Dear WUMC Family,
This fall, we're excited to introduce a new way of sharing the story of our life together at Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
Beginning in September, our newsletter will move to a monthly format with a renewed focus on celebrating how God is at work through our congregation. Rather than simply listing upcoming events, each issue will look back on the past month to share the impact of our ministries and the many ways lives are being transformed. The monthly newsletter will be emailed on the first Monday of each month to communicate all of the great things that happened in our church during the prior month.
The new newsletter will be entitled “Gathered and Sent”. This reflects the work of a church that is not just a building people go to; it is a congregation of people who cycle continually between being gathered (refueled by God’s word and community) and sent (on missions to help others).
- Stories and impact highlights from ministries across the church
- Welcome and introductions to our newest members
- A featured ministry, sharing how God is working through the people who serve
- A pastoral reflection
- Photos and stories that celebrate our life together
When I first began working at the church, I saw so many great things happening and wondered where they were being celebrated. In speaking with Pastor Brian, I quickly learned that one of his goals for WUMC is better storytelling of all of the incredible missions and acts of service we, as a congregation, are performing each day, each week, each month, and each year. Stories have the power to inspire, encourage, and remind us that every act of service, every worship service, every mission project, every class, and every fellowship gathering is part of God's larger work in our community. Don't worry—we'll still keep you informed about what's coming up! Our weekly email updates will continue to be your primary source for upcoming events, announcements, volunteer opportunities, and important reminders. This allows the monthly newsletter to become something you can enjoy reading rather than simply another calendar of events. The new weekly update will be entitled “This Week at WUMC” and will communicate all of the wonderful activities and events coming upon the weekend and in the following week (or so). It will still include the scripture, music planned for both the upcoming Traditional and Modern Worship services. The schedule for this email will be the same as the current newsletter entitled “The Weekend.”
Our hope is that this new approach will help us better celebrate who we are as a church, deepen connections across our ministries, and tell the remarkable story of what God is doing through Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
As always, thank you for being part of this wonderful community of faith. We look forward to sharing these stories with you beginning in September!
Grace and peace,
Stacey Gardner, Director of Congregation and Community Engagement