July 2025 - Rest and Radical Hospitality
As temperatures rise and we move into our summer rhythms, it is a natural time for our community here at Main St. UMC to reflect on the importance of sabbath. Just as a baker must give time for their dough to rest in order for it to develop into its fullest - and fluffiest - potential, we need to take time to rest as a community so that we can live most fully into God’s call with all of our bodies, minds, and spirits. Read on to hear about what’s happening in the life of Main St. UMC as we focus on who we are and what we’re called to become as a community of faith!
A Word from Pastor Rich
Greetings friends,
It was great to see so many at our combined worship service on Sunday, and I am excited as our summer schedule continues. The work has begun on the Atrium refresh, which is also very exciting. Main Street Church is a welcoming church. I love the way many of you identify new guests to our worship services and welcome them so graciously. It seems to be a natural part of what some have always done here at Main Street Church. I have seen your hospitality in practice. However, I wonder if our hospitality is radical in nature.
Back in 2007 Bishop Robert Schnase published a book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. In this book, he coined the term Radical Hospitality. He indicates, “Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations practice Radical Hospitality.” I believe we can be a vibrant, fruitful, and growing congregation, and that Radical Hospitality can be a significant part of who we are at Main Street Church.
Paul reminds us in Romans, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Schnase goes on to say, “Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending riches of life in Christ.” This is the type of energy and atmosphere we want at Main Street Church.
Much of the Atrium refresh will include things that you will see right way - a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, a new welcome center, and a new way of getting refreshments. The things you may not notice right away will be the way new guests are welcomed, and the way every one of our volunteers and staff work together to welcome, receive, and care for them. However, radical hospitality is more than volunteers and staff; it is all of us working together to invite and include. Holly Richardson is overseeing the refresh of the Atrium. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to Holly.
As we continue to meet the changing world with new ways of doing ministry and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, it is anchored in prayer and discernment. Please be in prayer for our church and the church universal. Also be praying about ways you can serve our congregation. This week in worship, you will have an opportunity to consider where you would like to serve. Start the discernment process this week and be prepared to respond this Sunday in worship. Again, I am excited about all that God is doing in and through the people of Main Street Church. I love being your pastor and look forward to beautiful ways we can be instruments of God’s love through Jesus Christ!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Rich
Staff Spotlight - Mia Diggs Parker
If you don’t visit the office during the work week you may not have had the pleasure of meeting Mia Diggs Parker, but we wanted to take a moment for you to “meet” her here! Mia serves as our office Administrative Assistant, and as such wears many hats as a part of our community.
Mia was hired in 2020 while COVID-19 was still an imminent concern, but she comes to us after many years of work at Atlantic Union Bank. When her previous branch was closed due to the pandemic, Mia made the decision to stay home with her children for a season. She eventually felt called to go back to work, and was hired at Main St. UMC to fill the administrative role when Wendy Perry moved to Tennessee.
Mia quickly immersed herself in learning the complicated process of maintaining the finances of a church like Main St, but she also took time to get to know the people of our congregation. She loves being a resource to the members of our community, and she is often found helping folks who have dropped by with a need or just to chat. She is always gracious and helpful, and she greets everyone with a bright smile.
Mia is married to James Parker and they have 4 children. The oldest graduated from high school this year and is going to Norfolk State in the fall and the youngest is 3 years old. Thank you Mia for all you do! We are blessed to have you on our staff!
New First Impressions Team & Atrium Refresh
In an ongoing effort to thrive and continue as a vital and "radically hospitable" church, our newly formed “First Impressions Team” is underway with preparations for a refresh of our Atrium space and Sunday morning welcoming procedures. New industrial grade furniture has been ordered and painting of the Atrium has begun. Britney Webb has overseen this design, and has provided an illustrated design board, which is located in the Atrium. We have raised over half of the projected costs of this project, which includes a $5,000.00 grant from VAUMC, and a generous donation from our Memorial Fund. If you would like to contribute to the additional enhancements needed (approx. $11,000.00), we would be grateful to receive your donations. Please mark them "First Impressions".
One of the newly designed areas will include a "welcome counter", designated as a space to greet newcomers to our buildings, as well as share information about our classes, missions and activities. If you are interested in being a part of this team, Holly is the staff coordinator on this project and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Care and Concern Committee Update
I am so excited about the enhancements to our atrium, as well as a revamp and revitalization of the ways we have to connect and serve one another. Our atrium will soon have a new look, and I wanted to piggyback on that and let you know of some of our service opportunities within the congregation that we are trying to refresh.
As chair of our Care and Concern Committee, I want to extend an invitation for new volunteers to join our team and remind everyone what we do. We serve our church and our members by providing a meal, delivering a prayer shawl, offering a ride, or even just making a call to check in when you have had a significant life event. We are planning to merge our Care and Concern team with the Sharing is Caring team and extend what we can do. We are already meeting and tossing around some new ideas!
The refresh of our in-house hospitality teams will also include a quarterly family style dinner for our congregation that will reinvigorate our call to serve and take care of one another.
Join us Sunday, July 6, as we highlight some of these ministries and ask you what group(s) you are feeling called to serve in. I hope you will be encouraged to connect, grow, and serve!
Ashley Hogg - Care and Concern Committee Chair
Summer Scheduling
Thanks to everyone who stuck around after worship on June 29 to kick-off the start of our summer worship schedule with a great afternoon of barbecue and ice cream! Throughout the month of July, we will continue to gather for a single combined Sunday morning worship service each week at 10am. During this summer season, it will be up to each Sunday School class to determine their own summer scheduling, so keep an eye out and an ear open! Children’s Sunday School will also be on “summer break” from June 29th-August 3rd, with both Sunday School (9:30) and Children’s Church (11:00) resuming in August.
Missions Moment
Main Street UMC has ministry partners, both locally and globally, whose life-saving work helps share the love of Jesus and build a better world! Here are a couple updates:
UMCOR Kits for Conference - Thank you for all of the time, energy, and supplies that you donated to this year’s “Kits for Conference” relief supply drive! Through your generosity, we were able to package and send off 7 “Flood Buckets” and 53 UMCOR Hygiene Kits, and a financial gift, we were able to get almost $2000 worth of supplies and donations to folks in need. Well done!
Friends of Barnabas/Lomas del Aguila - Many of you know that Main St has a well-established relationship with Friends of Barnabas, but what you might not know is that we also partner with the community of Lomas del Aguila in Honduras to provide educational and medical assistance to those is need. We have just renewed the partnership for another three years, and we look forward to the ways that we can partner in ministry with this vital community.
Children/Youth Update
We gathered with a small-but-mighty crew of young people and adult volunteers on June 21 for our Carnival of Creation - a day of crafts, music, learning, and service! The children planted wildflowers and picked up some of the litter that collects around the church, and they even created a piece of community art in the back garden that will bring some color and fun to the grounds. If you see “Robert” the Rock Snake hanging out around back and would like to help him grow, contact Andy and he’ll get you supplies!
As we enter into the summer season, Andy Millman – Director of Children & Youth Discipleship – will be hosting “Table Talks” with small groups of families to listen and learn about what’s happening in the lives of our young folks! We’ll share a meal – and a story or two – as we plan for the fall. If you are a parent of a child or youth at Main St. UMC and you have not already been contacted but would like to participate, please email amillman@mainstumc.org and we’ll get you plugged in!
Scholarship Applications Are Due Soon!
We at Main St UMC are privileged to be able to support our college students with a number of different scholarships, and applications are due soon! Scholarship Packets with information and applications can be found in the front office, or they can be downloaded here! Completed applications are due by July 6 and can be submitted to the office either in person or digitally by emailing Andy Millman at amillman@mainstumc.org.
July Birthdays and Anniversaries
7/1 - Lynn Cross, Jeffrey Forman, Brian McCormally, Bruce Salsbury, Claire Taliaferro
7/2 - Blake Baker, Sara Brooks, Emily Brown, Karen Williams, Chuck & Irene Fisher (anniversary)
7/3 - Lily Garner, Dylan Pruitt, Annette Toner
7/4 - Adam Joerger, Barbara Rayburn, Cassie Venable
7/5 - Mary Anne Barnes
7/6 - David Forman, Rick Van Orden
7/7 - Austin Drewnowski, Martin Sweat
7/8 - James Caton, Blake Wagner
7/9 - Robert Baker, Terrance Knight, Grace Saunders, David & Cheri Anthony (anniversary), David & Shirley Baldwin (anniversary)
7/11 - Wes King, Alexis Whalley, John & Ann Shappell (anniversary)
7/12 - Maxim Kowalski
7/15 - Gail Fisher
7/18 - Linda Argust, Caroline Venable, Ann Walker, Bernard & Iris Mamlin (anniversary)
7/19 - Monica Lynn Eure
7/20 - TJ Argust, Carson Birdsong, Quinby Hines, Pam Huber
7/21 - Jay Butler, Annie Scott, Ellen Saunders
7/22 - Patricia Forman
7/23 - Christopher Caron, Teresa Hardee, Caleb Miller, Ken Williams, Brent & Ann Brown (anniversary)
7/24 - Joseph Verdirame
7/25 - Annette Bailey, William Powell
7/26 - Joseph Askew, Nancy Bradford, Sarah Higinbotham, Chris Smith
7/27 - Scott Carr, Iris Mamlin
7/28 - Laura Mizelle
7/29 - Kate Holland, Annabeth Lynn Kashner
7/30 - Sinai Little, Suzanne Pruitt, Sara Ray
7/31 - Ruby Brinkley, Doug Ward, Eley & Nicole Duke (anniversary)
Final Thoughts
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” - John Lubbock
Take this season to slow down, recharge, and reflect on how you can best use your gifts to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world - and get ready to jump back in as our programming schedule picks back up in August!
