Reflections on the Call to Ministry

This week we conclude our series of staff reflections on their call to ministry here at Reveille.  Dwayne Stinson, Director of Youth Ministries, and Carol Uzzle, Minister for Teaching and Learning, share their stories.  

Dwayne Stinson

I had never considered professional youth ministry, though I had volunteered as a camp counselor and chaperone for Farmville District youth events for many years.  In the spring of 1996, though, Farmville District Youth Coordinator Barbara Hays announced that she would be moving, and therefore had to leave her job.  As I drove back to Duke from the retreat where she made the announcement, I asked myself "What are we going to do without Barbara? How can this ministry keep going?"  A voice came to me, "Dwayne, why don't you do it?"

"I can't do that. I'm a full-time student in North Carolina. How can I run a ministry in Virginia that covers 14 counties?  There's no way."
 

"Why don't you do it?" came the voice again. 

The following weekend I chaperoned another retreat, so I pulled Barbara aside. "Barbara, what would you think if I applied for your job?"

Barbara replied, "Dwayne, I was going to ask you to do that!"

The following Monday I called the district office. Rev. C. B. King (former associate pastor Michael

Kendall's father-in-law) was our district superintendent at the time. "C. B.," I announced, "I'm thinking about applying for Barbara's job."

"Dwayne, you're an answer to prayer," C.B. shouted. "We have a planning retreat this weekend and that was item number one on the agenda."

Within two weeks from Barbara's announcement, I was hired.  I spent the next 6½ years in a part-time youth ministry on the Farmville district working with 99 rural churches in 14 counties.  I never had time to back out.  With that one invitation, "Why don't you do it?" God grabbed my hand and led me down the path towards Reveille and my position here.  God invites, we respond, and the rest simply falls into place. 

Carol Tignor Uzzle

Growing up at Reveille, I remember clearly a late fall afternoon as a high school senior when our youth group delivered food baskets to a family who lived near the state penitentiary.  I think that was the first experience that opened my eyes to the needs of others in our community.  This was a part of the city I had never seen before. To this day I remember the smell that came from the furnace, but more importantly, the thanks expressed by the family. 

All of us have moments in our lives when we experience God's call on our lives.  As you may know, Reveille is my home church and in many ways the congregation then and now has affirmed God's call in my life.  Those of you who were in Sunday school with me may remember the senior high teacher saying weekly, "You may be the best Christian another knows."  Those words struck a cord that by our words and actions we live out our faith for others to see the love of God in us.

When I was growing up the phrase "full-time Christian service" opened the way for many to consider how we might respond to God through our vocational choices.  I was active as a youth at Reveille serving in leadership roles in the youth group, in the life of the church, and on the district.  Those experiences gave me opportunities that led to my ministry in the church through Christian education. I grew up in a time of change in our society.  My days at Emory and Henry College and later at Duke Divinity School provided opportunities to see how in our daily lives we reflect our religious beliefs with our desire to help the Kingdom of God become a reality for all people in our midst. 

I serve here at Reveille as an ordained deacon with responsibilities for the teaching and learning ministries of the church.  I have always viewed my work as ministry; with ordination in 1999 that ministry has been recognized and enlarged.  Since New Testament times, deacons have assisted the pastors in worship and have sought to meet the needs of the community.  Today deacons are employed in the world in ministries of compassion.  Within local churches, deacons seek to help others grow as disciples, assist in worship, and seek to connect the needs of those in the world.

God calls us wherever we are to serve and to share our faith, helping others to know, love and serve God as faithful disciples.  I am grateful that Reveille nurtured those seeds of faith when I was a child and youth.  Now years later I am privileged to continue my faith journey with you.

"Would you like to...?"  Sometimes extending an invitation is awkward or uncomfortable, but it is part of our calling as Christians. On Sunday, January 16, we will focus on inviting others to church, and to a relationship with God. Our schedule is normal:

   4:30 p.m. middle school youth group/high school choir

   5:30 p.m. dinner ($3)

   6:00 p.m. high school youth group/middle school choir

Middle schoolers: if you would like to attend Fan the Flame, a retreat at the Young Life Center in Rockbridge, Virginia, please register by January 25.  To register, send a check for $115 (made out to Reveille UMC) and completed copies of the appropriate forms to Dwayne by January 25.  You can find the waiver forms here.  The retreat is open to all middle school youth, and to any youth who attended Jeremiah Project last summer, including current ninth graders.

Parents of teens: Susan Grinkemeyer is attempting to organize a covenant group for mothers. The group would meet during the day time on a weekday.  Please let Dwayne know if you are interested in participating. 

Help the Homeless

Hot Meal - January 27

Richmond's Friends of the Homeless is back in business five days a week, after a funding shortfall.  Reveille members once again have the privilege of feeding the hungry a hot meal on Thursday, January 27. For us, this means preparing potato casseroles and being able to serve on site at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. 

The casseroles can be prepared ahead of time and placed in the fellowship hall kitchen refrigerator or brought hot on that Thursday morning.  Please see the sign-up sheets in the welcome center and in the fellowship hall.  You can pick up a recipe there as well.

We need six people to take an hour or two out of their day that Thursday and help serve the food. This is always an enjoyable experience. The people we feed are very grateful. If you would like more information, please call Joanna Tilley at 556-5935 or e-mail her.

Bag Lunches - January 23

We will pack bag lunches at 10:30 a.m. during Coffee Fellowship in the fellowship hall this Sunday, January 23.  We welcome your help in preparing 160 bag lunches, which will be distributed on Monday at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Friends of the Homeless feeding site.

Wonderful Wednesday

Finding Thalhimers

Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt has written a book entitled Finding Thalhimers.  The book has been described as a "narrative that weaves together history, biography and memoir into a portrait of an American retail family."  Elizabeth represents the sixth generation of the Thalhimer family to live in Richmond.  She is also the granddaughter of Reveille members Edie and Jack Brush. On January 26, at 6:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall, Elizabeth will review her book and enlighten us with a story about Richmond history and her family.

Using the Friendship Pad

to Make a Wonderful Wednesday Dinner Reservation

A simple way to register for our weekly Wonderful Wednesday dinner is to mark the friendship pad on Sunday while you are attending a worship service. At the bottom of both the Member sign-in sheets (white) and Visitor sign-in sheets (yellow) you will see the following:

□ Please sign me up for Wonderful Wednesday Dinner. 

# of adults_____________________

# of children over age 4___________

All you have to do is place a check mark or an X in the box and then fill in the number of adults (any one age 13 or above), and the number of children ages 4-12 on the appropriate lines. You need not give us the number of children under 4 because there is no dinner charge for them.

You are welcome, also, to phone in your reservation by calling 359-6041 no later than 3:00 p.m. on the Monday before the dinner.

10 Things You May Not Know About CARITAS

As we prepare to host our CARITAS guests the weeks of February 5-18, here are some things to keep in mind as we open our hearts, our minds, and our schedules to receive them:

1. CARITAS is the only shelter in Central Virginia that accepts families with fathers.
2. Every willing guest of CARITAS is assigned a case worker who individually works through the legal, mental, medical, or financial obstacles standing between that guest and self-sufficiency.
3. CARITAS is the only shelter in Central Virginia that accepts families with adolescent males.
4. CARITAS provides substance abuse counseling.
5. All children are enrolled in school within 24 hours of entering CARITAS.
6. Most guests of CARITAS are employed.
7. All guests of CARITAS are required to save 75% of their income earned into an escrow account, which they will use to secure permanent housing.
8. The CARITAS Furniture Bank is used by 22 charitable organizations to provide furnishings for refugees, victims of natural disasters or violence, veterans, and those finally able to secure permanent housing.
9. CARITAS provides job training, tutoring, mentoring, computer classes, and support groups to any interested guest.
10. In 2009, 186 congregations and 15,000 volunteers gave 96,000 hours of their time to provide 38,631 nights of shelter to 996 guests. 

Volunteers are still needed in all areas! We need hosts for dinner, evening, and overnight times. Please contact Leigh Brabrand by e-mail or call 354-9998 to sign up.
 

United Methodist Women

Spiritual Life Retreat

Are you over burdened with the demands of family life, work and - yes, church?

Come and refresh your soul at the 5^th annual Spiritual Life Retreat at Reveille on February 19.  It's better than a day spa and the food is far yummier! 

Denise Bennett, our spiritual guide for the morning, is a professional storyteller and a chaplain at the Hermitage in Richmond. She is also a gifted musician and will be playing the harp to calm and sooth us.  She has told stories in many settings - churches, schools, theatres, retirement communities, hospitals and festivals.  She has led worship for such diverse denominations as Four Square Gospel to Roman Catholic to Unitarian.  Denise will help us to survive the seasons of our lives and help us to put God at the center, no matter how busy we are.

The Spiritual Life Retreat is sponsored by the Reveille United Methodist Women and is open to all women at Reveille, in the Richmond District and beyond.  Child care will be provided. Registration and coffee begin at 8.30 am. The retreat starts at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude with lunch at 12:00 noon.

The cost for the morning is $25, which includes materials and guest speaker, welcome coffee and breakfast snacks, a lunch of crab cakes or chicken with coleslaw, corn bread and Key Lime pie for dessert.

Partial scholarships are available. For more information, please e-mail Carol Uzzle or call her at 359-6041, ext. 117.

To register, complete the form here.  Registrations also may be made on Sundays, January 23 and 30 between 9.30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.; look for the UMW table in the main hallway.  For answers to your questions, please call Sheelagh Davis at 231-1623 or Lili Boyd at 763-5655.

Alpha is Coming to Reveille

Tuesday, February 22

What Happens at Alpha?  Most are evening courses, typically lasting two hours.  Each gathering begins with a meal - a chance to get to know others. Then there is a short talk which looks at a different aspect of the Christian faith followed by discussion in small groups. There everyone is welcome to contribute their opinion and ask questions. People usually stay in the same small group so they can get to know each other, continue discussions and deepen friendships. The emphasis is upon exploration and discovery in a relaxed and informal environment.

The talks cover a difference topic each week, acting as a springboard for the small group discussions. Some of the topics include:  Who is Jesus?  How can we have faith?  Why and how do I pray? And How does God guide?

Who Is Alpha For?

Alpha is for everyone. Church members are welcome to participate and bring their friends.  We will be actively inviting others.  Participants may come to investigate questions about the existence of God, the purpose of life, and the claims of Jesus. Some people want to get beyond religion and find a relationship with God that changes life. Others come for the close, long-lasting friendships that are built during the Alpha course.  Many participants have never been to church, others may have attended church but want to brush up on the basics of the Christian faith. Everyone is welcome.

Why Alpha at Reveille?

We are a church committed to a focused outreach ministry and to evangelism.  We are also a caring community that is committed to making a difference in God's world.  Alpha can help us make that difference in the lives of both our members and those in our community and assist us in developing small groups for discipleship.

Plan now to attend Wonderful Wednesday on February 9 for dinner at 6:00 p.m. for an introduction to Alpha and opportunity to hear the first Alpha talk entitled "Christianity: Boring, Untrue, and Irrelevant?"  If you have questions contact Burdette Robinson by e-mail or call 837-7717, or the Reverend Carol Uzzle at discipleship@reveilleumc.org or 359-6041, ext. 117.

Singers: Please Join Us for the Duruflé Requiem

Preparing for our 2011 Mission Benefit Concert, rehearsals for Maurice Duruflé's Requiem will be on Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. in the choir room.  This masterwork will be presented Sunday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. in our sanctuary.

Special Gifts

United Methodist Women

In memory of Ercil Casey

Virginia Ellett

Dr. and Mrs. R. P. Black

Mr. and Mrs. Eric R. Miller

Mrs. Mary Guthrie

Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Wilkinson, Jr.

Mr. Robert M. Pyle, Jr.

Tricia and Charles McDaniel

Robert M. Pyle, Jr.

Isabella Witt

Mr. and Mrs. Marion Allen

Mary Lou White Circle

Linda and William Irby

Dr. and Mrs. George Moxley

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Waddell

Garden Committee

In memory of Ercil Casey

Mrs. Robert Woods

General Memorial Fund

In memory of Lester Mosher

Phyllis Tucker

Reveille House Fund

In memory of Mary Helen Smith

Mr. Emmett M. Avery

Sunday, January 23

8:30 am        Worship* (Chapel)

9:30 am        Sunday School for All Ages (Education Building)

9:30 am        Worship at The Point (Fellowship Hall)

9:30 am        New Small Group (Reveille House Dining Room)

10:30 am      Coffee Fellowship (Fellowship Hall)

11:00 am      Worship* (Sanctuary)

3:30 pm      Auditions for Joseph (Chapel)

4:00 pm        Youth Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)

4:30 pm        High School Youth Choir (Choir Room)

4:30 pm        Middle School Youth Group (Room 200)

5:00 pm        Primary Choir Rehearsal (Room 104)

5:00 pm        Cherub Choir Rehearsal (Room 105)

5:00 pm        Reveille Today (Church Parlor)

5:00 pm        EGR Small Group* (Reveille House Parlor)

5:00 pm        Elementary Ringers (Sanctuary)

5:30 pm        Elementary Choir Rehearsal  (Room 211)

5:30 pm        Sunday Night Dinner (Fellowship Hall)

5:45 pm        Primary Ringers (Sanctuary)

6:00 pm        Middle School Youth Choir (Choir Room)

6:00 pm        High School Youth Group (Room 200)

Monday, January 24

7:00 am        Men's Prayer Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

9:00 am        VBS Directors (Reveille House Parlor)

12:30 pm      Prayer Ministry (Chapel)

6:15 pm        Reveille Ensemble (Sanctuary)

7:00 pm        Reveille Ringers (Sanctuary)

7:00 pm        Stephen Ministry (Church Parlor)

Tuesday, January 25

9:30 am        Staff Meeting (Reveille House Dining Room)

9:30 am        UMW Executive Meeting (Church Parlor)

12:30 pm      Prayer Ministry (Chapel)

12:30 pm      Covenant Disciple Group (Reveille House Parlor)

7:30 pm        Scout Troop 444 (Fellowship Hall)

Wednesday, January 26

9:30 am        The Seekers Class* (Church Parlor)

9:30 am        Believing God Bible Study (Room 210)

11:30 am      Covenant Group (Church Parlor)

12:15 pm      Midday Worship (Chancel)

12:30 pm      Prayer Ministry (Chapel)

6:00 pm        Wonderful Wednesday* (Fellowship Hall)

7:30 pm      Church Council (Church Parlor)

Thursday, January 27

12:30 pm      Prayer Ministry (Chapel)

7:00 pm        Chancel Choir Rehearsal* (Choir Room)

7:30 pm        CrossPoint Rehearsal* (Fellowship Hall)

Friday, January 28

12:30 pm      Prayer Ministry (Chapel)

*Child care provided