Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for April 11:
@ holston.org~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for April 11:
@ holston.org
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TOP STORY: Tell us your Easter numbers!
The Call wants to celebrate worship attendances throughout Holston on Easter Sunday, April 8. Please e-mail thecall@holston.org with your church's total worship attendance by 8 p.m. tonight. The numbers will be published in the April 20 edition.
Please do not send us any other church's worship attendance — other than your own. Please identify yourself as a pastor or lay leader, along with your church's name and district.
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Coming May 6: Conference-wide offering for Brazil
This year's Annual Conference missions focus is Brazil. On May 6 (or an alternate date), Holston congregations will raise $100,000 with a conference-wide offering. Several resources — including a bulletin insert and DVD — are available to publicize the offering to your congregations.
Download these resources now
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Wanted: Churches with environmental hearts
The Outreach-Advocacy Ministry Team seeks churches involved in environment-related ministries. Please send a brief description of your ministries, along with a contact name, phone number, and e-mail address, to:
Claire Lovelace
113 Heritage Place Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659
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Retirees: Plan to attend one of these meetings
Retirees are encouraged to attend one of six meetings that will explain changes to the current health insurance plan, effective in January 2008.
April 12: Cokesbury Center, Knoxville District, 10 a.m.
April 16: St. Paul UMC, Wytheville District, 2 p.m.
April 17: Munsey Memorial UMC, Johnson City District, 10 a.m.
April 20: Holston Conference Center, Maryville District, 2 p.m.
May 7: Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon District, 10 a.m.
May 20: Ooltewah UMC, Cleveland District, 3 p.m.
Read about the insurance changes in The Call
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Mark your calendar: We're giving you a mental health day
On May 19, Holston Conference will host a special forum at Shady Grove UMC in Dandridge, Tenn. Mark your calendar now for "Mental Health Matters: A Day of Conversation." The event begins at 10 a.m., concludes at 4 p.m. More information will be provided soon in this newsletter and in The Call.
Register Online
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Holy Week is over: Pretty tired, huh?
CircuitRider Magazine offers a "sermon starter" for each of the next several weeks, from April 15 through May 20.
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Something new in Holston: Youth Ministry Institute
F.U.E.L. Youth Ministry Institute is a series of foundational youth ministry courses for youth mentors, both paid and volunteer. Also known as F.Y.I., the course offers study and networking from August 2007 to April 2008, with a goal of providing a firm foundation in youth ministry. Registration is due June 26.
Read more about FYI
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Gay and ready for membership: Who said that?
"The Judicial Council's ruling says that the pastor of the church is the person in authority to determine whether an individual is ready to receive the vows of membership. And having spoken with this individual and him having professed Christ as his savior, his belief that Jesus Christ died for his sins tells me that he is ready to receive the vows of membership."
— The Rev. Barry Burkholder, who on March 11 accepted a gay man's transfer of membership from a Baptist church to South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church. The man was denied membership by a previous pastor in 2005, prompting controversy across the denomination.
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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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