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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for April 19:

Wednesday on the Webexclusive – Save Darfur Rally @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: How to help Tennessee tornado victims

Holston Conference is responding in the aftermath of deadly storms that swept through Tennessee on April 2 and April 7. Members are encouraged to send cash donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for immediate relief and long-term recovery. Donations should be made to your local church or to "Holston Conference," with "UMCOR Advance #901670 Domestic Disaster Relief” on the memo line. Place checks in your church offering plate or mail to: Holston Conference, P.O. Box 32929, Knoxville, TN 37930-2939. You may also donate online now.

Churches wishing to send disaster-relief teams to the tornado sites should e-mail the Connectional Ministries Office or call toll-free (866) 690-4080.

Read the United Methodist News Service story

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How many did you have in worship on Sunday?
Let us know your total worship attendance for Easter Sunday, and we'll report those numbers in the upcoming May 5 edition of The Call. Please write thecall@holston.org by Monday, April 24.

Visit The Call's Web site now

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Children's Day: A great way to kick off summer

Children's Day celebrations are scheduled at our conference and district camps from May to June:

Activities include games, crafts, campfire songs, stories, and devotions. Check-in begins at 10 a.m. Activities conclude at 2 p.m.

Download registration materials now

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Visit Holston Home's Web site: Make a difference

Need a speaker for your next meeting? Want to make a donation to a ministry with lasting results? At Holston Home for Children's Web site, it's possible to do this as well as request a tour or simply to learn more about the United Methodist home for children based in Greeneville, Tenn.

Visit the site now

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Grants available for church building projects

The Renfro Trust Fund provides grants for building projects in rural churches of the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Last year, five Holston churches received a total $15,000 of the $25,000 available for building projects. Grant money is not available for parsonages.

Church leaders are invited to submit their 2006 applications in the registration office at Annual Conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C., by Tuesday, June 13. For more information, e-mail the Rev. Mat Merker , conference secretary for the General Board of Global Ministries.

Download an application form now

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Trouble at Duke: Who said that?

"It is obvious that education and privilege do not eradicate endemic sin."

— Bishop Ken Carder, director of pulpit and pew at the Duke Center for Excellence in Ministry at Duke Divinity School, commenting on a sex scandal involving the Duke University men's lacrosse team.

Read the United Methodist News Service story

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Your online calendar: Remember these dates

Native American Ministries Sunday - April 30

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.