Welcome Jennifer McCluskey

Director of Adult Ministries

Please welcome Jennifer McCluskey as Reveille's new Director of Adult Ministries. Jennifer has been coming to Reveille with her family since 2006 and has been an active participant in many church programs, most notably as co-leader of the Seekers small group since 2007 and CARITAS key volunteer for Reveille's host week and spring furniture drive. She learned about Reveille the way many do - through being a Weekday School parent - and was drawn to this church by its strong children's and youth programs and focus on small group Bible study.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Jennifer is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, where she earned degrees in History and Education before beginning a career as a Global Studies teacher. She moved to Richmond in 1997 with her husband, Sean, and taught at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School before focusing on having a family that grew to include Connor (age 11), Teagan (age 9) and Lauren (age 7). For the past 10 years, Jennifer has balanced motherhood with careers in music ministry, writing, voice acting, and education. She has become increasingly drawn to helping others recognize and appreciate their gifts and begin journeys of study and service to grow closer to God. She is so excited to become part of the team at Reveille and is so grateful to our church for the opportunity to serve God in this way. If you do not yet know Jennifer, please seek her out to introduce yourself and assist her in her new role at Reveille.

This new position, which focuses on adult ministries and is currently part-time, was developed along with the full-time position of Director of Children's Ministries. (Refer to October 7, 2012, issue of The Reveille Window for information about Lori Epps, our new Director of Children's Ministries.) These changes were made after the Rev. Carol Uzzle, our Minister for Teaching and Learning for some 14 years, announced her retirement in the spring. Members of our Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) spent many hours of Christian conferencing within Reveille and with leaders from other churches to discern how best to address staff responsibilities so that Reveille is positioned to lead and meet our mission and vision for the future, as set by Church Council. With these changes to complement our other dedicated staff members, Reveille is poised for growth to serve our congregation, the community and the world, to make disciples of Christ to transform the world.

Thanks go to the members of our two search committees and the SPRC who worked through the spring and summer to recommend candidates for these two positions:

Director of Children's Ministries Search Committee: Paige Bell, Chair, and Sharon Humphreys (both members of SPRC); Tara Bennett, Wendi Black, Amy Donald, and Ellie Speer.

Director of Adult Ministries Search Committee: Kathy Beasley, Chair, and Danielle Roberts (both members of SPRC); Pat Gladin, Randy Manspile, Russ Smith, and Lynsey Thompson.

SPRC Members (in addition to those identified above): Al Lockerman, Bonnie Overacre, John Rainey, Joe Ramage, Dick Davis, Jim Noland, and Carol Hampton, Chair.

Members of SPRC welcome your comments. Please ask God's blessing and offer your support to all Reveille's clergy, program staff, and administrative staff members.

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2013 Stewardship Pledge:

Building on Our Blessings  

through Discipleship and Worship

Reveille's vision of making a transformative difference in God's world has never meant more to more people in more places. Our hopes for 2013 are ambitious. We want to not only continue our transforming ministries but increase our commitments to our growing congregation, our community, and our world. That hope reflects the opportunity to build on our faith and on the blessings we've realized from this past year.

Please prayerfully consider the difference you can make with your pledged gift for Reveille's 2013 operating budget on Consecration Sunday, October 28, and how we can turn these hopes into reality for service to others.

We've celebrated some big dreams for our past discipleship ministries. Let's keep dreaming big for discipleship ministries in 2013 and beyond by:

• Developing a monthly healing service
• Performing a congregation-wide production of Jesus Christ Superstar for the greater Richmond Community
• Creating a youth instrumental ensemble
• Expanding the Adult Chancel Choir
• Increasing the role of arts in worship
• Making Vacation Bible School and Day Camp cost free for all participants in order to reach our greater community
• Committing to 100% participation of members in small groups
• Expanding small group opportunities for youth in various areas around greater Richmond
• Offering retreats for families
• Developing support groups for various milestones in life

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Art and Music Program This Sunday

This Sunday, October 14, the Wesleyan Fellowship and Covenant classes will join  together in the chapel for a program led by Dennis King and Kevin Bruny. The program will begin immediately following the 8:30 am service. It will include varied music as well as a presentation about the artistry of Reveille's needlepoint works. The needlepoint has been a labor of love from many of our Reveille family and will be presented in detailed photographs in addition to the stories they have to tell.

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Youth News

Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh. Laughter is good for us. According to webmd.com current research suggests that laughing increases heart rate and blood flow, reduces stress and improves our immune response. This Sunday night, October  14, Bharata Wingham will lead us in "laughing yoga," some relaxation practices using laughter. Our schedule is normal:

     4:30 pm - Middle school youth group/high school choir

     5:30 pm - Dinner ($3)

     6:00 pm - High school youth group/middle school choir

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Journey 101: Loving God Begins November 4

Journey 101: Loving God will begin Sunday, November 4, at 5:00 pm in room 209, led by Associate Pastor Stephen Coleman. This 5-week class is a perfect follow-up to Alpha or Reveille Today, as well as a great way to begin exploring how to love, know, and serve God in our daily lives. Topics covered include worship, prayer, study, guidance, fasting and submission. Register for Journey 101: Loving God here or contact Jennifer McCluskey at 359-6041, ext. 117 or here . Child care will be provided.

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 Tuesday, October 16

11:00 am

Fellowship Hall

Covered Dish Luncheon 

Main dish and drinks provided; please bring your favorite side dish or dessert.

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Your Discipleship Impacts Our Youth

This week we continue to highlight some of the youth ministry milestones for the congregation, lifting up ways the entire congregation can support and nurture discipleship in our youth.

Lots of churches, Reveille included, aim for a 1:5 ratio of adults to youth. If we take 50 youth on a trip, we want 10 adult chaperones to supervise, drive, and fulfill other duties. Fuller Seminary professor Chap Clark suggests that we have it backwards, that instead of a 1:5 mentality, churches should aim for 5:1, not to enhance programming, but to provide a "sticky web of relationships" that connects teens to adults in the congregation. Youth ministry consultant Mark DeVries puts it another way: youth who remain active in the church can name five to seven adults, other than their parents, who knew them and cared about them as youth.

This means that Reveille's adults need to take the initiative. Sit with a youth and their family in worship. Ask about school, sports, their interests, or how their Sunday school class went. Invite some youth to join your United Methodist Women's circle on your next outreach project or to help the Men's Prayer Breakfast cook pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Sit with a teen at Wonderful Wednesday dinner.

Then take the next step: Get involved and interested in their lives. Reveille members have taken this role before, particularly with respect to mentoring at Swansboro Elementary School. Beyond their regular meetings, they have visited their mentees' families, invited them to church, provided rides to events, provided financial support for them to attend trips and retreats and checked in with their school to see if they need extra help. If every one of our teens had adults in the congregation who took that level of interest in them - to send a birthday card or check in after grades come out - our youth would know the power of God-bearing adults and would then be more likely to grow into God-bearing adults.

Let's make Reveille a 5:1 church. You can start this Sunday with the first teen you see. Just ask, "How are you?"

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Wonderful Wednesday

October 17

On Wednesday, October 17, join us in the fellowship hall at 6:00 pm for our weekly fellowship meal of honey-glazed ham, buttered loose corn, sweet potatoes, tossed salad, rolls and apple cobbler. The cost for the meal is $5 for adults and teens, $3 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for anyone under 4. Please make a reservation for dinner here, sign up on the friendship pad during Sunday worship or call the church office at 359-6041 by 3:00 pm on Monday. Click here for upcoming menus and programs for Wednesday night meals.

Chapel Piano Dedication Concert on October 20

You are invited to attend a dedicatory piano concert on Saturday, October 20, at 7:00 pm in Reveille's new chapel. The new Knabe baby grand piano, purchased this past spring from your generous donations, will be dedicated. Please come and enjoy the beauty of this instrument under the hands of some of Reveille's finest pianists: John Bullock, Susan Bullock, Jonathan Brabrand, Matthew Nagi and Elizabeth Spiers, with vocalist, Kara Wiseman, accompanied by Cathy Armistead. A reception in our new welcome center will follow the concert, where you may greet the musicians and enjoy refreshments. Please invite friends and family for this inspiring evening of music!

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Bring Fruits and Vegetables  

and Help Feed the Homeless

On Thursday, October 25, Reveille members will be serving homemade Stone Soup, cornbread, fruit and dessert to some of Richmond's homeless population. Here is how you can help:

• We will prepare the Stone Soup at the October 24 Wonderful Wednesday dinner. Please join us and bring vegetables to cut up to add to the soup. You may also bring whole bananas and apples that we will hand out at the Thursday meal.


• You can help by serving the meal at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for an hour or two. Meet us at Reveille at 11:00 am and carpool or meet us at the site. If needed, child care is available while serving the meal, but please let us know in advance. Call the church office at 359-6041 by Tuesday, October 23.


• You may also provide gallon-size plastic bag, plastic Tupperware-like containers (used containers are fine) and 55-gallon trash bags.

If you would like to donate any of these items, there will be a collection area by the elevators (on the red carpet).

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Reveille Basketball Registration Is Underway

Reveille's church-league basketball team is forming for the 2012-13 season. The team participates in one of the competitive Henrico County recreational leagues.

The 14-game regular season begins the week of November 5 and concludes with a playoff tournament in early March. Weekly games are played on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Byrd Middle School.

Players must be 18 or older and cannot be listed on a current high school or college team roster. Non-Henrico residents pay a $15 fee.

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Westview on the James Sponsors

a Family and Friends Fishing Derby

Pack up the kids and grab your rod and reel for a Family and Friends Fishing Derby at Westview on the James, the United Methodist Camp and Retreat in Goochland on Saturday, October 20, from 9:00 am to noon.

The beautiful 18-acre lake at Westview is a perfect place to take in the wonder of God's creation while spending quality time with your family. The cost is $30 per family and includes lunch and bait.

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Issues and Deadlines for The Reveille Window

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Calendar of Opportunities

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Staff

Jim Noland, Senior Pastor

Katie B. Anthony, Associate Pastor

Stephen Coleman, Associate Pastor

Cathy Armistead, Director of Music Ministries

Tamara Nicely, Assistant Director of Music Ministries

Lori Epps, Director of Children's Ministries

Jennifer McCluskey, Director of Adult Ministries

Dwayne Stinson, Director of Youth Ministries

Kaarina Jobe, Worship and Music Leader for The Point

Anne Stratton, Administrative Manager

Cheryl Arrington, Pastoral and Congregational Care Secretary

Bill Wright, Facilities Manager

Glynis Holcomb, Financial Manager

Thomas Goodall, Custodian

Elaine Kastelberg, Director of Weekday School

Beverley Tilley, Weekday School Administrative Assistant

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