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Weekly News, Eastern Shore District United Methodist Church
ISSUE: Thursday, April 16, 2020
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Stay the Course, Stay Strong -Bishop Lewis
Stay the Course, Stay Strong: A Word from Bishop Lewis
... The commitment of so many of you to be flexible and to take on the challenges that COVID-19 presents empowers us to do God’s work effectively and SAFELY. It brings joy to our congregants, communities and the heart of God. And we must persevere.

Governor Northam’s statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until June 10. As such, in-person worship cannot take place until June 11. If the Governor’s executive order is rescinded or revised before June 10, we will re-evaluate the status of in-person worship.

In-person, “drive-thru” or “drive-in” worship services on or off Virginia Conference property remain canceled until further notice... READ BISHOP LEWIS' LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY..
What Kacey Musgraves is Telling Me

Lately I’ve had “Butterflies,” a Kacey Musgraves song, rattling around in my head. Usually we talk about the butterflies being in our stomach, as when we’re all aflutter with nervousness about some upcoming situation. You might have felt some of those butterflies in recent weeks as every day seems to bring some new twist in our continuing adaptation to a post-coronavirus world.

But when Kacey sings, the butterflies are not about anxiety at all. She’s falling in love and she tells her beloved, “Now I remember what it feels like to fly. You give me butterflies.” Those kind of butterflies are a kind of excitement about what comes next.

I won’t deny that there is fear in the present moment. The evils that the virus has brought our way are causing real hardship and grief. And we are right to be concerned for the people who are putting themselves at risk every day from the chicken plants to the grocery stores to the hospitals. It’s enough to make the strongest stomach uneasy.

Somewhere in that uneasiness, however, are the stirrings of something new. God is doing a new thing even in the midst of the pandemic and those rumblings may be stirring of the Spirit to help us see God’s mission in a new light.

Maybe we’ll be able to say to the virus what Joseph said to his brothers after their reunion in Egypt. The brothers worried that their horrific treatment of Joseph would lead him to vengeance. “You meant it for evil,” Joseph told them, “but God made it turn out for the best.” [Gen. 50:20] Somewhere on the other side of the dark chrysalis of these times, God gives us butterflies.

Stand firm (and wash your hands),

Alex

NOTE: DS Joyner will not be holding a Saturday Zoom this week. A recording of last Saturday’s Zoom will be available for a few more days at  https://zoom.us/recording/detail?meeting_id=ZeaBG%2Bu1TT6DlrdGdoOxPQ%3D%3D. Stay tuned for future Zoom check-ins.

Easter baby!
Welcome Youngmin Kim to the Eastern Shore clergy family. Thanks be to God for a safe delivery for Verónica Choi and Rev. Hodae Kim! Rev. Kim pastors the Coastal Charge (Atlantic, Assawoman and Downings UM churches). Youngmin was born at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onley on Monday, August 13.
Signs of Easter!
Holy Week and Easter Services were celebrated in creative ways in our Eastern Shore U.M. churches with online worship and music. Worship and liturgy was shared in email and phone conversations. Crosses were placed on the front lawn and inside of churches. Christ has risen! He is risen indeed!
Food and Food Delivery Programs
We can ease our own fears by praying for others
A Prayer for the World Facing the Coronavirus --UMC.org
2020 Conference and District Apportionments 
CONFERENCE APPORTIONMENTS: The Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) recognizes the impact that the pandemic is having on local churches in the Virginia Conference. After meeting over the last week, CFA is responding by prioritizing the apportio­nments for 2020 in an effort to relieve the impact our local churches are experiencing. By prioritizing apportionments, this will allow churches to pay the critical and essential amounts to support the Virginia Conference clergy and connection. CFA has divided apportionments into “Priority 1,” making up 72.77% of the total apportionment with the remainder categorized as “Priority 2.” Local churches will be asked to first pay into Priority 1, and they will be considered having paid 100% of the 2020 apportionment if the Priority 1 amount is paid in full. CFA is encouraging churches to pay into Priority 2 as their financial situation allows. The overall Conference Apportionments for 2020 have not changed, just strategically prioritized.  More... (pdf)


DISTRICT APPORTIONMENTS: At its meeting on April 8, the Eastern Shore District Finance Committee reviewed the 2020 budget in light of the effects of the coronavirus epidemic. In doing so, they reprioritized the budget so that churches could support priority items (Priority 1) and still be considered to have met their full apportionment obligations. Those amount to about 82% of the original budget. Churches are still encouraged to support the Priority 2 items as they are able. This change is reflected in your statement this month.Thank you for your faithfulness to the continuing work of the church in these extraordinary times. --Alex

NOTE: The March and April apportionment statements will reflect these changes. 
Clergy Moving Day, Evaluations & Parsonages!
1) Clergy Moving Day adjusted to June 30 — The full notice for this is attached below. Bishop Sharma Lewis and the Appointive Cabinet have adjusted the “Clergy Move Date” from June 24 to June 30. The first Sunday in the new appointment will be July 5, 2020. Many factors were involved in making this adjustment including anticipating that the Governor’s Executive order will expire on June 10, that in-person worship will resume prior to the move date, that children in moving clergy families will be living in their new school districts when schools reopen, and that the new appointments will officially begin on July 1 (in keeping with the conference year). We are hopeful this date will not need to be adjusted further but will continue to monitor the Governor’s directives and the needs of the Virginia Conference.
 
2) New Clergy Evaluation and Parsonage Review due date - Recognizing that, if the current restrictions remain in effect until June 10, it may be difficult for some churches to meet the deadline for SPPR Evaluations of Clergy and Parsonage Reviews, that due date has been moved to June 20.
 
3) Disinfection of Parsonages in Preparation for Transitions - Charges and clergy that are expecting a change in appointment should make plans for the thorough cleaning and disinfecting of parsonages for the incoming clergy family.
 
Thank you for all your work in this extraordinary time. I am praying with you as we continue God’s mission through this season. --Alex Joyner
"Disaster on top of Disaster"

Prayers for all of those affected by recent tornadoes and storms across the Southern United States. United Methodist News reports. See More

Covid-19 Response Resources @ District Website
Check out our District webpage dedicated to Covid-19 What to Know, How to Help! Find churches offering on-line worship services, links to online giving , and more!   https://www.easternshoredistrictumc.org/corona-virus-2020.html
District & Conference Office Buildings
The Virginia Conference Office in Glen Allen is closed indefinitely at this time. Many staff will be working remotely and will try to answer questions via email.

ES District Office: As we practice the recommended social distancing as set by the Centers or Disease Control and Pervention, the District Office is closed to visitors until further notice.  DS Joyner and Administrative Assistant Connie Owens will be working from their respective homes checking voicemail, emails, text and of course "Zooming". We want to hear from you!

District Office phone: 757-665-6295
Connie's contact info is easternshoredistrict@vaumc.org; 757-710-8258
DS Joyner's contact info is easternshoreds@vaumc.org; 757-999-4843
 
Eastern Shore District
Virginia Conference of
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
E-mail: easternshoredistrict@vaumc.org
Web: www.easternshoredistrictumc.org 
Phone: 757-665-6295
Rev. Alex Joyner, District Superintendent
Jennifer Hume, District Lay Leader
Connie Owens, District Administrative Assistant
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