News & Updates

Dear Williamson Road church family,

We are in a season of renewal currently; we are amid spring as well as Lent and Easter. The Leadership Team has asked me to inform the congregation that we will open the church for in-person worship only starting this Sunday, Easter, April 4, 2021, beginning at 11 am. We will start returning to in-person worship weekly and still offer our online format (Zoom and Facebook Live).

We will still be abiding by our state laws of masks and social distancing within the sanctuary. Pews have been marked off to help maintain the appropriate distance, and sanitizing stations will be observed as well.

Now we know that not everyone is ready to return to in-person worship just yet. We want to give you space to decide when you can worship with us in person when you feel comfortable. That is why we will continue to offer our Zoom and Facebook live services for those who are not ready to return.

We are awaiting celebrating Easter together as much as we are all able to.

In Christ’s peace,

The Leadership Team and Pastor Harvey

We would like to thank all of you who have been so faithful to continue your support of Williamson Road Church of the Brethren throughout these trying times of COVID-19. Your support is so very important as the expenses of everyday operations and maintenance of the church continue. We appreciate all you do. Please feel free to mail your offering as we are checking the mail during the week.

Williamson Road Church of the Brethren 3110 Pioneer Road, NW Roanoke, VA 24012

MESSENGER

It’s that time of year----time to renew your subscription to Messenger. Watch for information on the table by the stairs in the next couple weeks. Subscriptions must be turned in no later than June 15, 2021!

WORSHIP LEADERS NEEDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! We are in need of Worship Leaders to help lead in our weekly worship services. We would like to have enough to rotate as many Sundays as possible. If you are interested, please let Pastor Harvey know as soon as possible!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE WORSHIP MEDIA MINISTRY TEAM We are currently live streaming our worship. We need volunteers to help “run the service” behind the scenes. We need three volunteers to run the equipment from the back of the sanctuary each and every week to make live streaming possible. We are also recording the service and tying it to a YouTube account to show on our webpage. This is a learning process for all involved. David Bailey is heading up this new ministry and will help out as much as he can in person. We are in need of a team of volunteers to make this a reality. If YOU are interested in volunteering, please contact Pastor Harvey asap. We appreciate you!

May 24 - 28, 2021 The Mexican Consulate will be using the Fellowship Hall. More information about times etc. will follow in your weekly bulletin.

SECOND VACCINE CLINIC – CASA LATINA VDH, in conjunction with the City of Roanoke and Dept of Emergency Management, will hold a second vaccine clinic on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The building (WRCoB – Casa Latina) will be in use from 8 am until 4 pm. All staff, volunteers, and patients will wear masks. Chairs, registration tables, and lines will be at least 6 feet apart. As this is a medical event, more than 10 people are allowed, but only 5 appointments will be given for every 15-minute time slot, to help minimize the number of people in the building at a time. Signs will be used to direct people within the building--entrance will be through one door, and exit through the other to minimize contact. Doors will be propped open to eliminate contact with door handles and to facilitate better ventilation. All surfaces will be disinfected throughout the day and at the end of the event. The Emergency Manager and Public Health Nurse Manager will do a site-walk through before the vaccination clinic to finalize any other protocols that may be necessary.

PLAN NOW TO JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL LICENSING SERVICE FOR TERRI LUZYNSKI SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021 4:00 PM IN THE SANCTUARY

GRADUATE SUNDAY We will be observing GRADUATE SUNDAY on June 13, 2021! Please turn in your graduate’s name, school or college name, degree and any future plans you wish to share to Tammy Dooley as soon as possible. Thank you!

THE 2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE WILL BE ENTIRELY ONLINE THE YEAR JUNE 30—JULY 4, 2021

We are throwing open the doors to thousands of Brethren who never before have been able to participate fully in Annual Conference. Imagine an opportunity for many people from each of our congregations to participate in the vital opportunities that will be included in the 2021 Annual Conference, gaining tools and resources for their congregations'’ ministries, benefiting from leadership development, earning continuing education credits, participating in spiritual growth, and networking with other Brethren who share similar ministries and interests.

Registration opened on March 2nd. This year’s non-delegate cost is $99.00.

THE CHALLENGE OF AN ONLINE ANNUAL CONFERENCE - IDEAS NEEDED! The territory of the Virlina District is inclusive of an area of about 100,000 square miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ohio River across portions of three states. Having an online Annual Conference is necessary given the restrictions and uncertainties amidst a pandemic. Nevertheless, internet accessibility is limited in many areas of the district. As we ponder how to include the greatest number of our congregations in the Annual Conference it is clear that we need creative approaches. One idea has been to have congregations with strong internet connection and considerable space serve as "cluster points" for delegates. If you have thoughts on this matter, please send your ideas to us at nuchurch@aol.com.