OCTOBER 2016

Mary Virginia Taylor, Resident Bishop

Rev. Dr. Adam E. McKee, III, District Superintendent
Lori Hopper, Administrative Assistant, Editor

183 Lafayette Drive

Oak Ridge, TN 37830-6898
Office: 865-482-3209 * Fax: 865-483-4515
District email: ordist@holston.org

Do You Have a Theology of Limitation?

Now unto him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far
more than all we can ask or imagine. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen
(Ephesians 3:20 NRSV)
Prior to the advent of new scientific or technological discoveries, we had no idea of what we were missing or how they would change
our lives. Who knew how revolutionary the cell phone, lap top computers, or iPhones would be? Somebody, somewhere recognized
a need, had a dream and decided to go after it. Often our creativity and dreams are stifled because we have what I call, A Theology
of Limitation. It is a theology that trumps what we believe is possible, and negates what we think is achievable. Even as believers
and worshippers of the most High God, we can become infected with a Theology of Limitation.
So, before I go any further, allow me to raise an important question: Do you have a Theology of Limitation? Really, do you have a
theological perspective that persistently tells you that God is only going to do so much for you because of your past, your mistakes,
your troubles, or current situation? What if Thomas Edison had a theology of limitation? What if the creator of the iPod had a
theology of limitation when he saw that the market was already saturated with MP3 players? What if Mother Teresa had a limitation
theology when she looked at the poor of the ghettoes of Calcutta? What if the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a theology of
limitation? Better yet, what if Jesus had a theology of limitation when He hung on the cross of Calvary?
There are times when we have no idea of how high we can rise, how much we can do, how strong we can be, or how awesome our
God is. In fact, too often in the church we self-negate, restrict our reach, and limit our possibilities because our visible lack of
resources.
The Question is: What is it in your life, in your ministries, or in your mind that keeps you saying I cant go any further with this?
In our text, the Apostle Paul reminds us of just how awesome our God is. Through his doxology of praise, Paul offers up a remedy
for the theology of limitation mindset. Please consider the following observations:
God Has Unlimited Power/Ability: We serve an omnipotent, all powerful God. Ephesians 1:19 states: And what immeasurable
greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when
he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places Friends, there is an inexhaustible fullness of
grace and mercy in God, which our prayers and petition would never cause to run dry. No fellow human being can do what God can.
Only God can meet all our needs.
Only God can heal us when we are sick.
Only God can provide us with shelter from the storms of Life.
What is it you need right now? Do you need God to make a way out of no way?
God Can Do More Than What We Can Imagine: God can out distance our thoughts and imagination! What foremost dream do
you have? Turn it over to the Lord! God can go further, rise higher and go deeper. God can really move in our lives when we step out
on faith. Make your prayers known to our heavenly Father! In Genesis, God stepped onto nothing and creation came into being. God
can supply what we need. When we are down to our last, God can step in right on time.
Through God we have untapped resources: Please understand that the ancient Biblical power of God is available to work in our
lives today! Through God, we can have the power to take difficulties and turn them into opportunities. If you are facing difficult
challenges, consider this: Let Go and Let God work it out. A few of years ago, Rita Maiyaki, a retired Deputy Director of the
Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria, authored a book entitled Worship-Untapped Resource. The book helps readers to
understand the importance of worship and how it positions believers to come to know and witness the awesome goodness and power
of God. After all, the gospel of Matthew 6:33 instructs us to: Seek ye the Kingdom of God first. Worship, prayer, devotion, and
study of the word can enable believers of all demographics to develop a closer walk with God who is the source of our well-being!
Grace and Peace,
Adam

TRAIN YOUR LEADER!

UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION (UMVIM)

TEAM LEADER TRAINING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
Trinity Outreach Center Fellowship Hall
20 Robertsville Road

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

Cost: $25.00

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 Handbook you will receive at the UMVIM Team Leader Training. Please bring a sack lunch.
Please register online so that sufficient materials will be available.

http://holston.org/ministries/missions/
For questions regarding the event, please contact: Maxine or Bob Schultz, (865) 719-4304 or (865) 719-3230

LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING

Oak Ridge District
Bradbury UMC
November 4 & 5
Courses Offered...
1. Advanced Course: Leading Worship
2. Advanced Course: Preaching
3. Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
________________

Kingsport District
Colonial Heights UMC - Kingsport, TN
October 21-22
Courses Offered
1. Lay Servant Ministry Basic Course
2. Advanced Course: History of the UMC
3. Advanced Course: Preaching
_______________

Morristown District
First UMC White Pine
October 22

Knoxville District
St. Mark UMC - Knoxville, TN
November 5

Courses Offered
1. Lay Servant Ministry Basic Course
2. Advanced Course: Heritage
3. Advanced Course: Leading Prayer
_______________

Courses Offered
1. Lay Servant Ministry Basic Course
2. Advanced Course: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
3. Advanced Course: Leading Worship
_______________

Cleveland District
Keith Memorial UMC - Athens, TN
October 22
Courses Offered
1. Lay Servant Ministry Basic Course
2. Advanced Course: Preaching
3. Advanced Course: United Methodist Polity

Please contact the District Office for more information and

how to register for any of these courses.

DISTRICT YOUTH
FESTIVAL OF GIFTS & TALENTS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
7:00pm
CONCORD UMC
This year we ask to encourage your youth to share new and different gifts and
talents. For example: poetry readings, interpretive dance, fresh skits, short video
and innovative ideas to share the gospel. We want our offerings at Resurrection
to be reflective of our larger community; thus, encourage your youth to look for
opportunities to celebrate the diversity of Holston. In addition we are encouraging your talent/gift offering to reflect or be inspired by the Resurrection theme
of Luke 9:23 "Follow".
ALL DISTRICT YOUTH ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!
For more information, contact Anthony Burns at:
PastorAnthonyBurns@gmail.com

October 2016

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OAK RIDGE DISTRICT

LAY SERVANT MINISTRY TRAINING
November 4 & 5, 2016
Bradbury United Methodist Church
3506 Buttermilk Rd. W
Kingston, TN 37763

Courses Offered: 1. Lay Servant Advanced Course: Leading Worship

Book: Worshipping with United Methodists

2. Lay Servant Advanced Course: Preaching

Book: From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon

3. Lay Servant Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts

Book:
Book:

Each One a Minister

Your Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Schedule:

Friday, November 4
Saturday, November 5

6:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.
8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Course fee:

$15.00 (covers lunch & snacks) Book not included.

You may purchase the book on your own or add the following fees if you wish the book to be
purchased for you:
$13.00 Worshipping with United Methodists
$10.00 From Your Heart to Theirs: Delivering an Effective Sermon
$18.00 Each One a Minister and Your Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Register:

Please mail completed registration form along with a check payable to Diane James to:
Diane James
158 Allison Drive
Harriman, TN 37748

Registration must be received no later than Saturday, 10/29/2016

Please note on registration form if
childcare is needed.
Childcare will be available only to those whose REGISTRATION
is submitted by October 29 with a request for child care.

For additional information or questions,

please contact Diane James, Oak Ridge District Lay Leader at
(865) 376-6877 or dianejames1951@gmail.com.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REGISTRATION FORM FOR OAK RIDGE DISTRICT

LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING
November 4 & 5, 2016

Name:

Church:____________________________________

Address:

Conference/District:

City/State/Zip:

Phone: (

Email address:

PLEASE ENROLL ME IN:

____ Adv. Course: Leading Worship OR
I wish to have the book purchased
for me and have included an additional
fee of $13.00 for a total of $28.00.
OR
I have included the $15.00 course fee
will purchase the book on my own.

____ Adv. Course: Preaching

I wish to have the book purchased
for me and have included an additional
fee of $10.00 for a total of $25.00
OR
I have included the $15.00 course fee
and will purchase the book on my own.

Childcare: ________
I have special dietary requirement and cannot eat:

OR

____ Adv. Course: Spiritual Gifts

I wish to have the book purchased
for me and have included an additionalfee
of $18.00 for a total of $33.00.
OR
I have included the $15.00 course fee and
and will purchase the book on my own.

Thank You to

KERN MEMORIAL UMC

for hosting the

2016 Oak Ridge District Conference

A special thank you to The Blank Paiges of Beaver Ridge UMC,
the Haven Chapel UMC Choir
and soloist Audrey Jackson of Asbury UMC
for their musical contributions
and to
Rev. Don Morris, Host Pastor; District Lay Leader Diane James;
Brad Taylor, District Leadership Team Chair; John Leitnaker of Roane County Cooperative Ministries,
Rev. David Lewis of Bethel UMC, Rev. Keith Hampson of Well Spring and Cawood UMC,
Rev. Dave Grant, Chair of the Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries Board,
Ella Smith, Executive Director of the Morgan-Scott Project, and
Rev. Mike Sluder of the Holston Conference Strategy Team
for their reports and worship leadership.

Elected District At-Large Members to 2017 Annual Conference are:

Elizabeth Chancey
Carol Cox
Charlotte DeLozier
Rhonda Hackney
Steve Hackney
Lori Hopper
Karla Kurtz
Robin Kyek
Paige Lann
Karen Lawson
Colon McCarty

Cindy McGhee
Charlotte McKee
Mildred Millican
Susan Montgomery
Dorothy Moore
Renni Morris
Donna Mosby
Sharon Price
Renee Ryon
Ella Smith
Jennifer Spieth

Alternate: Mike Smith

At-Large Members to 2017 Annual Conference by virtue of position:

District Lay Leader: Diane James
Youth/Young Adult Representatives: TBD
UMW President: Monica Sheppard-Viator
UMM President: Joe Thompson
District Treasurer: Norma Smith

October 2016

Page 5

RESPONSE TO RECENT FLOODING

The United Methodist Committee

on Relief (UMCOR) Sager Brown
Depot has an urgent request for
Flood Buckets. UMCOR requests
your prayers and patience in response to the Louisiana
floods. Outside volunteers have not yet been requested
but you CAN help in these ways:
Join in prayer
Make a donation to UMCOR
Advance#901670
Assemble Flood Buckets
Instructions for assembly of flood buckets can be found
at www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-SupplyKits/Cleaning
Completed buckets may be delivered to the District Office
Monday - Thursday, 9:00am-4:30pm and
Friday, 9:00am-12:00noon.
_____________________________________________________

HOLSTON CONFERENCE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Saturday, Oct 22, 2016
Tobias Smyth House
Emory & Henry College
Emory, Virginia
10:00am - Noon
Dr Joseph T Reiff, who serves as Floyd Bunyan Shelton
Professor of Religion at the college will present a program
on his recent book entitled Born of Conviction: White
Methodists and Mississippi's Closed Society.
Dr Jerry L Jones, a resident of Glade Springs, Virginia and
a member of Abingdon District's Ebenezer United Methodist Church will present a program highlighting his recent
book entitled Go and Come--Segregation, Tolerance and
Reflection: A Four-Generation African-American Educational Struggle.
Participants will be welcome to self-guided tours of campus and the Holston Conference Cemetery
after the meeting.
The Holston Conference Historical Society is open
to anyone with an interest in the work of the United
Methodist Church in our region.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Holston Conference has

supplied flood buckets and
health kits for victims of recent
flooding in West Virginia and
Louisiana. Our stock supply
needs to be replenished. We
need your help!

UPCOMING DISTRICT
CLERGY MEETINGS

Thursday, October 13

Program: Spiritual Formation presented by Renni Morris

Thursday, November 10

Book Discussion - CEUs Available

Books: * The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches,
Small Churches, and the Small Thinking

that Divides Us
by Karl Vaters

* Greenhouses of Hope: Congregations

Growing Young Leaders Who Will Change
the World
by Dori Grinenko Baker

Reading one book and participating in discussion earns

.4 CEU credit. Discussion only - .1 CEU credit
Meetings will be held at 10:00am at:
First UMC, Oak Ridge
1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Monday, October 24, 2016

The Connexion, Sevierville, TN
10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Registration Two Ways:
$25 includes registration and lunch
Deadline is October 12, 20156
On-line: for those using a credit card:
sermonacademy.holston.org
By mail: Holston Conference UMC
Sermon Academy P.O. Box 850 Alcoa, TN 37701
Please include your name, address, phone, e-mail address,
church, and district information.
0.5 CEUs will be offered through Wesley Leadership Institute
For more information: sueweber@holston.org or 865/293-4135
Sponsored by Congregational Development and Revitalization

October 2016

Page 6

HEALTH KITS - 2017 HOLSTON HANDS-ON MISSION PROJECT

The Oak Ridge District will be collecting HEALTH KITS for the 2017 Holston Annual Conference Hands-on Mission Project.
Kits will be collected in the district office in June 2017 and will be sent to the
Ishe Anesu Project for Underprivileged Children in Zimbabwe.

2
2
2
1
1

bars soap
toothpaste (6.4 oz. or less)
toothbrushes
Childrens Chewable Tylenol, 80mg/160mg, (30 ct.)
washcloth

1
1
1
1
1

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

Tylenol, 500 mg (24 ct.)
Benadryl childrens liquid (4 oz.) OR adult tabs (24 ct.)
Aleve, 22 mg (24 ct.)
Listerine, adult OR childrens Smart Rinse (250 mL or less)

** All items should be packed in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag. **

HOLSTON CONFERENCE
CHILDRENS MINISTRY
NEEDS YOUR HELP!
At our planning meeting in August we
focused on our purpose as a team. One
of the greatest concerns is how to be a
better resource to the diverse congregations and childrens ministries in our conference. One of the most pressing questions was, How can we best help
you in your ministry efforts? In order to faithfully answer that question, we
developed a very short survey. Volunteers or staff involved in childrens ministry in the local church, please take a moment to respond to this survey at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/
e/1FAIpQLSf2KTM6RN2ZOs1FajxE5jV3fi4iOvhLVcby_JYFvdWGskOnw/
viewform
Please respond by
November 1, 2016.
We are excited about better serving the
leaders of leaders in childrens ministry
of Holston Conference.
Thank you!
Holston Conference
Childrens Ministry Team

________________________________________________________________________________

$5 per kit should also be included to cover packing and shipping costs. PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE BAGS!
Each church should write one check payable to Oak Ridge District (Ex: 10 kits x $5 = $50.00)

NEXT DEADLINE FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY

GRANT APPLICATIONS: NOVEMBER 15
Bless is a verb. Bishop Dindy Taylor shared these words of reminder
and challenge in the opening worship of the 2016 Annual Conference.
Holstons churches continue to bless
children in poverty in their communities through life-changing actions.
The Tazewell District is initiating the Elk Garden School project which is offering a variety of services from Scouts to tutoring to a community kitchen. Mafair Church in Kingsport is involving their fifth and sixth graders in packing food backpacks for other children. At Annual Conference, books were collected from lay and clergy members to
create eighty-eight packs of books for congregations to use to bless their community
schools. Holstons congregations are busy in the action of blessing their communities!
One key way that we continue to encourage each other is through our giving to the
Annual Conference have given a total of almost $300,000 which has been used to
grant $186,437 to 54 ministries thus far. Our goal is to give $10 per average worship
attendance from each of our congregations which would total over $685,000. Each
quarter throughout this conference year your congregation is asked to give toward this
goal so that together we may bless childrens lives throughout our area.
Grants will be made throughout the year with application deadlines November 15,
February 15, and May 15. Visit waytogiveholston.org for the grant application.
In addition, congregations in Holston are challenged to give 10 hours in service to children in poverty in your community. Read a book, volunteer at a school, provide food
for a family, encourage a teacher. Use your creative thoughts and prayerful discernment to see how God is calling you to bless a young life. As people of faith, we believe
that Jesus loves every child. Lets live and give so that each child may know Gods
love. Remember, bless is a verb.
Thank you, Holston.
Lets continue to bring it home as we engage in ministry with children in poverty in the
Holston Conference.
Together, we share to bless.

October 2016

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 2016
8
11
13
19
20
22
22
24
27
30
30
30

HOLSTON CONFERENCE DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING, 9:00am-5:00pm, Fairview UMC

MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Harriman, New Century, Morgan Scott Roane Parish), 6:00pm, New Century UMC
DISTRICT CLERGY MEETING, 10:00am, First UMC Oak Ridge
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Central, Bradbury, Good Shepherd, Martel, Trinity), 6:00pm, Trinity UMC
HOLSTON HOME FOR CHILDREN DINNER, 6:00pm, First Farragut UMC
DISTRICT UMW ANNUAL MEETING, Norris UMC
UMVIM TEAM LEADER TRAINING, 10:00am-3:00pm, Trinity Outreach Center, Oak Ridge
SERMON ACADEMY, 10:00am-4:00pm, The Connexion, Sevierville, TN
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Beaver Ridge, First Farragut, Grigsby Chapel) 6:00pm, First Farragut UMC
MINISTRY CELEBRATION, 12:30pm, First UMC Oneida
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Fincastle, Jacksboro, Caryville, LaFollette, Mt. Zion) 2:30pm, Jacksboro UMC
DISTRICT YOUTH FESTIVAL, 7:00pm, Concord UMC

NOVEMBER 2016
4
5
6
7
9
10
13
13
24-25

LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Bradbury UMC

LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING, 8:30am-5:00pm, Bradbury UMC
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Claiborne Cluster, Irwins Chapel, New Tazewell, Thompson Chapel)
2:00pm, Tazewell UMC
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Asbury, Dutch Valley, Rocky Top, Memorial, Moores Gap, St. Mark)
6:00pm Memorial UMC
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Kern Memorial, Oliver Springs, Jonesville), 6:30pm, Kern Memorial UMC
DISTRICT CLERGY MEETING, 10:00am, First UMC, Oak Ridge
MINISTRY CELEBRATION (Asbury Chapel, Cowan Chapel, Luminary, Kingston, Midtown Valley, Swan Pond)
2:00pm, Kingston UMC
MINISTRY CELEBRATION, 6:30pm, First UMC Oak Ridge
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - DISTRICT & CONFERENCE OFFICE CLOSED

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 ordist@holston.org. 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.

October 2016

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