Rev. Jim Harris is a retired United Methodist Pastor, serving part-time at Bridgewater UMC. Jim has been a faithful follower of our Monday morning devotions. I asked him to share a devotion with us. Below is his devotion about Central UMC in Staunton. Many thanks, Jim! The Church of Mismatched Bricks After a humble beginning […]
When I was growing up, we lived on a farm. Meals were on a schedule and everyone gathered around the table to eat together. I am the oldest of four boys, and mealtime was always a busy time. We shared what we had done that day and what the next day held. We didn’t have […]
Monumental UMC in Portsmouth, Virginia, suffered a terrible fire nearly two years ago. Workers were waterproofing the steeple, and one of the torches caught the steeple and almost the entire church on fire. In the last two weeks, the steeple has been replaced. Once again, it is towering above almost everything else in downtown Portsmouth. […]
The administrative assistant at one of our district offices recently went on a homes tour and had an accident. She missed the bottom step and broke her wrist and shoulder. After two surgeries, she is now recovering and undergoing therapy as they work with her wrist and shoulder. However, the most amazing thing happened. She […]
When I was in high school, my parents started a nursing home in Leesburg, Virginia. We only had 14 beds, and my mother and father did most of the work. When I went to college, I would find myself looking forward to talking to Mr. Foushee when I went home. Mr. Foushee was 95 years […]
I grew up in Leesburg United Methodist Church. This church had a lot of traditions. When someone died, there often were plaques put on a pew or window or a picture saying, “In Memory of…” the loved one. When I was pastor of First UMC in Martinsville, we installed new stained glass windows in the […]
In the Harrisonburg area, as in many areas of this great conference, we reach out to help those in need. Several churches have built giveaway boxes and placed them at the front entrances. The boxes are filled with non-perishable food items, and those who are hungry can stop by and take what they need. Additionally, […]
My granddaughter, Cammie, is eight years old, and she did a science project at her school. Last night, she was awarded a trophy for having the best project and was so happy! My son, Chad, put her picture on Facebook, and hundreds have responded. Many have said “Congratulations,” but a good many have said “Keep […]
Churches sometimes do the most amazing things, especially small churches where everyone knows everyone. A young family moved to a community and started attending a church. They hadn’t been there very long when their six-year-old son had a birthday. The church members decorated the Sunday School classroom with balloons and had a birthday cake sitting […]
My dad passed away over a decade ago, but I still think of him every day. He was a farmer, a carpenter, a gardener, a contractor, ceramist and someone everyone liked. He fought in World War II and was awarded a purple heart but never told us. We found his medal one day, and he […]