Newsletter March/April 2015

Mary Virginia Taylor — Resident Bishop

J. David Tabor—District Superintendent davidtabor@holston.org

Jamie N. Boone—Administrative Assistant tdumcoffice@gmail.com Telephone 276-988-4891

Brooke Atchley – Church & Community Worker batchley@umcmission.org 540-599-4071

Lay Servant Training

Saturday, April 18 9 AM—4:30 PM

Rocky Gap United Methodist Church

Rocky Gap, Virginia

See attached Registration Form

CAMP LAUREL

While Mark Twain was touring overseas, reports circulated in America that he had died abroad. Twain learned of the reports months later when he returned home. His response was characteristic: “The rumors of my death,” he said, “are greatly exaggerated.”

You may have heard rumors about Camp Laurel’s closing. The Camp Laurel Board of Directors would like to dispel those reports. They are greatly exaggerated. Camp Laurel is not closing.

It is true the Board has entered a visioning process following the retirement of Don and Sarah Bowling, the camp’s vol-unteer managers, who leave after 25 years of faithful service; and that summer camps will not be held this year. The Board extends its heartfelt thanks to the Bowling family under whose leadership the chapel was built, the grounds were drained of excess water, a considerable savings account was amassed and young people and old encountered the love of Jesus Christ in a safe environment. The good Don and Sarah have done will never be known this side of Para-dise.

As to the immediate future of Camp Laurel, The Board of Directors plans to lease the property—in 2015 only—to Appa-lachian Service Project, a United Methodist agency devoted to improving people’s lives by improving their homes. For 5 to 7 weeks this summer, ASP will use Camp Laurel as its base to reach out to homeowners in our area and to work on the Camp itself. Summer camping will resume at Camp Laurel in 2016 under the guidance of Camp Dickenson Director Michael Snow and the Camp Dickenson staff; with the aim that by 2017, Camp Laurel should be able to offer a quality camping program on her own again.

So, help us to dispel the rumors of Camp Laurel’s closing. A work day is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2015. Why not join us at Camp Laurel and see for yourself the Camp’s obvious wellbeing and the Camp’s continuing committment to serve the people of the Tazewell District United Methodist Church?

Grace and Peace

Alan Ashworth, Camp Laurel Advisory Board Chair

Pre Conference Briefing will be held on Monday, May 11 beginning at 7:00 PM

at Mt. Zion UMC, Route 460, between Bluefield and Tazewell

This will be in conjunction with the Clergy Meeting. All pastors, lay members to Annual Conference

and At-Large Members to Annual Conference are expected to attend.

We will have a worship service followed by the pre conference briefing.

Rev. Carol Wilson and Rev. Stella Roberts will lead the briefing.

Just Older Youth

(For Our Over 50 Age Group)

Tuesday, April 28 at Ebenezer UMC, Bluefield, Virginia

9:30 AM Registration

10:00 AM Welcome, Announcements, Introductions, Prayer

10:15 AM Musical Program with Bill Archer, Senior Editor, Bluefield Dailey Telegraph

11:00 AM Haiti Mission Program by Myra Yates, Bluefield Regional Medical Center

Nurse and Member of Bluefield First

12:00 Noon Lunch in the Fellowship Hall prepared by Ebenezer UMC

1:00 PM Closing Devotion by Dr. David Olive, President of Bluefield College

Cost for Lunch—$7.00 Please mail registration (for name tag) and money for lunch to:

Tazewell District UMC, PO Box 674, Tazewell, VA 24651

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Church______________________________________________________________________________________

Amount Enclosed_____________________________________________________________________________________

Tazewell District United

Methodist Women

Day Apart Budget Preparation 2016

Saturday, May 2—Registration 9:30 AM

Bluefield First United Methodist Church

Bluefield, Virginia

Rev. Annette Warren, Pastor of Cedar Bluff UMC

will be the guest speaker.

2015 Holston Annual Conference Hands-On Mission Project

Liberia—Helen Roberts-Evans, Director of General Education and Ministry, Liberia Conference of the UMC

School Kits—Tazewell District Goal —400 Kits

Kits may be delivered to the District Office any time between May 4 and May 22, 2015.

Shipping per kit—$5.00 (Please do not put money in bag.)

The local church should write one check for total kits to the District Office (example 10 kits x $5 = $50).

_____ 1 - 12” ruler _____ 1 coloring book

_____ 1 small solar powered calculator _____ 1 pack notebook paper (wide-ruled)

_____ 1 - 10 or 12 pack pens (blue or black) _____ 3 spiral notebooks (70 sheet count)

_____ 1 - 10 or 12 pack pencils* _____ 1 pair flip flops (adult M-L size)

_____ 1 pack erasers* _____ 1 poncho (adult)

_____ 1 box crayons or markers (24 count) _____ 1 small dictionary (new or used)

[*Novelty pack with pencils, erasers, and sharpeners are acceptable.]

Please note that other counts must be exact to pass customs.

DISTRICT CHALLEGNE—SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Thank you to all who have supported our Hands-On Mission Project over the years.

Your generosity has made a difference in thousands of lives.

If you have any questions regarding the Hands-On Project or District Challenge

please call the District Office at 276-988-4891 or Rev. Gordon McBride at 276-988-4405.

NO KITS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

Jubilation 2015

The 15th Annual Gather of Senior Adults in Holston

Conference will be held April 27-29 at the

MainStay Inn & Suites, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Join with older adults from across the conference as they

explore ways to live with purpose and possibility. You

will be inspired, entertained and challenged. There will

be lots of opportunities for fellowship and learning

together. You'll come away refreshed, renewed and full

of new purpose and possibilities.

Blessing of the

Bikes 2015

The 13th Annual Blessing of the

Bikes will be May 3 at the

Burkes Garden Community

Center. Food will be ready at 1

PM with the Blessing of the Bikes at 2 PM. This event is spon-

sored by the Burke’s Garden and Mt. Olivet United Methodist

Churches and is in association with The Iron Titans MC.

This event is rain or shine.

Come and enjoy the fun, food and fellowship.

Ride your bikes and attend worship at

Burkes Garden @ 9:55

or Mt. Olivet @ 11:00

Bikers will leave Mt. Olivet @ 12:15 and ride across

the mountain together.

All proceeds from the food sales will benefit the

church youth programs.

Contact Fred Lawless at 276-472-2735 for more details..

FOR SALE—First United Methodist Church, 200 South College Avenue, Bluefield, VA has for sale Capri China by

Homer Laughlin. The design is pink leaves with stems. We have a total of 432 pieces. Will sell 8 piece place settings

for $25.00 each or all for $250.00. Each place setting includes dinner plate, salad plate, fruit bowl, cup and sau-cer, serving platter and serving bowl. If interested, please

call the church office at 276-322-1466 or Charlotte Rich at 276-322-4572.

MARRIAGE MINISTRIES

This year Holston Conference

begins the second decade of

offering weekend marriage

enrichment retreats for

couple in professional minis-

try in our churches. These

retreats are designed to pro-

vide quality time for married couples during a week-

end away from work and family responsibilities. All

the cost for housing, meals, and leadership are cov-

ered by the Holston Conference.

Two changes have taken place in this ministry:

First, because the Retreat Center at Buffalo Mountain

is no longer available, the retreats will be held at the

Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center near New-

port, Tennessee. We are fortunate to have the use of

this facility that is in a beautiful setting with comfort-

able accommodations at a convenient location.

Second, because Partners In Crisis is providing addi-

tional funding, we are able for the first time to sched-

ule two retreats: April 10-12 and May 15-17, 2015.

Couples may select the date that is most convenient

for them.

Someone who participated in a previous retreat

wrote: “This is such a wonderful weekend! I feel rest-

ed and renewed and ready for what comes next.”

Information about the retreat and a registration form

are included in a brochure that is available from Pete

and G i n n y R o w l e t t ( 8 6 5 - 9 6 6 - 9 7 7 6 o r

bee.rowlett@gmail.com) or from the district office.

Also, a Leadership Training Workshop will be held at

Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Knoxville on

June 26-30, 2015. Open to both laity and clergy, this

event prepares couples to lead marriage education

and enrichment programs that empower couples to

build stronger marriages. Contact the Rowletts for

more information.

Richlands and Cedar Bluff United Methodist Church hosted the

Open Door Supper ministry, Saturday, January 17, 2015 at

Richlands First United Methodist Church. Pictured left to right

are the volunteers who prepared, served and delivered

meals. Evelyn DeLong, Rosemary Lotito, Trudy Kilgore, Jim

Humphrey, Glenda Humphrey, Doug Branton, Mary Sue Dean

and Peggy Webb. Not pictured, Ginger Branton.

A Workshop for Laity and Clergy

The Grace Of Giving:

A three-hour workshop

that can change your

Congregation’s practice

of giving toward a cul-

ture of generosity.

Bishop Robert Schnase Resident Bishop of the

Missouri Conference

Saturday, April 11, 2015 ~ 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville

And Sunday, April 12, 2015 ~ 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pleasant View

United Methodist Church in Abingdon

Plan to be there! Cost is $10.00. Please register by April 1.

Registration and additional information is available at

generosity.holston.org

0.3 CEUs available for full participation

Sponsored by the Holston Conference Foundation and the

Holston Stewardship Committee

Understanding Clergy Benefits

Holston’s Pension, Health Insurance,

and Retirement Benefits

Monday, May 4, 2015 ~ 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cokesbury UMC in

Knoxville and Tuesday, May 5, 2015 ~ 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pleasant

View UMC in Abingdon

Spouses are welcome to participate.

Presenters will include representatives from: UMC Board of

Pensions, Social Security, and Medical Insurance.

Be sure to save this date.

This seminar is free to the first 150 registrants in each location. Please

register by April 24. Registration and additional information is available

at BenefitsSeminar.holston.org

Sponsored by the Holston Conference Foundation and the

Holston Conference Board of Pensions.

Who Should Attend

This worship event is designed for pastors, worship leaders, lay leaders, choir directors, evangelism committees, witness committees, altar

guilds, worship teams, Christian educators, musicians, ushers, greeters, and anyone else involved in weekly worship and/or worship planning.

Cost is $40 per person, which includes snacks and a boxed lunch. For an additional $5, you can enjoy a light breakfast and conversation with

Barbara Day Miller on Friday in Kodak or Saturday in Kingsport.

Mail registration form to:

Holston Worship Event

P.O. Box 850, Alcoa, TN 37701

Register online at authenticworship.holston.org

Brochures are also available in the District Office.

Wesley Leadership Institute offers 0.7 CEUs for full participation in this event.

The Jeanette Reynolds Scholarship

The Jeanette Reynolds Scholarship application for 2015

along with the Scholarship Guidelines are now available

through the District Office. Any Holston Conference student

considering ministry in the United Methodist Church is eligi-

ble to apply. Scholarship application deadline is May 15,

2015.

TRAIN YOUR LEADERS

UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION

(UMVIM) TEAM LEADER TRAINING

SATURDAY, March 21, 2015 &

SATURDAY, September 12, 2015

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Price: $25

Trinity Center Fellowship Hall

20 Robertsville Road

Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Who Should Attend: UMVIM Team Leaders needing

this training and any persons interested in leading a

mission team on a trip. This course provides you the

tools you will need to confidently lead a mission team

from your congregation on a successful mission trip

either within the USA or throughout the world. The cost

of the course is $25, which is the cost of the Team

Leader Hand-book you will receive at the UMVIM Team

Leader Training. Please bring your own lunch.

Please register online so that sufficient materials will be

available.

www.holston.org

For questions regarding the event, please contact:

Maxine or Bob Schultz, (865)719-4304 or

(865)719-3230 Rev. Crystal Smith, (865)483-4357

Camp Laurel Work Day

Saturday, April 11, 2015

April is Mission Madness month and our

District Mission Emphasis is Camp Laurel.

We are looking for folks to help us get

Camp Laurel ready for the summer! All skill

levels and ages are needed. We will be cleaning, painting,

trimming, and repairing.

We will gather at 10:00 to begin the day and work until we are

finished or just plain ole tired! Please feel free to come and go

as your schedule permits. You might want to bring a packed

lunch or plan on going to Woody’s down the road. It would be

helpful if you brought along tools that you think might be

needed.

If you are planning to come, please contact Brooke Atchley,

our Church and Community Worker, at the District office, on

her cell phone (540)599-4071, or by email

batchley@umcmission.org. Having an approximate head count

will help us make sure that there are enough supplies on hand.

Also, if you have any special skills (plumbing, electrical, etc.)

please let her know! We hope to see you there!

Conference Council on Youth Ministries Elections

Conference Council on Youth Ministries is comprised of rep-

resentatives (2) and alternates (1) in grades 6-12 from each

of the twelve districts of the Holston Conference. We have

been well served in 2014-2015 by our Tazewell District Repre-

sentatives and Alternates: Anna Atchley, Jordan Johnson and

Hali Thorne. These young women have committed to

meetings, retreats, Annual Conference and conference

events to represent the Tazewell District. You might have

seen them on the stage at Resurrection.

We will gather as district youth at Camp Laurel on Saturday,

April 11 at 4:00 to elect representatives (2) and alternates (2)

for the 2015-2016 year. If you are a youth who is interested

in serving or if you have youth in your church that might be

interested in serving, please return the CCYM nomination

form to Brooke Atchley at the district office no later than

April 3. Each youth who is nominated will introduce them-

selves at the CCYM election event and tell us why they would

like to serve on CCYM for the upcoming year.

We encourage ALL youth groups to join us at Camp Laurel for

the event as well as some praise and worship and SMORES

that afternoon. In fact, why not make a day of it….come help

with the Mission Event earlier in the day and stay for the

CCYM elections and youth event.

We joyfully welcome a handsome and perfect son born of

our hearts . . . Harrison Bradley (hopefully soon to be

Lawson) Born on 03/15/15 @ 6:38 p.m. Placed in our

loving arms and hearts moments thereafter. 6 lbs, 13 oz.

20.5 inches long Proud and grateful parents: C. Shane and

Jill Kinser Lawson Prouder and ecstatic maternal grand-

parents: Tommy "Pa-paw" and Christine "Gammie" Kinser

Prouder and ecstatic paternal grandparents: Rev. Rodney

"Revie Pops" and Nedra "Ma-mum" Lawson.

Rev. Rodney and Nedra Lawson serve Rocky Gap UMC.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE June 7-11, 2015

Lake Junaluska, North Carolina

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

APRIL 1— If you would like a printed Book of Reports,

please place your order by April 1. Books are $10 each. A

downloadable PDF version will be available at no charge

on May 7. You may order your Book of Reports when

you register online for Annual Conference: acregistra-

tion.holston.org. (This registration is separate from hous-

ing, which has been handled by Lake Junaluska.)

MAY 20 —Deadline to register for Annual Conference.

AND 5K/1 mile walk

Meet the Missionaries Dinner And Childcare

TAZEWELL DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST MEN

SPRING Meeting

Ebenezer UMC, Bluefield, VA

Saturday, April 25

8:00 AM Registration & Fellowship

8:30 AM Welcome & Breakfast

9:20 AM Pledge, Opening Comments & Prayer

9:30 AM Business Meeting, Bible Study & Music

To register, inquire about directions, or for any additional

information contact Jeff McMillion at 276-988-5913 or at

alliedad454545@gmail.com. Cost is $10 which includes

breakfast and registration.

The meeting should conclude by noon.

If you are a man and attend a United Methodist Church then

you are a United Methodist Man. Come join us.

ANNUAL AUDITS ARE DUE BY MARCH 31, 2015

Please help spread the word if someone in your congregations would like

to receive the newsletter please send the email address to

tdumcoffice@gmail.com or access it through our

District website at tazewelldistrictumc.com

Conference Board of Lay Ministry and Extended Cabinet Invite

Participation in “Pocket Prayer Shawl” Ministry for

Annual Conference 2015

At the conclusion of the Lay Leader’s address to the 2014 session of Holston Annual Conference, Bishop Mary Virginia

Taylor showed those in attendance a “pocket prayer shawl” that she had been given at the spring Council of Bishops

meeting in South Georgia. She shared how she had kept it with her during the annual conference business sessions as a

reminder of those who were praying for the work of the Church.

Inspired by Bishop Taylor’s witness of her own experience of the power of prayer, the

Conference Board of Lay Ministry began to explore ways of incorporating pocket prayer

shawls into its ongoing prayer ministry efforts. God gave the Board a vision of all lay and

clergy members of the annual conference receiving the gift of a pocket prayer shawl as

part of the June 2015 meeting. When Conference Lay Leader Del Holley presented the

idea to Bishop Taylor and the members of the Extended Cabinet, they responded enthu-

siastically to the opportunity it presents for ministry at the annual conference session and

beyond.

We are asking your congregation to participate in this aspect of prayer ministry at the 2015 Holston Annual Conference

by creating and consecrating several pocket prayer shawls to be sent to Lake Junaluska and distributed to the members

of the annual conference as a tangible symbol of the prayers of United Methodists from Radford to Rising Fawn for the

good work they are doing to support the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.

In order to fulfill this vision, we need to have approximately 1,500 pocket prayer shawls at annual conference. While

that seems like a challenging number, in reality, if each of the 875 congregations in Holston makes a few, every mem-

ber of annual conference will receive one with many left over to share with our guests and friends; we may even send a

few with mission teams across the country and around the world! Won’t you join this effort to cover the 2015 Holston

Annual Conference session with a blanket of prayer?

What groups in my congregation can be involved? Sewing ministries (for example, knit-

ters, quilters, needlepoint groups, existing prayer shawl ministries), Sunday School classes,

choirs, United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, children and youth groups – any group

that wants to pray for the work of the annual conference.

How do we make pocket prayer shawls? There are patterns on the internet (look here:

www.oakdaleumc.com/832387), sample instructions on the Holston website (http://

ac.holston.org).

Do I have to know how to crochet or knit? Nope. You can sew, stitch, weave, piece, cut,

paste – the only limits are your imagination and creativity.

How big should the pocket prayer shawl be? Pocket-sized – approximately 3”x3” to 4”x4”.

What do we do with the finished pocket prayer shawls? Place each one in a plastic

sandwich bag; include a tag identifying the group and church that made it; ask your congregation to pray over them

and for the ones who will receive them; deliver them to your District Office.

When and where do they need to be dropped off? Deliver them to your District Office before May 1.

What if I have questions? Contact Conference Lay Leader Del Holley Del.Holley@knoxcounty.org or District Lay

Leader, Deborah Neal @dbbneal@frontiernet.net.