Cover Story
New Year Begins With Hip Events for Young People

Enjoy the holidays, then get ready for a year that promises to deliver big on events for Holston laity.

• Resurrection, happening on Jan. 11-13 and 18-20, is the conference’s wildly popular retreat for middle and senior high students. The annual event draws 10,000 for two weekends of music and worship.
  
• Divine Rhythm, in its second year as Holston’s unique retreat for young adults beyond high school, will be held on Jan. 18-20.
  
• Then on April 6 and 7, the Board of Laity will put on its annual spiritual growth and training weekend, known as Transformation, in Lake Junaluska, N.C.
  

Music for Resurrection 2002 will be provided by the ever-popular James Ward and his contemporary Christian band from Chattanooga. The message will be provided by Shane Claiborne, a Holston native currently in ministry at The Simple Way community in Philadelphia. The cost at
the door is $40.

A highlight at this year’s Resurrection is Discovery workshops for students who feel a call to the ministry. Scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 12, and Saturday, Jan 18, from 1 to 5 p.m., the “Convocation on the Call to Ministry” will lead participants through a gifts assessment and provide guest panelists to discuss their own callings. Students should register for the workshop by calling (423) 928-2156 or visiting www.holstonyouth.com. The workshops will be held onsite at Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Salt & Light, the conference youth touring choir, will also be holding auditions on both Saturdays of Resurrection at 1 p.m. in room 21 of the convention center. Applications are available by calling (423) 928-2156 or visiting www.holstonyouth.com. Applications
and letters of recommendation will be accepted after the Dec. 20 deadline, organizers said.

After registering 309 participants for its debut in January 2001, organizers of Divine Rhythm hope to double attendance this year. The three-day event features the Rev.
Jacqulyn Weekly, pastor at Walnut Creek UMC in California, with music and worship led by Wayne Kerr of Houston.

New this year at the conference’s young adult retreat is Café Rhythm, a coffee-house style gathering with music, discussion groups, open mike/ karaoke, and – of course – coffee.

Participants are also encouraged to take advantage of free childcare (provided by the conference Children’s Ministry Team) and participate in a Medic blood drive. Register by visiting www.divinerhythm.com or call (423) 928-2156. The fee for the entire weekend (not including meals and lodging) is $25 per person.

Finally, families, laity and clergy are invited to attend Transformation for a spring weekend designed to “inspire and equip church leadership for the 21st century.”

Returning this year is the Rev. Stephen Ayers and his staff from Hillvue Heights Church of Bowling Green, Ky., as worship and workshop leaders. Last year’s event attracted 500 participants of all ages.

For more information, contact Conference Lay Leader Bob Lockaby at rlockaby@gplt.com, (423) 756-5171 or (423) 344-7361; or Bob Everhart, Transformation Design Team, at butrfly@3wave.com, (423) 764-7670 or (423) 652-2331.

December 21, 2001 Issue

Give Me A Sign
Your church sign is a primary link to the visitors you’re trying to attract. Plus: How many
Holston signs do you recognize in these photos? Pages 4-5

Nation & World
Methodist news from outside the Holston conference.
Pages 6-7

Sew Nice
Twelve women, three churches, and boxes and boxes of hand-stitched goods for underprivileged kids. A Change for Children success story from the Tazewell District.
Page 8

Reach the Muslims
Writing from an undisclosed location in Central Asia, a Holston minister issues an invitation.
Page 3

Christmas Miracle
Bishop Ray Chamberlain
relays a seasonal story to warm your heart.
Page 2

Unless otherwise noted, all articles written by Annette Spence Bender