THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW CUMBERLAND DISTRICT Macon, Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson and parts of Clay, Smith, Robertson, Davidson, and Cheatham Counties

Volume 6, Issue 7 July 2013

Cumberland District Staff Legally blind minister publishes inspirational book  Rev. Tom Halliburton, District Superintendent Roela Victoria Rivera is legally blind but spiritually filled with faith and hope. An author, Christian educator and  Ms. Carolyn Bullock, creative artist, Rivera is a diaconal minister in the United District Secretary Methodist Church serving in the Conference. She was blessed with gifts and graces from God that allowed her to write and publish her inspirational  Scott Hilgadiack, Editor book, Glimpses of Heaven: Lessons of Faith and Hope, Cumberland District Love and Joy published by Westbow Press, a division of Review Thomas Nelson Incorporated.

Inside this issue: This book is Rivera’s thanksgiving testimony to God’s healing and loving grace after she had a near-death experience that blessed her to see the Upper Room Ministries 2 beauty and glory of heaven. With divine power, she had a glimpse of heaven in her lifetime not only once but three times. UM Communications Web 2 Services In her 240-page book, Rivera narrates her heavenly visions at three points in her life and the 6 Quick Tips to Make Sunday’s 3 lessons she learned from them in vivid and interesting short stories and essays, prayers and Sermon Even Better poems. The book is accentuated by some of her original creative artworks done before and

VBS Corner 4 after she became legally blind. This book also tells about Rivera’s faith story and her GraceNotes Creative Ministry which she organized with her husband Jun in 2009. This is part Pastoral Appointments: 4 of the fulfillment of her covenant with God and in realization of GOD’s new plan and purpose Overview for her new life.

10 Questions for Church 6 Now with her inspirational book, Rivera hopes to share God’s message of love, grace and Leaders: Bishop Ken Carter hope and to bring inspiration and encouragement to many people especially for those who Festival of Wisdom and Grace 8 are visually impaired and physically handicapped. She believes that she was able to write her Conference book by the miracle of God’s grace, Holy light from Jesus, and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. She was able to complete her book with loving and creative assistance from her Pass on the Gift: Heifer 9 husband Jun and their three fine sons, her editor Ms. Martha Ann Pilcher, and with International production assistance from her publisher.

Aldersgate Renewal Ministries 12 Rivera’s book will be launched and dedicated to God’s honor on July 24, 2013 during the Upcoming Events Centennial Convocation of the National Association of Filipino American United Methodists An Open Letter for the Order of 15 (NAFAUM) at Riviera UMC in Redondo Beach, California. Book copies are now available St. Andrew at www.gracenotesbyroela.com and from WestBow Press Bookstore at

Local Church Events 16 www.westbowpress.com and other book online distributors.

Neely’s Bend Backpack Program 18 Copies are also available during the author’s presentation and book signing at any of the following events and locations: Cumberland District Minister 19 - September 2-30, 2013: Hendersonville Public Library with Roela’s Art Exhibits Authors New Curriculum Piece - October 1, 10:00 am - Noon: United Methodist Women (UMW) General Meeting, Hendersonville First , Genesis Hall - October 20, Noon - 2:00 pm: Multicultural Fellowship Meeting, Belmont United Methodist Church, Parker Hall - October 26, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Fall Extravaganza, Hendersonville First United Methodist Church, Gymnasium - Gifts and Books Shop, Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee - Upper Room Bookstore, Nashville, Tennessee PAGE 2 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 Calling the shepherds of God’s people. Are you looking for a comfortable place to go between hospital visits, meetings, or just need a break? We invite you to visit The Upper Room Chapel. We are within a few blocks of hospitals, Vanderbilt, the Bishop’s office and Scarritt. We have free visitor parking, free Wi-Fi, a place to pray, reflect, study, and enjoy a cup of coffee while you browse the bookstore/gift shop. Monday – Friday 8:00 - 4:30, closed week ends and holidays. 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212 615-340-7207

The Upper Room Christian Art Museum – Summer Special The art we know and love by the artist we don’t know, Warner Sallman. We have seen the pictures of Christ knocking at the door, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, the much loved “head of Christ” through most of our church lives. Mid- July through September we invite you to visit the museum and enjoy the art of Warner Sallman along with the other year around art displays and The Upper Room Chapel’s wood carving of The Last Supper and Pentecost themed stained glass window. M-F 8:00 – 4:30 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Dear Friends,

You may have received notification recently about the General Board of Global Ministries discontinuing its web hosting services. We at United Methodist Communications want to inform you about a new platform to help you with your website needs.

It is my pleasure to announce that on July 1, 2013 United Methodist Communications is officially launching a new website management solution. Our goal is to offer United Methodist churches a reliable and affordable platform for effective web ministry.

We have built our solution on the world leading power of WordPress. WordPress is the driving force behind more websites on the internet today than any other content management system.

Various affordable plans are available providing such desired features as:

 United Methodist Church branded site design templates – you will not have to worry about your branding!  Secure and reliable email accounts and online documents collaboration for your staff and volunteers!  United Methodist sponsored content – keep your site looking fresh with regularly updated content that automatically feeds into your website!  Instant automatic site setup – we will be there with you every step of the way.  Dedicated customer service – our team is here to assist you. Go to www.umcchurches.org to review different plans and make your selection.

Take comfort in the fact that a United Methodist organization hosts your website. Sincerely, Patrick W. Shownes United Methodist Communications PAGE 3 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 6 quick tips to make Sunday’s sermon even better

The moment is here. You have just heard the perfect special music, and everyone is ready to listen to your sermon. All eyes are you – at least for the time being. Here are six tips to help you command and keep everyone’s attention for the entire service. 1. Capture attention quickly.

Audiences generally decide very quickly whether they are interested in something. A book must draw readers in within the first paragraph and hook them well before Page 3. That translates into the first two to three minutes of sermon time.

What will capture attention? Present a problem that needs a solution or an apparent contradiction between Scripture and life. Tell a brief story that illustrates the need for the information you are about to deliver. Whatever you use, make it interesting! Here are a few more tips for good writing. 2. Make published illustrations and forwarded stories your last resort.

Illustrations are best when they come from your own life. Your own stories are best because they are yours. Take time to think back over your life and develop your own illustration book. Write some thoughts about stories from your life to jog your memory and be on the lookout for ones happening now. Write them down. Then, when you get preacher’s block, draw on bits of your own experience from your personal illustration book. 3. Tell a story.

Stories make complex concepts easier to understand and apply to life. This is why the parables of Jesus are so powerful. He took the deep mysteries of God and explained them in terms of seeds and sibling rivalry.

United Methodist Communications has a great article that delves deeper into this called “How do adults learn?” 4. Confuse your congregation; make people uncomfortable.

Tension, a staple of fiction writers, works just as well for preachers. Introduce tension into your nonfiction sermon by saying something surprising or taking the message in an unexpected direction. You may do this already by using contrasting illustrations that drive home the same main point. Creating tension requires adding a little finesse to the stock “This reminds me of a story...” or “It’s like the man who was...”

Author Dan Ariely offers an incredible example of this in his pop-sociology book Predictable Irrational. After telling the story of the marketing of black pearls, he writes, “How did he persuade the cream of society to become passionate about the Tahitian black pearl...? In order to answer this question, I need to explain something about baby geese.” Baby geese? At this point, readers may think “I can’t wait to see how he relates baby geese to black pearls.”

A good transition takes your illustration from blah to fascinating. Creating tension within your message will allow a bit of confusion and discomfort to engage the imagination of the people listening to you. 5. Give your darlings the ax.

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch gave one of the best pieces of advice to writers (and pastors) when he said that if something does not serve the main point of a piece or reinforce the plot or message, it has to go.

This is one of the hardest, yet most important, tips to master. No matter how funny it is, no matter how insightful it is, if it takes the message (or the listener) in another direction than you planned, save it for later. The illustration could be the darling centerpiece of an entirely different message. 6. Rewrite and recycle.

First drafts are called first drafts for a reason. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. To do your best work, write your message one day, deliver it to yourself the next and then revise, practice it again and maybe rewrite and practice it again before delivery.

One excellent preacher said he only had three great ideas and he had been preaching and refining them for his entire career. Keep writing your best sermons, stories and blogs and recycle your content to reach larger audiences. You may find the 11th draft – or an entirely different communication medium – presents your main point most effectively.

That’s it. Do these things, and your preaching will get even better as you develop a critical eye that sees how to avoid having the entire congregation simultaneously checking their watches and cell phones. PAGE 4 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

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Pastoral Appointments: Overview

BACKGROUND Every local church needs a pastor. The United Methodist Church has a unique way of matching pastors and congregations. Rather than local churches hiring and firing their own pastors-as in some denominations-United Methodist bishops appoint pastors to serve in local churches and other ministry settings.

One advantage to this process is that a local church never has to go without a pastor. Likewise, a pastor (specifically, a full member of an annual conference in good standing) never goes without a setting for ministry. The primary goal of the appointment system is to match the gifts and graces of a particular pastor to the ministry needs of a particular congregation at a particular time.

This itinerant system, where pastors move from one appointment to another, dates back to American frontier days when circuit riding preachers traveled on horseback from town to town. At that time, bishops matched preachers to circuits four times a year. Now bishops typically fix appointments once a year. VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW PAGE 5

WHERE THE UMC STANDS To understand the appointive process, it helps to know a little about how the United Methodist Church is organized. We are a connectional church. That means individual congregations are part of a larger network known as an annual conference under the leadership of a bishop. Most consist of several districts. Ordained clergy are members of an annual conference rather than a local church.

Bishops are responsible for assigning pastors to charges. A multi-point charge consists of two or more congregations that share a pastor. Ordinarily, district superintendents assist the bishop in prayerfully making appointments. They generally meet with pastors and representatives of local churches every year to assess the effectiveness of ministry there.

The pastor-parish (or staff-parish) relations committee represents the congregation officially in this process. Usually, when everyone agrees that a current pastor's gifts and graces are a good match for the specific needs of a ministry setting, the pastor is assigned to remain for another year. Sometimes, however, a particular pastor is needed elsewhere or a local church requires someone with a new set of gifts and graces. In that case, the pastor will move and the church will receive someone new. The process always involves consultation, but the details vary according to the conference and the bishop.

Appointments are formally 'fixed' at the regular session of annual conference and they take effect on a designated Sunday, usually in early summer.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS WORLD Our appointment process puts The United Methodist Church in a unique position to help local churches broaden their understanding and experience about who can do effective ministry. For instance, many churches who would probably not have 'hired' a woman pastor on their own have learned to love and appreciate the clergywomen who have been appointed to serve them. (See "Memories and Dreams: Four Clergywomen Reflect on Their Calling" by Erik Alsgaard in Circuit Rider magazine.) Likewise, cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments invite congregations to value diversity in new ways. (See "Celebrating Diversity" on the East Ohio Conference web site.) Of course, nontraditional appointments also create challenges for both pastors and local churches. Our connectional system allows for training and support in the face of these challenges. We are always working to improve our appointment process in light of our mission to make disciples. One current trend is to foster longer term appointments so that pastors and local churches have more time to develop truly effective ministry. PAGE 6 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

Bishop Ken Carter Florida Episcopal Area

Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. was elected in July of 2012 by the members of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church to the episcopacy, and appointed to serve the Florida Episcopal Area. A native of Georgia, Bishop Carter is a graduate of Columbus College (B.S.), Duke University Divinity School (M.Div.), the University of Virginia (M.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (D.Min.). In addition, he was awarded an honorary D.D. from the United Methodist University of Liberia. He was ordained a deacon in the Western North Carolina Conference in 1983 and an elder in 1986. Subsequently he served a four-point charge, as an associate pastor of missions and evangelism, as a new church planter, and as senior pastor of two large regional churches; his ministry at Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte was described by the historian Diana Butler Bass in her Christianity for the Rest of Us. Immediately prior to his election as a bishop he was the superintendent of the Smoky Mountain District of the Western North Carolina Conference, which included sixty-nine churches in the seven westernmost counties of the state, all within the region of Appalachia. A noted author and church leader, Bishop Carter is married to Pam, a gifted minister focused on missions in her own right, and is the proud father of two daughters, Liz and Abby. 1) What is your story of faith? How did you come to faith in Jesus and participation in the UMC?

I grew up in a family where my mother and grandparents lived their faith, at times in difficult circumstances. Our family began attending a United Methodist Church when my parents’ marriage ended; a friend of my mother’s invited us. Later, in college, I was asked to serve as youth director at a small but faithful United Methodist Church in the inner city of Columbus, Georgia. While I was always surrounded by faith and grace, I trace my conscious journey as a disciple to participation in a campus ministry in college that focused on memorizing scripture.

2) What are some of the ways that you work at maintaining and deepening your relationship with God?

I read a chapter of the New Testament each day, usually in the New Revised Standard Version and The Message translation. I try to identify a word or phrase that expresses what the Holy Spirit is saying to me. I begin with Matthew 1 on January 1, and once I’ve reached the end of the New Testament, I begin again with the gospels.

I also love Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals, and I try to practice intercession in a pretty intentional way. I also have spent time along the way in silent retreat centers and Benedictine monasteries.

3) Who have been the greatest influences on your life and ministry?

I would begin with my wife, Pam; I trust her instincts and intuition about mission. I have learned a great deal over the years from gifted and visionary laity. I am an extrovert, and there are a number of clergy friends whose ministries have shaped me. Intellectually, I find myself returning again and again to the missiologist Lesslie Newbigin, the theologian Stanley Hauerwas, and the spirituality of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen. VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW PAGE 7

4) What is the greatest challenge facing the United Methodist Church today and what is your vision for addressing that challenge?

Our greatest challenge is the will, confidence and passion to make disciples of Jesus Christ. I love the description of Lovett Weems about our calling: new disciples, younger disciples, more diverse disciples. If we cannot rediscover the practice of making disciples in the coming years, we will not have the capacity to fulfill the mission to which God is calling us, in response to growing human need, and our voice in the culture about issues that we care about will become increasingly irrelevant.

I am hopeful that we can create networks of teaching churches who have discipling processes, and I am fascinated by the British experience of creating “Fresh Expressions” of Christianity in the culture. I also try to invest time and energy with younger clergy and laity. This is both a joy and a necessity going forward; I also know this is the practice of a number of former and current bishops (Willimon, Goodpaster, Huie, Hagiya, Devadhar).

5) Where to you find hope for the future of the UMC?

I find hope in many of our large and vital churches, some located in challenging contexts. I am grateful for a few of our denominational ministries, such as Africa University and UMCOR. In the Florida Conference, we are blessed with strengths in camping ministries, campus ministries, our covenant relationship with the Methodist Church in Cuba, a number of innovative congregations, and serious engagement with families affected by our present immigration policies. I would add that more than half of the women and men in our ordination class this year are bi-lingual. In an increasingly multicultural world, this gives me hope.

6) What do you think would think about today’s world, and what would he say to our current culture?

Wesley was pretty committed to articulating the way of salvation through the grace of God, and so he would be engaged in articulating the faith. At the same time, he would find practical ways to respond to systemic poverty and injustice, just as be did in 18th century England. Wesley would have assumed that clergy lived in accountable and supportive relationships with each other, so it’s likely he would have rejected our inclination toward solo or “lone ranger” practices of leadership and ministry.

7) Kenda Creasy Dean’s book “Almost Christian” has suggested that we’ve been guilty of promoting a vision of Christianity that has little to do with the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. How do we encourage and empower both our clergy and laity to engage in timely and relevant theological conversation?

Intellectual work requires something of us: sacrifice, perseverance, and focus. Our culture does not reinforce any of these habits, and thus clergy and laity engage in theological conversation for its own sake: in the language of the tradition, for “the love of learning and the desire for God”. It is all about knowing scripture and tradition, and trusting the material to be transformative.

8) What are you passionate about — both in your ministry and personal life?

I am passionate about calling forth the gifts of others, and creating opportunities for men and women who are eager to serve God. I am also committed to treating people with dignity, and creating systems where people are treated with dignity. I am reaching the place in life where it really is not about me, rather it’s mostly about discerning about placing clergy and laity in roles where they, but more importantly the mission will flourish.

9) What would people be surprised to find out about you?

My great-grandfather was a Congregational minister; my grandfather was a Pacifist with Quaker sensibilities; and my mother is a Baptist, and very active in her local church. I am a first generation United Methodist, drawn to this way of life by our deep, lifelong and inclusive doctrine of grace, and our connectionalism which broadens our mission and helps us to be accountable to each other.

10) What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

I grew up in Georgia, and there is nothing like homemade Peach Ice Cream! PAGE 8 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 FESTIVAL OF WISDOM AND GRACE CONFERENCE

SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION ASSOCIATION OF OLDER ADULTS

Lake Junaluska, NC The Times, They Are A-Changin’… July 29 – August 1, 2013

Conference Preacher Dr. Rodney K. Powell

Bible Study Bishop William Morris

Platform Speaker Missy Buchanan Professional Track Dr. Richard Gentzler, Jr.

Workshop Leaders: Lucille Bearon, Associate Professor, NCSU in Raleigh

Barbara J. Helm, Educational Services Coordinator , U of KY Cynthia Bond Hopson, Black College Fund, GBHEM

Leisa R. Easom, Director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute

Bill Carr, Disaster Relief Coordinator, Memphis Conference

To register online, go to www.lakejunaluska.com/wisdom-and-grace

OR call Jennifer Turner, Registrar – 828.454.6731

Deadline for registration discounts is June 1, 2013

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PAGE 12 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 Aldersgate Renewal Ministries Upcoming and Sponsored Events Located at 121 East Avenue, Goodlettsville TN 37072 | 877-857-9372 | aldersgaterenewal.org | [email protected]

PAGE 13 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

It’s not too late to register for this amazing FAMILY conference!! There is something for everyone at an Aldersgate conference. This is the largest United Methodist FAMILY conference in the nation. If you haven’t checked it out yet, make this year the time to do that! If you’ve been in the past but haven’t been recently, come on back! You’ll be glad you did! 4 ways to register: 1. Visit us at Aldersgate2013.org/register to register online or print off a registration form 2. Call the ARM Office: 1-877-857-9372 3. Fax your registration form to 615-851-9372 4. Mail your registration form to the ARM office: 121 East Avenue, Goodlettsville, TN 37072

A program for nursery/preschool AND a pro- Programming just for YOUTH to impact them gram for Elementary aged children! (NOT for life! just babysitting!) (Rising 7th graders to graduating seniors) PAGE 14 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

“Coming Attractions” at the Aldersgate Renewal Center in Goodlettsville, TN Mark your calendars now and plan to attend one of these events in your own backyard!

WORSHIP CONFERENCE 2013 | September 20-22, 2013 DESIGNED BY WORSHIP LEADERS FOR WORSHIP LEADERS GET WIRED FOR WORSHIP!

Go to aldersgaterenewal.org, hover over “Ministry Events”, then “ARC events” and click “Worship Conference” for more information. ------METHODIST SCHOOL FOR SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY SESSION SIX | February 19-22, 2014 “POWER EVANGELISM"

Become spiritually ready to begin sharing the Gospel with those around you. It is an intense week of in-depth and practical equipping and worship sessions. Sessions will equip participants with skills to share the Good News with their friends, as well as increase their knowledge of mission works at home and abroad. In depth training will give participants the opportunity to learn about areas of evangelism most pertinent to their ministries.

Confirmed Speakers: Nic Billman (shoresofgrace.com), Rick Bonfim (laterain.com), Don &Kahy Heshman (hershmanministries.com) and Darren Wilson (wpfilm.com)

Go to aldersgaterenewal.org, hover over “Ministry Events”, then “ARC events” and click appropriate link for more information. Check out other events coming soon! PAGE 15 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

Dear Friends in Christ, For many years, those of us who have frequented our Nashville Cokesbury Store have been blessed by our relationship with its manager, Anne Carty. We knew we could count on Anne to be knowledgeable about providing just the right resources for our churches, our ministries and our own spiritual needs. Anne was always willing to go above and beyond to see that our needs were met in a timely and efficient manner, even in the case of the occasional “I forgot to order something…” emergency. But more than that, in the midst of “taking care of business,” Anne never failed to let us know that she cared deeply about our connection, about us personally, about our ministries for Christ, and about the churches of the Tennessee Conference. Anne created an atmosphere in the store that made you feel like you were in the “hub” of the conference and its ministry, and could leave there a little more inspired and equipped to do ministry than you had been before. With the closing of the store, we will miss that week-to-week connection with Anne. We believe this is an opportune time to recognize and honor Anne’s ministry among us an “Andrew,” an ordinary person who did what she could to bring people to Jesus. The Nashville Area Order of St. Andrew has been established as an endowment fund to honor clergy and laity who have served faithfully and have blessed the lives of individuals in the churches and ministries in which they have served. The income from the Fund provides scholarships for those pursuing pastoral ministry and are enrolled in a seminary. The Order of St. Andrew is named for the apostle who brought his brother Peter, the young boy with the five loaves and two fish, and some inquiring Greeks to Jesus. We invite you to join us and others in honoring Anne with the Order of St. Andrew Award. In order to do this, you can contribute to raising a minimum of one thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250) for the endowment fund in Anne’s honor and for the continuing work of ministry. To be part of this recognition, please send your contribution, designated in honor of Anne Carty and made payable to the United Methodist Foundation for Memphis and Tennessee Conferences (UMFMTC), to 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville TN 37211, or hand your check to Rev. Touchton at Annual Conference. Your gift will be acknowledged, and we will share with Anne those who have made gifts to honor her in this way. We hope that you will join us in expressing our appreciation for Anne’s ministry among us. Grace and peace, Rev. Martha Touchton, Dr. Fred Hembree and Dr. Debbie Church PAGE 16 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

Local Church Events

Weekly Schedule Lafayette United Methodist Church 506 Bratton Avenue Sunday School at 9:45 AM for all ages! P.O. Box 122 Lafayette, Tennessee 37083 Phone: 615-666-3497 Traditional Worship - Sunday Morning at 10:55 AM E-mail: [email protected] Bible Study each Monday night at 6:00 p.m. Hispanic Church meets every Monday and Thursday at 7:00 PM July Events The Hispanic Ministry “Siloe” at Lafayette UMC is sponsoring a Veronica Leal Concert on July 28that 7:00 PM at Lafayette UMC. Admission is $15.00.

We will only sell a limited number of tickets for this event due to the lim- ited capacity of the church. This concert was organized for the purpose of praising the Lord of Lords and to promote the Hispanic Ministry “Siloe” at LUMC. Veronica Leal

Veronica Leal is a famous Christian singer in the Hispanic community. She has the amazing ability to sing in many types of genres, from con- temporary Rock music to some of the famous traditional Mexican genres such as Mariachi, Banda, Bachata.

Veronica Leal was born into a Christian family. She now residents in Los Angles, California with her two children. She recorded her first cassette when she was 14 years old. Veronica has been performing her music ministry for 22 years. She is the author as well as singer of her own songs. During these years, she also has 9 different CD’s to transfer her ministry for many listeners.

Liberty United Methodist Church Save the date: Come celebrate Liberty's 175th homecoming anniversary, October 6, 2013! Special speaker will be Bishop McAlilly. Come early for a good seat, then stay to meet and visit with our new Bishop. Service begins at 11a.m., with a potluck lunch to follow.

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Lebanon First Church Dedicates Playground Renovation

The updated playground was dedicated Sunday, May 26 with the children enjoying the new equipment and rubber mulch. Pictured is Senior Pastor, Mike Ripski. The playground which is open to the community was made possible by the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund and a special contribution. First Church is located at 415 West Main Street in Lebanon.

Lebanon First UMC New Youth Minister

Emily comes to Lebanon First UMC from First UMC in Pensacola, FL. There she was Director of Youth Ministers since 2005. Prior to servicing in that role, she was that church’s Director of Children’s Ministries for three years. Emily has a B.A. in Music Therapy from Florida State University. She also is working on a Master of Youth Leadership (focus on Issues in Adolescence) from Huntingdon University. Most recently she was certified by The Youth Cartel (Youth Ministry Coaching Program). Her experience includes: coordinating Student and Parent Leadership and teaching teams; leading weekly Sunday school, Sunday Night UMYF, Praise Band, and Bible Studies; organizing and writing small group studies and projects; planning and leading mission trips, retreats, and fellowship events; teaching and facilitating classes for parents on personal faith development; and developing relationships with 7th – 12thgraders. Emily is a trained Disciple Bible Study Facilitator, Companions in Christ Facilitator, and Chrysalis Lay Director. She has served on the Planning Committee for Florida’s equivalent to Warmth in Winter. Emily has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and is a marathoner and half- marathoner. Raised in a military family, Emily has an Inter-national perspective.

Lebanon First UMC New Director of Children’s Ministries Lebanon First United Methodist announces Teresa LaFevor as their new ------Director of Children’s Ministry. Teresa has been a Special Education Teacher in the Lebanon Special School District for several years. Teresa has been quite active as a volunteer at First Church as Co-Director of Vacation Bible School, Children’s Council and a Counselor at FUMC Children’s Summer Camps. Teresa received her Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Science Special Education from Cumberland University.

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Feeding Hungry School Children

We live in a day and time where millions of children all over the world are hungry—needing food to nourish and strengthen their precious little bodies. At Neely’s Bend UMC we have been faithful over the years to donating monies and food to mission ministries like Christian Cooperative Ministries, the Heifer Project, Room In the Inn, and Bethlehem Center. Serving the needs of the less fortunate, especially doing what we can to prevent people from going hungry, is not new to us. However, God gave us a calling and vision for a ministry focused on feeding hungry school children right in our own back yard. Toward the end of 2012, with the encouragement of the Conference Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, Patty Smith, and the request of a counselor at Madison Middle School, we decided to answer God’s call upon our church to start a backpack program. Although our funds were limited, God spoke through one of our members showing us how we could respond; and boy did we respond! Several members committed to donate the equivalent of $5 per week for one or more children. With their commitment and sufficient funds on hand, we began the backpack program in January of this year. In addition to the commitment of our church members, the Annual Conference gave the church a $1,250 grant to help with the program. Praise God! By the end of the school year, we were able to provide 268 backpacks of food to hungry school children since mid-January. We are continuing to keep our financial commitment to the program throughout the summer so we can feed more children next school year. It is our prayer that we will more than double the number of backpacks of food we will provide for children in the next school year. Thanks be to God for helping us to hear and heed the call to bless the lives of children in our community. Thanks also to the Tennessee Annual Conference and our faithful members who have given selflessly to this vital ministry of Jesus Christ. PAGE 19 THE UNITED METHODIST REVIEW VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7

CUMBERLAND DISTRICT MINISTER AUTHORS NEW CURRICULUM PIECE

Rev. Rita Hays, deacon and Associate Pastor at Connell Memorial has authored a new curriculum piece entitled Worship the Lord with Gladness: God’s Children in Worship. The curriculum is designed to help teach children about worship. Each lessons contains the following: Worship Wisdom – Background material for the teacher. Enter with Gladness – Gathering activities for children as they arrive for the worship study. Bible Praise Notes – Children examine the Scripture for the day. Let’s Learn to Worship – Activities, games, drama, role-play, reproducibles, and music that helps children learn about the particular worship theme. We Worship God – A time to put into practice what the children have learned. My Family Helps Me Worship – Take-home idea for worship in the home. Published by Abingdon Press, Worship the Lord with Gladness is available at Cokesbury and other online bookstores.

Dr. Hays is the author of several books and curriculum pieces including The Children’s Minister, The Most Important Space in the Church: The Nursery, Five Practices for Children, All in the Family: Faith Issues for Families Facing Addiction, GodTalk, and The Voices of Children in the Bible. CUMBERLAND DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST CHU RCH Check out our updated web page: Mailing Address: P.O. Box 477 http://cumberlanddistrictumc.org/. If you have Hendersonville, TN 37077 any suggestions or corrections please email District Office Location: Scott Hilgadiack at [email protected] . 525 New Shackle Island Rd Hendersonville, TN 37075 (Inside Good Sheppard UMC)

Telephone: 615-822-1433 FAX: 615-822-3729 Deadline for the next Cumberland District Review, July 18, 2013. Please send any information you wish to be printed in this edition to [email protected] or to [email protected].

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.

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