News and Events for September 27

Thanks for making Bluff City Heritage Days a success.  Thanks to all that helped with the events and activities.

Today in worship we welcome representatives of the ETSU Wesley Foundation . It is our shared ministry with college students, and the presence of the United Methodist Church at ETSU. Countless lives have been changed because of this growing and vital ministry. Our supporting districts, Johnson City, Morristown, and Kingsport are asking all the churches of the districts to take up a one day special offering for the ETSU Wesley. $33,000 of our goal of $70,000 has already been raised. Make checks payable to Bluff City UMC and mark ETSU Wesley in the memo line.

Budget requests for 2016 are due in the church office by TODAY, Sunday, September 27. Budget requests should be submitted on the forms provided by the Finance Team. The forms can be submitted by email to pastordangray@gmail.com.

At our last Annual Conference, our delegates pledged that we would encourage each church member to give 10 hours of service this year to children in poverty in our community. We hope that you are working toward that goal, and will encourage that in your Sunday School, Life Group, UMM, UMW, Circle of Faith, youth ministries, children’s ministries, etc.

Nominations & Leadership Development Team will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 1, in the Willing Worker Classroom. Team members are: Dan Gray, Joyce Fleenor, Herman Carrier, Lelia Perry, Beverly Smith, Carole Ann Miller, Judy Finney, Lana Butler, Nancy Forrester.

Finance Team will meet at 6:30 pm on Monday, October 5, in the Fellowship Hall. Team members are: Tony Lundin (Chair), Nancy Forrester, Betty Malone, Elaine Good, Herman Carrier, Michael Forrester, Jack Hurlbert, Beverly Smith, Lelia Perry, and Dan Gray.

Thanks to Mike Miller, the Heritage Day Coordination Team, and all our volunteers for helping reach out to the community by our presence at Heritage Day.

Farmapalooza, our Johnson City district youth gathering, is TONIGHT, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at a farm near Sulphur Springs.  An evening of fun, worship, communion, meeting other people, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, lawn games, and food!  Meet in the church parking lot at 5:00 pm.  Bring $3 for dinner and some extra $ for the Youth Service Fund offering.  We expect to return to the church around 8:30 pm.

Johnson City District Lay Servant Training at Cokesbury JC (formerly Cherokee) will be on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 8:30  a.m.—4:30 p.m.  Registration fee is $25.00 and needs to be returned by Wednesday, October 28.  Please see office for more information.

District Conference, Cokesbury JC, Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 PM.

Children’s Sabbath, a celebration of children on Sunday, October 11, will be a combined worship service meeting at 10:30 am in our Sanctuary.  Sunday School will begin at 9:15 am.

News and Events for September 20

The Nicene Creed is the historic statement of belief of the Christian faith devised by the ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the city of Nicaea, located in what is now northwest Turkey. The Creed was revised in 381 by the Council of Constantinople. The Nicene Creed sets forth the key affirmations concerning the Christian faith and served as a guide in combating heretical or false teaching. Following the Apostles’ Creed, it is the second oldest ecumenical creed of the Christian faith.

Budget requests for 2016 are due in the church office by Sunday, September 27. Team leaders should meet with their team prior, establish ministry goals for 2016, and develop their budget request to support their ministry goals. Budget requests should be submitted on the forms provided by the Finance Team. The forms can be submitted by email to pastordangray@gmail.com .

Johnson City District Lay Servant Training at Cokesbury JC (formerly Cherokee) will be on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 8:30  a.m.—4:30 p.m.  Registration fee is $25.00 and needs to be returned by Wednesday, October 28.  Please see office for more information.

District Conference, Cokesbury JC, Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 PM.

FYI—Wednesday Night meals are open to the entire church as well as children and youth.   Our meal this Wednesday will be Sloppy Joes, French fries, green beans, Salad and Dessert.  Donations are needed to supply the kitchen as well as to continue feeding our youth and children.  All funds for the kitchen is by donation only.

At this past Annual Conference, our delegates pledged that we would  encourage each church member to give 10 hours of service this year to children in poverty in our community. We hope that you are working toward that goal, and will encourage that in your Sunday School, Life Group, UMM, UMW, Circle of Faith, youth ministries, children’s ministries, etc.

Nominations & Leadership Development Team will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 1, in the Willing Worker Classroom. Team members are:  Dan Gray, Joyce Fleenor, Herman Carrier, Lelia Perry, Beverly Smith, Carole Ann Miller, Judy Finney, Lana Butler, Nancy Forrester.

We are having a church outing on Thursday, September 24.  The Jeff Little Trio is holding  a free concert at Northeast State.  It is a fundraiser for scholarships in the Business Technologies division.  We will be taking the church van and will leave the parking lot at 6:30 pm.  The concert will begin at 7:00 in the Regional Center for the Performing Arts.  If you like bluegrass, you don’t want to miss the show.  For more information, contact Dan Perry.

At this past Annual Conference, our delegates pledged that we would  encourage each church member to give 10 hours of service this year to children in poverty in our community. We hope that you are working toward that goal, and will encourage that in your Sunday School, Life Group, UMM, UMW, Circle of Faith, youth ministries, children’s ministries, etc.

Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), our personnel team, will meet at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, September 22, in the Willing Worker Classroom. Team members are: Michael Forrester (chair), Judy Finney, Kathy Hurlbert, Ike Fleenor, Linda Rader, Selena Lane, Jane Bellamy, Herman Carrier, Nancy Forrester, Lelia Perry, and Dan Gray.

Traditional Worship Planning Team will meet at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Willing Worker Classroom. Team members are : Kim Lundin, Jane Bellamy, Priscilla Keene, Betsy Carrier, Dan Perry, David Estep, and Dan Gray.

Trustees will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 24, in the Willing Worker Classroom.  Team members are: Jack Hurlbert (Chair), Donnie Rader, Teresa Webb, Earl Smith, Jane Riley, Dan Ronquillo, Elaine Good, Bruce Stewart.

Nominations & Leadership Development Team will meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 1, in the Willing Worker Classroom. Team members are:  Dan Gray, Joyce Fleenor, Herman Carrier, Lelia Perry, Beverly Smith, Carole Ann Miller, Judy Finney, Lana Butler, Nancy Forrester.

Next Sunday in worship we welcome representatives of the ETSU Wesley Foundation . It is our shared ministry with college students, and the presence of the United Methodist Church at ETSU. Countless lives have been changed because of this growing and vital ministry. Our supporting districts, Johnson City,  Morristown, and Kingsport are asking all the churches of the districts to take up a one day special offering next Sunday for the ETSU Wesley. $33,000 of our goal of $70,000 has already been raised. Make checks payable to Bluff City UMC and mark ETSU Wesley in the memo line.

With your help we can go over the top.  ETSU Wesley is the presence of the United Methodist Church at ETSU.  Countless lives have been changed because of this growing and vital ministry.  On September 27th you will have the opportunity to give.  A bulletin insert and envelope will be provided for you that day.  When you give you are changing lives and investing in future generations of the church.  We thank God for you.

 

News and Events for September 13

Leadership & Vision Team will have future meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm, beginning September 15. Team members are:  Nancy Forrester, Lelia Perry, Bobbie Warden, Beverly Smith, Alicia Ronquillo, Jin Lane, Samantha Gray, Kim Lundin, Dan Perry, Tony Lundin, Jack Hurlbert and Dan Gray.

Our Johnson City District is accepting nominations for At Large Lay Members to the Holston Annual Conference , which will be June 5-8, 2016 at Lake Junaluska, NC. Nominations forms are due to the district office by Monday, Sept. 14. For more info, see Pastor Dan.

At this past Annual Conference, our delegates pledged that we would encourage each church member to give 10 hours of service this year to children in poverty in our community. We hope that you are working toward that goal, and will encourage that in your Sunday School, Life Group, UMM, UMW, Circle of Faith, youth ministries, children’s ministries, etc.

VACATION:

Pastor Dan is on vacation from September 8 to 14.  Nancy Forrester, our Lay Leader, can be reached at 423-538-6379.

Betty will be out of the office Tuesday, September 22—Thursday, Sept 24.  Volunteers are needed to cover her desk these three days from the hours of 1:00—4:00 pm.  If you can work one of these days, please let her know by Sunday, September 13.

Hope Haven Ministries, Inc. is a Christian interdenominational, non-profit ministry in Kingsport that reaches out to homeless men, women and children who may be impoverished economically, educationally, emotionally and/or spiritually.  It offers emergency shelter – safe, clean, temporary housing for those in distress.  To learn more about Hope Haven Ministries, visit www.hopehavenkpt.org.  You can support this ministry through AmazonSmile, in which a portion of your shopping proceeds on Amazon.com is given to charities.  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/58-1611140

September 27th is an important day for the ETSU Wesley Foundation  For over 50 years the Wesley Foundation at East Tennessee State University has offered Christ to college students.  Now we want to change more lives and we need your help.  Our supporting districts, Johnson City, Morristown, and Kingsport are asking all the churches of the districts to take up a one day special offering for the ETSU Wesley.  Significant building renovations are needed for ETSU Wesley to move forward with future programing.  $33,000 of the $70,000 goal has already been raised.  With your help we can go over the top.  ETSU Wesley is the presence of the United Methodist Church at ETSU.  Countless lives have been changed because of this growing and vital ministry.  On September 27th you will have the opportunity to give.  A bulletin insert and envelope will be provided for you that day.  When you give you are changing lives and investing in future generations of the church.  We thank God for you.

The Senior Adult Gathering will be held Thursday, September 17, 2015, 10:00 am at Edgefield UMC, Piney Flats.  Worship leader will be Rev. Joey Manis. Registration is due by September 10.  Please see flyer on bulletin board for more information.

Johnson City District Lay Servant Training at Cokesbury JC (formerly Cherokee) will be on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 8:30  a.m.—4:30 p.m.  Registration fee is $25.00 and needs to be returned by Wednesday, October 28.  Please see office for more information.

Wednesday Night meals are open to the entire church as well as children and youth.   Our meal this Wednesday will be Hot Dogs, potato salad, baked beans, cold slaw, dessert and drinks.  Donations are needed to supply the kitchen as well as to continue feeding our youth and children.  All funds for the kitchen is by donation only.

 

News and Announcements for the Week of September 6

On Communion Sundays, usually the first Sunday of each month, we collect a special offering to share with our brothers and sisters at the Robinson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church . Claiming our oneness in Christ Jesus and to help bridge the racial divide in our culture and because of our shared Wesleyan heritage, we support that congregation with a gift of $100 per month. During Communion, you can bring your offering forward. You can make a check payable to Bluff City UMC and write “AME Zion” in the memo line.

Our second Sunday of each month is Invite A Friend Sunday. We would like each person who regularly attends worship to be praying specifically for someone and to invite them to come to worship that Sunday. Of course, you can invite a friend to come any time, but we hope you will make a special effort for Invite A Friend Sundays.

SPRC will meet Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 PM in the Willing Workers Classroom.  Team members are:  Michael Forrest (Chair), Judy Finney, Kathy Hurlbert, Ike Fleenor, Linda Rader, Selena Lane, Jane Bellamy, Herman Carrier, Nancy Forrester, Lelia Perry and Dan Gray.

Leadership & Vision Team will have future meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm, beginning September 15. Team members are:  Nancy Forrester, Lelia Perry, Bobbie Warden, Beverly Smith, Alicia Ronquillo, Jin Lane, Samantha Gray, Kim Lundin, Dan Perry, Tony Lundin, Jack Hurlbert and Dan Gray.

Our Johnson City District is accepting nominations for At Large Lay Members to the Holston Annual Conference , which will be June 5-8, 2016 at Lake Junaluska, NC. Nominations forms are due to the district office by Monday, Sept. 14. For more info, see Pastor Dan.

At this past Annual Conference, our delegates pledged that we would encourage each church member to give 10 hours of service this year to children in poverty in our community. We hope that you are working toward that goal, and will encourage that in your Sunday School, Life Group, UMM, UMW, Circle of Faith, youth ministries, children’s ministries, etc.

VACATION:

Pastor Dan is on vacation from September 8 to 14.  Nancy Forrester, our Lay Leader, can be reached at 423-538-6379.

Betty will be out of the office Tuesday, September 22—Thursday, Sept 24.  Volunteers are needed to cover her desk these three days from the hours of 1:00—4:00 pm.  If you can work one of these days, please let her know by Sunday, September 13. 

Thanks to BCUMC for the awesome donation of school supplies! We will certainly use them.  Thanks again, Rachael Barnett, Bluff City Middle School

The 3D Life Group, led by Samantha Gray and Jane Bellamy will meet Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 AM in the Wesley Center.  Please come and join us!

The Sisters of Strength Life Group Meeting will be held the 3rd Thursday of each month in the Fellowship Hall from 11:00 AM—1:00 PM.  Leaders are Jin Lane and Joan Williams .  The next meeting will be Thursday, September 17.  We are studying Jeremiah.

 

The Pray, Eat, Laugh, & Love Life Group for singles and couples meet on  the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Gray Home.  The next meeting will be September 11.   Please let Pastor Dan know if you can come — pastordangray@gmail.com or 423-956-3524.