july 2015 #just imagine - holston...

2015 Hands-On Mission

Buckets were a Success!

The Kingsport District ex-

ceeded their goal with a total

of 639 buckets that were

turned in by 44 (out of 58)

churches, inspected by 12

volunteers, and loaded on

the truck by 7 volunteers by

1 pm on Wednesday, June 3.

We’d like to thank Buddy

Butler for chairing and super-

vising this group; Laurie Ne-

ville, for keeping track of the

totals and money; Susan

Smith for working behind the

scenes and bringing food;

David Graves for securing the

truck and taking it to its final

destination before Annual

Conference. We appreciate

all the time, effort and ex-

pense that the churches went

to in making this mission

effort beneficial for those in

Zimbabwe. All the trucks

were blessed and sent on

their way at

Annual Conference.

The following helped in-

spect:

Dawson Arnold

Rev. Susan Arnold

Lisa Bryant

Rev. Buddy Butler

Doug Carson

Lynn Carson

Judy Dean

Phillip Ellis

Phyllis Ford

Laurie Neville

Susan Smith

Rev. Grover Starnes

The following helped load

the truck:

Phillip Ellis

Rev. David Graves

Rev. Tom Hancock

Rev. Josh Kilbourne

Rev. Lew Kizer

Rev. Randy Lantz

John – from Crossroads

Good Afternoon,

I just wanted to send a

quick thank you for all

your help in making this

year’s Hands-On Project

an over-whelming suc-

cess. We once again sur-

passed anything we had

done before. I know this

would not be possible

without your help and

support.

Again, thank you for all

your hard work. Lives

are, and will be, chang-

ing because of your ex-

pressions of God’s love.

Blessings,

Rev. Michael G. Sluder

Conference Missions

Prayer Cloth Update:

Thank you to everyone who made prayer

cloths and sent them to Annual Conference.

Kingsport District made 1,659 prayer

cloths for this ministry opportunity.

If you have a mission team or another ministry that needs some contact Dell Holley Conference Lay

Igniting our Imaginations: (stories of what God is doing in our lives)

Kingsport District United Methodist Church July 2015

Making, Empowering, Equipping

2-5

A Note from Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S.

6

Growing & Encouraging 7

Inspiring & Transforming 7

Needing & Seeking 7

Experiencing Christ 8

District Happenings 10-13

Inside this issue:

Special points of interest:

Annual Conference up-

date

Mission Bucket update

Welcome from Lauri Jo

Youth Camping Trip

Moments of gratitude

#just Imagine...

The best is yet to come !

Volume 6, Issue 1 Kingsportdistrictumc.com

For Women Only: A Place

to be Loved by God

Weds. 10—noon

@Shades of Grace

Fellowship, Worship,

Teaching, & Prayer.

Contact Teri Hallock:

(520)-400-5960

To Volunteer or Participate

MissionInsite & People Plot

Dr. Tom Bandy shared

about Mission Insite and

People Plotting during his

time at Annual Conference.

There is a “help” sheet that

can be used by congrega-

tions. Be on the lookout

as this help sheet will be

sent out to clergy members

during July.

Making, Empowering, & Equipping (The Academy, leadership, & training)

#just imagine… the best is yet to come! Volume 6, Issue 1 Kingsportdis t r ictumc.com

What is The Academy?:

The Kingsport District Academy is an educational initiative designed to offer (1)a vari-

ety of Bible and other studies, (2)Lay Servant/Lay Speaker Program, and (3)the Certi-

fied 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 mainly by

Clergy and Lay persons within the Kingsport District.

For more information on the Kingsport District Academy visit the Kingsport District

web-site at www.kingsportdistrictumc.com and click on The Academy.

http://www.kingsportdistrictumc.com/

#just imagine… the best is yet to come! Volume 6, Issue 1

Kingsportdis t r ictumc.com

Making, Empowering, & Equipping (The Academy, leadership, & training. Continued….)

The Academy:

CERTIFIED LAY MINISTER PROGRAM

Sponsored by the Kingsport District Academy

Rev. Richard McKee, Director

The Certified Lay Minister Program is described in The Book of Discipline (2012) in paragraph 271. This program is

designed for lay persons who are called to enhance the quality of ministry in the church, especially in small member-

ship churches, expand team ministry, preach the word, provide care ministry, and assist in program leadership as part

of the ministry team of their local church or even outside their local church.

It is the goal of the Kingsport District to have at least one

Certified Lay Minister in each church in the Kingsport District.

This program provides in-depth study over a 17 week period. There will be two 17-week training sessions each year,

one in the Spring and one in the Fall. The Fall class for 2015 will begin on August 6, 2015 and end on November

21, 2015. All sessions will meet at First Broad Street UMC.

The Fall 2015 class will meet on the following Thursday nights & Saturday mornings. Maximum of 3 sessions can be excused misses.

Thursdays Saturdays

6 – 8 p.m. 9-Noon

August 6 August 8 August 27 August 29 September 10 September 12 September 24 September 26 October 8 October 10 October 22 October 24 November 5 November 7 (Graduation) November 19 (if needed) November 21 (if needed)

To sign up please contact your Pastor and talk to him/her about your interest

in serving God and the Church in this way.

There is an application and recommendations that will need to be completed before you begin classes.

Contact the district office obtain these forms. Deadline for the Fall training is July 27.

For more information on the Kingsport District Academy visit the Kingsport District web-site

at www.kingsportdistrictumc.com and click on The Academy.

You may also contact your Pastor or Richard McKee, Director of the Kingsport District Academy

at [email protected] or phone (423)239-4594


mailto:[email protected]




The Academy

Bible Studies:

The Book of Romans will be taught by Richard McKee on Tuesdays beginning on August 4 and

ending on September 29. The class will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at First Broad Street UMC.

Stay tuned as other studies may be offered. Check the District web site

as shown below for future listings. Notices will also be sent to each Church in the District.

To sign up please contact the Kingsport District Office for registration.

Lay Servant/Lay Speaker

Mark the date: Saturday, October 31, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Courses and location to be announced.

To sign up please contact the Kingsport District Office for registration.

For more information on the Kingsport District Academy visit the Kingsport District web-site

at www.kingsportdistrictumc.com and click on The Academy.

You may also contact your Pastor or Richard McKee, Director of the Kingsport District Academy

at [email protected] or phone (423)239-4594






Annual Conference Updates and Information:

Donna Hankins has put together a highlights video from our week at Annual Conference. The link is given below. It is also available on the website at ac.holston.org. Feel free to share the link with others and to use this as it is helpful for you. http://youtu.be/RLCkxLUER3U

Thank you to the following people for their service during our 2015 Holston Annual Conference. Thank you for all the ways

you served during this week. Susan Smith

Communion Servers

Roger Herron, Hannah Harvey, Linda Jackson, Jane Pearce, Charles, Josh, Kilbourne, Ray Amos, Sr., & Jr. & Caleb

Ushers/Tellers Laity & Clergy

Melissa Malcolm, Darren Malcolm, Barbara Ruth, Nellie Hickman, Judy Dean, Josh Russell, Bob Hults, Dave Poore

Adam Love, Sam Ward, Chris Brown

Thank you to everyone who helped our new District Superintendent move into her office: Adam Love Robert Burlingham Jim Goddard Will Shewey

JT Foster, member at Shades of Grace

Darryl Fletcher, member at Shades of Grace

Lay Delegates

Del Holley Emily Ballard

Becky Hall John Tate

Bob Lockaby Karen Wright

Clergy Delegates

David Graves Kim Goddard

Sandra Johnson Carol Wilson Wil Cantrell Randy Frye

General Conference Delegates (2016):

(please be in prayer with our Holston Conference delegates)

Lay Delegates

Joyce Moore John Eldridge

Charlotte McKee Carolyn Kidd Anne Travis Sam England

ALTERNATES: John Powers

Justin Haynes

Clergy Delegates

Mark Flynn Paul Seay

Dennie Humphreys Eddie Fox Jerry Russell

Lauri Jo Cranford

ALTERNATES: Kristen Burkhart Catherine Nance

Southeast Jurisdictional Delegates (2016):

(please be in prayer with our Holston Con-ference delegates)

http://youtu.be/RLCkxLUER3U



A Word from Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S. ...

Welcome & Greetings from Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S.

Blessings and greetings!

I am excited to begin our work together! I know of some of the ministries and outreach from your churches, and yet know there is

much to learn and hear from all of you. I look forward to worship and fellowship times together in the coming months.

We have two opportunities to gather this month - one for wor-

ship and one for fellowship. I hope you can attend and introduce your-selves. I am excited to get to know you and hear of your excitement

and celebrations in ministry. I have been told repeatedly by David how great this district is, and I believe him! I can't wait to learn more about

each part of our district as we pray and work together in the coming days as we seek to serve God together.

Blessings, Lauri Jo

It is a blessing to welcome and greet the following clergy into the Kingsport District. We are so excited that God has blessed the

churches in the Kingsport District with your gifts and graces! We look forward to serving in ministry with you.

Lauri Jo Cranford, D.S.

Joe Green, First Broad Street UMC Senior Pastor Christi Taylor, Vermont UMC

D. Lynn Sorrell, Chalybeate Springs & Okolona Rick Begley, Fudges Chapel

Pat Tipton, Kincaid Scott Cunningham, Logan’s Chapel

Jeff Wadley—New Camp Director

Congratulations to:

Caleb Frazier; Full Elder Craig Needham; Local Pastor License

Harrison Bell; Provisional Elder Charles Heck; Retired (and serving Persia & Pleasant Hill)

New Church Start—officially named Shades of Grace with Will Shewey remaining as pastor

Mission opportunities to

share the good news of

Christ :

Shades of Grace:

Worship Sundays @ 4:00

Ground Zero

Fridays @ 7:00

Opportunities to serve:

· Wednesday community meal

· Saturday community meal

Contact Rev. Will Shewey for more

information @

[email protected]

Get Real Ministry :

Worship, testimony, & small

groups Thursdays @ 7:00 p.m.

Contact Doug Hallock

For more information:

[email protected]

Mt. Carmel UMC—Full time

pianist job

Salary will be discussed

Please contact Rev. Craig

Needham at: (423)357-5381 Church

Phone; (423)292-6490 Craig Needham Pastor; or Email:

mcumcsecretary@ gmail.com

Needing & Seeking (Job Opportunities)

The Oasis:

https://www.facebook.com/

oasisofkingsport/inf

Please check out these

resources:

http://holston.org/about/

communications/the-call/

Or

http://Kingsportdistrictumc.com



Inspiring & Transforming (Mission focus: least, last, lost, lonely, & loyal )

Growing & Encouraging (Prayers, Vital Signs, Renewal)

Join in praying for:

Pastors moving to new

appointments.

Lauri Jo Cranford,

D.S.

Conference Delegation

Least, last, lost, lonely,

& loyal

Vital Signs:

Thank you for helping with

the new process. Please

continue to submit your

data by Wednesday at

5:00 each week.

Mt. View UMC

Seeking a director of music

ministries.

Please send resume and

cover letter to Mountain

View UMC, 4405 Orebank

Rd. Kingsport, TN 37665

or email

[email protected]

http://gmail.com/


Time of Devotion

Experiencing Christ ( Fellowship, UMW, Roots & Shoots, & Youth)

District Youth Update:

See page 13 of the Newsletter for up-coming Youth infor-mation

Kingsport District UMC Youth Camping Trip

Weekend: August 14 -16 (Friday evening – Sunday

morning) Where: Warriors State Park,

Kingsport What: Campfires, Late night

hike, Saturday games, Saturday night Concert, devotion and wor-

ship time

Kingsport District UM

Fellowship meetings

This is a wonderful way to build

friendships and share infor-mation between the churches of the Kingsport District. The meet-

ings begin with a covered dish meal and are followed by an

inspirational program. We also raise money for scholar-

ships for students at our three Holston Conference colleges or studying for careers in full-time

ministry.

The schedule for the rest of the year -- can be found on the

What’s happening pages of this newsletter

Holston Conference

Poverty Summit

August 28th

and 29th

Marion, VA.

Since our mission emphasis

for Annual Conference

this year is Children and

Poverty, this will be a

an excellent

way for our churches to

“Serve, Learn, and Act

WITH the poor”.

Online registration will be

available at the conference

website.

measure God?

Gratitude is an inward emotion of the

soul, involuntarily arising therein,

while thanksgiving is the voluntary

expression of gratitude…. Gratitude

is secret, silent, negative, passive,

not showing its being till expressed in

praise and thanksgiving…. Gratitude

arises from a contemplation of the

goodness of God. It is bred by seri-

ous meditation on what God has

done for us…. The heart is con-

sciously grateful to God. The soul

gives expression to that heartfelt

Praise God!

Praise the Lord! Praise God in

his sanctuary; praise him in his

mighty heavens! Praise him for

his mighty deeds; praise him

according to his excellent great-

ness! [Psalm 150:1-2 (ESV)].

We cannot read no celes-

tial blueprints or understand Divine

strategies. We have many measure-

ment tools in our society. Meters,

kilos and liters do not measure God.

No “ism,” philosophy or dogma can

define or measure our Lord. But, our

praise does. Have you ever consid-

ered how your praises define and

gratitude to God in words or acts….

Praise is begotten by gratitude and a

conscious obligation to God for mer-

cies given. [Essentials of Prayer,

Edward M. Bounds].

When we praise God using attributes

such as “All-wise,” “Most-powerful,”

or “Ever-living” we are giving thanks

and expressing gratitude. Such quali-

fying terms are significant only to us,

simple worshipers unable to express

our thanks any other way.



Praise God!” is said in ecstatic joy.

“Praise God!” fills our thoughts when

we look at creation and the wonders

that surround us, the thirst-

quenching water flowing from the

sky, the setting sun painting the

horizon, the vast mountains rubbing

against the sky, or our child being

born. All creation exclaims “Praise

God!”

This month may we live life in a

state of praising God. Amen!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20150:1-3%20&version=ESV

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bounds/essentials.v.html?highlight=gratitude,is,secret#highlight

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bounds/essentials.v.html?highlight=gratitude,is,secret#highlight

Purpose & Vision Statement: Engaging, equipping, & empowering

congregational rethinking of seeking God’s bold dreams & visions, making

disciples, transforming lives, connecting with the marginalized, sharing faith

journeys, and fostering the United Methodist connection.

We’re on the web:

Kingsportdistrictumc.com

Please see the Kingsport District Website at: http://Kingsportdistrictumc.com for the most

current set of District Happenings for July.

July 9th @ 6:00 p.m.—Buffalo Mtn. Camp Service

Closing Campfire – Buffalo Mountain Decommissioning Service

Thursday July 9th at Buffalo Mountain Camp and Retreat Center

Campfire starts at 6:00 p.m. and you can come early and walk around camp.

Expect to hear/share testimonies of how camp has changed the lives of thousands of

campers in the past 66 years, sing songs around the fire, worship with Holy Commun-

ion once more, and listen as we toll the bell for the last time at this camp site.

For more information, contact Rev. Josh Kilborne ([email protected]) or

Rev. Jeff Wadley, Director ([email protected])

District Happenings: Worship, Fellowship, & Special Services across the Kingsport

District

#just imagine… the best is yet to come!

#just Imagine... The best is yet to come !

Resident Bishop: Mary Virginia Taylor

Lauri Jo Cranford, District Superintendent, [email protected]

Susan S. Smith, Administrative Assistant, [email protected],

Laurie Neville, Financial Secretary, [email protected]

423-224-1533

Volume 6, Issue 1




Please see the Kingsport District Website at: http://Kingsportdistrictumc.com for the most

current set of District Happenings for May/June.

July 1, 8, 12, 22, & 29—Arcadia UMC—Wednesdays in July Vacation Bible School.

July 13—3:00 p.m. Ketron UMC - Welcome and meet our new D.S. Lauri Jo Cranford and her family.

July 19— 23 Cassidy UMC—Vacation Bible School

July 26— 2:00 p.m. Colonial Heights UMC - Meet & Greet Camp Director Jeff Wadley

And a time of sharing about the vision you have for camp.

July 26– July 28: @ 7:00 p.m. Ross Campground Revival—137th Camp Meeting

Called to Serve—1 Peter 4:10

26th- Preaching: Reverend Pat Tipton

Special Music: Joey Strickler

27th- Preaching: Reverend Tom Hancock

Special Music: Downpour

28th- Preaching: Reverend Will Shewey Special Music: Valley Parish Choir

In lieu of an offering, we ask everyone to bring a

non-perishable food item for our food pantry.

Kingsport District UM Fellowship meetings This is a wonderful way to build friendships and share information between the churches of the Kingsport District. The meetings begin with a covered dish meal and are followed by an inspirational program. We also raise money for scholarships for students at our three Holston Conference colleg-es or studying for careers in full-time ministry.


District



Volume 6, Issue 1


First United Methodist Church Preschool Registration for the Fall 2015/16 School year The First United Methodist Church Preschool in Church Hill is now registering children for the fall. We are a two day a week program for children starting at age three through pre-Kindergarten and our hours are 8:30-1:00. We offer an age appropriate curriculum that includes Bible & Chapel time, Art, Music, and much more. For more information please contact the school office at 357-1094.

(August Newsletter deadline:

July 27, 2015)

Please see the Kingsport District Website at: http://Kingsportdistrictumc.com

for the most current set of District Happenings for July.

The Holston Conference Foundation is accepting Margaret Loving Scholarship applications

through July 15 for the 2015-2016 academic year for United Methodist students affiliated

with Holston Conference churches who are attending or are approved to attend Emory &

Henry, Hiwassee and Tennessee Wesleyan. Scholarships typically range from $500 to $3,000.

An application is attached and is also available on our website, www.foundation.holston.org

under the grants and scholarship information area. Please pass this opportunity along to

your pastors, churches and any interested students.

Roger Redding

Holston Conference Foundation

P.O. Box 900

Alcoa, TN 37701-0900

865-690-8124


District



Volume 6, Issue 1


http://www.foundation.holston.org/


District



Volume 6, Issue 1


NEW CAMP NAME

The work on the new camp at Bays Mountain has begun with the hiring of an ar-chitect/designer and the pending hire of a capital funding campaign firm. However,

the camp does not have a name, so between now and July 26 the Board of Di-rectors are soliciting suggested names for the camp. Suggestions may be

emailed to Director Jeff Wadley at [email protected] or brought to the Meet and Greet on July 26


District YOUTH Information:

·August Camping Trip.

It is that time of year again. Time to make reservations for your Youth Group to go camping.

Kingsport District UMC Youth Camping Trip

Weekend: August 14 -16 (Friday evening – Sunday morning)

Where: Warriors State Park, Kingsport

What: Campfires, Late night hike, Saturday games, Saturday night Concert, devotion and

worship time

The Kingsport district is sponsoring Tyrus Morgan in concert with us again with a new

songs, and a new message on Saturday night. We will use the Shades of Grace building as

the concert venue. If you came to the December concert you know what a great venue this is

and, hopefully, enjoy Tyrus’ music.

Each church needs to make any necessary camping reservations at Warriors. We have re-

served the Campfire Ring area in the back of the camping area for community activities and

some camping.

We had an awesome time last year and good attendance. Let’s have another awesome expe-

rience this year and share it with more people.

Remember you do not have to camp or spend the night to join us for all the activities.

Make plans to join us.

Have a Blessed Day,

Mark and Dawn Adcox

423-677-3364

October 18 – Festival of Gifts and Talents (location TBD)

Additional details to follow on all the District Youth Events. Stay tuned!


District



Volume 6, Issue 1


july 2015 #just imagine - holston...

Documents