TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW

an edition of
The United Methodist Reporter
Volume 154 Number 36 054000 January 11, 2008 Two Sections—Section A

Martin Luther King, Jr. A match made in heaven

worship celebration, Scouting, UMMen and Cedar Crest Camp
January 20 On a wonderful October
weekend the peace and quiet of
The Martin Luther King, Jr. worship Cedar Crest camp was invaded
celebration—“Dreams: Challenges for by more than 1500 Cub Scouts
the Faithful” will be on January 20, 2008 and their families as Cedar Crest
beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Gordon and Spiritual Retreat Center host-
Memorial UMC in Nashville. ed the Area 2 “Cub and Family
Through worship we will be remem- Weekend” for the Boy Scouts.
bering ways that Martin Luther King’s This is an annual event that the
speech, “I Have a Dream” has challenged Boy Scout council sponsors to
us in the past, how it challenges us today, and how we can live into provide a scouting experience for
the future in ways that move us toward fulfilling the dream. the area cub packs. The Cub
Confirmed speakers include John Corry, Bill Barnes, Rosemary Scout program, which a number
Brown, and Paul Slentz. of our churches charter, is for
Music will be provided by Brooks Memorial UMC and Grady children starting with Tiger Cubs
Jones, flutist. in the first grade. For many of the
Gordon Memorial UMC is located at 2334 Herman Street in boys this is their first scouting
Nashville. To reach the church take D.B. Todd Blvd from Charlotte Tents Abound as Cedar Crest Camp plays host to over 1500 Cub
experience. The weekend Scouts and their families
Pike, turn left on Jo Johnston, right on 19th Avenue North, and left involves not just time in the
on Herman Street. woods, but also a chance for the the scouting program is of the As Cedar Crest moves into the
boys and their parents to try out highest quality was very excited future we hope to continue build-
many different activities, work about how the event came off: ing the relationship with scouts
Fifth Annual Native American on their rank advancement and
make new friends. The activities
“This is just a perfect spot for us
to hold these events…there is
through out our area. “Currently
we have only a handful of scout
Ministry Resource Day are put on by the older Boy
Scouts and allows them the
plenty of space and we don’t
have to worry about what else is
units that really utilize our prop-
erty on a regular basis, but we
The date for the 5th Annual opportunity to take leadership going on. We hope to have many hope to increase that number
Native American Ministry and teach the younger scouts more events here in the future.” over the next several years,” said
Resource Day has been set for some of their scouting skills. This was one of the largest James Ralston Executive
March 9th, 2008. This year, Some of the activities included single events that Cedar Crest has Director for Cedar Crest.
Blackman UMC in Murfreesboro learning about the American flag ever hosted, but the staff was able The mission of Cedar Crest
District is our host. We will gath- and how to properly display it, to bring it together with no prob- matches very well with the mis-
er from 1:30 to 2:00 pm for “reg- “bottle” rockets, cardboard box lems, other than the line of traffic sion of Scouting… It’s just a nat-
istration and visiting”. Sessions cooking, making rope, and that stretched all the way back to ural fit. As our churches look to
begin at 2:00 pm. “Jamboree around the world” in Hwy 7 at one point. “This was attract more young people there
Most folks have watched the which they had the chance to talk just awesome” said Linda are several good reasons to look
“cowboy and Indian” movies of with other scouts around the Ortega, Maintenance Director for to the scouting and the camping
the 50’s and 60’s. If your knowl- world through a H.A.M. radio Cedar Crest Camp, “In all my ministries programs. The scout-
edge of Native American cultures that was set up. years here (which is more than ing program is all about building
and traditions stem from these Ron Turpin is one of the Scout 10) I have never seen anything character and responsibility in
early movies or the later movies Executives who works to insure like this!” Continued on page 5A
such as Dances with Wolves,
then this event is a great way to
hear from Native Americans who
were Indian B.C.-before casinos Native flutist Grady Jones will be
Warmth in Winter again promises to be the
and Kevin Costner!
The Tennessee Conference
one of the major resource
persons at the 5th Annual Native Conferences’ largest and most invigorating event
Committee on Native American American Ministry Resource Day
Local churches and youth known in youth ministry circles.
Ministry (CCONAM) will be groups are looking forward to the Bob Stromberg has a very unique
bringing up to date materials to ship. CCONAM is dedicated to Tennessee Annual Conference’s way of sharing. His ministry is a
the local church which will aid dispelling myths, creating under- largest annual event, Warmth in perfect blend of standup, story
you in the planning of celebrating standing thru education and shar- Winter. This large and vibrant and schtick. He will truly bring
and recognizing Native American ing our love and respect for youth event will be held from our topic to life.
Ministry Sunday-one of the spe- Creator God within the native Feb 8th to February 10th, 2008 at Stromberg is a funny man. For
cial offering Sundays. If your community and the local church. the Nashville Convention Center. over thirty years he has traveled
church does not have a represen- Native American Ministry It may be large, but there is the world performing. His
tative for Native American Resource Day will have cultural always room for more. It is hoped remarkable gift is his ability to
Ministries, we also extend the displays, book sales, printed and that every church will join us! interact with an audience and
invitation to your lay leader, wor- audio/visual resources, native This year’s theme is “Eye of facilitate surprising laughter with
ship chair and pastor. foods, and short information ses- The Storm”. With music leader- an arsenal of gifts including
Come join us for a time of sions. There is no registration fee ship by 3 Mile Road, each ses- physical comedy, a non threaten-
learning thru fellowship and wor- Continued on page 5A sion will be geared to help us ing touch of audience participa-
The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR look at how God is the peace we tion and yes...even hand shad-
Communications, 1221 Profit Drive, Dallas, TX 75247-3919. Periodicals Postage need and can be the “eye” of the ows, which the London Metro
Paid at Dallas, Tx and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes storm our lives tend to be. described as “stunning”. Add to
to The United Methodist Reporter, PO Box 660275, Dallas, TX 75266-0275. Our speaker this year is well Continued on page 8A Bob Stromberg
4A TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER January 11, 2008

Southeastern Jurisdiction tackles diversity issues

By Neill Caldwell*
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — Leaders of
the United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction
addressed the challenge of churches that struggle with
inclusiveness during a conference aimed at bringing var-
ied ethnic groups from diversity into community.
A sense of urgency marked the “Embracing God’s
Diversity” convocation Dec. 13–15 at the United
Methodist retreat center in Lake Junaluska. Organizers
hoped to turn years of talk into action, and for the
Southeast to take on a leadership role throughout the
denomination.
“Across the SEJ, we’re tired of talking about a more
diverse and inclusive church,” said the Rev. Carl
Arrington, the region’s director of African-American
Ministries and a conference organizer.
“We want people of all backgrounds to know they are
welcome in The United Methodist Church as equal chil-
dren of God.”
Strong showing
About 350 people participated, including almost
every bishop in the region and cabinet members from
each conference. Some attributed the high attendance to
the bishops’ strong support.
“SEJ bishops want to lead this struggle to become a
community, and some of us have done some arm-twist-
ing to get many people here who would not normally
come to this kind of event,” said Bishop James Swanson
of the Holston Annual (regional) Conference. “We‘re
concerned that diversity hasn’t come, and where it has
come, community hasn’t come.”
Suanne Ware-Diaz, an associate executive of the
United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race,
19 Persons attended the event from the Tennessee Annual
Conference: Raul Alegria, Wesley Bryan, Willie Burchfield,
Lynn Hill, Roger Hopson, John Purdue, Eddie
Smotherman, Vincent Walkup, Jason Brock, Debbie
Fitzhugh, Joaquin Garcia, Susan Groseclose, Bettye Lewis,
Ronald Lowery, Loyd Mabry, Elijah McGee, Mary T
Newman, Jerry Turner, and Bishop Richard Wills, Jr.
spoke directly to whites in attendance. “We know that
we’re 92 percent white in The United Methodist Church,
so we can’t go forward in a ministry of reconciliation
without your support,” she said.
Woodie White, bishop in residence at Candler School
of Theology in Atlanta and former bishop of the
Indianapolis Area, said he believed there had “never
been a gathering as racially or ethnically inclusive” at
Lake Junaluska. The retreat center was for whites only
into the 1960s. “I remember what it was so I can give
thanks for what it’s become,” White said.
Attendees broke into small groups that were racially
and geographically diverse. Listening skills were strong-
ly emphasized as the groups grappled with questions
related to inclusiveness and welcoming.
“People will change when we get to a place when we
open ourselves up to understanding who (our neighbors)
are,” said Herb Walters of Rural Southern Voice for
Peace, a Burnsville, N.C.-based conflict resolution
organization. As an example, Walters said his group has
connected with conservative evangelical church mem-
bers in the area who share a “love for these mountains
and want to take better care of God’s creation.”
Walters encouraged participants to conduct similar
listening sessions in their local churches and communi-
ties. “We need some rednecks in these groups,” Walters
joked. “We want them all. But the people we need to
reach don’t come. Words like ‘multiculturalism’ and
‘diversity’ scare those people away.”
Breaking down barriers
In a sermon, White reminded participants that the UMNS PHOTO BY NEILL CALDWELL
church came into being in diversity. “How did we miss it Cherokee Bo Taylor leads participants in a dance line
(in Acts 2)?,” White asked. “The context is utterly during the the Southeastern Jurisdiction’s multicultural
diverse, multilingual, multicultural, multiethnic. … God celebration at Lake Junaluaka, N.C., Dec. 13–15, 2007.
said ‘this is the setting. … This is how I want it to be.’ In
the midst of that diversity something happened. The Holy white membership.
Spirit came among them and broke down the barriers. Silvia Peterson, director of Centre Latino in Mitchell
“Heaven will be integrated,” White continued. “I County in western North Carolina, said Hispanics will
know hell will be integrated. This (earthly life) is a trial continue to come to the United States despite immigra-
run. … If you can’t get it together here, you’ll be miser- tion crackdowns because “we all have a dream when we
able in eternity—whichever way you go.” come to this country that this is a land of endless possi-
Representatives of several ministries spoke of their bilities.” She added that she wishes “we will all listen to
experiences. The Rev. Sylvia Collins, a Native American the words we say in church and try harder to live out
pastor in the Rockingham district of the North Carolina what they mean.”
Conference, said she realized early she could answer a Swanson said he probably won’t see racial equality
call to ministry in The United Methodist Church. “The achieved in his lifetime. “But because I’m a person of
Lord brought me out of the tobacco fields and planted hope, even if I won’t get there, it’s no excuse (not) to try
me in a place that is rich with love,” she said. and make it happen. We are a people who believe in
“At Sunday morning worship I see every pew filled transformation. … When people say that we’re fighting
and every pew diverse because of what we believe,” a losing battle, tell them they have no choice because we
said the Rev. Laura Early in celebrating her congrega- are children of Christ.”
tion. All God’s Children United Methodist Church, a *Caldwell is editor of The Virginia United Methodist
new start near Ahoskie, N.C., has an equal black and Advocate.

Former Conference Lay Leader Frank Lee dead at age 83

Funeral services for Frank Turner Lee, Sr., age 83, a
resident of Manchester, Tennessee, were conducted
Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Mill
Cemetery with Brother Bob Case officiating.
Mr. Lee died Monday, December 24, 2007, at Harton
Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. He
was born December 25, 1923 in Lenoir City, Tennessee,
the son of the late Gid Augusta Lee and Tennie Lucille
Rudder Lee. Mr. Lee was a retired engineer and was a
Mason, having been a longtime member of the
Highland Lodge #213. He was also a member of the
Forest Mill Methodist Church and a United States Navy
veteran, having served during World War II. In addition
to his parents, he is preceded in death by his loving wife
of 61 years, Anna Belle Craig Lee, who passed away
earlier this year, Saturday, July 7, 2007, and also a
grandson, Jonathan Lee Hoole.
Survivors include four children: Frank Turner Lee,
Jr., and wife, Donna Svenheim Lee of Manchester, TN;
son, Tollie Craig Lee of Manchester, TN; daughter,
Elizabeth Anne Hooie and husband, Joe Paule Hooie,
Sr.; and son Stephen Michael Lee and wife Deborah
Lynn Kail Lee of Norfolk, VA; grandchildren,
Samantha Joe Ellen Hooie of Manchester; grandson,
Joe Paul Hooie, Jr., and wife, Jennifer Lynette Reavis
Hooie of Dallas, TX; grandsons, Nick Turner Lee, Ben
Austin Lee, Stephen Patrick Josiah Lee and Chris
Alexander Shadrach Lee all of Norfolk, VA; great
grandson, Phillip Colby Hooie of Murfreesboro, TN;
and great-grand-daughter, Kelci Lee Hooie of
Michigan.
The family requests memorial contributions be made
to the Manchester Public Library, 1005 Hillsboro Blvd.,
Manchester, TN 37355; Forest Mill United Methodist
Church, 3804 McMinnville Hwy, Manchester, TN
37355; or to the Forest Mill Cemetery Fund in care of
Mr. Gene West, 112 Keele Road, Manchester, TN
37355. Coffee County Funeral Chapel was in charge of
arrangements. www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com
On the eighteenth of May, 1997, in a meeting of the
Murfreesboro District Conference held at the First
United Methodist Church in Manchester, Tennessee,
the following resolution was passed in honor of Frank
Lee’s leadership and ministry:
WHEREAS, the records of the Tennessee Conference of the
United Methodist Church indicate that FRANK LEE, of the Forest
Mill congregation in the Murfreesboro District, has served his local
church as lay leader continuously since 1960: that he served his
district as district lay leader during the period 1972–1996; and that
he served his conference as conference lay leader during the
period 1988–1996; and
WHEREAS, the clergy with whom FRANK LEE served as laity’s
highest representative, from bishops in the Tennessee Conference
to local pastors at Forest Mill United Methodist Church in Coffee
County, Tennessee, and lay persons of all ages, races, and sexes,
that FRANK LEE served as their representative and servant, agree
unanimously that FRANK LEE served his Savior and Lord, Jesus
Christ, as a lay leader with great distinction.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the District Conference
of the Murfreesboro District in the Tennessee Conference of the
United Methodist Church go on record thanking FRANK LEE for his
faithful service to his church as a lay leader at local, district, and
conference levels, carrying a load that resulted in many sacrifices
on his part during his many years of services, and setting an exam-
ple that challenges the rest of us to seek to be more the type of dis-
ciple and witness that FRANK LEE has epitomized in service to his
Lord, to his church, and to people.
January 11, 2008 TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER
The Beginning of the Story
by Rev. Carole Modlin, Summertown UMC
This article could have been titled “The End of The
Story.” But it is not. It is the beginning—a new begin-
ning, because of our Savior’s promise of eternal life for
those who believe on him.
In the December 28, 2007 issue of the Review, I
shared a nutshell story of the life of Allene Perry Tandy;
of how, when she was a toddler, she and her parents
moved in a wagon from Alabama to Tennessee; and of
how she came to receive one of the UMW prayer shawls.
If you will recall, she was born on Christmas Day. That
article was to have been a tribute to Allene in honor of
her 92nd birthday. She never saw the article in the
Review, but at her bedside, her family read it to her from
my original copy. As the article was being published, we
learned Allene had been diagnosed with an aggressive
form of leukemia, and was given a very short time to
live. We did not know just how brief her time left on
earth would be.
We hear the term “untimely death,” and I have often
wondered, what would be a timely death? Now I know.
Sadly, I must report that on Christmas Day, Allene
slipped quietly from this world into the waiting arms of
her Heavenly Father. Allene was a “lady extraordinaire”,
and her birth on Christmas Day, 1915, as well as her
death on Christmas Day, 2007, could not have been more
appropriate, nor more timely.
And so she begins her new life, her body now relieved
of the illnesses and pain that ninety-two years of living
can bring. Now the story of her life really begins.
Nashville Korean UMC
awarded Igniting Ministry grant
The Rev. Hee Jun “Paul” Kang has
been notified by United Methodist
Communications that his congrega-
tion, The Nashville Korean United
Methodist Church, has been awarded
a matching funds “Igniting Ministry”
grant for Lent 2008. The grant will be
used for newspaper advertising,
Jackie Vaughan, Director of Media
Grants and Services for Igniting
Ministry, notes that “we are delighted The Rev. Hee Jun
to partner with Nashville Korean Kang
UMC in reaching approximately 30
million unchurched persons throughout the country with
the messages of “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open
Doors.”
A match made in heaven
Continued from front page
young people. The camping ministries are all about pro-
viding an environment and experiences that affirm and
develop spiritual leaders. What better place to look for
our future leaders than those deliberately developing
their character. “As the camping ministries of the confer-
ence move into the future we are looking to partner with
our churches in any way we can, including Scouting, to
help them achieve their goals,” James said.
The United Methodist Men are the largest chartering
organization for Scouting Units including Cubs Scouts,
Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Venture
Crews charter-
ing 7598 units
and involving
nearly 3 million
young people
nationwide.
The United
Methodist Men
are the largest
chartering
organization for
Scouting Units
What One Person Can Do
to Promote Food Security. . .
The Tennessee Annual
Conference is in partnership
with The Food Security
Partners of Middle Tennessee.
The Food Security Partners
work to bring people together to
create and sustain a secure and
healthy food system for Middle
Tennessee, from production to
consumption. Call 615-322-
5638 or email cassi.a.john-
son@vanderbilt.edu for more information or to
become a member or partner. The following sugges-
tions were adapted from a document prepared by the
Community Food Security Coalition, www.foodsecuri-
ty.org
We Are What We Eat
 Eat locally produced foods
 Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
program
 Shop at farmers’ markets and get to know
Middle Tennessee farmers
 Encourage local stores and restaurants to buy
from local growers
Grow Your Own
 Start or support a community garden
 Garden at home
 Volunteer at a local farm, CSA, or garden
project
Feed The Hungry
 Donate your time or money to programs that
feed the hungry and/or help them become more
self-reliant
 Grow produce and donate it to a soup kitchen or
food pantry
 Work with local schools to improve meal
programs to offer fresh and nutritious foods for
all children
Advocate and Educate
 Talk to friends and family about food choices
 Get involved with the Food Security Partners of
Middle Tennessee
 Work with others to start a farm-to-school or
farm-to-college program
 Advocate for continuing and improving food
assistance and other safety net programs, and for
community economic development and living
wage jobs
 Advocate for policies that advance food security
Paulette Dowdy to Retire as
Nashville Area Foundation
Administrative Assistant
Ivie Burns, Chair of the Nashville
Area United Methodist Foundation
Board of Directors, and Vin Walkup,
President of the Foundation, have
announced the retirement of Paulette
Dowdy as Administrative Assistant.
Paulette has been with the Foundation
for nine years and will be retiring
from her position at the end of March.
She has worked with many individ-
uals, and with our churches and Paulette Dowdy
organizations in these past nine years
to help establish endowments, scholarship funds, and
charitable trusts. In doing so, lives have been enriched
and the love of God has been humbly shared.
A reception honoring Paulette will be held prior to her
retirement. Date, time and place will be announced in
February. Notes and cards may be sent to her at the
Foundation office (Nashville Area United Methodist
Foundation, 304 S. Perimeter Park Dr., Suite 3,
Nashville, TN 37211).
5A
Debbie Fitzhugh who comes from the Shuswap Salish
tribe (Britiish Columbia) will be a resource person at
Native American Ministry Resource Day. She is seen here
with Cumberland District Native American Ministries rep-
resentative Hugh Lowe.
Native American Ministry
Resource Day
Continued from front page
or charge for materials, but a love offering will be taken.
The Resource Day will conclude with communion and
the burning of prayer bundles, a Native American tradi-
tion.
Native American Ministry Sunday is celebrated after
Easter on April 6th, 2008. CCONAM strongly encour-
ages looking at the church calendar throughout the year
to celebrate this special Sunday if April doesn’t work
out. Several committee members are available if you
need a speaker or someone to work with your represen-
tative and local churches can arrange to obtain special
display material.
For further information contact Resource Day chair-
person Margie Hesson at 615-746-8726,
haskellh@aol.com or vice chair Mary T Newman, 615-3
29-1177, iamclay@bellsouth.net
Rev. Dr. Karen Collier recognized
From the Loans and Scholarships Newsletter
December 2007 E-Newsletter
The Rev. Dr. Karen Collier was recognized for her 19
years of leadership as the founding convener for General
Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Women of
Color Scholars Program which met in conjunction with
the American Academy of Religion
and Society of Biblical Literature in
San Diego, California November 15-
17. Collier, an ordained elder and
chair of the Department of Religion
and Philosophy at Fisk University,
was presented a collage of the Women
of Color Graduate Scholars painted by
Roseanne Giles, research assistant for
the Africa University Development
Office. The Rev. Dr.
In January 2008, the Rev. Dr. Karen Collier
Rosetta Ross, an ordained elder, a
1995 WOC graduate scholar and chair of the Department
of Religion and Philosophy at Spelman College in
Atlanta, Georgia, will become the first graduate to serve
as convener for the Women of Color Scholars Program.
At a reception for the deans and presidents of UM-
related seminaries and theological schools, 18 WOC
scholars shared their academic progress. The scholars are
pursuing their Ph. D’s in such fields as: biblical studies,
church history, Christian ethics, practical or systematic
theology, religion and culture, and more.
The WOC program is jointly sponsored by the
Division of Ordained Ministry Office of Continuing
Education, The Rev. HiRho Park, director; and the
Office of Loans and Scholarships, Angella Current-
Felder, executive director.
8A TENNESSEE CONFERENCE EDITION OF THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER
Nativity scenes fill three rooms of Tullahoma FUMC
By Terry Bulger*
Dec. 14, 2007 | TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (UMNS)
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, along with three gift-carrying
wise men, camels, cows and shepherds, are displayed in
a variety of ways. Replicas of the participants in the first
Christmas range from classic porcelain figurines to paper
cut-outs. Most of them once graced the living rooms of
church members.
As beautiful as the displays are, the real reward for
visitors comes in hearing the personal stories accompa-
nying them.
Hard times
Jack and Christie Cullpepper are 85 years old. They
talk softly about the history of their manger scene. It’s a
prized possession and has been part of their life since
shortly after getting married in 1944. Jack remembers
those were hard times.
“That first year, we had baloney sandwiches for our
Christmas dinner, that’s all we had,” Jack says. Buying a
Nativity scene was out of the question; if they wanted
one, Jack would have to make it himself. “I found an
empty lettuce crate behind a grocery store and figured I
could probably do something with this,” he says. “It’s
not worth a nickel, but it means everything to us.”
“I think it’s a work of art,” Christie adds with pride
while standing next to her husband. “He knew how much
I wanted one, and we didn’t even own tools then, but he
went to the neighbor, borrowed some and went to work.”
His creation has been their Christmas centerpiece for
more than 60 years.
“In a way, we’re amazed it has lasted that long. I’ve
had to re-glue it a few times. Once in a while one of the
grandkids will kick the rails,” Jack says.
“(It) brings back memories of the pleasant times
we’ve had at Christmas,” Christie adds.
To Iraq and back
A six-inch shed with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus
wouldn’t be worth much at a garage sale, but the story
accompanying the simple scene would make it a center-
Warmth in Winter promises to be the Conferences’ largest and most invigorating event
Continued from front page
this hilarious and tender stories from his own experience
and audiences leave amazed, refreshed and different than
when they came.
He has been a featured and favorite emcee for many
large stadium and arena gatherings. He has written the
best selling Why Geese Fly Farther than Eagles, Finding
the Magnificent in Lower Mundane and the beautifully
illustrated book for families, The Miracle at Stinky Bay.
Many recognize Bob from his performance on the award
winning TV show Bananas.
piece in any collection.
Army Capt. Robbie Sipes spent last Christmas in Iraq.
“I remember driving around thinking, ‘I’m thousands of
miles from family but really close to where Jesus was
born.’“
Sipes grew up attending Sunday school classes at
First Church. He had great memories of Christmas as a
child and had a special fondness for the child-friendly
Nativity scene that was part of his family’s holiday dec-
orations.
During one mail call, thanks to his parents, that same
Nativity set arrived at his Iraq barracks. He set the crèche
on a footlocker next to his bunk bed, and suddenly
December in the desert felt a little like home.
“Everyday’s the same there; it doesn’t feel like the
holidays,” Sipes says, “but having something to remind
you that it’s Christmas was so helpful. It lifted my spir-
Left—Church member
Emily Thomas shows
off one of the more
than 100 Nativities
displayed during
December at First
United Methodist
Church in Tullahoma,
Tenn.
Right—Army Capt.
Robbie Sipes
displayed this nativity
in his barracks during
his deployment to Iraq
last year.
UMNS PHOTOS
BY TERRY BULGER.
Perhaps most notably, he coauthored and starred in
the megahit theatrical production Triple Espresso (A
Highly Caffeinated Comedy). From it’s start in
Minneapolis, Triple Espresso, described by the Los
Angeles Times as “...a triple jolt of inspired crazi-
ness“ grew to ten casts, has been seen by over a mil-
lion people in dozens of cities from Seattle to The
West End of London and become the longest running
stage production in the history of San Diego,
Minneapolis and the entire state of Iowa. In his role,
the Chicago Sun Times described Bob as “...a mes-
January 11, 2008
The three wise
men come
bearing gifts in
this finally crafted
Nativity scene.
PHOTO BY GARLAND
HONEYCUTT
its every day just knowing that it was there.”
Tullahoma church organizers never expected the dis-
play to bring with it such personal stories. Oral histories
are now part of the tradition they started in 2003.
“That’s the beauty of this display,” says longtime
church member Emily Thomas, “it’s a little bit of every-
thing – people sharing their priceless items and others
showing off their ones made out of paper.”
*Bulger is a television correspondent for WSMV-TV,
an NBC affiliate in Nashville, Tenn.
In assessing the 2007 exhibit Tullahoma First UMC
church member Jeanne Honeycut notes: “We had partic-
ipation from several other churches in Tullahoma,”
notes church member Jeanne Honeycutt, “and great
attendance from neighboring communities. All in all we
feel that it was our most successful year ever—although
we expect next year to be even better.”
merizing physical comedian.”
Beside our worship times, the weekend will also
include meals, workshops and mission opportunities,
YSF fund raising, district meetings and free time activi-
ties. Each youth group will have their own youth group
devotional each evening.
Groups can register by mailing in their registration or
by going on-line to www.tnumcyouth.org. Event regis-
tration and housing options are available on the same
site. The registration rate is $6/5.00 per person after
January 10, 2008.