January 13, 2022
Each year, the Arlington and Alexandria districts of the United Methodist Church join together in January to conduct one day training events covering topics of interest for church lay leadership. This year’s Bi-District Training Day is an all virtual affair on January 15 that will offer classes in 23 categories with 59 presenters.
One of those presenters is a member of Galilee’s congration, Jerry Taylor. Jerry and his wife Jean live at Ashby Ponds and started attending Galilee in 2019.
Jerry and Jean Taylor
“Jean and I grew up in Arkansas and met at Hendrix College,” Jerry says. “We married shortly after graduation. While in college I got my commission as a Second Lieutenant, and so we began a 25-year career in the US Army, followed by nineteen years with the State Department.”
“During our first stint at the Pentagon in 1983, we lived in Fairfax with our son and our daughter and joined St. Stephen’s UMC. We were very active in that church, the Alexandria District, and the Virginia Conference. In 2019, we decided it was time to uncomplicate life and move to Ashby Ponds. Sadly, we had to leave our church home of more than 35 years because it was too far to drive to keep up with being an active member. We made the move to Galilee.”
“Jean had just joined Galilee’s Sisters in Christ Bible Study in order to get to know some ladies in the church when our activities were curtailed by Covid and Galilee transitioned to virtual services and Zoom meetings. We became faithful attendees on our computers.”
“About a year later, Galilee offered a “Get to Know the Pastors” Zoom meeting after Sunday morning worship, so Jean and I got to know Jason and Geitra better. During the conversation, Jason asked if we were interested in joining Galilee and we said yes. With that, we transferred our membership. Jean enjoys her Bible study group and I enjoy ringing with the Wesley Ringers bell choir. Being a part of a worshiping congregation has always been important to both of us and Galilee has offered a welcoming, flexible, and friendly atmosphere.”
This weekend, Jerry is leading a class called “Exploring Pathways for Spiritual Formation.” He says spiritual formation is a discipline that he felt drawn to when he retired.
“My favorite part of church is Sunday School. I have fond memories from growing up and I have found reward in the classes Jean and I have been a part for more than 35 years. Following retirement in 2014, I began to hunger for an answer to the question, “What is God wanting to do with me now?” It is no surprise, perhaps, that the answer involved more Sunday school. That’s the basis of my spiritual formation.”
“A friend, Rev. Deborah Austin, led me to a book by Eugene Peterson called Leap Over a Wall: Earthly Spirituality for Everyday Christians and another friend, Cathy Bowen, spoke to me about how she was attending the Two-Year Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation. She invited me to attend the Academy’s courses in Richmond and I grew to love the rhythm of the Academy, which I have heard described as ‘offering a supportive community in which students can learn Christian history as a resource for their own spiritual growth, grow in the love of God and neighbor, and take risks spiritually to find the courage to submit to God for healing the very parts of themselves they most reject.’”
“Our look at Spiritual Formation at Bi-District Training will begin with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina and we will identify several Spiritual Disciplines that can serve as opportunities for development of a devotional lifestyle. In addition, we will discuss opportunities to participate in Spiritual Formation retreats here in Virginia and around the United States.”
“It is important to maintain a purposeful spiritual life, because we are all busy. Even though Jean and I moved to Ashby Ponds to uncomplicate our lives,” says Jerry, “we both have managed to fill our lives with lots of activities.” Outside of Galilee, Jean is an accomplished quilter; Jerry obtained his credentials as an Enrolled Agent with the IRS during the pandemic and works for a small tax firm in Fairfax. The two are grandparents to Taylor and Kylie and eager to visit their son in British Columbia and daughter in Denver, Colorado.
“Spiritual formation, and attending Galilee, helps us keep God front and center.”
Click here for more information about Jerry’s class and the other presentations at Bi-District Training Day. Registration is open to all and some content will be available to view until July.