Shalom Farms Highlights

The system-including the food system-- is broken. There is no denying it. All

the data says so, as do the collective voices of marginalized communities living in poverty. As with the recent Winter Solstice, there are days when it feels like there is more darkness than light. The recent holidays, for me, are stories of radical hope. I’m mindful of the words of Edith Wharton: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” In that spirit, I find hope in reflecting on 2017 “highlights” not only in the work of Shalom Farms, but also in the work of so many others. Below are 5 Shalom Farms highlights and 5 highlights from other organizations doing important food justice work. This collective work gives me hope and inspiration entering 2018. Richmond Food Justice Alliance launches as a resident led movement to increase

access to healthy food in our neighborhoods. Graduates of the first cohort lead the way in ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of residents with limited healthy food access are represented in food access work.

Ground is broken and an operator is announced for a new grocery store coming to North Church Hill, and the Richmond Food Co-op leased a site in Southside.

American Heart Association and Virginia Community Capital lead the charge toward the development of a 30 million dollar “Virginia Grocery Investment Fund” to support healthy food financing initiatives across the state.

Community Food Collaborative launches Cornerstone Farm, an economic and agricultural collaboration at Fairfield Middle School that supports neighborhood vitality through sustainable food production, job creation, and environmental stewardship.

Ginter Urban Gardeners and Tricycle each graduate their first classes in their respective new training programs and fellowships.

Our brand new farm exceeded every expectation and goal for this year. We welcomed over 5,500 volunteers to help us grow 85% more produce than the previous year on just 55% more land. (Over 500,000 servings in total!)

We significantly expanded our winter growing operation as well as our winter programmatic initiatives, including a winter mobile market.

Shalom Farms and the Richmond City Health District were awarded two major USDA grants totaling $300,000 to support the Richmond Healthy Corner Store Initiative and the Grown to Go Community Mobile Market.

We successfully paired Shalom Farms Prescription Produce Plan with the Fit4Kids Food Explorers programs to better engage the whole family around healthy eating. While parents were participating in our food skills education classes, nearby their children were using the same produce in their own classes!

We teamed up with Health Brigade to pilot the first Food Farmacy Program. As a result participants saw an average decrease of 2.2 in A1C readings (meaning patients saw sustained decreases in average blood sugar readings) from beginning of the 12 week program to the end.There is much to rejoice and much more work to do in 2018. Visit our website

<http://shalomfarms.org/> today to find out more.Article by Dominic Barrett, Executive Director, Shalom Farms, a ministry of the

Richmond District UMC.

INSIDE

A Newsletter of The Richmond District • Virginia Conference • The United Methodist ChurchJanuary 2018

THE RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH

A Word from the Superintendent .....2District Youth Retreat ............................2UM Day at General Assembly ..............3Opportunities ............................................ 4

Richmond District

District Conference and Leadership Training Event

Sunday, January 7, 2018, 1:30-5:00 p.m.Reveille UMC

4200 Cary Street Road, Richmond 23221

Keynote Speaker, Rev. Ben CampbelYour Community is Your Church

Breakout Sessions and Workshops 1. Trustees--Rev. Bill James2. Finance--David Dommisse3. Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations--

Peter M. Moon4. The Role of the Nomination

and Leadership Development Committee--Presenter: Chris Bennett

5. Food Justice--Dominic Barrett6. Next Stop Social Media Highway--

Madeline Pillow7. Mission Shift: From Temporary

Relief to Lasting Community Transformation--Wendy McCaig

8. Cross Racial/Cross Cultural Ministry--Larry Cochran

9. Local Church Partnerships--Bob Argabright

10. Who is my Neighbor? 6 Ways to Reach Them--Kim Johnson

11. What if Youth Designed the Church?--Rev. Justin Hicks

12. Your Community is Your Church-- Ben Campbell, author, priest and former director of Richmond Hill

As of Friday a.m., our District Training Event is still on for Sunday. For information regarding inclement weather see <www.reveilleumc.org>

or call 804/359-6041. A snow date has been planned for

Saturday, January 20.

Page 2 RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH January 2018

Richmond DistrictThe Virginia Conference • United Methodist Church

P.O. Box 5606 • Glen Allen, Virginia 23058Telephone (804) 521-1124 • Fax (804) 521-1175 • RichmondDistrict@vaumc.org

January 2018

Prayers for...Rev. Robert Berghuis, Calvary UMC,

and family on the death of his wife’s 29 year old nephew.

Rev. Chancellor Hamilton, retired, and wife on the death of her mother on December 26.

Rev. Peter Moon, Richmond DS, and wife Lynn on the death of her mother on December 27.

Rev. Deborah Koontz, Ramsey Memorial UMC, on the death of her father, on December 28.

Ron White, Richmond District Lay Leader, as he recovers from December 20 hip surgery.

The family of Rev. Norman Chattin, retired, who died December 19.

Friends,

“‘The time has come’, he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15)

This past fall, we took some time at all of our Charge Conferences to review the first words of Jesus in each of the Gospels. As we enter into this New Year of 2018, I would like to encourage you to hear those first words of our Lord in the book of Mark: “The time has come.”

With the multitude of world, political, and denominational challenges on our horizons, the temptation is to hunker down. We do ministry within a church community that attends church less often. We are surrounded by a growing culture of “nones and dones” who are increasingly not simply indifferent to the church but often in a growing sense, hostile to it.

Some sages would say that we should wait it out, see what happens, keep our options open. As for me and my house, however, I am going with the time-less words of Jesus: “The time has come.” When Jesus looked to the Samaritan crowds in the book of John, he reminded us to look at this unchurched field when he said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” It is tempting to look at our contemporary culture and see a burnt over field with no potential. I believe that our risen Lord sees, even in this culture of nones and dones, of growing opposition, and of decreasing partici-pation, a Samaritan field ripe for the harvest.

In this complicated world of politics and affairs, one of my go-to persons is New York Times columnist David Brooks. Recently he was interviewed by “The Christian Century” (Matt Fitzgerald, January 17, 2017) and offered a marvelous line. He reminded us of the power of our theology in this culture. In speaking to our contemporary world he said that “Our public discussion is over politi-cized and under moralized...What’s especially beautiful about theology is that it’s a way of seeing the world that starts with a sense of modesty – not something you would say about how economists or political scientists see the world.”

In a world where humility is in short supply and hubris dwells in abundance, here is an enduring and endearing part of our relationship with Jesus Christ. There, we learn, process, and dwell in humility, or as David Brooks says, in “modesty.” That is a gift that stands out as a light in this self-obsessed and me-first culture. It is not, however, just a gift. It is an opportunity.

Let me encourage you, in this time of so many “ifs” to not hunker down. Jesus said the time has come. He also said the fields are ripe for the harvest. I look forward to a great year of joining you as we go to work in this contempo-rary harvest field!

In Christ,

Pete

E A G L E E Y R I E , L Y N C H B U R G

FE

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6-1

8

Richmond District Youth Retreat

Keith Cartwright

as our speaker

and The Arise

Band as our

worship music

F E A T U R I N G : The weekend will consist of 4 worship services, small group time, youth group time and free time. Each youth group will have a house with sever-al bedrooms a kitchen and a living room use-ful for fellowship and youth group time. Saturday meals are provided and Sunday breakfast. Weekend cost: $125 per person

February 16-18I have FOUGHT the good fight

I have FINISHED the raceI have KEPT the faith

Featuring: Keith Cartwright as our speaker and the Arise Band as our worship music

The weekend will consist of 4 worship services, small group time, youth group time and free time.

Each youth group will have a house with several bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room useful for fellowship and youth group time.

Saturday meals and Sunday breakfast are provide.

Weekend Cost is $125 per person.For Registration information contact

Pam Hill, Retreat Coordinator, at 901-0989 or email

<RichmondDistrict@vaumc.org>.

Westview Register Now

As the cold days of winter seem to drag on and on your campter

is probably dreaming of warmer weather, playing outdoors and hanging out with friends. Go to www.westviewonthejames.org for further details and give the gift of camp…summer is coming! Call 457-4210 for details.

January 2018 RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH Page 3

Holy Land Tour

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis invites you to join her on a 10 day Holy Land tour,

February 26-March 7, 2018, that will expand your knowledge of the Bible and this sacred land. A journey following in the footsteps of Jesus will change the way you read the Bible, and you will learn why scholars refer to it as the “Fifth Gospel.” The all inclusive cost from Richmond is $3,398. Contact <tomjoyce@vaumc.org> for an information brochure.

Please consider this a personal invitation to be a part of this adventure in faith and join Bishop Lewis in experiencing a once in a lifetime journey as you walk where Jesus walked!

Dodgeball Postponed

The dodgeball tournament scheduled for January 14 has been postponed

until further notice. Call 276-4628 or more information.

United Methodist Day at General Assembly 2018

Ever wanted to know how to create real change in our state government?

Or wanted to know more about real issues facing our legislature? United Methodist Day at the General Assembly is the place for you! This is our opportunity to help faith communities become empowered to serve as missionaries of justice, as well as the more traditional missionaries of mercy. This yearly event will be held Thursday, February 1 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Due to construction at capitol square this year and the relocation of the General Assembly Building, space will be more limited this year. Registration for the event will open soon. A briefing will be held Wednesday, January 31 at Bon Air UMC in North Chesterfield at 7:30 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Rev. Barbara Lewis at <BarbaraLewis@vaumc.org> or (434) 594-6241. Find more information at <www.vaumc.org/Events>.

Saturday, March 109 a.m.-3 p.m.

Beyond Sunday School: Empowering Regular folks to lead a God Movement

featuring Rachel BillupsYou are One: Reclaiming the servant

leader in You--Jesus called ordinary people to extraordinary God work. Our neighborhoods are full of brilliant and broken, spiritual and seeking people who are looking for hope. You are hope dealers.

No Fear: Embrace The Mess of Ministry--What happens when boundaries become barriers that keeps us from the real work of disciplining regular folk, prioritizing people over programming.

Coffee Talks, Family Walks, and Fellowship Dinners: The life style of discipleship--Living the Jesus way means embracing community as you go, where you live, when you work, and while you play.

12 Locations including Good Shepherd UMC, 9155 Hungary Road, Richmond.Register at <vaumc.org/5talent>. For

more information call 521-1155.

Expert Help for Caregivers

The Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, January 18. This

meets monthly at Reveille UMC on the third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in room 209 and is open to the community. Monthly meetings provide an opportunity for caregivers to communicate regularly, exchange coping skills, learn ways to maintain their health, and enhance their ability to care for dementia patients. No registration is required to join the support group. Please share information about this group with anyone in the community who may benefit. All are welcome at Reveille UMC, 4200 Cary Street Road, Richmond. For more information about the Greater Richmond Alzheimer’s Association, visit <www.alz.org/grva>, call the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at (800) 272-3900 or call Reveille UMC at 359-6041.

Sojourner Truth

The United Methodist Women (UMW) of Trinity UMC, 903 Forest Avenue,

Henrico, proudly invite you to “Sojourner Truth” a dramatic portrayal and discussion to be held Tuesday, January 9, at 10:15 a.m. Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Born into slavery in upstate New York, she demanded equal human rights for all women as well as for all Blacks. In 2014, Sojourner Truth was included in Smithsonian Magazine’s list of the “100 Most Significant Americans of All Times.” Mrs. Evelyn Allen will portray Sojourner Truth for the audience, delivering some of Sojourner Truth’s best-known speeches and then participate in a discussion. This presentation is free and open to all. Call 288-6065 for more information.

Early Response Training

Shenandoah University and Braddock Street UMC are partnering to offer

an Early Response Team Training on Saturday, January 27 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $65 and includes lunch. Please contact Jo Ann Batteiger at <jbatteig13@su.edu> to register. Class will be held at Braddock Street UMC in Winchester. Call (540) 667-3366 for more information.

Panera at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Courthouse Road,

11649 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, is having Heart Havens Night on Thursday, January 25, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.! Join your Heart Havens friends at Panera for a snack, dinner or dessert! A printed flyer or an electronic version of the flyer on a mobile phone or tablet must be presented when ordering and then 20% of Panera’s sales that night will be donated to Heart Havens. Get your flyer by emailing <sarah.wilkinson@hearthavens.org> or call 237-6097.

Lay Servant ScheduleDonna Seward, director, Lay Servant Ministries: <donna_t_seward@yahoo.com>, 897-3309. Richmond District Certified Lay Servants lead worship regularly at the following care centers:Date Place Speaker1/7 Beth Sholom A Henderso n1/14 University Park Bessie Owens1/21 Beth Sholom A Henderson1/28 Elmcroft Bill Pike

Lay Servant Academy 2018

The Lay Servant

Academy will be held March 2-4 at the beautiful W.E. Skelton 4-H Center on Smith Mountain Lake. See <https://www.vaumc.org/LayServantTraining> for details and registration information.

Page 4 RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH January 2018

District Opportunities

Richmond DistrictVirginia Conference

The United Methodist Church10330 Staples Mill Road

P.O. Box 5606Glen Allen, Virginia 23058

Phone: (804)521-1124FAX: 521-1175

Email: RichmondDistrict@vaumc.org

Sharma D. Lewis Area BishopPeter M. Moon District SuperintendentSusan Petrey Administrative Assistant, Web AdministratorCindy Payne-Ingroff District TreasurerRon White District Lay LeaderScotty Doyle District President, UMWSonny Rea District President, UMMBill Chaffin District Ministry of Scouting Coord.Donna Seward Director, Lay Servant Ministries

We’re on the web at:www.richmonddistrictumc.org

The DEADLINE for the NEXT ISSUE is the 15th of the month.

DISTRICTDISPATCH

February 1–United Methodist Day at General Assembly, Bon Air UMC, 434/594-6241.

February 16-18–Richmond District Youth Retreat, Eagle Eyrie, Lynchburg, 901-0989.

February 24–Chat and Chew 2.0, Ebenezer UMC, Stafford, 521-1124.

March 2-4–Lay Servant Academy, W.E. Skelton 4-H Center, 521-1153.

March 10–5 Talent Academy, Good Shepherd UMC, 521-1155.

June 16-18, 2018–Annual Conference, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, 521-1134.

January 7–District Conference and Leadership Training Event, Reveille UMC, 521-1124.

As of Friday a.m., our District Training Event is still on for

Sunday. For information regarding inclement weather see <www.

reveilleumc.org> or call 804/359-6041.

A snow date has been planned for Saturday, January 20.

January 9–Sojourner Truth, Trinity UMC, 288-6065.

January 18–Dementia Support Group, Reveille,359-6041.

January 25–Heart Havens Night, Panera, Midlothian, 237-6097.

January 27–Early Response Training, Braddock Street UMC, Winchester, 540/667-3366.

January 31–Briefing, United Methodist Day at General Assembly, Bon Air UMC, 434/594-6241.

UM Center Closings

The District Office and the VAUMC Conference Center will be closed

on Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.