Annual Charge Conference

November 28

This year's annual charge conference will be held on Wednesday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the welcome center. In keeping with The Discipline of the United Methodist Church, this important meeting will be chaired by the Reverend Dr. Steve Jones, Richmond District Superintendent.

The purposes of the annual charge conference are to review and celebrate our ministries in 2012, set the 2013 compensation for our clergy, and elect officers for 2013. All may attend, but only members of the Church Council and the clergy may vote.

Advent Wreath Workshop

November 28, 6:45 pm

The annual Advent Wreath Workshop will follow Wonderful Wednesday dinner on November 28. Plan to join us as we begin the Advent season by making this symbol of  the season. The cost is $10 for a complete kit and $5 for just candles. Please bring fresh greenery to share to adorn the wreaths. Some greens will be available at the workshop.

Craft opportunities for children will be available after they have helped put together the family Advent wreath.

So that we have sufficient supplies, please let us know you if you need a wreath, candles, or both by emailing Lori Epps or by calling her at 359-6041, ext. 117.

Wonderful Wednesday

On Wednesday, November 28, join us in the fellowship hall at 6:00 pm for our weekly fellowship meal. The menu is roasted chicken, green beans with red potatoes, rice pilaf, tossed salad, rolls and cookies. 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.

Holiday Women's Shelter Gift Bag Drive

begins December 2

There are many wonderful organizations that provide gifts to underprivileged children at Christmas, but often adults are overlooked, which can be lonely and difficult, especially for those facing homelessness, abuse, incarceration or financial crisis.

Reveille will be collecting donations of travel-sized toiletries and new or gently-used jewelry, accessories, gloves and scarves to compile into gift bags after the Wonderful Wednesday dinner on December 19. The goal is to give a bag to every woman living in a shelter in the Richmond area and even beyond.

Donations can be brought to the labeled box in the welcome center between December 2 and 19. If you are interested in helping organize this event or deliver gift bags on December 20, please email Jennifer McCluskey or call 359-6041, ext. 121.

Shop for Glorious Gifts

Glorious Gifts is an alternative marketplace where one may "buy" gifts in honor of friends  and loved ones. These gifts will support eight of Reveille's outreach ministries. You will be able to shop for Glorious Gifts in the welcome center from 9:00 - 11:30 am on Sundays, December 9 and December 16, and online shopping is available now until December 31.

The eight outreach ministries participating this year are Friends of Barnabas (Honduras Medical Mission Trip in July, 2013), CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter), Friends of the Homeless, Rebuilding Together of Richmond, United Methodist Women Prison Ministry, Westview on the James Camperships, Stop Hunger Now, and Swansboro Elementary School. This week we highlight two of these organizations.

FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS

Richmond Friends of the Homeless is a private, non-profit association devoted to making a difference in the lives of the less advantaged. It began in 1986 with one woman, Shawnee Hansen, serving lunch in south Richmond from the trunk of her car. Today, this organization serves over 1,500 meals each week at two locations, one south of Richmond and one downtown. In addition, food baskets and donated clothes, blankets and other necessities are distributed to those in need.

Groups from Reveille are involved with lunches twice a month. On the fourth Monday of each month, over 180 bag lunches packed by Reveille volunteers are distributed. On the fourth Thursday, Reveille volunteers prepare and serve a hot lunch to over 180 guests at Great Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in downtown Richmond. In November, no hot meal will be needed due to the Thanksgiving meals offered by various agencies.

REBUILDING TOGETHER

Rebuilding Together is a national nonprofit organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates across the United States. Their mission is to preserve affordable housing by bringing volunteers and communities together to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners. Each year the last Saturday of April is Rebuilding Richmond Day. A neighborhood in Richmond with a large number of elderly, poor, and/or disabled residents is chosen. During some past years Reveille has had so many volunteers that two houses have had Reveille teams.

Team leaders meet with the owners before the work Saturday to make lists of needed repairs and secure the materials. On Rebuilding Day, dozens of Reveille volunteers, from youth to senior citizens, descend upon the assigned houses and put in a day of hard work to make all the repairs. In addition to having the chance to help fellow Richmonders, this day also gives Reveille's youth and adults a chance to work side by side.

Two Ways to Support UMFS

This Advent and Christmas season, Reveille UMC is providing two opportunities to support UMFS (formerly known as United Methodist Family Services). First, you may make monetary donations to our annual CHRISTMAS OUTREACH OFFERING,which will benefit UMFS as in years past. Donation forms are available in the sanctuary narthex, welcome center, fellowship hall and church office. Complete a donation form and add your check or cash gift. If using a check, please make it payable to Reveille UMC and reference it "Christmas Outreach." Place the form and gift in the collection plate on Sunday or send it to the church office. Donations received by December 16 will be included in the listing of poinsettias and outreach offerings in a worship bulletin insert on December 23.

A second way to benefit UMFS is coming up. We have an opportunity to brighten a student's Christmas morning by providing gifts for him or her. Wish lists will hang from the UMFS ANGEL TREE in the fellowship hall beginning December 2. Bring unwrapped presents during the offering at The Point December 16 or drop them off in the marked box in the fellowship hall December 2 through 16.

UMFS, located just a few blocks from our church, touches the lives of 10,000 families and children throughout Virginia annually. Hundreds of children in Virginia are removed from their homes each year due to abuse and neglect. Given their experiences, many of these children need additional supervision, stability, and care. UMFS provides foster care and therapeutic treatment services to children and teens.

UMFS has learned what it takes to bring a troubled teen back from the brink. We can help carry on their mission to "Touch a life. Create a future."

Order Christmas Poinsettias Now

Poinsettias will grace our sanctuary, chapel and fellowship hall on Sunday, December 23,  and this year the cost for each poinsettia, complete with a green pot cover, is $9.

To place a poinsettia in honor of or in memory of someone, please complete the order form (available in the sanctuary narthex, welcome center, fellowship hall and church office), combine it with payment and turn them in with your offering this Sunday or send them to the church office. The deadline is Wednesday, December 12.

Your Grocery Shopping Supports Youth Missions

Each week, when you buy your milk, eggs and cereal, you can also support Reveille's youth mission fund. Reveille's youth are offering Kroger Cares cards. These $5 gift cards function like debit cards. You purchase one for $5 from Reveille. Take it to the customer service desk and add up to $500 to the card (using cash or a credit or debit card). Then use the card to purchase your groceries. Each time you recharge your card by adding more money, Reveille gets 5% of the total - money that will support our youth mission trips. The more you spend, the more we receive. It is a win-win situation.

Cards will be available in the welcome center during Glorious Gifts on December 9 and 16. In addition, you may purchase a card from Dwayne Stinson in the church office. If you have questions, please email Dwayne or call him at 359-6041, ext. 122.

Got Pictures?

Do you always have a camera handy for that special shot? If so, the Communications Committee wants to enlist your help in building our photo gallery. Especially wanted are group shots of Reveille members and friends of all ages engaged in the wide variety of ministries available to them - from musical groups, to service projects, to discipleship opportunities and everything in between.

These photos may be used in Reveille's print or electronic publications, including our website. Please confine your photos of anyone under 18 years of age to group shots only. Anyone over the age of 18 may be photographed individually.

If you already have a collection you would like to share (taken within the current year), please email them to rumcpics@gmail.com. Gmail can receive attachments up to 25MB. Or, if you have a camera phone, take a picture and email it to us instantly!

2013 Flower Calendar Opens December 1

For those wishing to place flowers on the sanctuary altar or chapel altar on a Sunday,  the 2013 flower calendar will open Saturday, December 1. You may call Cheryl Arrington at 359-6041, ext. 114 to sign-up on or after that date. Requests left on voice mail will be honored in the order in which they arrived, as will orders received during business hours. The cost for sanctuary or chapel flowers is $35.

In fairness to everyone, no reservations will be taken before December 1.

What in the World is the  

United Methodist Church Doing?

Be informed: subscribe to the Virginia United Methodist Advocate, the award-winning full-color conference news magazine. Each issue of the Advocate focuses on an important area within the church and features commentary and articles from conference clergy and laity. Get Conference news, world and national news, local church news, Conference events, outreach opportunities, clergy news and the bishop's viewpoint. You can select to receive the Advocate in print, online or both at these very low prices:

Print and online issues - $20/year

Print issues only - $15/year

Online issues only - $10/year

Subscription forms are located in the narthex, welcome center, fellowship hall and in the church office. This subscription drive continues through December 16. If you have questions, please email Cheryl Arrington or call 359-6041, ext. 114.

Angel Ministry

Pregnancies don't always go as planned. Sometimes they don't even happen at all. You are not alone. Angel ministers, women who have had pregnancy-related problems in their own past, are ready to provide a caring presence for those who are currently struggling with this difficult time in their lives. For more information, please email Rev. Katie B. Anthony or call her at 359-6041, ext. 111.

Parents' Mix and Mingle

Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude

Protect Your Valuables

Please do not leave valuables in your car or unattended in the church buildings at any time. Be sure to report to the church office any theft that occurs on church property.

Issues and Deadlines for The Reveille Window

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

Dee Stokes, Custodian 

Elaine Kastelberg, Director of Weekday School