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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for September 27:

Wednesday on the Webexclusive – Combating Poverty @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: World Communion Sunday on Oct. 1

One of six Special Sundays in the United Methodist Church, World Communion Sunday features a special offering that helps provide scholarships for racial- and ethnic-minority and international college students. Churches unable to celebrate World Communion Sunday on Oct. 1 this year are asked to receive the offering on another day.

Several worship resources exist to help your congregation observe World Communion Sunday:

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It's almost time to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

United Methodists are encouraged to observe "United Nations Sunday" on Oct. 22, and also, to participate in this year's Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF effort.

For worship resources, articles, Bible study materials, and other information, visit the General Board of Church and Society site.

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Gift baskets available from Appalachian Spring Coop
Last week, Jubilee Project celebrated its 15th anniversary of service as a United Methodist mission.

This week, Holston members are invited to visit the Web site for Appalachian Spring Cooperative, an agency of Jubilee Project. There, you'll find several gift baskets featuring the products of local farms and farmers.

Visit the site and order online

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United Methodist News Service features Holston members

The Rev. Jean Layell, pastor at Norton United Methodist Church, and Bill and Phyllis Russell, members at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, are featured this week on the United Methodist News Service site. The Big Stone Gap members are spokespersons for suicide prevention and previously appeared in the Sept. 22 edition of The Call.

See the United Methodist News Service story

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Fighting the IRS: Who said that?

"We smell intimidation, it smells rotten, and we should not allow any aspect of intimidation to be directed to any member of our great country."

— Maher Hathout, senior adviser of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, speaking at a press conference in support of a liberal church that has been threatened with the loss of its tax-exempt status over an anti-war sermon delivered just days before the 2004 presidential election. The All Saints Church of Pasadena, Calif., has said it will fight an IRS order to turn over documents on the matter.

Read the Associated Press article

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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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This message is from the Holston Conference Communications Office.