Learn More About Jesus' Birthplace | | |
Join us for a special evening with the Rev. David Graybeal this Sunday, December 14, at 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Rev. Graybeal is the author of Bethlehem: An Advent Journey. He is a United Methodist pastor and member of The Holston Annual Conference who has served churches in southwestern England and east Tennessee. He is also an adjunct professor of religion at Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Through stories, personal reflections, travel experiences, and a deep Biblical insight, David will share about Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born. You can also come at 3:30 to enjoy hot cocoa, other warm beverages, and rich fellowship before the program begins. All are invited! For more information, contact Pastor Ken (ksauer@fumcor.org).
| | Ugly Christmas Sweater Sunday | | Join with the youth in good Christmas fun. Wear your ugly Christmas sweater to church on Sunday morning, December 14! Who will have the ugliest sweater? We will also have a photo booth for the ugliest Christmas photo! Join in the fun! | | Churchwide Christmas Caroling | | All are welcome to gather in the Choir Room (105) on Sunday, December 14, at 1:45 p.m. to retrieve caroling booklets and to go over some carols. At 2:00 p.m., we will travel to two or three assisted living facilities in Oak Ridge to sing carols to the residents and to visit with them. We will return to the church by about 3:30 p.m. to enjoy hot chocolate and fellowship before the Advent book study with the Rev. David Graybeal. The bus will be available for riding, and carpooling may also be necessary, depending on the group size. Please get in touch with Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org) if you would like to attend. | | Poinsettia Deadline Extended | | |
If you missed the deadline to order poinsettias, have no fear! The deadline has been extended to Sunday, December 14. Please fill out the forms that are available with the ushers or in the main office and submit them with cash or check in the offering on Sunday or in the main office throughout the week. We still have 24 spots available for you to commemorate your loved ones. The Poinsettia booklet will be published after all orders are received and will be available for the final Sunday in Advent (December 21). Contact Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org) with any questions.
| | Christmas Shoppes are here, but it's never too late to make a donation in support of this vital community ministry. All contributions are greatly appreciated and help us continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus . | | |
We don’t like to admit it, but many of us struggle during the holidays, wrestling with feelings of grief, sadness, loneliness, depression, and more. It can be challenging to find a way to acknowledge these feelings while at the same time hoping to celebrate the joys of the season.
First Church will be offering a service that honors the challenges of the season while also reminding us of the gift of the promise that Christ breathes light into the darkness of our lives. On Sunday, December 21, at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel, we will be worshipping together with honesty and hope. The Longest Night Service centers around scripture, song, and reflection to remind us that God is with us, even when we are surrounded by darkness. Come, find renewed hope in this quiet, honest service. If you know anyone who is struggling for any reason, please invite them to join you.
For more information about this service, please call the church office (865-483-4357) or email Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org).
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“Infrequent prayer teaches a church that God is needed only in special situations–under certain circumstances but not all. It teaches a church that God’s help is intermittently necessary, not consistently so. It leads a church to believe that there are plenty of things we can do without God’s help, and we need to bother God only when we run into especially difficult situations.” -John Onwuchekwa
Do you want to be part of a group that prays for First Church daily and meets to pray together weekly? If so, please contact either Pastor Ken (ksauer@fumcor.org) or Pastor Clair (csauer@fumcor.org). We will blanket this church in prayer beginning in January 2026, and we need you to be part of it.
Then, in February, we will participate in a church-wide 28-day prayer experiment using the book Dynamite Prayer by Rosario Picardo and Sue Nilson Kibbey. This emphasis on prayer will, then, continue throughout the year and into the future as we seek to discern God’s will for First United Methodist Church, developing a strategic plan and then a mission and vision that is embodied by every member of the church.
We are going to learn to listen to God and hear God. We are going to experience great adventures for God’s Kingdom. We hope you will plan to be part. Contact Ken or Clair if you have questions or would like more information.
| | You Can Still Give Thanks! | | |
Our 2026 stewardship campaign is almost complete. We would like to have all estimates of giving as soon as possible, so we can make 2026 budget decisions with good information. If you haven’t made your estimate of giving yet, you can still turn it in to the offering plate, by mailing it to the church office (attn: Finance Director, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830), or online at the link below.
Thanks for your help in this vital matter, and thank you for giving in gratitude!
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As cold weather settles in, we want to remind everyone of FUMCOR's inclement weather policy.
FUMCOR, First Steps Child Development Center (CDC), and Keystone Adult Day Program will close when Oak Ridge City Schools are closed due to bad weather. If City schools open one hour late, FUMCOR, First Steps CDC, and Keystone Adult Day Program will open one hour late; if City schools close early, FUMCOR, First Steps CDC, and Keystone Adult Day Program will close early.
Always be mindful of your driving capabilities and comfort level in various conditions. Be safe and be warm!
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December Special Missions Offering -
Clean Water for the Home
| | The monthly Special Offering for December will go to support Clean Water for the Home. Since 2010, Clean Water for the Home has been providing potable water filters for families in Honduras. Water-borne diseases remain the leading cause of illness in third-world countries and the leading cause of death for children ages five and under in Honduras. A $50 donation provides a family with a Sawyer PointONE filter, the expense for delivery, water classes, and follow-up visits. The families who receive these filters are those with the most need! They are very appreciative. To support Clean Water for the Home and give to the December Special Offering, mail a check to the church with "Clean Water for the Home" in the memo line, or follow the link below. | |
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Worship for December 14
Third Sunday of Advent
Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 35: 1-2, 5-10
James 5: 7-8, 10
Luke 1: 39-56
8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - Multipurpose Room
Preaching: Rev. Ken Sauer, Rev. Clair Sauer
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In the Hospital
Dee Crumm
Dismissed
Steve Bell
Mike Cates
Carol Stoops
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Offering 12-1-2025 through 12-7-2025: $27,950.10
2025 YTD Offering: $1,312,288
2024 YTD Offering: $1,235,648
December Special Offering (Clean Water): $470
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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