Abingdon Advocate Inside this issue:

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1 Abingdon Advocate Inside this issue: July / August 2016 In this Edition: 1. Welcome of New Pastors 2. Health Kits Update 3. District Missions Updates 4. At Large Nomination Form 5. Advance Specials District Charge Conference 7. United Methodist Women 8. Jubilee Youth Project 9. Administrative Professionals Conference 10. Emory & Henry College to host The Academy - Abingdon District Conference will be on Monday, September 19th, at 6:30 pm - Pleasant View UMC, Lee Highway Abingdon, VA Resident Bishop: Mary Virginia Taylor District Superintendent: Sandra Johnson Administrative Assistant: Cindy Fleenor Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 5:00 Phone / Fax abdist@holston.org Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let It Begin with Me "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." We usually hear the words of the nowfamous song around Christmas, but it was not written as a holiday piece. Jill Jackson penned the lyrics in 1955 in the wake of a deep depression that had led nearly to suicide. She told an interviewer that she wrote the song after discovering the "life-saving joy of God's peace and unconditional love." I have spent the past few days watching the news on television and reading the local newspaper paying particular attention to the shootings and killings of civilians and police officers and subsequent protests. At first these events were hundreds of miles away; then, only miles and minutes away. Minnesota, Louisiana and Bristol, TN. My response to each of these included disbelief, shock, frustration, sadness, anger and extended periods of prayer. Again, innocent lives civilians and law enforcement officers have been taken. Again, families have been changed forever. Again, we are reminded that ALL LIVES MATTER. Again, we look for lawful ways to right injustices; ways to promote love; ways to facilitate peace; ways to assure justice for all; ways to show respect for all persons; and ways to show appreciation for those who protect and serve. Again, we hope and pray that maybe just maybe this will be the last time we experience such a week in our community and in our nation. We HOPE, we PRAY, and we WORK to make it so. Like Jill Jackson, we are people who know God's grace, peace, and love. This is the Good News that gives us "life-saving joy." We are called to share it with a world that is bent on tearing itself apart. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with each one of us. Reverend Sandra Johnson Abingdon District Superintendent Abingdon District Welcomes New Pastors and New Appointments for 2016 / 2017 Rev. Scott Wilks - First UMC, Mountain City / Trade Rev. Ray Amos, Jr.- South Bristol Rev. Steve Castle -North Keywood Circuit Rev. Rebecca Reed - East Marion Circuit Other Changes Within the Abingdon District : Rev. Scott Spence Beech Grove UMC Rev Gary Crum Lebanon Memorial Associate Pastor Supply Pastor Roger Carter Russell Circuit Supply Pastor - Daniel Garrett -Lebanon Circuit Supply Pastor Mark Asbury Rich Valley UMC Congratulations to our Retirees: Rev Barbara Farmer and Rev. Jim Oxendine both were recently recognized at Annual Conference 2016.

2 Page 2 A BIG THANKS to the following Abingdon District Churches for their contributions of Health Kits for Liberia. 945 Kits were collected!! What a way to Bless! Abingdon UMC Addilynn Memorial Aldersgate Anderson Street Bascom Beech Grove Bethany Blackwell s Chapel Byars Cobbs Campground Carvosso Charles Wesley Chilhowie Church Hill Cleveland Crabtree Damascus Davis Memorial Elizabeth Emory First UMC, Bristol First UMC, Mountain City Grace Grassy Creek Greenwood John Wesley Lakeview Laurel Springs Lebanon Memorial Lebanon (Chilhowie) Lebanon (Glade) Madam Russell Mahanaim Mary s Chapel McCready Meadowview Mountain View (Abingdon) Mountain View (Chilhowie) Mt Carmel New Cove Paperville Pleasant View Quarry Reynolds Memorial Rich Valley Ridgedale Roberts Chapel Seven Mile Ford Shady Grove Shouns Sinking Springs South Bristol St Luke State Street Sulphur Springs Tate s Chapel Three Springs Trinity Union Valley View Virginia Avenue Wallace Washington Chapel Weaver Wesley (Saltville) Wharf Hill Willis Chapel Wright s Chapel Wyndale 70 of 91 churches participated from the Abingdon District! Zion SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEEERS!!!! The Abingdon District will host a Feeding America Workday Date and Location coming soon. as we prepare for this event please watch the Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Instructional Video at: StopHungerNow.org or visit

3 Congratulations to Reverends Timothy Best and Jeremy McMillan Ordained Elders at Holston Conference 2016 Pictured above with Rev. Sandra Johnson, District Superintendent South Sudan / Abingdon District Partnership Abingdon District Missional Challenge...You Can Help Lets Do This! Challenge- $ per church for 2 years (2016 and 2017) Send checks payable to Holston Conference P.O. Box 850 Alcoa, TN Please write #537 in the memo line This money applies towards Five Star Status as a Conference initiative. FLOOD BUCKETS NEEDED! A message from Project Crossroads Director, Rev. Harry Howe: Our response to recent flooding in West Virginia..In order to continue to serve the Holston Conference in its disaster response capabilities we seek to keep a sufficient number of cleaning buckets in stock. We would ask churches throughout the district to assemble cleaning buckets that will replace those we have already delivered as well as those we may yet be delivering. We have the capability of storing at least Yesterday's delivery of 540 buckets left approximately 1200 on hand. The potential for flooding is always a possibility throughout our region, so we are situated in a good location to respond quickly when called. Thank you Abingdon District for you willingness to assist us in this aspect of our ministry at Project Crossroads and with Holston Conference Disaster Relief. You can assemble buckets and notify us for pick up or make donations through the Abingdon District or Project Crossroads earmarked for disaster relief. Funds received will help us provide additional supplies for incomplete buckets and for the Clorox we purchase to deliver with the buckets. Jim Fetzer, Disaster Response Coordinator Holston Conference-UMC Harry Howe, Project Crossroads Visit - for the complete list of items needed. What Gifts Could You Bring? If you would like serve on a District Committee please see the attached form for a complete listing. Fill out the form and return to the District Office by August 15th, See attached form for more details.

4 Children in Poverty Social Action 2016 ~ Hunger Banquet Saturday, August 13 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Psalm 140:12 (NIV) Fairview United Methodist Church 2508 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN Registration 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Hunger Banquet 10:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, Tennessee Click here for event brochure and registration form Registration Deadline: July 30, 2016 Jubilee Project s 25th year Celebration For Youth: Love Your Neighbor August 12 & 13 Cost per person Call the Jubilee Office at for more information Mark your calendars. Abingdon District Charge Conference - Monday, September 19th -6:30 pm. Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon, VA See page 5 for a Nomination Form for District At-Large Member to Holston Annual Conference Return by August 31st 2016 Be a Five Star Church for 2016 ADVANCE SPECIALS Please visit the website keywords 2016 Advance Specials to download a brochure explaining all the Holston Conference special projects. How do I become a Five Star Church? Give at least $25.00 to four Advance Specials and pay your Conference tithe at 100%. Remember: Last payment must be received at the conference office before the closing of the books January deadline to receive credit It s that simple!

5 Contact Information: Abingdon District Office PO. Box 263 Abingdon, Virginia THE ACADEMY For Spiritual Formation Emory & Henry College July 24-29, 2016 Designed for Women, Men, Laity, and Clergy To register visit -Locate HOLSTON JESUS RALLY th Annual Jesus Rally - July pm each evening Pigeon Forge, TN Visit: jrally.com for more information Do you want to help your congregation connect with people beyond the church walls in ways that invite them to experience the love of Jesus Christ, build relationships that matter, and share their faith in inviting and practical ways? Join us for a one-day workshop - Tuesday, August 2nd -9:00 am 4:30 pm Blountville United Methodist Church For more information Contact Larry Ousley Facilitator: larryjousley@gmail.com Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Training Event Helping Kids with Challenging Behaviors State Street UMC Bristol, VA Saturday, August 27 from 9 am -4 pm Contact Jaymie Derden at: jderden@chartertn.net Your Help is Needed! The Keywood Historical Marker located between Glade Spring and Saltville is in need of repair. This site marker is a registered landmark of Methodism within the Holston Conference. If you (or someone you know) could lend a hand to help repair, clean, and restore this valuable part of our heritage, please contact Bo Boyd at or bboyd@vaelec.com A planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd at 7:00 pm at Shady Grove UMC, Abingdon. Attention Administrative Professionals!! Holston Administrative Professionals Conference and Retreat Sept. 28, Sept. 30, 2016 SpringHill Suites, Chattanooga, TN Visit under events for brochure and registration forms. Deadline to register is August 15th, /2017 Abingdon District Directory is available on our website at

6 Nomination Form District At-Large Member of Holston Annual Conference Lake Junaluska, NC June 11-14, 2017 Name Church Address City Zip Phone (Home/Cell) Youth (14-17) Young Adult (Under 35) Adult Senior Adult Male Female Ethnicity: African American Asian Caucasian Hispanic Native American Other Leadership positions held in local church, district and conference: Is this nominee willing to serve: Signature of Nominee s Pastor: Return by August 31 st, 2016 Abingdon District Office P O Box 263 Abingdon, VA OR abdist@holston.org OR Fax: