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Mary Virginia Taylor, Resident Bishop
Rev. Dr. Adam E. McKee, III, District Superintendent
Lori Hopper, Administrative Assistant, Editor
MAY/JUNE 2016
183 Lafayette Drive
Oak Ridge, TN 37830-6898
Office: 865-482-3209 * Fax: 865-483-4515
District email: [email protected]
Jesus Is A Bridge Over Troubled Water
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it you command me to come to you on the water.”
He said come, So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
(NRSV Matthew 14: 28-29)
In our Christian walk, we will go through different seasons. There are seasons where we are experiencing the good times: blessings
one after another. But there are also seasons where it feels as if we are going through back to back difficulties. Indeed, no one is
exempt. When I am troubled I often think of the song Bridge Over Troubled Water. A few of the lyrics are as follows:
“When you are weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all,
I’m on your side, when times get rough,
And friends just can’t be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down”
In a technical sense, a Bridge is a connection between two points. A bridge helps us to crossover what may be an obstacle. A
bridge provides passage over a body of water, a highway, or mountain terrain. From a human condition of existence perspective,
Troubled Water can easily represent an afflicted state of being. One may be fearful, agitated, anxious, bothered, vexed or harassed.
As I reflect on human life with its countless difficulties and numerous problems a few situations come to mind which may be classi-
fied as Troubled Water experiences:
When you go to the doctor and the diagnosis is not favorable, you are facing Troubled Water. When your heart is broken into a mil-
lion pieces, you are facing Troubled Water. When you have lost your job and have no means of supporting your family, you are
facing Troubled Water. But in spite of it all, there is Good News. You see when we use the phrase “Jesus is A Bridge Over Trou-
bled Water” We are saying that he is a means of transition. In time of need Jesus is that solid foundation upon which we stand. He
becomes our Bridge who enables us to go from where we are to where we should be. According to our text, there was a time in the
Life of Simon Peter that in a very real sense, he needed a Bridge Over Troubled Water: As it was for Peter, there may come a time
when find ourselves Facing Troubled Water. The Question is how should we respond? For your consideration, I offer three simple
steps that may enhance our abilities to overcome Troubled Water:
We Must Steady Our Fears: When the disciples spotted Jesus walking on water they became afraid. Some thought that Jesus was
a ghost. Peter overcame his initial fear by calling out to Jesus. There is no shame in calling on Jesus. He is a very present help. In
the book Jesus and the Disinherited, the late Theologian Howard Thurman states that fear is one of those persistent hounds of hell
that plague people. Fear is often based on a sense of hopelessness and isolation. With Jesus in our lives we can steady our fears. We
are not alone! We have Blessed Assurance in the character, ability, strength, and truth of Jesus.
We Must Step Out On Faith: Believe IN Jesus: Believe in His Word. Every one has a belief system, something they accept as
true and real. Jesus is real. With a firm conviction in Jesus, say to yourself as recorded in Philippians 4:13, ” I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me!” Go ahead follow Peter’s example and take that step of faith. Let us follow Peter’s example.
We Must Stay Focused On Jesus: Bible study, prayer, meditation, and fellowship with other believers are examples of activities
that can greatly enhance our ability to stay focused on Jesus. Especially during times of trials and testing. As long as Peter was fo-
cused he was able to walk on water! “But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and beginning to sink HE CRIED
OUT. LORD SAVE ME.” Peter illustrates the importance of making Jesus the main focus in our lives. After all, Jesus is a Bridge
over Troubled Water.
Grace and Peace,
Adam
May/June 2016 Page 2
2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE MISSION OFFERING
We’re doing so well we can’t stop now! That good news is the reason
this year’s Annual Conference Missions Offering will once again bless the children in our midst as we support Ministry with Children in Pov-
erty in Holston Conference. Through this past year, our congregations have given generously to fund grants to change the lives of children
in poverty with a total of over $197,000 so far. Countless hours of service and outreach have been shared to develop relationships with
these young lives and to bring new hope and possibility for their fu-
ture. Thank you, Holston, for assuring that poverty does not have the last word for the children in our communities.
In additional to our $10 per member
and 10 hours of service per average
worship attendance, this year we will help more of our congregations take
the first steps toward school partner-ships. Each local church is asked to
send one of eight selected children’s books with every lay and clergy mem-
ber to Annual Conference June 5-8.
These books will be collected and made available for local churches to
take home and share as an opening gift to begin a school partnership with their neighborhood schools. You can learn more about our con-
gregation’s 2016 mission offering gifts of $10 and 10 hours per wor-
ship attendance and the book collection at waytogiveholston.org.
Thank you, Holston! Let’s continue to bring it home as we engage in ministry with children in poverty in the Holston Conference.
Together, we share to bless our neighbors.
Book Titles:
DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 20, 2016
Skip the lines at Lake Junaluska by pre-registering today at
acregistration.holston.org
FRIDAY, MAY 20 is also the deadline to
register for: Annual Conference Childcare Meet the Missionaries Dinner 5K Run/1 mile Walk to Benefit
Children in Poverty Mission Offer-ing
Contact the District Office if you need assistance with registration.
Pastors - if you have had a change to your lay member to Annual Conference, please
notify the District office ASAP.
2016 Holston Annual Conference June 5-8, 2016
Last Stop on Market Street – Matt de la Peña
Waiting – Kevin Henkes
Touch the Brightest Star – Christie Matheson
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
– Lindsay Mattick
Mango, Abuela, and Me – Meg Medina
Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett
Me, Jane – Patrick McDonnell
The Night World – Mordecai Gernstein
JOIN THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHOIR!
You are invited to participate in an Annual Confer-
ence Choir composed of lay and clergy members of
the Annual Conference. The choir will sing during the Memorial Service on Monday, June 6, 2016, at
2:00 p.m. and again during the Missions Celebration on Tuesday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m. Spouses who
are in attendance for the Annual Conference are also
welcomed to participate. The anthems and rehearsal times will be announced soon.
Dress will be white shirts or blouses and black pants or skirts (no shorts, please). A recording of the two
anthems will be sent to you by email. Please indicate your willingness to participate and the e-mail address
that you would like the anthem recordings sent to by
responding to Lori Sluder at [email protected] no later than Monday, May 30th. MINISTERS’ SPOUSES LUNCHEON
Monday, June 6, 2016 11:45AM
Long's Chapel UMC
133 Old Clyde Road Waynesville, NC 28785 Cost: $17.00
Make checks payable to:
Holston Conference Minister's Spouses Mail to: Tami Bennington
531 2nd Street
Newport, TN 37821
Registration deadline is May 27, 2016. Contact: [email protected]
Luncheon will be catered by
Blue Rooster Southern Grill.
If you need additional information, please call 423/612-7601
or send an email to [email protected]
2016 Holston Annual Conference June 5-8, 2016
PRE-CONFERENCE BRIEFING
Annual Conference is fast approaching, com-
ing one week earlier than usual this year. Sunday-Wednesday, June 5-8, 2016, will be
our time to gather at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.
To help you be prepared, please visit
ac.holston.org. There you will find a video version of the pre-conference briefing, a sum-
mary sheet for the briefing information, and a
copy of the agenda.
The Book of Reports is now available to download online at ac.holston.org
May/June 2016 Page 3
A MESSAGE FROM FRED AND LIBBY DEARING We want to let you know how
much we appreciate your love and prayers for us and the
ministry here in South Sudan. We also want you to know
how important your prayers, love, and support for us and the ministry
are. Without you, our presence and the ministry would not be possi-ble.
Thank you and God bless you. Blessings, Fred and Libby Dearing
Please download our latest e-newsletter available at:
SudanHope.Holston.org
2016 Hands-On Mission Project
OAK RIDGE DISTRICT
SEWING KITS
Goal 300
ZIMBABWE Maria Humbane
Director,
Ishe Anesu Project
for Underprivileged
Please give your church $5 per kit to help cover the costs of shipping. The local church should write one check payable to Oak Ridge District
for the total number of kits (EX: 10 kits x $5 = $50).
Please do NOT put money in the bags!
Kits should be delivered to the Oak Ridge District Office no later than TUESDAY, MAY 31
1.5 yards solid fabric
suitable for school uniforms
(khaki, forest green,
blue, or burgundy)
1 pr. NEW sneakers,
any size, child/adult
($15 or less)
Put
components in
a 2-gallon
plastic zip bag
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
Questions? Contact your District Office ([email protected] or phone 865-482-3209) or
Holston Conference ([email protected] or 865-690-4080)
May/June 2016 Page 4
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May/June 2016 Page 5
IT’S PICNIC TIME IN THE OAK RIDGE DISTRICT! CLERGY, ACTIVE AND RETIRED, PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FAMILY PICNIC
Tuesday, May 24, 4:00-7:00pm
Cove Lake State Park We will meet in Picnic Shelter #1.
PLEASE BRING A COVERED DISH TO SHARE. Drinks, ice and all tableware will be provided by the District.
Please make plans to bring your family to join us for this evening of fun and fellowship and a time to say good-bye to our clergy friends leaving the district in June.
Cove Lake State Park is located just off I-75 at Exit 134 in Caryville.
http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/cove-lake
THE ACADEMY For Spiritual Formation
Emory & Henry College July 24-29, 2016 Designed for
Women, Men, Laity, and Clergy
To register visit: http://academy.upperroom.org/events/five-
day-academies Scroll down to HOLSTON Five-Day Academy
Senior High Assembly
For youth who have complet-ed grades 9 through 12.
Junior High Assembly For youth who have completed grades 6 through 8
June 27-July 1, 2016
Two separate events, one fantastic week at one location!
Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, TN
Each assembly is a week of discipleship featuring awesome
worship, awesome people and one awesome God. It's joining together with others your age to learn, grow, and laugh.
It's waking up and worshiping through word and song. It's coming to an event and leaving with a "family". It's an oppor-
tunity to open up, to get real, to focus. It's a chance to shift
your thoughts, your actions, and your life from things of this world to the heart of Jesus. After all, true worship takes place
when all people within a community seek the presence of God and are accepting of each other. That's the biggest part
of Assembly.
For more information, click here: holston.org/ministries/youth/
Holston Conference Native American Ministries Team
Presents our 18th Annual GATHERING
September 23-25 Coker Creek Village
Tellico Plains, TN For more information on The Gathering, visit our website:
http://thegathering.holston.org
GLOBAL UNITED METHODIST CLERGYWOMEN GATHERING
August 29-31, 2016
ONE: Birthing a Worldwide Church Hilton-Americas Hotel and Conference Center,
Houston TX
Register here
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May/June 2016 Page 6
______________________________________
Gently Used Books For Sale
Commentaries: Interpreter’s Bible, New Inter-preter’s Bible; William Barclay: Romans; Preach-ing Through the Christian Year, Life Application Bible (Acts), The Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual (Year B)
Books on Preaching, Church Administration, Black Preaching, Evangelism, Devotional, Stewardship,
and more by authors that include: Adam Hamil-ton, Barbara Brown Taylor, Fred Craddock, Geor-
gia Harkness, Cleophus LaRue, Peter Gomes, J.
Ellsworth Kallas, Ben Campbell Johnson, Karla Kincannon, Tom Long Eugene Peterson, Walter
Wink, James Howell, Henri Nouwen, and many more.
Biblical Reflections for Families of Cancer Patients
(Nancy Regensburger: Walking Through the Wa-
ters.)
Clergy Women: An Uphill Calling (Zikmund, Lum-mis, and Chang); Those Preachin’ Women (Ella
Mitchell, editor)
Many more available.
If interested, please call or email Cheryl Caruso at 276.768.9326 or
Call to check if I have a specific book not listed
that you are interested in. Most books are in excellent condition.
1719 Reynolds Street
Knoxville, TN 37921
(865) 524-5494
www.wesleyhouse.com/events
Golf the Wesley House Way
Our 12th annual Wesley House Golf Tournament is coming up
on Saturday June 11. I am hoping that you will consider
helping us by being a hole sponsor and/or finding some golfers who would like to join us at Egwani Farms golf course. We
have a fun time and this year Tim Priest, UT football color ana-lyst, will be there to help make the day even more enjoyable.
An event like this helps to provide the funding that is needed to
identify and build on the strengths of individuals and families to
create a stronger community. With your help we can continue to empower and strengthen our community by providing aca-
demic, emotional and spiritual support to all who come to Wes-ley House.
We need hole sponsors, players, door prizes and items for our goodie bags (120). If you would like to be involved you can
contact Ryan ([email protected]) or Tim ([email protected]) or call either of us at 865-524-5494.
You can also download Hole Sponsor forms or Player registra-tion forms from our website at www.wesleyhouse.com/events.
The more help we get, the more people we can help! Please join us.
Tim Priest
Former Vol All-SEC
Defensive Back
ATTENTION OAK RIDGE DISTRICT YOUTH
Nominations are now being accepted for Oak
Ridge District representatives for the Conference
Council on Youth Ministries.
If you are a middle or high school student or know of one who is interested in serving on CCYM,
please contact your youth director or the district
office for a nomination form. Nominations must be received in the District Office by
Thursday, June 2.
For more information, you may contact Laura McLean, Associate Director of Connectional Minis-
tries for Youth and Young Adults at:
May/June 2016 Page 7
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NEW PIANIST NEEDED:
First United Methodist Church of Oneida desires to hire a new pianist for Sunday morning worship services. Applicants should be able to read
music, play traditional and contemporary hymns, be willing to lead the
choir anthems, and meet for practice on Sundays and Wednesdays when needed. Salary is part-time and negotiable. If interested please contact the
church office at 423-569-8828 or [email protected]
HOLSTON ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS
Holston Administrative Professionals
2016 Conference and Retreat
September 28-30, 2016
SpringHill Suites | Chattanooga, TN
Please make plans now to join us for more learning
and fellowship in Chattanooga! All church secre-
taries, administrative assistants, office volunteers,
bookkeepers, treasurers, and anyone wishing to
enhance their administrative skills and join in a
time of renewal and fellowship are invited to at-
tend.
Based on your feedback, we are happy to offer the
following workshops:
~ Dealing with Difficult People
~ Enneagram
~ Event Planning
~ Microsoft Publisher
On Thursday evening we will enjoy a dinner cruise
aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat.
We look forward to seeing you there!
CALENDAR OF EVENTSCALENDAR OF EVENTS
May/June 2016 Page 8
HAVE INFORMATION FOR THE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER?
If you would like to submit a guest article or have an event you would like published in the district newsletter,
please submit to [email protected]. If you know of anyone who would like to be added to the distribution list to receive the Oak Ridge district newsletter via email, please contact the district office with their name and
email address.
MAY 2016
20 DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
21 BASIC EARLY RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING, Fairview UMC, Maryville, 9:00am
24 DISTRICT CLERGY FAMILY PICNIC, 4:00-7:00pm, Cove Lake State Park
26 DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON ORDAINED MINISTRY, First UMC, Oak Ridge
30 MEMORIAL DAY - CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED
31 HANDS-ON MISSION SEWING KITS DUE IN DISTRICT OFFICE
31 DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON SUPERINTENDENCY, 6:00pm, District Office
JUNE 2016 2 DEADLINE FOR CCYM NOMINATIONS
5-8 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Lake Junaluska, NC
11 WESLEY HOUSE GOLF TOURNAMENT, Egwani Farms
22 MOVING DAY FOR TRANSITIONING PASTORS
27– 7/1 HOLSTON CONFERENCE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH ASSEMBLY
JULY 2016
4 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED
13-16 SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE, Lake Junaluska, NC
24-29 THE ACADEMY FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Emory & Henry College
AUGUST 2016
13 LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING, 8:00am-1:00pm Sinking Springs UMC
20 LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING, 8:00am-1:00pm Sinking Springs UMC
