A Message from Bishop Sharma D Lewis: Work Group to recommend guidelines for opening

May 9, 2020

Dear Virginia Conference,

May the Lord be with you and keep you. It is a wonderful day to be a United Methodist. I know that Virginia United Methodists are longing for the return to in-person worship. One of our highest priorities must be loving our neighbors through ensuring the safety of those who attend our services. As we reported this week, a work group of church leaders, medical professionals, and legal professionals have been working hard to provide guidance to help us go back to in-person worship safely. On Friday morning, the Cabinet reviewed a draft of their work and we are preparing a list of frequently asked questions this weekend.

Friday afternoon, Governor Northam announced that he may loosen the restrictions related to in-person worship on May 15, 2020. Our timetable, as United Methodists, will be phased. I will allow Drive-In worship to begin on May 24, 2020 for all churches under strict guidelines that will be released by May 15, 2020. I will also authorize some test churches (we will call them “pioneer” churches) to open on May 24, 2020 with no more than 25 people in attendance under strict guidelines that will also be released by May 15, 2020. These pioneer churches will provide much needed data for the churches in our various districts on how to open safely.

Please continue to be in prayer for those who are affected by COVID-19 and those working hard to care for them. Pray as well for those who are extending themselves to serve at great risk and great cost. Whenever we return to worship, we will have stories to tell of God’s goodness and provision in this crisis.

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

A Message from Bishop Sharma D Lewis

April 14, 2020 Dear Virginia Conference, I hope you and your families had a very blessed Easter celebration. Let us remember that our hope as believers is in Jesus Christ. Though our Easter services looked quite different this year, I hope that, especially in this challenging time of a global pandemic, you heard the Easter story anew and, with confidence assured in the resurrected Christ, said, “Alleluia! Christ IS risen!” Thank you to our pastors, church staff and volunteers who are continuing to find creative worship opportunities through livestream, phone, print and many other communications avenues, so we can worship, promote fellowship and do the mission of the church. The commitment of so many of you to be flexible and to take on the challenges that COVID-19 presents empowers us to do God’s work effectively and SAFELY. It brings joy to our congregants, communities and the heart of God. And we must persevere. Governor Northam’s statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until June 10. As such, in-person worship cannot take place until June 11. If the Governor’s executive order is rescinded or revised before June 10, we will re-evaluate the status of in-person worship. In-person, “drive-thru” or “drive-in” worship services on or off Virginia Conference property remain canceled until further notice. I ask that our Virginia Conference clergy and laity stay the course by continuing to observe social distancing, proper hygiene and follow the stay-at-home directive. This is not an easy time for any of us, but in Christian love we need to look out for our vulnerable communities and do our utmost to decrease the strain on our healthcare system and emergency services. It is hard not to be able to meet in-person as a community of faith, but we know God is not the church building. God is so much more than a building. For information about conference resources, ways churches are staying connected, church offerings and much more, please visit: https://vaumc.org/Coronavirus2020. May the promise of Easter remain with us during the pandemic and through the rest of our year. Peace and Blessings, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

The Virginia United Methodist Center   PO Box 5606   Glen Allen, VA 23058 (804) 521-1100

A Spark of Faith and a Resurrection Tree

Many moons ago, we moved into a new home in Pasadena MD, and one of the first things we did was plant a little flowering cherry tree in the corner of our front yard. For a year or two it thrived, and then very suddenly it started wilting. Then, one by one, its branches started dying off, victims of a borer infestation. We treated the tree, but to no avail, and in the fall we cut the poor dead tree down to the ground with plans to replace it in the Spring. I was going to dig it up right then, but deep down neither of us wanted to give up on it quite yet so we let it rest.

Winter passed, and we went out in the yard the following Spring resigned to the fact that we were finally going to have to dig it up. But, Lo and behold, there were tiny sprouts coming out of that dead stump, so we decided to let it go and see what it would do. That "dead" tree grew like gangbusters. Each successive Spring after that our reborn tree grew larger and larger, and always seemed to reach its full bloom right around Easter. In a 2012 conversation with Hank Simon, our pastor at the time, we all started referring to it as our Resurrection Tree, and Pastor Hank even based a sermon on it.

Nearly thirty years later, that tree still stands in our old front yard. If we'd given up, if we'd lost hope, it never would have achieved it's true potential. The photo below was taken in April of 2012 during Easter week. As you can see, with Marci standing under it to show its scale, it's huge and it's glorious. Since those first tiny sprouts showed up out of that stump, it's been a symbol of the power of hope for us, and a reminder that even a tiny spark of faith can yield breathtaking results.

God Bless and stay well,
Dan and Marci Beard

Bishop Sharma Lewis: Pray at Noon Every Day

The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV) Prayer is essential to sustain our faith and Jesus Christ modeled a life of prayer.

I would like to thank several of you that have suggested a corporate prayer time for the Virginia Annual Conference. I am very blessed to lead an annual conference that believes in the power of the petitioned prayer!

Please join me at 12 noon every day and pray the printed prayer below. Let us invoke the power of the Great Physician to do a mighty work in eradicating this disease all over the world.

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

We thank you for your blessings, past, present and future. You are our rock and the source of our hope in all things and at all times. As Jehovah Jireh, our provider God, we ask you this day to stretch out your mighty hand and eradicate from the face of the earth forever this virus called COVID-19 (coronavirus) that is spreading rapidly from continent to continent. We also pray that you, Jehovah Rapha, our healing God, would place your hand upon all of those who have been stricken by this virus and restore them to full health. Be with those who have lost loved ones and are grieving. Protect all who are caring for those with this virus and keep them from contracting it themselves. Calm our fears and provide us with your peace that surpasses all understanding. Strengthen us with the joy of the Lord and help us to hold firmly to the hope that only you can provide. Unify us that we, the Virginia Annual Conference, may be able to experience anew the promise of your presence in and through the unity of our faith, hope and trust in you in the days ahead and forever. We offer this prayer in the mighty name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. AMEN.