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REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR
REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
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Table Talk
As a kid, I had a tendency to eat fast so that I could rush back outside to play. My mom had to frequently call me back to the table. This Lent, we are inviting you to linger at the table in body and spirit.
Our new worship series is called Table Talk, shaped by Bishop William Willimon’s The Last Supper: Conversations That Led to the Cross. Willimon points out that some of Jesus’ most revealing teaching happened around meals, table stories of mercy, invitation, and surprising grace that lead us toward Holy Week. In worship we will walk with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, showing how these conversations illuminate the deeper meaning of the Last Supper and why a meal sits at the center of Christian faith.
Together we will discover scriptures where Jesus eats with ordinary people, welcomes outsiders, tells the truth in love, and turns ordinary tables into places of transformation. If you feel weary or spiritually dry, Lent is not a season for “Church Face, I’m okay.” It is a season for coming honestly, taking your seat, and letting Jesus meet you there.
You may have heard what is happening at Fountain City Fellowship. Our weekly meal has been steadily growing, and our meals are based on recipes straight out of our FCUMC cookbook. If you have not been in a while, come next week and pull up a chair. It is one of the few places where folks from every worship service and ministry can sit down, learn names, and remember that discipleship is not only about believing. It is also about belonging.
Right after the meal, I will be teaching a class based on Rueben Job’s Three Simple Questions: Who is God? Who am I/ what is my calling? Who are we together as a community? No homework required! Just show up and discover ways to go deeper in your trust and faith.
So, if you are looking to take your discipleship a step deeper this Lent, consider worship and this midweek table as part of your journey toward Easter. There is room for you, and there is joy ahead.
Can’t wait to see you at the table!
Pastor Don
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Compline Prayer Service at 9 p.m. | YouTube Live
Join Pastor Rachel along with various guests online every week night during Lent to close your evening in prayer.
Lenten Worship
During Lent, our worship series is based on the Bishop Will Willimon book The Last Supper. Pastor Don and Pastor Rachel will preach out of the key verse each week. Read along on your own as we meet Jesus around the Table on the way to the cross.
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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. Meals are $5 per adult and children 18 & under eat free.
February 25 Menu: Fresh pasta night with a garlic-butter pasta for the light meal, chicken fettucine alfredo for the adults, and spaghetti with meatballs for the kids. Bread will be provided by Sacred Kneads. Please register for meals to help out our kitchen staff. Meal Registration >>
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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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Community Meal | February 28 | 5:30 p.m
Our community meals are coordinated by the Community Outreach Team. This month's meal is hosted by the Young Adult Group and we hear they are good cooks! Meals are cooked by the group that hosts them, so we have had some great meals every month. This meal is open to everyone, church members, friends, and all our neighbors.
We need groups to sign up for the next few community meals. Available dates are March 28, April 25, and May 24. Contact Gail Clift if your group is interested.
Community Action Committee Update
The community action team meets next Tuesday, February 24 at 4 p.m. in Room 137. Please join us if you are interested in this outreach mission. We continue to provide support to our unhoused neighbors and warming centers. We have provided blankets, food, snacks and volunteers to Church Street, Eternal Life Harvest, and Relaunch. There are more days of cold weather coming and we will need volunteers to drive the van from church to downtown to transport folks between locations. This lasts a couple of hours, and you will be blessed many times over. We are asking for drivers and riders. Watch for this request via email or other church communications.
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Day of Hope Prayer Breakfast Coming to FCUMC
March 10 | 8–10 a.m.
Fountain City United Methodist Church will host the Metro Drug Coalition’s Tennessee Day of Hope Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, March 10. This annual event brings our community together around a shared message of hope for those impacted by substance use disorder and mental health challenges.
This year’s theme, “Hope Lives Here,” highlights the power of faith, connection, and community support. The morning will include breakfast, prayer, music, a live art demonstration, and time to connect with others who care about recovery and hope in our city.
Day of Hope is a meaningful reminder that hope is not just an idea but something we can live out together as we support our neighbors and loved ones. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event, please email Seth Charles. Volunteers play a vital role in creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for all who attend.
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They may look like simple bags of rice and soy, but Rise Against Hunger meals represent the hopes and dreams of people worldwide. Join us for our 12th Annual Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event on Saturday, March 28, when we will package 40,000 meals to help alleviate hunger worldwide!
Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief non-profit organization which coordinates the packaging and distribution of food and other aid to people in developing nations. We need volunteers to sign up to package meals, 100 individuals per meal packaging shift as well as a clean-up shift. We also need strong individuals to unload the truck and set up on Friday night. This is a family-friendly and multi-generational project, and there are tasks for all ages!
Friday, March 27 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Unload the Rise Against Hunger truck & set up for Saturday’s meal packaging event. We need strong, able-bodied folks to unload the truck and carry food and equipment (up to 50 lbs.) to the Gym. This group will also set up the gym for meal packaging the next day.
Saturday, March 28 | Three Shifts
Meal Packaging Shift One: 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Meal Packaging Shift Two: 12:00-2:30 p.m.
Clean up shift: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Sign up for a shift!
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Blessing Box Needs:
- Fruit juice boxes
- Microwave mac and cheese
- Ramen noodles
- Water
Blessings on all!
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Connect with Fountain City UMC!
Realm is the software package that FCUMC staff uses to manage information and ministries, but there’s so much more to it. Realm offers exciting opportunities to enhance the ways church members and attenders are involved in life at FCUMC. From fast and easy connection to small groups and Sunday Discipleship classes, to online giving, to church event registrations and the latest church news, Realm makes it easier for our church family to connect with each other and grow as a community of believers. Realm and its mobile app, Realm Connect, are available for free to FCUMC members and attenders.
Want to sign up? We will have a Realm registration booth outside Wesley Hall during Fountain City Fellowship on Wednesdays, February 25 and March 4. We will also hold two drop-in “Realm Crash Course” workshops after spring break-watch the Friday News Flash for more on that soon. Contact Chad Chamberlain in the church office for more information or to get registered for Realm.
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Grant Writing
Did you know our church receives over $10,000 each year in grants to support general ministry initiatives? We receive significantly more through grants connected to our Preschool and Celebrate Recovery. As we look for creative ways to fund ministry and strengthen our impact in 2026, grants are one important tool. Here’s where you can help: keep your eyes and ears open for grant opportunities we could apply for. Especially grants related to children, youth, preschool, young adults, Celebrate Recovery, and needs like accessibility, safety, and capital improvements. With more people looking, we’re far more likely to find the right opportunities to pursue. If you spot something, please share it with our church office. Thanks!
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How We Can Make Summer Fun for Kids
Linking Laity for Empowerment on Zoom Tuesday, February 24 | 7 p.m.
Glenda Eastridge is hosting Linking Laity with several guests who will share ideas on how to reach kids in our neighborhoods and work together with other churches. You don't want to miss this gathering for ideas for meaningful time with children.
You are invited to the February Linking Laity for Empowerment gathering on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Please register for this event.
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FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES
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Father Daughter Dance | Saturday, February 21
We are excited to open our doors at 5:15 p.m. for a night of dancing to the beats of DJ Tara and a few surprise guests!
Photo Schedule: If you daughter is:
- Ages 4 or under | 5:15 -6:00 p.m.
- Ages 5-7 | 6:00-6:30 pm
- Ages 8-10 | 6:30-7:00 p.m.
- Ages 11-12 | 7:00-7:30 p.m.
- Ages 14+ | 7:30 p.m
If you have multiple daughters in your party, please attend the photo time slot of the youngest child with your group.
Father Daughter Dance Volunteers – Please meet in Wesley Hall at 4:30 p.m. If you have a church sweatshirt please wear it to identify you as a volunteer. If not, one will be provided in Wesley Hall. Please park in the upper parking lot on Fountain Road and use the entrance at Door 5. Characters will also come in that door and stay out of sight until they are announced.
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Fountain Kids Bowling | Sunday, February 22
Immediately following the 11 a.m. services, children can board the bus outside Miss Donna’s office. Please meet in the hallway outside the elevator by Miss Donna’s office for bus transportation. Each child will need $10 for their lunch at McDonald’s. (If parents are going to attend, please meet us at McDonalds.) We have three lanes reserved. For children riding the bus without parents, we will return to the church for pick up at 3 p.m. in the front parking lot.
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Fountain Kids Club | Wednesday, February 24
Journey with Jonah in a Whale to discover God’s love. Bring a friend.
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Join a fun, engaging, eye-opening weekend designed to draw you and your partner closer to each other and to God through good food, good comedy, and good communication. We have an exciting line up for the weekend beginning with dinner and a show on Friday, March 20! Come share a meal with your partner and enjoy the musings of two comedians, Andromeda Jones and Wellington Ojukwu.
On Saturday, March 21, our keynote speaker, Jenny Boyett with The ColorWorks Group, will conduct an interactive workshop on communication. Jenny developed and collaborated on bestselling resources such as I Said This, You Heard That and A Grown-Up’s Guide to Kids’ Wiring focusing on how our God-given wiring shapes the way we communicate and relate to one another.
For more details on our comedians and keynote speaker, and for the schedule of events and registration, please check out the FCUMC website. We are so excited about our new This Is Us Couples Ministry! Don't miss this inaugural event!
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Ministry Update & Fast Facts for January, 2026
Check out Fountain City UMC's Ministry Update & Fast Facts for January, 2026 which includes worship attendance, Ministry Minute Stories, and a Year-To-Date Financial Snapshot. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at office@fountaincityumc.org or 865-689-5175.
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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 February 22, 2026
THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
Check out the February 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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February 21: Father Daughter Dance | 5:30 p.m. | Gym
February 22: McDonalds and Bowling with Fountain Kids | off-site following 11 a.m. services
February 28: Free Community Meal | 5:30 p.m. | Wesley Hall
March 10: Day of Hope Prayer Breakfast | 8–10 a.m. Gym
March 20-21: This is Us Couples Weekend
March 28: Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event | Gym
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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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