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 or join 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.
| | 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. Over $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!
| | First Kids Worship Is Back this Sunday | | Have you or your children been missing First Kids Worship? Good news, it's back this Sunday for the 11:00 a.m. services! All are invited to join in gathering worship in the Traditional or Contemporary spaces, after which children in grades K-5 may go to Room 206 for children's church, where they can be picked up by their parent(s)/guardian(s) when services end. Also, nursery care is always available throughout Sunday morning services and activities. | | The Food for Kids program provides food for families of Oak Ridge Schools students who are experiencing food insecurity. We will be packing and delivering food boxes for September this coming Monday and Tuesday. If you would like to help pack food boxes, please come to the Multipurpose Room at noon on Monday, August 25. If you would like to help deliver the food boxes to the schools, meet in the Welcome Center at 8:30 on Tuesday morning, August 26. For more information, contact Cara Weigel (rcweigel@comcast.net). | | Thank You Reception for Shelby Fowler | | |
Shelby Fowler's last Sunday as our Children and Family Ministries Director will be Sunday, August 31. While Shelby and Andrew will not be leaving First Church, Shelby is beginning a new career. You have an opportunity to say, "Thank You!" to Shelby and offer your well-wishes. From 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, there will be a reception in the Welcome Center and Children's Sunday School Room 206. All are invited to take a moment to greet Shelby, drop off a card if you like, and celebrate Shelby's wonderful ministry at First Church!
| | 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 three 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 | | |
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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Each week, our traditional services are made a bit more special by the floral arrangements surrounding the altar. Giving altar flowers reminds us not only of the beauty of God's creation, but also that any gift we offer is acceptable in God's sight. As a reminder, you may sign up using the paper sheet found on the wall between the Chapel (201) and the Parlor (202). Please complete all information, including whether you wish the arrangement(s) to be in honor or in memory of someone or something special to you. If you do not desire to sign up, but appreciate the beauty the flowers bring to worship, a fund was started by a donor that you may contribute to for Sundays when only one arrangement has been purchased by a donor or when no arrangements have been purchased. You may pay via check or online donation. Simply indicate that the funds are to be used in the "Altar Flowers" line item. Thank you for making our worship more attractive!
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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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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 24
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 31: 31-34
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 the Hospital
None that we are aware of at this time.
Discharged
Gayle Boroughs
Pat Ryan
Robert Stoops
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Offering 8-11-2025 through 8-17-2025: $11,839
2025 YTD Offering: $876,358
2024 YTD Offering: $817,214
August Special Offering (First Recovery): $2,455
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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