ffumclogo

God desires FFUMC to be an intentional, vibrant,  growing faith community transformed through prayer, scripture, worship, and study.

 

ffumclogo God wants us to make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors  and each other as we  invite, accept, connect,  serve,  and share the love of Christ.  
Issue: 6
February 7, 2018
In This Issue
Greeters & Ushers
Happy Birthday!
Children
UMYF Future Dates
Care & Prayer Concerns
Quick Links
Join us at the United Methodist Women's Annual Tea Saturday at  2:00 p.m.!

Questions? 

Ash Wednesday Services
Next Wednesday, February 14

12:00 p.m. and   6:30 p.m. 

(Childcare - not available at  12:00 p.m.)
(Childcare available at 6:30 p.m.)

... that the Holston Conference is sponsoring a local conference on human trafficking?

... that human trafficking is taking place in the Knoxville area?

... that it not a problem just for large urban areas? 

... that it significantly impacts us and our children? 

Conference topics to be addressed are: forms of exploitation, how to identify trafficking, what to do if you suspect trafficking is taking place, and learn how the church can make a difference in our community.  Click here for more information.
 
Date:  Friday, February 23, 2018; 6:00 p.m.
Location:  Cokesbury United Methodist Chuch,  9915 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN
Cost:  $25.00/person covers dinner and cost of the event
Deadline to register:  February 14, 2018

Register online or pick up a brochure at the Information Desk.  CEU Credit is available!

The Church & Society Team
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Information Desk
9:00 a.m. -  Necia Carter
10:00 a.m. - Rosemary Owens

Greeters
9:00 a.m. -  Jim & Diane O'Brien
11:00 a.m. - Jeanne Huie & Noel Love

Ushers
9:00 a.m. - 
Doug Hulme, Alvin Jenkins, & Joe Bradford

11:00 a.m. - Sign up with this link!
Rolling Schedule: Randy Kirchner, 
Jay Kirchner, & Scott Hilbelink
birthday-banner-yellow.gif
Congratulations to the following 
who will have birthdays this week!

February:
  7 - Cookie Spillers
  8 - Donna Bocik
14 - Patricia Mohney
Security Plan
The Trustees have begun the implementation of our Security Plan. Integral to the plan is the monitoring of Main Street and the front door.  This will be done by having a dedicated usher positioned near the information desk from the start to the end of church services. These ushers will be instructed on their role and responsibilities. If you are willing to volunteer for this important position in our church security plan or if you would like more information, please email Steve Krupski.
FINANCIAL PULSE
As of December 31, 2017:

YTD Total Contributions:     $613,015.65
YTD Total Expenses:             $559,453.74
YTD Net Operating Total:      $ 53,561.91
YTD Total "FTF" Gifts:           $128,288.50
   (Forward to Freedom)
Attention Kroger Shoppers!
Don't forget to re-enroll!
  If you shop at Kroger, please click here to visit the Kroger Community Rewards secure website and click on "Enroll" to register your individual Kroger Plus card to First Farragut UMC's account 
(# 84417).  
 
We received $149.12 from your shopping last quarter!

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD
 
Once upon a time there was a nice church in a good place to live. It was filled with all kinds of wonderful people who sincerely wanted their church to reach out to their community and around the world with what they called Good News.
 
As that church was located not too far away from railroad tracks, it annually filled the train with Good News and wished the engine well in carrying its precious cargo over the mountains and around the world. But the little engine had a problem: "I can't get over the mountains with this Good News," she said, "unless I have enough fuel." So, the nice church said, "OK, little engine, we will shovel in a budget for you to run on."
 
So, the church said to all its members, "Will you help shovel in fuel for the Good News Train?" And most of the members said, "Sure!" But some of them said, "Oh, no. My little bit of fuel won't get that train very far." Others said, "Why should I shovel fuel in that little engine when I have my own engine to worry about?"
 
But most of the people said, "I'll do my part!" So, the little train started to move ahead and said, "I think I can - I think I can -
I think I can!" Faster and faster it went as more and more people began shoveling in fuel. When everyone finally pitched in to help,  the echo of the little engine could be heard all over the world: "I knew I could -  I knew I could - knew I could - knew I could..."
 
Thank you for the fuel you are in your giving to the  "I'm in..." stewardship needs for 2018, and the "We're all in..." three-year capital campaign, beginning April 1.
                                                      
                                                                     Your Pastor and Friend,                                         Don Thomas
Upcoming Events

Thursday, February 15 - Dinner at Chop House at 5:30 p.m. (can use the Early Bird Menu if desired). Please RSVP by Sunday to Anita Oberdecker (865) 675-1415.
 
Sunday, March 18 - Agatha Christie's "The Mouse Trap" at Cumberland County Playhouse- $ 25/person for group of 10. We will leave from FFUMC at 11:30 a.m. and have a buffet lunch at the Cumberland County State Park-separate checks. Please RSVP with a check payable to Anita Oberdecker by Sunday You may also mail the check to Anita at 11112 Joiner Way, Knoxville 37934. This is a great mystery play!
 
Wednesday, April 4 - Day trip to Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol, VA (price $11.55) and Gray Fossil Site and National Museum (part of the Smithsonian museums) price $5.00 in Gray, TN. We will carpool from FFUMC at 8:30 a.m., have lunch in Bristol, and arrive back in Knoxville by approximately 6:00 p.m. Please RSVP by Sunday, March 25 . Please note change in date from schedule posted last week.

Thanks to our congregation for donations of peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken, and cereal to help stock the West Knox FISH Pantry in February. You donated 420 items worth over $750! Your generosity helps provide a bag of nutritious food to our neighbors in need. 

On January 30, 15 volunteers helped unload almost five tons of food from the Second Harvest truck. On February 4, 23 youth 
and adults filled grocery bags for the delivery shelves. WKFP is 
the only delivery pantry in Knox County and continues to serve a vital need. Your generous support has sustained this ministry for many years!
 
We have  one   more volunteer day, February 18, Noon-3:00 p.m. , to fill grocery bags. You can sign up to help at the Missions table on Main Street. Filling grocery bags is fun and great fellowship.
      
CHILDREN

Sing praises to the Lord!
Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018
Children's Palm Sunday music is open to children 
ages 3 and up. We will practice on  February 25 ,  
March 4, March 18 and we sing in both worship services on 
March 25 .  
We will meet in Kid Central from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Want to be "in the loop" on all Children's Wing activities? 
Be sure to join our Facebook group (FFUMC Children's Ministry)!
Youth
United Methodist  Youth Fellowship   (UMYF)


February 11, 18 & 25 at 5:30 p.m. - UMYF
Questions, email   Chuck Powell.
NEW RESOURCES
First Farragut UMC's Footprints Ministry serves  as a bridge to connect church and home. Click  here  for our current recommendations.
Care and 
Prayer 
Concerns

Please remember the following  care 
and prayer concerns  this week:
  • Christian Missionaries Everywhere
  • Karen Blazer
  • Bruce Burr (throat cancer, Debbie & John Salzer's son-in-laws' stepfather)
  • Tom Butcher (cancer, Sandy Noble's former boss)
  • Lee Collins
  • Lisa Davis (brain cancer, friend of Carrie Linn)
  • Phil Dawson (home)
  • Cindy Daugherty Galyon  
  • J.T. Hankins (at home with PT)
  • John Hankins (late stage colon cancer)
  • Charlie Helms (The Neighborhood at Tellico Village)
  • Kenneth Henderson (Parkinson, Marilyn Halas' father)
  • Kris Lane (son-in-law of Steve & Jeanette Krupski)
  • Cheryl Lewis & Family (radiation and chemo, friend of Harden Family and daughter of Norma Jean Melcher)
  • La Gonda & Lee Mapes (La Gonda's uncle, dementia-Ben Atchley State Veteran's Home )
  • Norma Jean Melcher (serious kidney issues, mother of Cheryl Lewis)  
  • Allen Perzeski (rehab, Jen Braun's grandpa) 
  • Bill & Sherry Purdy (friends of Alvin Jenkins)
  • Michael Rainwater
  • Jolanda Rice (cancer, mother of Jeanette Krupski)
  • Sarah Roberto (recovering at home )
  • Judith Russell (former FFUMC member)
  • Melody Schwab  (breast cancer, friend of Jean Fowler)
  • Randy Sedlacek (hospice, Jodie Petersen's father)
  • Becky Luther Tannehill (breast cancer, Carrie Linn's aunt)
  • Jimmy Taylor ( Clinical Research Participation)
  • Jake von Trump (Sabrina Gunderson's son & Marilyn Halas' grandson)
  •   Dennis Wilson (throat cancer, Matt Wolverton's uncle)
  • Michael & Janine Zaiser (Michael will be deployed soon; Janine is expecting third child in March; their twins are 2 1/2 years old; Michael is nephew of John & Brandi Matson)
  • Military Personnel & their families
           
    Intermediate and long-term concerns 
    are held in prayer daily through our 
    prayer chain and prayer groups. 
    If you have a prayer concern, 
    please contact 
    the church office  at 966-8430 or [email protected].
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