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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for January 5:

Wednesday on the Webexclusive – Online giving: Help to ease the suffering @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: Money rolls in for tsunami victims

Donations for tsunami victims are beginning to arrive at Holston's financial office in Knoxville just as money is accumulating through charities all over the world.

Gifts collected in the conference office will be sent directly to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which is coordinating resources with international partners to aid victims of an earthquake-related catastrophe striking parts of Asia and Africa. See the Jan. 14 edition of The Call for a story on the first donations given by Holston churches.

To aid UMCOR, Holston members can make checks to their local churches, designating "Tsunami Disaster Relief" on the memo line. Pastors and treasurers may designate "Project 513" on their remittance forms. To make credit card donations, call 1-800-554-8583 or make an online donation now.

Tsunami-related resources:

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Holston’s financial books close on Jan. 7

The 2004 financial books will close at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7. All 2004 transactions must be received in the conference treasurer's office in Knoxville by that deadline. For more information, call the finance office at (865) 690-4080.

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Make plans now for Ministers’ Convocation at Lake J.

Clergy are encouraged to attend the 2005 Holston Ministers' Convocation, to be held Feb. 14-17 at Lake Junaluska, N.C. This year's theme is "Empowering Leadership," and 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available. Speakers include Lovett H. Weems, professor of church leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Download a brochure or register now

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Deadline approaches for ethnic local church grant

Applications are due Jan. 10 for funding from the General Board of Church and Society. The "2005 Ethnic Local Church Grants" will be awarded to creative, new ministries that strengthen racial and multi-ethnic churches to do social justice education, connect mercy and justice, engage in public policy advocacy and provide leadership development.

Download the application

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Tools for ministry: Visiting Alzheimer’s patients

Applications are due Jan. 10 for funding from the General Board of Church and Society. The "2005 Ethnic Local Church Grants" will be awarded to creative, new ministries that strengthen racial and multi-ethnic churches to do social justice education, connect mercy and justice, engage in public policy advocacy and provide leadership development.

Read the article

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Numbers: Welcome to the club

About 40 percent of the nation's charities -- or more than 300,000 organizations -- gained tax-exempt status in the past decade, according to a Jan. 6 report from the "The Chronicle of Philanthropy."

Christian organizations accounted for the largest share of growth among religious charities (about half). More than 1,000 new Buddhist and Islamic charities were also created, nearly tripling the number that previously existed.

Read the report

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Your online calendar: Remember these dates

March 20-22:  ‘Jubilation’ for  senior adults 

New event announcements appear here. Visit our upcoming events page for other events. Be sure you have the newest Acrobat Reader or you may not be able to view PDFs.

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NOW AVAILABLE

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This message is from the Holston Conference Communications Office.