The 2023 District Palooza event will be held in two locations on Saturday, November 18, 2023. The event will include Worship, District Conference, Charge Conferences, and Training Workshops.

The event will be held in two locations. Christ UMC in Chincoteague and Oak Grove UMC in Chseapeake. When you register, please indicate which location you will attend. Lunches will be provided at both locations. Name tag and other materials will be at the location you register.

The Breakout Sessions will be small groups of Charge Conferences with a presiding elder and training workshops. Click here to register. If you have any questions, please contact the district office at coastalvadistrict@vaumc.org.

Schedule:

10 am – Worship

11 am – District Conference

11:30 am – Breakout Sessions

12: 30 pm – Lunch

1:30 pm – Breakout Sessions

2:30 pm – Event ends

Charge Conferences

Clergy and admins, please see the Charge Conference Orientation video and notes here. All forms should be uploaded into UNITY by November 8, 2023. If you have questions, please contact Jeri at coastalvadistrict@vaumc.org.

Location: Christ UMC, Chincoteague

11:30 am to 12: 30 pm	1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Group A: Adams Cashville Charge Coastal Charge New Mission Belle Haven-Bethel Charge Bloxom Mission	Group C: Melfa Metropolitan New Beginnings Oak Grove – Accomack Ocean View Onley Christ – Chincoteague
Group B: Calvary New Hope Charge Grace St. Thomas Hallwood Johnsons Craddockville	Group D: Pittsville-Pocomoke-Wattsville Charge Sanford-Saxis Charge Greenbackville Charge St. John’s Swain Memorial Epworth – Exmore

Location: Oak Grove, Chesapeake

11:30 am to 12:30 pm	1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Group E: Aldersgate Charity Baylake Beech Grove Bethel – Virginia Beach	Group K: Larchmont Light of Hope Lynnhaven Memorial Messiah
Group F: Centenary Christ – Norfolk Community – Virginia Beach Courthouse Community	Group L: Miles Memorial Monumental Mt. Pleasant New Creation
Group G: Community – Portsmouth Covenant Crossroads Deep Creek Ebenezer	Group M: Nimmo Norfolk Norview Oak Grove – Chesapeake Oaklette
Group H: Epworth – Norfolk First Foundry Francis Asbury	Group N: Portlock Resurrection Salem Sandbridge Community Chapel St. Andrew’s – Portsmouth
Group I: Wesley Grace Ghent Great Bridge Haygood Heritage	Group O: St. Andrew’s – Virginia Beach St. Mark St. Paul’s Tabernacle Thalia
Group J: Impact Indiana Jolliff Knotts Island	Group P: The Garden The Gathering at Scott Memorial Virginia Beach Virginia Korean Wesley Chapel

Training Workshops

Chat: Join District Superintendent Brooks for a theological conversation. Facilitator: Rev. Dr. C. R. Brooks, Coastal Virginia District Superintendent (offered at Oak Grove).

General Conference Informational Session: After being postponed in 2020, the General Conference will be held from April 30 to May 3, 2024. This session will provide an overview of the General Conference’s work and some of the proposed legislation.  Facilitator: Rev. Jason Stanley, District Coordinator for Church Revitalization (offered at both sites).

How to Launch a Breakthrough Prayer Initiative: Breakthrough Prayer is an intentional congregational prayer practice boldly asking God to break through in our congregations and do only that which God can do. This session will explain Breakthrough Prayer, share stories from our churches in our district, and prepare you to launch your own Breakthrough Prayer Initiative. Facilitators: Kristin Fogle and Bill Slingerland, Haygood UMC (offered at Oak Grove). 

Money Matters: This session will provide a brief overview of the responsibility of the Finance Committee and in-depth instruction on the work of the church treasurer, with particular emphasis on the preparation of clergy W-2s. Ideal for treasurers and finance leaders. Facilitator: Mary Stroh, District Treasurer (offered at Oak Grove).

Handling God’s Money: The Finance Committee of a local congregation has been tasked with stewarding God’s money. This session will outline the responsibilities and duties of the Finance Committee. Facilitator: Malcolm White, Adams UMC (offered at Christ).

Practical Tools for Church Conflict: While we often idealize church as a place free of conflict, the reality is it typically has just as much as any other gathering place. In seeking to navigate tension among our church family, we can feel paralyzed by how to begin. In this session, you will learn some practical tools to help engage conflict effectively and meaningfully. Facilitator: Dr. Samantha Borders-Shoemaker, Trinity UMC, Smithfield (offered at Oak Grove).

Simplified, Accountable Structure for Small Churches: A simplified, accountable structure allows churches to be more missional rather than meeting focused. This session will provide a basic introduction to the simplified, accountable structure, focusing on the benefits for the small church. Facilitator: Rev. Brenda Laws, Greenbackville Charge (offered at Christ).