District Roundup
Abingdon: The Abingdon District United Methodist Women recently held a “Mexican Fiesta” at Hungry Mother Park in Marion, Va. About 170 women representing 32 of the district's 47 units attended. First Marion UMC members planned the program, menu, and decorations and served the food.
Big Stone Gap: Jim Noseworthy, Hiwassee College president, was guest speaker at the dis- trict ministers' meeting on Sept. 2 at Trinity UMC.
Chattanooga: Trenton UMC in Trenton, Ga., is hosting a Rotation Model Sunday School workshop on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $20 per person or $15 per person for groups of three or more. A partial scholarship from Chattanooga District is available for small churches. Call (706) 657-6170 for more information.
Cleveland: In the last issue, “District Roundup” excerpted a newsletter article by the Rev. Todd Kingrea, who challenged his congregation to more fully involve youth in the church. Coincidentally, as The Call went to press, Kingrea sent a report and photos to the conference office about Wesley Memorial UMC's recent youth mission trip. Twenty-one youth and six adults went to northern Kentucky and Cincinnati to work at a homeless shelter. Besides throwing a surprise birthday party for a homeless six-year-old girl, youth painted a mural, cleaned the building, transported beds, and helped prepare fund-raising materials.
Johnson City: Unicoi UMC recently hosted a tamale luncheon to raise money for Hispanic min- istries at the church. Even though it was Labor Day weekend, 50 people attended and the church raised $300. The tamales were made from scratch by members of the church and local His- panic community, reports the Rev. Dennis Loy.
Kingsport: The district is planning a “Celebration Event” on Sunday, Oct. 12, 3-6 p.m. at First Broad Street UMC. The keynote address, “John Wesley: Foundation of Our Past, Key to Our Future,” will be delivered by Nancy Burgin Rankin, senior pastor at University City UMC, Charlotte, N.C. The event is for the leaders and members of Kingsport¡òs 59 churches. Five hundred participants are expected, according to the district newsletter.
Knoxville: At vacation Bible school, Sand Branch UMC averaged 70 to 80 participants each night. On the final night, more than 150 came for a dinner and the “4th Annual Hillbilly Water Slide.” Pastor Kim Isley says the improvised water slide is a big hit in the com- munity every summer. Two families who came out for the wet festivities have been visiting the church ever since.
Maryville: Sunday school and worship attendance continues to climb at Carpenter's Campground UMC and is “on pace to be the highest since the mid- 1990s,” the church newsletter recently stated. Sunday school attendance hit 61 in June, up from 46 in June 2002. Worship attendance averaged 104, compared with 86 in 2002. “In response to the increasing num- bers, additional parking spaces were constructed in July, and two new Sunday school classes were started.”
Morristown: For the past two years, First Jefferson City UMC has been a state-approved site for the Summer Food Service Program, which offers nutritious meals for children on the free or reduced lunch programs in public schools. The East Tennessee Human Resource Agency purchases the meals from a local deli, and the church offers the space, transportation, and volunteers. Along with members from First Jefferson City, volunteers from other local churches assist with the program. An average of 30 children were served at each meal this summer, reports First Jefferson's Joe Payne.
Oak Ridge: First Oak Ridge UMC is sponsoring a MEDIC blood drive on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Each donor will receive a free T-shirt and choles- terol check.
Tazewell: The district is sponsoring its second annual “Motorcycle Camp” Oct. 2-5 at Camp Laurel in Rocky Gap, Va. Last year, 25 riders participated, reports organizer and pastor Larry Murphy. “Even more than that were reached with the love of Christ, though,” he says. “A few of the more hardy among us visited an outlaw biker party being held at the same time and witnessed to them.” For more informa- tion, contact Murphy at (276) 326-3700 or Sarah Bowling at (276) 928-1821.
Wytheville: Children participating in vacation Bible school at Bethel
(Radford) UMC raised more than $600
for the International Heifer Project,
reports the Rev. Joe Taylor. The money
will purchase one heifer and five flocks
of chickens. “Great enthusiasm for the
project came from the approximately 20
children as they met each Wednesday
night in July,” Taylor said. Bethel averages 86 in worship attendance.
top |
|
