Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 –5:00 Phone 276-628-4421 / Fax 276-628-2947 Email-abdist@holston.org www.abingdondistrictumc.org

Resident Bishop: Mary Virginia Taylor

District Superintendent: Rev. Sandra Johnson

Administrative Assistant: Cindy Fleenor

Abingdon Advocate

Inside this issue:

January / February 2015

In this Edition:

1. Year-End Reports Due

2. Read the Bible in a Year

3. Convocation 2015

4. Resurrection 2015

5. Health Kits 2015

6. Resource Information

7. VBS Workshops

8. District Day of Discipleship

9. Annual Conference 2015

Abingdon District -

WEBSITE

You can access District information by visiting our

website at:

abingdondistrictumc.org

Check us out!

Pastors: 2014 Year -End Re-

ports are due on

Tuesday, January 13th, 2015.

Details inside…

Annual Financial Reviews due by

March 31st 2015

Form available on line at

www.abingdondistrictumc.org

A Short Course in Human Relations

The SEVEN most important words: “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

The SIX most important words: “I admit I made a mistake.”

The FIVE most important words: “You did a great job.”

The FOUR most important words: “What do you think?”

The THREE most important words: “If you please…”

The TWO most important words: “Thank you.”

The ONE most important word: “We”

and

The ONE least important word: “I”

Anonymous

Reminder to Pastors and Church Treasurers

The Abingdon District Office Books will close on January 10th.

Please make every effort to pay your District Askings in full by that date.

Need assistance? Call the District Office at 276-628-4421

Page 2

Mark your calendars NOW for a District Workshop:

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: MISSION BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH

9:00 am -2:00 pm Lead by Rev. Jim Goddard

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, 2015 PLEASANT VIEW UMC, ABINGDON

REGISTRATION AND PRE-PAYMENT IS REQUIRED

COST $20.00 PER PERSON (includes required book, “SHIFT’ , printed handouts, and lunch.)

Deadline to register Thursday, February 12th.

Books are available at the District Office -you will need to read this book BEFORE attending the workshop. Supplies are limited.

Please cut here and bring or mail to Abingdon District Office P.O. Box 263 Abingdon, VA. 24212

************************************************************************************************

Name ______________________________________________Phone # __________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________________________

Church ________________________________________________________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

Fee: $20.00 ________________________Cash (please do not mail cash)

________________________Check (Make payable to: Abingdon District )

CLERGY MEETING REMINDER:

Clergy Meeting: Tuesday, January 13th 2015

Pleasant View UMC -Abingdon

Worship 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Pastors will turn in 2014 Year-End Reports at this meeting in the following order:

Last name begins with A - K

8:00 am -10:00am

Last Name begins with L -Z

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

**NO District Clergy Meeting in February CONVOCATION FEBRUARY 23-26, 2015

NO EVENING CLERGY MEETING IN JANUARY

SERMON ACADEMY

January 26, 2014 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Alcoa Conference Center

This workshop, led by Rev. Dr. Paul Harmon, Spartanburg, SC District Superintendent, will be a gathering of those who rely on and value words to help people connect to the Living Word. During our time together, we will focus on preaching possibilities for the Lenten journey, explor-

ing both lectionary and non-lectionary options for helping people live toward the joy of Easter. We will talk about

the practical aspects of sermon preparation that help real faith connect with real life. 0.5 CEUs

Register today! $25 Registration includes lunch and

materials. www.holston.org

RESURRECTION 2015 Celebrating 30 Years!!!

2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS –

For January 2015

IMPORTANT CHANGE:

.

Shortly after the first of the year, letters will be sent out with Annual Conference information to all Annual Confer-ence members, both clergy and lay. The process for making housing reservations has changed, and it is very

important that all Conference members be mindful of this change.

There will not be a call in day this year for housing reservations. Letters will be mailed to clergy and lay members the week of January 10, and housing preferences must be sent directly to Lake Junaluska by January 30, 2015. The

Junaluska staff will then hold a random drawing to assign housing. They will contact conference members directly by February 20 to inform them of their housing assignments. After conference members receive word from Junaluska that they have been assigned housing, they will need to send back the housing deposit. No money should be sent

with the housing preference request.

If you are a lay member to annual conference or clergy, be on the lookout for this mailing! (No later call-in day)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2015

The following persons were elected at District Charge Confer-ence September 28th , 2014 by a ballot vote to serve the Abingdon District as At-Large Members to Annual Conference 2015

Susie Ledger Joe Garrett Millie Saunders

Ernie Catron Carolyn Kidd Dan Gill

Sarah Adams Sarah McMillan Glenda Maine

Greg Herrell Heda Quillin Christina Best

Roy Hull Jane Carter Tawana Teague

Jacob Countiss

1St Alternate: Alma Wheeler

2nd Alternate: Candace Gurley

Other persons representing Abingdon District:

Prue Oxendine – UMW President

Sue Tilson – District Lay Leader

Young Adult Representative –Amanda Countiss

CCYM Representative – Olivia Wilson

Campus Ministry Representative -Emily Ballard

Lighten Up!

42nd Annual Minister’s Wives Retreat

Music Road Inn, 303 Henderson Chapel Road, Pigeon Forge, TN

March 19 –21, 2015

Deadline to Register: February 27th, 2015

Complete Information /Brochures are available at

ClergySpouses.holston.org

Abingdon District Office PO. Box 263 Abingdon, Virginia 24210

Contact Information: abdist@holston.org

Plan now to Attend a Cokesbury

V B S 2015 Showcase Event

January 22 –6:30 pm First Broad Street UMC, Kingsport

January 27—6:00 pm Pleasant View UMC, Abingdon –a light meal will be provided at this showcase

February 3 –6:30 pm Wesley Memorial UMC, Johnson City

Ken Fowler

423-262-6433

kfowler@cokesbury.com

Cokesbury Community Resource Consultant

HEALTH KITS for 2015 Abingdon – Goal 400

Pack these items in a 2-gallon Zip-Loc bag:

1 hand towel

1 washcloth

2 toothbrushes

2 tubes toothpaste (6.4. oz. or less)

1 bottle shampoo (15 oz. or less)

1 bottle lotion (18 oz. or less)

1 bottle roll-on deodorant (4 oz. or less)

1 small spray perfume/cologne/body mist (4 oz. or less)

Pack these separately in sandwich-size Zip-Loc bag:

1 tube antibacterial ointment (1 oz.)

1 bottle Tylenol/acetaminophen (24 ct.)

Kits will be picked up in June of 2015 before Annual Conference

Include $5.00 per kit. Do not place money inside the kits.

Churches should write one check for total number of kits payable to

Abingdon District . A drop-off day will be announced soon.

OLD TIMEY GOSPEL JAM

OPEN MICROPHONE

ALL AGES WELCOME

SECOND SATURDAYS

7:00 - 9:00 PM

COME AND GO AS YOU PLEASE

Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church

107 Sulphur Springs Circle

Castlewood, VA 24224

276 393 6599

(JUST OFF ALTERNATE ROUTE 58

IN THE DICKENSONVILLE AREA)

CONVOCATION 2015

FEBRUARY 23-26, 2015

Music Road Hotel / Convention Center

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Clergy, if you have not already registered for this event,

please do so by going to www.convocation.holston.org

Please note that the Clergy Gathering that was cancelled in October will be held on Tuesday afternoon during Convocation. You will still need to go to the link above even if you only

plan to attend the Clergy Gathering.

JANUARY 2015

1 Luke 5:27-39 Genesis 1-2 Psalm 1

2 Luke 6:1-26 Genesis 3-5 Psalm 2

3 Luke 6:27-49 Genesis 6-7 Psalm 3

4 Luke 7:1-17 Genesis 8-10 Psalm 4

5 Luke 7:18-50 Genesis 11 Psalm 5

6 Luke 8:1-25 Genesis 12 Psalm 6

7 Luke 8:26-56 Genesis 13-14 Psalm 7

8 Luke 9:1-27 Genesis 15 Psalm 8

9 Luke 9:28-62 Genesis 16 Psalm 9

10 Luke 10:1-20 Genesis 17 Psalm 10

11 Luke 10:21-42 Genesis 18 Psalm 11

12 Luke 11:1-28 Genesis 19 Psalm 12

13 Luke 11:29-54 Genesis 20 Psalm 13

14 Luke 12:1-31 Genesis 21 Psalm 14

15 Luke 12:32-59 Genesis 22 Psalm 15

16 Luke 13:1-17 Genesis 23 Psalm 16

17 Luke 13:18-35 Genesis 24 Psalm 17

18 Luke 14:1-24 Genesis 25 Psalm 18

19 Luke 14:25-35 Genesis 26 Psalm 19

20 Luke 15 Genesis 27:1-45 Psalm 20

21 Luke 16 Genesis 27:46-28:22 Psalm 21

22 Luke 17 Genesis 29:1-30 Psalm 22

23 Luke 18:1-17 Genesis 29:31-30:43 Psalm 23

24 Luke 18:18-43 Genesis 31 Psalm 24

25 Luke 19:1-27 Genesis 32-33 Psalm 25

26 Luke 19:28-48 Genesis 34 Psalm 26

27 Luke 20:1-26 Genesis 35-36 Psalm 27

28 Luke 20:27-47 Genesis 37 Psalm 28

29 Luke 21 Genesis 38 Psalm 29

30 Luke 22:1-38 Genesis 39 Psalm 30

31 Luke 22:39-71 Genesis 40 Psalm 31

Read the Bible through in a year ….

Takes about 30 minutes per day!

A great way to start a brand new year!

Here are the JANUARY 2015 DAILY

READINGS

See the complete year schedule at:

www.arcamax.com/ttb-yr.html

(A Free Printable Version is available)

Job Opportunity Announcements……

Abingdon UMC looks to hire a full-time Director of Students, who will lead pro-gramming and activities for all grade school age students (K-12). The successful candi-date will be enthusiastic and energetic, able to relate to all students in this age range and be willing to work with students, par-ents and church staff. Other considerations include familiarity and appreciation of the traditions and theology of the UMC, ability to use social media and to plan and lead overnight trips. We expect our Director of Students to be active and network in the community (schools, district, conference, other local churches). Passing a background check and Safe Sanctuary training required. College degree and/or 3-5 years’ experience in area preferred. Insurance and retirement benefits will be part of salary package. Submit resume and contact information to: robertcountiss@abingdonumc.org.

Pleasant View UMC of Abingdon is in need of a drummer for our contemporary worship service. Any experienced drum-mer that would be interested in serving by utilizing their talents in this capacity is encouraged to contact Pleasant View UMC at 276-628-6323 or email Sam Neeley at guitar@bvu.net. Pleasant View UMC is located at 18416 Lee Highway, Abingdon Virginia.