Getting to Know Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S.

Transcription

1 Kingsport District United Methodist Church October 2015 Newsletter Inside this issue: A Note from Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S. The District Academy 2-4 Ministry Updates 5-6 Mission Opportunities 7-8 Upcoming Events 9-10 District Happenings District Calendar 13 Information & Resources 14 1 Getting to Know Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S. Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford is a native of Morristown, TN, where her family is active in First UMC. Lauri Jo first explored her call to ministry when asked to preach for Youth Sunday and then College student Sunday. She further explored her call to ministry while active in campus ministry at Emory University. After college graduation she worked for Atlanta Urban Ministries, an urban ministry of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Her work with the homeless population in Atlanta solidified her call to ministry. The following year she entered Candler School of Theology, where she completed her Master of Divinity in Upon graduation, Lauri Jo moved to Dallas, Texas where she spent a year as a chaplain resident at Children's Medical Center working with pediatric oncology patients. She returned to Holston Conference in 1998 and has served churches in the Oak Ridge and Johnson City District. She has served as the conference sexual ethics trainer as well as the chairperson for the Congregational Wellness Team who works with churches in chronic conflict. She was appointed as District Superintendent in 2015 and serves in the Kingsport District. Page 1

2 The Kingsport District Academy Bible Studies, Leadership & Training Opportunities What is The Academy?: The Kingsport District Academy is an educational initiative designed to offer (1)a variety of Bible and other studies, (2)Lay Servant/Lay Speaker Program, and (3)the Certified Lay Minister Program to all lay persons across the Kingsport District. When fully implemented, classes will be offered across the Kingsport District from Blountville to Rogersville with classes meeting in mornings, afternoons, and evenings on at least five campus sites (churches within the District). Classes will be taught by mainly by Clergy and Lay persons within the Kingsport District. OPEN TO EVERYONE! for more information. LAY SERVANT / LAY SPEAKER TRAINING We are ALL Lay Servants! Everyone is Welcome to Participate! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. FIRST BROAD STREET UMC, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport **Registration Deadline: Monday, October 26** (If after this date contact the district office to see if there s room in the class you wish to take.) CLASSES OFFERED: LOCAL CHURCH (Basic) Lay Servant/Speaker Training Course: $25 which includes book, lunch, snacks CERTIFIED (Advanced) Lay Servant/Lay Speaker Training Courses: $10+book (if required): includes materials, lunch, snacks (The Local Church training course should be taken before taking a Certified course.): 3 Certified courses to choose from: 1) Christian Worship 101: No book required. Teacher: Rev. Adam Love, Pastor at Kingsley UMC 2) Preaching & Teaching: Required book: $15 - Preaching that Matters: The Bible & Our Lives by Stephen Farris Optional books: $19 - The Witness of Preaching by Thomas G. Long, $17 - Preaching by Fred B. Craddock Register by Oct. 1 if you would like the district to order the required or optional books at the Cokesbury listed cost. Teacher: Rev. Tom Hancock, Pastor at Cassidy UMC 3) Polity: Required book: 2012 Book of Discipline. (Borrow one from your church or pastor; or the district office has $22 each.) Teacher: Rev. Jared Wood, A UM Pastor in Morristown District See the Kingsport District Website for more information and class descriptions Registration for Lay Servant/Speaker Training Fall 2015 : To register contact the District Office at or kptdist@holston.org and leave your name, church, class you wish to take, phone & . Mail check (written to Kingsport District) to: District Office P.O. Box 894, Kingsport, TN Please be sure to include class you are taking in the memo line For more information on The Academy, contact Richard McKee at kgptacademy@gmail.com or Page 2

3 Other Training Opportunities This workshop is a gathering of those who rely on and value words to help people connect to the Living Word. During our time together, we will focus on preaching possibilities for the Advent journey, exploring both lectionary and non-lectionary options for helping people live toward the joy of Christmas. We will talk about the practical aspects of sermon preparation that help real faith connect with real life. Those of us who have had the good fortune of living under The Grand Story of the God who makes and keeps covenants, who moves toward us in love and is never willing to let the worst be the last we have a high calling and holy opportunity to use the moment of proclamation well. As pastors, words are our tools, and during this day we will reclaim the power and practice and art of effective preaching. Monday, October 19, 2015 Holston Conference Center, Alcoa, TN 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Paul Harmon This workshop will provide you with resources for Advent and Christmas. It will be led by Dr. Paul Harmon of the South Carolina Conference. Paul attended the University of South Carolina (BA), the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (MDiv.) and the Theological School at Drew University (D.-Min.). He is currently the Spartanburg District Superintendent. Registration Two Ways: $25 includes registration and lunch Deadline is October 15, 2015 Attendance is limited to 50 people. On-line: for those using a credit card: sermonacademy.holston.org By mail: Holston Conference UMC Sermon Academy P.O. Box 850 Alcoa, TN Please include your name, address, phone, address, church, and district information. 0.5 CEUs will be offered through Wesley Leadership Institute For more information: sueweber@holston.org or 865/ Page 3

4 Other Training Opportunities (continued) Holston Conference United Methodist Church Disaster Response Training October 17, 2015 WHERE: Fairview United Methodist Church Trent Hall (across the street from the new facility) 2508 Old Niles Ferry Rd, Maryville, TN WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2015 Registration: Beginning at 8:30 a.m. Training: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (includes lunch provided at no cost by Fairview UMC) Parking is available in the paved area immediately in front of the building watch for the signs to direct participants to the training area. TWO OPTIONS FOR TRAINING: Basic ERT Training (training time = 8 hours) OR Re-Certification Training (required every 3 years for continuing certification; training time = 3 hours) Participants will receive a 3-ring training binder and will complete a certification assessment at the end of the day. Individuals should bring a photo ID and either check or cash for $25 to cover the cost of the Holston Conference mandated Safe Sanctuaries Background investigation (SS BI). HOW DO I SIGN UP? Individuals may enroll by ing Ralph Brock at edwinb2756@bellsouth.net. Deadline to register: October 12, 2015 QUESTIONS? Contact James Fetzer at jfa@tds.net Holston Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Page 4

5 Ministry Updates South Sudan Ministry Update For almost 10 years, the Holston Conference and the Kingsport, District have walked with our sisters and brothers in South Sudan. For the last several years, Kingsport has been in a covenant relationship with the village of Giru, South Sudan. During that time, we have witnessed the devastation and impact of war, conflict, and violence. We have wept over the loss of life from preventable illnesses and disease due to a lack of clean water and poor sanitation. We have worried and been heartbroken over the needs of children who are vulnerable or orphaned. But above all we have watched the mighty hand of God work miracles to give new hope and a new future. Wells have been dug, churches and school have been built, agriculture projects have begun, and two children s homes constructed. God is doing amazing things using your faithful response. Thank you for being the answer to prayer and part of all the miracles God has done in Giru, South Sudan and beyond. A special thanks for your generosity of last year s Christmas Offering to provide new school building and improve health and sanitation for the children of Giru. Three school blocks have been completed and pit latrines are under construction. You have been a tremendous blessing! If you would like to experience God s miraculous work in Giru, I want to invite you to be a part of the next mission team planned for February 17 through March For more details call, Tom Hancock at Page 5

6 Ministry Updates (continued) A Word From Fred & Libby Dearing Hello Friends, We will be back in the U.S. in October. Please take a look at our latest newsletter for more info. View our e-newsletter for September Thank you for your prayers and continued support. Sincerely, Fred and Libby Dearing SudanHope.Holston.org South Sudan Ministry Update Camp Update Camp Bays Mountain will be holding FOUR Town Hall Meetings in October for the NEW United Methodist Church Camp. These meetings will be to help with the final details of designing Camp Bays Mountain. They are very interested in YOUR input. ALL meetings will be at Gray UMC Oak St, Gray, TN If you are interested in attending, these are the dates: --Thursday, October 8 at 6 PM --Monday, October 12 at 10 AM --Thursday, October 15 at 6 PM --Tuesday, October 20 at 6 PM For more information contact: Jeff Wadley (Executive Director) jeffwadley@holston.org Page 6

7 Mission Opportunities SHADES OF GRACE UMC 313 E. Sullivan St. Kingsport, TN Worship: Sundays at 4 pm Ground Zero: Fridays at 6:30 pm 12 step - Recovery Ministry Community Meals: 3 pm 5 pm 4 th 5 pm 6 pm Clothes Closet & Food Pantry: Open as needed with appointment. Open during Meal times. Community Bible Studies & Fellowship: 6:30 pm 6:30 pm Ladies Only Bible Study 6:30 pm Men s Fellowship Time 7:00 pm Get Real has moved from Shades of Grace UMC to the Church Hill area. Get Real will be meeting on Monday nights at 6:30 pm at New Life Missionary Baptist Church in Church Hill. A couple who had been coming to Get Real for several months started a recovery group at New Life three years ago. The two groups have merged but it is still called Get Real. For Women Only will continue to meet on Wednesday mornings. Contact Doug Hallock for further information at Doug@doughallock.com or New Life Missionary Baptist Church address is: 202 Goshen Valley Road Church Hill, TN OPEN DOORS OPEN DOORS is a new mission project to help end homelessness in our area. Kermit Addington is heading up this project. Open Doors is a community coalition to prevent and end homelessness in Kingsport and Sullivan County. This will be accomplished through advocacy and implementing a strategic plan which is currently being used by many cities across the US. We would like for the congregations to help with their prayers, volunteers, and going to the Facebook page- Open Doors a community coalition, and like us and share with their friends. At this time we are not asking for any money support because we have no overhead expenses. Contact Kermit Addington at krmtaddington@gmail.com or phone for more information. Page 7

8 Mission Opportunities Arcadia UMC, Kingsport Tennessee and our Community Outreach We have a food pantry at our church which is normally open on the fourth Tuesday of each month, but we have on many occasions given out food to folks at other times as well. Our ladies group mans the pantry each month, meeting folks and talking to them about our church. The food is available whenever someone is there to give it out. We had supplied our food pantry with donations from within the church for the past several years, then last year we partnered with Second Harvest, and started buying our food from them, thus getting more bang for our buck, as they sell the food at a much discounted rate, and give free stuff away to participating agencies as well. This past July, a local business woman, Mary Hamilton, who has an insurance agency in Kingsport, and known by several members of our church, and has on several occasions taken up food at her business and donated it to our food pantry, set in motion an idea to partner with a local racetrack, Kingsport Speedway, that would have folks who come to the track each week bring non-perishable food items for our food pantry at Arcadia. Arcadia members went to the track the week before and handed out flyers telling of our food collection over the next several weeks. Because of the outpouring of the local community, in three weeks at the track, we collected over 300 pounds of non-perishable food items, and over $ in cash donations. This outreach goes along with our conference mission to help fight poverty within our local communities. It has been a blessing to talk to folks about our food pantry and most folks know as well as we do that there are a lot of people that are hungry, not only for food but for the Word of God. I remember man one in particular who set down a big bag of canned food and you could see the smile on his face that he was part of something bigger than us all; that he was making a difference. By our church being visible in our local community, letting folks know we care and meeting people where they are, seeds are being planted. A church member works at a local bank in the community, New Peoples, and they also collected food for us the entire month of August. If you count that as well, we collected over 500 pounds in total. What a great support from the community for helping others in need. Some of the food was used almost immediately as three Sundays in a row; we had folks come by the church on Sunday morning, looking for food. One family had been living in their car and the other had spent the night in theirs. The snack bags that were collected at the track the Friday before, donated by one of the drivers, gave them something to eat right away. Our plans are to start next March at the beginning of race season and do this once a month throughout the summer. I told the church on Sunday that we have to look at this as more than just giving someone a can of beans. We are feeding the hungry, as Jesus told us to, but also giving folks a chance to be part of a community of believers; our neighbors, friends, and those we see every day. I pray this may give someone an idea or spark to be a light within their communities. In His hands, Dave Poore Pastor, Arcadia UMC Page 8

9 Upcoming Events Mark Your Calendars! Roots & Shoots Luncheon Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 11:00 Colonial Heights UMC $11/person - Deadline to register is Thursday, October 1, AGENDA Lunch by BJ Catering Getting to Know Your New District Superintendent, Rev. Laurie Jo Cranford Getting to Know Your New Camp Director, Rev. Jeff Wadley Experience the Roots & Rhythms of John Ousley! (Optional: Bring a rhythm instrument.) Mission Emphasis The fall Roots & Shoots mission emphasis is our New Conference Camp. Baskets will be on the table for monetary donations. If writing a check make it out to Kingsport District. Roots & Shoots Luncheon Registration Please give this registration form and $11 to your church Roots & Shoots/Older Adult Coordinator. Coordinator: One check/church written to Kingsport District. P.O. Box 894, Kingsport, TN Name: I have paid $11. yes no Next Roots & Shoots event will be March 10, 2016! Page 9

10 Upcoming Events MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Kingsport District U.M. Fellowship Kingsport is the only district in the Holston Conference that still has an active District Fellowship. The Fellowships were started in 1946 following the close of World War II to share information between the Churches and encourage cooperation. In Kingsport they also proposed a scholarship project that still continues, providing about $4,000 in funds for college and seminary students each year. Our purpose is to build friendships and share information between the different churches of the District and to raise money for scholarships for students at our three Holston Conference colleges or those studying for careers in full-time ministry. The Kingsport District UM Fellowship meets at 6:00 PM on the fourth Monday of each month (except December) for a covered dish meal and an inspirational program. Different churches host each month. There are quite a few churches that already participate in this monthly meeting, but we would love to have more, so please join us! Here is the schedule for the rest of 2015: October 26, Cloud's Bend UMC November 23, Community UMC Page 10

11 District Happenings Blountville UMC 3390 Highway 126 Blountville, TN Invites you to their FISH FRY FRIDAY October 9, 5-7 PM Salem UMC 230 Boozy Creek Rd. Blountville, TN Will have a Lord's Acre Sale Saturday, October 17 8 AM - 3 PM Shades of Grace UMC 313 East Sullivan St. Kingsport, TN Will be celebrating October Anniversary Month with special events all month including: Upcoming Dates: Nov. 6, and Dec. 4 Rogersville First UMC 110 Colonial Rd. Rogersville, TN Will be having a FALL TENT REVIVAL October Each Night at 6 PM includes special music, storytelling, and preaching from the pastors of Rogersville Cooperative Parish Crafts, canned goods, baked items and a dessert table "A Taste of Heaven" will be offered, as well as freshly made apple butter and peanuts. Tickets will be sold for a drawing on a Treasure Box, Jewelry Box, and two Adirondack chairs with end table. A breakfast of gravy and biscuits will be served beginning at 8 a.m. and soup beans and cornbread will be served at noon. There will also be a yard sale with many new and useful items. Open House Oct.11, from 12-3PM Community Block Party Oct. 24, from 10AM - 3PM Concert with Dale Jett & Hello Stranger Oct. 25, at 4PM Vermont UMC 1817 Bloomingdale Rd. Kingsport, TN Invites you to their HOMECOMING celebration Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 Service begins at 10:45 AM Preacher: Rev. Kristen Burkhart Also participating: Pastor Pat Tipton Music: The Dunham Family Following the service a covered dish lunch under the shelter. Singing and fun for the kids following lunch. Page 11

12 District Happenings To CHURCH HILL FIRST UMC and PASTOR JOSH KILBOURNE For hosting the Kingsport District Conference on Thursday Sept. 24. A special thanks also to Mary Ann Greer, pianist and Margaret Lester, soloist for their musical contributions. The elected district at-large members to Annual Conference are: Carol Anderson Judy Dean Vic Dingus Joyce Eberhart Nellie Hickman Danny Howe Ashlee Kizer Melissa Malcolm Ellen McKeigney Terry Morelock Mack Pyle Ann Reuschel Gail Shaver Susan Smith Joyce Snapp Nancy Tate Katie Tester Marie Willis Scott Young The alternates are Donna Rowlett (1st) and Pam Peterson (2nd). Annual Conference is June 5-8, 2016! Page 12

13 District Calendar DISTRICT CALENDAR October 1 Deadline for Roots & Shoots lunch reservations 8 Roots & Shoots Luncheon for our mature adults, 11 am, Colonial Heights UMC Pastors are welcome register with your church or contact Susan Lauri Jo away on DS business 18 Festival of Gifts & Talents for District Youth, Mt View, 6 pm 19 Transformational Team, 6:30 pm, District Office 22 District Finance, 6 pm 26 Kingsport District Fellowship, 6 pm, Clouds Bend Lauri Jo gone on DS business 31 Lay Servant Training, 8-3, First Broad Street November 9-14 Lauri Jo out of office 16 Pastors meeting: Glen Alpine/Surgoinsville First Office closed for Thanksgiving December 7 Pastors Christmas Banquet, 6 pm, Colonial Heights UMC 21 - Jan 3 Office closed for Christmas Page 13

14 Information & Resources COMING UP CHARGE CONFERENCES begin September 2 & end November 29 FESTIVAL OF GIFTS & TALENTS For All our Youth Sunday, October 6 pm Mountain View UMC LAY SERVANT/SPEAKER TRAINING Saturday, October 31, 8 am 3:30 pm JOB OPENINGS Pianist: Mount Carmel UMC. Contact the church at or mcumcsecretary@gmail.com for info. Director of Music Ministries: Mt. View UMC. Send resume to 4405 Orebank Rd. Kingsport, TN or sam@mtviewumc.org. Coordinator of Preschool Ministries: First Broad Street UMC. Job description & online application are available at For more information contact Nathan Flora at nflora@fbsumc.org. PT Kitchen Assistant: First Broad Street Application at or call The HOLSTON CONFERENCE FOUNDATION asks "How can we serve you and your church?" The Holston Conference Foundation exists to equip, resource and serve the local church in a variety of ways. The following services are provided to UMC churches and individuals as a ministry of the Holston Conference Foundation. You may be familiar with one aspect of what we do (such as investment services) but should consider the other facets of our ministry to the local church. Stewarding God s resources-the Foundation offers expert investment management of church endowments and designated funds and can serve as trustee of charitable trusts and other planned gifts. By following a carefully crafted investment policy, the Foundation offers a broad-based set of investment options for the local church. Resourcing the local church-the Foundation provides customized printed resources that churches utilize in promoting endowment and planned giving options, as well as information on financial stewardship. Speaking-Foundation staff frequently speaks and preaches at church events, including Sunday services, leadership/committee meetings, United Methodist Men/Women s events, and provides estate planning seminars. Advising individual donors-individuals contemplating significant gifts or bequests frequently visit with their pastor or their professional advisor for information and advice. The Foundation s professional staff can counsel the individual or provide the appropriate advisor with information. Serving as a consultant to a committee-we counsel churches in establishing a wills and legacies task force or endowment committee. We work with committees on strategically promoting planned gifts to the congregation. Funding ministry- The Holston Conference Foundation stewards nearly 200 special-purpose endowments and scholarships established by individuals, families, and friends interested in supporting specific ministries, churches, and institutions. A grant committee reviews and awards funds to local churches, institutions and students each year. Resident Bishop: Mary Virginia Taylor District Superintendent: Lauri Jo Cranford laurijocranford@holston.org Admin Assistant: Susan Smith kptdist@holston.org Financial Secretary: Laurie Neville For more information on any of the above services offered by the Foundation please visit or call We look forward to serving you and your church. Page 14