“ Virginia Is For Lovers”
Keith Willyard
Associate District Lay Leader
Loving is childlike - reaching up for God's Hand
for help and guidance in this sin-troubled land.
Loving is trusting God will always forgive
when we are sorry and strive better to live.
Loving is believing that God's way is the best
and that in heaven His good children are blest.
And loving is helping, doing a good deed
for a friend or foe who is in need.
Sr. Mary Gemma Brunke, S.C.
Remember the motto: “ Virginia is for Lovers”? Well, I think that the month of June could also use that same motto. They say that, like flowers in May, love comes into bloom in June. Almost every church has every Saturday reserved in the month of June for a wedding, and for some churches, multiple weddings. It seems that it's many a young girls dream to “fall in love and be married in June.” My own parents were married in June and perhaps you were too! I waited until July, after the rush! The scriptures tell us to “love our brothers, as we love ourselves.” 1 Corinthians 13 is often called the “Love Chapter” because it tells the way of love - tells us that love is superior to all else. Verse 13 says: “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” RSV . We don't have to have a special month, day or time to find and feel God's love! Nor do we have to have a special month, day or time to show our love. Like the poem, above, “Loving is helping, doing a good deed for a friend or foe who is in need.” We can do that every day!
Speaking of love, one item that I feel compelled to highlight is the “ Samaritan Offering ” for the United Methodist Homes being held between Mother's Day and Father's Day! The Samaritan Program of Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. (VUMH) is a benevolent fund which provides financial assistance to residents who cannot afford the full cost of care. Benevolent assistance has been given in VUMH communities since l948. Generally, the cost of providing benevolent care annually could exceed $800,000. The average cost of care for a resident in a VUMH community is: $108/ up to one day of care; $758/up to one week of care; $3,285/up to one month care; $39,420/up to one year of care. Through our Samaritan Adopt-A-Day Program, donors can underwrite the cost of benevolent care of a VUMH resident for a day, a week a month or more. All gifts are recognized as tax deductible. To share in this ministry of caring, please fill out the Donor Gift Form available from your church and mail it to: Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. Attn: Fund Development Office, 7113 Three Chopt Rd. Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23226. Gifts may be designated to our own Lydia Roper Home, or to any designated community . Another way of showing YOUR love.
Last months “Beam” told of the many highlights of our Virginia Annual Conference (AC) being held at Norfolk Scope on June 14-17. It is hoped that, even if you are NOT a delegate to the AC, and because it is right at our backdoor, you will take advantage and attend some of the sessions – especially the worship and teaching sessions, and even plan to attend some of the breakfasts, luncheons or dinners! Come and find out all that is happening and be see how you might become involved in all that will be happening at this years AC. Check out the Conference website: http://www.vaumc.org/index.cfm/fa/content.view/menuID/4986.htm
District Beam - June, 2009
