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Sensitive Easter Bunny
Saturday, March 21 9:00 am - noon Gray UMC More info
Senior Adult Gathering
Thursday, March 26 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sulphur Springs UMC More info
Czech Team OrientationTuesday, March 24 6:00 pm Cherokee UMC Czech Team OrientationSunday, March 29 3:00 pm Cherokee UMC Good Friday - District Office Closed
Friday, April 3
Aging Happens!Thursday, April 9 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Munsey Memorial UMC More Info
Extravagant GenerositySaturday, April 11 10:30 am to 3:00 pm Concord UMC, Knoxville or Sunday, April 12 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon, VA ESUMC Bike Ride
Saturday, April 18 8:00 am - 10:00 am First UMC, Johnson City to Watauga Point UMC, Elizabethton Learn more
Thomas Amis House Dedication
Saturday, April 18 11:00 am Thomas Amis House 677 Burem Road Rogersville, TN More infoDiscovering Authentic Worship
April 23-24 Kodak UMC, Kodak, TN or April 24-25 Mafair UMC, Kingsport
Wonderfully Made Spirit DaySaturday, May 2 Times TBA Chick-fil-A 2103 W Market St Johnson City
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Greetings!
After sending out JCUpd@tes yesterday I realized that I had forgotten a very important part of the email, the column written by our District Superintendent Walter Weikel. Here is the corrected version of the update, including Walter's column. My sincere apologies for this omission. Betty
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A Word From Walter
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Dear Johnson City District,
As I sit in my office during this Lenten season, I realize that none of us is in the same place emotionally, spiritually, theologically or physically. Some of you are dealing with issues that I'm sure would blow my mind. Some of you are literally in the middle of life and death issues. My world at this moment is wrapped up in trying to discern how we will staff the churches of the Johnson City District this coming year. That is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep.
In fact, there have been times when I have almost forgotten the significance of this season because of my focus on my own little world. Lent reminds us Jesus endured a season of testing out in the wilderness. His attention was then focused on heading to Jerusalem and his appointment with the cross. My struggles seem trivial when compared to what Jesus was facing.
I am grateful that part of my daily practice is to look at the Upper Room Devotional Guide. It is so helpful for me to read the prayers and practices of my sisters and brothers around the world. When I feel that I am the center of the universe and realize how little I am in control, it can cause me to panic and feel that there is no hope.
During my early childhood, my grandfather's brother was the editor of the Upper Room. His name was J. Manning Potts. During his tenure we were in the midst of the Cold War as well as the Vietnam War. American society seemed to be coming apart at the seams. The world was restless. And yet...people were studying Jesus' journey toward Calvary even then. People were considering how they might deny themselves, take up Jesus' cross and follow him. Christians back then were striving to somehow identify with the suffering and sacrifices made on our behalf.
If your life is lacking significance because of the pace you are trying to maintain, have you given any thought to stepping back and making Jesus the focal point of this month? Have you considered putting away things that distract you? Have you attempted to take on any practices that might draw you closer to Him?
My own experience has been that Lent can be the most spiritually significant season of the year. It has been most significant when I've taken the steps I need to make Christ the center of it all.
God bless,
Walter
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We are looking forward to an exciting new year of Czech Mission opportunities. Here are some of the highlights:
Czech Mission Teams
We plan to send at least eight teams to the Czech Republic this year to work alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. The dates listed below are approximate and based on availability of flights.
June 19 - 29, Plzeň VBS/English Camp
July 3-13, Vimperk Sports/English Camp
July 3-13, Protivín Sports/English Camp
July 3-13, Brno VBS/English Camp
July 10-20, Slaný English/Basketball/Music/Art Camp
July 17-27, Litoměřice Sports Camp
July (dates pending), ESUMC Prague English Camp
August 14-24, ESUMC Prague Construction
There is an additional opportunity for a team to travel to Protivín to do some painting and light construction.
Approximate cost per team member is $2,000 to $2,300 depending on airfare. Many of the above teams still need members. If you or someone you know is interested, contact Betty Yeomans-Barton or Sam Barnett to be matched with a team.
Czech Team Orientation
Once again this year we will be scheduling two opportunities for persons interested in being part of Czech Missions to receive the information they need to travel with a team. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 pm and Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 pm and plan to attend. Both meetings will be held at Cherokee UMC.
Czech Mission Sundays
Within the next few weeks we will be scheduling opportunities in April and May for each church in the district to host a Czech Mission team member for a Czech Mission Sunday. These Sundays serve a dual purpose, to share with your congregation the strides we are making in sharing the gospel of Christ in one of the most atheistic countries in the world, and to raise funding to make this work possible.
Stay tuned for information on when a team member will be visiting your church!
ESUMC Bike Ride
We are also planning a Bike Ride on the Tweetsie Trail
to promote and raise funds for the English Speaking UMC in Prague on Saturday, April 18. This ride will begin at 8:00 am at First UMC, Johnson City. We will ride together to the trailhead of the Tweetsie Trail and then along the trail to Watauga Point UMC in Elizabethton. This is a route of 5.5 miles. Riders of all ages are encouraged to participate, and to seek financial sponsors for their ride.
Download a flyer
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Annual Conference News
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Registration
All clergy and lay members to Annual Conference must register online by Wednesday, May 20, 2015. If you do not have internet access, please visit or call the District Office and we will assist you in registration. If AC members need to make changes or corrections to an existing registration, they may contact Karen Wright by email or at 866-690-4080.
Book of Reports
April 1 is the deadline to order a PRINTED Book of Reports (Cost: $10). To order, visit the online registration link. The Book of Reports will be available to download at no charge by May 7.
Hands-On Mission Project
The Johnson City District has been asked to donate school supplies for Liberia as our 2015 Annual Conference Hands-On Mission Project. Click here for complete details on this year's project.
Annual Conference Mission Offering
Over the last several years, Holston churches have raised millions of dollars to help those in need around the world. This year, we are bringing our focus home. This year's annual conference mission offering will go to missions within the bounds of the Holston Conference. Each member is asked to give at least $10 and donate 10 hours of service to local missions. Learn more here.
Pocket Prayer Shawls
The Holston Conference Board of Laity invites all of our churches to participate in providing Pocket Prayer Shawls for each clergy and lay member of the 2015 Annual Conference. Learn how you can help!
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Wonderfully Made
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About Wonderfully Made
Wonderfully Made is a new ministry of the Johnson City District with the mission of raising awareness for the importance of Special Needs ministries in our local churches and to raise funds to provide grants to churches wanting to start a Special Needs ministry. Learn more at www.wonderfullymadegrant.org.
Sensitive Easter Bunny
There will be a Sensitive Easter Bunny event on Saturday, March 21, 9:00 am to 12 noon at Gray UMC. While geared for children with special needs, this event is open to any child who would benefit from meeting the Easter Bunny in a calm, non-threatening environment rather than a busy mall or retail store. Download the flyer to learn more
Wonderfully Made In the News
The Call published a story about our Wonderfully Made Sensitive Santa event held in December. Read the article to learn more about this ministry and what the event meant to those involved.
Spirit Day
We are planning another Wonderfully Made Spirit Day at Chick-fil-A on Saturday, May 2. Stay tuned for more details!
T-Shirts
We still have Wonderfully Made t-shirts available for donations to Wonderfully Made of $15 or more. These shirts have been tie-dyed by children with special needs or their family members or friends. Contact the District Office to reserve your size and color.
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New Appalachian Trail Chaplain
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Introducing Bert Emmerson, aka "WILDCAT"
For the third consecutive year, Holston Conference will have a spiritual presence on the Appalachian Trail. Here is a short introduction from the Appalachian Trail Chaplain Facebook page:
"Wildcat is an experienced backpacker, having hiked 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico in 2007; 2,664 miles on the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico to Canada in 2005; and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2004.Raised as a Kansas farm boy, Wildcat is a graduate of Kansas State University and served in the Navy Reserves from 1966-72." The Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy is a Holston Conference ministry that seeks to bring comfort and support to hikers along the Appalachian Trail by joining them there and hiking with them all 2,189 miles. To support the ministry of the AT Chaplaincy, make your check payable to Holston Conference and mail to: A.T.O.M., PO Box 203, Bastian, VA 24314.
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Extravagant Generosity
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A three-hour workshop that can change your congregation's practice of giving toward a culture of generosity.
There are two opportunities to attend this event, led by Bishop Robert Schnase, Resident Bishop of the Missouri Conference:
Saturday, April 11 ~ 10:30 am to 3:00 pm Concord UMC in Knoxville or Sunday, April 12 ~ 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm Pleasant View UMC in Abingdon Cost is $10. Pre-registration deadline is April 1
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Discovering Authentic Worship
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A Model for Worship Planning
One event in two locations, led by Barbara Day Miller, Dean of Worship at the Candler School of Theology.
April 23-24 at Kodak UMC, Kodak, TN
or April 24-25 at Mafair UMC, Kingsport, TN Rev. Miller will present the POWR (plan, organize, worship and reflect) process that she outlines in her book, Encounters with the Holy: A Conversational Model for Worship Planning. The POWR model lends itself to any size congregation with any size budget. This event is designed for pastors, worship leaders, lay leaders, choir directors, evangelism committees, witness committees, altar guilds, worship teams, Christian educators, musicians, ushers, greeters, and anyone else involved in weekly worship and/or worship planning. Cost is $40 which includes snacks and a boxed lunch.
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