Jesus' Prayer for The Church

I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

(John 17:20-23)

Welcome! Community is a United Methodist congregation of Christians located in the Kempsville section of Virginia Beach. We are a multi-generational church with members & attendees of all ages. Through worship, service, education, & hospitality, we offer ministries that foster a sense of community & belonging for all. We are committed to Loving God, Loving People, and Growing in likeness of Christ. We believe that the best way to grow as a Disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a participant in a small group. 


Community offers two worship experiences on Sunday mornings with a Small Groups/Sunday School hour in between at 10:00 AM. The Traditional service at 9:00 AM is oriented for those who prefer a worship experience in the Wesleyan tradition with hymns led by organ & piano. The Modern service at 11:15 AM is oriented for those who prefer a worship experience led by guitars, drums, bass guitar, and vocalists with songs that you might hear on Christian radio. All are welcome!



Community United Methodist Church Clergy



Left to Right: Teresa Woodworth, Associate Pastor; Scott Rimer, Senior Pastor; Jannette Clavez, Associate Pastor of Congregational Care

MEET OUR PASTORS...

Scott Rimer, Senior Pastor

Scott was appointed as our Senior Pastor on July 1, 2021.  Born in Oklahoma, Scott grew up in Virginia Beach and his home church was Virginia Beach UMC. A graduate of Frank W. Cox High School, he earned his B.A. degree from Virginia Wesleyan College, and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University. He is an ordained Elder in full connection in the Virginia Annual Conference, and is beginning his 30th year of ordained ministry.


In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife, Vicky, their boys, Ryan and Evan, and a Boston Terrier named Murphy. Scott and Vicky enjoy going to the beach, standup paddle boarding, bike riding, skateboarding, and playing sports with their boys.


Scott has a passion for preaching and leading traditional and modern worship, helping connect people to Jesus Christ by relating the Gospel to today’s living, and for growing the church’s presence in the community.

Teresa Woodworth, Associate Pastor

Originally from northern California, Teresa has a background in American Sign Language and Education with a degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from California State University Fresno. Married to a retired Marine Corps officer, Teresa has traveled and lived in a variety of places, including Okinawa, Japan.


After settling in Chesapeake VA and her husband’s retirement, Teresa began pursuing her call to ministry. She has worked as Director of Children’s Ministry at Ebenezer UMC in Suffolk since September 2019.


Teresa has a passion for justice, connectionalism, missions and creation care. She is enthusiastic about ancient spiritual practices and faith formation for all ages believing in John Wesley’s small group model for making disciples. Some other interests include hiking, family road trips, Star Trek, game nights, Duke basketball, and running half marathons. 


Teresa is married to Zach, and they have three children: Maggie, in college at Mary Washington University, Caleb, 2022 graduate of Grassfield High School, and Lucy a student at Great Bridge Middle School. Six years ago, they rescued Merlin, a 70-pound lap dog, and adopted him into the family.


She graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2020 with a Master of Arts in Christian Practice and became a Certified Candidate for ministry and was approved for licensed ministry in 2021. Teresa will return to Duke this Fall in a Hybrid program pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree. Teresa is excited to be joining the Community UMC family and looks forward to an amazing and fruitful ministry together.

Jannette Clavez, Associate Pastor of Congregational Care

Jannette was appointed to Community in July of 2022 but has been a part of the Community family since 2013. She is a proud native of Maine, NY (yes, such a place does exist), where she was nurtured and encouraged to follow her passion for Jesus Christ. She is a graduate of Hartt School of Music, where she was also an athlete for the University of Hartford. Jannette has a Master of Divinity and a Master of Religious Education from Wesley School of Theology.


One of her interests is the study of Biblical characters. By learning of these folks, one can gain an incredible Biblical understanding without even realizing it. Jannette once thought her calling was going to be in outdoor ministry and administrating camps. Over time, however, she learned that God had other plans for her and had gifted her with the ability to offer comfort and hope. It is, and has been, her great privilege to be with folks in the midst of deep darkness and great joy.


Jannette is married to David, who is the pastor at Miles Memorial UMC. They have two wonderful, talented adult daughters, and a marvelous pup named Poppy.


It has been said, “If you cannot find Jannette, wait a few moments, and follow the sound of laughter.”

A BRIEF HISTORY

​1952-1970s

Community United Methodist Church was organized September 7, 1952, with 87 charter members meeting at the Kempsville Community House. The Rev. Douglas Newman, pastor of Oak Grove Methodist, was the founding pastor.  In Oct. 1952, the congregation moved into Kempsville High School. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was on October 10, 1954. A parsonage was built next to the Church. There were 333 members. By 1955, with a membership over 400, the first addition (office and scout room) was built.  A second addition was built during the pastorate of Rev. Roach (1955 - 1960) and we had our first acolytes and the Men's Fellowship began. Our third pastor, Rev. Moseley (1960 - 1962) saw to it that the property located on Alton Road was purchased. Community Methodist went to two Sunday morning worship services during the pastorate of Rev. Kibler when our membership rose to 1,148. After having four different Pastors serve Community during the eighteen months from January 1967 to June 1968, the Rev. Abe Moyer was appointed. We built our current parsonage. Rev. Rose came to our church in 1974 and his strong guidance brought stability back to Community. We paid our debt off in full and restarted the United Methodist Men.


1980s-2000s

The present sanctuary was completed in 1984 under the pastorate of Rev. Logan, and we went back to two Sunday morning worship services. In 1989, during the pastorate of Rev. Morgan, the two-story educational wing was built and membership reached 1,600 in 1981. Community continued to see growth throughout the 1990s. The early 2000s brought many new changes and challenges for Community. In 2001, we launched a contemporary worship service on Sunday mornings. During the same period, it became necessary to expand our facilities once again and the new office wing and social hall were dedicated in 2002. 


2020s and Onward

​The Christian story is one of resurrection and new life, and we have experienced God at work in so many ways among us. It is a new day  at Community and worship attendance and number of persons engaging in ministry are growing. Even during the pandemic, our ministries in the community and fellowship in small groups have remained as active as ever. We have returned to two worship services on Sunday mornings - a 9:00 AM traditional service and an 11:15 AM modern service. Both services are livestreamed  and can be viewed on our website or on social media. Our current pastors, Rev. Scott Rimer, Rev. Teresa Woodworth, and Rev. Jannette Clavez are leading us forward and onward! We are excited about the things God is doing among us and we welcome you to be a part of it too!​

QUESTIONS I MIGHT HAVE

Where are worship services held?

All worship services are in the sanctuary, which is handicap accessible.


Do I have to be a member to participate in worship?

Our services are open to everyone. All of God's children are welcome to participate in our ministries and programs, receive the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and become members of the congregation.


Where should I park?

Community has multiple parking areas. We have designated parking for guests, handicapped and the elderly along the side of the sanctuary on Alton Road. There are parking lots on Burlington Road and Old Kempsville Road, as well as the in the field along Old Kempsville Road.


What should I wear?

Come as you are. There’s no dress code at Community. You will see people in their Sunday best and those in more casual clothing. Wear what makes you comfortable.


What if I haven’t been to church in a long time or never before?

Don’t let that keep you away. There was a first Sunday for all of us. Join in on the parts of the service you feel comfortable with, or just sit, watch and listen if you prefer.


What if I still have more questions?

Feel free to contact us at cumc@cumcvb.org.

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

United Methodist hold to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. We are evangelical but moderate in our positions rather than fundamentalists. Methodists place a strong emphasis upon personal faith that is lived in this world. We are willing to ask questions and to wrestle with the many issues that face our world today. We place a strong emphasis upon the doctrine of grace and see God as a loving, compassionate God who seeks to bless his people and make all things new.

For more information on the United Methodist Church, click on this link: www.umc.org. If you would like to discuss the beliefs of the United Methodist Church with Pastor Scott or Pastor Teresa, or if you are interested in becoming a member, call (757) 495-1021 or e-mail cumc@cumcvb.org.