REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR

REV. CHASE CRICKENBERGER, ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Friends, 

For those of us who dedicate our time to youth ministry, the last year and a half has been incredibly difficult as we have seen youth directors come and go. For the last ~6 months, we have been entirely without a youth director and that has been a difficult season for both our youth and volunteers. First, I want to thank the volunteers who made sure our youth program stayed afloat during this period of unrest. Your work was not in vain, and it did not go unnoticed. Thank you! 

However, that season is finally coming to an end. This week, we welcome our new Director of Youth Ministries, Austin Weaver, who is a lifelong member at First Broad Street United Methodist Church where he has worked the last several years as both a volunteer and on staff with our previous pastor, Randy Frye. I think I speak on behalf of the entire youth team when I say that I am really excited for the gifts and talents that Austin brings to the table. For those who were part of the search process, myself included, Austin’s interview and hiring process has truly felt like a movement of God’s divine providence in the life of our community. 

I encourage all of you to join me in welcoming Austin to our church on Sunday, June 4, during the Sunday School hour. He will be in Wesley Hall to receive guests and friends as he starts his ministry with us. We thank God for Austin joining our staff and we hope you’ll join us in praying for the bright future of our youth ministries at Fountain City United Methodist Church. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Chase

Let's Welcome Austin Weaver, FCUMC Director of Youth Ministries!

Campaign 320

On May 25, in a called Charge Conference meeting, our leadership unanimously voted to purchase 320 Hotel Road for $150,000. Another $50,000 was approved for demolishing and stabilizing the property. 

Read more here >

NOTABLE NEEDS

WAYS TO SERVE



You are invited to submit an art piece for an exhibit themed around our Vacation Bible School “Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light”.

Help us decorate the FCUMC halls for VBS! Canvases are available at the Welcome Center on Sundays & throughout the week. Let's see what God moves you to create!

Specifications: Artwork must be able to hang on the wall; no glass or heavy frames. Artwork must be relatively lightweight. Suggestions: sketch paper, matte board, canvases 11x14 or smaller.

2023 Hands-On Mission Project

Buckets Due This Sunday!

Food buckets collected at Fountain City UMC will go to the Ishe Anesu Project for Underprivileged Children in Zimbabwe. We welcome and encourage individuals, families, Sunday Discipleship classes and small groups to participate. Please bring your buckets to the church office along with the $5 shipping fee by Sunday, May 28.. Click here for the bucket supply list. Thanks in advance for your support!

Current Blessing Box Needs:

• Beanie Weanies
• Bottled water
• Progresso or Chunky Soups with meat/ veggies
• Vienna Sausages
• Granola bars
• Canned veggies
• Individual boxes of cereal

The Blessing Box needs volunteers to cover Sundays in June. Please contact the church office if you are able to serve with this mission. We are grateful for all the volunteers who make this work!

NEWS AND NOTES

THE MORE YOU KNOW

Baby Shower for Chase & Maddie Crickenberger

Saturday, June 3 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please join us for a baby shower in honor of Emery Lane Crickenberger in Wesley Hall hosted by UWF and SPRC. We will have a diaper raffle so bring a pack of diapers, any size, for a chance to win a special prize! Maddie and Chase are registered at babylist.com. We can't wait to meet Little Emery!

A Note of thanks from Pastor Tim of Magnolia Avenue UMC

PRESCHOOL

Preschool Graduation

What a celebration we had for the graduating preschoolers of FCUMC Preschool! Congratulations and we will miss you next year!

Above: The Combs-Moore family: Travis Moore, Rachel Combs, graduate Cecily Combs-Moore & Ellie Combs-Moore.

Left: Cameron Byrd

Preschool has Open Positions

Do you love working with children? FCUMC Preschool will be hiring additional staff for the 2023-24 school year. Please email Alycia or call 865-689-5518 if you or someone you know is interested in joining our caring, creative and passionate staff! Benefits include tuition discounts, paid holidays/breaks, and a schedule that aligns with Knox County Schools. We also have a need for substitute teachers in the fall.

Preschool registration is now open for the 2023-24 school year! Register here.

Our Summer Camp is also open for registration for children 3, 4 and 5 years old. Each week, we’ll explore a different biome, from the steamy rain forest to the polar regions, from the ocean depths to the woodland forests all in our own backyard from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. each day. Summer Camp is June 26-July 28 (closed for the week of July 4th). Register now.

FOUNTAIN KIDS



Stellar VBS Registration

Visit our website to register your kids for Vacation Bible School! We will have VBS in the evenings again this year. Camp Stellar Elementary for Rising K-5th graders will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. and Camp Stellar Littles for Preschoolers will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Stellar rockets kids on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Meet and Greet Reception for Austin Weaver, Director of Youth Ministry

June 4, 2023 • 10:15-11 a.m. in Wesley Hall

The Youth Group will host a reception for our new Director of Youth Ministry, Austin Weaver, on Sunday, June 4. Please stop by to meet Austin and welcome him to FCUMC. We are so excited for what Austin will bring to our Youth Group and we can't wait for you to meet him!

ADULT MINISTRY

EPIC welcomes Kerry Howland, retired UT Assistant Director for Academics on June 8 at 1p.m. to share her life stories from her years working with Pat Summitt. Kerry worked closely with student athletes like Chamique Holdsclaw and Kelly Jolly Harper. Because of Kerry’s work, the Lady Vols achieved an 100% graduation rate in all women’s sports. Join us as Kerry Howland shares the achievements of eight national championships and her greatness achievement of faith in Jesus the Christ. Register here or call the church office at 865-689-5175.

Summer Session • May 10-July 26, 2023

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group that will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. GriefShare meets in Room 210 on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. There is no evening session this summer. Register. Facilitator: Dixie Bopp.



SUNDAY SCHEDULE

• 8:30 a.m. Traditional service
• 9:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Discipleship
• 11:00 a.m. Journey Contemporary service
• 11:00 a.m. Traditional service
• Childcare and children's ministry will be provided from 8:30 a.m. through the conclusion of the 11:00 a.m. worship services.

Sunday Bulletin for May 28, 2023

FOUNTAIN KIDS SUNDAY SCHEDULE

• Fountain Kids Sunday School • 9:45 a.m.
• Fountain Littles Sunday School • 9:45 a.m. 
• Fountain Littles Childcare • 11 a.m.
• Fountain Kids Bible Experience • 11 a.m.

COFFEE & FELLOWSHIP ON SUNDAYS AT THE WELCOME CENTER

Join us before or after worship! Stop by the Welcome Center from 8:15-11:15 a.m. and let us bless you! And now that the weather is turning warmer, check out our Courtyard! See you Sunday!

THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER

Check out the May 2023 edition of The Spirit Newsletter.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 

NEXT UP AT FCUMC

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• June 3: Church-wide Baby Shower for the Crickenbergers
• June 4: Meet & Greet for Austin Weaver, Directory of Youth Ministries
• June 4: Youth Fun Night from 6-8 p.m. at the Castleberry's
• June 8: EPIC event at 1 p.m. in Wesley Hall
• Jun 11-15: Stellar Vacation Bible School

Pastor On Call

After Hours & Weekends

When you need urgent pastoral care while the church office is closed, text or call 865-888-0192 to reach the

pastor on call.

Pastor Don's email:

[email protected]

Pastor Chase's email:

[email protected]

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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