Youth News

Homework. Sports practice. Recitals. Lunch with the extended family. Youth group. Every week, even every day, seems filled with more than anyone can get done. The demands on our time, attention, and energy are constant, and those demands pull at us from different directions. It seems like all our energy is flowing out and none is flowing in. This Sunday at youth group, we will continue our Lenten study, "Outflow," by considering how our relationship with Christ affects how we manage our commitments and priorities.

The schedule for the evening is as follows:

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

Swansboro 2013: This summer, July 14-19, the Reveille youth mission experience is local. Reveille's youth and adults will focus our time, prayers, and resources on the greater Swansboro community here in Richmond. We will build with Habitat for Humanity, construct wheelchair ramps, repair homes, sponsor sports and music camps for children, and otherwise immerse ourselves in the Swansboro community. This is a full mission experience, and the group will stay off-site at Pocahontas State Park. The cost for the week is $150.00. To register please get a check and a roommate request form to Dwayne by this Sunday, March 3.

UMW General Meeting Tuesday, March 5, 10:30 am

The General Meeting for The United Methodist Women is Tuesday, March 5, at 10:30 am in the fellowship hall.

Our guest speak is Lisa Schaffner, former news anchor for WRIC-TV8 Richmond and Public Relations and Marketing Director for UNOS - United Network for Organ Sharing. Lisa will speak about this national non-profit based in Richmond that matches life-saving organs from deceased donors to those on the national waiting list.

Come Hear Guest Preachers  

at the Lenten Worship Service

Richmond District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Steve Jones, kicked off the Wednesday Lenten Worship Service on February 20. He proclaimed that Jesus' crucifixion connected him with all of humanity. He challenged the congregation to emulate Christ and connect with our neighbors through listening. Throughout Lent, guest preachers from the Richmond District will share a Lenten message during the Wednesday Lent worship services held in the chapel following the Wonderful Wednesday dinner. The service will start at 7:00 pm.

Following is the remaining schedule for the Wednesday Lenten Worship Services:

February 27 - Peter Moon

March 6 - Reverend Rachel May

March 13 - Reverend Lee Sheaffer

Wonderful Wednesday Dinner

March 6

Before the Lenten Service at 7:00 pm, join us for our fellowship meal at 6:00 pm in the fellowship hall. The menu will be Chicken Marsala, tossed salad, vegetable medley, roasted garlic potatoes, rolls and chocolate cake. 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, ext. 115 by 3:00 pm on Monday. Click here for upcoming menus and programs for Wednesday night meals.

Children are Invited to Journey to Jerusalem

on Wednesdays

On February 20 children relived Mark 9:11 by making palm leaves to welcome Jesus with Hosannas. Throughout Lent, children Pre-K through grade 5 are invited to journey towards Jerusalem and walk in Jesus' footsteps. Come join us on Wednesday nights during Lent. We will meet in the fellowship hall beginning at 6:45 pm and go until 7:30 pm. To participate, please email Lori Epps, Director of Children's Ministries, or call her at 359-6041, ext. 117.

2013 Lent and Easter Offering

Our 2013 Lent and Easter offering will purchase traditional white lilies to adorn all of our worship spaces on Easter Sunday, March 31, as well as benefit the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. A sufficient number of lilies needed to decorate for our Easter services will be purchased and the remaining money will be directed to One Great Hour of Sharing.

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering provides for the administrative costs of United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) so that 100% of the donations you give to the special offerings for disaster relief will be used for relief efforts and not for administrative costs.

Donations to this offering may be in any amount. If you would like to have your donation acknowledged in the Easter printout of these gifts, be sure to complete a lavender order form and return it with your check or cash no later than Sunday, March 24. The form may be printed here or picked up in the narthex, welcome center, fellowship hall or church office.

Reveille's UMW Palm Sunday Bake Sale

Sunday, March 24

9:00 am to 12:00 noon

Fellowship Hall, Main Hall to Sanctuary and Welcome Center

The popular UMW (United Methodist Women) Palm Sunday Bake Sale is coming back this year. We appreciate all the circle members who have donated baked goods in the past. In 2012 we raised more than $2,000 that was given to local charities supported by the Reveille UMW and to camperships at Westview on The James.

We need the support of circle members again to bake goodies. If you are not a circle member but enjoy baking, please feel free to donate something. Items may be dropped off on Friday, March 22 in the fellowship hall kitchen between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm or brought with you to church on the Sunday, March 24. Please label all items dropped off early "Reveille UMW Bake Sale." Pretty wrapping makes all the difference!

Thank you in advance for all of your support and remember to come ready to take home some great baked goods for your Easter dinner. For more information email Laura Holdych.  

Sign Ups for CARITAS Host Week are Here!

Don't miss this opportunity to live out Christ's mission to serve those most in need...coming right to our own church. Reveille will be hosting CARITAS families in the youth center from Saturday, April 6 to Saturday, April 13. We need volunteers to cook dinners and breakfasts, provide evening activities for adults and children and serve as overnight volunteers. Please come by the bulletin board located closest to the exterior doors on the red carpet leading to the sanctuary and sign up! For questions, email Jennifer McCluskey or call 359-6041, ext. 121.

Reflection on

Connecting with God and Neighbor

I'm a doer. I like getting a lot accomplished, feeling like I'm helping a lot of people all at once, and getting through giant check-lists every day. That's why Reveille's Lenten challenge to slow down and get to know people on an individual basis before DOING something for them was particularly challenging to me.

It was that same mentality that almost kept me from going to Swansboro elementary school last Wednesday morning. I'm embarrassed to say it was my first time there. I've made gift bags, donated mittens, collected books, donated money...lots of good things. Things I intend to keep doing and will encourage others to do the same. But I'd never actually gone to Swansboro. I didn't even know where it was.

With an ever-growing "to do" list running through my brain, I jumped in the car with two friends and headed across the river to read "How Far Can a Rubber Band Stretch?" to 40 five-year olds. One hour out of my life, right? Won't make too big of a difference.

I could not have been more mistaken. It has made all the difference.

The first change in me occurred before I even got out of the car. I can now visualize in my mind the neighborhood, the school, the people for whom I've been praying for years. The school is beautiful, by the way, in case you haven't been there. By simply seeing this community with my own eyes, it has become part of my consciousness, and now part of my stewardship.

The second change happened when I made eye contact with these precious children. I saw the same eyes that I see walking through the Reveille Weekday school each day- eyes filled with hope, love, need, and a little mischievousness. Eyes that beg to be noticed.

Reading the story was as easy as I'd hoped it would be- a few kids interrupted, one couldn't sit still, a few made shockingly astute observations. Nothing I had not experienced when volunteering in my own children's classrooms or during storytelling at Vacation Bible School.

What I had never experienced, however, was what came next: the hugs. Dozens of children running to wrap themselves around my legs, take my hand in theirs, cling to me until the teacher told them it was time to leave. I heard myself talking about the next book I will read when I come back, and I will come back. I can't help it. I have been touched.

-      Jennifer McCluskey, Director of Adult Ministries

Have you taken the 2013 Lenten Challenge to "Connect with God" through spiritual disciples and "Connect with Neighbor" through time and prayers? What was your experience? What impact has it had on your faith? Reveille staff will be sharing their experiences through The Window over the next few months and they invite you to join them. Submit your reflection to Katie Anthony. For more information on the 2013 Lenten Challenge, see the purple "Path to Serve" brochure found in the welcome center or narthex.

Easter Egg Hunt & Mission

Join us on Saturday, March 23from 10:30 am - 12pm (rain or shine) for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year we will have several hands-on mission activities that your family can participate in as well. We will meet in the fellowship hall to begin our time together. Don't forget to bring your Easter egg basket for the hunt.

If you are willing to help with this ministry, please email Lori Epps, Director of Children's Ministries, or call her at 359-6041, ext. 117.

Summer Sunday School Recruitment

for Children's Ministries

School's out for the summer. But, not Sunday School at Reveille UMC. The children at Reveille are eager to learn from their church family this summer. For the 13 weeks of summer, beginning Sunday, June 2 and running through Sunday, August 25, we will thank our teachers who teach the entire school year with a well-deserved summer break. Please prayerfully consider volunteering to help teach for one Sunday this summer. We will combine the following classes: 2's/3's/Pre-K, grades K and 1, grades 2-5. We need two teachers for each class each week. Curriculum is provided for the younger ages from 2-year-olds through first grade. Grades 2-5 will be focusing on "Connecting with God, Connecting with Neighbor." These grades will hopefully hear from members of our congregation of all ages who are willing to share about their faith journey, a mission trip that had an impact on their life or what a difference Reveille has made in their life. We invite every member to prayerfully consider where they can serve. Please let Lori Epps, Director of Children's Ministries, know where you would like to serve. Email her here   or call 359-6041, ext. 117.

Issues and Deadlines for The Reveille Window

Joys and Concerns

SYMPATHY

The Reveille family extends Christian love and sympathy to Bob Asplund on the recent passing of his mother; and to Nancy Bailey and family on the passing of her aunt, Isabelle Ammons Nuckols, on February 25.

NEW MEMBERS

February 17, 2013

Bill and Nancy Baldwin

1511-K Split Oak Lane

Henrico, VA 23229

Susan Bell

9416 Sir Barry Court

Henrico, VA 23229

 Richard and Julie Bishop

7703 Hollins Road

Richmond, VA 23229

John and Laura Duhring

3327 Grove Ave., Apt. 3   

Richmond, VA 23221

Brent and Lori Epps

14503 Charlemagne Court Midlothian, VA 23114

Tom and Amy Gallo

10708 Fernridge Court Richmond, VA 23236

Rob McAtee

3129 Floyd Avenue   

Richmond, VA 23221

Charles and Sarah Anne Reed

212 Santa Clara Drive

Richmond, VA 23229

Ernie Vanarsdall

4820 Rodney Road

Richmond, Virginia 23230

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

Glynis Holcomb, Financial Manager

Thomas Goodall, Custodian

Darius Stokes, Custodian

Elaine Kastelberg, Director of Weekday School