Upcoming events for youth and youth leaders

Vocations Exploration Retreat for Youth

January 18-20 at the Gunn Center at Talbot Hall. For grades 9-12. Spend a weekend discerning your individual gifts, future possibilities for ministry, and career opportunities. Click here to download the application.   

Youth Leader Gathering

January 25-26 at Chanco on the James. 7:00 p.m. on Friday- 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Come to Chanco on the James for an overnight retreat with adults who work with youth from around the diocese.  The event will provide opportunities to network, problem-solve, learn, and be refreshed. Contact Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs for more information or to register. 

Happening #59

March 8-10 at Chanco on the James. Happening is a Christian renewal program designed for youth in grades 10-12. The focal point of the weekend is learning and experiencing the love of Christ. Click here for more information and online registration. Click here to download the staff application.

Blackstone Weekend

March 22-24, VUMAC, Blackstone. For grades 8-12. Join teens from all over the diocese for a spring retreat at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center in Blackstone, VA! The event includes a variety of activities and opportunities to make new friends and learn more about the church. A special service for Palm Sunday and EYC Board elections will also take place during this weekend, as well as small groups, singing, socials, and so much more!  Click here for more information and online registration. Click here to download the 2013-2014 EYC Board Application. 

Seeds of Hope: Community collaboration to fight poverty

The sixth of seven in a series about the recipients of this year's Seeds of Hope Grants to develop and expand social justice ministries in Southern Virginia. Learn more about Seeds of Hope grants here. 

St. John's, Suffolk, has been awarded a Seeds of Hope Grant to help fund the Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk (CAPS). Begun in 2010, CAPS is a collaborative effort to address poverty on two levels: the crisis of an immediate need and the underlying causes of these needs. Currently 24 churches and organizations are participating members. CAPS provides a collaborative and coordinated system to meet the financial, physical, mental and spiritual needs of the community.

The CAPS model for addressing poverty is to create a central intake center for Suffolk at which a Services Coordinator will handle requests for assistance that usually go to churches. Rather than each church handling requests individually, churches will direct requests for assistance to CAPS. The coordinator is based at the Salvation Army office in Suffolk. The program provides a one-stop center for a variety of types of assistance.

CAPS' vision is that Suffolk churches and organizations are united and empowered to accomplish Christ's commission. That individuals and families live with dignity as they participate in CAPS ministries and experience the holistic Gospel transformation.

You can learn more about CAPS at  www.capsuffolk.com or like them on Facebook (CAPSuffolk).

EfM Mentor training January 17-19

EfM (Education for Ministry) Mentor Training will be held January 17-19 at Chanco on the James. At present, both Basic In-Service and Formation training (Transition in the midst of a Changing World) are planned. If you are interested in attending this training, please contact Ann Meyer, Diocesan EfM Coordinator, 757-229-1111 or ann@stmartinswmbg.org. Click here for more information and a registration form.

Join the Mission of the Holy Spirit in changing the lives of young people

By Hank Luhring, Chair, Mission of the Holy Spirit Board of Directors 

At a recent Sunday service, Pastor Keith Josey announced that Tiffani Satterwhite had just been accepted to Mary Baldwin College! All the kids at the Mission of the Holy Spirit were very excited. Tiffani is a shining example of how the Mission works with kids to succeed despite the problems they face in their lives.
 

The Mission has developed into a community of people looking out for each other, celebrating their successes, and also being there when life is not so good. To me, the Mission is a vivid example of Christianity in action. These kids who face tons more obstacles than most of us come to the Mission and leave with hope: the hope that, despite the bad, God's kingdom is manifest here on earth.
 

The Mission is doing more than ever. The Sunday service has anywhere from 60 to 80 people in attendance. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings we average 23 kids, being served by 4-8 volunteers. We provide meals on these two nights, as well as on Sundays. So far this year, over 5,000 meals have been served to children at the Mission. We delivered Thanksgiving baskets to over 50 families last month.
 

We are helping more children and more families than ever before, and are doing it for less. Funding is down 56% from its peak in 2007, yet we serve more kids with more programs.
 

Because of this, your contribution is more important than ever. It's through your generosity that we can keep the buses running, pay to heat the building, provide meals on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and operate a food pantry so that families don't go hungry.
 

Your tax-deductible donation to the Mission helps tremendously. As we transition from a season of thanksgiving to one of Christ coming into this world, your donation will help these children overcome adversity through Christian hope and good works.

Help make Christmas merry at Jackson-Feild Home

Not all children have wonderful Christmas memories. What should be a joyous season is often a painful one for the children at Jackson-Feild Homes. They do not have a loving family ... and a majority of their Christmas memories are unhappy ones.

For most of us the Christmas season is filled with symbols and traditions that are happy and fun. Unfortunately for the girls and boys at Jackson-Feild Homes they have been denied these happy holiday rituals. Christmas triggers memories of past trauma which causes sadness and depression. One child's holiday memories include waking up on Christmas morning to find out her mother had sold the toys they received from a community program to buy drugs. As difficult as it is to hear true stories like this, can you image how that child felt when there wasn't a single present under the tree for her?

But you can help make this Christmas the best one the girls and boys at Jackson-Feild have ever had - one they will cherish for a lifetime. The staff at Jackson-Feild Homes goes to great lengths to make Christmas as special as possible - funds permitting.

Jackson-Feild is asking you to make a donation to help ensure that Christmas wishes come true for each and every child in their care These wishes include gifts, decorations, special holiday meals and seasonal outings and activities. To make a gift send your tax deductible contribution to Jackson-Feild Homes, 546 Walnut Grove Drive, Jarratt, Virginia 23867. Or visit their web site,  www.jacksonfeild.org, to make an online or credit card gift. If you have any questions please call the Development Office at 804-354-6929.

Jackson-Feild Homes is a recognized leader in transformational programs for children and families. Founded in 1855, its practices and principles are supported by more than a century and a half of success in the treatment of troubled children. Its residential treatment services represent the standard of excellence in identifying, treating, and healing trauma and in building resiliency in children. It is dedicated to ensuring its children receive the best services possible to ensure they will have meaningful and productive lives. 

Seeds of Hope: St. Matthew's expands ministry to the hungry in Chesterfield

The fifth of seven in a series about the recipients of this year's Seeds of Hope Grants to develop and expand social justice ministries in Southern Virginia. Learn more about Seeds of Hope grants here. 

St. Matthew's, Chesterfield, was awarded a Seeds of Hope Grant to help them make improvements to their food pantry ministry. The grant-funded project will allow them to weatherize and outfit an existing garage on their property so that it can be used to store and refrigerate food for their food pantry.

St. Matthew's has an on-going food pantry ministry. People in need of food are referred to the church by Chesterfield Colonial Heights Assistant Ministry (CCHASM), as well as member requests. St. Matthew's partners with Second Branch Baptist Church and the Beach Grange, who provide food donations. They have had no facilities for perishable food distribution, such as fresh vegetables and frozen meats. Expanding their pantry to provide foods other than non-perishable shelf items will provide better nutritional choices for their guests. Also, the expanded storage space will allow St. Matthew's to pursue additional partnerships, which would include the Central Virginia Foodbank.

121st Annual Council registration is open

Registration for the 121st Annual Council is now open. Council is February 15-16 at the Williamsburg Lodge. This year's them is "Let the EPIC Adventure of Church Begin" with keynote speaker Lisa Kimball, Ph.D. Get the latest Council information and access online registration for delegates and exhibitors on our website.  

Annual Council nominations deadline is December 14, 2012. More  information and nomination form are available here. Please complete and mail the Nomination Form by December 14, 2012 to Leah Sicignano, 600 Talbot Hall Road, Norfolk, VA 23505. All nominations must be received by mail as they require original signatures.