CHALLENGER NEWS BRIEFS Kingsport District UMC March 2013

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1 CHALLENGER NEWS BRIEFS Kingsport District UMC March 2013 Resident Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor David W. Graves, District Superintendent, Susan S. Smith, Administrative Assistant, Laurie Neville, Financial Secretary, for District information ============================================================================================================= MESSAGE FROM DAVID A WILDERNESS MOMENT April 4-6, 2013 People no longer join congregations because they want relationships or because they want to belong. People now come to congregations because they want a purposeful relationship with others who are seeking a purpose and meaning in response to the questions that they feel in their lives. Gil Rendle Friends, we are called to the making of vital congregations and even more importantly being concerned with the making of disciples and lives being transformed and saved. This coming April 4-6, Gil Rendle comes to share with us in our most important training of Moreover, Gil will provide each of us with new insights and tools as we fulfill the Great Commission and our Kingsport District Strategy. We are asking that each pastor send at least 5 lay leaders in each church to attend the two sessions, Thursday evening, April 4, & Saturday morning, April 6. Please see the schedule at the top of the right hand column. I ask that this be a priority for our district especially in light of our decline in professions of faith in 2012 after a two year increase and 30 churches who did not have one profession of faith in We are setting aside these 3 days to listen and be led by the movement of the Holy Spirit in leading God s people from the wilderness of the desert. In Christ, David A WILDERNESS MOMENT WITH GIL RENDLE SCHEDULE Thursday, April 4 7:00 9:00 p.m. ALL Clergy & Laity Welcome Friday, April 5 9:00 a.m. Noon All Kingsport Clergy Saturday, April 6 8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Devotion 9:00 11:00 a.m. Open session for Clergy & Laity THIRD ANNUAL DISTRICT PRAYER SERVICE LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY Sunday, April 14 4:00 p.m. Crossroads UMC IMAGINE NO MALARIA How is your church doing toward raising $10 per member by Annual Conference in June? ================================== ANNUAL CONFERENCE June 9-12, 2013 Lake Junaluska, NC Housing information has been sent. Special housing requests deadline is March 1. Room reservations begin March 12 at 8 a.m. On-line Registration for annual conference begins March 12. 1

2 ROOTS & SHOOTS SPRING EVENT Reaping What You Sow! Thursday, March a.m. Colonial Heights UMC Cost: $11 (Deadline is March 6.) Special Guest Speaker Bishop Richard Looney Mission Guests Manna Kitchen, Rev. Jerry Jones Seeds of Bounty, Koni Purscell Church & Community Worker, Big Stone Gap Remember to bring packs of seeds to donate or share. If bringing your own personal seeds please place them in a paper envelope with instructions. Remember: Jubilation: April at Meadowview ================================== HAPPENINGS IN THE DISTRICT BLOOMINGDALE HOLY WEEK SERVICES (All Services at 7:00 p.m.) Sunday, March 24, Vermont, Grover Starnes Monday, March 25, Kingsley, Jared Wood Tuesday, March 26, Arcadia, Joe Barber Wednesday, March 27, Salem, David Poore Thursday, March 28, Holly Springs, Will Shewey Friday, March 29, Vermont, Service of Tenebrae Mission Celebration UMC March Theme: The Least of These Keynote Speakers: Dr. Charles Kyker & Rev. Harry Howe (see p. 7 of this newsletter) Go to for the brochure with all the speaker information & the schedule of events. UMC is sponsoring the following for Singles. Call to make reservations. Beginning time is 6:30. Movie Night, March 4 Dinner & Piano Concert, March 11 Pot luck Dinner & Claude Kelly, March 18 Dinner with Spurgeon McCartt, March 25 MORE HAPPENINGS IN THE DISTRICT Holly Springs will be doing it's 3rd Spring Break Vacation Bible School this April 1-5. We would like to thank all the churches who have helped in the past. We are again in need. We need 3 more helpers. They would assist in the regular VBS activities. Also we have had financial assistance from our sister churches in the past. That would also be greatly appreciated. Last year we served 30 kids daily. They were fed, loved on and taught about Jesus. We had 7 baptisms last year, 5 of those had not been to church prior to this VBS. We would also like to share what we do with other churches in the hope that this activity could be started at other churches in the future. Contact Pastor Grover Starnes at volfan1gs@hotmail.com for more information. Pactolus UMC will have an Easter egg hunt and family movie night on Good Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. Salem UMC will host the annual Bloomingdale Community "Walk With tbe Cross" on Good Friday, March 29. Everyone is invited to meet at Holly Springs church at 11a.m. Vans will be available for those unable to participate in the walk. Children, bicycles and horses are invited as well. The walk will be monitored by local constables to insure safety. The walk will end at Salem church for a brief prayer service at noon. Soup and sandwiches will be served at 12:30 at Salem Vermont UMC Easter Cantata, March 24, 10:45 a.m. Several church choirs from the area will present Behold the Cross of Christ Where Love & Mercy Meet. Kids Easter Celebration, March 30, 1-3 p.m. in fellowship hall for the Easter story, tour of church, arts/crafts, face painting, snacks, & Easter Egg hunt. Easter Sunrise Service, March 31, 6:30 a.m., Oak Hill Cemetery Wheeler Umc is sponsoring the ETSU Bluegrass Banquet - Saturday - March 23-6pm - Tickets are $20 per person. Dinner with entertainment in the Family Life Center. The entertainment will be provided by the ETSU Bluegrass Band. Call the church office to reserve a ticket

3 JOB OPPORTUNITIES Blountville UMC has an opening for a part-time children & youth program coordinator. Send resume, questions or ask for application at blountvilleunited@btes.tv or Our Administrative Assistant, Susan Gamble, will be retiring May 31. Therefore, Cassidy United Methodist Church is seeking an Administrative Assistant for full-time position. Applicant must be gifted with self-motivation; multi-tasking; excellent administrative skills, proficient in IT (MS Office and MS Publisher) and office management, and be familiar with ACS (Automated Church Systems) software. Salary based on experience and education. Send resume to Cassidy United Methodist Church, 5801 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN 37664, Attention: Staff-Parish Relations Committee, or to susan@cassidyumc.org. UMC has an opening for a fulltime Director of Music. The position requires vocal, piano and pipe organ skills as well as a choral conducting background with the ability to direct the choir from the piano. Leadership of a contemporary Christian music program is also included. Experience in worship planning, administrative skills and knowledge of the Methodist Church are desirable. A complete job description is available upon request. Compensation consistent with experience and skills. Please send resume to UMC, 4405 Orebank Rd., Kingsport or robert@mtviewumc.org. Wheeler UMC is currently seeking a part time coordinator of youth ministries (approximately 10 hours per week). Experience working with youth required. Must be 21 years of age. Responsibilities include leading, organizing, and guiding the youth ministry at Wheeler as well as collaborating with the pastor and leadership of the church. Expected to be at church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening and for additional planned activities. Send resume with cover letter to Wheeler UMC, 211 Sanders Street, Blountville, TN Attn: SPPR Committee. Applications due Wednesday, February 20. ===================================== ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING March 10 HANDS-ON MISSION KITS HOW & WHEN TO DROP-OFF Drop-Off at Crossroads UMC No kits will be accepted before or after these days/times. Tuesday, June 4: 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 5: 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Place all items in a 2.5 gallon Hefty bag. Check EACH bag for correct items. If bag has a problem with the contents, place a note on the bag explaining the problem. BACKPACKS (for those who ordered the $4 backpacks) Backpacks will be at Crossroads. You will not have to stuff the backpack. We will need to make sure that the number of kits equals the number of backpacks that the church purchased. MONEY DO NOT put money in bags! Place ONE check from the church (church or personal) in an envelope. Write check to Kingsport District. Mark envelope with church name, number of kits & check amount. Give to hands-on treasurer at Crossroads. If you need the list, contact the district office. For more information contact Eloise Ellis ( ) or Lonnie Broughton ( ), our District Mission Coordinators. ===================================== YOUTH 1.) Special Needs and Ministry & Working with Small Youth Groups Workshops at St. Luke UMC on Sunday, March 3rd from 2-4 PM. Pastors invited as well! Please RSVP. 2.) We are planning a Spring2Action youth revival. If anyone would like to perform or participate in worship, please let us know by Friday, March 1st. We really would like as many youth to participate as possible! 3.) Keep posted for the following: upcoming CCYM elections, Youth Workers meeting, and mission trip details for Summer 2013! For questions & to RSVP: Josh Russell, District Youth Coordinator coloneljkrussell@gmail.com

4 NEW LOCAL, CERTIFIED & RECERTIFIED LAY SERVANTS (SPEAKERS) In 2012, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church approved legislation to change the name of Lay Speaking Ministries to Lay Servant Ministries. For several quadrennia, various name changes had been proposed none of which adequately described the role of this leadership development program. The term servant was chosen because it best describes what Jesus told his disciples in John 13 after he himself had performed the duties of the lowliest servant. We should be honored to serve as our Lord and Savior did. We are called to live out our discipleship as servants in leadership! There is no change in the process of becoming a local church or certified lay servant from the lay speaker process. There was, however, a role of lay speaker added to the program that includes specific preparation and accountability processes. Lay Speaker: Meets the requirements as listed for certified lay servant. In addition, this person must complete the required courses after the Basic Course: Discovering Spiritual Gifts, Planning Worship, Leading Prayer, Preaching, Living Our United Methodist Beliefs, and United Methodist Polity. (Taken from GBOD website.) Our most recent Lay Servant Training was held on February 8 & 9 at UMC. The following 15 have successfully completed the Basic course and are now a Local Lay Servant in their local church. Vicki Britton David Crawford Sally Burns Ben Ellis Emily Ellis Becky Ferrell Greg Harvey Hugh Grills George Henry Carl Matherly, Jr. Lou Juan Mignogna Cissie Norris Dana Outlaw Gail Preslar Scott Russell Fall Branch Ketron Memorial Ketron Memorial Arcadia outside district, Alley s UMC Okolona Elm Tree Parish Mt. Carmel Salem St. Mark The following 32 are Certified Lay Servants who have completed the Basic course and have taken at least one Advanced Course. They are now qualified to work in leadership beyond their local church. Those who are being called to speak from the pulpit beyond their local church will have the opportunity to take courses in preaching, etc.as a lay servant speaker. Linda Archer Russ Brogden Lonnie Broughton Judy Dean Eloise Ellis Phillip Ellis Margaret Elsea A Lita Feagins Bud Foster Linda Gilland Sonny Grills Arved Harding Emily Harding Kristi Hensley Fred Howe Bettye Johnson Linda Johnson Jim Kelly Ruth Ketron Nell Lee Doug Lester Melissa Malcolm Judi McConnell Alice McKee Mary McMillan Mary Ruth Richards Carolyn Rogers Ken Peterson Joyce Snapp Lynn Sorrell Liesl Wright Marie Willis Salem Hermon Morrison Chapel Mount Carmel Mount Carmel Cross St. Luke Clouds Bend St. Luke Wheeler Wheeler Arcadia Ross Campground Vermont Cassidy Vermont Community Ketron Memorial Vermont Clouds Bend Okolona Mafair 4

5 DS SCHEDULE - MARCH 1 Get Real Worship Colonial Heights UMC 4 Rethink Team 6:30 p.m. 5 Finance Team 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8 Get Real Worship Colonial Heights UMC Appointment making week 16 Mission Conference 17 UMW Lenten Day 2:30 p.m. Crossroads UMC 18 Morning/Evening Pastor s Meeting 22 Conference Board of Trustees in Alcoa 29 Get Real Worship Colonial Heights UMC 31 Preach Sunrise Service at Ebbing & Flowing Springs UMC ===================================== EARLY RESPONSE TRAINING Be the hands and feet of Jesus! Are you looking for a way to answer the call to serve that God places on each of us? Why not live out the parable of the Good Samaritan by responding to the needs of survivors of disasters. One way to do that is to be a member of the Holston Conference Early Response Team (ERT). Completion of an ERT Basic Training Class is a requirement for anyone wanting to be certified to participate in Holston Conference ERT responses to disasters. The following classes are now scheduled: 16 March 2013 First UMC, 501 Church St, Sweetwater, TN April 2013 Trinity UMC, 110 Main St, Wise, VA Each class is scheduled for 9 am 5 pm. $25 will be required for a Background Investigation. Registration closes Wednesday 13 March for the Sweetwater class, and Wednesday 3 April for the Wise class. Please register with Ralph Brock, HC ERT at edwinb2756@bellsouth.net. ========================================= The Call Digest This Feb. 25 edition includes the story of an Abingdon District church's response after an 82-year-old member disappeared; discipleship training in the Chattanooga and Cleveland Districts; and Holston s 100 percent payment of 2012 apportionments. For more information about Digest or for previous editions, visit It is also routinely posted on the home page at Holston.org. WHAT IS THE KINGSPORT DISTRICT UM FELLOWSHIP? The Kingsport District United Methodist Fellowship meets monthly with a different Church for a covered dish meal and inspirational or informative program. The Fellowship shares ministry ideas and spreads the word about different special events that Churches are offering. In addition, the Fellowship raises money through offerings and donations to provide scholarship funds for students preparing for full-time Christian ministry vocations at any college, university, or seminary, or for students at one of our UM related colleges in the Holston Conference regardless of their intended career. These colleges are Emory & Henry, Tennessee Wesleyan, or Hiwassee Colleges. The meetings are typically held on the 4th Monday night of each month and usually start at 6:00 p.m. and run until after 8:00. People from any of our 57 churches are invited to attend each month. Here is the schedule of meetings: March 25, Kingsley UMC. The program will be the Holy Week Revival that meets that night at Kingsley with Rev. Jared Wood speaking. April 29, Depew's Chapel UMC (this is the 5th Monday night because the Jubilation meetings cover the 4th Monday.) May 31, Friday night, at Salem UMC. The program will be Rev. John Ousley who will share his expertise playing harmonicas as well as an update on his work as the director of the Wesley Foundation at ETSU. June 24, Ross Campground UMC July 22, Mount Carmel UMC August 26, Pactolus UMC September 23, First UMC, Church Hill October 28, Cloud's Bend UMC November 25, Community UMC No meeting in December. If you have questions please contact John B. Powers at (423) or cell (423)

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7 Missions Celebration UMC March Keynote Speakers Dr. Charles Kyker: Christ UMC, Hickory, NC Charles is currently the Lead Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church with five campuses in and around Hickory, NC. Through his leadership, Christ Church has grown from 140 in worship attendance to now averaging 2,500. Charles was ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference in 1987 and later as an Elder, in Charles is married to the former Julie Melissa White of Cleveland, TN. They have been married 23 wonderful years and have four children: Mary Grace (23), Ashley Beth (22), Molly Ann (20), and Joseph (18). Rev. Harry Howe, Project Crossroads, Southwest VA Harry returns to us from Project Crossroads, a Holston Conference project, which addresses the housing needs of the low income and elderly in Southwest Virginia. As a Church and Community Worker assigned to Project Crossroads by the General Board, Harry has been director since the project began in not only supports Harry through our covenant commitment, but also has sent a number of teams to work on homes. Our middle school youth continue to serve in mission through Project Crossroads. Harry is married to Denise, and they have two children, Will and Amanda. We welcome Harry back to provide us with an update of his ministry. Calendar of Events Friday, March 15 4:00 p.m. Displays Open 5:00 p.m. Orientation in Chapel (speakers, host, and Mission Committee) 5:30 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall (no cost) Opening remarks with Rev. Mickey Rainwater, Senior Pastor, FBSUMC 6:30 p.m. Congregational singing & special music Introductions and Program - Danny Howe, Director of Missions, FBSUMC Children s time with Missionary (Children dismissed to room 233.) 8:30 p.m. Benediction (Parents, please pick up children from room 233.) Saturday, March 16 8:30 a.m. Devotions in Fellowship Hall 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Children with missionaries (Rm 233) 9:00-9:40 a.m. Workshops 9:45 a.m.-10:25 p.m. Workshops 10:30-11:10 a.m. Workshops 11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Workshops 12:15 p.m. Lunch (cost) **Sounds of Joy Choir singing; Lunch Speaker, Taavet Taimla, Estonia Break until Dinner 6:00 p.m Dinner in Fellowship Hall (cost) **Art & Soul Children singing Dr. Charles Kyker, Dinner Speaker -- Fellowship Hall 7:00 p.m. Special Music/Children will have time in Room 233 with Jason Onks and Trish Patterson from Buffalo Mountain Camp Sunday, March 17 8:30 a.m. Worship, Traditional (Dr. Charles Kyker)/Contemporary (Rev. Harry Howe) 9:40 a.m. Various Speakers in Sunday School Classes and Traditional in Chapel (Rev. Harry Howe) 10:45 a.m. Worship Traditional (Rev. Harry Howe)/Contemporary (Dr. Charles Kyker) 12:00 noon Lunch in Fellowship Hall (cost) ** * Reservations are required for all meals and must be made by Monday, March 11. ** $6.00 per person; $3 children 5-11; children younger than 5 free; $18 maximum per family. Call for reservations. Nursery will be provided for children 4 years and younger in Room 136 for all events. Please indicate the date(s) and time(s) you need child care, as well as the number of children with their ages when you call Katie Blalock at for nursery reservations. Deadline for nursery reservations is March 11. 7