TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW January 8, 2010
Articles in the January 8, 2010 Issue of THE REVIEW
1. Two Preteen groups provide gifts of warmth and loving concern
2. Warmth in Winter is almost here—register your youth now for a life changing adventure, January 29-31
3. Tennessee Conference Announces At-Risk Children and Families Grant Funds
4. Cookeville District Completes Year of Lay Speaking Schools
5. SpouseConnect: blogsite established for the spouses of ministers
6. Kudos to Learning Express Toys
7. In two new resources Bishop Job seeks to create praying congregations
8. Boot Camp “Antorcha” – starting new Hispanic Faith Communities
9. Salvus Center provides medical services to uninsured working residents of Sumner County
10. Prayer garden coming together
11. Join the Spring Breakout at Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project)!
_______________________
Two Preteen groups provide gifts of warmth and loving concern
In a conversation with Patty Smith, Conference Director of Children and Family Ministries, Laura Feliciano, the local pastor for the West Nashville Hispanic Ministry, revealed a tremendous need in her community—there were many children that needed gloves and scarves to keep warm this winter. As Laura and Patty continued to chat, Patty recalled a Christmas Eve service she had attended in 2008. Kids from the children’s ministry had made scarves and handed them out as people arrived for the worship service. It was powerful to see small children drape their homemade scarves around the necks of moms, dads, and grandparents. Everyone, young and old, grinned as they received their special gift. The pastor spoke about how the baby Jesus was wrapped in a blanket. She then made the connection to the scarves by saying as you wrap this scarf around you, remember the gift of God's Son and his great love for you.
Connectional system connects kids to Christ and each other! Scarves made by Franklin First pre-teens are brought to the conference office by Becky Peeler and Sarah Carty. From right to left Mary T Newman, Becky Peeler, Susan Padgett, Brad Fiscus, Sarah Carty, and Patty Smith.
“What if some of our preteen ministries,” Patty wondered, “could make scarves for these children--with no knitting involved? And, then what if some of our churches could find slightly used gloves to donate?” An email request went out to key people and the leaders of two pre-teen groups—at Franklin First and Springfield First United Methodist Churches—felt their kids would enjoy being involved.
2nd hour Tween Sunday school class at Franklin First displays the fruits of their labors from a Saturday Connection Fellowship event.. The tweens felt so good about what they had accomplished at Connection, they also made ornaments for some Assisted Living Center residents and collected many items for The Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.
Patty sent out some simple directions:
“Here's how the scarves are made—
• Purchase a few yards of patterned, colorful fleece fabric.
• Make a scarf pattern out of paper or cardboard.
• Kids trace the pattern on the fabric.
• Kids cut out the scarf and fringe the ends. Voila!
With pattern firmly in place one Franklin First tween prepares to cut fringes for the scarf on which she is working
On the morning of December 24, scarves, displaying the love of Jesus this Christmas season and made by loving hands at Franklin First and Springfield First, were given to kids at a special West Nashville UMC community breakfast.
And Patty sent a note of thanks to the leaders and preteens who made the scarves: Hi Angels, Thanks for partnering with the West Nashville UMC Hispanic Ministry to reach children for Jesus. This is truly evidence of God at work. Thanks you for being beautiful blessings in the lives of so many.” Patty
Warmth in Winter is almost here—register your youth now for a life changing adventure, January 29-31
The one and only crazy dance guy, Don Washburn
Year after year Warmth in Winter remains a pivotal event in Tennessee Conference youth ministry—as the new generation church leaders are enriched spiritually, energized, encouraged to bond with other young people from around the conference, and made aware of Christ’s love and uplifting presence in an often-times chaotic and despairing world. And year after year Warmth in Winter remains the largest gathering in the Tennessee Annual Conference including the yearly sessions of Annual Conference.
Your youth need to register before January 20, 2010, to receive the best rate, $55; but there is a “Hope It’s Not Too Late Rate” for registrants after January 20th but before the absolute deadline of January 25th for $65. Be sure to include a health/registration form for each youth and adult attending.
The 2010 Warmth in Winter is built on the theme “Going the Distance” and will be held January 29th – January 31st at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
There are a number of reasons why local church youth – from churches with only a few youth to congregations with many—should attend:
Pocket Full of Rocks
• Exceptional music and worship leadership featuring Pocket Full of Rocks. This Dove nominated band finds its roots deep in the church. Their unique sound and engaging style helps all experience what it means to worship passionately. The members of PFoR are Michael Farren, Alisa Farren, David Rollins, Jody Crump, and Ryan Riggins.
• Oh, and did we mention the Battle of the Bands. Each District in the Tennessee Conference will select a youth praise band to compete in the Battle of the Bands competition at Warmth in Winder during free time – and there are many other exciting free time opportunities in and around the convention center.
• Guest Speaker, the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, a dynamic and prophetic speaker who ministers at conferences, on college campuses and in churches around the world. Her life mission is to “Inspire every mind and ignite every heart.” Through her speaking, teaching and writing, Dr. McNeil boldly declares a vision that unites people from every tribe and every nation.
• Group activities led by the “Crazy Dances” guy, Don Washburn.
• Lilly Lewin, nationally known Sacred Spaces and experiential worship space developer and author will design a Sacred Space for the weekend as well as teaching workshops on space design.
• Exciting workshops on a variety of topics—each participant will attend two workshops. A listing of workshops will be available at http://tnumcyouth.org.
• Two opportunities to contribute: l. The Youth Service Fund (Last year $10,000 was contributed during Warmth in Winter). This money goes to youth groups for service projects; 2. Canned goods and paper goods will be contributed for a supply drive for two pantry ministries to help the needy.
• Resource area which will include representatives from mission trip organizations, youth ministry resources, colleges, and much more. This will also include on on-site Cokesbury store.
A brochure detailing daily schedule, registration procedure, possible housing arrangements, and a great deal of additional information can be downloaded by going to the website http://tnumcyouth.org and scrolling down the page to click on the words BROCHURE AND POSTER. And just below the link to the brochure is another link to the REGISTRATION FORM.
Tennessee Conference Announces At-Risk Children and Families Grant Funds
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Dec. 4, 2009 – Patty Smith, Director of Children and Family Ministries for the TN Conference, today announced that the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team invites proposals for faith-based ministry programs that directly engage children from birth up to and including age 12 from various ethnicities and demographics who are at-risk in Tennessee. A total of $25,000 will be awarded.
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At-risk children are defined as children in one or more of the following circumstances: living at or below poverty level, from single-parent households, temporarily homeless, abused or neglected, having documented special needs, orphaned, or displaced suddenly by unforeseen, sudden situations (tornadoes, hurricanes, fire).
Grants will support programming or projects tailored to at-risk children and families targeted by local churches and other faith-based United Methodist initiatives.
The programs/projects should:
• Help children at-risk know, love and follow Jesus.
• Provide faith-based and Scriptural solutions to conditions/circumstances that place these children at-risk.
• Contain intentional strategies to minister to and equip children and families who are at risk with the necessary tools to be successful.
At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team encourages programs/projects that:
• Focus on intentional outreach and evangelism with specific follow up and plans for integration into the life of the local church. Programs/projects should reach a specific at-risk community that exists within close proximity to the local church.
• Make faith development central to the program/project. Competitive proposals will have a team of leaders and volunteers whose expertise and passion is tailored to the particular needs of the project and the curriculum and/or design of program is Scripturally-based. The lead pastor of the applicant’s church should play an active role in shaping the project’s goals, implementation, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with other churches to extend the reach of the project. Applicants are encouraged to capitalize on the connectional structure of the United Methodist Church and work with other churches to design and implement a multi-site or multi-church program or project as a means of increasing project resources (human and financial) to reach more at-risk children and families.
At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team will conduct two Grant Writing Seminars to help potential applicants compose grants for submission.
These workshops will be held at the Conference Office located at 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive 37211 on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 10-11:30 a.m. Interested At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant applicants are encouraged to attend these sessions. Please contact Mary T Newman at mtnewman@tnumc.org or 1.800.403.5795 to confirm your attendance. Further information about the grants and what should be included in a grant proposal can be found at the web address: http://www.tnumc.org/-_M_I_N_I_S_T_R_I_E_S_-/At-Risk_Children_and_Family_Grants/
Important Dates for the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant
Grant Writing Seminars: Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 and Saturday, February 6, 2010.
Grant Submission Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2010
Grants Awarded: Thursday, April 15, 2010
For additional information on the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant, contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org or 1.800.403.5795.
Cookeville District Completes Year of Lay Speaking Schools
By Holly Neal
Clarkrange UMC hosted the spring Lay Speaking School
The Cookeville District had an eventful year equipping Laity through Lay Speaking Ministries. Clarkrange UMC was host for the Spring Cookeville District Lay Speaking School. The Basic Course had 9 students and was taught by District Superintendent Jay Archer, Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries Betty Jo Forkner and Cookeville District Director of Lay Speaking Ministries Holly Neal. Pastor Welch taught the advanced course “Lay Speakers Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline” with thirteen completing the course.
Participants in the McMinnville Lay Speaking School
McMinnville UMC was host for the Fall Lay Speaking School. Twenty-five students participated in the Basic Course becoming Local Church Lay Speakers. Host Pastor Rev. Steve Angus led the Advanced Course “Lay Speakers Lead In Worship” with 15 participants. Six students completed the Advanced Course “Justice in Everyday Life” led by Certified Lay Speaker Ed Camera.
Eleven students took part in the Monterey UMC advanced course
The year concluded at Monterey UMC with 11 students taking part in the Advanced Course “From My Heart to Theirs” taught by Pastor James Johnson.
SpouseConnect: blogsite established for the spouses of ministers
By Kathy Armistead*
SpouseConnect was started because pastors’ spouses too often feel lonely, disconnected, and frustrated, and have no one they can openly, honestly share these feelings with.
Not long ago, I was at a gathering of other ministry spouses. Because we have known each other for years, the conversation quickly deepened beyond the usual, “Hi, where does your spouse serve?” One friend, in particular, shared how lonely being a minister’s spouse had been for her. Sadly, the rest of us agreed. But we also shared how there had been other spouses who mentored us and introduced us around. Mine was Mary Morris. But we felt that much of the mentoring was now lacking.
When I got home, frankly I got a little angry. Why does it have to be that way?
Well, you know, it doesn’t. So I started thinking about what to do about it. When I got to work on Monday, I approached my colleague, Jessica, also a pastor’s spouse, who is so much more computer savvy than me. Amazingly, she had similar thoughts. The end result is this blog.
We hope you will find some inspiration in the writings of other ministry spouses, and find people you connect with here. Feel free to join in on the conversation by commenting on posts that strike a chord.
Can I remain anonymous? Sure. We hope this will be a safe space for you to be yourself. If you feel safer commenting anonymously, that’s fine! Just click “Anonymous” when commenting.
Are there any rules here? Yes. No personal attacks. No inappropriate language. Be kind. This is the Internet, after all, so use good judgment.
What if I have questions? Contact the general SpouseConnect e-mail address at spouseconnect@gmail.com. The URL for the spouseconnect blogsite is: http://spouseconnect.blogspot.com/
As people intimately connected to the Church, we see the very best and the very worst of people. The purpose of this blog is to help bring out the very best as we live faith, shout hope, and love one another.
*Dr. Kathy Armistead is the spouse of the Rev. Charles (Skip) Armistead
Kudos to Learning Express Toys – Madness to Meaning
Ever been caught up in a parent marketing frenzy of "Beenie Babies", "iPods", "Tickle Me Elmo", or "Wii"? If not, you are one of the lucky few! Finally, someone found a way to take that frenzy and turn it into an effort of kindness for children who might not have the latest "hot" toy. In fact, if not for the good folks at Learning Express Toys in Franklin, Tennessee....these children might not have any toys at all. The result of their experiment was pretty amazing!
Just over six weeks ago, when the Christmas shopping war began, Learning Express Toys received their first shipment of Zhu Zhu Pets. They began to think of ways in which they could put these coveted toys to use in fundraising for local philanthropies. That's when they conceived of an innovative promotion to approach their loyal customers in a partnership effort to donate toys to non-profit agencies in the Nashville area who help support children and families who are struggling. The idea was to take a toy that was highly sought after and make it available for purchase with $50 donation of toys to children in need.
They developed the promotion, choose two non-profits related to children and families in need, advertised, and leaned forward to see what would happen! The two agencies that they chose to support this year were: BRIDGES of Williamson County and Miriam's Promise. BRIDGES (Building Recovery & Individual Dreams & Goals through Education & Support) offers help to the children and families who participate in their program. Miriam's Promise is a counseling and adoption services agency who assists pregnant women experiencing unplanned pregnancy, single moms, adoptive families and incarcerated women and their children.
Most customers who came in to participate in the promotion had not heard of Zhu Zhu Pets but were thrilled to easily purchase a funny little furry pet along with their receipt for their tax deductible donation! It is heartwarming to note that even in this season of craziness; there are those who find a way to offer their community a means to "give" without regard to what they will "receive". Kudos to Learning Express for finding a way to bring out the "best" in their customers and for offering them something "warm" and "fuzzy" in return!
In two new resources Bishop Job seeks to create praying congregations
When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living by Rueben P. Job, Retail: $10.00.
This is an invaluable guide for people who want to start a daily prayer practice, discover ways to pray, and find spiritual practices that fit their individuality.
Used as a companion resource to Becoming a Praying Congregation, this book will give pastors, their team, and the congregation a shared context of prayer for the next year.
Each 4-page weekly segment includes:
• Daily Scripture and prayer
• A brief essay and a collection of quotes
The readings are linked to the Revised Common Lectionary to follow the worship and curriculum in congregations that use the lectionary, but can be used in churches that don’t use it.
Becoming a Praying Congregation with Rueben P. Job, Retail: $39:00.
Becoming a Praying Congregation is designed to reach the entire congregation through a variety of tools and ideas to encourage prayer as a way of life.
With an introduction by Bishop Rueben P. Job, Becoming a Praying Congregation explores new ways to incorporate meaningful prayer in worship and work to develop a unifying language that stimulates conversation about prayer.
Tools include:
• Authentic help from leaders in congregations with active prayer ministries
• Worship planning helps
• Prayer activities
• Planning ideas for Sunday school or small groups
• Guidelines for building or reviving a prayer ministry team
• Help for special services
• DVD-Rom with art for worship and planning and other printable resources
Contributions from pastors, authors, and other thought-leaders move this twelve-month initiative through the entire congregation. The contributors include: Betty Shannon Cloyd; Sally Dyck; Pamela Hawkins; Andy Langford; Sally Langford; Joe E. Pennel; KC Ptomey; Rev. Becca Stevens; and others.
Churches participating in the program may visit http://www.becomingaprayingcongregation.com/ to connect with other churches.
Boot Camp “Antorcha” – starting new Hispanic Faith Communities
By Joaquin Garcia
Twenty Hispanic pastors and lay leadership from the Tennessee Conference attended the “Boot Camp”
Twenty pastors and lay persons from the Tennessee Conference participated in the Basic Training “Boot Camp” on starting new Hispanic Faith Communities with Jim Griffith November 17-19 in Atlanta. Not only was the training very helpful, but it was a great experience to interact with 80 other Hispanic pastors and leaders. Some highlights from the meeting were:
+ To fulfill the Great Commission and along with the Great Commandment as we start new Hispanic ministries
+ To understand that methods used in other countries or with other racial ethnic groups to start new faith communities cannot be transplanted to a unique situation in the present context as we start new Hispanic ministries.
+ To identify and be sensitive to a diversity of cultures and sub-cultures in the context where we are starting a new ministry.
+To develop a Ministry Action Plan for the 7 days of the week no just for one day of he week.
+ To establish goals about the number of persons to contact every week, “and it has to be many more than 24”!
Along with the training on how to start new “Antorcha” small neighborhood cell groups and then learning how and what it takes to start new Hispanic Faith Communities, the foundation for Hispanic Ministries has been well established in the Tennessee Conference in order to launch into the next stage.
The economic recession has affected our lifestyles, but the ministry of Jesus Christ must keep on. Building the Kingdom of God cannot be put on hold, nor reaching the Hispanic community that keeps growing, and now is the largest racial ethnic group in the United States. “We cannot be silent for such a time as this!”
Though some have talked about the number of Hispanic persons diminishing, [and there may be some isolated instances], the “Report Card” from the School Boards which goes to the Federal Government, shows that the student population has changed very little, and in some cases has inched up. That means that if there is this number of children in the schools, there are a significant number of adults behind those numbers. Let us remember that children and youth are our priorities, and Hispanic children and youth are not an exception.
“We cannot be silent for such a time as this!”
Salvus Center provides medical services to uninsured working residents of Sumner County
The mission of Salvus Center, Inc., is to be a faith-based health center that seeks to reclaim the Biblical and historical commitment to care for those who are sick and in need so they might experience wholeness, wellness, and healing.
Salvus Center was founded to address the lack of affordable medical care for uninsured, working residents of Sumner County, Tennessee. Area specialist physicians and hospitals work with Salvus to provide medical services when there is need for care that is beyond the scope of Salvus Center’s services.
The first Salvus Center clinic opened in Gallatin on March 20, 2006 and, through August 2009, the clinic has had 6,878 patient visits. In order to make services more accessible for residents of Hendersonville, a second clinic was opened in July 2008 at 107 Imperial Boulevard in Hendersonville. Patient visits at this site total 1,757. The Salvus Center vision is for all residents of Sumner County to have access to health care.
Patients pay for office visits on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size.
Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.
Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.,an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, is founder and Medical Director of SALVAS, a medical service for the working poor. Donations to this special ministry can go to Salvus Center, Inc., 556 Hartsville Pike, Suite 200, Gallatin, TN 37066.
Walter Brueggemann writes about two things that make up prophetic vision – that divinely inspired insight and foresight that can bring healing change. The first thing that makes up prophetic vision is “criticality,” the ability to recognize the world’s pain.
The second element is hope, which is the recognition of the world’s possibilities. It is this combination of the critical eye and the hopeful heart that brings change. “We at Salvus,” notes Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., “certainly can see and feel and experience first-hand the pain of the world of those without health care. But we also have hope, not in the health care system per se but in that which is fueled by our faith—a faith that cares enough to work for possibilities that bring healing, wholeness and wellness. The challenge is to figure out how to break through to get other people’s attention—individuals who can help us bring hope and needed change. It is often the stories we tell of pain, yet hope, that enable us to communicate our values to others. The stories of our patients is the reason for hope.”
Prayer garden coming together
From the Marshall Tribune, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, used here with permission.
By Karen Hall, Staff Writer
A unique project is taking shape in a field beside one of Marshall County's rural churches.
The Prayer Garden at Farmington United Methodist Church - also known as "The Little Church at the Crossroads" - started just over a year ago with two maple trees planted to honor veterans. Next came a bench dedicated to the memory of Brenda Scott.
"I love flowers and I wanted to do something," said church member Edith Watkins. Her husband, Mike, weed eats and trims the garden.
"It's a wonderful project," enthuses the church's pastor, Rev. Leland Carden. "It's a spiritual oasis that people can visit to rest, meditate and pray. It's unique for this area."
"We used to leave the church unlocked," Watkins said. "Nowadays you can't do that." The garden, in the field between the church and Shelbyville Highway, provides a place for people to find peace at any time during their busy day.
“In the Prayer Garden. From left to right, Pattie and Dave Friedrichs, Edith Watkins, and the Rev. Leland T. Carden
It has been created entirely from donations, and centers on a birdbath, with stepping-stones in the shape of a cross leading up to it. There are numerous statues, shrubs, and trees, and several benches. Every item in the garden is labeled with the name of the person it memorializes or honors. In spring and summer there are colorful flowers. The garden's location in the middle of a field means that there is plenty of room to expand.
Watkins thanks Amy Potts from the Lewisburg Garden Center and Landscaping on 5th Avenue for guiding them as to what plants would do well in the open field.
A project for next spring is a gazebo, say Watkins and Carden.
Carden compliments the Farmington UMC, where he recently became pastor after retiring from the First United Methodist Church in Lewisburg.
"For a small congregation, they're very active; there's a lot of ministry being carried out here," Carden said.
The church runs the Robert Mason Center on Holly Grove Road, where people in need can get clothes and household items. The Department of Human Services and the Red Cross refer people there, and so far over 1000 people have been helped in 2009.
Names on the plaques in the prayer garden include Vanessa Gold Rush, Martha Brown, Brenda Scott, Clayton Russell, Mary V. Watkins, Sadie Tillman, Andrew and Frances Williams, Bro. Larry and Miss Sue Pedigo, Mrs. Robert Mason, Dale Friedrichs, Bill Gold, Kim Brugmann, Dorothy Thomas (three benches - one from each of her daughters), Kayla Mathis, Josh Hoppus, Bill Lowe, Maude Mette, Avery Badgett, Wade Jett, and Clyde and Elizabeth Whaley.
Join the Spring Breakout at Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project)!
Mountain T.O.P., an interdenominational service project ministry dedicated to home repair in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, is currently seeking participants for its Spring Breakout Program. Groups can choose their own dates mid-Feb through mid-April to spend two days working on Major Home Repair projects (roofing, remodeling, interior/exterior work) and two days helping out with camp renovations. This option is great for youth groups, college ministries or adult groups looking for a service project during the Spring months. No previous experience is necessary.
Dates: Mid Feb – Mid April
When: Arrive Sunday night, leave Friday morning
Cost: $200/person (all meals included)
For additional fees, campers can go caving, hiking, and/or through our low ropes challenge course!!
Feel free to visit our website: mountain-top.org. Check out our calendar for available dates. Please contact sam@mountain-top.org for more information or call (931) 692-3999
1. Two Preteen groups provide gifts of warmth and loving concern
2. Warmth in Winter is almost here—register your youth now for a life changing adventure, January 29-31
3. Tennessee Conference Announces At-Risk Children and Families Grant Funds
4. Cookeville District Completes Year of Lay Speaking Schools
5. SpouseConnect: blogsite established for the spouses of ministers
6. Kudos to Learning Express Toys
7. In two new resources Bishop Job seeks to create praying congregations
8. Boot Camp “Antorcha” – starting new Hispanic Faith Communities
9. Salvus Center provides medical services to uninsured working residents of Sumner County
10. Prayer garden coming together
11. Join the Spring Breakout at Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project)!
_______________________
Two Preteen groups provide gifts of warmth and loving concern
In a conversation with Patty Smith, Conference Director of Children and Family Ministries, Laura Feliciano, the local pastor for the West Nashville Hispanic Ministry, revealed a tremendous need in her community—there were many children that needed gloves and scarves to keep warm this winter. As Laura and Patty continued to chat, Patty recalled a Christmas Eve service she had attended in 2008. Kids from the children’s ministry had made scarves and handed them out as people arrived for the worship service. It was powerful to see small children drape their homemade scarves around the necks of moms, dads, and grandparents. Everyone, young and old, grinned as they received their special gift. The pastor spoke about how the baby Jesus was wrapped in a blanket. She then made the connection to the scarves by saying as you wrap this scarf around you, remember the gift of God's Son and his great love for you.
Connectional system connects kids to Christ and each other! Scarves made by Franklin First pre-teens are brought to the conference office by Becky Peeler and Sarah Carty. From right to left Mary T Newman, Becky Peeler, Susan Padgett, Brad Fiscus, Sarah Carty, and Patty Smith.
“What if some of our preteen ministries,” Patty wondered, “could make scarves for these children--with no knitting involved? And, then what if some of our churches could find slightly used gloves to donate?” An email request went out to key people and the leaders of two pre-teen groups—at Franklin First and Springfield First United Methodist Churches—felt their kids would enjoy being involved.
Patty sent out some simple directions:
“Here's how the scarves are made—
• Purchase a few yards of patterned, colorful fleece fabric.
• Make a scarf pattern out of paper or cardboard.
• Kids trace the pattern on the fabric.
• Kids cut out the scarf and fringe the ends. Voila!
On the morning of December 24, scarves, displaying the love of Jesus this Christmas season and made by loving hands at Franklin First and Springfield First, were given to kids at a special West Nashville UMC community breakfast.
And Patty sent a note of thanks to the leaders and preteens who made the scarves: Hi Angels, Thanks for partnering with the West Nashville UMC Hispanic Ministry to reach children for Jesus. This is truly evidence of God at work. Thanks you for being beautiful blessings in the lives of so many.” Patty
Warmth in Winter is almost here—register your youth now for a life changing adventure, January 29-31
Year after year Warmth in Winter remains a pivotal event in Tennessee Conference youth ministry—as the new generation church leaders are enriched spiritually, energized, encouraged to bond with other young people from around the conference, and made aware of Christ’s love and uplifting presence in an often-times chaotic and despairing world. And year after year Warmth in Winter remains the largest gathering in the Tennessee Annual Conference including the yearly sessions of Annual Conference.
Your youth need to register before January 20, 2010, to receive the best rate, $55; but there is a “Hope It’s Not Too Late Rate” for registrants after January 20th but before the absolute deadline of January 25th for $65. Be sure to include a health/registration form for each youth and adult attending.
The 2010 Warmth in Winter is built on the theme “Going the Distance” and will be held January 29th – January 31st at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
There are a number of reasons why local church youth – from churches with only a few youth to congregations with many—should attend:
• Exceptional music and worship leadership featuring Pocket Full of Rocks. This Dove nominated band finds its roots deep in the church. Their unique sound and engaging style helps all experience what it means to worship passionately. The members of PFoR are Michael Farren, Alisa Farren, David Rollins, Jody Crump, and Ryan Riggins.
• Oh, and did we mention the Battle of the Bands. Each District in the Tennessee Conference will select a youth praise band to compete in the Battle of the Bands competition at Warmth in Winder during free time – and there are many other exciting free time opportunities in and around the convention center.
• Group activities led by the “Crazy Dances” guy, Don Washburn.
• Lilly Lewin, nationally known Sacred Spaces and experiential worship space developer and author will design a Sacred Space for the weekend as well as teaching workshops on space design.
• Exciting workshops on a variety of topics—each participant will attend two workshops. A listing of workshops will be available at http://tnumcyouth.org.
• Two opportunities to contribute: l. The Youth Service Fund (Last year $10,000 was contributed during Warmth in Winter). This money goes to youth groups for service projects; 2. Canned goods and paper goods will be contributed for a supply drive for two pantry ministries to help the needy.
• Resource area which will include representatives from mission trip organizations, youth ministry resources, colleges, and much more. This will also include on on-site Cokesbury store.
A brochure detailing daily schedule, registration procedure, possible housing arrangements, and a great deal of additional information can be downloaded by going to the website http://tnumcyouth.org and scrolling down the page to click on the words BROCHURE AND POSTER. And just below the link to the brochure is another link to the REGISTRATION FORM.
Tennessee Conference Announces At-Risk Children and Families Grant Funds
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Grants will support programming or projects tailored to at-risk children and families targeted by local churches and other faith-based United Methodist initiatives.
The programs/projects should:
• Help children at-risk know, love and follow Jesus.
• Provide faith-based and Scriptural solutions to conditions/circumstances that place these children at-risk.
• Contain intentional strategies to minister to and equip children and families who are at risk with the necessary tools to be successful.
At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant Review Team encourages programs/projects that:
• Focus on intentional outreach and evangelism with specific follow up and plans for integration into the life of the local church. Programs/projects should reach a specific at-risk community that exists within close proximity to the local church.
• Make faith development central to the program/project. Competitive proposals will have a team of leaders and volunteers whose expertise and passion is tailored to the particular needs of the project and the curriculum and/or design of program is Scripturally-based. The lead pastor of the applicant’s church should play an active role in shaping the project’s goals, implementation, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with other churches to extend the reach of the project. Applicants are encouraged to capitalize on the connectional structure of the United Methodist Church and work with other churches to design and implement a multi-site or multi-church program or project as a means of increasing project resources (human and financial) to reach more at-risk children and families.
These workshops will be held at the Conference Office located at 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive 37211 on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 10-11:30 a.m. Interested At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant applicants are encouraged to attend these sessions. Please contact Mary T Newman at mtnewman@tnumc.org or 1.800.403.5795 to confirm your attendance. Further information about the grants and what should be included in a grant proposal can be found at the web address: http://www.tnumc.org/-_M_I_N_I_S_T_R_I_E_S_-/At-Risk_Children_and_Family_Grants/
Important Dates for the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant
Grant Writing Seminars: Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 and Saturday, February 6, 2010.
Grant Submission Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2010
Grants Awarded: Thursday, April 15, 2010
For additional information on the At-Risk Children and Families Fund Grant, contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org or 1.800.403.5795.
Cookeville District Completes Year of Lay Speaking Schools
By Holly Neal
The Cookeville District had an eventful year equipping Laity through Lay Speaking Ministries. Clarkrange UMC was host for the Spring Cookeville District Lay Speaking School. The Basic Course had 9 students and was taught by District Superintendent Jay Archer, Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries Betty Jo Forkner and Cookeville District Director of Lay Speaking Ministries Holly Neal. Pastor Welch taught the advanced course “Lay Speakers Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline” with thirteen completing the course.
McMinnville UMC was host for the Fall Lay Speaking School. Twenty-five students participated in the Basic Course becoming Local Church Lay Speakers. Host Pastor Rev. Steve Angus led the Advanced Course “Lay Speakers Lead In Worship” with 15 participants. Six students completed the Advanced Course “Justice in Everyday Life” led by Certified Lay Speaker Ed Camera.
The year concluded at Monterey UMC with 11 students taking part in the Advanced Course “From My Heart to Theirs” taught by Pastor James Johnson.
SpouseConnect: blogsite established for the spouses of ministers
By Kathy Armistead*
Not long ago, I was at a gathering of other ministry spouses. Because we have known each other for years, the conversation quickly deepened beyond the usual, “Hi, where does your spouse serve?” One friend, in particular, shared how lonely being a minister’s spouse had been for her. Sadly, the rest of us agreed. But we also shared how there had been other spouses who mentored us and introduced us around. Mine was Mary Morris. But we felt that much of the mentoring was now lacking.
When I got home, frankly I got a little angry. Why does it have to be that way?
Well, you know, it doesn’t. So I started thinking about what to do about it. When I got to work on Monday, I approached my colleague, Jessica, also a pastor’s spouse, who is so much more computer savvy than me. Amazingly, she had similar thoughts. The end result is this blog.
We hope you will find some inspiration in the writings of other ministry spouses, and find people you connect with here. Feel free to join in on the conversation by commenting on posts that strike a chord.
Can I remain anonymous? Sure. We hope this will be a safe space for you to be yourself. If you feel safer commenting anonymously, that’s fine! Just click “Anonymous” when commenting.
Are there any rules here? Yes. No personal attacks. No inappropriate language. Be kind. This is the Internet, after all, so use good judgment.
What if I have questions? Contact the general SpouseConnect e-mail address at spouseconnect@gmail.com. The URL for the spouseconnect blogsite is: http://spouseconnect.blogspot.com/
As people intimately connected to the Church, we see the very best and the very worst of people. The purpose of this blog is to help bring out the very best as we live faith, shout hope, and love one another.
*Dr. Kathy Armistead is the spouse of the Rev. Charles (Skip) Armistead
Kudos to Learning Express Toys – Madness to Meaning
Ever been caught up in a parent marketing frenzy of "Beenie Babies", "iPods", "Tickle Me Elmo", or "Wii"? If not, you are one of the lucky few! Finally, someone found a way to take that frenzy and turn it into an effort of kindness for children who might not have the latest "hot" toy. In fact, if not for the good folks at Learning Express Toys in Franklin, Tennessee....these children might not have any toys at all. The result of their experiment was pretty amazing!
Just over six weeks ago, when the Christmas shopping war began, Learning Express Toys received their first shipment of Zhu Zhu Pets. They began to think of ways in which they could put these coveted toys to use in fundraising for local philanthropies. That's when they conceived of an innovative promotion to approach their loyal customers in a partnership effort to donate toys to non-profit agencies in the Nashville area who help support children and families who are struggling. The idea was to take a toy that was highly sought after and make it available for purchase with $50 donation of toys to children in need.
They developed the promotion, choose two non-profits related to children and families in need, advertised, and leaned forward to see what would happen! The two agencies that they chose to support this year were: BRIDGES of Williamson County and Miriam's Promise. BRIDGES (Building Recovery & Individual Dreams & Goals through Education & Support) offers help to the children and families who participate in their program. Miriam's Promise is a counseling and adoption services agency who assists pregnant women experiencing unplanned pregnancy, single moms, adoptive families and incarcerated women and their children.
Most customers who came in to participate in the promotion had not heard of Zhu Zhu Pets but were thrilled to easily purchase a funny little furry pet along with their receipt for their tax deductible donation! It is heartwarming to note that even in this season of craziness; there are those who find a way to offer their community a means to "give" without regard to what they will "receive". Kudos to Learning Express for finding a way to bring out the "best" in their customers and for offering them something "warm" and "fuzzy" in return!
In two new resources Bishop Job seeks to create praying congregations
When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living by Rueben P. Job, Retail: $10.00.
Used as a companion resource to Becoming a Praying Congregation, this book will give pastors, their team, and the congregation a shared context of prayer for the next year.
Each 4-page weekly segment includes:
• Daily Scripture and prayer
• A brief essay and a collection of quotes
The readings are linked to the Revised Common Lectionary to follow the worship and curriculum in congregations that use the lectionary, but can be used in churches that don’t use it.
Becoming a Praying Congregation with Rueben P. Job, Retail: $39:00.
With an introduction by Bishop Rueben P. Job, Becoming a Praying Congregation explores new ways to incorporate meaningful prayer in worship and work to develop a unifying language that stimulates conversation about prayer.
Tools include:
• Authentic help from leaders in congregations with active prayer ministries
• Worship planning helps
• Prayer activities
• Planning ideas for Sunday school or small groups
• Guidelines for building or reviving a prayer ministry team
• Help for special services
• DVD-Rom with art for worship and planning and other printable resources
Contributions from pastors, authors, and other thought-leaders move this twelve-month initiative through the entire congregation. The contributors include: Betty Shannon Cloyd; Sally Dyck; Pamela Hawkins; Andy Langford; Sally Langford; Joe E. Pennel; KC Ptomey; Rev. Becca Stevens; and others.
Churches participating in the program may visit http://www.becomingaprayingcongregation.com/ to connect with other churches.
Boot Camp “Antorcha” – starting new Hispanic Faith Communities
By Joaquin Garcia
Twenty pastors and lay persons from the Tennessee Conference participated in the Basic Training “Boot Camp” on starting new Hispanic Faith Communities with Jim Griffith November 17-19 in Atlanta. Not only was the training very helpful, but it was a great experience to interact with 80 other Hispanic pastors and leaders. Some highlights from the meeting were:
+ To fulfill the Great Commission and along with the Great Commandment as we start new Hispanic ministries
+ To understand that methods used in other countries or with other racial ethnic groups to start new faith communities cannot be transplanted to a unique situation in the present context as we start new Hispanic ministries.
+ To identify and be sensitive to a diversity of cultures and sub-cultures in the context where we are starting a new ministry.
+To develop a Ministry Action Plan for the 7 days of the week no just for one day of he week.
+ To establish goals about the number of persons to contact every week, “and it has to be many more than 24”!
Along with the training on how to start new “Antorcha” small neighborhood cell groups and then learning how and what it takes to start new Hispanic Faith Communities, the foundation for Hispanic Ministries has been well established in the Tennessee Conference in order to launch into the next stage.
The economic recession has affected our lifestyles, but the ministry of Jesus Christ must keep on. Building the Kingdom of God cannot be put on hold, nor reaching the Hispanic community that keeps growing, and now is the largest racial ethnic group in the United States. “We cannot be silent for such a time as this!”
Though some have talked about the number of Hispanic persons diminishing, [and there may be some isolated instances], the “Report Card” from the School Boards which goes to the Federal Government, shows that the student population has changed very little, and in some cases has inched up. That means that if there is this number of children in the schools, there are a significant number of adults behind those numbers. Let us remember that children and youth are our priorities, and Hispanic children and youth are not an exception.
“We cannot be silent for such a time as this!”
Salvus Center provides medical services to uninsured working residents of Sumner County
The mission of Salvus Center, Inc., is to be a faith-based health center that seeks to reclaim the Biblical and historical commitment to care for those who are sick and in need so they might experience wholeness, wellness, and healing.
Salvus Center was founded to address the lack of affordable medical care for uninsured, working residents of Sumner County, Tennessee. Area specialist physicians and hospitals work with Salvus to provide medical services when there is need for care that is beyond the scope of Salvus Center’s services.
The first Salvus Center clinic opened in Gallatin on March 20, 2006 and, through August 2009, the clinic has had 6,878 patient visits. In order to make services more accessible for residents of Hendersonville, a second clinic was opened in July 2008 at 107 Imperial Boulevard in Hendersonville. Patient visits at this site total 1,757. The Salvus Center vision is for all residents of Sumner County to have access to health care.
Patients pay for office visits on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size.
Dr. Ted Hill, M.D.,an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, is founder and Medical Director of SALVAS, a medical service for the working poor. Donations to this special ministry can go to Salvus Center, Inc., 556 Hartsville Pike, Suite 200, Gallatin, TN 37066.
Walter Brueggemann writes about two things that make up prophetic vision – that divinely inspired insight and foresight that can bring healing change. The first thing that makes up prophetic vision is “criticality,” the ability to recognize the world’s pain.
The second element is hope, which is the recognition of the world’s possibilities. It is this combination of the critical eye and the hopeful heart that brings change. “We at Salvus,” notes Dr. Ted Hill, M.D., “certainly can see and feel and experience first-hand the pain of the world of those without health care. But we also have hope, not in the health care system per se but in that which is fueled by our faith—a faith that cares enough to work for possibilities that bring healing, wholeness and wellness. The challenge is to figure out how to break through to get other people’s attention—individuals who can help us bring hope and needed change. It is often the stories we tell of pain, yet hope, that enable us to communicate our values to others. The stories of our patients is the reason for hope.”
Prayer garden coming together
From the Marshall Tribune, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, used here with permission.
By Karen Hall, Staff Writer
A unique project is taking shape in a field beside one of Marshall County's rural churches.
The Prayer Garden at Farmington United Methodist Church - also known as "The Little Church at the Crossroads" - started just over a year ago with two maple trees planted to honor veterans. Next came a bench dedicated to the memory of Brenda Scott.
"I love flowers and I wanted to do something," said church member Edith Watkins. Her husband, Mike, weed eats and trims the garden.
"It's a wonderful project," enthuses the church's pastor, Rev. Leland Carden. "It's a spiritual oasis that people can visit to rest, meditate and pray. It's unique for this area."
"We used to leave the church unlocked," Watkins said. "Nowadays you can't do that." The garden, in the field between the church and Shelbyville Highway, provides a place for people to find peace at any time during their busy day.
It has been created entirely from donations, and centers on a birdbath, with stepping-stones in the shape of a cross leading up to it. There are numerous statues, shrubs, and trees, and several benches. Every item in the garden is labeled with the name of the person it memorializes or honors. In spring and summer there are colorful flowers. The garden's location in the middle of a field means that there is plenty of room to expand.
Watkins thanks Amy Potts from the Lewisburg Garden Center and Landscaping on 5th Avenue for guiding them as to what plants would do well in the open field.
A project for next spring is a gazebo, say Watkins and Carden.
Carden compliments the Farmington UMC, where he recently became pastor after retiring from the First United Methodist Church in Lewisburg.
"For a small congregation, they're very active; there's a lot of ministry being carried out here," Carden said.
The church runs the Robert Mason Center on Holly Grove Road, where people in need can get clothes and household items. The Department of Human Services and the Red Cross refer people there, and so far over 1000 people have been helped in 2009.
Names on the plaques in the prayer garden include Vanessa Gold Rush, Martha Brown, Brenda Scott, Clayton Russell, Mary V. Watkins, Sadie Tillman, Andrew and Frances Williams, Bro. Larry and Miss Sue Pedigo, Mrs. Robert Mason, Dale Friedrichs, Bill Gold, Kim Brugmann, Dorothy Thomas (three benches - one from each of her daughters), Kayla Mathis, Josh Hoppus, Bill Lowe, Maude Mette, Avery Badgett, Wade Jett, and Clyde and Elizabeth Whaley.
Join the Spring Breakout at Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project)!
Mountain T.O.P., an interdenominational service project ministry dedicated to home repair in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, is currently seeking participants for its Spring Breakout Program. Groups can choose their own dates mid-Feb through mid-April to spend two days working on Major Home Repair projects (roofing, remodeling, interior/exterior work) and two days helping out with camp renovations. This option is great for youth groups, college ministries or adult groups looking for a service project during the Spring months. No previous experience is necessary.
Dates: Mid Feb – Mid April
When: Arrive Sunday night, leave Friday morning
Cost: $200/person (all meals included)
For additional fees, campers can go caving, hiking, and/or through our low ropes challenge course!!
Feel free to visit our website: mountain-top.org. Check out our calendar for available dates. Please contact sam@mountain-top.org for more information or call (931) 692-3999
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 7:31 AM
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