NUMBER OF ITEMS

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

_________ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE $___________________

GIVEN BY (church name)_________________________

2018 Celebration

of

Mission Event

There was a small church in a town.

Whose steeple was on upside down.

Instead of aiming toward God

It stuck its head in the sod,

And was blind to the needs all around.

The people who went to this place

Did not know it was causing disgrace

To their Bishop and to their DS

That they looked not at their own mess,

But found fault with those they did not embrace.

“What’s the matter with folks?” they would say

“In my day it was never this way.”

“In the choir we had nearly a dozen

Folks all related—aunts, uncles & cousins.”

Children came and they wanted to stay.

“Sunday School was my favorite spot.

We had classes from teen down to tot.

And for grownups we had quite a few;

One for ladies and men to name two.

Forget to attend? Oh no. We did not!”

“The meals we prepared were the best.

And the fellowship here would suggest

We were all family from the founders till now.

And we had more fun than good sense should allow.

Yes, you could say we’re all very blessed.”

“Yet, lately we seem to have changed.

Sunday School classes have rearranged.

Since the children are few and young people are fewer

The faces each week are much older, not newer.

So our fellowship times feel shortchanged.”

One day the small church had a meeting

To see what things they were needing

For making the pews look brand new

And walls painted a fresh modern hue.

Plus the flower beds could stand a weeding.

When suddenly a young man no one knew,

Wearing stained clothes and both dirty shoes

Appeared at the door, and then sat on the floor.

He looked all around but said nothing more

Except, “Hello. Nice Day. How are you?”

With surprise the group looked all round,

Hoping the reason could be found

For the stranger’s appearance in that place.

Oh, the discomfort that showed on the face

Of each one. Still he sat right there on the

ground.

Then with calm assurance he started to speak.

“I've watched as your gather here each week.

And it saddens me to say—though say it I must -

That you are making the wrong kind of fuss

“The hymns in your book tell of mercy and grace.

You could learn how to praise and could fill up this space

With the lost, sick and hurting. Your could bring cheer

To those filled with grief and bring happiness near.

Share my love, my promise, in this Holy place.”

“ With your hands raised in prayer we can talk, you and I.

Come to the altar, I am always nearby.

Don’t worry about what the others do.

When they are ready they will come to me, too.

When we work together then they can see why.” “This structure you call church is just cement and wood.

Yet, you think my house on this same place stood

Many years ago. Still, it was not the place

For worship or sacraments. It was a showcase

Of beauty and charm. Did you think it should?”

To BE the church you must GO into the world

And Do what I would, and do what you could

To reach those who don’t know me.

The time is at hand, can’t you see?

You are my disciples so act as you should.”

“This idea is not new, you know what to do.

I came here to save you and I died for you too.

Yet the unchurched and non-believers watch how you

live.

They hear how you talk and they see how you give.

So act as if it means something precious to you.”

“I am coming back again, the day may be soon.

It is not in the “cards”, it is not on the moon.

Just be ready to go with me then.

No one knows the hour. No one know when.

You will tell by my trumpet’s sweet tune.”

The members shook their heads in disbelief.

The young man was gone, but when did he leave”

“What just happened? Where did he go?” asked the chair.

Did you see what I saw? Was he really there?”

Each nodded in agreement. It was a relief.

“We witnessed a miracle.” said a girl in the back.

I know now what we have and also what we lack!

The Holy Spirit came to us to show what a mess

We’ve gotten ourselves into and how we can bless

Our neighbors, and never to slack.”

“ We need involvement with our town for a start.

We need prayer and disciples with a heart.

As Christians we’re too complacent!

Evil flourishes. What God said He meant,

And He meant we must all do our part.”

A few years have gone by in that town.

The church steeple is NOT upside down.

Baptisms and professions of faith come along.

Holy Spirit is singing his revival song.

—Mary Alice Merryman

(No specific church.)

Birthdays & Anniversaries May June

1 Carol Booth/Rick Duncan/Patricia & James

Worles

Gene Adkins/Paul Mateer 2

3

4 Emory Hanna

5 Nadine Fullen

6

Michael Ludle/Rudy Colombo 7

Brandon Moll 8

Patty Mouser 9

10 Shari Stilgenbauer

David & Linda Lancaster/Carl & Patty Mouser 11

12

Alex Scott 13

14

15

16

17

18 David & Shari Stilgenbauer

Carter Dierdorff 19

20 Hughllyn & Peggy Wilson/Henry & Penny

Bivens

21 Sonny & Brenda Painter

Herman & Paulette Jones 22

23 Melinda Stout/Betty Shields

24 Verlin & Roberta Butcher/David & Mary Alice

Merryman

25

Brenda Painter & Helen Gray 26

Pete Scott/Robby & Debbie Shorter 27 David Merryman

28 Cheryl Ellison

Leslie Mateer 29

Gary Phillips/Jerry Woods 30

31

The District GO team’s mission is to encourage churches to go outside the walls of

the church as we seek to make disciples. To encourage and support churches in their

efforts to reach folks outside the walls, the GO ministry team will be offering grants

to local UM churches within the Greenbrier District. In general, the grants are not intended to provide sustaining

support or fund existing ministries. Rather, the grants are primarily intended to help initiate programs, projects or

activities – especially those that are innovative, new or needed to better serve our communities.

The Greenbrier District of United Methodist Church GO Team Grants will be approved at the discretion of the GO

Ministry Team and the Greenbrier District superintendent. Written grant requests must include:

• Description of the project or program for which you are seeking monetary support.

• Information regarding how the proposal will reach people outside the walls of the church.

• Information concerning total cost of the project and from where additional funding will come, and how the

program/project will be sustained if applicable.

• Goals for the project/program, such as how many will be reached and planned follow-up to maintain new re-

lationships.

Grants will be limited to a maximum of $250.00 per application.

We covenant with those applying to earnestly and prayerfully consider each need according to the information

provided. Yet, not all requests will be funded. In the event, an application is not granted you are welcome to re-

file the application with additional information.

The GO Team will make known the availability of financial grants through the Greenbrier District newsletter and

by email and will give regular reports on how the grants are being used.

If you would like to apply for a “Go Team Grant”, please contact the District Office for an application.

Greenbrier District of the United Methodist

Church

“Go Ministry Team Grants”

Bascom United Methodist Church in Rupert will have

their annual buckwheat and pancake dinner on Monday,

April 30th from 4—7 p.m. All you can eat buckwheat

cakes and pancakes, bacon, sausage and drinks. Price is

$9.00 for adults & $4.50 for children 11 and under. Spon-

sored by the Fellowship Class. Proceeds will go to mis-

sions. Come Hungry!!!!

Pancake Dinner

Mt. Pisgah UMC in conjunction with Miller Memorial UMC, held their 2nd “Seder Meal”,

Meal in the Upper Room. Pastor, Betty Shields, led the program with members of both

churches participating, as well as Pastor, Bob Shields of Martha’s Chapel UMC and

Pastor Patricia Worles of Mt. Zion UMC and Sand Knob UMC. Members of Mt. Zion and

Sand Knob enjoyed the program as our invited guests.

Emmanuel UMC offered “A Journey to

the Cross”.— a guided tour through the

journey Christ took to the Cross, com-

plete with narration, visual and sounds.

This presentation was a work of Lee Gil-

lespie, Pastor Shari Stilgenbauer as well

as the church to celebrate Passion, Holy

Week and the Easter Season. Emmanuel

UMC and it’s members strive to bring the

community back to a new normal and

provide peace and comfort after the dev-

astating 2016 flood.

Lee Gillespie, Barbra Wooding

& Jean Childers

Camp CJ Celebrate Jesus

Midland South, Greenbrier & Southern District

Church Camp

June 25-29, 2018

@ Camp Summers Facility, Hinton, WV

711 4-H Camp Road Forest Hill, WV 24935

Camp CJ invites all youth, from entering 5th grade through existing seniors to join in a week of fun and fel-

lowship. The week’s activities include sports, campfires, crafts and more. Each day begins with worship, and

continues with Discipleship Classes and Vespers. The week is filled with friendly competition between color

groups. The week’s highlights include a concert, Communion service and a dance on the last night. It is a

fun filled week in which new friendships are made that last long after the week is over and we hope that you

will join us!

Cost of camp will be $135 per camper. You may register anytime for camp, however the earlier we receive

your application the better. This ensures that the campers get their correct t-shirt size and in the cabins of

choice.

Campers should plan to arrive between 9:30 and 11:00 AM on Monday, June 25th. Campers will be released

at 12 noon

Applications and details information are available at campcelebratejesus.org

as well as in the District Office and on the district website: greenbrierwvumc.org.

Greetings to all United Methodist Women, Your District Team is so excited! There are many upcoming events planned for both the district and conference. I hope you can attend some of these gatherings this year. One of the coming endeav-ors is our Mission Encounter at New Vision Depot on May 7. We will gather that day from 9 until 4. Please bring a drink and sandwich or those who wish can order pizza. I do have a form that needs completed. Please email or call me at my information below for the form. Spring Meeting was wonderful which was held at Meadow Bridge UMC on April 7. The food, the

hospitality, the fellowship, the laughter, and the music were all superb. We were truly blessed that day. There were 31 in attendance. Our of-fering taken for Assembly was $153.89. Dr. Bill Wilson was unable to be our speaker. His friend, J. F. Lacaria stepped in speaking on Steward-ship of Life-Developing a Rule of Life. J. F. shared several of Bill’s handouts on prayer: Praying the Scriptures, Lecto Divina, and Sacred Reading. From the Divine Offices of Prayer, a Liturgy of the Hours was discussed. J. F. also shared several personal reflections with us. An Honorarium given in J. F.’s honor in the amount of $100 was sent to New Vision Depot. The Mission Us scholarship went to Barbara Mullens. It was a spirit filled day abundant with blessings.

I want to remind all units to continue to work on your crafts for Annual Meeting which will be held in October. Several units have mailed them to me or brought them to our Spring Meeting. We sold crafts at spring meeting making over $160! Keep up the good work. If you need your crafts picked up, please call me. Arrangements will be made. Dates to Remember: May 7 Mission Encounter at New Vision Depot May 18, 19 and 20 Assembly at Columbus, Ohio July 19, 20, and 21 Mission U-WV Wesleyan September 20, Thursday Fall Meeting at Summersville UMC October 26 and 27 Annual Meeting-Mt. Pleasant UMC, Mineral Wells March 22 and 23, 2019 150 Year Celebration Spiritual Growth Retreat At Cedar Lakes April 6, 2019 District Spring Meeting at Lewisburg UMC Theme: 150 Year Celebration More information will come by letter after the Team meets in June. By now, spring should have arrived. The beauty and sounds of God’s creation are beyond words. I want to thank all of you who assist your District Team by attendance, items when asked, and your prayers. Together we can bring faith, hope and love in action to women, children and youth both locally and around the world. My contact information is Becky Adkins, 904 Old Nicholas Road, Mt. Nebo, WV 26679. Phone: 304-872-0158. Email address: beckyadkins _26651@yahoo.com Blessings to all,

Becky

Rehoboth Church

and

Museum

Greetings from the beautiful grounds of Old Rehoboth. I am writing this in mid-April and

have been cleaning up the grounds after our last round of snow. As I pick up branches and

rake, my mind has been wandering back over last season: In 2017 we had 1617 visitors; this is

136 more than 2016. Last year we had at least 20 groups visit. Two of these was a Roads

Scholar groups, one was The Salem, Va. Historical Society and one was our WV Conference

Residency program. We had several church groups and family reunions meet here last sea-

son. I was excited to be able to host a small wedding in the church in August. We had two

different groups of women show up to pray and blow shofars, because God told them to come

to Rehoboth and do so.

We are at the beginning of our 2018 season and are hopeful for the upcoming year. We are

praying for a year of meeting new people and sharing our rich history and Christ’s love with

them. For the first time since I have been here, I am excited about our plans for the amphithe-

ater. Our Board has set some solid steps to get this project finished. In 2018, we will be host-

ing three fundraisers for this project- selling engraved bricks, selling tee shirts and having a

day of Gospel Bluegrass. We hosted a gravestone cleaning workshop last summer and are

planning a repair workshop for next season. In the fall we had several visitors come to pick

up walnuts and one of them left me a great present- a picker upper stick which makes this

task less back breaking and more fun.

We hope that you will be able to visit this season. We are open April thru October, Thurs-

days thru Sundays. You may want to plan a visit or an event.

I am so blessed to be here at Old Rehoboth, to meet so many wonderful people, and work

with a great board. May God continue to bless Rehoboth “as long as the grass grows and the

water flows”. May God continue to bless you, and may we seek God’s will in all we do here.

I hope to see you this season!

Anita Tracy, Curator Caretaker 304-772-3518

Mt. Nebo’s

Charge

Easter

Cantata

Lewisburg United Methodist Church has begun a Fit and Faith minis-

try! Come check out our casual, no-judgment zone exercise classes

every Thursday (6-7pm) Free with donation welcome! All ages!!

Healthcare Workshops

Workshops have been planned to inform pastors & conference delegates of potential changes to the

Annual Conference Healthcare Program. Each meeting will be 6:30 pm. The dates are as follows:

Monday, April 23 Simpson UMC Moundsville Northern

Tuesday, April 24 Milton UMC Milton Midland South/Western

Thursday, April 26 Stout UMC Parkersburg Little Kanawha

Tuesday, May 15 Quiet Dell UMC Lost Creek Wesleyan/Mon Valley

Wednesday, May 16 Perry Memorial UMC Glade Springs Greenbrier/Southern

6 Ways to Turn Your Church

Inside-Out

To connect with people, you need to meet them where they are,

says Ben Ingebretson, the director of new church development

for the Dakotas and Minnesota Conferences of the UMC. He

offers six practical ways you can air out your church by taking

your ministry into public spaces.

For the past month, I have been meeting with 18 other people on Tuesday nights at a local coffee shop for a

coupling class. Rather than do our premarital course at the church this year, we decided we would advertise

it at the city bridal show in January and hold meetings in a public space in March. People came, and we

talked and shared stories. We more than doubled the impact we would have had offering the course at

church.

Doing ministry outside of your church’s four walls is as old as dirt, but so quickly we forget how important

it is. John Wesley was a master at it with open-air preaching. He was taking his cue from the apostles who

ministered in the public spaces of their day. Wesley knew that to connect with people, he must go to where

they are.

We must be careful not to make the success of the past our only roadmap for the future. To connect with

people, we must go to where they are.

Many churches are preparing for a future that may never come. We settle for trying to attract a crowd ra-

ther than working to penetrate one. If we look to Europe as a harbinger of things to come, we quickly see

that attractional church is likely on the wane. We must be careful not to make the success of the past our

only roadmap for the future.

Here are some practical ways you can air out your ministry:

1. Hold your next staff or council meeting in a public space. Let that space challenge your thinking

about connecting with your community.

2. Offer worship in a public space. Crossroads Church, a multi-campus congregation in Minnesota, offers

an outdoor worship service. Perhaps one of your services could take place at the public school, or several

times a year it could happen somewhere else outside your building.

3. Office at least one day per week at a local coffee shop. I recently saw a pastor who put a small sign on

his table, saying that he was a pastor and that he would hear and pray for any needs of passers-by.

4. Buy a jumbo-sized grill. Loan it to anyone in your congregation who will organize a block party in their

neighborhood. Don’t let it be used on church property where you will only perpetuate the “church club”

mentality.

5. Begin to plan and pray now about staging a new ministry off-site. Perhaps this could be a career tran-

sition group, a recovery group, or a parenting group.

Try a pub Bible study. Find a night that a local owner may be eager for you to imbibe, and invite others to

join you.

It is worth noting that the first martyr of the church, Stephen, challenged the idea that buildings are sacred

to God: “The Most High God does not dwell in houses made by human hands” (Acts 7:48). If we push on

the idol of sacred structures, we might get some push back. We might also discover the practices of mis-

sional leadership so needed today.

A Free Youth Retreat for Pocahontas County Children will be held June 24 - 27, 2018 at Eden

in the Alleghenies (Ambassadors for Christ) Campground. Any child who has finished first

grade up thru eighth grade is eligible to attend regardless of church (if any) affiliation. Last

year,61 children were given the opportunity to experience Bible lessons, recreation, games,

competition, a variety of programs, camp fire activities, Vesper Services, swimming in the

creek, and great food.

For more information you may contact Charlotte Slagel at 304.799.7344 or

chot5407@yahoo.com.

Save the Date!

Rally on the Mountain 2018 will be July 12-15 at

Winterplace

Our theme this year is Challenge

Location: Winterplace

(Five Minutes Off I-77 at Exit 28 | Ghent / Flat Top, West Virginia)

Looking ahead there are some great housing options including bunk rooms that sleep 12 at

Winterplace OR Skyline Lodge has hotel rooms for $67 a night. More information about ac-

commodations coming soon!

Registration Cost: $150/person

We are excited to announce that this year’s registration cost includes meals beginning with

breakfast on the 13th through breakfast on the 15

th!

See you at Rally on the Mountain 2018 ~ An Event for Youth, Designed by Youth!

Rally on the Mountain—July 12-15

Mission U—July 19, 20 & 21

Candidacy Retreat—July 20-22—For those exploring ministry

Clergy Connections Meeting—July 31—St. Luke’s, Craigsville

Lay Servant Class—August 1—Johnson Memorial , Alderson

Lay Servant Class— August 25—St. Luke’s, Craigsville

Clergy Connections Meeting—September 18 - Emmanuel , White Sulphur

UMW Fall Meeting—September 20

Candidacy Retreat—Oct. 5– 7

Lay Servant Class—Oct. 13—Union, UMC

UMW Annual Meeting—Oct. 26 & 27

Lay Servant Class—Nov. 10 Frankford UMC

Edray UMC, 5 miles north of Marlinton, will hold a revival April 29, 30, May 1 at 7 pm.

Speakers will be: Phil Hickman—April 29th & Lowell O’Dell on April 30 & May 1.

There will be special singers every night. Please come & join us!

Spring

Revival

Moving Beyond Church in A Box By Carey Nieuwhof on March 14, 2018 Leading Ideas

Share: Facebook Email Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Pastor Carey Nieuwhof says congregations need to break free of the men-

tality that people need to come to church at a set time and place to be in re-

lationship with Christ. Churches need to innovate and keep experimenting to reach people, for exam-

ple, through digital outreach, remote locations, and pop-up churches.

Too many church leaders are perfectly equipped to reach a world that no longer exists. If you think about it,

most churches (even growing churches, new churches and large churches) effectively say “We’d love for you

to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ; to do it you need to join us at a set hour every Sunday in a par-

ticular space we meet in.” Beyond that, we’re not sure what to do.

That’s a remnant from a day when everything was done on a set clock. You sat down Thursday night at 8 to

watch your favorite show because you didn’t want to miss it. Of course, for years nobody has watched any

show at a set time unless it’s a live game or a live event. You watch everything else on demand wherever and

whenever you want. Shopping happens on your phone 24 hours a day, not during the set hours of a physical

store that has limited stock. Streaming has changed how we listen to music. You don’t own music anymore.

You rent access to anything, anytime, anywhere.

It’s critical that church leaders keep trying new things and keep experimenting. Why? Because the gap be-

tween how quickly you change and how quickly things change around you is called irrelevance.

Yet in the church we perpetuate a model that says “We have one, two, or three services on Sunday. We do a

midweek service. And that’s how we help you come into a relationship with Christ.” The cultural change has

been underway for decades, but the church has been slow to adapt. For years we’ve noticed that even commit-

ted Christians are attending church less often. But now more and more church leaders are re-imagining what it

is to be the church.

Future churches will have a building; they’ll just reach far beyond it. You’ll still need a facility, a broadcast

location, a school or theater to rent — some space in which to meet. But you’ll need to think way beyond it.

Churches who only think Sunday and who only think building will continue to shrink. If coming to Christ

means coming to your church in a set location and a set hour, you need a new strategy.

The digital is real

What does better engagement beyond a set time and place on a Sunday look like? The answer will require a

ton of experimentation, but for sure it involves your digital reach. The church has been questioning for years

whether their digital space ‘counts’ — whether it’s real. In 2016, Connexus Church launched our livestream.

In 2017, our physical attendance grew, but our weekly online ‘attendance’ for the first time became bigger

than our physical attendance. And a majority of first time guests at our church now tell us they watched online

for weeks or months before they walked in the door. That’s not going to stop us from adding physical loca-

tions, but it also means we need to decide what to do with people who watch and engage online.

Unfortunately, I still ask “do online people count?” But increasingly that question is becoming downright sil-

ly. Here’s the truth: asking whether people who watch church online ‘count’ is like Sears asking if Amazon

counts. It’s like New York City cabs asking if Uber counts or Lyft counts. Of course they count.

We need to figure out how to engage with people we may never meet. Have we figured that out yet? No one

has. But just because you don’t know the answer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask the question. You may not

have a million dollars to throw at technology, or even $1,000. But you probably have a free Facebook page or

an Instagram account. Start treating that as real and see what happens.

Location independence

A growing number of churches will start to minister independent of location. In the future, many people will

consider a church to be their home church even though the church is in a city they’ve never been to. Some

leading churches are already getting innovative and are facilitating viewing parties, remote baptisms, remote

gatherings, small gatherings, and other connections that will become part of the new normal. Just as more

workers are increasingly location-independent, more churches will emerge as location-independent, thanks to

technology.

Pop-up churches

But as technology increases so does the need for human connection. In thriving ministry models, both digital

and analog will grow. But as every church leader knows, to open a new campus or church in a new communi-

ty takes time, money, risk, and experimentation. That’s why you’ll see more pop-up churches. Just as we have

seen the rise of pop-up restaurants or pop-up stores, we will see more pop-up churches that open in a new lo-

cation for a night or a month or a season. Connexus Church has done this the last two Christmases, hosting

Christmas services now in four cities where we didn’t have permanent locations. We’re adding a new perma-

nent location as a result.

You can rent old churches, theaters, restaurants, banquet halls, or whatever to bring your church into a new

community. It gives you a chance to test the waters for expansion and to bring the hope of Christ into a new

place without making a massive initial investment. Again, practically speaking, maybe just hold a night of

worship somewhere in a different city where a small pocket of people who attend your church reside. Or find

a city where you have some traction online. Then just hold one or two really good events there and see what

happens.

Keep experimenting

The culture continues to change rapidly. If anything, the pace is accelerating, not slowing. The question is: are

you and your team ready for all that’s ahead? It’s critical that church leaders keep trying new things and keep

experimenting. Why? Because the gap between how quickly you change and how quickly things change

around you is called irrelevance.

Certified Lay Speaker

A certified lay speaker serves by preaching the Word when requested by the pastor, district superintendent, or committee on lay servant minis-

tries in accordance and compliance with ¶341.1 of The Book of Discipline. The role of a certified lay speaker is a specific calling for the ministry

of pulpit supply.

To become a Certified Lay Speaker you must:

1. Be certified as a lay servant (taken the basic course and 1 advanced course).

2. Obtain recommendation from the pastor and the church council or charge conference of the local church in which you hold membership.

3. Complete a track of study including courses on leading worship, leading prayer, discovering spiritual gifts, preaching, living our beliefs, Unit-

ed Methodist heritage and polity, and/or other courses as determined by the conference committee on lay servant ministries or equivalent

structure.

4. Interview with and obtain recommendation from the district committee on lay servant ministries, or equivalent structure, to be submitted to

the conference committee on lay servant ministries, or equivalent structure, for approval and certification.

To maintain status as a Certified Lay Speaker you must:

1. Submit an annual report and renewal application (provided with charge conference paperwork) to the charge conference or church council

and to the district committee on lay servant ministries or equivalent structure, giving evidence of satisfactory performance as a certified lay

speaker.

2. Obtain recommendation for continued recognition as a certified lay speaker from the pastor and the church council or charge conference of

the local church or other United Methodist ministry in which you hold membership.

3. Complete a lay servant ministries advanced course in the last three years.

Categories & Requirements for Lay Servants

Certified Lay Servant

A certified lay servant serves the local church or charge (and/or beyond) and:

• provides program leadership, assistance, and support.

• leads meetings for prayer, training, study, and discussion.

• conducts, or assists in conducting, services of worship, preaches the Word, or gives addresses.

• provides congregational and community leadership and fosters caring ministries.

• assists in the distribution of the elements of Holy Communion.

• teaches the Scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of The United Methodist Church.

To become a Certified Lay Servant you must:

1. Obtain recommendation from the pastor and the church council or charge conference of the local church or other United Methodist ministry

in which you hold membership.

2. Complete the “Introduction to Lay Ministries: The BASIC Course."

3. Complete an advanced Lay Servant Ministries course.

4. Apply to and have qualifications reviewed by the district committee on lay servant ministries or equivalent structure (See ¶668.3). This is

completed by review of your annual report.

To maintain status as a Certified Lay Servant, you must:

1. Submit an annual report and renewal application (provided with charge conference paperwork) to the charge conference or church council

and to the district committee on lay servant ministries or equivalent structure, giving evidence of satisfactory performance as a certified lay

servant.

“Living Our Beliefs” & “Basic” Classes - Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Summersville Memorial UMC

“Spiritual Gifts” - Wednesday, August 1, 2018—Johnson Memorial UMC, Alderson, WV

“Spiritual Gifts” - Saturday, August 25, 2018—St. Luke’s UMC, Craigsville

“Preaching” - Saturday, October 13, 2018—Union UMC

2018 Greenbrier District

Lay Servant Ministries Academy

Class Schedule & Registration

The classes are limited to 20 participants and will be on a first come basis.

Registration cut off is one week before each class.

Name of Course _______________________________________________________________

Date of Course________________________________________________________________

To register for either the basic course or an advanced course, please complete this form.

Course books are available for pick-up at the District Office or will be mailed upon receipt of the registration and payment.

PLEASE PRINT

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Mailing address: ___________________________________________________________

City: _____ State: Zip: ______

Home telephone: _____________E-Mail:_________________________________________

Local church: ___________________________________

Pastor: __________________________________________

I am registering for (please select one of the following):

( ) Basic course ~ fee is $35

( ) Advanced course ~ fee is $35

The course fee covers the cost of the book or books, any other course materials, light refreshments, and lunch.

We will meet from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. You must be present the full time in order to receive credit.

Dietary Concerns: _____________________________________________________

Send the completed form and payment (Checks payable to Greenbrier District) to:

Greenbrier District UMC

P O Box 764

Lewisburg, WV 24901

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6

District Conference

Marlinton UMC

3 pm

7

Ministry Teams

6 pm

Lewisburg UMC

8 9

Lead Team

9:30 am

Whatcoat UMC

10

Cabinet

11

Cabinet

12

13 14 15

Clergy Connec-

tions

9:30 am

16

Health Care Work-

shop

6:30 pm

Perry Memorial UMC

17 18 19 Lay Servant Classes

8:30 am

Summersville

Memorial

20 21 22 23 24 Parish

Coordinators

Dinner 6 pm

25 26

27

Certified Lay

Ministers Class

3 pm

Lewisburg UMC

28 29 30 31 Substance

Use Disorder

Conference

10 am

WVWC

May 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4

Cabinet

5

Cabinet

6

Cabinet

7

Annual

Conference

WVWC

8

Annual

Conference

WVWC

9 Annual

Conference

District

Breakfast 7 am

WVWC

10

Annual

Conference

WVWC

11 12 13

Lead Team

Bethel, Durbin

9:30 am

14

Cabinet

15

Cabinet

16

17 18

Parish

Coordinators

9 am

19 20 21 22 23

24 Certified Lay

Ministers Class

3 pm

Lewisburg UMC

25 26 27 28 29 30

June 2018

The United Methodist Church

Greenbrier District

PO Box 764

Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901

“Your prayer for someone may or may

not change them, but it always changes

you.” - Craig Groeschel

“Today is the tomorrow we worried about yester-

day.. and all is well.” - Wanda Shealy

“We often think that when God closes a

door, that is his final answer. We put a

period where Gods puts a comma. We

think it’s a ‘no’, but it’s really a ‘not

yet.’ - Mark Batterson