news & updates
March 2020
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A Word From Our District Superintendent
It's March Madness Time!
Usually that means I’m tuned into NCAA basketball, with all of the excitement and heartache that brings. Since becoming a District Superintendent it also involves appointment week and all of the tension and anticipation that goes with that. Needless to say, it’s an intense month!
 
The Cabinet begins meeting Monday, March 9 to begin making appointments for the next Annual Conference year. Please be in prayer as we seek the Spirit’s guidance and wisdom in making appointments as well as pray for those expecting a change.
 
There are a lot of questions and “what if’s” floating around regarding General Conference. I know it’s hard to stay focused sometimes, and I understand that anxiety is high in many of our churches. One of the things that I find that ground me during this time of anxiety is to focus on what we have in common: Christ and His call to serve His people.

Our friends in Nashville and Cookeville have experienced a tragedy this week with the loss of homes, churches, schools, and precious lives. Work teams and clean up crews are already assembling, UMCOR is present (another beautiful reminder of our connection!), and help will be needed for an extended amount of time. Our newsletter shares ways you can help by assembling hygiene kits and cleaning kits. Please help out with this.

We hope to have ideas about work teams in the coming weeks, too, and will be getting the word out for that. Continue to hold these communities in your prayers, and let’s work together to help however we can!
 
Thankful for each one of you,
Lauri Jo
Tornado Response
Cleaning and Hygiene Kits Needed
Holston churches are asked to assemble cleaning and hygiene kits to replenish our stockpiles that are already on their way to helping those affected by the recent storms in middle Tennessee.
 
We will collect these at the Three Rivers District Ministry Center, where they will be picked up by our conference disaster response team. Please deliver completed kits to the district office by March 31. As our office hours sometimes vary, please call us at 926-7533 before coming by to make certain someone is here.
 
Monetary Donations Needed
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is accepting donations to assist those affected by the storms.


You may also give directly to the Tennessee Conference at this link or mail checks payable to "TNUMC Disaster Response" to:
TNUMC Disaster Response
304 S Perimeter Park Dr Suite 1
Nashville TN 37211

Three Rivers District Youth News
ETSU Wesley Foundation Night
The hope for this night is to connect our 9 th -12 th graders to Wesley Foundation so they can feel at home there if they land at one of our local colleges. Wesley is graciously adjusting their schedule for us that evening so we can get students back home earlier, and we’re excited for all they have planned! Here are the details:
  • 6:00pm: dinner (Opie’s pizza wagon)
  • 7:00pm: worship with communion
  • They hope to have free t-shirts for all students who attend, so please send sizes with your RSVP to Caleb Frazier, ETSU’s Wesley Foundation Director, by March 16: etsuwesley@gmail.com.
  • The Wesley Foundation hands out cookies each week as an outreach opportunity to draw students to Wesley, and we’re asking each group to bring pre-packaged cookies (Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc.) to donate to their supplies. You can bring a bunch for your whole group or ask your students to bring them.
  • Address: 1100 Seminole Dr, Johnson City, TN 37604
 
Wesley Foundation has a few volunteer opportunities that are easy ways to connect your church with their ministry.
  • They hand out about 200 cookies per week and are glad to have homemade donations as well as store-bought ones. If your church is interested in donating cookies, just let Caleb know, and they can be dropped off most Mondays.
  • They serve dinner to the 40 students who attend each week, and they love having groups cook for them. They usually need the food there by 6:45pm and like to have a vegetarian option if possible. If a group in your church would like to provide dinner, you can let Caleb know.
CCYM Elections on April 19
  • 4:30-6:00pm at the Johnson City Family Skate Center
  • We’ll spend the first part of our time skating and fellowshipping together and will then have dinner and vote on our CCYM representatives.
  • $5 per person, which includes pizza for dinner, thanks to our district
  • Students who would like to be considered for CCYM should fill out the nomination form and come prepared to share at the elections why they would like to be considered for CCYM. Nomination forms should be emailed to Amanda Onks by Monday, April 13. I’ll send the nomination form closer to April.
  •  Please let Amanda Onks know by April 13 how many in your group will be attending so we can plan for food.
Summer Opportunities
We’re fortunate to be part of a conference that supports its students so well! If you’re looking for summer opportunities for your students, here are some helpful links:
 
Youth Leader Needed
Fairview United Methodist Church (878 Highway 81 North, Jonesborough, TN 37659) in the Three Rivers District of the Holston United Methodist Church Conference is looking for a Youth Leader.

This is a part-time position consisting of approximately 4 weekly hours: Sunday mornings from 10:00 to noon and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 with a yearly salary of $4,000.00.

Additional activities may include but not be limited to:
  • Mission Trips
  • Resurrection
  • Fund Raisers
  • Various Church Related Activities
          
Applicants MUST have an active driver's license.
EOE/M/F drug testing REQUIRED.
 
Visit Connect and Grow at Fairview United Methodist Church's website:  http://myfairviewchurch.org for a printable application form.
 
Grants and Scholarships Available
The ministry of the Holston Foundation includes awarding grants and scholarships to Holston students, churches, and ministries. Generosity has inspired donors to leave legacies of education, faith, and mission. Grants and scholarships that are available today are the results of others' generosity. Help us spread the word about grants and scholarships with those you know and through your church's communications too. 

Grants
Application due March 15, 2020
Grants are given to Holston Conference churches, ministries, missions, and United Methodist-related organizations.

Scholarships
Application due April 30, 2020

Donors have chosen to leave a legacy of education that enables students to apply for scholarships for higher education and seminary today. Each scholarship is unique so take a few moments to read over the options before applying. 


 
Questions about grants or scholarships? Interested in a conversation about leaving your own legacy? Contact Paul Bowman and the Holston Foundation at 865-690-8124. 
District UMW Day Apart
Click on image to download flyer
2020 Hands-On Mission Project
It's Not Too Early to Start Filling Backpacks
 
The Three Rivers District will be collecting school backpacks for Liberia again for this year's annual conference. It's never too early to start planning and purchasing supplies, but please hold on to the completed backpacks for now. We will collect them June 1-3 at the district office.
Job Opening
Part-Time Custodian Needed
The Three Rivers District has an opening for a part-time custodian to clean the district offices and public areas of the District Ministry Center. Hours are flexible, with weekly duties including vacuuming, dusting, mopping, emptying trash, cleaning windows, cleaning bathrooms, etc. Pay is negotiable based on agreed upon duties and anticipated time to complete them. Contact Betty at the district office for more information or to apply.
Suicide Survivors Support Group
Click on image to download flyer
Upcoming Events
Four Pianos In Praise to Benefit Isaiah 117 House
Saturday, March 14
2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Seeger Chapel, Milligan College
Johnson City

Four grands. Sixteen hands. Infinite delight! Two unforgettable concerts featuring genres for everyone - beloved hymns, classical works, gospel, patriotic, show tunes and a fun surprise or two. Proceeds will benefit Isaiah 117 House, providing safe and loving home environments for children taken into protective custody while they await foster placement.
Jubilation 20th Anniversary Celebration
April 20-22
The Ramsey Hotel and Convention Center
Pigeon Forge, TN

Jubilation is an event of Holston Conference Older Adult Ministries, and will celebrate 20 years with General Session Leader Cathy Lee Phillips, Worship & Music Leaders Wesley Rouse and Bryan Underwood, and Special Entertainment by Pistol Creek Catch of the Day.
RISE 2020 Holston UMW Event
April 24-26
MainStay Suites
Pigeon Forge, TN

RISE , is a Holston Conference United Methodist Women’s community mission event that will give women an opportunity to learn more about what it means to serve Christ in mission, to work on a hands-on mission project(s) and to worship and fellowship together.
Sacred Conversations on Race: Working Toward Beloved Community
Sunday, April 26
2:00 - 6:00 pm
Pleasant View UMC
Abingdon, VA

Sponsored by the Holston Conference Outreach Advocacy Team, this event seeks to help participants live into our Baptismal covenant and answer the question, "Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?"
Attention Pastors!
Please mark you calendar for our next District Clergy Meeting:

Tuesday, March 31
10:00 am and 6:00 pm
Three Rivers District Ministry Center
Click on the button below for this month's news from Wesley Leadership Institute.