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Breakthrough Prayer
God, may the Holy Spirit break through any selfish habits or fears so that I may be an instrument of your power and authority sent into today. Amen.
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It's that time already! If you would like to order flowers to bedeck our worship spaces this Easter ($22/each), please fill out a form and submit it in the offering plate or to the church office with your cash or check, payable to First UMC, with “Easter flowers” in the memo line. Forms may be found with ushers and greeters on Sunday mornings or in the office throughout the week. Orders are due no later than Sunday, March 29th.
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It's time to plan Easter visitation for our “Stay-At-Home Saints." Flowers can be picked up on Palm Sunday, March 29, and delivered any time during Holy Week.
If you can help, please email Betty Lou Alspaugh, alspaughbl@gmail.com, with the number of visits you can make and if you have any special requests (like a certain person or a facility to visit rather than a home or to visit near your home). If you would like to see a list of those we’ll be visiting, contact Pastor Denna, dhornby@fumcor.org.
Flowers, assignments, and Easter cards will be in the back of the Narthex on Palm Sunday. If you will miss Palm Sunday, you can pick them up during Holy Week when the church is open, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday.
| | A New Worship Experience Is Coming | | |
First Sundays at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel.
We have an exciting new addition to our community starting this Easter Sunday, April 5th, at 6:00 p.m. called Evening Grace.
We often think of "recovery" as being for a specific group of people, but the truth is, we are all recovering from something—whether it’s grief, stress, broken relationships, or life’s daily challenges.
This monthly service will feature innovative music and messages rooted in the 12 Steps, applicable to every single one of us. It’s a unique, intentional space to find healing and connection. We hope to see the whole congregation there as we launch this new chapter on Easter night in the Chapel. For more information, contact the church office (865-483-4357).
| | Willing Workers Volunteers Needed | | |
Are you looking for a meaningful way to lend a hand to fellow First Church members who could use a little extra help at home? The Willing Workers might be just the place for you! Our team gathers twice a year on a Saturday morning to tackle simple but important tasks—changing light bulbs, putting away garden hoses, replacing batteries, and other small household jobs. We focus on supporting some of our more “seasoned” church members who continue to live independently and appreciate an extra pair of helping hands.
If you’d like to learn more, please contact Mark Diemer at (865) 483‑5410. The Willing Workers is a warm and dedicated group, and we would love to have you join us.
Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity. Your few hours of service each year will not only bless those you help, but will also bring unexpected blessings to you as you serve alongside others in our church family.
| | Sager Brown Depot Closing | | Bob and Maxine Schultz recently shared memories and thoughts about the Sager Brown Depot, which will close at the end of 2026, with Holston Conference's The Call. | | Would you like to learn more about the Lord's Prayer and other prayers of Jesus? Come join the Fellowship Class as Pastor Denna leads a journey into the prayers of Jesus. The final class will be this Sunday, March 22, at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Pastor Denna for more information (dhornby@fumcor.org). | | Come join Gielda Reese during the Lenten season as she shares scriptures and guides the group in visio divina, "divine seeing," in which we connect with God through art in a contemplative and prayerful way. The final meeting of the Lenten Visio Divina group will be March 24 at 10:00 a.m. in room 204. Contact Pastor Denna (dhornby@fumcor.org) for more information. | | Holy Week and Easter Schedule | | |
Did you know the Sanctuary is a completely closed environment that runs both heating and cooling at the same time, all year round? It has to, in order to maintain constant temperature and humidity levels. Anything outside these numbers for long can cause the organ’s pipes to shrink or swell out of tune. The Nave has its own “Program Manager” within the HVAC computer system and is the only area of the church that we cannot control ourselves.
If the Exterior, Balcony, and Nave doors are open too long, it will transfer the controlled air out of the space like a vacuum. The ushers will be making some changes with the Sanctuary access doors, so please be patient. The cost of tuning the organ pipes is $1,800.00, so we need to be careful. If you have questions, please reach out to Mike Corcoran (mcorcoran@fumcor.org).
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As we prepare for this June’s Summer Shoppe, we have the opportunity to purchase some of our needed items in bulk at a discounted price. We are looking for individuals or groups that may wish to sponsor the following items:
- Sunscreen - We can purchase 81 bottles for $79.50. Requesting one order.
- Assorted adult-size toothbrushes, individually wrapped - We can purchase 864 of these for a total cost of $258.75. Requesting one order.
- Sidewalk chalk, 24 pieces/box - We can purchase 48 boxes for $72.25.
Any amount you’d like to donate to the Shoppes account at the church will be used to purchase additional items, such as food, health and hygiene items, and small outdoor toys for the kids.
How does this work? Orders will need to be paid for via the Shoppes Church account. If you or your group would like to sponsor one or more of these items, please contact Nancy Kile or Ashley Craven at fumcorshoppes@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
| | The Ulster Project is currently recruiting teens aged 15 to host a teen from Northern Ireland in their home for 3 weeks this summer. The program is free to attend and includes service projects, shared worship services, leadership building, whitewater rafting, Dollywood, and more! Dates are June 26 – July 17, 2026. Contact: ulstereasttenn@gmail.com for additional information. More information and applications can be found at: www.ulsterprojecteasttennessee.org. | |
March Special Offering -
Sallie McCaskill Scholarship
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In March, First Church's special mission offering will support the Sallie McCaskill Scholarship Fund. Sallie McCaskill dedicated her life to education. She was an educated woman who aimed to help college-bound students from Anderson County. McCaskill assisted these students in finding tutors and often provided help herself. When McCaskill passed away in 1993, it was only right that her legacy of supporting minority students continued. Thus, the Sallie McCaskill Memorial Scholarship was established.
To date, over 200 scholarships totaling nearly $300,000 have been awarded to minority students from Oak Ridge High School, with most recipients coming from the Scarboro Community. This money is designated for the first year of college and can be used for any 2 or 4-year program. Students are interviewed by a committee of volunteer adults who assess their academic achievements, leadership roles, and aspirations for the future. The cost of tuition for the program to which the students have been accepted is also taken into consideration. This scholarship program stands out as most of its contributions come from community members.
The scholarship fund operates without staff, and apart from some printing and postage costs, 100% of contributions directly benefit students. In 2024, four students each received $2,550. Our church has supported this fund for several years, and with your help, we can continue to make a significant impact in assisting deserving students in advancing their education this year. You can contribute to this Special Mission Offering in the same way you make your regular donation. Just remember to mark it as “March Mission Offering” or “Sallie McCaskill.”
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Worship for March 22
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 130
John 11: 1-45
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
None that we are aware of at this time.
Dismissed
Evelyn Boyd
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Offering 3-9-2026 through 3-15-2026: $29,795.45
2026 YTD Offering: $346,226
2025 YTD Offering: $338,632
March Special Offering (McCaskill Scholarship): $895
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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