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The monthly newsletter of Leesburg United Methodist Church: October 2021

Keys to Happiness

A Long Time Ago

Worship in October

Youth at Camp Highroad

Sunday Field Day - Oct 3

Campfire Fellowship!

Nursery Is Back

Serve in Worship

Church without a Steeple

Stories from Scripture: Rethinking the Torah

Forever Young: Has God Left the Church?

New Member Orientation

Lay Servants Course: Starts October 11

Book Review: The Pilgrim Journey

Opportunities to Serve

LHSC and Backpack Buddies

Missions Giving Opportunities

Defying Gravity: LUMC’s 2022 Stewardship Campaign is Here

Finance Update

We Can Help Promote Your Church Event

Charge Conference: October 25

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Keys to Happiness

Happiness. Not simply the circumstantial, too-soon-

ended feeling of joy; but rather the deep seated, soul

centered sense of contentment that, while shaken

during hard times, still remains a reservoir of joy,

strength, hope and love.

by Jim Wishmyer on October 01, 2021

A tsunami called COVID-19 slammed into the world with little warning. The rapid spread of COVID

around the world caught everyone by surprise. This “world-shifting” pandemic did not play favorites and

every nation on the planet has suffered. And COVID and its variants are not through. Bummer. That’s

the bad news.

No wonder that MRC Data, which provides analytics and data to the music industry, discovered that 55%

of music listeners said one of the most important thangs the music industry can do to help people is to

offer more “uplifiting” and “happy” music. Pandora, an online music streaming service saw a “whopping

111% increase” in people searching for “happy?” music on its service. According to an article this week

in Relevant, because of this Pandora now has 8 new “channels” containing “curated playlists of

encouraging music”. Here they are along with the music genre:

Feel Good - R & B

Get Happy – Pop/Hot AC’s

Happy Country

Happy Dance

Hope for Hard Times – Christian/Gospel

Rap Jubilee

Vinyl Happiness – Classic Rock

Handpicked 100: Happy Shuffle – a playlist of the 100 happiest songs of all time.

Happiness. The pursuit, longing for, striving after happiness. Not simply the circumstantial, too-soon-

ended feeling of joy; but rather the deep seated, soul centered sense of contentment that while shaken

during hard time still remains a reservoir of joy, strength, hope and love.

The Beatitudes given by Jesus to the world, offer a series of steps to experiencing such a blessed life.

While listed separately, they really form an incredible whole, when taken seriously and applied to our

lives, help nurture that inner joy that sustains us, even through COVID. During October, listen in; open

up; reach out to embrace the qualities of life that Jesus invites us to follow. The blessed life. The happy*

life. The Jesus life.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jim

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(* New Testament Greek for blessed is “makarios”; also translated as “happy”. This is reflected in the

Latin bible, the Vulgate”, which used the Latin word, “beati”, also translated as blessed, happy, rich.”)

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A Long Time Ago

by Angela Becek on September 27, 2021

A long time ago, in a land far, far away…so long ago, it

may as well have been another galaxy,

Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, laid siege on

Jerusalem. He destroyed the city and the temple,

bound Zedekiah, King of Judah and took him to

Babylon. So, the Jewish people went into captivity,

away from her land.

The people of Judah feared they faced extinction through assimilation, as they had seen in their

kinspeople in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They sought to retain their identity and their hope by

passing on the stories of their ancestors.

The old stories were a reminder that they were a chosen people. They were chosen by God to live

differently than other nations. They were chosen for a purpose: so that all the world would be blessed

through them.

Someday, God would come and save them. God would keep his promise to save the world through

them. Their hope lay in the stories of the past.

Our hope is in those stories, too.

Stories from Scripture: A Visitor’s Center Experience

Rethinking the Torah

The Bible is a complicated collection of old, old writings and sometimes the way verses are thrown

around, it can turn us off instead of drawing us in.

This year, we’ve created something new, so that you can explore these old stories and wrestle with their

meaning.

We invite you to come and interpret the Bible through the lens of the person of Jesus and through God’s

overarching mission to restore the earth and end suffering.

We invite you to come and see how the stories work together, not as one-off moral lessons, but as an

epic vision of God moving through time, through individuals, and through communities to change the

world.

It is our hope that you will identify with that hope that has nurtured and sustained humanity for

millennia.

It is our hope that you will discover God’s blessing of presence and that you would connect with God’s

mission so that others will be blessed through you.

What to Expect:

Stories from Scripture is set-up with a visitor’s center experience in mind in the Aldersgate Building of

Leesburg UMC (109 West Market Street).

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When you visit an historical site and pass through the visitor’s center, there are exhibits that help tell

the story of that space, and that’s what we’ve done, only instead of telling the story of the space, it’s a

selected portion from the Bible.

It is self-guided. There are video components that you can watch, and you can move through at your

own pace while you allow the art, text and artifacts to speak life to the stories.

Kids. We have some interactive elements for kids to play with while you explore. Please always

supervise your children.

Artifacts and art? Well, we don’t have the original ark of the covenant if that’s what you’re looking for.

That was either destroyed by the Babylonians or is possibly (but probably not) sitting in a government

warehouse somewhere. We do have some cool replicas from the vast collection that is Amazon (and

others).

Who is this for?

This is for you if you have an open mind to Scripture.

This is for you if you’re curious and don’t know where to begin.

This is for you if you are willing to accept that Renaissance painters interpreted the stories through the

lens of their cultures.

This is for you if you are willing to accept that we have often interpreted the stories through the lens of

our culture, and maybe we need to look again.

This is for you if you if you want to bring family or friends to have a good discussion and wrestle with

what the stories meant for the original hearers and might mean for you today.

This is for you if you if you want to come alone to sit and reflect.

This is for you if you want your kids to know these stories and have the freedom to wrestle with them

but have realized that they don’t.

This is for you if you want to be supportive of the church trying new things.

Hours may vary. Please reserve free tickets in advance.

At this time, masks are required for all guests over age 2.

Worship in October: The Beatitudes

Our October Worship will consider the Beatitudes

by Jim Wishmyer on October 01, 2021

October 3:

World Communion

“What the Heart Longs For” – Introducing the Beatitudes Matthew 5

October 10:

Sacrament of Christian Baptism

Matthew 5:3-4 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

October 17:

Matthew 5:5-6 - "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."

October 24:

Matthew 5: 7-8 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

October 31:

Leadership Recognition Sunday

Matthew 5: 9-12 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you

because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."

Youth @ Camp Highroad

Saturday, Oct. 16 at 9:30 am - 2:15 pm

Come for fellowship and fun!

We'll be doing the challenge course with Zip Line Course and archery.

Cost: $50 per person

Bring your own lunch.

2021-22 Youth Participation Form must be completed. See confirmation info for link.

21164 Steptoe Hill Road, Middleburg 20117

We must have a minimum of 10 people signed up by October 10 to go ahead.

Sunday Field Day

K - 5th grade

Kids' Field Day events are designed to provide kids a fellowship experience tied with the Bible Adventure

theme while parents participate in 9 am worship.

Kids will be dropped off at Toby Atwell Field (no earlier than 8:45 am; across from the hospital, behind

the senior center) and we will walk them back to the church playground by 10 am.

Youth are invited to volunteer so they can also have some fellowship time.

Sunday, Sept. 19 and Oct. 3

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Campfire Fellowship

Join us for a fun evening around the campfire on

Saturday October 23rd from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at the

Talbot’s home. We will have fun outdoor games,

fixing for s’mores, and maybe even some campfire

songs! Come enjoy a laid back evening of fun for all

ages.

Once registered for the event you will receive an email with the address and parking directions.

Nursery Is Back

Children are welcome in worship service, but we're pleased to share that childcare is now available the

first Sunday of the month for kids under five.

Serve in Worship

As we enter the fall, and more in-person gathering on Sunday mornings, we are in need of volunteers to

serve in worship at both of our in-person services. We will also be continuing our live stream and need

help with running and hosting our online worship.

Worship is the work of the people, and our services run smoothly because of the efforts of you, our

church family, committing to serve one another. Whether setting a welcoming atmosphere as an usher

or leading in worship as a musician or running the livestream in the tech booth, all the many roles in

worship contribute to everyone being able to connect with God and each other.

Serving in worship isn’t just for adults! Children and youth are welcome to serve as well, or families can

volunteer together. If you want to serve together, please indicate in the comments area of the sign up

form or email Rebekah.

Please consider how you might serve your church community on Sunday mornings. You can express your

interest by filling out the form below. For more information contact Rebekah Daugherty at

worship@leesburgumc.org

Find the Church Without a Steeple

An LUMC Story, shared by Jack King

by Church Office on September 21, 2021

"Find the Church without a Steeple," so says a clue for

a treasure hunt in Leesburg.

The church, of course, is our own Leesburg United

Methodist. Why?

Here’s the explanation from our church’s building Committee in the middle part of the 20th century:

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“Our forefathers who erected the present building were unable to carry out original plans for the front

of the church because of the unsettled conditions before and after the War Between the States."

The 1952 Building Committee goes on to explain that the Committee believes it is time to consider

major “improvement at the front” of the church hoping that “a suitable plan can be adopted and carried

out … .”

"The committee has considered a number of possible plans.… Pictured … is one such plan. It provides a

distinctive tower and steeple, an attractive entrance, and convenient stairs to the second floor.”

Stories from Scripture: Rethinking the Torah

Sunday, October 10, 2021, 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM

The Bible is a complicated collection of old, old writings and sometimes the way verses are thrown

around, it can turn us off instead of drawing us in.

This year, we’ve created something new, so that you can explore these old stories and wrestle with their

meaning. It's okay to be skeptical and walk away with more questions than answers.

We invite you to come and interpret the Bible through the lens of the person of Jesus and through God’s

overarching mission to restore the earth and end suffering.

We invite you to come and see how the stories work together, not as one-off moral lessons, but as an

epic vision of God moving through time, through individuals, and through communities to change the

world.

It is our hope that you will identify with that hope that has nurtured and sustained humanity for

millennia.

It is our hope that you will discover God’s blessing of presence and that you would connect with God’s

mission so that others will be blessed through you.

Forever Young

Sunday, October 17, 2021, 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM

The Decline of the American Church Examined at Forever Young

The closing of thousands of churches nationwide and a steady decrease in church attendance will be

discussed at Forever Young on Sunday, October 17 at 12:15 in the AG building.

The program, titled “Has God Left the Building,” features filmed interviews with several experts on the

American church, including Steve Hewitt, a writer for The American Church Magazine.

“Statistically the church in America has been dying since the 1970s,” says Hewitt. “In a decade the

church in America is going to have a whole different look: what it is and where it is. And what about all

of these empty church buildings?”

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Forever Young Lifetree Café is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a

casual, comfortable setting. Questions about Forever Young may be directed to Wayne Reynolds at 703

777 4796 or wcr@assessntrain.com.

We invite all adults to attend this Forever Young session. It will be wats to conduct worship other than a

Church building.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 17th.

New Member Orientation

Sunday, October 17, 2021, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

New Member Orientation—October 17

Would you like to learn more about Leesburg UMC? Are you interested in becoming a member of

LUMC? Join us for our next New Member Orientation, Sunday, October 17, at 3 pm.

New Member Orientation is for people new to Leesburg UMC, those with questions about faith, or

those wanting to learn more about Christ and the church.

Lay Servant Basic Course

Every Monday, from 10/11/2021 to 11/15/2021, 6:30

PM - 8:30 PM

Lay Servant Basic Course

Ministry isn’t just a clergy endeavor; all Christians are

called to serve. Church members serve on the front

lines of engagement with our culture. Many yearn to be better equipped and knowledgeable in order to

bear vibrant witness; and yet feel inadequate to do so.

The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is an introductory course designed to equip new and emerging

leaders, and to renew current leaders. It covers the three main categories of Lay Servant Ministries:

Leading, Caring, and Communicating. Each lesion also contains rich and informative insights on our

Wesleyan heritage. The final session entitled, “Into the World,” integrates the leadership role in and

beyond the local church.

Those who participate in all the sessions,10 hours in all over the course of 5 Monday evenings, will

receive the “Leading and Learning Certificate” from the Winchester District.

Join us for the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course in order to explore and discover your unique call and

God’s equipping to serve. This course is coming to LUMC in October, both via Zoom and in-person. Our

first session will be Monday, October 11, from 6:30-8:30 PM, led by Jill Ryan, Rev. Jim Wishmyer, Wayne

Reynolds.

Sign up here for more information and to register. All participants will need to obtain a copy of the Lay

Servant Ministries Basic Course handbook for $10 (Kindle) or $12 (Print), available at the Upper Room

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Bookstore: https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/KDR632/lay-servant-ministries-basic-course-

participants-book.aspx

The Pilgrim Journey

A book review of The Pilgrim Journey, A History of Pilgrimage in the Western World, by James Harpur.

Reviewed by Amber King of the Library Team.

by Church Office on September 27, 2021

A book review of The Pilgrim Journey, A History of Pilgrimage in the Western World, by James Harpur.

The author, an award-winning poet, is a passionate walker and traveler to sacred sites and lives in the

west of Ireland.

It's all because of Alvin Moore that I became interested in pilgrimages. He gave us his DVD copy of The

Way with Martin Sheen, which told the story of a man who embarked on the historical pilgrimage "The

Way of St. James" (Santiago de Compostela) to honor his son's desire to finish the journey -- a journey

in which the son had died. His father carries his ashes, protectively, as he walks.

The Pilgrim Journey, on the UMW Reading List (Education for Mission), is well-written with clear,

interesting explanations of pilgrimage -- what it is, the different motives for making the pilgrimage,

stages of preparation for it, the journey itself, sacred rituals, the return journey and integrations into the

world the pilgrim had left behind. The reader becomes immersed in the history of sacred journeys in

ancient times, the age of Constantine, Celts and Anglo-Saxons, the decline and revival of pilgrimage,

relics, shrines and the new millennium.

And now the reader comes to the history and reasons for the establishment of the most famous

pilgrimages: Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Canterbury, and Jerusalem and the Holy Land with its

Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Thinking back to high school days, can many of us recall reading John

Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales? Reading about Santiago de

Compostela in Spain was especially interesting and enlightening because of its tie-in with the DVD movie

I had watched. The tale of the miraculous journey of St. James to Spain and how he became its national

saint made it even more meaningful.

Pilgrimage in this century is booming with pilgrims traveling to shrines such as Lourdes in France,

Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and the basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and Sainte-Anne-

de-Beaupre in Canada. In some cases, the ideas of pilgrimage have changed from it being a spiritual

journey to simply hiking or sightseeing." Certain national parks, landscapes and gardens can have a

crowd-drawing magnetism similar to traditional pilgrimage destinations, perhaps offering visitors a

sense of nature and freedom and beauty seldom experienced in their everyday lives," says the author.

When I read the book's last page, I realized I was on a pilgrimage two weekends ago when my husband

and I drove to Richmond, mainly to spend time at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The reason was

there -- need for a change, to sort out thoughts, to renew spiritually. Preparation for overnight was easy

and definitely included masks. What I encountered -- complete serenity within the beauty of trees,

flowers, birds, insects, and plants as we slowly walked the winding paths.(all the things I love!)

What relics did I find? the petals of a rose, the mottled reddish bark of a Natchez crape myrtle, buzzing

of bees on goldenrod, the lounging turtle sunning itself, a perfectly rimmed water lily, the prickliness of

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a handsome cactus, the shape of a dog's face in the clouds, the bright red seeds of a magnolia pod, the

splashing of water from fountains, the soft breezes, and the smile on my husband's face -- all soothing

and peaceful and with the hand of God in it all. That was my altar on this glorious September day. That

was my Pilgrimage.

Dear reader, let me encourage you to read The Pilgrim Journey with hopes that it will inspire you to

plan your own pilgrimage. Book on display in our library. (263.042 HAR)

Amber King, Library Team

Opportunities to Serve

by Jim Wishmyer on September 01, 2021

Our Church Leadership Team is looking for those who would be willing to serve on one of our church

committees, ministry teams, and short term task forces. Please reach out to Pastor Jim or to Dave Reith

(Church Leadership Team, Chair), for more information, or to any member of the CLT which now

functions as our old Nominations and Leadership Development Committee.

Finance Committee – oversees the finances and financial processes of LUMC

Staff-Parish Relations Committee – oversees the clergy and staff of LUMC

Trustees Committee – oversees the physical resources and legal matters of LUMC

Ministry Leadership Team:

Audio-Visual Team

Fellowship Team

Missions Team

Outreach/Evangelism Team

PRG (Post-COVID Recovery Group)

Stewardship Team

Technology Team

Worship Team – the planning group, or any of the numerous tasks that help make worship

happen.

(willing to serve on a short term task force – usually research and recommendations to a standing

committee)

Altar Guild – provide floral arrangements and other seasonal/worship themed visuals for the

sanctuary

Love Committee – provide luncheons, refreshments, following funerals and weddings, and other

special occasions

Hospitality Committee – provide healthy refreshments for in-person events in the church building

such as Sunday morning and other special occasions

Neighborhood Group leaders

Snow Removal Crew

And more!

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Opportunities from the Missions Team

Monthly Backpack Buddies packing, and 2022 LHSC meals signup coming soon!

by Church Office on September 21, 2021

Loudoun Homeless Services Center

Thank you to all who provided a meal to Loudoun Homeless Services Center this past year and to those

who will be providing meals to wrap up the end of this year. We have provided monthly dinners to the

center and we couldn’t have done it without your help!

Sign up for 2022 meals will go out in November.

Backpack Buddies

Mark your calendar for packing dates for Backpack Buddies, in Wesley Hall between 10-11am:

October 24, November 21, January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24

Please be on the look out volunteer opportunities throughout the school year so we can continue to

provide meals for those in need at Catoctin Elementary.

Defying Gravity: LUMC’s

2022 Stewardship Campaign is

Here

by Church Office on September 27, 2021

When you think of Christian stewardship, often the

first impulse is to focus on a church’s need for

funding. However, this November, through our annual stewardship campaign, Leesburg United

Methodist Church will be asking you to think about how concentrating on your need as a follower of

Christ to give for your own spiritual growth and health, as well as the health of the community.

Using Reverend Tom Berlin’s book, Defying Gravity, as a guide, together, we will expand and deepen our

biblical understanding of Christian stewardship while discovering how to live abundant and healthy lives.

Throughout the month, members of our congregation will share their own stories about how LUMC is

ministering to its community of believers and the community at large. Financial giving is an important

part of discipleship, and learning more about it can help you grow in faith while discerning your own

ability to make a financial commitment to LUMC.

The stewardship campaign culminates on Sunday, November 21, Consecration Sunday. Dr. David

McAllister-Wilson will be delivering the sermon at both the Arise and Chapel worship. Together, we will

be making our 2022 financial commitments as an act of worship in the sanctuary. In between the

services, we will celebrate with a special brunch during Fellowship and Ministry hour at 10 am.

Unable to attend in-person or wish to make your pledge now? Here’s how.

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Finance Update

Read our latest monthly financial update for August 31, 2021. We're also well on our way to pay off our

mortgage by the end of this year - stay tuned for celebration plans in January!

We Can Help Promote Your Church Event

Is your group or ministry hosting an event, a registration, or welcoming new members? LUMC's

Communications Request Form can help you promote your event with options for online, social and

word-of-mouth outreach.

Charge Conference: October 25

Our annual Charge Conference will be held October 25 at 7 pm via Zoom. That's when we and our

District Superintendent review and approve various annual administrative reports.