~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for June 7:

Wednesday on the Webexclusive – Not going to Lake Junaluska? @ holston.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TOP STORY: Traffic woes in North Carolina

Holston members traveling east on I-40 to attend Annual Conference should allow extra time due to road closures, the Connectional Ministries Office has announced.

The length of road closed is longer than originally announced in a postcard that was mailed to all members of the Annual Conference last week.

"We have learned that I-40 eastbound will be partially closed at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line through mile marker 20 from 10 p.m., Saturday, June 10, through 10 p.m. Sunday, June 11," conference leaders announced. "Significant delays are expected. This closure will impact any persons coming to Annual Conference via I-40 eastbound from Tennessee, because the Lake Junaluska exit is exit 20."

At press time, conference leaders were uncertain if travelers would be required to take a detour or if lanes would be closed.

"We wanted to inform you so that you may make alternate travel plans if you so desire. Please travel safely, and we look forward to seeing you at our conference session at Lake Junaluska on June 11 through 14."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Last call: What to bring to Annual Conference

Be sure you have the following ready to take to Annual Conference:

* Offering for Alaska. If your congregation hasn't yet taken its offering for the work of Church and Community Worker Fran Lynch, you have three more Sundays until Annual Conference. Offerings should be submitted during the afternoon mission presentation on Monday, June 12.

* Change for Children offering. Bring your offering for children's ministry to the "Walk for Change" tent on Tuesday, June 13.

* Fellowship bookmarks. Each attending member is asked to bring three bookmarks to exchange during the scheduled "stand-up breaks."

* Registration card. Don't forget to bring your registration card (which has been mailed to you). Turn it in during registration on Sunday, June 11.

* Your Bible and "Book of Reports." Take these books to all Annual Conference sessions. The "Book of Reports " was also recently mailed to AC members.

More information about Annual Conference

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fostering rural churches: Who said that?
Our practice of appointing pastors to rural areas is unfortunately based on economic matters and availability. We can do better. ”

— Julia Wallace, director of small church and shared ministries at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. She was quoted in a United Methodist News Service story about a new program at Duke Divinity School, designed to draw more ordained clergy to small rural churches.

Read the complete UMNS article

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOW AVAILABLE

______________________________________________

Subscribe, change an email address or join another list, here.

Send your conference-wide news/events here.

This message is from the Holston Conference Communications Office.