JCUpd@te - June 2011

June 2011

Johnson City District

News Update

Greetings!

Here is a quick update on what's going on in the Johnson City District.

Moving trucks leave the Limestone UMC Parsonage Tuesday, transporting the belongings of Rev. Brandon Berg and his family to their new home in Virginia.
Photo by Karoline Berg
Moving Day Has Arrived

This week parsonage families across Holston Conference are putting the last boxes on moving trucks and heading out for new appointments. On Sunday, June 26, these pastors will step into the pulpit and see a new sea of faces before them. Here are the pastoral transitions for the Johnson City District.

Leaving our District:

Brandon Berg (Washington County Parish)
Chuck Griffin (Fairview)
Jim Goddard (Gray)
Will Lauderback (Bethesda-Eden)
Michelle McKinnon-Young (Cherokee UMC)
Jeff Moncier (Sulphur Springs)
Dan Theiben (Enterprise-St. Paul )

Coming to our District:

Andrew Amodei (Cherokee)
Ray Amos, Sr. (Elizabethton First)
Janet Batts (Limestone Cove)
Caleb Frazier (McCarty)
Lloyd Jones (Gray)
Jake Herron (Bethesda-Eden)
Steven Spell (Asbury-Limestone)
Christi Boaz Taylor (Fairview)

Moving within the District:

Lauri Jo Cranford (Elizabethton First to Sulphur Springs)
Rex Hill (Limestone Cove to Enterprise-St. Paul)

Complete List of Holston Conference Appointments

Czech Missions News

With summer comes a flurry of activity related to our In Mission Together Partnership with the Czech Republic. We have nine teams traveling to the Czech Republic in June and July to lead Sports Camps, English Camps, Vacation Bible School and to do construction. In addition, Michelle McKinnon-Young and Gary Young will depart June 28 for Prague where they will launch a new English-Speaking United Methodist Church, a joint project of the Johnson City and Czech Districts.

Please Pray for This Summer's Teams:

June 17 - 27 ~ Vacation Bible School ~ Plzen ~ Leaders: Rev. Carolyn Gass and Mark Laughlin ~ Members: Candace Babb, Rev. David Gass, Lorraine Hensley, Abby Hoss, Martha Reynolds
July 8-17 ~ Vacation Bible School ~ Brno ~ Leader: Deban Yeomans ~ Members: Betty Barton, Rev. Michelle McKinnon-Young, Gary Young.
July 8 - 18 ~ Sports Camp/English Camp ~ Kladno ~ Leader: Bob Cantler ~ Members: Quentin Cantler, Richard Cox, Jeanne Justice, Lee Miller, Matthew Moyer
July 9-18 ~ Construction Project ~ Horni Počernice Christian Help Center (Prague) ~ Leader: David Shipley ~ Members: Eric Barnes, Erin Barnes, Matthew Cox, Ann Shipley, Lucas Wiggins
July 14-25 ~ English Camp/VBS ~ Sedlčany ~ Leader: Charles Mattson ~ Members: Matthew Bishop, Amy Estep, Robert Estep, Brandon Hill, Lisa Rogers
July 15-23 ~ Sports Camp ~ Litoměřice ~ Leader: John Bolton ~ Members: Johnny Bolton, Joy Gardner, Savannah Gardner, Scott Galpin, Katie Galpin, Craig Roberts, Jim Thigpen, Owen Thigpen, Chris Walley
July 22 - August 1 ~ Sports Camp/English Camp ~ Protivín ~ Leaders: Steve & Jennifer Skaggs ~ Members: Cameron Bawgus, Amanda Franklin, Josh Franklin, Rachel Hodge, Adam Stewart
July 22 - August 1 ~ Sports Camp/English Camp ~ Vimperk ~ Leader: Sam Barnett ~ Members: Joanna Barnett, Dale Greer, Jordan Greer, Brett Kingrea, Rev. Todd Kingrea, Brittany Ollis
July 30-August 6 ~ Youth/Young Adult Bicycle Trip ~ near Tachov ~ Leader: Karla Wood ~ Members: Justin Little, Adam McElroy, Emily Wood

Items Needed:

You can help the Sports Camp Teams by donating softballs, gloves and bats for them to take to the Czech Republic. Deliver new and gently used donations to the District Office or contact a team leader by email:

Bob Cantler, John Bolton, Jennifer Skaggs, Sam Barnett.

If you used the PandaMania VBS theme this year and have leftover supplies that you would like to donate, please contact Betty Barton by July 1. Especially needed are easily packed/transported decorating supplies, crafts, music cds, DVDs, and take home items.

If you are using the Shake It Up VBS theme, please save any leftover supplies for next year's VBS teams. Please contact Betty Barton for more info.

Men of Praise Concert

The Men of Praise Concert and Silent Auction on Saturday, June 11 was a great success. A special offering and the sale of the group's CDs and original watercolor paintings by Carolyn Gass raised $1,300 for mission team scholarships. We extend a special thank you to the Men of Praise, Sandra Ford, Jack Nelson, Carolyn Gass, Wesley Memorial UMC, Nelson Fine Art Center, and all the volunteers who made this night possible.

The newest Men of Praise CD is now available at the District Office for $12. The group is donating $1 from the sale of each CD to Czech Missions. Come by to pick up your copy today!

For More Info About Czech Missions:

English Speaking UMC-Prague Website

Czech Partnership Facebook Page

Czech Missions Page on District Website

Mission Opportunity

Dalton Luster, a member of Wesley Memorial UMC, is serving as an intern this summer with Project Crossroads in Marion, Virginia. Project Crossroads is an outreach ministry of the Holston Conference. Based in Marion, VA, Project Crossroads serves seven surrounding counties providing habitation improvements for disadvantaged families. Intern salaries are provided solely through sponsorships. If you would like to be a sponsor for Dalton, contact the District Office for more information.

Huge Hands-On Response

Volunteers load a truck with Hands-On Mission Kits bound for Zimbabwe.

Photo by Betty Barton

The churches of the Johnson City District once again responded generously to this year's Hands-On Mission Project, assembling and donating 1,351 school kits for the Ishe Anesu project in Zimbabwe. This is the greatest amount ever, over four times our conference-set goal of 300! In addition to the kits, $6,755 was donated for shipping costs. With an estimated cost of $20 per kit, the total funds donated for this project were $33,775! Thank you for your overwhelming generosity.

Hey, Dad! Can I Borrow the Keys to the (Church) Van?

A Message from Jason Onks, Director of Buffalo Mountain Camp

Both of our camper transport vehicles are broken down and we are working on getting them repaired. However, we are in need of a couple 15 passenger vans to get us through the next couple of weeks. At least one would need to have a trailer hitch. All local rental places have all their vans rented out. If any of our district churches have vans in good working order and with seat-belts that they can lend to the camp it would be a big help. If a church is not comfortable "loaning" out their van, I can create a lease agreement for a defined amount of time and transfer all liability to our insurance company. I can be contacted by email or in the camp office at 423-753-6678. Thank you very much.

Mark Your Calendar for Camp Meeting

The 192^nd Sulphur Springs Camp

Rev. Charles Maynard will be preacher for this year's Camp Meeting.

Meeting is scheduled for August 7-10. This year's preacher is Rev. Charles Maynard, Maryville District Superintendent. New this year is "Camp Meeting for Kids" on Sunday night - a special time of food, fun, Bible stories, music and more for children ages 5-9.

For More Information:

Download Camp Meeting Brochure

Download Camp Meeting for Kids Brochure

Upcoming Events

The Strawberry Jam

Saturday, June 25

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Barbecue pork dinners, homemade strawberry desserts and strawberry jam, along with live music.

Fairview UMC