District Roundup
Abingdon: It's tough for a smaller church to staff a full week of vacation Bible school, says Pastor Connie Huffine. So this year, Virginia Avenue UMC held a one-day VBS on a Saturday in June. The event started at 10 a.m. and included Bible stories, crafts, music, and water games. At 4:30, parents were invited to a cookout. Of 27 kids attending, 17 were not regular church participants, Huffine says. “The cookout gave us a chance to talk to the parents and invite them to church.”
Big Stone Gap: As the only church in town, Derby UMC is heavily involved in a $1.8 million revitalization of the community. All meet- ings related to the state-funded project are held in the church building, and parishioners are literally helping to lay a pipeline that will connect 99 homes and 250 people to clean water. Gov. Mark Warner climbed into a ditch to assist with the water project on July 24.
Chattanooga: Five Chattanooga pastors have found that time on the golf course is good fel- lowship. So they recently initiated a Chattanooga/ Cleveland District golf tournament, followed by a conference-wide tournament. Eighteen golfers participated in competition at Waynesville Country Club on June 11, the last day of Annual Conference. Winners were Doug Fairbanks, Charlie Harrison, and Gordon Goodgame. The original five golfers who inspired the tournaments? Fairbanks, Al Bowles, Tom Seay, David Tabor, and Bennie Matherly.
Cleveland: Eighteen members of Keith Memorial UMC recently spent a 90-degree Monday digging holes. By the end of the day, they had planted 19 large river birch trees to provide shade for the five horses at Holston Home for Children. This is the third consecutive summer the youth group has spent helping Holston Home get its equestrian barn up and running.
Johnson City: Retired minister Mack Houston is temporarily serving at Taylor Memorial UMC, since August Lageman has been deployed to Kosovo as an army chaplain. Col. Lageman is expected to return to Taylor Memorial in early September.
Kingsport: Every second and fourth Wednesday, Vermont UMC delivers “Love Meals” to more than 50 homebound persons. The ministry was initiated by the Shepherding Committee and is growing steadily, supported by donations from the community. About 80 percent of the people who receive meals are not church members, says a spokesperson, but people who look forward to prayers and fellowship offered by Vermont members.
Knoxville: Bookwalter UMC doubled its space for toddler Sunday school by building a colorful deck in the classroom. Tables are located on the top deck; below the deck is a play space. Pastor Mack Turner says the innovation is ideal for classrooms with high ceilings but small dimensions.
Maryville: Since Broadway UMC is undergoing renovation to install an elevator, the church needed a place to hold vacation Bible school this summer. Green Meadow UMC offered its facilities and the congregations held a joint VBS. On the final day, a dunking booth raised $130 to feed “Bill the Horse” at Wesley Woods. The Rev. James Green took the opportunity to give a little clergy counseling to the Rev. Buzz Trexler, Green Meadow's pastor.
Morristown: The district conference will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7, at First Morristown UMC. The Rev. Sam Puckett will preach. Puckett works at Holston Home for Children and with the Hispanic ministry at Liberty UMC.
Oak Ridge: In June 2002, Heiskell UMC bought and moved into an old school building. The vision was to transform the building and lot into a community center. “We see children playing in the streets; there's nothing here for them,” says the Rev. Pat Bishop. Now, Heiskell is applying for loans to build a soccer field, playground, picnic area, and walking track. The congregation also hopes to have an afterschool program implemented by the end of the year. Heiskell's average worship attendance: 20.
Tazewell: During a “blitz building” week of October, the district will build its third Habitat for Humanity House. The town of Bluefield, Va., is donating a lot, and the district is raising $12,000 to accompany $18,000 in hand.
Wytheville: This time last year, Grove UMC was behind $25,000 in budget and paying its Fair Share apportionment. So far this year, the church is $580 ahead. “What a blessing!” Finance Chair David DeHart announced in the newsletter. “You, as a congregation, have accepted the challenge of the Finance Committee and surpassed it.”
top |
|
