December 2018 $2$2 Memories of Christmases past December_2018.indd 1 11/7/2018 7:42:49 PM Vol. 186 • December 2018 • No. 12 Connecting with the Virginia Advocate The official magazine of the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church PILLOW TALK P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058 Phone: 1-800-768-6040 or 804-521-1100 Something about Christmas just warms the Fax: 804-521-1174 E-mail: [email protected] soul. It is the balm to even the most wicked of Scrooges. Website: www.vaumc.org Detailed guidelines for the following Whether it’s the food or buying the perfect present for available upon request. someone, there’s a lot of love to go around. We all seem Subscriptions Print subscriptions are $20/one year and more willing and open to welcome the stranger as we $30/two years. Special bulk rate for five or more copies going to a single address remember the one who was born in a lowly manger. is $13 each for one year. For both printed copy and online access, subscriptions are $25/year and $35/two years. For online Madeline Pillow I personally have so many fond Christmas memories, only, cost is $10/year and $15/two years. Editor Subscribe online at www.vaumc.org, from dinners with both sets of my grandparents to movie under “Resources>Publications.” marathons. (Sorry that Patrick and I made you sit through Deadlines The Advocate is published once a month. The the extended The Fellowship of the Ring movie, Dad!) deadline to submit news and ad copy for the January 2019 issue is November 23. For more The memories that cling the hardest though are the information on future deadlines, contact the quiet moments. Advocate office or visit the website. Advertising/Tributes Rates for advertising and tributes are v Sitting under the Christmas tree on the first night it avail-able upon request. is lit and watching our cats gaze in wonder at the Local Church News lights above. Items should be typed (preferably sent via Warm, e-mail) or printed legibly, no more than 100 words, and of conference-wide interest. quiet v The quiet of a snowfall, the chilly cold on your face. Complete names of individuals, churches and districts should be included. Because of v space limitations, the Local Church section moments Sharing memories and laughter with my family. prohibits news items related to church members’ birthdays (of less than 100 v Singing carols acapella out of our old book of carols. years), wedding anniversaries, receptions for moving and/or retiring pastors, pho- tos of traditional Chrismon trees or Easter Throughout this issue, you will read about some warm trees/crosses, and any item over two months old. Color photos are encour- Christmas memories from our bishop to people around aged. Photos returned only if submitted with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. the conference. I hope you will remember your own Photos included on a space available basis. The editor reserves the right to edit special memories of this time of year and spread it all copy or refuse publication. around to those you meet! Letters Letters to the Editor are printed on a space- available basis. Letters should be limited to 150 words for space reasons. The Advocate will not print letters addressing a topic beyond two months of the publication of that issue. The Advocate editor reserves the right to edit all letters. ©2018 Virginia Advocate USPS 660-740 ISSN 0891-5598 Published monthly by Virginia United Method- ist Communications, an agency of the Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at Glen Allen, Va., and at additional mailing offices. The Vir- ginia United Methodist Advocate is owned by Virginia United Methodist Communications. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Virginia United Methodist Advocate, P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Editorial and business offices are located at 10330 Staples Mill Rd., Glen Allen, Va. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 2 VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | DECEMBER 2018 December_2018.indd 2 11/7/2018 7:42:51 PM TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS FEATURE 4-6 Commentary 16-29 Stories of Christmas past 7-8 World News 9-11 Equipping for Ministry STORIES 12-13 Technology Tips 4 Being a good Christian, citizen at UM Day 14 Local Church News 7 Court: One Church Plan largely constitutional 15 Events 9 Animated Wesleys make Methodist history fun Embrace technology to make meaningful family 30-31 Living the Word 12 connections 32 Clergy & Diaconal 34 From the Bishop 35 One Last Word The Virginia Advocate Staff Madeline Pillow | Editor, Director of Communications Forrest White | News Associate Cathryn Huff | Graphic Designer Pam Culler | Administrative Secretary Virginia Board of Communications: Jill Gaynor, president. The Virginia United Methodist Advocate uses the services of United Methodist Communications and United Methodist News Service. The report- Scan this code to go to the ing of news regarding any person or event, or the placement of any advertisement within these pages, conference website: does not constitute endorsement by the Virginia Advocate or any entity of The United Methodist Church. Opinions of writers are solely those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. www.vaumc.org VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | DECEMBER 2018 3 December_2018.indd 3 11/7/2018 7:42:51 PM COMMENTARY UM Day: Being a good citizen and Christian By Barbara Lewis voted, now what? I Have you ever wondered how you can be a good citizen and a good Christian? Have you ever wondered how you can have a signifi- cant part in government Senator Glen H. Sturtevant Jr. with attendees on UM Day. without running for office? include some hands-on your conversations and Attending UM Day at activities. which topics you might the General Assembly This year, the UM wish to address. is a great first step in Day organizers will be As Christians, we finding out what is next facilitating visits be- have a responsibility to and how to make a dif- tween our participants share our faith and our ference in our state and and their state senators beliefs. Our government country’s government. and state delegates by should reflect our basic As part of the day, you scheduling appoint- values and should uplift are partnered with ments ahead of time for our citizens. As citizens, guides who are already the morning of January we should be making involved in tracking 31. We will divide into sure that our laws are legislation before the groups led by guides fair and help those who legislature and who can based on legislative cannot help themselves. help you understand districts. We will be As United Method- how our state govern- following what legisla- ists we hope our state ment works. You will tion is introduced for reflects our beliefs and also be provided with a consideration this year, our Social Principles. variety of tools to help and providing you with When we meet with talk with your legisla- information on some of our legislators, they tors and to influence the key issues. You will notice and they listen. what becomes law. have an opportunity to They like to engage in The morning time discuss with, ask ques- conversations that help will include training in tions of your represen- them better understand advocacy, a highlight of tatives and to hear their the issues present in issues of interest that viewpoint. Your guide the proposed legisla- are part of the legisla- will be helping to lead tion and why the people tive docket, time at the that conversation, but of their districts are Capitol to meet with will also encourage concerned about those legislators, time for participants to speak issues. Meeting with our Letters to the Editor are printed on a tours, and a discussion as well. You will have legislators, calling their space-available basis. Letters may be emailed to [email protected] and answer time. The time as a group before offices and sending by the first of the month. afternoon session will the meeting to plan out them letters are some 4 VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | DECEMBER 2018 December_2018.indd 4 11/7/2018 7:42:53 PM COMMENTARY of the ways in which we Are we reluctant baptism. can help them do their to use the term This video energized jobs. Knowing how to our church council, and find out about what the “disciple?” we had a workshop current issues are, the to develop a plan of pros and cons of the he mission of The action, and some of us issues and where the TUnited Method- embarked on a period bills are in the process ist Church is to make of self-study and reflec- will be part of the focus disciples of Jesus Christ tion. One of us, Tom of our morning time on for the transformation Hassler, looked in the January 31. We will also of the world, yet at no Book of Discipline to see be providing you with time in the baptism and what it said about being tools to use beyond that membership ceremonies a disciple, but to his day to continue working in our hymnal do we amazement, the word to help the people who declare someone to be “disciple” was not in are most vulnerable and a disciple or ask them to the index; so he had to our state to be the best claim to be. search for paragraphs it can be. Why is this? Why that included that word. Register now for the are we reluctant to Later, he submitted a low cost of $30 before use this term? Why are petition to the 2012 December 28 by going we comfortable with General Conference ask- to www.vaumc.org, “member,” “follower,” ing that “disciple” be choosing the confer- and “apprentice,” but added to the next Book ence calendar page for not “disciple?” of Discipline index and January 31 or by going These questions recommended support- to eiseverywhere.com/ were raised because ing paragraphs.