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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for March 21:

Wednesday on the Web AC Deadlines @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: Jubilation breaks attendance record!

Older adults came to MeadowView Conference Resort in record numbers this week for Jubilation, a three-day retreat held March 18-20 in Kingsport, Tenn. Attendance increased by more than 90 over last year's attendance, with 370 coming for worship, workshops, good food, and sight-seeing. See the complete report in the upcoming April 6 edition of The Call.

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Here we are in beautiful, downtown Alcoa

At least 30 Holston Conference staff members are nearly unpacked and working in their new offices at 217 South Rankin Road in Alcoa, Tenn. Please note that the new address is P.O. Box 850, Alcoa, TN 37701-0850. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. See the upcoming April 6 edition of The Call for a complete report.

Get directions to the new building

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African missionary couples will visit Holston

Two African missionary couples, scheduled to be in Holston Conference during May and June, are available to speak in their supporting churches.

Mary and Herbert Zigbuo of Liberia will be in Holston from May 1 to May 31 (except for Mother's Day weekend). Maria and Bill Humbane of Zimbabwe will be in Holston June 11-30. To schedule a speaking engagement or to provide transportation or accommodations, contact Bill Daugherty at (423) 253-4801 by April 1.

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Available now: Videos of Brazil mission project

Contact your district office now to borrow a video or DVD presentation of life-changing ministries in Brazil, which will be the focus of Holston's 2007 missions offering.

In May, Holston will aim to raise $100,000 for the work of Bishop Paulo Lockmann, the Rio Conference, and the United Methodist Church of Brazil. The video is ideal for showing in churches before the conference-wide special offering on May 6.

Read more about the ministry in Brazil

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Contest for youth songwriters: Deadline is March 31

Youth bands and songwriters are invited to write original songs that express their devotion to God for an upcoming gathering of 10,000 youth in Greensboro, N.C. The deadline for entries is March 31.

The Upper Room Ministries magazine for youth and young adults, "Devozine," is sponsoring the SoulTunes Contest. The winners will perform the winning song at Youth 2007, to be held July 11-15 at Greensboro Convention Center. The contest is for youth bands and performers ages 13-19.

Find out more about the contest

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Pray for our clergy who are expecting "transitions"

This week, many clergy members are on edge as they wait to hear from their district superintendents regarding projected appointments in June. Meeting through Friday in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Bishop James Swanson and the Cabinet are making decisions for clergy expected to move to new churches this summer.

Read more about UM pastoral appointments

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Invitation from Abingdon United Methodist Men
All Holston Conference men are invited to attend a "Success That Matters" event, to be held April 13-14 at Holiday Inn Hotel and Bristol Convention Center. The seminar was prepared by Man in the Mirror (www.maninthemirror.org), with a goal to "reach men and motivate them toward sustained spiritual growth." Cost is $40 per man; no charge for spouses or children. For more information, e-mail Tom Mitoraj or call (276) 466-0881.

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Reality outside these church walls: Who said that?

"We go to the workplace to take care of people. Today, 70 percent of the workforce does not have a relationship with a clergy person."

— Gil Stricklin, founder of Dallas-based Marketplace Chaplains USA, which provides chaplains to companies. Stricklin was quoted in an article showing that faith is the "latest type of diversity" in the workplace.

Read the Dallas Morning News 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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NOW AVAILABLE

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