PRAYERS
Rev. David Williams
September 21, 1941 - August 3, 2026
Rev. David Williams, former pastor at Shallow United Church of Christ, Fayetteville N.C. died August 3rd in Wilmington NC. His celebration of life will be August 8th at 1:00 pm at Shallow UCC where Rev. Michael Carter is the pastor and will officiate. Read more / obituary
Rev. Mary Ann Biggs
Retired Servant ~ Senior Pastor
Oakland Christian United Church of Christ
It is with sadness, yet with the hope we share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we received word that the Reverend Mary Anne Biggs entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia.
Rev. Biggs was a beloved colleague, pastor, and friend within the Eastern Virginia Association. She faithfully served as Senior Pastor of Oakland Christian United Church of Christ in Suffolk from 2018 to 2021, sharing her gifts of ministry with that congregation and the wider Church. She also served as President of the EVA Clergy Fellowship, offering leadership, encouragement, and fellowship among her clergy colleagues.
We give thanks to God for Mary Anne’s life, for her ministry, and for the many lives touched by her faithful service to Christ and the Church. We especially hold her family, friends, former parishioners, and clergy colleagues in our prayers during these days of grief and remembrance.
Services celebrating Mary Anne’s life and commending her into the loving care of God will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 4491 Springfield Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Mass at 10:30 a.m. A Reception will follow the Mass.
Eastern Virginia Association clergy who wish to participate are asked to wear black robes with white stoles and to gather at the church by 9:45 a.m. (We do not anticipate that a separate robing area will be available, so clergy are encouraged to plan accordingly.)
Because the service will be a Roman Catholic Mass, we also want to honor the sacramental discipline and practice of our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers. Those who are not Roman Catholic are respectfully asked to refrain from receiving Holy Communion. All are, of course, welcome to join fully in the prayers and worship of the gathered community.
May Christ, who is our resurrection and our life, surround Mary Anne’s family and all who mourn with comfort and peace. And may we give thanks for a servant of Christ whose ministry among us has now been brought to completion.
“Let Us Pray”
by Rev. Edward S. Davis (D.Min.)
Prayer is not merely a ritualistic obligation; it is a profound expression of one's faith and trust in the divine. It provides a space for reflection, allowing individuals to contemplate their actions, seek forgiveness, and aspire to live according to their spiritual principles. The act of praying signifies a relationship with, and a recognition of one's dependence on a higher power, fostering a sense of humility and gratitude.
Moreover, prayer can be a source of comfort, particularly in times of distress or uncertainty. It offers believers a means to find strength and guidance, reinforcing their faith and resilience.