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HOLSTON CONFERENCE UMC
CONVOCATON
February 22-25
Music Road Resort - Pigeon Forge, TN
HOLSTON CLERGY GATHERING
Tuesday, Feb. 23 1:00 p.m.
"The Gathering" 1264 Middle Creek Rd, Sevierville TN
For more information please visit the Holston Conference Website
or email Sue Weber.
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Evangelism Conference
April 8-9, 2016
Cokesbury UMC
Knoxville, TN
Download brochure - includes mail-in registration form. Online registration coming soon!
Jubilation
April 17-19, 2016
MainStay Suites
Pigeon Forge, TN
Download brochure - includes mail-in registration form. Online registration coming soon!
Annual Conference news:
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NOURISH KNOXVILLE'S 2016
Winter Farmers' Market
Feb. 20th, March 5th, March 19th,
April 2nd and April 16th
Central UMC
201 East 3rd Ave, Knoxville
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Winter Farmers' Market, held in the Historic 4th and Gill neighborhood, will host farm & food vendors selling pasture-raised meats, eggs, winter produce, honey, baked goods, artisan foods, and more. Outside, food trucks will be serving up lunch from locally sourced ingredients.
New this year: Children's Activities with the Knox County Health Department and Yoga with Glowing Body!
Children's Activities: Children and their parents are invited to participate in a variety of children's activities during each of our 8 markets. Activities will vary from vegetable tastings and story time to a wide range of craft projects! Please remember, all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Yoga: The Glowing Body's Meryl Kerns will be hosting a yoga class, Happy Saturday Feel Good Flow, at each of our 8 markets. The class will run from 10:30 am - 11:30 am and cost $10.00 (cash only). If you forget cash, no worries. You can utilize our market money (ATM) system. Note: while some yoga mats will be available, it is encouraged that you bring your own.
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employment opportunities
Worship Leader - Faith United Methodist Church is accepting resumes/letters of application for the part-time position of worship leader. This position requires Wednesday evening rehearsals, one service on Sunday morning and a few special services throughout the year. Please contact Dr. Mark Dowell for further information. 865/688-1000 info@faithseekers.org
Part-Time Youth Leader position: Faith United Methodist Church
We have an opening for a Godly energetic person that will inspire and lead our youth as they walk in faith. The leader will coordinate and plan Sunday morning and evening youth worship activities. The leader will also coordinate youth fundraisers for the yearly youth Resurrection rally in Gatlinburg. The leader will also oversee community missions for the youth and other various youth activities. Candidates should possess high levels of organization and planning skills. Please send response with resume and references to info@faithseekers.org. If you have any questions please Contact Nicole Stahl at the Church office 865-688-1000.
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Holston Conference
43rd Annual Ministers' Spouses Retreat
 S.S. HOLSTON The Chattanooga and Cleveland Districts are preparing for your arrival at our Holston Conference 43rd Annual Ministers' Spouses Retreat.
For those who have never attended or are not sure of what to expect from this event, let me assure you that this designated time apart is worth every moment spent as we greet old friends and meet new ones, share fellowship in songs, laughter, some fresh baked goodies, our banquet meal , get time to shop and experience prayerful camaraderie.
Our theme is "Sail Away" and we'd love to have you join us as we set sail on the S.S. Holston, March 3-5, 2016 at The Oak Tree Lodge in Sevierville, TN.
Our devotional message will be given by Rev. Amy Nutt, Cokesbury/White Oak Campus, Chattanooga, TN.
Flyers/Brochures with registration information and complete schedules will be available from your district office in December.
Scholarships are available for First-Time Attendees - one per District. Registration deadline is February 12, 2016.
If you need additional information contact me via e-mail lisabchattdistrict@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
Lisa E. Black, President
Holston Conference Ministers' Spouses
Teresa Sprinkle-Vice President
Tami Bennington-Treasurer
Millie Crum-Secretary/
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Wesley Woods Golf Tourney
Date: Monday, April 25, 2016.
Location: Egwani Farms (near Alcoa)
There will be both a morning and afternoon session. Please make any golfers you know aware of this date and ask people in your church to do so as well. Sponsorships at various levels are also sought. Contact Mollianne Hubbs in the Wesley Woods office for more information at (865) 448-2246.
Wesley House Golf Tourney
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2016 at
Time: Lunch at noon; tee off at 2:00
Location: Egwani Farms
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MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer at Wesley House. Call 865-524-5494 to find out how you or your group can serve the children and staff there. Individuals and groups can make a big difference!
Camp Wesley Woods - work teams and capital funds are always welcomed here.
Covenant with Logo Village of South Sudan
MAGNOLIA AVE. UMC Every Monday Magnolia Ave. UMC hosts and provides a hot lunch for many people in the East Knoxville/Magnolia Ave. area. They also assist with providing some basic necessities, specifically toiletry items. (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotions, etc...)If you would like to donate items for this ministry please contact Rev. Van. Sanks
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Jeanette Reynolds Scholarship
This scholarship is available to any student pursuing the ordained ministry in Holston Conference. If you know of a candidate (or even an undergraduate interested in ministry) please forward the application to him/her. APPLICATION
Application Guidelines and General Information
- The Jeanette Reynolds Scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $1,000-3,000 annually to at least one student, or will be divided between two or more students. Checks will be issued directly to educational institutions.
- Anyone who is (or was) affiliated with one of the United Methodist Churches in the Holston Conference will be eligible for the scholarship. Preference will be given to students affiliated with First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- Scholarships will be awarded only to students who are accepted for study in a college, university, or seminary, and who have the career goal of ministry in a United Methodist Church (i.e., undergraduates considering seminary, youth ministry, music ministry.
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Deadline for application is May 16, 2016. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Feel free to contact First UMC to see if all parts of your application have been received.
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Notification of award will be sent no later than June 30th.
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LINKS of INTEREST
Bridge Refugee Services
http://www.bridgerefugees.org/
Camp Wesley Woods
http://www.campwesleywoods.com/
Compassion Coalition
http://compassioncoalition.org/
Emerald Youth Foundation
http://www.emeraldyouth.org/
Holston Foundation
http://foundation.holston.org
Wesley House
http://www.wesleyhouse.com/
Wesley Foundation
http://utkwesleyfoundation.org/
Family Promise of Knoxville
http://familypromiseknoxville.org/
Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach (KICKO)
http://kicko.org/
Holston Methodist FCU
http://www.hmfcu.org/
Lake Junaluska
www.lakejunaluska.com
Volunteer Ministry Center
www.vmcinc.org
Knox Area Rescue Ministries
www.karm.org
Holston Conference United Methodist Women
www.holstonumw.org
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UMW Knoxville District TIME APART
Saturday, Feb. 27th Bookwalter UMC
The Knoxville District UMW represent 30 churches in the district. We will come together during Lent bearg GIFTS for three local agencies: Partners for Children (blue collar daycare), Susannah's House (treatment center for addicted mothers), and Wesley House (after school care for inner city children). We come together for a time of RENEWAL. We will join together in singin, prayer (prayer stations), worship, communion an focusing on God's Words through our Speaker, Rev. Teresa McClure. We will meditate on the music we hear from Sarah Clapp Gilpin and Justin Haynes. We register at 9:30am and begin worship at 10 and finish in late morning. Our theme is "Fewed My Lambs". Following our service we will leave taking our light into the world around us...
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ATTENTION RETIREES:
Please disregard any information you may have received from BC/BS referring to "Physician Now" program.
Blue Cross included our retirees enrolled in the Medicare Supplement in the mailing by mistake.
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HANDS ON MISSION KITS 2016
BACKPACKS FOR ZIMBABWE
Knoxville District will again be collecting backpacks for Zimbabwe for our Annual Conference Hands on Project.
The following items are to be packed in 1 large backpack.
- 3 pks. notebook paper (wide-ruled, loose leaf, approx. 100 to 150 pages per pack)
- 1 compass/protractor set
- 1 solar powered, small calculator
- 1 (12in) Ruler
- 1 Pack of erasers (either pencil cap or wedge/stick)
- 1 (10 pack) of black or blue pens
- 1 (10 pack) of pencils
- 1 small dictionary
- 1 box of crayons (Crayola -24 count preferred)
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Give Us Wisdom and Courage
One of my favorite hymns of the Church contains the line by Harry Emerson Fosdick "Grant us wisdom, grant us courage....." I imagine that prayer has been offered up by God's people in many times and places. Certainly, it fits for our time as we seek to represent our Lord in our world.
There are two requests. The first is for wisdom. We seek God's will. What needs to change (in my life, in our congregation, in the community, city and beyond)? What must never change (in those same places)? Where are the injustices that continue to happen to people every day and how do we participate in perpetuating them? How do we become better at fulfilling the mission that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us? How do we more intentionally allow the Holy Spirit who is God to live through us into the lives of other people, including our enemies? There is so much for which we seek wisdom.
The other request is for courage. Too often, we already have the wisdom. We have prayed. We have studied the Scriptures. We have listened to the teaching of Jesus, as well as the prophets, Paul and others. We know what needs to change and what does not. We simply lack the courage to do what we know needs to be done.
However, if we truly pray with a desire to receive both wisdom and courage, God will most surely give them both to us. During this season of Lent and beyond, I invite you to pray that simple prayer every day:
GIVE US WISDOM,
GIVE US COURAGE.
Love, Grace & Peace,
Nathan
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Lent and Easter outreach and worship resources now available
United Methodist congregations have numerous resources available to encourage engagement and participation throughout the Lenten and Easter seasons.
Give up, take up, lift up and look up with the 2016 Imagine No Malaria Lenten resources, featuring downloadable materials, including undated and themed sermon starters, videos, children's messages and a sacrificial giving calendar for Lent worship. Imagine No Malaria, an initiative of The United Methodist Church, is committed to ending malaria deaths.
The seven weeks of materials, which extend through Easter Sunday, feature a series of Lent-focused themes, including "Give Up Indifference," "Give Up Excess," "Take Up The Charge," Take Up The Challenge," "Lift Up the Hurting," "Lift Up the Healed," and "Look Up to Overcome." Additional materials include prayers, hymn suggestions, altar decoration ideas and videos to share in small groups or with the congregation.
The Rethink Church ministry has new Easter resources that focus on themes of searching for meaning and new beginnings. Each outreach and worship tool is available in four different designs, allowing churches to select the visual message that will best connect to their community.
- Direct mail postcards that can be targeted to a specific geographic area
- Door hangers and invitation cards - receive 100 of each free, now through March 1 (Please allow two weeks for printing.)
- Free social media graphics and worship materials such as bulletin covers and imagery
The national advertising effort will begin on March 7, with the message, "If changing how we think about Easter truly made it a time of new beginnings, that could change everything." The campaign builds awareness of The United Methodist Church, but it also seeks to support local churches as they reach out with a message of faith and hope. Customized video advertisements are available through March 1.
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About Imagine No Malaria
Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary ministry of the people of The United Methodist Church, putting faith into action to end preventable deaths from malaria in Africa, especially the death of a child or a mother. With a comprehensive approach to fighting this killer disease, Imagine No Malaria empowers the people of Africa to improve health infrastructure and achieve a sustainable victory over malaria.
About Rethink Church
RETHINK CHURCH is a ministry of United Methodist Communications that encourages congregations to take action outside the church walls by engaging in opportunities that meet critical needs - from literacy programs to feeding the poor, both locally and across the world. At rethinkchurch.org, visitors may interact, learn more about the church, and search for involvement opportunities.
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Knoxville District Lay Servant Training April 1 and 2, St. Mark UMC, 7001 Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN Registration deadline: March 22
Cleveland District Lay Servant Training on April 15 and 16th at Keith Memorial UMC, Registration Fee $30; registration deadline: April 1
Abingdon District Lay Servant Training on April 29 and 30. Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon Five Courses will be offered! REGISTER: Before March 15th, 2016
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
Our church is at its best when we reach out to sisters and brothers in need. Our generous gifts through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering support the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief around the world. UMCOR provides immediate assistance in the wake of disasters and participates in ongoing ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. On March 6, our congregations will receive this special offering, which ensures that when a crisis happens, 100 percent of giving for that disaster goes to those in need.
Download the One Great Hour of Sharing Pastors' Kit
Read about how your giving changes lives in the U.S. and around the world.
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Join us on Saturday, April 9, 2016 for our 9th Annual Tablescapes event at First Farragut United Methodist Church. Proceeds go to support our summer program. Guests look forward to this annual event where they can fellowship with friends, have a delicious lunch, bid on a myriad of fantastic items in the silent auction, and learn more about Wesley House. Most importantly, Tablescapes is a way to put your creativity on display by decorating a table in a theme of your choice. Only 9 tables left to sponsor!
You may be a Table Sponsor for $125 which includes one (1) ticket or $335 which includes includes eight (8) tickets. If you would like to just be a guest, individual tickets are $30.
If you are interested in being a table decorator, reserve your table today by contacting Ryan Parker before all tables are gone!
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COUPLES IN MINISTRY For more information and registration please click here You are invited to set aside some quality time to spend with your marriage partner by attending one of the two retreats that are being offered for couples in ministry in Holston Conference during the month of April. By participating, you can invest in your marriage relationship in an enjoyable and comfortable setting with other couple friends. You will also be affirming your marriage and your marriage partner, as well as giving your spouse a generous gift of your time and attention. This marriage enrichment experience is for couples who have good marriages they want to make better. Marriage enrichment is a process of growth, not therapy. This program provides a safe, supportive community in which marital growth can take place.
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GLOBAL UNITED METHODIST
CLERGYWOMEN GATHERING
August 29-31, 2016
ONE: Birthing a Worldwide Church
Hilton-Americas Hotel and Conference Center, Houston TX
Registration NOW OPEN
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Information from UMCOM related to General Conference will be available at umc.org/gc2016. Related articles and videos are already posted and will continue to be added as information is available (click on view all to see a complete listing). This address will be a helpful one to share and keep for answering questions or finding factual information about General Conference actions.
For General Conference and for updates of news related to The United Methodist Church, please subscribe to United Methodist News Service (UMNS) Daily Digest and/or UMNS Weekly Digest. It is also possible to follow UMNS on Facebook and Twitter. All of this is available free of charge and is requested through umcom.org on their news page (click on UMC news on the left-hand column).
Other Resources
Interpreter Magazine is now available in print, digital and e-newsletter formats. It has expanded its target audience to all active United Methodists and will continue to provide resources and study guides on issues of interest to congregational members. Each church is provided 5 free print subscriptions and unlimited digital subscriptions which expire each December. It is possible to subscribe through the umcom.org site.
In addition, there is a Master Subscription Form at umcom.org which gives an option to sign up for various electronic newsletters. The most popular is MyCom which provides practical tips on church communications, outreach, new technology, giving and worship. Other options are UMNS Weekly, Training, Seasonal Daily Devotions, UMNS Daily, Church and Technology, Giving Notes, eHispanic UMC, and Imagine No Malaria.
Imagine No Malaria
Currently, Imagine No Malaria has surpassed 90% of the $75 million goal. The campaign ends in 2016. During the time that The United Methodist Church has been helping to address this issue of global health, deaths from malaria have been cut in half. Resources for local churches who might want to help complete the final $7.5 million of the goal can be found at umcom.org/imagine-no-malaria/.
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DELEGATION FOR
GENERAL CONFERENCE &
JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE
Please keep the following people in your prayers as they prepare for General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
Laity
General Conference Delegates: Del Holley, Emily Ballard, Becky Hall, John Tate, Robert Lockaby, Karen Wright
Jurisdictional: Joyce Moore, John Eldridge, Charlotte McKee, Carolyn Kidd, Ann Travis, Sam England
Alternates: John Powers, Justin Haynes
Clergy
General Conference Delegates: David Graves, Kim Goddard, Sandra Johnson, Carol Wilson, Wil Cantrell, Randy Frye
Jurisdictional: Mark Flynn, Paul Seay, Dennie Humphreys, Eddie Fox, Jerry Russell, Lori Jo Cranford
Alternates: Kristen Burkhart, Catherine Nance
Persons desiring to write to members of the delegation should address their email to:
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