Missing Lake Junaluska
The virtual session of Holston Annual Conference happened on Saturday, June 12. It was the second summer in a row when Holston church members didn't congregate in Lake Junaluska ... which got John Shearer to thinking about the good old days. From The Call. Read story.
Virtual Annual Conference: Watch it
The June 12 online part of Holston Annual Conference -- all 3 1/2 hours -- can be viewed on YouTube. Annual Conference resumes with in-person sessions Aug. 27-28 in Kingsport, Tenn. Find out more.
2021 mission offering announced
Every year, the Holston Annual Conference takes a mission offering usually totaling more than $100,000. This year, Bishop Dindy Taylor's office announces that funds collected at the in-person Annual Conference on Aug. 28 will help churches in East Knoxville. Read statement.
Foundation awards $211,000 in ministry grants
The Holston Foundation announces its 2021 grant awards, distributed to 39 ministries and churches in Holston and around the world. The grants will support community gardens, arts camp, senior adult care, Hispanic radio ministry, food pantries, backpack ministries, and more. See list.
$500 grants available for rural churches
Rural churches can apply for $500 grants to be used to respond to specific needs in their communities. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. United Methodist Rural Advocates will notify grant recipients by Dec. 1. Read press release.
Cicadas show up for church, testing clergy
This is a Brood X cicadas year, meaning billions of the red-eyed, flying insects have noisily emerged in parts of the U.S. after spending 17 years underground. United Methodist clergy are having to cope. From UM News. Read story.
Churches host Juneteenth event in East Knox
On Friday, churches joined hands to host a Juneteenth celebration at Lennon-Seney UMC. It wasn't just to eat good food and enjoy good company. They also wanted to show the East Knoxville community some love. From WBIR. See story.
Pastors are pessimistic about denominations
As nondenominational identity grows, evangelical pastors are less likely to consider such affiliations vital today and few see their importance holding steady over the next 10 years, according to a study with Protestant clergy in the U.S. From Christianity Today. Read report.
Photo of the Week
On Saturday, June 19, the Rev. Barbara Clark posted Juneteenth posters on the pedestrian-heavy Parkway in Gatlinburg. "Let freedom ring!" she said on her Facebook page. Clark is senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Gatlinburg.
In Memoriam
Rev. Ogle Wattenbarger
Age 86, June 20, Athens, TN. See obituary.
Calendar
Aug. 27: Memorial Service, Ordination Service
Aug. 28: In-Person Session
Holston Youth Ministry
Assembly: June 28-July 2
Holston United Methodist Women
Mission u: July 23-24
More Resources
Job Opportunities - 4 new jobs
Past Issues
The Call is Holston Conference's weekly newsletter for 850 United Methodist congregations in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and North Georgia. Contact Annette Spence, editor, at thecall@holston.org