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“So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?” [Matthew 26:40b]
ur Lenten journey continues. I hope that you are getting into the rhythm of your Lenten discipline. Was it (more) time for prayer? Study? Service? If you have been too busy or distracted, it is not too late to start. How is the Holy One inviting you to experience more deeply God’s amazing grace? To know Christ? To share His love? April 13th is Palm/Passion Sunday. The worship services will start this weekend recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and will end, reflecting on his journey to the cross. Our children and The Sacred Dancers will lead the procession. Maundy Thursday worship will be centered on the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples and will continue with the stripping of the church (reminder of desolation and abandonment during Jesus’ long night in Gethsemane) and a Tenebrae Service (service of The Shadows). “Bow the Knee,” a musical on the Passion of Christ, led by FUMC Youth, will be shared at the Good Friday and Saturday Open Door Services. EASTER IS APRIL 20th: The Resurrection will be celebrated at the 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service on the Methodist Green and at the 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 worship services. Look inside the Open Door to find out more about these worship services and opportunities for Christian growth and service. In Christ,
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pring is in the air! In our Preschool classrooms, we are anxiously watching our caterpillars as they grow and change into butterflies! We have recently enjoyed storytime presented by the “Grow a Reader” Librarian from the public library, as well as a dental health presentation by a local orthodontist, who is also one of our Preschool parents. This month, we are learning about various countries of the world, and we will celebrate International Days on April 3 and 4. Pastor Won will lead our Preschool Chapel on April 9 and 10, and our Bible story of the month is the Resurrection of Jesus. Preschool registration for next year is ongoing, and we have openings in our 2s and 4s classes for next year. Please contact Becky Patrick, Preschool Director, in the Preschool Office (540-899-3172) for more information about our exciting program!
rite your “burden” on a purple card and tie it to the cross on the Green. Cards are in baskets throughout the church. On Easter Sunday, please bring fresh-cut flowers to the Green. We will cover the cross with flowers as a symbol of resurrection and hope.
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he Fredericksburg United Methodist Church will offer a one-time scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The scholarship will be based on the academic record, recommendations, and participation in church activities. Seniors can obtain an application from the Administrative Office. The application must be completed and returned to the office by May 31, 2014.
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ark Sunday, April 27th, at 4:00 p.m. on your calendar and come hang out and enjoy some music. ALL proceeds from this event will benefit the Steadman family. Scott and Judy Steadman have touched the lives of many at FUMC through their faithful witness, most recently as Scott has been living with Lou Gehrig’s. There will be snacks and drinks that can be purchased while you sit or dance, and enjoy fellowship while listening to a late afternoon of music. The band “Betsy, Lynne & the Boys” plays a little country, bluegrass, and gospel. This will be an enjoyable event for all ages. Admission will be: adults - $5, children 10 and under - $3, and children under 3 – free. A family cap will be $20. Nursery care will be provided for ages 3 and under. Watch for more information in the yellow pages and the informational monitors in the greeting areas of the church. Contact Karen Newton at
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n a weekend in early March, Bob Pickett, Bud Orcutt and Larry Julihn joined a half dozen other men from the UMM Fredericksburg District for a work day at Westview on the James, a 780-acre Methodist camp with a lake and river frontage in Goochland County west of Richmond. The men drove to the camp Friday afternoon, enjoyed a dinner prepared in the Homestead Lodge kitchen by UMM District President Lloyd Adams and Bud Orcutt and then relaxed with an evening of fellowship and story-telling. The men also had a comprehensive briefing on Westview activities by Antonio Gomez, the fulltime Summer Camp Program Director. The camp’s facilities and summer program offerings for young people, overseen by approximately 65 counselors, are impressive. The camp is planning to construct several new “hogan” lodges for campers and the Fredericksburg District of the UMM is committed to raising $10,000 for one hogan. The sites on Hogan Hill have been identified and cleared. On Saturday morning, one group of men grabbed shovels and posthole diggers to finish holes for new Hogan foundation footers that had been roughly bored earlier. Another group manned chainsaws, a front loader and pickup truck to cut downed trees/limbs and haul the logs to sites for future campfires. Afternoon efforts were focused on woodcutting and removal. You can be certain that no one had any trouble sleeping Saturday evening. The men were inspired in their work by a group of ll men are invited for the next UMM 90 youths from various Methodist churches who were meeting on Saturday, April 12th. Breakgathered at Westview for a weekend confirmation refast will be provided at 8:00 a.m. in the treat. Additional photos are posted on the UMM Board Fellowship Hall. We will adjourn to the at church. Chapel at 8:45 a.m. for our devotional on “Men of the Bible.” Come and join your brothers in Christ for food and fellowship.
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redericksburg UMC will join with other area churches and organizations this April in the annual mission to repair and revitalize the homes of many homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to help themselves. Rebuilding Together Fredericksburg is your opportunity to help a low-income family realize genuine needs – a safe, bright, and comfortable home. FUMC has adopted a 100+ year-old home that is in need of, plumbing, electrical, wall, and window repairs inside, as well as gutter and downspout replacement and exterior carpentry. The 90-year old homeowner needs full-time care presently coordinated by a Granddaughter who lives there with her teen-age son. FUMC was asked by Rebuilding Together Fredericksburg to adopt this home because of our breadth of capabilities on previous projects. Roof sealing and painting is being provided by Rebuilding Together Fredericksburg. We will need lots of volunteers to do this work. The concluding work day will be Saturday, April 26 but we will plan to work at various times and dates throughout April to schedule various efforts efficiently and accommodate volunteer availabilities. So we may schedule projects on April 5, 12, 19, and 26. Both skilled and unskilled help is needed. Your contributions of time and labor will help provide a secure, comfortable home for this family. Contact David Brumbaugh at 540-479-3627 or email
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very woman of the church is invited to become a member of United Methodist Women because when women come together for missions, amazing things can happen. The theme for 2014 is “A Calling for this Time.” Won’t you join us to find your place in United Methodist Women? Please call Carol Kuty at 540-898-0256 or Pat Blosser at 540-373-0593 if you have questions about our supportive community of women.
Date: Friday, May 2, 2014 Time: 8:30am Shotgun Start Where: Hobbs Hole Golf Club, Tappahannock, VA Phone: 804-443-4500 Proceeds from Tournament Will benefit Heart Havens, and District UMM Mission Projects. Format: 4 Person Captains Choice Scramble Entry fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, range balls, lunch and on course beverages and snacks, hole contest prizes, players gifts and door prize tickets.
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of Mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Another way for you to support missions is to purchase and use FUMC note cards. Packages of 10 note cards with envelopes, featuring a pen and ink drawing of our church by Jack Burnette, are on sale for $5.00 each by United Methodist Women. The cards are located in a basket at the Charlotte Street entrance. Please place cash or a check in the provided envelope (also located in basket). Money from the sale of FUMC note cards is used for ___?___. If you completed the blank with the word “missions,” you already have the heart of a United Methodist Woman!
Registration Opens 7:30 a.m. Driving Range Opens 7:30 a.m. Shotgun Start 8:30 a.m. Awards Luncheon: Conclusion of Play Team Mulligan Package Available: $20.00 per team includes 1 Mulligan per player on front and back nine, 4 Team Tee Busters (2 on front and 2 on back nine), 4 prize tickets one for each player Team Entry Fee: $260 ($65 per player) Hole Sponsor: $50 (sign recognition at one of the holes) Lunch Sponsor: $500 (sign displayed at Lunch and on hole of your choice during the tournament) Drink Sponsor: $200 (sign on drink and snack cart and on hole of your choice during the tournament) Contact George Masten, 17462 Herring Creek Rd., Hanover, VA 23069 (804-994-2285) or Email to
[email protected] for Registration and Sponsorship forms or to get more information. The entry deadline is Saturday, April 26, 2014. Please send your entry in early with payment.
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“Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” —Proverbs 22:6
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acation Bible School will take place June 2327, 2014. This year’s focus is “Moses in the Wilderness.” A lot of help is needed to create this spiritual fun-filled week. Specifically we are looking for a dedicated Co-Director to help plan and facilitate the week’s events. Further, we need volunteers for the following positions: Tribe Leaders Tribe Assistant Leaders A Moses Music Games Leader Games Assistants Israelite Camp: • Food • Tent Hosts • Tent Assistant Hosts Prayerfully consider what role you can play in VBS 2014 and contact Kit McFarland,
[email protected], to volunteer. Look for a VBS Bulletin Board to appear soon in the Church hallway.
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very Sunday, unless otherwise noted, youth group will meet 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. We begin with a snack supper, followed by games, worship music, and Bible study. Parents should pick-up in the Gathering Space. Special Sunday night meetings and extra opportunities are listed below:
This July a youth-focused mission team of eleven individuals from FUMC will serve God in orphanages in Honduras through the Carolina Cross Connection. This God-centered mission seeks to building relationships with God’s people in Honduras. Our service will include repairs and construction on the orphanages and the surrounding impoverished community. We need your prayers and financial support! Through March 9 you will have an opportunity to respond to this call with a special offering specifically for our Honduras mission trip. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can help us show God’s love to orphans of Honduras.
hen spring finally arrives and you are wondering what to do with your kids’ outgrown but still good coats, jackets and hoodies (or whatever they use as outerwear), please consider donating them to School Dressing Days. We will have a bin in Mission Control sometime soon or call Jean Himmel, 368-9541 to arrange a pickup. And if you have an in with a nearby school, see if you can collect unclaimed outerwear from their Lost and Found – they have to give it to someone, it might as well be SDD.
Teenagers, it’s time to sign up for summer camp at Westview on the James! Camp Westview offers great Senior Camp weeks and amazing Adventure Camps. Wilderness Medicine Trek, AT Trek, Feeding Hope Trek, Sailing on the Bay, and more await youth who elect to attend an Adventure Camp week. Senior Camps are for youth 12 - 14 and Adventure Camps are for youth 13 - 17. Camp Westview is about awe inspiring activities, and cool counselors, who listen, care, and share their faith experiences with campers. God is present and at the center of everything at Westview on the James. Go to www.westviewonthejames.org or email Shirley for more information. 7
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hanges made in Wednesday night dinners were an effort to get a more accurate count to plan meals. This has not been successful, so we are making the following changes:
• Email to lisa earnesty at
[email protected] • Sign up in the gathering space • Sign up on the board by the workroom ***If your plans change, call the church office or email lisa earnesty to cancel your reservation by close of business on monday.
FUMC’s GS Troop 263 is gearing up for registration for the 2014/2015 school year. If you have a girl Kindergarten - Senior in High School (or if you are craving a leadership role in a wonderful organization) interested in being a part of this vibrant mission of our church, contact Stephie Maurer -
[email protected] or 540/370-0143. Please note we have limited openings in some levels and Spring is the only time we take new members in the troop.
by Sandy Howson, 540-373-4704
[email protected]
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I am working on my Bronze Award. I will be sewing and filling activity bags for adults with intellectual disabilities who will be staying at RACSB’s Myers Drive Respite Group Home. It is for people with intellectual disabilities. I could use some help! Brand new items are preferable such as: Large print easy word search books, coloring books, small notepads, 8 or 16-pack Crayola Crayons, Washable Crayola Markers, Small box of colored pencils, beginning reader paperbacks (Superheroes, animals, princess themed), Disney music CD’s, Disney DVDs, Matchbox-type cars, Small super hero action figures or small plastic princesses, animals etc.), Uno cards or other playing cards, and Beanie Baby-sized stuffed animals. If you would prefer to make a donation, please contact us at 540-373-9433. Thank you so much for helping! I know the people will like the bags! If you have any questions, you can email my mom Amy
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.S. food-aid policies can be more effective in helping people in times of crisis and in fostering long-term solutions to hunger. We can strengthen our food-aid programs in the following ways: 1. Improve efficiency by allowing more food purchases in or near the country where it is needed and reducing sales of American-grown food in developing countries to fund projects. These changes will promote long-term food security by directly supporting local farmers’ efforts to improve their lives. 2. Enhance the nutritional quality of food aid and better target it to vulnerable populations such as women and children in the 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. 3. Protect funding for emergency and development food aid. These critical reforms to the U.S. food-aid program can benefit an additional 17 million people while making sure U.S. tax dollars are used wisely. God shows compassion for hungry people in the Bible. We can do our part by making these programs work better for hungry people today. Watch for more information on what we can do to help the hungry people of God’s world. Also, for more information right now, contact Sandy Howson at
[email protected] or 540-373-4704 or www. bread.org.
(Dates are birthdays unless otherwise indicated.) *anniversary
Point of contact: Marcia Johnson, Visitation Coordinator marciajmail@gmail. com, 540-368-1099
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” — Gal 6:10
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lease join us on a tour of Agecroft Hall and Gardens, a remarkable Tudor estate that sits on the banks of the James River. This manor house was built in Lancashire, England in the late 15th century and was home to several distinguished families for hundreds of years. In the late 19th century it was sold, dismantled and shipped to Windsor Farms where it was reassembled. Come step back in time. 8:30 a.m. - leave church Arrive back at 3:30 p.m. Cost $14.00 - tour & transportation Lunch at Strawberry Street Café on your own. To register send your check for $14.00 (made to FUMC) to Julie Tubbs, 6301 W. Dranesville Dr., Fredericksburg, VA. 22407, 898-0876 Deadline April 25 RSVP as soon as possible so we can reserve your seat. Make check out to FUMC with MerryMakers on the memo line and send to Ronda Worcester at 701 Cobblestone Blvd. Unit 102. Fredericksburg, 22401.
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e are continuing the “Every Man a Warrior” Bible Study series designed to help men succeed in life. Check out the display in the Gathering Space of Kobler Hall or contact Bill Hammen at
[email protected] or 540-371-4884 (H) or 540-604-0539 (Cell).
he Monday Morning Bible Study is currently studying Women of the Bible – 52 Bible Studies for Individuals & Groups by Jean Syswerda. We are discovering so much about the Biblical women we know and those we hadn’t heard of. In the process, we find that they weren’t so very different than us. God uses each of us in special ways. This study group, open to all women and men (18118), meets in room 210 from 10-11:30 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Mondays (except when the church is closed). Every week is a fresh lesson, so join in whenever you can! We always look forward to welcoming new faces, familiar faces and ones we have missed. To order a book, arrange for babysitting or if you have further questions, call Ann Braz at 710-6588. There will be only one class in April, on the 7th, when we will encounter BATHSHEBA. There will be no class on April 21, as the church will be closed for Easter Monday.
Used Adult Sunday School Study Books
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sed Adult Sunday School study books have been organized for your use. A sample copy of each book and a list stating the number of copies available is in the Church Library. You may borrow the sample copy to preview by signing the form available in the Library. Please return the sample copy to the box for returns. The books are available: To borrow for class use and then return To preview before ordering new or used books You may request use of these books by notifying Pam Bosch in the Church Office. Donate your used Sunday School Study books to the collection. Just bring them to the library.
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ooking for a way to make connections with a small group? Consider joining the Contemporaries Sunday School Class! We meet in room 210 at 11:00. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Fanya Morton at
[email protected] 540.371.0208. Hope you can join us!
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he Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. We share patterns and helpful hints to improve our knitting. Please bring your current project and join us. If you haven’t used your talents (knit and/ or crochet) in some time, and would like to refresh those skills, please meet with us. If you wish to give a prayer shawl, you may pick up a request form, which is located in Pam Bosch’s office. 10
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tarting in 2014, FUMC is starting a new offering envelope system. All members of the church and friends of the church have been assigned envelope numbers. The envelopes will be mailed in a packet directly to your home quarterly. If you do not receive your envelopes, please notify Michelle Cooper, at 540-373-9021, x 23 or at
[email protected] to let her know. Corrections will be made for the second quarter mailing. If you were omitted in the initial mailing, please use the offering envelopes in the Sanctuary pews or at the entrance of Kobler Hall.
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OPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) exists to encourage, equip and develop mothers of preschoolers through speakers, education, support and advice and teaches them about the love of Christ at a crucial time in their family’s life. We are looking for volunteers who can give 2 1/2 hours of their time to work in the MOPPETS (childcare) room while mothers get a much needed break to refresh and replenish their spirits. We meet from 9:30-11:30 on the first and third Fridays of the month from October to May but volunteers need not commit to the entire year or even the entire month. If you have a little time to give to a small group of children on a Friday you can make a difference! All activities, supplies and a short training will be provided. Please contact Annie Bargielski at 540-604-3664 or fmopssteering@ gmail.com to help.
If you or someone you know needs special words of encouragement, CareNotes are an invaluable tool. Booklets cover a variety of topics for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Displays are in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, and Charlotte Street entrance hallway. Take one for yourself or for a friend. Check each display frequently as the titles will change from time to time. If there is something you need but cannot find CareNotes for, contact Raymond Chancellor at (540) 899-8853 or leave a note in the CareNotes mailbox (Room 105), and a copy will be placed in the display for you. 11
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he crack team of highly skilled and motivated Wednesday Night Dinner kitchen workers is looking for additional volunteers for the team. The openings include: set up, prep work, dish washing, and clean up. Choose from part-time, full-time or dedicate your life - the pay is the same. If interested, please see one of the team on Wednesday evenings. We are always there! Volunteers are also needed for the Sunday morning coffee hour team so that the service can continue. Families, groups/teams, Sunday School classes and individuals are encouraged to consider volunteering once a year, once a quarter or however often you would feel comfortable. Training on the equipment will be provided before you would be expected to begin. Just sign up on the volunteer list on the refreshment table and you will receive a call. If a snack is provided (reimbursements are given), the emphasis for the New Year is for healthy snacks. How creative can you be? Please NOTE, if volunteers are not available there will be no coffee hour on that particular Sunday.
he Contemplative practice of Centering Prayer is being held each Sunday evening in the upstairs Chapel. We begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Chapel, starting promptly, and ending at 7:45 p.m. (lasting one hour). If you have ever considered a “closer walk with God” this form of prayer is a golden opportunity. The goal of Centering Prayer is simple - closeness to God. This prayer time is open to all Christians of any denomination. Any questions, please call Janet Davis at 371-0145.
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redericksburg United Methodist Church is now offering online giving. Online giving lets you:
You will be able to view only your own contributions. You can set up your online giving account in less than two minutes. It is easy, safe and secure. Your electronic donations will be managed through our church database software, LOGOS. Because security is one of the most important aspects of online transaction processing, LOGOS has developed a standards-based, 128bit encrypted and PCI-compliant payment processing protocol. The church is compliant for security for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS). The church will not have a record of your credit and debit card numbers. HALO Merchant Services PCI, the intermediary between you and your financial institution, will maintain those records. Donor information is kept secure and private with password-protected online access. Because the donation and notification are electronic, the church must have your email address in order to use this service. There is no cost or fee for you to use online giving. The church pays the small fee for using this service. To set up an account, go onto the church website (www.fumcva.org), click on “Connecting”, click on “Giving”, and follow the instructions. Or go to www.fumcva.logosconnect.com and follow the instructions. At this time, accounts available for online giving are:
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potsylvania Regional Medical Center is hosting its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament to benefit Micah Ecumenical Ministries and will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Fawn Lake Country Club. Micah’s many ministries provide holistic care to people experiencing a housing crisis by providing basic needs of those living on the street. You are invited to join Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center as a sponsor or a player for this very special event. As a sponsor, you will be promoting your company to local professionals and physicians while helping the efforts of the Micah Ministries and the good work they do in our community. There are various various levels of sponsorships. Contact Jeanne Burkett, Senior Leader, Marketing and Communications, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (540-498-4054 or Jeanne.burkett@hcahealthcare. com) for a sponsor form or if you have questions regarding sponsorship or if you’d like to play.
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he Outreach Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 1:00-3:00 p.m. We always need hot and cold cereals, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter, jelly (grape/strawberry), powdered milk, rice, soups, bread, canned fruits, canned meats and meat, baby formula and diapers. Monetary donations may also be made by writing “Food Pantry” in the memo section of your check. Please check expiration dates. We cannot give out expired items, nor can we give out medicines. Contact Ed Sielski at 786-8515 with questions.
New Display Case!
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he Family Choir of Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church and Joysong Ministries would like to invite you to our (4th) Ecumenical Concert on April 13, 2014. The concert will begin at 4:30 p.m. in our church with highlights from the musical, Jairus, written by Mr. Rollin Wehman and Ms. Kris Oleson. Singers from area churches will join in this tribute to the artistry of Mr. Wehman, long-time resident and musical icon in the Fredericksburg area. The Happy Day Singers, a gospel quartet from the Stafford area will also be featured. We hope this concert will provide a spiritual focus for Holy Week.
new glass display case has been installed in the Gathering Space. The purchase of the case was made possible through the Bazaar Committee. The primary purpose of displays in this case will be to highlight FUMC history through the use of archival material. The Heritage Committee will oversee the displays and extends to all organizations within the church the opportunity to display items that fit in the overall theme of church history. Such groups would include United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports teams etc. If your group is interested in offering materials for display, please contact Margaret Mock, 540-371-3740, or place a note in the archives mailbox.
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very second and fourth Saturdays of the month for five years now, we serve Community Dinners from Kitchen 2 (in the Fellowship Hall downstairs) ... around 120 to 130 plates of food (that includes seconds and carry-outs). FUMC serves on the second Saturday and Ebenezer UMC serves the fourth. Our volunteers cook, set-up, greet, serve and CLEAN-UP. The dinners are well received. If you feel called to join us, PLEASE DO! E-mail foridderhof@ verizon.net or call 540-371-3571. With vacations and very involved schedules for all, we would welcome some more volunteers.
Photo by Phil Haynes
