http://craigduncan.net/wordpress open hearts, open minds, open doors Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Ecuador? Mexico? Panama? These are the top three choices on a recent list of the best places in the world to retire. I don’t know which Judy and I would choose, but I guess we don’t have to be concerned about that anymore right now. Actually, we had already decided ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/10/the-pastor-cornered-march-10-2010/ Because of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), our denomination is already at work in Haiti and Chile. How reassuring it is to us to know that our gifts are at work and that nothing we have given to provide help in those countries is being used for administrative ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/09/one-great-hour-of-sharing-a-great-opportunity/ "....Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40 Serving Knoxville as One, as a part of Operation InAsMuch, will have a hands-on, one-day blitz on April 24. If you or your Sunday School ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/09/save-the-date/ Join the LiveFaith Sunday School (Room 138) beginning March 14 as we start a new video series by Adam Hamilton. Everyone agrees that America is polarized, with ever-hardening positions held by people less and less willing to listen to one another. No one agrees on what to do about it. ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/09/seeing-gray-in-a-world-of-black-and-white/ Thursday, May 27, 2010 Crockett Ridge Golf Course, Kingsport, TN The Wells for Sudan Golf tournament is an extension of the “Jacob’s Well” project and will provide resources for additional wells. This will be a unique event in that individuals and churches have underwritten all expenses for the tournament. Every dollar given ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/08/golf-tournament-wells-for-sudan/ Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup, Chef Salad On the Light Side: Same as main meal Kids Menu: Cheese Pizza, Green Beans Iced Tea, Lemonade, Water, and Coffee Make your reservations online, on the worship attendance card, or call the church office before noon on Tuesday, March 9. http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/04/menu-for-march-10-2010/ We celebrate that our church hosts the largest all volunteer-staffed GED program in Knox County! We are growing and need your help as we work together to end the poverty cycle through education. Previous teaching experience is not required to be a volunteer, but you must attend one of these ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/02/ged-volunteer-training/ Weddings are one of the most important days in the life of a couple. Have you ever thought of helping make this day extra special for those who are married in our beautiful sanctuary? We are currently seeking individuals who would like to become part of an existing ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/01/wedding-ministry/ We are in the middle of tax season. If you, like many others, are feeling overwhelmed by W-2s and 1099s, you may be eligible for assistance from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). VITA, a government program, staffs certified volunteers who offer free tax help to low-to moderate-income families ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/01/need-help-with-your-taxes/ Wesley Woods, Holston Conference Camp Mission Statement:  “Believing that everyone is created and loved by God, the distinct ministry of Camp Wesley Woods inspires children, youth and adults to live in Christian community, to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to experience adventure in the midst of God's wondrous creation.” ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/03/01/march-salt-light/ Last Wednesday, February 17, was Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent. Last Wednesday I did something I have never, ever done before. Are you ready? I sucked on a Wint-o-green Life Saver all the way to the end because it was Lent. Can you even imagine ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/24/the-pastor-cornered-february-24-2010/ Sunday, March 21 at 3:00 pm Tickets: $10 at the door Presented by the Knox Area Handbell Festival Come and hear (and watch) solo handbell ringer and arranger Christine Anderson, accompanied at the piano by Andrew Duncan. The solo handbell artistry of Christine D. Anderson is world-renowned. With finesse, grace and dexterity, Christine's solo ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/23/christine-anderson-solo-handbell-concert/ We are blessed and excited to announce that Becca Pendergrass has accepted the position of interim Early Childhood Ministry Coordinator. Many of you know Becca through her participation and leadership in our MOPS group, Children’s Ministry Team, children’s Sunday school classes, and Life Group. Becca, her husband Bill, and their ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/23/we-welcome-becca-pendergrass-to-our-children%e2%80%99s-ministry-staff/ All families with young children (birth through pre- kindergarten) are invited to our annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday afternoon, March 21 (rain date is March 28, check the website in the event of bad weather). We will gather in the gym at 3:30 p.m. for preschool activities and move ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/23/early-childhood-ministry-easter-egg-hunt-3/ March 12, 2010 - “Haiti: Up Close” On January 30, 2010, a nine-member team from One Vision International (a humanitarian aid organization) returned from a weeklong mission to Haiti. They witnessed first-hand the unbelievable destruction and human tragedy left in the wake of the January 12 earthquake. John Miller, team member ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/23/retirees-meeting/ Begins Wednesday, February 24 Stories of leadership failures are chronicled throughout the Bible and are evidenced in the daily news. They remind us that leadership is not about entitlement, but example. Every follower of Christ needs to find the self-management practices that create momentum for life and guard against the temptation ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/17/study-series%e2%80%9cmomentum-for-life%e2%80%9d/ Begins Wednesday, February 24 During Lent, you can join Rev. Jim and Betty Dougherty as they lead a teaching series that takes a deeper look into the topics traditional to Lent and presented in worship. Sessions are from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Wesley Hall. There are activities provided for children from birth ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/17/lenten-teaching-series/ April 11-13, 2010 MeadowView Conference Center, Kingsport, TN Jubilation 2010 is the tenth annual gathering of senior adults in the Holston Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. The stated vision of Jubilation is to provide a ministry for senior adults, aged 55 and over, that nurtures spiritual growth, provides educational ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/10/jubilation-2010-living-abundantly/ February 21 through March 28 Now for eight years our Children’s Lenten Mission Project has been to collect food items for the Fountain City Ministry Center (FCMC). The Ministry Center is housed in Central Baptist Church of Fountain City and serves 400-500 families a week with bags of food. Our Goal: Collect ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/09/%e2%80%9ckids-can-for-christ%e2%80%9d-is-back/ As many of you already know, we at FCUMC are part of a connectional denomination, which means that all United Methodist churches are linked in ministry in various ways. Because of that, we are able to help live and spread the gospel in places that we could not even think ... http://craigduncan.net/wordpress/2010/02/09/the-pastor-cornered-february-10-2010/