On Saturday we’ll have a chance to give thanks for the life of a leader with the heart of a servant. The Rev. Glenda Turlington will be leading a memorial service for the Rev. Ken Swick, who died suddenly on February 17 while on a trip to Panama.
Ken was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, but when he and his wife, Anne, came down from Delaware to make a retirement home in Wachapreague, they began attending Melfa UMC. Last year, when Glenda moved into retired status herself, I approached Ken about serving as pastor at Melfa and he readily agreed.
Ken was remarkable in that he combined humility with a can-do attitude. When an appeal went out for help to build a ramp at the home of a member of Riverview Church, Ken was there with a team. He sized up situations quickly and was realistic about what could be done—and what could be done, he’d do. He and Anne have a long history of bringing people in need into their lives and building relationships. Ken had a habit of making every community he was part of better.
There will be many stories of how God worked through Ken when we gather Saturday, April 13 at 4:30 PM at Melfa UMC for the service. There will be laughter, (because in addition to everything else, Ken had a great sense of humor), and tears, (because he touched lives so deeply). And there will be statements of confidence that the resurrection in which Ken trusted has enfolded his life into the greater life of God.
Stand firm,
Alex
Fresh Expressions is coming to the Shore, May 18!
Learn how to reach all kinds of people in all kinds of places! Imagine church for those who don't do church!
* Do you struggle to connect with people outside your church community?
* Is Sunday worship your only method for introducing your neighbors to Jesus?
* Do people in your church have non-Christian friends?
* Are you struggling to connect with outsiders?
* Did your last outreach effort fall flat?
* Do you need a common passion to unite your staff?
* Is it time to rethink your strategy?
* Does the state of the church fill you with anxiety?
If you answered yes to some/most of these questions, then Fresh Expressions Vision Day is for you!
*Bring a team to the "Fresh Expressions Vision Day" May 18th Hosted at Franktown United Methodist Church
7551 Bayside Road, Franktown, VA 23354
9:30 a.m. –3:30 p.m.
Registration is only $25 per person (or let us know if financial assistance is needed at easternshoredistrict@vaumc.org)
.5 CEU for clergy
Mikang Kim our District Clergy Association President invites you to the annual Clergy Day Retreat "The Restorer of Life" at Camp Occohannock on Monday, April 29 from 9:30 am - 4 pm. Retreat Leaders Rev. Judy Worthington and Pastor Virginia Greer will use lecture and biblio-drama from the Book of Ruth. A light Breakfast and Lunch will be served. It's a .5 CEU event. Cost per person is $6. Reservations are required at easternshoredistrict@vaumc.org before April 21.
Save the date for Annual Conference Orientation! Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 6:30-7:30 pm, Oyster Room at the Onley Town Center (25020 Shore Parkway, Onley). Orientation in preparation for the 2019 Annual Conference Session in Roanoke. All clergy, lay members and interested United Methodists are invited.
Bishop Pete Weaver will share a reflection each week entitled "Partners in Ministry" and more in the Apr. 9, 2019 e-Advocate, sharing news from around the conference and denomination. https://vaumc.org/e-Advocate
Celebrating 200 years in mission!
The bicentennial celebration recognizes the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a forerunner to The United Methodist Church. On April 5, 1819, the Missionary Society was formed in New York City in response to the mission work of John Stewart, a freeborn African-American, among the Wyandotte Native American people in Ohio. The General Board of Global Ministries is the present-day successor to the Missionary Society. Global Ministries includes UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief), which was formed in 1940. LEARN MORE...
Employment Opportunities! Craddockville United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time administrative assistant who will help Pastor Rob Kelly with scheduling, coordinating events and activities, formatting bulletins and handling inquiries for the church and its various programs. Must be proficient in computer software programs and have excellent organizational skills. Pay will be commensurate with skills and experience. To apply, contact Pastor Kelly at 442-9198.
The Agape Christian Children's Community Center in Horntown has a part-time Teacher and Aide positions available for their pre-school during the hours of 7 am -1 pm. Great opportunity for a retired teacher who wants to work part-time! Salary is based on experience. Call the Center today for an application at 757-824-0072 .
Conference toll-free number going away
The conference IT Department will be moving the conference center over to a new phone system this month.This change will make the toll-free phone number (1-800-798-6040) inoperative. The toll-free number was added to the conference phone system when long distance calls were expensive. Currently, free to low cost long distance calling plans are now available and calls made to a toll-free number add a charge on a per call minute basis regardless of whether the call is local or long-distance. The removal of this number will lower the conference monthly telephone bill. The target date for the phone system conversion is Friday, April 19. The toll-free number will work up until that date. The conference’s main phone number is 804-521-1100. The Disaster Response number will remain as 866-264-8488. For any questions, please contact Bryan Compton at 804-521-1115 or BryanCompton@vaumc.org.
Camp Rainbow is seeking summer volunteers
Camp Rainbow Connection (CRC) is seeking volunteers to serve adult campers for a week or two this summer. CRC is a week-long respite camp for adults with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers are needed to help serve on the nursing team as well as people to serve in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, conducting arrival interviews with campers and their caregivers, dispensing medications and responding to health needs during the weeks of camp. If you are interested in joining (even if only for part of the camp session), please contact Stacy Roberts at StacyRoberts@vaumc.org. For more information regarding Camp Rainbow, visit the conference website. More...
Notice: Annual Conference 2019 information
You can find all current information about Annual Conference 2019 on the Virginia Conference website at www.vaumc.org/AC2019. As new information is shared, it will be updated at the same link. Find 4Cans4Conference; Images and videos of your street wanted; UMCOR Kits for Conference and more.
The United Methodist Church Launches New Website for Leaders
United Methodist Communications is pleased to announce its new leadership-focused website ResourceUMC.org. The site—that launched this month—was developed as a centralized portal to equip United Methodist leaders across the globe with helpful information, tools and multilingual assets.
District Events
Saturday, April 13, 1:30 -4 pm Lent Workshop for Kids (ages 4-12 at Downings UMC, 7261 Lankford Highway in Oak Hall, VA 23416. There will be fun games, activities, and crafts. Light snacks will be prepared afterwards for the parents to enjoy with their children as well. Come and join the celebration and fun! For more information, call 757-824-4585 or email hodaekim@vaumc.orgSaturday, April 13 -Yard Sale, 7 am - 1 pm at Downings UMC, Oak Hall, VA. Call 757-824-5117 or 757-824-4877 to reserve a table. Rain or Shine
Sunday, April 14, Gospel Music Event, 3:00 pm at Downings UMC Social Hall, Oak Hall, Va. Featuring The King's Ambassadors, Bethany Howard, Linda Hollinshead. Light snacks provided. No admission fee.
Sunday, April 14th 3:30 pm Family & Friends Day at St. John's UMC, Atlantic. Rev. Jamar Jackson of Metropolitan UMC, Princess Anne, MD, guest preacher
April 19, Good Friday Service 6:00 pm at St. John's UMC, Atlantic. Rev. Carroll Mills of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Princess Anne, MD, guest preacher
Saturday, April 20, 10 am Easter Egg Hunt at Franktown UMC, 7551 Bayside Rd., Franktown, VA 23354
Sunday, April 28, 6 pm, The Reminders in concert at Grace UMC, Parksley. This Delaware group performed to a ful house at Grace church last year. Their sound is a unique blend of Americana and Folk Rock with deep roots in blues, country and gospel. No charge for concert but everyone invited to bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank of the Eastern Shore.
Sunday, April 28, 4 pm, Windows: A Keyboard Kaleidoscope at Historic Cokesbury Church, Onancock. Performed by Lee Jordan-Anders and Thomas Marshall. There will be a dedication of the completed restoration of Cokesbury Church's 1893 stained glass windows followed by a celebratory concert and reception.
Friday, May 3, 7:30 pm, Orchestra of the Eastern Shore at Historic Cokesbury Church, Onancock. Dr. Paul Kim, Director, "Tour of Europe" with music by Boyce Mozart and Bizet. Jonathan Spence, Guest Violinist. This concert and reception take place the evening before the Easter Shore of Virginia's 2019 House and Garden Tour in Onancock on Sat. May 4th.
Click here for more local church Lenten and Eastern services some of our churches have shared.
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES: "The Shoreline" is a weekly newsletter. Submit brief articles to Connie Owens at easternshoredistrict@vaumc.org by Wednesday morning, 9 am.
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
A Leader with the Heart of a Servant
questions, then Fresh Expressions Vision Day is for you!
Hosted at Franktown United Methodist Church 
