Newsletter Masthead
Reveille United Methodist Church

4200 Cary Street Road, Richmond, Virginia 23221  

(804) 359-6041   www.reveilleumc.org

 

July 24, 2011 

 
In This Issue

VBS and Day Camp Begin

Worship

Small Groups Seek Members

Help Feed the Homeless

Fall Studies Meet and Greet

Another Fall Study Opportunity

Stephen Ministry Can Help

Angel Ministry Mentors Needed

Clothes Closet Needs Women's Clothes

Co-ed Softball Team Wins

Calendar


Do all the good you can, 

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can.


~ John Wesley

Top Vacation Bible School and Day Camp

are almost here!   

July 25-29

 

VBS 2011 logo  

Vacation Bible School: Shake it Up

 

Vacation Bible School (VBS) begins this Monday, July 25 for 110 children.  Lisa Fisher, Sandy Myers and Corbin Neuner, the VBS co-directors, have lined up a staff of more than 80 adults and youth who will share God's love through music, crafts, story and outreach. During the week, the children will bring school supplies for students at Swansboro Elementary and canned goods for the Central Virginia Food Bank. Their monetary offering will be divided between the Food Bank and Richmond Friends of the Homeless. On Sunday, July 31 during our 11:00 worship service, the children will share some of the songs they learned in Vacation Bible School.  

   

Day Camp: Do All the Good You Can

 

With Ellie Speer as this summer's day camp director, 41 children entering the third through fifth grades this fall will have a full week in day camp. The words of John Wesley's life motto (see box to left) will frame their time together as they seek to do all the good they can throughout the week. This year they will participate in gleaning organic tomatoes though the Society of St. Andrew and will lend a hand at Shalom Farms located at Westview on the James in Goochland.

 

The children will prepare and serve a hot meal at the two Friends of the Homeless feeding sites on Thursday. A special family night with dinner and Holy Communion is planned for that night, also. Many of the children will opt to spend Thursday night at the church to explore the theme of homelessness.

 

Day campers will bring school supplies for students at Swansboro Elementary School and children's books for Richmond Friends of the Homeless. Their daily monetary offering will benefit the Nothing But Nets campaign, which aims to eradicate malaria.

   

Return to Top 

 
Worship

July 24, 2011

 

8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Preacher: Rev. David Nickels

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:15-17

Matthew 2:13-18

Sermon: "Harry, Herod, and the Junta"

 

9:30 a.m. - The Point

Preacher: Rev. Abby Kocher

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46

Theme: Hidden Gems

 

Return to Top 

 
Small groups seek members

Two of Reveille's small groups are currently seeking additional members. Please check below to see if either would be a good fit for you.

SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

The Gathering invites those interested to join them for their new study entitled Serious Answers for Hard Questions. This small group, which meets in Reveille House dining room, is composed of adults of different ages. If you would like to learn more about this small group or this study, e-mail Keith Thompson.

   

SUNDAY EVENINGS 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

A small group for men has started meeting on Sunday evenings in the homes of its members on a rotating basis. They are seeking other men who are interested in spiritual growth through reading and discussion. Currently Emmet Fox's daily devotional readings, Around the Year with Emmet Fox, serve as the basis for their study. Following this study the members will decide on other texts to explore. If interested in learning more about this small group, e-mail Brant Smith.

Carol Uzzle, Minister for Teaching and Learning, will be glad to answer your questions concerning small groups or other spiritual growth opportunities. She may be reached at 359-6041, ext. 117, or by e-mail here.

 

Return to Top 

 
Help feed the homeless


Friends of the Homeless This Sunday, July 24, come join the hands-on opportunity to feed the poor of Richmond. Our older elementary children sponsor the preparation of 160 bag lunches on the Sunday before the fourth Monday of the month. Children, youth and adults join together in making sandwiches and preparing the bag lunches. Jennifer Huneycutt coordinates this monthly meal and would be happy to answer any questions you might have; e-mail her here.

The Day Camp children will be preparing and serving the hot meal on July 28 at both of the Friends of the Homeless feeding sites.  

 

Return to Top 

 
Learn more about adult spiritual growth opportunities:
 

Fall Studies Meet and Greet

 Sunday, July 31

Following 11:00 a.m. worship

 

If you were unable to come to the first Meet and Greet to learn about opportunities for study and growth in the faith during the upcoming school year, we hope you will mark your calendar for Sunday, July 31. This is an excellent time to ask questions and examine the resources for each of the following studies:

 

Alpha

 Journey 101

Disciple 1 and Disciple 4 classes

Immersion Bible Study

Living the Good Life

 

Come on over to the church parlor after 11:00 worship on July 31 and get the answers to your questions.
 
And here's another spiritual growth opportunity to consider:
 

Brown Bag Lunch Series begins

 with Efficient Abundance

12:20 p.m.-1:20 p.m.

Third Thursdays beginning September 22

Fellowship Hall

 

Teacher, writer, and professional speaker Jennifer McCluskey will lead this interdenominational monthly series aimed at discovering the abundance of time, resources, peace, and joy that God wants for us to enjoy.

Each month will focus on a different topic with practical advice and scriptural inspiration on how to more fully appreciate and use the abundance at our fingertips.

September 22: Believing in Abundance

October 20: Abundant Time

November 17: Simply Abundant Holidays

 December 15: Abundant Giving

January 19: Abundant Money

February 16: Abundant Possessions

March 15: Abundant Love and Friendship

April 19: Abundance in Failures, Heartbreaks, and Constraints

May 17: Abundant Fun and Entertaining

 

All monthly meetings will be followed up with a weekly blog providing at-home opportunities for further study and discussion.

To sign up, simply e-mail Carol Uzzle, specifying whether you will need complementary child care for children under age three. Please contact us at least 48 hours in advance to either sign up or cancel your child care reservation.

Children ages 3-6 may be signed up for Reveille Weekday School's Lunch Bunch program. For details, call Beverly in the Weekday School office at 359-4600.

We look forward to seeing you. Be sure to tell your friends: All are welcome!

 

Return to Top 

 
Dealing with Hard Knocks

 By Joanna Tilley

 

Life can deal some pretty hard knocks. Sometimes we roll with the punches, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep on going. Sometimes we just can't seem to jump start ourselves again. When we have problems that won't go away, talking about it can sometimes help us to heal. How great would it be to have a special person listen to you and not judge what you are feeling? Even better, what if this person didn't tell another soul about your conversations? Best of all, what if this person prayed for you every day? This is what Stephen Ministry is all about. If you are going through a hard time, a Stephen Minister would be happy to be your listening ear or your shoulder to cry on. You won't get a sermon - not even an offer of advice - just someone to be there for you.

I would like to tell you briefly about a past experience of mine. As a Stephen Minister at a previous church, I met faithfully with a woman who had a broken relationship with an adult child. We met and we talked and talked some more. At the end of each meeting she asked me to pray with her. I never met the child and the woman didn't consciously do anything different toward her child, but over the course of time, the bond between the two was mended. The real beauty of Stephen Ministry is that God cares and works behind the scenes.

If you would like to explore this option, please e-mail Stephen Coleman or call him at 359-6041, ext. 115.

 

Return to Top 

 
Mentors needed for Angel Ministry
Angel Ministry
Reveille's Congregational Care is preparing to start a new ministry that reaches out to women who have had recent pregnancy losses or miscarriages. We are currently looking for volunteers who are willing to be mentors to these women. For more information about becoming a mentor, please e-mail Sarah Takacs or call her at 615-1106.

 

Return to Top 

 
A Simple Way to Help a Woman Leaving Prison

 

PRISON MINISTRY CLOTHES CLOSET  


The clothing closet for women's clothes needs donations. The donated clothing will benefit the Chesterfield Women's Detention and Diversion Center. Gently-used shoes, handbags, dresses, skirts, blouses, tops, suits, and pants are needed in all sizes.

The ladies in the Detention and Diversion Center have limited resources. As their release date approaches the ladies go to the clothing closet to select outfits that will help them look and feel great for their job interviews. As you can imagine your donations are greatly appreciated.

The clothing closet at Reveille is a year-round project. The Outreach Ministries closet is located in the church's education building across from the elevator by the main church hallway. Please place your donated items folded into the green plastic containers in the closet.Thank you for your support as we help these women transition to a new life.

If you need further assistance please e-mail Donna Faye Kessel or call her at 399-2539.

 

Return to Top 

 
Co-ed softball team wins against St. Joseph's Villa

On an outrageously hot July 12, the Reveille Softball Team played a double header against our friends from Trinity UMC. Everything and everyone was hot except the Reveille bats. In spite of some heroics in the field, especially by Emma Bruny at second base, Trinity jumped out to a big lead, but we didn't let them blank us because we did score 4 runs in the bottom of the last inning. In the second game, Craig Kocher started us off with a big hit, but Trinity still outscored us.

Three nights later, on July 15, we played a make-up game against St. Joseph's Villa on a nice cool evening. This time we were short a few players, but just like the U.S. Women's Soccer World Cup Team when they played with one less person, that didn't stop us. Our bats finally warmed up, and we won 6-3. After losing 7 straight games, we finally notched a victory.

The last regular season games are on August 2 at 7:15 p.m. at Byrd Middle School. Come out and cheer on the team.

 

Return to Top 

 

Calendar of Opportunities

 

SUNDAY, JULY 24

 

8:30 AM

Worship*

Sanctuary

9:30 AM

Epiphany Small Group*

Room 206

9:30 AM

Sunday school for all ages

Education Building

9:30 AM

The Gathering Small Group*

Reveille House DR

9:30 AM

Worship at The Point*

Fellowship Hall

10:30 AM

Coffee Fellowship

Fellowship Hall

10:30 AM

Friends of the Homeless

Bag Lunch Preparation

Fellowship Hall

11:00 AM

Worship*

Sanctuary

12:00 PM

VBS/Day Camp Set-up

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

MONDAY, JULY 25

 

7:00 AM

Men's Prayer Breakfast

Fellowship Hall

9:00 AM

Vacation Bible School and

Day Camp

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

9:30 AM

Garden Committee

Garden

12:30 PM

Prayer Ministry

Adult Library

TUESDAY, JULY 26

 

9:00 AM

Vacation Bible School and

Day Camp

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

9:30 AM

Staff Meeting

Reveille House DR

12:30 PM

Prayer Ministry

Adult Library

6:30 PM

Co-Ed Softball

Byrd Middle School

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

 

9:00 AM

Vacation Bible School and

Day Camp

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

11:30 AM

Covenant Group

Reveille House Parlor

12:15 PM

Midday Worship

Sanctuary

12:30 PM

Prayer Ministry

Adult Library

7:30 PM

Church Council

Church Parlor

THURSDAY, JULY 28

 

9:00 AM

Vacation Bible School and

Day Camp

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

12:30 PM

Prayer Ministry

Adult Library

7:30 PM

CrossPoint Rehearsal

Room 104

10:00 PM

Day Camp All Nighter

Fellowship Hall

FRIDAY, JULY 29

 

9:00 AM

Vacation Bible School and

Day Camp

Education Building and Fellowship Hall

12:30 PM

Prayer Ministry

Adult Library

 

 

*Child care provided           DR = Dining Room 

 

 
NOTE: This calendar reflects our schedule as of newsletter publication time. For the most current scheduling, please check the website calendar here. 

Return to Top 

 
For more information, call the church office at (804) 359-6041.
Reveille is online at www.reveilleumc.org.