Hinton Rural Life Center

Theotokos Confirmation Retreats

REGISTER BY FEB. 8 for your Theotokos Confirmation Retreat! There are still openings Feb. 17-19, Feb 24-26, and Mar 3-5 (8 spots!)

For more information and to register, visit www.hintontheotokos.org

Theotokos Confirmation Retreats Theotokos retreats offer participants a "capstone" event -- or discipleship launching pad! -- in the Confirmation journey.

Register by February 3rd! Earn a $25 gift card!

Save the date -- more information coming soon!

TOMORROW — JAN 29 — IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY for Leadership Chatuge Community Builders!

For those who live and/or work in Clay, Cherokee, and Towns counties. Topics include regional economic development, leadership styles, effective communications, local history culture, impact of nonprofits, and more presented by experts in their fields. Great networking! Dinners included. Perfect class for educators, retirees, business folks, newcomers, those considering career changes, volunteers, and those who want to learn how they can get involved in making our rural mountain community more thriving for all!
www.hintoncenter.org/training

Hinton Board member and South Carolina DS Rev. Stephen Love enjoys the leader lounge hosted by Hinton at South Carolina’s REVOLUTION youth event! Grateful for all the SC youth leaders and the Revolution staff, loving and serving young people this weekend.

3 Plus Your Fun- Hinton Center

Check out this week’s travel feature spotlighting Hinton, by TV3 in Chattanooga!

3 Plus Your Fun- Hinton Center The Hinton Center in Hayesville, NC is a hidden treasure. This United Methodist Center welcomes everyone to stay in one of their cozy cottages or the lodge while enjoying the

Want to offer Confirmation at your United Methodist church this spring? Check out these resources!

Kick off with (or add in) a THEOTOKOS CONFIRMATION RETREAT at Hinton Rural Life Center in Western NC that focuses on the vows of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You'll experience engaging and meaningful large group sessions that present biblical stories of call (Rahab & Ishmael, Mary, Samuel, the Woman at the Well), small group discussions and stole making, workshops, hands-on service opportunity, and creative and inspiring worship! DON'T DELAY -- weekends are filling, but we've got spots available for Feb 17-19, Feb 24-25, Mar 3-5, and 8 spots Mar 24-26. Visit www.hintontheotokos.org for details and to register.

Looking for an easy to use, flexible, small church friendly, and affordable UM CONFIRMATION CURRICULUM with solid Wesleyan theology? Theotokos Connections is only $10/participant (confirmands and leaders). (If you're in a WNCC church, your conference will pay for yours.) Email [email protected] for a free preview and more info.

Let's talk - we're listening! Transforming Early Childcare in Clay County... Conversational Listening Sessions for parents, childcare providers, and teachers. Register by 2/3 and earn a $25 gift card!
2/7 - for teachers and childcare providers
2/14 - for parents of children
Both sessions are from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Hinton Center

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JANUARY 29! Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about our region's economic development, history and culture, challenges and assets, as well as develop practical leadership and communications skills. Perfect for those in business, education, government, nonprofits, and folks who are retirees, newcomers, volunteers, or looking for a new vocational direction. Great networking!

We are thrilled to host our second year of Theotokos Confirmation Retreats for United Methodist churches.

REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR SPRING CONFIRMATION RETREAT!

March 17-19 is full, and March 24-26 only has 8 spots available. For more details and to register your group, visit www.hintontheotokos.org !

Hinton Rural Life Center, a retreat and mission outreach agency of the SEJ, is hosting these retreats. Hinton is only 2-ish hours from Asheville, Greenville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta, and is located in the beautiful Appalachian mountains on Lake Chatuge, at the NC-GA border.

Join us for a meaningful and impactful weekend that your United Methodist confirmands and adult leaders will not forget. Check out the video on the Hinton Theotokos web site, register, and get excited!

DO YOU WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE as a youth leader, campus minister, coach, mentor, teacher, camp director, employer? Are you the parent or grandparent of a pre-teen, teenager, or college-age young adult? THIS IS FOR YOU! Young people in your lives need you to be as prepared and equipped as possible to give them the mental health support they need.
More info and online registration at www.hintoncenter.org/training

REGISTER YOUR SUMMER MISSION TEAM by Sunday, Jan. 15, to get our EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT (if paperwork and final balance in by May 15)!

A youth mission trip to Hinton features Safe & Healthy Home Repair ministry in our rural Appalachian community, a beautiful mountain setting on Lake Chatuge, great work-site and program leadership by our snap college summer staffers, Appalachian Culture Night, learning about unique challenges of rural poverty, FUN, all supplies and equipment provided, AND YOU GET BEDS AND LINENS! (No sleeping on the floor or having to pack sleeping bags and air mattresses!) And the food is great, too. Youth 12 and older can attend, or younger if parent is on the team. Our Summer Mission Outreach program runs Sunday-Thursday, so you can take an extra day to enjoy the area.

REGISTER ASAP to get your preferred week; some are already filled. Visit www.HintonCenter.org/mission for all the details and registration form.

The deadline is January 29 to reserve your spot in our next Leadership Chatuge Community Builders course! If you live and/or work in Towns County, GA, or Clay or Cherokee counties in NC, and want to learn more about our rural mountain community and how to participate in ways that can make a difference, you'll enjoy this unique opportunity. If you're a newcomer, a local who wants to learn more, businessperson, educator, artist, volunteer, retiree, high school student, or someone considering a vocational change, then Leadership Chatuge Community Builders is for you!

This 12-week course starts Wednesday, Feb. 1, and will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:30pm, with dinner included. Topics include: personal leadership styles, regional economic development and opportunities, local history and Appalachian culture, community supports, understanding social determinants of health, and much more. Highlights include speakers who are experts in their fields, networking opportunities, resources, and engaging presentations. Becoming more knowledgeable in these areas will prepare and equip participants to serve more effectively and confidently as community builders.

Spots are limited, so register now. For more details and course application, visit www.hintoncenter.org/training .

The speaker line up for our 2023 Leadership Chatuge Community Builders course is now confirmed. The 12-week course hosted by Hinton Center starts Wednesday, Feb. 1, and meets weekly from 5:30-8:30pm on Wednesdays, with dinners included.

This year's speakers include: Jerry Taylor, Historian; Patrick Woodie, President and CEO, The North Carolina Rural Center; Erik Brinke, Director of Administrative Services and External Relations, BRMEMC; John Nicholas, CFO, Hinton Rural Life Center; Amanda McGee, Director of Cherokee County DSS; Dr. Dawn Grinenko, Co-Founder of The Still Place; Margarita Gonzalez, MPH, Impact Associate – Health and Wellness, Dogwood Health Trust; Rev. Dawn Martin, Director of Program Ministries, Hinton Rural Life Center; Dr. Jennifer Hallett, Professor and Chair of Communication Studies, Young Harris College; Mayor Liz Ordiales, Mayor of Hiawassee; Mayor Tim Radford, Mayor of Murphy; Dr. Carol Burton, Assistant Vice Chancellor at Western Carolina University; Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb, President and CEO, Hinton Rural Life Center

Register now! Leadership Chatuge is open to adults (and high school students!) who live and/or work in Clay, Cherokee, and Towns counties. Are you retired? Work or serve in business, government, education, the arts, or nonprofits? Newcomer to the community? Preparing for your next vocational or career move? Leadership Chatuge Community Builders can equip and support you, providing a solid foundation to be a more knowledgeable and effective leader in our rural mountain community. Spots are limited; some partial scholarships are available. Visit www.hintoncenter.org/training for details and to register.

This could be the weekend event for YOU!! Sign up now for our upcoming SIT Event - January 13 - 16! Free event open to all high school juniors/seniors, and college freshmen/sophomores interested in leadership, missions, service. Visit www.HintonCenter.org/training for more info and to register! Register by Monday, 1/9!

Excited to be featured in Dogwood Health Trust’s recent Partner Profiles!
www.dogwoodhealthtrust.org

And, registration is going on now for our upcoming Leadership Chatuge Community Builders course, highlighted in the Profile. For more details and to register, visit www.hintoncenter.org/training

Seeking Shalom: Justice, Community, and the Church’s Mission

Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023; 9:30-11am ET — In person (and online) at Hinton Rural Life Center (optional)
Tuesdays, Jan. 17 through Feb. 21, 6:30-8pm ET — Online

Course in the Community by The Candler Foundry

Instructor: Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio, director of The Candler Foundry and professor of Old Testament at the Candler School of Theology.

Following the first class, offered in person and online Saturday, January 14, 9:30 – 11am, at Hinton Rural Life Center, the remaining 6 classes will be offered online on Tuesdays, from 6:30-8pm, January 17 through February 21, 2023.

Often translated “peace,” the biblical word shalom entails far more than just the absence of war and conflict. This study, which spans 7 weeks, offers an in-depth concept of shalom, including its various spiritual, social, and economic dimensions. Emphasis will be placed on how we can respond to the call to shalom through the ministries of the church and our own lives of faith.

The course is free; use the code HINTON. Register online at http://bit.ly/seekingshalom2023

Give a $500 Rocking Chair Tribute Gift and Help Hinton KEEP ROCKIN’! Your gift will provide a long-lasting, low maintenance white Trex rocking chair with a tribute plate in honor/memory of an individual/couple/family or to recognize the donor (such as First UMC Youth, Greensboro NC). Your donation covers the cost of the chair and tribute plate, with 50% of your gift supporting Hinton ministries.

To make your Rocking Chair Tribute Gift, go to https://www.hintoncenter.org/2022/11/29/rocking-chair-tribute-donation/
to complete a donation and tribute form and to submit your payment (through PayPal or credit card).

Happy New Year from all of us at Hinton Rural Life Center!

Seeking Shalom: Justice, Community, and the Church’s Mission

with Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio
Register today for this exciting course, which will be offered both in person and online. January 14, 2023 9:30-11AM EST in Person. January 17-February Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, Online.
Promotional Code: Hinton registration by January 14, 2023 bit.ly/seekingshalom2023

Often translated “peace,” the biblical word shalom entails far more than just the absence of war and conflict. Shalom describes God’s grand and beautiful dream for a world in which wholeness and healing are cultivated at the level of just societies and flourishing communities. This 4-part study offers an in-depth exploration of the biblical concept of shalom, including its various spiritual, social, and economic dimensions. Emphasis will be placed on how we can respond to the call to shalom through the ministries of the church and our own lives of faith.

Whether you work or serve in business, government, education, the arts, nonprofits, or you’re preparing for your next vocational or career move, Leadership Chatuge Community Builders can equip and support you, providing a solid foundation to be a more knowledgeable and effective leader in our rural mountain community. Topics include: personal leadership styles, regional economic development and opportunities, local history and Appalachian culture, community support, understanding social determinants of health, and much more. Highlights include speakers who are experts in their fields, networking opportunities, resources, and engaging presentations. Learning more about these topics and networking with others in our area will prepare and equip you to serve more effectively and confidently as a community builder!

Registration is now open for the 2023 Leadership Chatuge Community Builders course, which starts February 1! More info and register at www.hintoncenter.org/training

Wednesday, Dec. 28: Although our offices are closed this week, the Firewood Lot is open, 9am-1pm. Those needing firewood can complete their check-in form at the wood lot.

Join us this summer, as a summer staffer! Summer Staff is a unique experience where college-age young adults can have a real impact on a community, on homeowners, on participants, on fellow staffers.

We have staffers who have been part of the Hinton Summer Mission Outreach experience for years, who return time and time again. Be inspired by Matthew 5:16– to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Join us this summer as a staffer to let your light shine in new and unique ways.

For more details and to apply, visit
https://www.hintoncenter.org/about-us/nonprofit-employment-opportunities

Merry Christmas!

We had a meaningful Longest Night service tonight. Thank you to Hayesville First UMC and Oak Forest & Hickory Stand UMCs for partnering with us.

Remember, if you need to talk, help is available. Call 988 or text HOME to 741741.

Merry Christmas to us! Thank you Dogwood Health Trust and Impact Health for providing funds to purchase this new dump truck to haul building debris when making homes safer and healthier for our neighbors! Special thanks to board member Ricky Beggs for helping to locate the truck for purchase.

Meet the Instructor
Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio teaches Old Testament at Emory’s Candler School of Theology and serves as the Director of The Candler Foundry. He teaches courses on a range of topics including biblical metaphors, the prophets, Old Testament theology, the Bible and poverty, and biblical interpretation. He previously taught at Columbia Theological Seminary and served as a scholar in residence at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and has degrees from Princeton University (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Emory University (PhD).

Register today for this exciting course, which will be offered both in person and online. January 14, 2023 9:30-11AM EST in Person. January 17-February Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, Online.
Use promo code HINTON when you register by January 14, 2023, at bit.ly/seekingshalom2023

Give a $500 Rocking Chair Tribute Gift and Help Hinton KEEP ROCKIN’! Your gift will provide a long-lasting, low maintenance white Trex rocking chair with a tribute plate in honor/memory of an individual/couple/family or to recognize the donor (such as First UMC Youth, Greensboro NC). Your donation covers the cost of the chair and tribute plate, with 50% of your gift supporting Hinton ministries.

To make your Rocking Chair Tribute Gift, go to https://www.hintoncenter.org/2022/11/29/rocking-chair-tribute-donation/
to complete a donation and tribute form and to submit your payment (through PayPal or credit card).

ATTENTION: RESIDENTS OF CLAY & CHEROKEE COUNTIES (NC) AND TOWNS COUNTY (GA) . . . Registration is now open for the 2023 Leadership Chatuge Community Builders course, which starts February 1! More info and register at www.hintoncenter.org/training . Hinton is located at 2330 Hinton Center Road in Hayesville, NC.

Whether you work or serve in business, government, education, the arts, nonprofits, or you're preparing for your next vocational or career move, Leadership Chatuge Community Builders can equip and support you, providing a solid foundation to be a more knowledgeable and effective leader in our rural mountain community. Topics include: personal leadership styles, regional economic development and opportunities, local history and Appalachian culture, community supports, understanding social determinants of health, and much more. Highlights include speakers who are experts in their fields, networking opportunities, resources, and engaging presentations. Learning more about these topics and networking with others in our area will prepare and equip you to serve more effectively and confidently as a community builder!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR WNCC UMC!!

Who's looking for a confirmation curriculum for 2023? Hinton Rural Life Center and the WNCC Resource Center have partnered to offer Hinton's new Theotokos Connections confirmation curriculum for FREE to United Methodist churches in the Western NC Conference, United Methodist Church.

This is a 6-session, downloadable curriculum written by our conference's very own Rev. Shannon LeMaster-Smith and Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith, so you know that it is theologically grounded in the United Methodist faith.

Learn more about the new curriculum and how to order your free copy at https://www.wnccumc.org/theotokos