Tazewell District Newsletter

Transcription

1 Tazewell District Newsletter The United Methodist Church June/July 2013 Mary Virginia Taylor Resident Bishop J. David Tabor District Superintendent Jamie N. Boone Administrative Assistant Telephone Toll Free This month we have many things to celebrate as a district and conference! I want to begin with our hands on mission project. We were challenged by our conference to collect two hundred sewing kits. Instead of two hundred, we collected five hundred and forty eight kits. What an amazing people you are in your compassion and love for our brothers and sisters in Africa! If that were the only part of the mission kits, it would still be a glorious celebration. However, you answered the call to give five extra dollars per kit to Imagine NO Malaria. Knowing that every ten dollars saves a life you gave well beyond the amount that our churches were asked to give. It was amazing to watch you give and give and give knowing that your gifts helped clothe the people in Africa and helped save the lives of the people of Africa and around the world. Working alongside us are the people who work at Lilies of the Field (North Tazewell Thrift Store). They gave $2,655 in matching funds to Imagine NO Malaria. What a wonderful gift of life they gave to the people of Africa! After all this giving we arrived at Holston Annual Conference and a mission offering was taken on Sunday night. On Tuesday evening we had an evening of celebration for all the gifts given for Imagine NO Malaria. The Holy Spirit was with us filling Stewart Auditorium with great expectation about the number of lives saved by our gifts. When the announcement was made, and we found out that over 113,000 lives had been saved, a great celebration began. As I watched the offering being taken I saw many of you give yet again toward Imagine NO Malaria. I felt the love you have for God s people in Africa and around the world. I pray that God will bless you for your giving to celebrate the importance of lives in our community, in our nation, and in our world. Grace and Peace David ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` Welcome New Pastors Jason A. Crandall (Leann) Belfast/Midway Circuit Leann Crandall (Jason) Pisgah/Pleasant Hill Circuit Betzy Elifrits Warren (Brock) Richlands First UMC Lynn Garrison-Mullins Eggleston Circuit Linda Hale (Michael) Little Walker Circuit Creighton Smith Looney s/grundy Circuit Jason Stubblefield (Magan) Narrows First UMC Congratulations to Rev. Linda Hale and Rev. Daniel Ingram on receiving their Local Pastor s License at Annual Conference. Also congratulations to Rev. Aaron Atchley on becoming commissioned as a Provisional Elder. We extend our best wishes to our two retirees, Rev. Paul McNalley and Rev. Larry Ramey.

2 More than $1.13 Million Raised for Imagine No Malaria Church leaders representing 899 congregations roared in celebration June 11 on receiving the news that a $1 million goal for Imagine No Malaria had not only been met, but exceeded. Holston Conference raised more than $1.13 million to save an estimated 113,525 lives from malaria after a year-long campaign inspiring members to run and bicycle hundreds of miles; shave their heads and skydive; sell pizza and lemonade; and jump into an icy lake. A few weeks before Annual Conference, the fundraising team submitted a resolution to extend the campaign six months to allow more time to reach the goal. The resolution was approved by the Annual Conference earlier on June 11. However, in an evening worship service celebrating Imagine No Malaria and the denomination s quest to eradicate the disease, Holston members rejoiced when the total collected was announced by the Rev. Andy Ferguson, campaign chair. The worship service also included testimony from the Rev. Fred Dearing and Libby Dearing, now serving in Yei, South Sudan, and preaching by the Rev. Charles Maynard, the Maryville District superintendent who walked 100 miles among his 64 churches to raise awareness. The 2013 session of clergy and lay members from east Tennessee, southwest Virginia and north Georgia was the first for Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor as Holston s resident bishop. Under the theme Imagine, Taylor preached on Ephesians 3:20 during opening worship: God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (The Message) OTHER NEWS: About 225 participants joined in an early-morning BuzzKill 5K Run/ 1-Mile Walk to raise money for Imagine No Malaria. Winners of the 5K: Rev. Will Cantrell (male) and Rev. Nancy Twigg (female). Supplies valued at $286,410 were blessed and dispatched to Ishe Anesu Project in Zimbabwe and United Methodist schools in Liberia. Local churches began collecting food, health, school, and sewing supplies for the annual Hands-on Mission Project weeks before Annual Conference. An offering of $61,922 was collected for Change for Children, half designated for children s ministry grants within Holston Conference. The other half is earmarked for children in Africa, specifically Imagine No Malaria. The Missions Ministry Team reported that Holston will be receiving its fourth Church and Community Worker, Brooke Atchley, to serve throughout Tazewell District. The Missions Ministry Team and Libby Dearing reported that the Grace Home for Children is under construction and will open this fall for 24 residents in Yei, South Sudan. The orphanage was realized with a $300,000 Christmas 2012 offering from Christ United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Congregational Development Team reported that three new churches were funded in South Sudan and a partnership has been formed with Cokesbury United Methodist Church of Knoxville, Tenn., to begin recovery ministries throughout the conference. Holston Conference Foundation reported that Cokesbury United Methodist Church had established the G. Steven Sallee Evangelism Endowment in memory of their senior pastor, who died May 2. The Annual Conference adopted a 2014 budget of $10.2 million, an increase of $265,000 over the 2013 budget. John Goolsbey of the General Council on Finance and Administration congratulated and thanked Holston Conference for paying 100 percent of its general church apportionment. The Annual Conference celebrated Lake Junaluska Assembly s 100-year anniversary with presentations by Executive Director Jack Ewing. The 100-year anniversary of campus ministry was marked with worship and Holy Communion led by participants from Holston s three related colleges (Emory & Henry, Hiwassee, Tennessee Wesleyan) and five Wesley Foundations (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, East Tennessee State University, University of Virginia College at Wise, Radford University). The Francis Asbury Award was presented to the Rev. William McDonald, chair of the department of religion and philosophy at Tennessee Wesleyan College. The Denman Evangelism Award was presented to the Rev. David Graves (clergy), Anne Travis (laity), and Emily Ballard (youth). Three teaching sessions on appreciative inquiry and Vital Congregations were led by Alice Williams, lay leader of the East Central District of the Florida Conference, with the Rev. Jennifer Stiles Williams, executive pastor at St. Luke s United Methodist Church in Orlando, Fla. The Annual Conference voted to adopt the four proposed constitutional amendments from the 2012 General Conference. The Annual Conference voted to adopt a resolution requiring local churches to conduct annual accessibilities audits by A resolution for the closing of four churches was approved: Riceville (Cleveland District), Mt. Zion (Kingsport District), Westview (Knoxville District), and Trinity (Wytheville District). A resolution for the abandonment of seven churches was approved: Smith s Chapel (Abingdon District), Mt. Vernon (Morristown District), Cove (Tazewell District), and Russell s Chapel, Andover, Dunbar, and Imboden (all of Big Stone Gap District). Two events were announced: the Abolishing Poverty Conference on July 27, 2013, with Bishop Ken Carder speaking, and the Evangelism Conference on March 14-15, 2014, with the Rev. Jorge Acevedo speaking. Both events will be held at Cokesbury UMC in Knoxville, Tenn. The Annual Conference recognized 35 clergy retirees and memorialized 43 deceased clergy and clergy spouses. Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor ordained 9 elders and commissioned 11 elders and 3 deacons. Thirteen local pastors were licensed. Membership stands at 165,976, up 394 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 68,595, down 222 from the previous year. Article by Annette Spence, Holston Conference, The Call Editor

3 Annual Conference Mission Kit Summary Church Number of Kits Cost of Kit Shipping Imagine No Malaria Alexander Memorial UMC 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Bailey UMC 5 $75.00 $25.00 $50.00 Bear Springs UMC 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Belfast UMC 7 $ $35.00 $70.00 Bethany UMC Ceres 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Bethel UMC Bluefield 3 $45.00 $15.00 $55.00 Big Stoney UMC Bland UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Boyd's Chapel UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Brown's Chapel UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Burkes Garden UMC 1 $15.00 $5.00 $10.00 Byrnes Chapel UMC 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Cedar Bluff UMC Cedar Bluff 10 $ $ $ Central UMC Bland 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Christ First UMC Clearview UMC 9 $ $45.00 $90.00 Coleman's Chapel UMC 17 $ $85.00 Concord UMC Tazewell 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Dailey's Chapel UMC 9 $ $45.00 $90.00 Davis UMC 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Dennison UMC 9 $ $45.00 $90.00 Eaton s Chapel UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $ Ebenezer UMC Bluefield 17 $ $85.00 $ Edgewood UMC Pearisburg 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Eggleston UMC 7 $ $35.00 $70.00 Elk Garden UMC 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Ezelle UMC 1 $15.00 $5.00 $10.00 Falls Mills UMC 10 $ $50.00 $ First UMC Bluefield 40 $ $ $ First UMC Honaker 5 $75.00 $25.00 $50.00 First UMC Narrows 8 $ $40.00 $80.00 First UMC Pearisburg 15 $ $75.00 $ First UMC Rich Creek 26 $ $ $ First UMC Richlands 19 $ $95.00 $ Garden UMC 6 $90.00 $30.00 $60.00 Goodman's Chapel UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Goshen UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Green Valley UMC Bastian closed Green Valley UMC Eggleston 10 $ $50.00 $ Grundy UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Hales Chapel UMC Narrows 4 $60.00 $20.00 $ Ingram Village UMC 6 $90.00 $ $60.00 Kathleen Memorial UMC 8 $ $40.00 $80.00 Keen Mountain UMC 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Looney's Chapel UMC 8 $ $40.00 $80.00 Macedonia UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $ Main Street UMC (2 provided cloth) 5 $45.00 $25.00 $50.00

4 Midway UMC 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Midway UMC Cedar Bluff 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Millirons UMC Mountain View UMC Eggleston 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Mt Hermon UMC Tazewell 10 $ $50.00 $ Mt Olivet UMC Tazewell 13 $ $65.00 $ Mt Pleasant UMC Cedar Bluff 4 $60.00 $20.00 $ Mt Zion UMC Bland 11 $ $55.00 $ Mt Zion UMC North Tazewell 9 $ $45.00 $ New Hope Union UMC 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 North Tazewell UMC 8 $ $40.00 $80.00 Pine Grove UMC Bastian 3 $45.00 $15.00 $30.00 Pisgah UMC 10 $ $50.00 $ Pleasant Hill UMC Pearisburg 6 $90.00 $30.00 $ Pleasant Hill UMC Tazewell 12 $ $60.00 $ Pocahontas UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Providence UMC Pearisburg 3 $45.00 $15.00 $45.00 Red Oak UMC 6 $90.00 $30.00 $60.00 Riverside UMC 5 $75.00 $25.00 $50.00 Rocky Gap UMC 30 $ $ $ Round Bottom UMC 1 $15.00 $5.00 $10.00 Salem UMC Bland 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Shady Grove UMC Bland 10 $ $50.00 $ Shady Grove UMC Pearisburg 9 $ $45.00 $ Sheffey Memorial UMC 2 $30.00 $10.00 $95.00 Shiloh UMC Bland 6 $90.00 $30.00 $60.00 Steelesburg UMC 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Strader UMC Thessalia UMC 5 $75.00 $25.00 $ Tip Top UMC 10 $ $50.00 $ Trinity UMC Bland 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 Virginia Avenue UMC Bluefield 14 $ $70.00 $ Wesendonck UMC 8 $ $40.00 $80.00 Wesley's Chapel UMC Eggleston 5 $75.00 $25.00 $50.00 Wilbur Memorial UMC 5 $75.00 $25.00 $50.00 Wrights Valley UMC 4 $60.00 $20.00 $40.00 Zion UMC Ceres 2 $30.00 $10.00 $20.00 TOTALS 548 $8, $ 2, $ 6, Congratulations on a Generous Response! Tazewell District had all 40 Charges participate. (Only 4 churches did not provide a kit.) 78 of the 79 churches that participated accepted the No Malaria Challenge and contributed $5 per kit for Imagine No Malaria. Lilies of the Field, our local thrift store, operated by volunteers and North Tazewell UMC, met the $5 per kit challenge by contributing $2,655 for Imagine No Malaria. That amount is distributed among the churches above according to the challenge donations. Some churches contributed above the challenge amount and that is reflected in the totals credited to each church.

5 TAZEWELL DISTRICT CONFERENCE Saturday August 24, PM to 4 PM Main Street United Methodist Church, Tazewell, Virginia We are trying a new approach to District Conference this year. We will gather for worship at 1 PM. The Business session will follow. After a short break the following training sessions will be offered: Starting at 2:30 PM Church Structure/Committee Functions Rev. Anthony Grills, Pastor of Main Street UMC Lay Leader Training - Mr. Del Holley, Conference Lay Leader Financial/Treasurer Training Mr. Rick Cherry, Conference Treasurer and Mr. Roger Redding, Conference Foundation Trustee Training Rev. Ed Blair, Conference Trustee Chair Safe Sanctuary Training for Laity Mrs. Gaye King, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries A Special Offering will be received at District Conference to help support our new Church & Community Worker, Brooke Atchley. Hands on Mission Project for District Conference sponsored by United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men During the year the United Methodist Women have been collecting toiletry items to distribute among Local Food Pantries. (Paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, napkins, feminine products, soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, lotion, toothpaste, and other personal hygiene items.) We are asking you to help support this project by bringing a bag of these items to District Conference. The items will then be distributed across the district to food pantries. The United Methodist Men have an emphasis on gleaning. Since the time of the conference does not correspond with any gleaning projects or drops in our area, the Society of St. Andrews has suggested that we purchase a roll of mesh for bag cutting. The roll is 16,000 feet long on a spool and will be cut in 34 lengths and knotted at one end. It will make approximately 5,600 bags. They use the bags for gleaning and potato drops. The roll costs $ which includes freight charges. The Southwest gleaning coordinator, Karen Dennis, will pick up the bags for fall gleaning. (You may also want to donate a few dollars to help with the purchase of the mesh.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Abolishing Poverty Conference The Holston Conference Outreach/Advocacy Ministry Team invites clergy and laity to attend the 2013 Abolishing Poverty Conference Saturday, July 27th 10am-3pm at the Cokesbury Center in Knoxville, TN. Through worship, keynote speaker Bishop Ken Carder, and workshop opportunities, conference participants will explore what it means to offer a Biblical and effective ministry to address poverty in your church s context. Pastors are encouraged to bring lay persons with them who are passionate about leading ministries to the poor in their community. Whether your church is just beginning to address the needs in your area or you are deeply involved in poverty ministry, the Abolishing Poverty Conference will provide tools to move forward in this important area of ministry. For more information and to register, please visit

6 Brooke Atchley, Our New Church & Community Worker It s official! The Tazewell District is now home to the newest Church and Community Program and Worker in the country. Several years ago, the district began the process of applying to have a Church and Community Program in collaboration with the Conference and the General Board of Global Ministries and on July 1, the process was completed with the appointment of Brooke Atchley as the Tazewell District Cooperative Ministries Church and Community Worker. Church and Community Workers are commissioned missionaries of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, who, in response to God's call, are devoted to uplifting the poor and disenfranchised in rural and urban areas throughout the United States. They work to change the social inequities of poverty, racial injustice, and domestic violence. As their name implies, they take the church into the community and bring the community into the church. There are currently 40 Church and Community Programs across the country. Each one is designed to meet the needs of their community. The Mission Statement for the Tazewell District Cooperative Ministry is To allow God s ministering grace and mercy to flow through the United Methodist Church, working with churches of other denominations, local agencies and community groups to help meet the spiritual, economic and social problems and needs of the people within the Tazewell District UMC. Brooke will be working in collaboration with the churches of our entire district to discover ways to reach outside the walls of the church and be the hands and feet of Christ in our communities. There are lots of ways that you can be involved in this exciting, new ministry! As a missionary of the United Methodist Church, Brooke is looking for partnerships with individuals and congregations. If you would be willing to be a prayer partner or financial partner, please contact Brooke or the district office. You can contact Brooke to learn more about this new ministry by batchley@umcmission.org and by phone (540) LEAD KIDS Lead, Equip, Disciple, Advocate Children s Ministry Training & Retreat September 20-21, 2013 held at Camp Wesley Woods - Townsend, TN. This retreat is sponsored by the Holston Conference Children s Ministry Team. More info at or call 865/ gayeking@holston.org UMM News UMM Calling All Men will be held August 3, 2013 at Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, TN and August 10, 2013 at King University, Bristol, TN. For more information, go to the website: The Summer Gathering at Camp Laurel will be on Saturday, July 27, with registration at 8:30 AM and event beginning at 9:00 AM. The camp will be serving lunch and a great day is planned with Larry Trotter and our District Superintendent, Dr. David Tabor. The only thing that will make this event better, is if you can be there to join them. There is a $10.00 registration fee that includes our lunch. Please let Jeff McMillion know if your group will be able to attend and an approximate head count, so he can pass that on to the folks preparing lunch at the camp. UMW News Women s Retreat/Team Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Rocky Gap UMC, Rocky Gap, Virginia. Like us on Facebook Visit our New Website (still under construction) tazewelldistrictumc.com

7 NOMINATIONS FOR AT-LARGE MEMBERS FOR HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE, JUNE 8-11, 2014 Nominee Name Address Home Phone Work/Cell Phone Nominee Church Church Phone Offices/Leadership positions in the local church and if applicable, district and conference. Information will be included on the ballot or summarized if necessary. (Please be as brief as possible.) Pastor s signature required: Please return to the Tazewell District Office, P.O. Box 674, Tazewell, VA or fax Deadline Monday, August 12, 2013 The Holston Annual Conference reimburses At-Large Members actual housing/meal expenses up to a maximum per diem rate of $55. Mileage is reimbursed at the IRS rate for charitable travel. In order to allow representation from across the entire District, we are requesting that only one nominee be submitted from each church.

8 Just Older Youth Rally Thursday, August 22 10:00 AM 2:00 PM First United Methodist Church 200 South College Avenue, Bluefield, VA :30 AM Registration 10:00 AM Music 10:45 AM History of Melungeons Dr. Terry Mullins 11:45 AM Lunch 12:45 PM Music 1:00 PM History of Methodism in Tazewell District Dr. Terry Mullins REGISTRATION FEE $7.00 PER PERSON Registration deadline August 12 Please mail registration form and payment to Tazewell District UMC, PO Box 674, Tazewell, VA Name Church Amount Enclosed