Family Putt-Putt on August 17 | | Stewardship Ministry Fair | | |
On Sunday, September 14, First Church will hold a Stewardship Ministry Fair in the Fellowship Hall and Welcome Center, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and running throughout the morning. This is an opportunity for every mission, ministry, group, program, team, or committee that is a part of First Church to highlight who you are, what you do, and how others can walk beside you in your important ministry.
If you would like to showcase your ministry at the Stewardship Ministry Fair, please have one person from your group contact the church office (officemanager@fumcor.org, 865-483-4357) during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday). The deadline to sign up is August 31. Contact Pastor Clair (csauer@fumcor.org) for more information.
| | Youth Group is meeting this year with a new schedule. We will meet each Sunday afternoon from 3:00–5:00 p.m. Fellowship time is from 3:00–4:00 p.m., with a lesson and prayer station from 4:00–5:00 p.m. This new schedule allows families to have lunch together before youth group begins, while also allowing young drivers to get home before nightfall. For more information, contact Pastor Denna (dhornby@fumcor.org). | | New Small Group Opportunities | | |
As Autumn approaches, we have some exciting new small group opportunities. Mark your calendars for the following:
- Beginning Wednesday, September 3, at 10:30 a.m. (Room 207) and 6:00 p.m. (Room 205), join Pastor Ken for a new Bible Study, “Heaven & Hell: What Does the Bible Say and What Does It Mean?” People who would like to join in the Community Meal before the 6:00 p.m. class may do so with a reservation and $5.
- Beginning September 15, join Pastor Denna each Monday morning for an easy prayer walk. This event follows Coffee in the Community at Calamity’s Coffee, which meets at 9:00 a.m. We will meet at the Oak Ridge Arboretum at 10:30 a.m. for time together, prayer, and a fun hike. Stay tuned for more opportunities, including alternative weekdays and weekend options as well.
- On Wednesday, October 8, join Pastor Denna in the Fellowship Hall from 12:00–1:00 p.m. for “Lunch and Learn!” Send Pastor Denna any questions that you have been pondering, and she will choose one for discussion that day.
- Beginning Tuesday, December 2, join Gielda Reese and friends for Visio Divina during Advent! Visio Divina is “divine seeing.” It is the practice of praying with a work of art. By incorporating art into prayer, Visio Divina invites us to bring our sense of sight as well as our imagination into our relationship with God. Gielda will be guiding us every Tuesday morning from 10:00–11:00 a.m. in Room 204 as we create our own artwork and grow in Christ this Advent season!
- On Sunday, December 7, we will have a church wide Christmas Cookie Swap! Choose your favorite recipe and bring 3 dozen cookies to the Fellowship Hall at 2:30 p.m. Although not a small group per se, it will be a fun fellowship event to enrich our celebration of the Advent season. We will enjoy cookies and fellowship before going to the Lessons and Carols program presented by the FUMC Music Ministry beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Please contact Pastor Denna with questions or for more information: dhornby@fumcor.org.
| | Upcoming Stephen Ministry Training | | Support First Recovery - With or Without a Ticket! | | |
Burgers and Bluegrass tickets are all sold out! But if you were hoping to support First Recovery at this fundraising event on September 21, you may be able to buy tickets at the door, weather permitting. Watch for more information as the event approaches.
Even if you aren't able to make it to Burgers and Bluegrass, you can still support First Recovery and the new endowment that will provide enduring funds for this vital ministry. A generous donor will match every dollar donated up to $50,000. Nearly $30,000 has already been given! Help us reach $100,000 before the fundraising event by donating today!
If you would like to donate to the First Recovery Endowment, follow this link (enter the amount you wish to donate in the "Fundraising Events - First Recovery Endowment" line).
Thank you for helping us secure the impact of First Recovery for years to come!
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Youth Choir Changes
In an effort to shape our ministries to the needs of its participants, a few changes are being made to our youth choir this season. The Youth Choir will expand to accept any young adults in their 20s or 30s who wish to sing. The Youth Choir will now meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays only. They will sing at the 8:45 a.m. service and then rehearse for upcoming Sundays during the Sunday School hour at 10:00 a.m. We are all busy these days, so this schedule change is meant to lighten the load for our young people who wish to get involved. If you would like to sing or know someone who might enjoy singing and they are in the youth or young adult category, please don't hesitate to reach out to Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org).
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Children's Choir Changes
The FUMC Children's Choir is undergoing some exciting new changes! First, Sophia Bennett was recently hired as the new Children's Choir Director. She has worked with various other children and youth choirs in the area and is currently working on her Master of Music degree at the University of Tennessee. Second, due to her schedule this year, the Children's Choir rehearsals will change to Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Third, in an effort to include singers who may not be able to make it during the week, a plan is being worked out to utilize a few minutes on the 2nd and 4th Sundays during Sunday School for music instruction. Finally, work is going on now to convert Room 306 into an official Children's Choir rehearsal room. This will give them their own unique space to explore music and to have fun. If you know of any kids from Kindergarten through 5th grade who might be interested, please feel free to reach out to Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org) or Sophia Bennett (sbennett@fumcor.org) for more information. We'll see you Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. in Room 306 starting in September!
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Ensemble Rehearsals Resume in September
Beginning Wednesday, September 3, all FUMC ensembles will resume their rehearsals for the 2025-2026 music season! Check the graphic above to see which ensemble might be best for you and to see when they rehearse. Additionally, there will be a choir Boot Camp on Saturday, September 6. Boot Camp is for singers of all ages. A handbell class for beginners is also in the planning stages for later this Fall. For more information about how to get involved, please contact Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org).
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Choir Boot Camp
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and join the adult, youth, and children's choirs for basic training! This is a great time of fun and fellowship where we will get a head start on music for this Fall. The choirs will rehearse upcoming music, engage in fun activities, share a meal together, and have a basic liturgy refresher course. Our choirs are always looking for new recruits, so plan to report for duty in the choir room on September 6 at 0900 hours.
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It’s in our church neighborhood, and it does, indeed, bless individuals and families in need on a daily basis.
Look for it near the drive-thru entrance to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Vienna Road side). They welcome FUMC sharing in their ministry to provide food and other essentials to people who visit the walk-up box. Suzanne Norman of St. Stephen’s oversees the box and shared some details about its use and needs.
If you’d like to drop off items for the Blessing Box, please leave them at St. Stephen’s church office (just inside the drive-thru entrance on Vienna Road). The office is open 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Suzanne and her helpers monitor the box and add food, water, and supplies as needed. Some items can’t tolerate the heat/cold, so Suzanne is usually on hand to assist folks. She’s always available on Wednesday evenings when FUMC hosts the Community Meal and First Recovery program. Some of our FUMC guests use the Blessing Box, and we also know neighbors, students, and people passing through town frequent the box.
Suzanne likes to offer canned meats and ravioli/spaghetti cans (with easy-open tops) and similar items that do not require cooking, as some guests are homeless or live in a car. She also stocks water, peanut butter, protein bars, individual tuna packs, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine pads, adult pull-ups, and other hygiene items that cannot be purchased with food-assistance cards. Protein drinks are a special need right now for two cancer patients.
Please help stock the Blessing Box if you can. Contacts: Vicki Hinkel (vhinkel@comcast.net) or Suzanne Norman (snorman04@comcast.net).
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Morgan County Recovery Court Director speaks at First Presbyterian
Elizabeth Andrews, Executive Director of the Morgan County Residential Recovery Court (MCRRC) in Wartburg, will speak Sunday afternoon, August 17, at 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church. MCRRC is a state-funded residential recovery program for men who are non-violent felony drug offenders. 75% of the men who complete the 12-Step program stay out of jail, get jobs, and reconnect with family and community. Andrews is a member of First Presbyterian and a person in recovery. The public is invited to attend.
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Oak Ridge to Hold Comprehensive Plan Community Open House on August 18
The City of Oak Ridge will host another community open house this month as it crafts the City’s next comprehensive plan. The in-person meeting will take place at the brand-new Oak Ridge Conference Center on Monday, August 18, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
The new comprehensive plan, Oak Ridge 2045: A Century of Heritage, A Future of Promise, will serve as the City’s roadmap for the next 20 years. The City Council, Planning Commission, and City Staff will use the Plan to make important land use, budgeting, and development decisions. Meeting participants can expect opportunities to interact with planning staff at the City, provide input, and ask questions about the various parts of the plan.
For questions or more information, visit oakridgetn.gov/comprehensiveplan. To contact the Planning & Development Department, call (865) 425-3531 or email plandev@oakridgetn.gov.
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August Special Offering -
First Recovery
| | This month’s special offering will benefit the First Recovery ministry. Though we are in the midst of a fundraiser to establish an endowment for First Recovery, this monthly offering will support First Recovery's ongoing services. First Recovery offers help, hope, and healing to individuals struggling with substance misuse disorder. Ministries like First Recovery show us how faith-based healing, recovery coaching, and peer encouragement can be transformative. They offer a blueprint of second chances rooted in spiritual care and human dignity. First Recovery is a vital and growing ministry that serves a significant need in our community. Your support is greatly appreciated! | |
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Worship for August 17
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 8: 54-61
1 John 4: 16
8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - Multipurpose Room
Preaching: Rev. Clair Sauer, Rev. Denna Hornby
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In Celebration
Please help First Church welcome Eleanor (Ella) Sophia Henry, born to Jon and Bridgette Henry on July 27, 2025. Proud grandparents Bill and Sandy Henry are excited to welcome baby Ella to the world!
In the Hospital
Gayle Boroughs
Robert Stoops
Discharged
Jane Grossbeck
Janice Lovelace
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Offering 8-4-2025 through 8-10-2025: $39,414.40
2025 YTD Offering: $864,519
2024 YTD Offering: $797,872
August Special Offering (First Recovery): $2,195.00
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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