Happy summertime, friends of the Shenandoah River District! I pray all is well with each of you.
On June 7, we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at St. James UMC in Mt. Crawford as several Lay Servants who had completed their coursework presented their trial sermons. It was a meaningful time of worship, learning, and encouragement. Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter, where we will share more about this special event.
We will be holding another Trial Sermon Day in October. Lay Servants and clergy, please let me know if you have someone who will be ready to present a sermon, or if you yourself are preparing for this next step. Feel free to contact me by phone or email.
We are also excited to share some details about our upcoming Lay Servant Training Day! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Strasburg United Methodist Church in Strasburg, Virginia. We are grateful for the opportunity to return to this wonderful location.
This year we will be offering the Basic Course and Preaching, along with at least two or three additional classes. We would love your input as we make plans. Laity and clergy, what required classes are you still needing? Are there advanced courses you would like to see offered that we have not provided before? Your feedback will help us create a training day that best meets the needs of our district.
We also encourage you to visit the Virginia Conference website for more information about Lay Servant Ministries. There you can learn more about the role of a Lay Servant and explore training opportunities offered at the conference level.
The Virginia Conference will offer a virtual Lay Servant Training event on August 14–15, 2026. Planned courses include Basic, Spiritual Gifts, Climate Justice, and Aging and Ministry. Registration information will be available on the conference website beginning in early June.
Another excellent resource is BeADisciple.com, where you can find a wide variety of online Lay Servant courses. These classes provide flexible opportunities to continue your learning and progress toward certification.
We are here to support you as you pursue becoming a Certified Lay Servant or Certified Lay Speaker. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need guidance. If you are attending Annual Conference, I will be there throughout the week and would be happy to talk with you.
Until next month, friends, I pray this June will be a blessed and joyful part of your faith journey.
God bless,
Raini Newman
Shenandoah River District Lay Servant Ministries