July 12-17 Memphis Conference VIM Team      to help farmers recover

Team members are needed to help build fences destroyed by tornados in Canton, Missouri. Contact Herman Smith at 731-799-5656 for more information about this VIM team.

Position Available

Organizer: Stand For Children: Memphis. Salary Range $25,000 to $36,000, plus excellent medical and dental benefits, cafeteria plan, pension. Position available immediately. Tennessee Stand for Children is a statewide citizens group that lobbies for schools, early childhood education, after-school enrichment and other essential programs that give children a fair chance in life.

At a point of significant organizational expansion, Tennessee Stand for Children seeks to hire passionate, effective Organizer to build a Chapter in Memphis. The focus will be on organizing a broad-based parent and community constituency to improve student achievement in the local public schools by advocating for specific policy changes, winning additional public funding, or both. Send a cover letter and resume to Francie Hunt, Tennessee Director, at Francie@stand.org, 615-254-3766 (fax) or 209 10th Avenue South, suite 300, Nashville, TN  37203. To learn more about Stand for Children, visit www.stand.org

Heartsong summer series features movies

Heartsong Church, Cordova, has a fun tradition of presenting a summer message series tied to movie themes. This year’s series, July 11-August 29, is titled “The Heart of Comedy” (Dimensions of Divine Laughter).  Each Sunday morning, pastor Steve Stone will use a current or classic movie comedy as the theme of his message. In addition, on selected Sunday evenings at 6:00 P.M., the church will host a “movie night” which is free to the public and will feature the movie that was the focus of the Sunday morning message. Hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and drinks will be available. A special movie will be provided for children. The movies featured during the series are: “O Brother, Where Art Thou” (Redemption), “Liar, Liar” (Repentance), “Family Man” (Rebirth), “Big” (Contentment), “Matchstick Men” (Growth Through Suffering), “Treasure Planet” (Triumph Over Evil), “The Truman Show” (Beyond Expectations), and “Forrest Gump” (The Depth of Innocence). For more information, call (901) 755-6332 or visit  www.heartsongchurch.net.

Birthday churches honored at Conference

Ann Phillips, Memphis Conference historian, honored several churches at the Annual Conference 2004 Celebration Luncheon with certificates noting the years of ministry by the congregation.

•Celebrating 100 years was Calvary UMC of Mayfield, KY.  Accepting the award was the Rev. Joel Jackson.

•Celebrating 125 years was Lightfoot UMC of Ripley, TN–the Rev. Wendell Smith and Mason’s Chapel UMC in the Paris District–the Rev. Stephen Webb.

•Reaching the milestone of 150 years was Moscow UMC of Moscow, TN–the Rev. John E. Meeks and Palestine UMC of Benton County, TN–the Rev. Ladd Williams.

•And celebrating 175 years at conference was St. Paul UMC of Ripley, TN–the Rev. Larry Humbert.

•Earlier this year, Phillips issued 150 and 175 year certificates to Trinity UMC in Haywood County, TN.

Men’s Retreat, Aug. 20-21

Larry Malone, Director of Men’s Ministries for United Methodist Men, will keynote the August 20-21 Memphis Conference  Men’s Retreat at  Lakeshore Assembly. The Bible study will be led by Russell Phelps, Covington First UMC, and worship will be led by Cotton Ivy, a well known speaker. Doug and Barbara Pope, from Northside UMC in Jackson, will lead the music. Register for the two day retreat for only $50. Please send your check payable to the Memphis Conference, your name, address, phone number, church and district to “Men’s Retreat”, 24 Corporate Blvd., Jackson, TN 38305. Or call Dick Pilbeam 901-488-7206.

Shall we gather at the River?

Vacationers and retirees flock to Sunday School on river bank
 

Meredith Coates, Carolyn Cooley and Pat Cavagnaro (left to right) lead a Sunday School class on the banks of the Tennessee River every Sunday.

An average of 50 people from ages four to sixty or more drive their golf carts down to the Cherokee Heights boat landing.

Pat Cavagnaro

By Cathy Farmer

 It was a typical Sunday morning on the Tennessee River–the quiet lapping of the water against the river bank broken only by the roar of a jet ski, the purr of golf carts, and the sound of 54 men and women and boys and girls  singing “Shall We Gather at the River.”

Whoa. Come again?

Yes, that’s right. Dozens of golf carts filled with happy vacationers and retirees were drawn up in a semi-circle on the banks of the Tennessee River with their occupants lustily singing songs from the United Methodist Hymnal to the accompaniment of a keyboard played by Carolyn Cooley.

It was the Sunday morning meeting of the River Ministry which is led by Cooley, Sunday School teacher Pat Cavagnaro, and song leader Meredith Coates, all members of First United Methodist Church in Parsons, Tenn.

“My husband won’t go to a regular church,” one of the ladies confided during a break in the singing. “He hasn’t been in a church since I can’t tell you when. He likes to be with his buddies fishing on weekends.

“But he loves to come to this Sunday School class,” she said happily. “He doesn’t have to dress up.”

Pat Hale, another member of the group, calls the class a “blessing.”

“We moved to this area (Cherokee Heights and Woodland Shores) from Memphis,” she explained. “We’ve always been involved in church and hated not having a church up here. But getting up on Sunday, getting dressed and driving all the way into Parsons–well, it just wasn’t happening.

“Being able to come to Sunday School here with Pat makes the rest of the week go by so much better,” she said.

Pat Cavagnaro, the instigator of the wildly successful Sunday program, says she got the idea from a similar class at Fisherdale, Tenn. which was started by Cotton Ivy and Jim England, members of Decaturville First.

“I never taught Sunday School in my life before I tried it here,” Pat exclaimed, waving her hand at the large gathering.

Meredith Coates, the song leader, laughed. “She’s thrown herself into this,” he said. “God has really touched this ministry. At first, when Pat asked me to lead the music, I was reluctant. I already lead the music at Parsons First, so this was taking on yet another job. But now, I can’t wait to get here.

“I give God all the praise for this,” he said.

The class, after a fellowship time during which coffee,  juice, breakfast casseroles, muffins and fruit are consumed, begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. It’s over by 9:00. The membership is varied, ranging from children as young as four to adults over 60. The Sunday lesson follows the International Bible Study used in many United Methodist classes around the country. Some of the members sit in their golf carts, others unfold lawn chairs, and some spread out blankets on the ground.

“Everyone participates in the discussion,” Cavagnaro said.

Peggy Hale believes the class has brought Woodland Shores and Cherokee Heights together.

“We pray together,” she said. “I think this has opened a spiritual relationship for this community.”

Jimbo Hale, a Memphis musician who plays bass for the Bill Black Combo and runs a recording studio, said, “People come to this class that otherwise would not go to church. I think it jumpstarts some and keeps others in church.”

Pat Weir is amazed that, even when she’s out of town, her husband won’t miss the class. “It’s been a blessing for us,” she said. “We’ve gotten to know people and become friends with everyone here.”

Firn Jordan, who retired after nine years as Chief of the Somerville Police Department (she was the first woman in the state to be a chief), said the Lord led her to the class.

“I was looking for a church home,” she said, “so after being part of this class, I decided to go into Parsons and join the church there. It feels good to be able to worship with good friends.”