Bethany UMC
Bethany United Methodist Church (UMC) has been a cornerstone of Reedville, Virginia going back to the 1800s. The current sanctuary was dedicated in 1901.
While we are certainly proud of our beautiful sanctuary, buildings and rich history, we face the future with great expectations for new opportunities to serve our Lord by serving our neighbors.
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To learn more…
Our Mission and Core Values
drive the future of Bethany UMC.
Mission
Lead all to experience the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ; demonstrate and teach discipleship; nurture and serve our community… all to worship and glorify God.
Core Values
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Genuine hospitality
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Inclusive community church
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Spiritual growth/discipleship/ Bible study
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Mission & Service
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Nurture & care for one another
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Vibrant worship led by the Holy Spirit
Meet Our Pastor
Barbara Hays
BIOGRAPHY: Barbara grew up in India where her parents were medical/musical missionaries for 30 years. She attended a mission boarding school from the 4th - 12th grade, graduating in 1969. Her college degrees are in Music and Special Education. She recently retired after 30+ years of teaching music. Her husband, Rev. Brant Hays, has also retired after 30 years as a United Methodist pastor in the Virginia Conference. They have a home in Heathsville.
MINISTRY BACKGROUND: Barbara served as the District Youth Coordinator for many years on the Farmville and Staunton Districts (as they used to be called). During these years she organized many retreats, mission camps, worship services and participated in conference youth events. Recently she attended a Mission Rivers District training event where she was challenged to pursue a Certified Lay Servant course of study. She completed them in May 2025. Due to the Virginia conference having a shortage of pastors, she was appointed by the District Superintendent to be the Lay Supply Pastor at Bethany UMC, while a search for a full time pastor continues. Her role is to be a point of contact with the conference, coordinate speakers, readers, preach, and provide pastoral care.
Meet Our Staff
Carina Bly
Choir Director & Organist
Born 08.08.1979 in Princeton, West Virginia, Carina’s parents moved to Stuttgart, Germany before her first birthday.
Carina started piano lessons with her maternal grandmother, Jutta Tzitschke, who was also a church organist, at the age of 6 and started organ lessons with Ulrich Stierle as soon as she was tall enough to reach the pedals at the age 12. She was a member of the Stuttgart Youth Symphony Wind Orchestra, conducted by her father Dr. Leon Bly, playing the string bass from 1995-2000. 1998 and 1999 she played on the Stuttgart Musical Hall stage as the “up-and-coming talent”. She was the accompanist for instrumental and vocal student’s state exams from 1996-2000. She was the part-time church organist at St. Ulrich, Catholic Church, from 1995 until 2000 when she moved to Heathsville, Virginia where she lived with her paternal grandfather, Musin Bly, who was the Band Director at Northumberland High School from 1961-1968. Shortly after her move she started teaching piano at the then Kilmarnock Center for the Arts. She started playing for St. Mary’ s Episcopal Church in Fleeton in the fall of 2000 and for Bethany UMC in January of 2001. Since 2023 she is a Communications Officer at the Lancaster County Sheriff‘s Office.
Susan Holland
Church Secretary
