MARCH 2017

What Is God’s Vision For Your Church?

Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

Without question, many believers are familiar with Proverbs 29:18. Upon review of various translations of the text we find that the key word vision refers to revelation, a word of God departed to the people. One Christian writer has stated,

“where there is no word of God, where there is no message of life, the people perish.” Even in the secular world it has

been said that any successful endeavor requires a vision. The question is: What is God’s Vision for your church?

We understand that each church and the communities in which they are located normally have site specific challenges

and opportunities for ministry. A key element of discerning God’s vision for the local church involves a process of

prayer and soul searching. Congregations no matter how large or small should not shy away from the process. I firmly believe that vision casting accompanied by an obedient spirit, a willingness to follow God’s guidance, and the

determination to engage in dialogue and asking critical questions can be extremely rewarding. A few relevant questions may include:

Who are we as the people of God?

Where are we in the life circle of our church?

How are we viewed by the community?

What has God called the church to be in our community?

When the process period is completed and the Lord has spoken to His people, the church must gear up for action. As

stated in Habakkuk 2:2 , we must write down the vision and place it before the people of God. By definition, a vision statement is “An aspirational description of what a church would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It is intended to serve as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action.”

In closing, there are basic benefits of drafting and embracing a church vision statement. A few of the benefits are as follows:

1. A vision statement is a tool that acts as a unifying force within the congregation and enhances ministry

effectiveness. The vision sets the focus and encourages everyone to work towards the designated goal.

2. A vision statement sets priorities and acts as a guide for ministry decision making. For example, if there is a decision to be made to undertake a new ministry initiative or how to proceed on a task at a hand one should pause

and ask an important question: Is what we are considering consistent with our vision statement?

3. A vision statement can motivate and serve as a source of inspiration for congregations. As an example, believers who embrace the vision are more likely to commit to and engage in church volunteer opportunities.

Grace and Peace,

Adam

Mary Virginia Taylor, Resident Bishop Rev. Dr. Adam E. McKee, III, District Superintendent Lori Hopper, Administrative Assistant, Editor

183 Lafayette Drive

Oak Ridge, TN 37830-6898

Office: 865-482-3209 * Fax: 865-483-4515

District email: ordist@holston.org

HEALTH KITS - 2017 HOLSTON HANDS-ON

MISSION PROJECT The Oak Ridge District has been asked to collect HEALTH KITS for the

2017 Holston Annual Conference Hands-on Mission Project.

Kits will be collected in the district office and will be sent to the Ishe Anesu Project for Underprivileged Children in Zimbabwe.

Please note: These are different from UMCOR kits.

Each kit must contain the following items packed into a 2-gallon Ziploc bag:

2 bars soap

2 toothpaste (6.4 oz. or less)

2 toothbrushes

1 Children’s Chewable Tylenol

(or any generic Acetaminophen), 80mg/160mg, (30 ct.)

1 washcloth

♦ 1 Delsym 12-hour for children/adults (3 oz. or less)

♦ 1 Tylenol (or any generic Acetaminophen), 500 mg (24 ct.)

♦ 1 Benadryl children’s liquid (4 oz.) OR adult tabs (24 ct.)

1 Aleve (or any generic Naproxen Sodium), 220 mg (24 ct.)

1 Listerine, adult OR children’s Smart Rinse (250 mL or less)

Please give close attention to the medication dosages and

packaging sizes and quantities.

Due to customs regulations, additional items or items in sizes/quantities not listed cannot be accepted.

$5 per kit should also be included to cover packing and shipping costs. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE BAGS!

Each church should write one check payable to:

Oak Ridge District (Ex: 10 kits x $5 = $50.00)

Details for drop off times and locations will be announced in next month’s newsletter.

March 2017 Page 2

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017

Pastors, Local Church Lay Members and Dis-

trict At-Large Members to Annual Confer-

ence, it’s time to visit ac.holston.org to register for Holston Annual Conference,

June 11-14, 2017

Please note the following important dates:

April 1, 2017

Deadline to order a printed version of the Book of Reports

May 15, 2017

Deadline to sign-up for Childcare

through Lake Junaluska (828) 454-6681

May 19, 2017 Deadline to register for::

Holston Annual Conference

Missions Dinner

5K Run/Walk

A note to Pastors:

If your Lay Member to Annual Conference has changed, please notify the District Office.

Visit ac.holston.org to register and for

additional resources in preparation for

Annual Conference.

Need assistance? Call the district office (865)482-3209 or contact Charlotte Riggins at the

Holston Conference Center (865) 690-4080 CharlotteRiggins@holston.org

See you at the Lake!

2016 HOLSTON CONFERENCE JOURNALS

Orders are now being accepted for 2016 Holston Conference Journals Visit www.holston.org to order yours today! Cost $51.00

If you are unable to order online, an order form is available to download and mail-in with your check.

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UMCOR KITS MUCH APPRECIATED Thank you to the churches in the District who

have assembled Flood/Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits in recent months.

19 flood buckets assembled by

First Farragut UMC, Midtown

Valley UMC, and Norris UMC were delivered to the UMCOR

Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana in February by a mis-

sion team from Concord UMC. Thank you to all who worked

together in assembly and deliv-

ery and also to Bradbury UMC for a recent donation of flood buckets.

UMCOR currently has a need for donations of

health kits and bedding kits for use in future dis-

asters. Donations of completed kits will be ac-cepted at the District Office during normal busi-

ness hours.

Instructions for assembling kits can be found at www.umcor.org

UMCOR SUNDAY (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing)

March 26, 2017

Gifts to UMCOR Sunday lay the foundation for all United

Methodist Committee on Relief work by covering the costs of doing business. The means all contributions

designated to specific programs can go 100 percent to those programs because UMCOR’s basic expenses have

been covered. Download resources at:

www.umggiving.org/DownloadUMCOR

CONCORD MISSION TEAM SERVES AT UMCOR SAGER BROWN DEPOT Concord UMC took a team of 23 servants to serve at the

UMCOR Sager Brown Depot, Baldwin, LA in February. The team helped to verify and pack 8800 Health kits that have

been shipped to Pakistan and Ukraine. The team delivered

health kits, bedding kits, and large load of Flood Buckets donated by the Oak Ridge and Morristown Districts to

Sager Brown.

Quotes from team members include: “I was concerned if I could physically do the work but had no problem-any age or physical condition can go to Sager Brown and make a difference to the less fortunate and receive a blessing at the same time.” - Dalton Smith

“I walked away from the Mission trip to the Sager Brown Depot and community of Baldwin, LA with a deep appreciation for the connectionalism of the United Methodist church. It is so apparent that when people work together, mighty things can be

accomplished in God's name and it was a blessing to share in God's work with peo-ple from various parts of the country.” -Rev. Glenna Manning

“The Sager Brown Mission trip was a great opportunity to be in a community with Concord UMC friends and make new friends. There is nothing like an extended bus ride, shared rooms and meals to join our hearts together. We had fun, fellowship, and worked to help others.” - Kay Harper

- Article Submitted by Jane Currin

March 2017 Page 3

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March 2017 Page 4

SEED POTATO DISTRIBUTION

Does your church have a community garden or food

pantry? The Society of St. Andrews will distribute seed potatoes on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at

Concord UMC. Seed potatoes in bags of 50 lbs. (or smaller upon request) up to pallets of 2000 lbs. will

be available. Please contact Mike Smith at:

Michael_14479@msn.com or 865-300-8150 to reserve the amount of seed potatoes you need.

Holston Annual Conference Announces 2017 Mission Offering for Ishe Anesu

Our 2017 Annual Conference Mission Offering is the

Ishe Anesu Project for Underprivileged Children located in Mutare, Zimbabwe. That name should sound

familiar to you. Every year half of the Hands-On Project supplies (food buckets, school kits, cleaning buckets,

sewing kits) are shipped to Ishe Anesu. Holston Confer-

ence has had a pivotal role in the creation of and the success of the Ishe Anesu project.

Your support has enabled numerous children to receive

the assistance they need to survive and thrive in a very difficult situation. In fact, several of the children that we

started with are now attending

college and doing very well. We want to insure the future

of the project and this offering is one way we can do that.

Thank you for your generous

gift toward Ishe Anesu.

Envelopes will be sent out to churches in each district and will be collected Tuesday, June 13, at the Annual

Conference Mission Celebration.

GOLF TOURNAMENT Camp Wesley Woods

Annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for Camp Scholarships

Monday, April 24, 2017

Morning (8:30) Afternoon (1:30)

Information on registration can be found at:

www.campwesleywoods.com

***

Keep up with Camp Wesley Woods on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CampWesleyWoodsTN/

***

Know anyone who hasn’t signed up for camp yet? Brochures are available in the district office.

***

Needs for Summer 2017 Staffing:

MIRs (Ministers in Residence)

Nurses, paid and volunteer positions.

Camp Counselors (age 17+)

***

Camp Wesley Woods would love to come out to talk

to youth ground, MOPS groups or any groups. Please call camp to set up a time 865-448-2246

Change for Children Grants are available to support new

and existing ministries with economically disadvantaged children through Holston Conference churches and related

United Methodist agencies. Envelopes will be sent out mid-April to each church in each district and collected on

Tuesday morning June 13th 8:30 - 10:00am in front of

Stuart Auditorium at Holston Annual Conference.

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UMW NEWS Social Action Workshop

Poverty Awareness

Saturday, March 25 Trinity UMC, Knoxville

Presenter: Anne Travis

Registration Fee: $10

District Day Apart Saturday, April 22

Jacksboro UMC

Speaker: Shirley Keck

Spiritual Enrichment Experience May 19-20 OR

May 20-21

Lake Junaluska, NC

To receive more information on the Oak Ridge Dis-trict United Methodist Women or any UMW activities,

please contact: ordumw@gmail.com

March 2017 Page 5

DISTRICT CLERGY MEETINGS

NOTES FROM MARCH 9 MEETING:

0.1 CEU will be credited to those who were in attendance

at the March 9 program on Domestic Violence.

Additional resources can be found at:

* www.nrcdv.org National Resource Center for Domestic Violence

* www.faithtrustinstitute.org/resources/statistics/domestic-violence

UPCOMING CLERGY MEETINGS

Thursday, April 20, 10:00am

Book Discussion: A Disciple’s Path: Deepening your Rela-tionship with Christ and the Church by James Harnish and Justin LaRosa. Reading the book and participating in discus-

sion earns 0.4 CEU credit. Discussion only: 0.1 CEU credit

Thursday, May 18, 10:00am

Program TBD

All meetings are at First UMC Oak Ridge unless otherwise notified.

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CHURCH SAFETY The District Office has been provided a booklet and safety

checklist for your church from Church Mutual. This booklet addresses several areas of concern and can at first seem

very challenging. However, the sooner you start on a rou-

tine inspection program, the more likely your facilities and congregation will become safer and more secure.

The checklist is based on safety

studies and actual claims submitted

to Church Mutual and can help you eliminate hazards that might lead

to costly property losses, personal injuries and legal actions.

You are also encouraged to see the video, Improving Safe-ty at Your Worship Center. It covers many of the areas in

the booklet, and will help you organize your self-inspection tour.

Please visit the website www.churchmutual.com to see

the full range of safety materials. All of them are available

at no charge.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Knoxville, TN -- First Farragut UMC seeks a part-

time Hostess/Coordinator for church events. Qual-ified candidate will be responsible for coordinating

events in regards purchasing supplies, organizing vol-unteers, serving, and clean-up at events. For more

information, please email jobs@ffumc.org

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The Holston Conference United Methodist

Camp & Retreat Ministries announces a search for an Executive Director. Job responsibilities include:

oversight of ministry design and direction for the four United Methodist camps of Holston Conference (east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, northwest Georgia) and the Camp in the Community ministry, resourcing camp boards in ministry governance, supervision of the business operation, financial planning and man-agement, and fund development. For more infor-mation on current operations, please visit www.holstoncamping.com.

JEANETTE REYNOLDS SCHOLARSHIPS

Jeanette Reynolds Scholarships are available to any stu-dent pursuing full time ministry in the United Methodist

Church. The applicant must have a relationship with a church in the Holston Conference. Undergraduate or

graduate students may apply.

The deadline for applications is May 15, 2017.

Complete information is available at:

http://www.fumcor.org/scholarship-opportunities

REPORT OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT

The Committee on Finance of each local church is required to

make provision for an annual audit of the records of all the financial officers (including the financial secretary, business

manager, and/or treasurer) of the church and all its organi-zations and shall report these to the Charge Conference.

Completed Report of the Annual Audit forms are due in the

District Office by April 15.

CEU NEWS

For the latest continuing education news and upcoming events from the Wesley Leadership Institute,

please visit: https://app.robly.com/archive?id=0fcb67f710258fef163985dd5ecacb6c

BE JUST. BE GREEN BE JUST. BE GREEN BE JUST. BE GREEN From the United Methodist Book of Discipline

All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, min-

erals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s crea-

tion and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We

should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect. (Social Principles, ¶ 160) United Methodist Women calls for sound stewardship of the earth and environmentally friendly lifestyles

that preserve creation for the benefit of present and future generations.

In line with one of the current National Office Focus Issues and one of this year’s studies,

Climate Justice, our Mission u is moving closer to “Be Just. Be Green.” We will be minimizing

our use of non-recyclable products and taking other steps to protect the environment. Please

be planning to bring your own refillable beverage container.

The Spiritual Growth study is Living

as a Covenant Community with leaders

Ginny West Case, Nellie Bragg, and Ju-lie Taylor. This study examines major

covenants throughout the Bible and

what they reveal about God’s character

and eternal love for us. It will enhance

your understanding of how God works with us, in us, and through us.

The Issue study is Climate Justice with

leader Heather Bennett. This study in-vites you to understand climate justice,

which means setting right our relation-

ships with each other and the earth.

Climate injustice is the result of climate

change. The study will challenge you to

see what needs to happen for climate justice to become a reality in the world today. The

church needs to more powerfully model a way of do-

ing it differently. This will entail not just focusing on

the environment, but also asking hard questions re-

garding financial profit, a growing economy, our inde-pendent way of thinking and our understanding of

The Geographic study for adults is Mission-

ary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the United States with leaders Becky

Hall and Anne Travis. This same study is

adapted for youth with leader Kacye Castenir

and children with leader Melissa Hutchinson.

See the book covers below. The aim of the

study is to give an overview of the three mis-sionary conferences in The United Methodist

Church, the contexts out of which they grew

and their current engagements: The Alaska

United Methodist Conference, Red Bird Mis-

sionary Conference, and the Oklahoma Indian

Missionary Conference are a hybrid of home and international missionary work.

JULY 20-22, 2017

We look forward to seeing you in

July!!

March 2017 Page 6

Holston Mission uHolston Mission uHolston Mission u Central UMCCentral UMCCentral UMC

Lenoir City, TN Lenoir City, TN Lenoir City, TN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Appalachia Service Project and the Holston Conference of The United Methodist

Church partner in long-term recovery effort in Sevier County

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 2, 2017)—

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) and the Holston Conference of The United Method-ist Church jointly announce a partnership to assist in the long-term recovery of low-

income families devastated by the wildfires in Sevier County. This partnership will work in concert with the Mountain Tough Recovery Team and other agencies engaged in the recov-

ery effort.

On November 28, 2016, a fire that started in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was pushed by strong winds out of the park and into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The fire killed 14 people and destroyed over 2,800 buildings,

eventually burning over 17,000 acres of land.

The hundreds of low-income families who will need assistance to rebuild their primary residence after this devastating fire have been identified by the Volunteer Recovery Center. Currently, Volunteer East Tennessee's Recovery Center manages the

Sevier County Survivor Assistance Hotline (844-965-1386). The hotline takes all unmet needs for Survivors, including home-

owner clean-up and rebuild. The early rebuild cases were sent to Red Cross case managers to vet the first 5 homes, while the hundreds that remain will go to Mountain Tough's disaster case managers.

Most of these families have been denied Federal disaster recovery loan funding due to lack of adequate income and are una-

ble to secure other resources for rebuilding. These homeowners often fall through the cracks of long-term recovery, and will be the focus of efforts by ASP and the Holston Conference.

The Holston Conference is providing a cash gift to ASP, as well as an in-kind donation of framed walls, to support this re-

covery effort. This partnership will help underwrite and execute the building of 25 replacement homes over the next 12 months.

“ASP’s partnership with the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church is an experience of ‘returning to our roots’,”

said Crouch. “ASP was founded by a Methodist minister, Rev. Glenn ‘Tex’ Evans, in 1969, and we are headquartered within the Holston Conference.”

“The congregations of the Holston Conference are eager to assist our neighbors in the Sevier County area,” said Mike Sluder,

Director of Connectional Ministries for the Holston Conference. “We are excited to work with ASP in these efforts and to draw on their expertise and our long-term partnership as we participate in the rebuilding.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Visit ASP’s Newsroom (http://asphome.org/newsroom) for a fact sheet about Appalachia Service Project, downloadable press releases, photos, and other information.

March 2017 Page 7

A retreat for adults (50+) who desire to explore

and enhance their relationship with Christ.

May 1-3, 2017

Main Stay Suites ♦ Pigeon Forge, TN

We all have been richly blessed! Join us at Jubilation

2017 as we explore ways we can bless others. Dr. Mick-

ey Elfird will lead us in our general sessions as we ex-

plore ways that we can carry out this life-long goal. We

will bless future generations by receiving an offering

for Holston Conference Camp Scholarships - making it

possible for underprivileged youth to the experience

our conference camps.

For brochure and more information

on Jubilation 2017, visit:

Jubilation.holston.org

or

Contact Gaye King,

Holston Conference

Older Adult Ministries

gayeking@holston.org

865-690-4080

Jubilation 2017

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HOLY WEEK SERVICES HOLY WEEK SERVICES HOLY WEEK SERVICES

IN THE OAK RIDGE DISTRICTIN THE OAK RIDGE DISTRICTIN THE OAK RIDGE DISTRICT

April 9-16, 2017

First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge

Maundy Thursday, April 13

7:00PM (A Dramatic Presentation of the Last Supper

with Holy Communion), Multipurpose Room

Good Friday, April 14 7:00PM (A Service of Tenebrae), Sanctuary

Easter Sunday, April 16

7:00AM Sunrise Service with Holy Communion, Front Lawn

8:45AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary 10:00AM Service of Holy Communion, Chapel

11:00AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary

11:00AM Contemporary Service, Multipurpose Room

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Oliver Springs Parish Oliver Springs UMC, 513 E. Tri County Blvd.

Jonesville UMC, 2323 Old Harriman Hwy.

Thursday, April 13

7:00PM Maundy Thursday Service at Oliver Springs UMC

Easter Sunday, April 16 7:00AM Sunrise Service at Oliver Springs UMC

9:45AM Easter Worship at Jonesville UMC

Luminary United Methodist Church 3401 River Road, Ten Mile

Sunday, April 9

8:00AM and 11:00AM Palm Sunday Worship

Thursday, April 13

7:00PM Maundy Thursday Service

Good Friday, April 14

7 p.m. Good Friday Service

Easter Sunday, April 16 7:00AM Easter Sunday Sunrise (cemetery behind

church, weather permitting)

St. Mark United Methodist Church 252 N. Main St., Clinton

Monday, April 10

12:05PM Led by Rev. Stan Elliott of First Baptist Church, Clinton

Tuesday, April 11 12:05PM Led by Rev. Curtis Akers of Clinton Church of God

Wednesday, April 12

12:05PM Led by Father Julius Abuh of St. Therese Catholic Church

Thursday, April 13 12:05PM Led by Rev. Donna Hester of Memorial UMC

Thursday, April 13

6:30PM Led by Rev. Dave Grant of St. Mark UMC

Good Friday, April 14 12:05PM Led by Rev. David Speas of 1st Wesleyan Church

Good Friday, April 14

6:30PM Good Friday Service The 6:30PM Good Friday service will be held at Memorial UMC.

Concord United Methodist Church 11020 Roane Drive, Knoxville

Monday, April 10 – Noon Devotion

Sanctuary – Led by Rev. Dr. Jim Bailes

Tuesday, April 11 – Noon Devotion

Sanctuary – Led by Rev. Dr. Jim Bailes

Wednesday, April 12 – Noon Devotion

Sanctuary – Led by Rev. Dr. Jim Bailes

Wednesday, April 12 – Seder Meal 6:30PM – Worship Center

Thursday, - April 13 – Maundy Communion Service

7:00PM – Worship Center

Good Friday, April 14 – Good Friday Service 7:00PM - Sanctuary

Saturday, April 15 – Easter Egg Hunt and Activities

9:00AM - 10:30AM – Front Lawn

Easter Sunday, April 16 Easter Worship in both the Sanctuary and Worship

Center at 8:15AM, 9:30AM, and 11:00AM

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Swan Pond United Methodist Church 1317 Swan Pond Rd., Harriman

Friday, April 14

7:00PM Service of Darkness

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Mount Hermon United Methodist Church 235 E. Copeland Drive, Powell

Thursday, April 13

6:30PM Maundy Thursday Service

Easter Sunday, April 16

Sunrise Service with breakfast to follow 11:00AM Easter Worship

March 2017 Page 8

If you would like your church services listed in next month’s Oak Ridge District News, please send listings to ordist@holston.org