In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the church offices, Keystone, and First Steps will be closed on Monday, January 19. | | |
This is your last chance to order your copy of the Dynamite Prayer book for our special February prayer experience. If you or your group would like to order copies of the book, please let Pastor Clair (csauer@fumcor.org) know the number you need. The order will be placed on Monday! Books will cost $10/each, and will be due when you pick up your book(s).
During the month of February, First Church will come together in a 28-day prayer experiment. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this exercise, whether individually, with their Sunday School class, or in their small group. Dynamite Prayer will guide us daily through Scripture, meditation, and breakthrough prayer. Breakthrough prayer is a way of praying where we ask God to open new doors and reveal new possibilities. As we practice breakthrough prayer daily, we will also gather in worship each Sunday and reflect on the characteristics of the Holy Spirit that make God's movement real in our lives and in our world.
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 Pastors Ken (ksauer@fumcor.org) or Clair if you have questions or would like more information.
| | Get Your Keystone Karaoke Tickets | | Tickets for Keystone Karaoke on February 7 are now for sale. If you would like to support this vibrant ministry and enjoy a fun evening, please contact Connie Warford (tenn.homes@comcast.net) or Phyllis Spangler (pspangler@fumcor.org) to purchase tickets today! | | |
The loss of a loved one or another cherished relationship is often overwhelming, and we find ourselves in need of companionship in order to face our grief and move forward.
Recognizing this need, First Church is offering a Grief Support Group for those suffering loss, recent or chronic, on Thursdays, January 29 - March 12, 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Room 203. The group provides a safe, confidential setting where participants can better understand and express their grief. Brief weekly reading assignments will guide group discussion.
Co-facilitators are Gielda Reese, a retired school teacher who lost her 14-year-old daughter to cancer, and retired pastor Bob Cantrell.
Advance registration is encouraged, but not required. For more information or to register, contact Pastor Denna Hornby at dhornby@fumcor.org or 865-483-4357.
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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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Do you know how many people work at First Steps, the church’s full-time child care center? At any given time, there are 23-25 employees, equaling all of the rest of the church staff. Julie Martin is the Director of this outreach service to the community, assisted by Susan Whitney. The Center is licensed annually for 70 children and has a current enrollment of 69 with 65 attending on its busiest day. First Steps has an independent budget of around $900,000, 97% of which is funded through student tuition. Compare that to the total church budget of $1.52 million.
First Steps celebrates that it received a 98% quality rating for the 2024-2025 school year. This was the second highest score in the greater Knoxville surrounding area. The Center’s compliance consultant noted that First Steps is the most academically credentialed of all the centers he visits. First Steps is in the process of receiving national accreditation for its program. When that happens, the quality score is expected to be 99%.
First Steps would like to thank the church for its support. The program is particularly grateful for facilities manager extraordinaire Mike Corcoran, the patient Finance office, and reliable custodians Tammy and Jessica. If you would like to contribute to the success of First Steps, these are ways you can help: serve on the First Steps Board, volunteer at one of the major events (December holiday program, start-of-summer picnic, etc.), participate in the classroom by reading or acting out a book, leading a cooking lesson, teaching a dance or a song, demonstrating a science experiment, or donating money to the First Steps Commitment to Excellence Fund. Contact Julie Martin at 865-483-6291 for details.
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Did you know that First Church participates in a card ministry to serve the clients of Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM)? Located in downtown Knoxville, KARM provides many essential services, including an overnight shelter. Every night (365 nights/year), KARM has 300 beds available for the unhoused in the greater Knoxville area. Across a year, KARM makes available a safe overnight shelter for as many as 110,000 people! KARM also aims to have a personal, handwritten note on "every bed, every night."
That's where you come in! First Church keeps notecards (with our church logo on the front) stocked in baskets located in both the hallway outside the Sanctuary and in the Library. You are invited at any time to pick up a pack of cards (bundled in groups of 10) and write personal notes to be placed on beds at KARM. Once you've completed the notes, simply return them to the baskets at the church.
This is a wonderful and easy service opportunity for individuals, families, and small or large groups. If you're not sure what to say, there's a card in each basket with ideas. Completed notecards will be bundled and mailed once each month. For more information, contact Judy Smith (yahyahjude@yahoo.com).
| | "Persisting in Unity and Respect" will also include a combined community choir. If you would like to be part of the choir, rehearsals will be held at Oak Valley Baptist Church on January 10 at 3:00 p.m. and January 15 at 6:30 p.m. | |
January Special Offering -
Community Assistance Fund
| | The special monthly offering for January will support the Community Assistance Fund. The pastors use these funds to provide gas and utilities assistance to our neighbors in need. On average, the pastors support 8-12 households each month, spending approximately $2,000.00 to help people in times of emergency. To support the January Special Offering, mail a check to the church with "Community Assistance" in the memo line, or follow the link below. | |
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Worship for January 18
Second Sunday After the Epiphany
Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 49: 1-7
Psalm 40
John 1: 29-42
1 Corinthians 1: 1-9
8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - Multipurpose Room
Preaching: Rev. Denna Hornby
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In Sympathy
We offer prayers for the families and friends of:
Betty Pitts, who joined FUMC on March 16, 1980, and died on December 14, 2025. A service for Betty will be held at FUMC on Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 p.m., with a receiving of friends beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Christopher Fuller, who was a member of FUMC from 1997 to 2006, and died on January 3, 2026. Chris is the son of Sherry Fuller. Please be in prayer for Sherry and all of Chris's family and friends. Service arrangements are incomplete at this time.
In the Hospital
Mike Cates
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Offering 12-22-2025 through 12-31-2025: $35,874
2025 YTD Offering: $1,415,209
2024 YTD Offering: $1,341,799
December Special Offering (Clean Water): $8,215
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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