First Things. All are invited to come and share an evening of fellowship, fun, and food! Gather in the area near the children s playground.

Transcription

1 F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H First Things 101 E. First North Street Morristown, TN Phone: (423) Fax (423) fumc@fumcmorristown.org V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 0 9 S E P T E M B E R fumcmorristown Worship Times 8:15am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 9:15am Sunday School for All Ages 10:30am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 10:30am The Connection (Gym) All are invited to come and share an evening of fellowship, fun, and food! Gather in the area near the children s playground. Bus Ministry Regency Pick-up times 9:00am & 10:15am Return to Regency 11:45am Newsletter Online The newsletter is posted online at

2 P A G E 2 Dear Friends, Who knew that changing jobs, moving, getting our sons settled in college, neighborhood meetings, and getting re-acclimated to preaching every Sunday would feel so overwhelming? It is probably a good thing that our memories are short. Otherwise, we probably would not agree to new challenges. The most redeeming part of this experience for Lisa and me has been feeling like a part of a church family once again. Thank you so much for all the ways you have been gracious to us. I have certainly appreciated the feedback I have gotten on our neighborhood meetings. I am beginning to recognize themes that are showing up time after time. It has been so helpful to meet people in a smaller group setting, so that I can begin to put names to faces and hear about family connections. I am also beginning to figure out who does what around here. It has been inspiring to hear about all the ways you are connected to the community. I have been hearing over and over how this church has a heart for the community and a heart for Christ. As I process all this information, I have begun to think about what is next for First United Methodist Church. We are entering the phase where we will begin to think about leadership for the upcoming year. I would ask that if you are nominated for a leadership role, you would consider it as recognition that others have identified gifts and graces in you. I also want to thank you for your generosity in your giving. Everywhere I look, I see ministry happening that couldn t occur without you. Over and over, I hear appreciation for our staff, our music ministry, our children s ministry, our worship experiences and our involvement in the community. None of this could happen without your gifts of time and treasure. It is humbling to have been selected as one of the leaders of this church. I hope you are feeling as blessed as I do. ~ Walter F I R S T T H I N G S Fine Arts Concert Thursday, September 21 7:30pm Aaron Boaz, violin Krista Wallace Boaz, piano Aaron and Krista will present an eclectic program with some flash and flourish, some hymn arrangements and some gypsy style selections. Aaron Boaz began violin study at age four. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Louisville and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Northwestern University. Mr. Boaz has presented numerous solo recitals, masterclasses and appeared as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Primarily a classical violinist, Aaron has also appeared with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band and was recognized by the Grand Ole Opry at age nine. Krista Wallace-Boaz is a native of Somerset, Kentucky and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Louisville, a Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University and a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Dr. Wallace-Boaz also holds three certificates from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia and has been heard on the national radio broadcast of the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series. She has appeared in concerts across the United States as well as England and the Netherlands. In March 2010 she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the newly formed Grawemeyer Chamber Players. Krista Wallace-Boaz currently serves as Associate Professor of Piano for the University of Louisville, School of Music, New Music Reviewer to Clavier Magazine and Pianist to the Trio bel Canto. Advent/Christmas Choir Fall Retreat Join Chancel Choir as we prepare beautiful music of the Advent and Christmas seasons. September 15 September 16 5:00pm Supper-CR 6:00pm Rehearsal Fall Choir Retreat for Advent/ Christmas music at FUMC Choir room 9:00am-2:00pm Fall Choir Retreat for Advent/ Christmas at the home of Ken and Midge Allum; 1815 Boatmans Ridge Road; Morristown, TN Wednesday Advent/Christmas Choir Rehearsals September :15-7:45pm October :15-8:15pm November :00-8:15pm November 22 No rehearsal November 29 7:00-8:45pm December :00-8:45pm

3 V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 0 9 P A G E 3 New Sign! Sincere thanks to our special benefactor, our Trustees, and everyone else responsible for our new church sign. We are very excited about all the possibilities to spread a good word about things going on at First United Methodist Church. September Bible Studies Men s Bible Study Rob Gentry will lead this group in a study of The Gospels on Wednesdays at 5:30pm in the church Library, beginning Sept. 6. Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage, led by Cynthia Thompson, will meet in Room 106 at 6:00pm on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 6. How do you cherish your spouse? Gary Thomas will show you how going out of your way to notice them, appreciate them, honor them, encourage them, and hold them close to your heart will bring hope, light, and life into your marriage. The Mom Squad is a study for mothers of school-age children. They will meet in Room 207 on Wednesday evenings, beginning Sept. 6, at 5:30pm. Lamplighters men s Bible study group will resume their study on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 6:30pm in the Cornerstone Building. Skip Frierson will lead them in a study on 12 Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. Bethel Bible Study, led by Nancy Renner, will continue with part 2 of their study on Monday, Sept. 11, at 6:30pm in the Cornerstone building. This group is limited to participants who were enrolled in part 1 of the study led by Chuck Starks. Defining Moments The first week of August, I had the special opportunity to work with a newer ministry in the Holston Annual Conference. The program is called Defining Moments and it is a week-long retreat that extends into a year-long mentoring program for youth and young adults experiencing some type of calling from God. While this program is not exclusively for those feeling a call to ordained ministry, we often have a few participants who are considering that path. This year, we had none. Not one of our participants were at a point where they could claim they were being called to an ordained ministry. We had a couple of folks who felt a call to be teachers and coaches, one person hopes to be a missionary in the Latin Americas, one young man wanted to do social work with teenagers, and others just knew they felt God calling them to something. At first the Defining Moments staff felt a little disappointed that there were no participants desiring full-time church ministry. But, it was a good reminder for us about the Christian concept of the priesthood of all believers. This concept reminds us that it is not just the work of clergy to spread the Good News of Jesus; it takes all of us to share Jesus. And it made me think about you. As I have met you these past two months, I have met doctors, lawyers, teachers, librarians, entrepreneurs, stay at home parents, computergurus, musicians, cashiers, realtors and so many other interesting people. You are all so wonderfully different with amazing talents and gifts that God has given you passion to enjoy. It is amazing to me to think about all the ways you get to share God s love, perhaps even without words, that we as pastors do not get to experience. You are truly in the trenches in ways that we cannot experience. How beautiful the ways God uses all of us! So, thank you for answering your own special call and being willing to do what God has called you to do. If you feel God nudging you some way, come see us in the church office; we ll gladly help you discover where God can use your gifts. And don t forget that you are a priesthood and you are called to share the love of God and the grace of Jesus wherever you are and in the ways you are able. I can t wait to hear more of your stories! Peace friends, Asa

4 P A G E 4 Moms of Preschoolers (MOPS) is hosting their first Holiday Market at FUMC on November 11! This event will be a fundraiser vendor show for our community to get some holiday shopping done! The proceeds will go to help with funds for supplies and expenses for this newly successful group of women, welcomed each month into FUMC. MOPS welcomes all moms with preschoolers to come to a monthly meeting to learn more about Christ and fellowship within this church community. This group currently has 35 registered moms who attend a child-free meeting to fellowship with one another. If you have a small business or have a talent for crafting, they would love to have you participate in their Holiday Market! They would like to offer a children's marketplace as well for children to do their Christmas shopping. They need vendors that sell handmade crafts. Please mopsofmorristown@gmail.com or call Laura at for more information! Mom Squad is a group for mothers of school-age children. As mothers enter the school years, new challenges and issues arise, but the need for community and hope remains. Mom Squad is an open, accepting place for all mothers of school-age children to experience authentic community personal growth, practical help and spiritual hope. We believe moms are important and that better moms make a better world. Mom Squad is here to encourage, support and equip you as a mother, as a woman, and as a Christ follower. Please join us beginning Wed., September 6th from 5:30-7:00pm in Room 207! Kids Choir and Bells Kick-Off Wednesday, September 6 Grades 3-5, Bells at 4:45pm Grades PreK-5, Choir at 5:15pm There is no better way for kids in our church to be involved in serving the church than to participate in Kids Choir. We lead worship in all of the services over the course of a year while having fun learning about Christ s love and how to worship Him through music activities. Singing in worship on: October 1 Grades 2-5 Grades PreK-1 October 8 Grades PreK-1 Grades :30am Traditional The Connection 10:30am Traditional The Connection F I R S T T H I N G S

5 V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 0 9 P A G E 5 School Visits Chris will be visiting different Middle & High schools this September to eat lunch with the students! Check the bulletin, enews, and social medias to find out when and where Chris will be! Prayer City Come to Youth City to experience prayer in a fresh new way. There will be different stations, set up all over the room, which all have a different way to pray for someone or some thing in your life. See the many interesting ways there are to pray for yourself, others, and the world on Wed., September 13, at 6pm ($5 Youth City Wednesdays from 5-7:30pm Escape the Room The youth building will be full of passwords, puzzles and tests, which all lead to the way out of the building. Work together as a team to put together clues to find your way out of the youth building on Wed., September 6, at 6pm ($5 Do you have what it takes to escape the room? NEON Church Youth City is going to Trinity UMC on Wed., September 20, from 6:30-7:45pm to experience church like never before! There will be black lights, glow sticks, and neon to make this a really fun worship experience. Chonci Houston will be the guest speaker! Meet in the youth parking lot at 6pm to carpool. We should return around 8pm. WEAR NEON! Revelation Youth Choir Sunday Rehearsals 4:44-5:45pm weekly Handbells will rehearse after choir 5:45-6:45pm Participate in Worship Rummage Sale Drop Off/Pick Up: October 4 5pm-7pm October 5 8am-4pm Call the church office to schedule your pick up. Volunteers always needed, just let us know if you re willing! Sale Friday, October 6 Saturday, October 7 8am-4pm 8am-1pm September 10 8:15am Traditional October 1 10:30am Traditional Trebles sing w/kids Choir October 8 10:30am Traditional October 29 10:30am Combined Service November 12 10:30am at The Connection December 10 6:00pm Love Feast Choir has started with three great rehearsals, but it is not too late to join for the season. We will sing several times this semester starting with the 8:15am Traditional Worship service on September 10. Our planned summer tour will be to New Orleans. If you would like to participate, you need to join us soon!

6 P A G E 6 Ministry Spotlight: MATS M.A.T.S. Opens New Facility M.A.T.S. on Main The Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter is celebrating 30 years of service to the community. In 30 years, M.A.T.S. has served about 12,000 people with a full program including food, shelter and life -skills courses. Costs are $38 per day, per person, and is covered by donations from the community. Residents are never billed. Gary Brewster, MATS Manager, said the program has touched many lives to date, and he wagers the number will only increase going forward, aided by the opening of the shelter s new location on West Main Street in Morristown. The residents moved into the new home on June 1, and the administration will be transferred in the near future. The extra space provided and the layout of the space will allow the M.A.T.S. program to run more efficiently. There will be 30 beds available to residents, which will house the same number of people as the previous location on Hill Street. Unlike the previous location, however, the beds will be situated in various rooms, which can be sealed off and designated for families, men or women, depending on the need. The space also provides additional room for life-skills courses and resident living. Donations of time, money and resources are always welcome. The new home is located at 733 W. Main St., Morristown. Call for more information. M.A.T.S. is a member agency of the United Way of Hamblen County. Welcome to FUMC! Kelly Reid - Kelly joined on July 23 in the Connection service by Profession of Faith. United Methodist Women Elizabeth Circle will meet Thursday, September 7, at 10:30am at Regency. Contact Alice Starnes for more information. Ruth Circle will meet September 11, at 11:30am in the Community Room. Bring a sandwich and a drink. Cookies will be provided. Bev Moon & Betty Purkey are co-chairs. Deborah Circle will meet September 12, at 6:00pm in the Cornerstone building. Barbara Crawford and Julie Compton are co-chairs. Mary Martha Circle will carpool from the church to the Holston Conference Annual Meeting at the Connection in Sevierville on September 16th. A brochure can be found at HolstonUMW.org. Continue collecting for Penny and a Prayer. Contact Alice for more information. Joyful Hearts Spiritual Retreat Thursday, September 21 9:30am-Noon Chris & Lauren Jacobs Chris & Lauren also joined on July 23 in the Connection service. They come by transfer from Fellowship Community Church (Middlebrook Campus) in Knoxville. Harvest Table for Missions We welcome your home-grown fruit & vegetables (and eggs!) to our Table for others to purchase (for a donation). Everyone is invited to participate! All donations will go toward local mission projects. Tommy Sanders has made pencil holders and banks out of left over cedar wood from the arch in the Prayer Garden. Items are on the Harvest Table in the hallway on the main floor. All donations from these will go to the Prayer Garden. Dr. Gerald Borchert Worship Leader Topic: Paul's Amazing Book of Romans Cost is $8 for lunch catered by Jersey Girl. Make your reservation and pay $8 by Friday, September 15. September Mission Project: ALPS *Joyful Hearts is not age restrictive. Everyone is invited to participate! F I R S T T H I N G S

7 V O L U M E 6, I S S U E 0 9 P A G E 7 Looking Ahead The Church Office will be closed Monday, September 4, for the Labor Day holiday. Game Night is Friday, September 8, at 6:00pm in the Community Room. Come and join the fun! Bring a drink and snack to share. United Methodist Men meet Sunday, September 10, at 8:15am in the Community Room. John Stroud is president. The FUMC Quilters start back on Tuesday, September 12. Meet at 1:00pm in Room 117. The Finance Team will meet Tuesday, September 12, at 5:30pm in the Community Room. Deadline for the October newsletter is September 13. Please your completely written articles including pictures to fumc@fumcmorristown.org or bring them to the church office. Church Council will meet Tuesday, September 19, at 5:30pm in the Cornerstone building. On Sunday September 10, the FUMC United Methodist Men will host Don Woods. His topic: "My Life as a Football Coach." Don spent a "lifetime" coaching both high school and college football - a total of 48 years. He will speak about his walk with young men and how Christianity played a large part in that role. Breakfast will be ready by 8:15am with the program 8:30-9. Wives and children are invited. Let John Stroud at know that you play to attend. Congratulations to Jeff & Rita (Wilson) Maples, married July 23, 2017 in Pigeon Forge. Bruce & Tessa Jones on the birth of Merritt Pearson Jones, on July 25 in Savannah, GA. Condolences to Audrey Turley in the recent death of her father. Joanna Sanders and Charles Whetsel & families in the death of Joanna s sister and Charles sister-in-law, Linda Whetsel, on July 27. Our Discipleship Together July 07/02 07/09 07/16 07/23 07/30 Worship Sunday School Budget Offering $8,550 $20,662 $10,813 $28,914 $16,458 Faith Promise $285 $2,240 $370 $707 $117 Worship at FUMC Traditional Worship 8:15am & 10:30am (Sanctuary) and The Connection 10:30am (Gym) September 3 Communion Remove Your Sandals Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel Burning Bushes The Connection: Asa Majors September 10 The First Passover Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel To Be Passed Over The Connection: Asa Majors September 17 Going Where There is No Path Traditional Worship: Walter Weikel Going Through the Waters The Connection: Asa Majors September 24 The Diet Plan Traditional Worship: Asa Majors Bread from Heaven The Connection: Walter Weikel Have you remembered the church in your will?

8 First United Methodist Church 101 East First North Street Morristown, TN Reaching, Growing, and Serving RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED