GREENBRIER

GREETINGS

Contact Us

Greenbrier District

P O Box 764

Lewisburg, WV 24901

304.645.1357

greenbrierdistrict@suddenlinkmail.com

m_shortridge@hotmail.com

Visit us on the web at:

greenbrierwvumc.org

Melissa Shortridge, D. S. Nov. & Dec. 2017

Phil Maynard

Leadership to Discipleship

February 10, 2018

On Saturday, February 10, 2018, you can bring

a team from your church to learn from Dr. Phil

Maynard as he leads us in going from Member-

ship to Discipleship. He will help you think

about building a discipleship system for your

congregation or provide insights to finetune

your current system. Phil is a United Methodist

elder and pastor, former Director of Congrega-

tional Excellence in the Florida Annual Confer-

ence, and currently leads EMC3.

The workshop will be held at Forrest Burdette

UMC in Hurricane, WV where Phil will be pre-

senting in person. However, there will be sat-

ellite live streaming in our district at St.

Luke’s, Craigsville and Lewisburg United Meth-

odist Church.

Watch for further details!

Mark your

Calendars!!!

Greenbrier Leadership

Training Event

Saturday, March 3, 2018

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lewisburg United Methodist Church

This will be a district wide event with

speakers to include:

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

Barry Ball

Amy Shanholtzer, Director of Evangelism &

Congregational Development

Class topics may include:

Transformation, Leadership & Evangelism

Reaching Beyond the Walls of the Church

Substance Abuse

Youth Ministry

Bishop's Summit October 6-7, clergy and lay alike, gathered for the 2017 Bishop's Summit on Diversity and Inclusion.

This year's event covered intercultural competency, with a focus on disability ministries. We were

joined by our guest speakers: Giovanni Arroyo, who serves our church as team leader for Program Min-

istries for the General Commission on Religion and Race, and Bishop Peggy Johnson, who serves our

church as the Episcopal Leader of the Philadelphia Area which includes the Penn-Del and Eastern PA

Conferences.

What Now? Join us for Fall Workshop

November 17-19, 2017

Cedar Lakes Conference Center

Cost $100

An event for middle school and high school youth.

www.wvumc.org/fall-workshop

The Clergy & Spouse Retreat will be

January 12-14th at the John XXIII

Center in Charleston, WV. More in-

formation will be forthcoming.

Deadline for registration is Wednes-

day, January 3, 2018.

The Clergy & Family Christmas Dinner

Saturday, December 2 , 2017

Rainelle United Methodist Church

Gather at 11:30 a.m. and eat at 12:00 pm

Please send reservations to:

Stephanie Ludle

P O Box 66

Mt. Nebo, WV 26679

or

sludle2010@gmail.com

Reservation Deadline—

Monday, November 20th

BURLINGTON UNITED METHODIST FAMILY SERVICES, INC.

4700 ROBERT C. BYRD DRIVE

BECKLEY, WV 25801

ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017

$8.00 FOR ADULTS, $5.00 FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE

MENU: turkey, homemade dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy,

green beans, cranberry salad, roll, beverage and dessert.

COME AND ENJOY GOOD FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP

All proceeds go to help the children we serve at Beckley campus and

Daniels

Together Tuesday is a community driven

faith gathering for anyone and everyone

who desires a casual setting to connect

with God. Each Tuesday, at Hill and

Holler, you will find lots folks gathering

for #wings&worship #pizza&prayer

from 6-7pm, love offering to offset cost

of buffet.

(Lewisburg UMC hosts this creative &

casual Worship)

Who could you invite? How would you

like to help? Call 304-645-2727

Asbury Rainelle Parish

Potato Dinner

Saturday, October 28th

3:00—6 :00 p.m.

Asbury Community

Center

Price—Donation

Proceeds go to COME

Unwrap the true meaning of

Christmas The True Meaning of Christmas Tour December 2 –24, 2017 Follow the tour at UnwrapChristmas.org Local church leader resources at

What is it? The United Methodist Church is hitting the road this Advent season to extend Christmas invitations in 21 cities across the U.S. “The True Meaning of Christmas Tour” will be traveling through 16 states unwrapping the true meaning of Christmas through holiday cheer, free hot cocoa and support for local church mission and outreach initiatives. The tour will communicate the true gift of Christmas with passersby via:

Offering free hot cocoa and invitation cards, given by friendly volunteers from local United Methodist churches.

Encouraging generosity and support for people in need by collecting items such as hats and scarves, school supplies or canned foods — items that correlate with a local church’s mission focus.

Creating a video of people answering the question, “In your opinion, what is the true meaning of Christmas?”

Gathering prayer requests from anyone who stops by so that a local faith community can support them.

Creating awareness of the denomination and the ministries of local churches. The tour is an extension of the denomination’s national advertising campaign, which specifically reaches out to Seekers, defined as those who are:

25-49 years old, especially families

Not affiliated with The United Methodist Church and not active church attendees

Searching for meaning and purpose in their lives

On a quest for spiritual truth or identify as spiritual

Passionate about social justice

How can local churches participate? You can host a hot cocoa fellowship event in your town to extend the same warm invitations that the denomination will be extending on the tour.

Where should we host our event? Think of places in your community where people gather in a festive holiday spirit during the Christmas season, such as a: Christmas market, shopping event or craft fair Holiday parade route, perhaps in front of your church or a local business City park with a holiday light display or food trucks Shopping mall, preferably one where people will be outdoors between stores Transportation hub, such as a train station or busy bus stop

Use #UnwrapChristmas when you post photos of your hot cocoa outreach efforts, and follow along on our official

tour website during Advent.

The tour will be in Charleston, WV on Wednesday, December 13th.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

November December Sue Morgan 1 Amy Moll

2 Henry Bivens/Jeanie Nelson

3

4 Robby Shorter /Mary & Ella Colombo

Carl VanStavern 5 Rick & Cheri Brown

Bob & Nellie McClintic 6

7 Randy & Eva Simms

8

9

10

11

12

John & Jan Sauvage (BD & A) 13

Roberta Butcher 14

15

Nellie McClintic 16 Kathy Sadler/Brandon & Amy Moll

Jerry & Cheryl Woods 17 John & Lisa McKee

Jane Hicks 18

Martin Straley 19

Jay & Mary Beth Cook/Teddy & Debbie Wilson 20 Clyde Gum/David Fuller/Allen & Linda

Johnson/Paul & Leslie Mateer

21

22 Jim Daily/Robert & Toby Mann

Phil & Marva Hickman 23 David & Judy Fuller

24 Larry & Kathy Russell/William Colombo

25 Eva Simms

Patty Adkins/Bev & Rudy Colombo 26 Louetta Gordon

27

28 Geri Beal

Darrell & Linda Payton 29 Joe Geiger/Joe & Marsha Geiger

Jay Bunting 30

31 BillyReed Wickline

His Name is Samuel

His name is Samuel and he walked into the First United Methodist Church of Richwood

in Richwood, WV with his dad and into the hearts and lives of each one present.

“I came for Sunday school”, he said and we now have Sunday school. He wanted fel-

lowship so we came together to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday after ser-

vice with light refreshments and cake.

On February 12th we will celebrate, “Bring a Valentine to Church Sunday”. “Miss Judy”,

he said “I don’t have a valentine to bring will you be my valentine on valentine Sun-

day”? “Yes, Samuel, I will be your valentine”. How can I turn down an offer like that?

His smile, his excitement, his joy and his willingness to learn more about Jesus and be-

come a part of the service has become infectious.

When I asked if anyone had a joy, testimony or prayer concern they’d like to share with

God’s people today, this little boy asked, “Can we pray for the President of the United

States and for the firefighters who fight fires”. Upon saying “Amen” at the end of our

prayer, I heard his little voice repeat, “Amen”.

And this is how we do it folks!

What a blessing Samuel has been to our church.

Prayers get answered, we never know in what form those answers come but praise God

they do! Hallelujah and Praise God!

…..and a little child shall lead

them. Isaiah 11:6

Downtain UMC Homecoming

Mt. Zion Group

Mountain High

Global Migration

Sunday

December 3, 2017

Global Migration Sunday is an op-

portunity for the denomination to

support the 65 million displaced

people around the world and

deepen the understanding of the

biblical call to welcome and care

for the displaced. Resources and

promotion materials are available

as you plan for this meaningful

Sunday, including an offering talk,

PowerPoint slides, an infographic,

social media assets, logos and

digital banners.

UMCMIGRATION.ORG

#CAREFORTHEMIGRANTS

http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties_UGC/audio-video/migration-sunday/global-

migration-sunday-1080p.mp4

Nannie Brown and CeCe Arritt of Meadow

Bridge UMC are the Chief and Asst. Chief

of the Meadow Bridge PB&J Bri-

gade. They make PB&J sandwiches for

students of Meadow Bridge school who

attend after hours events.

They make anywhere from 40 to

100 sandwiches per day depending

on the need. This has been ongoing

for over 5 years. Each sandwich

has a scripture attached as it is de-

livered.

The Brothers in the Cross brought their unique style of original Gospel music to St. Luke’s UMC in

Craigsville. This event was through the Richwood/Craigsville/Webster Springs Cooperative Parish.

Some call it a battle. Others a wrestling match. Let’s go with something a bit less confrontational and call it a

challenge that will impact whether or not you survive. I’m describing one of the foundational polarities every

church must confront and manage. Simply put: will your life together be primarily shaped by your memories or by

your imagination?

If your church constantly allows your memories to overrule your imaginations, you will die. It really is that sim-

ple. Inviting God’s creative Spirit to inhabit our minds and hearts is the first step toward vibrancy and sustainabil-

ity.

No one questions whether both are important. Our memories and the past are a vital component of a healthy and

vibrant faith and church. Our imaginations and the ability to innovate and adapt are a vital component of a healthy

and vibrant church. Neither can exist in an appropriate way without the other.

However, the default position of the vast majority of congregations and parishes is to lean most heavily upon the

familiar, the known, the former. Our imaginations grow weak from lack of use as we loop repeatedly back to what

is comfortable and predictable.

Jesus confronted a religious system steeped in tradition and ritual. While honoring those who had gone before

him, he also peeled back the layers of meaningless repetition to reveal the original intent and then breathed new

life into that truth. Worship was not about Sabbath rules but about revering almighty God and offering one’s self

wholly to God. Sin was not so much a matter of external habits as a habit of the heart. The love of neighbor was

not limited to “people like us” but extended to those very different from “us”, even lepers and Samaritans!

In each case, Jesus paid homage to the memories and traditions, but landed most emphatically on the power of

imagination to rethink and reframe an eternal truth in a new and innovative way. The resulting earthquake that

rocked the established religious order still reverberates through the church that tries to follow his lead.

Imitating our forefathers and mothers, we calcify eternal truth by wrapping it in temporal traditions and practices.

We too often cling to memories and set patterns rather than engage our imaginations and creative capacities.

Does Your Faith Community Live out of Memory or

Imagination? By Bill Wilson on October 18, 2017 Leading Ideas

Bill Wilson, director of the Center for Healthy Churches, says that while memories of the past are vital,

they must be balanced with a creative and innovative vision for the future if your faith community is to

remain vibrant and sustainable.

For example:

When confronted with the challenges of a culture that no longer regards Sunday as sacred space to be set aside for

religious activities, we whine and complain about Sunday attendance rather than adapt and adjust to the new life-

styles that we ourselves have adopted. What is valuable and timeless is the worship of God and the fellowship of

faith. What is temporal and open to imaginative reframing is when, how and where that worship and fellowship

takes place.

When confronted by a pluralistic and diverse community, we revert back to primitive thinking about race rather

than see this new world as perfectly suited for Jesus’ message of inclusion and Christ-centered unity in the midst

of diversity.

When facing dwindling financial resources and cumbersome facilities, we double down on guilt-laden stewardship

and “clubhouse thinking” about our buildings rather than imaginatively exploring new streams of revenue and us-

ing our facilities as community assets rather than private quarters.

When hiring and assigning staff, we repeat patterns from earlier eras that no longer result in effective outcomes

rather than reimagine new models of staffing positions and tasks that shift the church culture away from “paying

for professional services” toward leading a focused team on a missional adventure that includes everyone taking

part as God has gifted and called them.

If your church or faith community is going to have a future, and if you want that future to be more about thriving

that simply surviving, then you must get this balance right. Are you going to be primarily driven by memory or

imagination? You will need both.

Every church I served on staff was birthed in the 1800’s. I understand the power and value and place of memory. I

have profound respect for and appreciation of traditions and past practices. I want to honor those who sacrificed

mightily for me to have the privilege of ministering in the 21st century.

And yet, I know that a significant part of what got them through the challenges of previous eras was the willing-

ness of those past leaders to engage their imaginations and push past the limitations of their memories. Like Jesus

seeking to reform a tone-deaf religious machine that has lost its way, every generation must confront the tempta-

tions of our church to lean on what was and to lean away from what will be.

I’m sorry, but if your church constantly allows your memories to overrule your imaginations, you will die. It really

is that simple. Inviting God’s creative Spirit to invade and inhabit our minds and hearts is the first step toward vi-

brancy and sustainability. Walking by faith and not by sight has always been our challenge.

Thank you goes out to all who contrib-

uted to “Undie Sunday”.

Everyone has been so generous!

Tyrand Parish is very grateful for

these donations with which they can

assist many folks in the area!

Bascom United Methodist Church Serves Community Needs

The food pantry located at Bascom United Methodist Church

in Rupert, WV was started about 40 years ago by Roy Gwinn.

In recent years the food pantry had been under the supervi-

sion of Charles Mundy. When there was a need, Mr. Mundy

was the person you would call and he would meet you at the

church and distribute the items needed.

The pantry was stocked by donations but when the supplies

ran low Mr. Mundy placed an order to the local grocery store

and someone was sent to pick it up and deliver it to Bascom

UMC. Mr. Mundy ran the food pantry like a well-oiled ma-

chine and when donations were delivered and shelves were

stocked you received a lesson on stocking shelves from Mr.

Mundy. All cans were stacked with the labels facing forward.

The food pantry is now called the Rupert

Community Food Pantry and is still locat-

ed at Bascom United Methodist Church in

Rupert, WV. It is operated and run by the

members of the Western Greenbrier Min-

isterial Association and the congregation

of Bascom UMC.

When Mr. Mundy’s

health didn’t allow him

the freedom to work in

the food pantry any-

more, the church de-

cided to continue this

community outreach in

another way.

The food pantry had been serving ap-

proximately 140 people a month.

Today the food pantry is operating under

a new format. The Rupert Community

Food Pantry is serving approximately 70

families and is open the third Thursday

of every month from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Each family upon registration receives a

box of canned goods and a box of non-

perishable food items while supplies last.

The team meets the evening before

and packs the boxes for distribution.

When asked if they had any concerns

about the food pantry, the only reply

was they were working with limited

space as the community needs were

growing.

In response to the plea for health kits by the New Vision Depot

in Beaver, WV, Mt. Olive UMC on the Nallen Charge, North

Fayette Parish, took on the project. Monies were raised by

the congregation and the 42 kits were packed by the Nallen

Charge Youth. Karen Grafton led the youth in a devotional

on Matthew 25: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of

the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for

me.’ Pictures show the youth surrounding tables and following

instructions to properly pack the kits. The youth discussed how

Jesus helped others without pay or compensation and the re-

cent hurricanes and other disasters and what people need fol-

lowing these crisis. Many Nallen Charge families were deeply

affected by the flooding of June, 2016. Two of the youth

were stranded with their mother overnight in the midst of the

Meadow River and two others lost their home in the devasta-

tion of the waters.

The youth group meets every Wednesday evening at the Mt.

Olive UMC with leaders Cindy Rader and Dianna Thompson and

Pastor Randy Simms.

Events planned in Summersville and on the Mt. Nebo Charge Sunday November 19, Summersville Ministerial Thanksgiving service, 7:00 @ Summersville Baptist Sunday December 3, Summersville Cooperative Parish will have its Ad-vent Sing, 7:00 @ Memorial UMC Sunday December 10, Children's/Youth Christmas Program and Birth-day Party for Jesus, 6:00 @ Gilgal UMC Sunday December 17, Mt. Nebo Charge Christmas Cantata, "Then Came the Light", 7:00 @ Gilgal UMC Sunday December 24, Mt. Nebo Charge Christmas Eve Service, 9:00 @ Gilgal UMC

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 Clergy

Interviews

St. Luke’s UMC

4 Basic Lay

Servant

Class 8:30 am

Bascom UMC

5 6 Clergy

Interviews

District Office

Leadership &

Ministry Teams

Lewisburg UMC

6:30 pm

7 Clergy

Interviews

District

Office

8

Lead Team

Lewisburg

UMC

9:30 am

9 Clergy

Interviews

Lindside UMC

10 11

12 13

Cabinet

14

Cabinet

15

Cabinet

16 Clergy

Interviews

Union UMC

17 18 Share Fest

Summersville

UMC 10 am

19 20 Reservation

Deadline for Clergy & Family Christmas

Dinner

21 22 23

Thanksgiving

Office

Closed

24

Office

Closed

25

26 27 Clergy

Interviews

District Office

28 Clergy

Interviews

District

Office

29 Clergy

Interviews

Marlinton UMC

30

November 2017

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 Clergy

Interviews

Dotson

Simpson UMC

2 Clergy & Family

Christmas

Dinner

Rainelle UMC 11:30am

3 4 Clergy

Interviews

District

Office

5 6

Cabinet

7

Cabinet

8

Cabinet

9

Cabinet

10 11 Clergy

Interviews

Summers-ville UMC

12 13

14 Clergy

Interviews

District

Office

15 16 Share Fest

Summersville

UMC 10 am

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25

Christmas

Office

Closed

26

Office

Closed

27

Office

Closed

28

Office

Closed

29

Office

Closed

30

Office

Closed

31

December 2017

The United Methodist Church

Greenbrier District

PO Box 764

Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901

“I think Christmas is about celebration

and, come on, on the inside

everyone wants to dance.”

-Toby Mac

“The best gift you can give is your presence, your time, your love. A gift from your heart with no

thought of reward.” -Rachel Ridder

“The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an ex-

tent that it changes the world you see.”

-Robert Holden, Ph.D.