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REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR
REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
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Quiet, Contemplation, Healing, Anticipation of Resurrection, Anticipation of Winter Weather
Hi Friends!
Over the past week I have been recovering from surgery, which if you have had surgery anytime recently, you will know comes with a lot of waiting. Waiting in pre-op for the surgeon to be ready; waiting once you wake up to be ready to go home; the painful waiting for the next moment your pain will be relieved; waiting for the time when you won’t be so dependent upon the amazing people helping you to recover; waiting for physical therapy and stitches to be removed. While waiting seems to be the name of the game, so is the calm act of resting and anticipation. Slowing down in order to heal is important and often something we want to move past more quickly.
Other types of waiting bring their own set of situations to the mix. At the same time I am putting together these thoughts, we are awaiting a potential significant winter storm system. This waiting has stores with empty shelves and people buying up all of the eggs, milk, and bread in anticipation of French toast filled mornings. Surely French Toast will save us from any winter travail in the Southern Appalachians! There can be a part of storms such as this that bring real anxiety: for our neighbors who need transportation to warming centers, for power outages, what to do about work and school, and the cold itself. When the wait has ended, the event has been realized, it is followed by a calm. There is the beautiful moment when the storm slows and the world is a little bit still. This knowledge that we must be still and take time to listen, to wait, and rest, while the world holds us still is a moment that I relish. It gives space in the busyness of our every day to breathe slowly, to savor warm drinks, to do a puzzle, to interact with our Bibles.
FCUMC Youth are also waiting, anticipating a spiritual revival this weekend. They wait on the weather to reveal itself, for Matt and I to make decisions, to know what will come next. While we don’t yet know what plan we will implement (we have plans A, B, and C), we do know that God is doing something big in our lives, something that God wants us to see. Be it in thousands of students singing and worshiping together, or us sitting quietly at our tables with a mug of hot cocoa, tea or coffee, enjoying the stillness of a snowy and icy world. I believe that God speaks to our hearts through these times apart, when the world does hold us still. It is our time to live into Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Do you see the hook here? Exaltation=praise. Take this time to be still in God’s presence, and make an intentional list of reasons you have to be grateful, and praise God for them. But do not miss the most important part. Simply praise God for being God. Acknowledge, exalt, speak, paint, color or draw your praise to the God who loves you unconditionally every moment.
May your time this weekend be safe, and steeped in the stillness that grows hope and anticipation of what God holds for our community, and for your life.
Pastor Rachel
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Hey, FCUMC family—quick weekend weather update:
- There will be no 8:30 a.m. worship service this Sunday, January 25.
- In-person Sunday School classes and children/youth ministry are canceled. If your class has online capabilities, we encourage you to meet and check-in on each other!
- 11:00 a.m. worship is still being evaluated.
We’ll share a final decision regarding Sunday worship on Saturday morning around 10 a.m. via email and on our other communication channels. If we can’t gather in person, we’ll see you at 9:45 a.m. on our YouTube channel for a short devotional. Take care and stay safe!
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Fountain City Fellowship on Wednesday Nights
Our fellowship meal and discipleship classes bring meaningful opportunities for children, youth, and adults - all in one evening. This semester offers a rich variety of ways to learn, grow, and connect, along with a tasty, shared meal.
Join the 5:30 p.m. dinner, followed by classes at 6:30 p.m. Whether you're coming for the food, the fellowship, or the chance to deepen your faith, there is a place for you.
We are honoring our past and present church members by having a featured recipe each Wednesday night in January from the Bicentennial Cookbook! Meals are $5 per adult and children 18 & under eat free.
January 28 Menu: Caroline’s Meatball Dinner (recipe by Caroline Thomas). Dessert: Oatmeal Cake (recipe by Mark Biagi). Please register for meals to help out our kitchen staff!
Meal Registration >>
Check out the list of classes available this semester and register for a class >>
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Fountain City Fellowship Birthday Cake!
Everybody has a birthday, and everybody deserves to be celebrated!
On the last Wednesday of each month at Fountain City Fellowship, we’re making space to honor the people God has placed among us. If your birthday falls in that month, your meal is on us, and we’ll have birthday cake ready, too.
So come hungry, bring a friend, and let us celebrate you! If it’s your month, we want to sing for you, smile with you, and remind you that you matter here!
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Our January Community Meal is Canceled
Due to projected severe weather this weekend, Fountain City UMC has decided to cancel the Free Community Meal scheduled for this Saturday, January 24. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing your for our next Free Community Meal on February 28.
Knoxville Area Warming Centers
As winter settles in, the Knox County Warming Centers are working to house folks in warm spaces during the cold evening hours. We are supporting these warming centers by providing transportation for guests to the overflow site at ReLaunch on Broadway. This Sign Up Genius allows you to sign up to be a driver or a rider. You must be a church member to drive the church bus. This is on an as needed basis but we ask you to sign up for days you could be available. Please consider supporting this ministry. You will be blessed many times over.
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Blessing Box Needs:
- Peanut butter
- Water
- Fruit cups
- Snack crackers
- Granola bars
Many thanks to our outstanding youth who packed 200 hygiene bags on Wednesday evening! Blessings all around.
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Do you follow FCUMC on Social Media?
Haven’t seen us come through your newsfeed in a while?
We can fix that with your help! During your daily scroll, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Liking is great, commenting is better, and sharing is best. This will boost our visibility so that others can see what is happening here and be made to feel welcome.
What should I comment, you may ask? Something positive about an event or service you have attended; express your interest in an upcoming event or worship service; or post a photo that you took at the event in the comments section. Sharing is a matter of clicking the arrow, and it goes out to more people! All these small actions on your part have a big impact in making our presence known and being inviting to a world seeking community and faith.
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New Leaders: Check This Out! February 1 Training
New to a ministry team, or stepping into a leadership role at Fountain City United Methodist Church? Our District is holding a simple, two-hour way to pick up best practices, meet other leaders, and get practical help for the work you’re doing right now. Join the training on Sunday, February 1 at Bearden UMC for 50-minute workshops (with one two-hour option), built for both small-to-midsize churches and mid-to-large churches. There’s no pre-registration, just show up and sign in at the workshop room. Follow this link for the full workshop list and details on parking, entrances, and room locations.
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Sign up for a new newsletter for the United Methodist members and churches of the Holston Conference. The Holston Messenger is currently planned to provide news and information to your mailbox and at Holston.org on an every-other-week basis.
Why Holston Messenger? Historian Michael Feely explains how Holston Conference is going back to the future, leaving The Call behind for the Messenger. Read Story.
Subscribe here.
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Couples Event | March 20-21,2026
Have you filled out the survey about our Couples Event? We would love to hear from you!
This event will be a fun, engaging, eye-opening weekend. Whether you're married, engaged, or even just thinking about it, you and your partner are invited to be part of our inaugural weekend! And the survey will help make the MOST of a couples ministry, Take the survey >>
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While Fountain City UMC is already blessed with beautiful worship spaces, the placement of altar flowers adds a lovely touch. It is also a wonderful way to honor or remember those we hold dear.
This year, we are taking registrations for altar flower sponsorship in a new way. Using Realm, congregants can select a Sunday to sponsor in 2026, specify the colors or types of flowers to be used in the arrangements, and enter the dedication they would like to see in the bulletin that Sunday morning. The cost for altar flower sponsorship is still $65 and can be paid online. Registrations are only one per Sunday and are first come, first serve, so please register to select your Sunday! Contact Chad Chamberlain in the church office at 865-689-5175 with any questions or for more information.
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Hear from the Reverend Ann Robins on Holston Conference Structure and the Appointment Process
You are invited to the Holston Conference's January Linking Laity for Empowerment gathering on Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. This month's session will feature the Reverend Ann Robins, Superintendent of the Tennessee Valley District. She will talk about our Conference structure as well as the process of pastor appointments. This will be very informative, and you will not want to miss it. Please register for this event and share this information with others. If you have any questions, please contact Becky Hall. After hearing from Ann, participants will have time to chat and share in breakout rooms, reflecting together on how we can each be part of the vital work of Holston.
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FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES
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We are blessed!
It is so very important for children to see men willing to serve in children’s ministry. We are extremely blessed to have Ed Ripley, our storytelling magician and Steven Franke who leads, plays, listens and is trusted to hold the unicorn. David Carter serves weekly in a children’s administrative capacity. David Hardin, Craig Holsclaw, and Lee Iglehart serve in all things lights and basketball partnerships. In addition, we have Bill Gentry and Harold Jennings always available with a truck or trailer to make our parade dreams come true. And last but not least is our Mr. Scotty Womack who has a beautiful gift of teaching and relating to kids. Again, it is important for kids to see men willing to serve them and get on their level. What a blessing! What a witness. Fountain Kids is so very thankful for these men of Christ
Miss Donna
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Team Craft will meet at Panera Bread on N. Broadway on Thursday, January 29 at 11:30 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to plan our Spring Craft Fair to raise money for our annual no-sew blankets for Project Inasmuch. All are invited, even if you haven't previously been a part of Team Craft. Please join us!
Please contact Sandy Failing with questions.
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COFFEE & FELLOWSHIP ON SUNDAYS AT THE WELCOME CENTER
Stop by the Welcome Center before or after worship (8:00-10:45 a.m.) and let us bless you! See you Sunday!
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
9:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Discipleship
11 a.m.Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
11 a.m. The Journey Contemporary Service in the Gym
Childcare and children's ministry is provided from 8:30 a.m. through the conclusion of the 11 a.m. worship services.
FOUNTAIN KIDS SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Fountain Kids Sunday School • 9:45 a.m.
Fountain Littles Sunday School • 9:45 a.m.
Fountain Kids Bible Experience • 11 a.m.
Fountain Littles Childcare • 11 a.m.
Sunday Bulletin for January 25, 2026
THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
Check out the January 2026 edition of The Spirit Newsletter.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
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NEXT UP AT FCUMC
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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January 23-25: Resurrection Event for Youth
January 29: Team Craft Meeting | 11:30 a.m | Panera Bread
January 31: Father Daughter Dance | 5:30 p.m. | Gym
February 2: Pasta Making Classes | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | FCUMC Kitchen
February 2: Sacred Kneads Bread Making Event | 3-6 p.m. | FCUMC Kitchen
February 3: Pasta Making Classes | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | FCUMC Kitchen
February 28: Free Community Meal | 5:30 p.m. | Wesley Hall
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Pastor On Call
After Hours & Weekends
When you need urgent pastoral care while the church office is closed, text or call 865-689-7894 to reach the
pastor on call.
Pastor Don's email:
Pastor.Don@fountaincityumc.org
Pastor Rachel's email:
Pastor.Rachel@fountaincityumc.org
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Live-Streamed Worship Services:
11:00 a.m. The Journey Contemporary worship and
11 a.m. Traditional worship
are live-streamed on our YouTube channel. Our Tuesday night Celebrate Recovery service is live-streamed on the CR North Facebook page and available on YouTube after its conclusion.
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