Happy April, friends of the Shenandoah River District!
I pray you all had a blessed Holy Week and Easter, surrounded by friends and family, and took time to remember the true meaning of the season.
I would first like to share how grateful and blessed I feel to have been part of the Lay Servant Training Day on March 14, 2026, at Otterbein UMC in Harrisonburg. It was a joy to meet many new faces and reconnect with friends who were either taking or teaching classes. A heartfelt thank you to the congregation of Otterbein UMC and to Rev. Adam Blagg for their wonderful hospitality.
We had approximately 35 participants attend classes that day, along with two individuals who came forward to present prepared sermons to the committee. It was truly a meaningful day as we reflected on our shared calling. The morning began with an inspiring message from our Conference Lay Leader, Martha Stokes, who opened the day by sharing her personal story.
The committee is currently discussing plans to host a Sermon Presentation Day before the start of summer. If you have completed all the required classes to become a Certified Lay Speaker, please reach out to me by email or phone so we can add you to our list. We are here to support and encourage you as you continue to answer your calling.
If you are just beginning your journey as a Lay Servant or Lay Speaker—or are in the process of completing classes—please be sure to keep careful records of the courses you take and the reports you submit each year for your Charge Conference. These will be essential as you move forward toward certification.
In our district, we offer Lay Servant Training twice each year—once in the spring and again in the fall. Our fall training is planned for September, and we hope to share more details, including the date and location, in the coming month.
If there is a class you need to complete, or one you have already taken that we may not currently offer, please do not hesitate to contact the committee. We want to hear from you.
As I mentioned last month, I encourage you to keep an eye out for those in your churches, families, and communities who may feel called to serve more deeply. Invite them, encourage them, and help guide them toward Lay Servant Training. You never know how God may be working in their lives.
Until next time, be blessed, and you are loved.
Raini Newman
