July 6, 2026
Dear Williamsburg United Methodist Church Family,
It has been wonderful to see the variety of ways that Williamsburg United Methodist Church is thriving in ministry recently. Long-established ministries have continued to make a profound impact, alongside new initiatives that are thriving in exciting ways. God has been strengthening our ministry, calling us to next steps, and opening new opportunities for us to share the love of Christ in our community.
The growth of Modern Worship has been especially exciting. As more people have found a church home at WUMC through this worship service, the ministry has continued to develop, bringing with it new opportunities and greater demands for our music staff. Anthony Williams has played an instrumental role in this growth through his leadership of our modern worship band while also faithfully leading music for youth and children and serving as Director of the Early Childhood Music School, as he has for the past ten years.
During Anthony's tenure as director, ECMS has flourished as one of Williamsburg United Methodist Church's Cornerstone Ministries, and a signature way that our church is known in the community. Hundreds of children and their families have experienced the joy of music in an environment where they are known, loved, and welcomed. Anthony has built upon the strong foundation established by Cindy Freeman, helping ECMS continue to grow while maintaining its reputation for excellence and its nurturing community.
As our church continues to grow, we recognize that our staffing must evolve as well. After thoughtful conversations among Anthony, pastoral leadership, the Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, and the ECMS Board, we have made the decision to restructure the leadership of the Early Childhood Music School in a way that will strengthen both ECMS and the broader ministry of our church.
ECMS will soon begin the process of hiring a new director. Anthony will continue serving as ECMS Director alongside the new director into early 2027 to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition. At that time, he will step away from the administrative responsibilities of directing the school and transition into a lead teacher role within ECMS while continuing his ministry as Associate Music Director at Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
This transition will allow Anthony to devote more of his time and energy to three areas where his gifts are making an extraordinary impact: musical leadership at our growing Modern Worship service, the Youth and Children’s music ensembles that lead music in worship, and continuing to teach music to children (through ECMS, Messy Church, and more). At the same time, a new director will focus on the day-to-day leadership, administration, and continued growth of ECMS, positioning the school to serve even more families in the years ahead.
For ECMS students and families, much will remain the same. Children will continue to know "Mr. Anthony" as a beloved teacher and mentor, while the school gains dedicated leadership to carry its ministry into the future. For the people of Williamsburg UMC, things may also look very similar on a Sunday morning. But these changes will allow Anthony to spend more time and energy helping our church grow in worship and discipleship.
We are deeply grateful for Anthony's faithful leadership, his vision for ECMS, and his willingness to embrace this new chapter. We also celebrate the exciting ways God continues to lead Williamsburg United Methodist Church as we seek to grow in worship, music, discipleship, and outreach.
Please join us in giving thanks for Anthony's decade of leadership at ECMS, praying for a smooth transition, looking forward to how Anthony will continue to lead us forward, and celebrating all that God has in store for this important ministry.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Brian Johnson
Lead Pastor
Anthony Williams
Associate Music Director & Director, Early Childhood Music School