JCUpd@te - December 2011

December 2011

Johnson City District

News Update

Greetings!

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

Happy Holidays
From Your District Staff

District Superintendent Randy Frye, Office Administrator Betty Barton, Administrative Assistant Amber Marshall and Director of Hospitality John Wesley want to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The District Office will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2 for the holidays. If you have an emergency during this time that needs the attention of the District Superintendent, please call him on his cell phone.

ESUMC Prague

On Tuesday, December 6, a team of six laity and clergy from the Johnson City District traveled to Prague to assist with renovations to the property of the new English Speaking United Methodist Church.

The team spent one week working alongside ESUMC leaders Rev. Michelle McKinnon-Young and Gary Young on several projects to improve the church property and prepare for renovations. Joining the district team were Czech pastors and members of the core group of members that have begun meeting for weekly Bible Study.

Projects included the removal of tile from the walls of the kitchen using jack hammers, removing grout and cleaning up brick on the walls of a tunnel that will connect the church buildings, painting the church office, and refinishing furniture to be used in the church office and pastor's flat. The team also cleared out storage areas, and moved furniture into the pastor's flat.

While in Prague, the team was blessed to attend a Wednesday night Bible Study led by Rev. Michelle McKinnon-Young, and a Sunday afternoon worship service - one of four "preview" services being held throughout Advent. Dr. Randy Frye, Johnson City District Superintendent, was guest preacher for this Sunday service.

ESUMC Prague and the Johnson City District would like to thank the churches of the Johnson City District who donated $3,400 to the ministry during this fall's charge conferences. We would also like to honor our partner churches: Cherokee UMC (Johnson City); Fairview UMC (Maryville, TN); First Broad Street UMC (Kingsport. TN); First UMC (Johnson City); First UMC (Marion, VA); First UMC (Pulaski, VA); Mountain View UMC (Kingsport); Munsey Memorial UMC (Johnson City): Ooltewah UMC (Ooltewah, TN); Wesley Memorial UMC (Johnson City).

Learn more about ESUMC Prague
See photos from the Mission Trip on Facebook

S/PPR Training

District Superintendent Randy Frye will lead a training for all Chairs and Members of Staff/Pastor Parish Relation Committees on Sunday, January 15, 2012. The training session will begin at 2:30 pm and will be held at Wesley Memorial UMC in Johnson City. All members who will be serving on committees in 2012 are encouraged to attend this training.

Meet and Greet Holston's Candidate for Bishop

In September 2011, the Holston Conference Delegation for General and Jurisdictional Conference endorsed the Rev. David Graves, Kingsport District Superintendent as our candidate for Bishop. On Sunday, January 8, Graves will hold the first of several "Meet and Greet" events from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Colonial Heights UMC in Kingsport.

For more information on how one becomes a United Methodist Bishop, read this letter from Rev. Graves.

2012 Hands-On Mission Project

After several years of putting together school kits for the conference sponsored Hands-On Mission Project, the Johnson City District has a new project in 2012 - Food Buckets. Filled with some basic kitchen staples, these 5 gallon buckets will be shipped to orphanages in Liberia.

The completed buckets will be collected at the District Office June 4-7, 2012.

Download the Packing List

Young Adult Mission Program

For 60 years, Global Ministries has been sending young people into service. Through the US-2 and mission intern programs, we have enriched the lives of thousands of young men and women, and through their witness touched uncountable youth, adults, and communities. The US-2 and mission intern programs develop church leaders, as young people work in communities that face issues such as poverty, racism, or environmental justice.

US-2s serve two years living out faith through social justice in the United States. They live, work, and make a positive impact working with a United Methodist partner organization, boldly reexamining their role and participation in society to address systemic injustice. Mission interns integrate the global and local by serving for three years, approximately half of the time in an international community and half in their home country. They respond to the prophetic voice of communities and individuals working for systemic change around the world, walking the path of justice, mercy, and love.

The deadline for the 2012 class of mission interns and US-2s is February 5. Please share the application with those in your networks and communities between the ages of 20 and 30 throughout our global connection, who are committed to addressing the root causes of injustice. The application is available here.

Mission interns and US-2s are encouraged to engage in disciplined theological reflection and are equipped to discern God's calling for their lives. Thank you for partnering with us in shaping ethical, prophetic Christian leaders who are engaged firsthand in God's mission in a world of injustice and need.

Did you forget to order your 2012 Calendar, 2011 Journal, or 2011-2012 Handbook/Directory?

Click here to order on-line for quickest delivery or call the Conference Office at (865) 690-4080. Supplies are limited.

Please note: The 2011 Journal has not yet been printed. Ordered copies will be delivered as soon as possible after printing.

America's Sunday Supper

America's Sunday Supper (January 15) offers a means to make the world better ... through a shared meal, meaningful conversation and community service. It's a great way to get youth groups, small groups and the broader congregation to reflect on what it means to live the faith and take risks for mission and service.

By signing up to host a supper, participating churches will receive marketing support to share an invitation with their communities and a video to share at the event. Videos come with discussion guides to stimulate conversation about education, food security, children of prison inmates and more.

United Methodist Communications has teamed with HandsOn Network and Points of Light Institute to offer America's Sunday Supper as a Rethink Church Event - providing a model to honor both Human Relations Day and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. Through this partnership, local churches participate in a nationwide event, which last year recorded more than 4,000 projects and over 240,000 volunteers.

Learn more

Marriage Ministries

The eighth annual Marriage Enrichment Retreat for couples in professional ministry in Holston Conference will be held at Buffalo Mountain Retreat Center on April 13-15, 2012, the weekend after Easter. The retreat is designed to provide quality time for clergy couples during a weekend away from work and family responsibilities. All cost for housing, meals, and leadership are covered by the Holston Conference. Information about the retreat and a registration form are included in a brochure that is available from Pete and Ginny Rowlett (865-966-9776 or bee.rowlett@gmail.com), and from district offices.

Also, a Leadership Training Workshop will be held at the Buffalo Mountain Retreat Center on July 9-13, 2012. Open to both laity and clergy, this event prepares couples to lead marriage education and enrichment programs that empower couples to build stronger marriages. Contact the Rowletts for more information.

Upcoming Events

District Office Closed Friday, December 23 through
Monday, January 2

Meet and Greet with Episcopal Nominee David Graves

Sunday, January 8
3:00 to 5:00 pm
Colonial Heights UMC, Kingsport

Payments toward 2011 District and Conference Apportionments Due

Monday, January 9

District Clergy Meeting

Tuesday, January 9

10:00 am and 6:30 pm

Cherokee UMC

Year-End Reports Due

Monday, January 9 through

Friday, January 13