ERD Weekly e-News: January 19, 2021

Your weekly update from the Elizabeth River District View this email in your browser

Weekly e-News
January 19, 2021

Each week we pray for a different church or ministry in the district. Please hold in your prayers this week:

Foundry UMC and
pastor Matt Potter.

In partnership with the James River District, the 2021 Virtual District Training Day will focus on equipping clergy and laity for ministry during and beyond the pandemic.

Six (6) workshops will be offered live on Saturday, February 6, 2021, via Zoom. These workshops will be recorded and made available with 10+ prerecorded webinars on Saturday, February 13, 2021. The registration cost is $10, which includes all 6 live workshops and access to the prerecorded webinars.

Click here to learn more and register.

In one of the on-demand webinars, Rev. Jason Stanley facilitates a conversation with leaders from across the Virginia Conference about How to be a Disability Friendly Church. Here's a preview:

Click here to watch.

Responding to COVID-19

Virginia is currently under a 10-person limit in response to the increase in COVID-19 case. This limit applies to any mission and ministry programs or other activities, limiting them to 10 or less. It does not apply to worship services.

Read the most current Technical Assistance Manuel, updated November 9, 2020. Click here to read. Learn more about returning to church here.

All questions regarding reopening should be directed to DS Wayne Snead at elizabethriverds@vaumc.org.

2021

February 6: Virtual District Training Day
Click here to register.

February 13: District Training Day On-Demand Launches

February 21: Virtual District Board of Mission Annual Meeting

Read the latest edition of the Virginia Conference's e-Advocate here.

Look out for 'Bright Spots' video series

'Bright Spots' is a video series that highlights where God is working in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view the videos on the conference Facebook page or on the conference YouTube page. So far, the video has covered a church helping their members make their home sacred places, a 'Hope tree' that is an uplifting spot for the entire community, and a long-term care facility that just received its first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Email communciations@vaumc.org if you have a 'Bright Spot' we should feature. View the video series...

Join Bishop Lewis, the Virginia Conference Cabinet, and the Connectional Ministries office staff in a time of prayer for our nation and our leaders on January 20, 2021, as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are inaugurated.

The event, “Inaugural Prayer and Healing Service,” will start at 9 a.m. with the Rev. Sylvia Meadows, James River District superintendent, and members of the Connectional Ministries staff in a time of centering.

Join the event at this link: https://vimeo.com/500180032

Lots of new job openings at churches on the Elizabeth River District have been listed on the website. Click here to see the list.

If you have placed a job opening and it is no longer needed, please email Denise Smith at elizabethriverdistrict@vaumc.org and ask for it to be removed.

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Virginia Beach UMC has hard copies of numerous Bible Studies by various authors that they are willing to donate to another church. There are more than 500 books in need of a good home. If you are interested in learning more, contact Linda Minner, the Director of Adult Ministry, at lminner@vbumc.org.

Glory Sightings: Do you have a glory sighting you would like to share with us? What has God been doing during this time in your community? Send a small write up along with some pictures to elizabethriverdistrict@vaumc.org.

The deadline for submissions to the e-Newsletter is every Thursday at 5pm. Email your information about your events and special programming to Denise Smith at elizabethriverdistrict@vaumc.org (Flyers in PDF or JPEG are preferred.)