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REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR
REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
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Commitment Sunday is This Weekend
Hey Church Family,
This Sunday, November 9, is Commitment Sunday for our Rooted and Renewed stewardship campaign. During all three morning services, there will be a special time in worship where you can bring your commitment card forward.
Whether you've been part of our church for years or are new here, stewardship is about making a commitment, both financial and spiritual, to the ministry and mission we share together.
We believe that when each of us gives faithfully, God multiplies our offering to transform lives and make disciples. This year, we've unified what was previously Faith Promise, our spring mission effort, and our local, national, and global outreach into one ministry budget. This means every act of worship, every meal served, every outreach effort, and every prayer grows from the same root of God's love and bears fruit for God's kingdom.
Make your commitment online.
We recognize this may be a difficult season for some. If you're struggling and need support from the church, please reach out. We're here for you. We emphasize equal sacrifice, not equal giving. Every commitment, whatever the amount, matters.
Your giving supports the entire ministry of Fountain City United Methodist Church. When we unite our commitments, we make it possible for all branches of this ministry to reach further and touch more lives.
Together, we are rooted in faith, renewed by grace, and growing in love.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Don Hanshew
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Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett will Preach on November 16
As part of our year-long 200th anniversary celebration, we are honored to welcome Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, Resident Bishop of the Holston and West Virginia Conference, as our final keynote preacher on Sunday, November 16.
Bishop Wallace-Padgett is known for her thoughtful preaching, compassionate leadership, and deep commitment to helping the Church thrive in a changing world. Her message will draw us toward gratitude for our past and hope for the future as we continue to live into our calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
She will preach at all three of our Sunday services, allowing each congregation to experience her message in its own worship setting. We encourage everyone to attend, bring a friend, and share in this milestone moment in the life of Fountain City United Methodist Church.
Come ready to celebrate God’s faithfulness across generations and to be inspired for the next chapter of our shared story!
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Come to church on Wednesday nights for great food and fellowship! The fellowship meal begins at 5:30 p.m. and classes follow at 6:30 p.m.
Our newest classes are Mandalas, Candles & Prayer, and Adult Confirmation. Please check out our website to learn more about all of the programming options available.
November 12 Menu: Shredded Buffalo chicken, bun, macaroni & cheese, tomato & cucumber salad, and dessert. A light meal of baked chicken tenders with mixed steamed vegetables will also available. Register >
Fountain City Fellowship meals are free for the rest of the semester. We recognize that food insecurity has become a real concern for some in our community, and we want Wednesday nights to remain a place of connection, care, and grace, not financial worry. We encourage you to invite a friend or family member who may benefit from this shared time of food, friendship, and grace.
Please register those attending so we may be good stewards of the church's finances and reduce waste. You can register on the FCUMC website, in the notes section of a pew pad or by calling the church office at 865-689-5175. Registration closes at midnight on Tuesday.
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Fast Track Church-wide Food Drive
Many of our neighbors are losing access to food assistance and struggling to make ends meet. Fountain City UMC is partnering with other churches to help meet these needs through a “Fast Track Church-wide Food Drive.”
The Missions Team and Community Outreach Team is challenging every Sunday School class, small group, and individual to fill one reusable cloth-style grocery bag with these items:
• 1 can each of green beans, corn, hearty soup, chili, and tuna
• 1 box each of cereal, ramen, mac and cheese, and saltine crackers
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• 1 loaf of bread
• 1 bar of soap
• 1 roll of toilet paper
• Granola bars
Please bring complete bags to the church during normal operating hours, or to marked areas outside of Wesley Hall on Sunday. Double check your bag, because we won’t have time to sort items before distribution on November 15 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m in the lower parking lot. Invite friends and neighbors who may rely on SNAP or WIC benefits to participate in the distribution. Together, we can fill bags and hearts with hope this season. Questions? Contact Gail Clift at 865-207-6791.
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Pick up a Senior's Wish List on Sunday, November 16
The holidays can be a lonely time for residents in nursing homes, but we can make this Christmas a little merrier for seniors at Beverly Park Place (BPP). We will once again adopt BPP residents to assist with their Christmas wishes. We have fifty names of seniors whose wish lists can be picked up in the hallway outside of the church office on Sunday, November 16. If all are not taken, they will also be available on Wednesday, November 19 and Sunday, November 23 until all are taken. Return the gift bags on Sunday, December 14 before or after any worship service in the hallway outside the church office, or contact Sandy Morgan at 865-679-0760 to make other arrangements. There are specific wrapping instructions which will be given out with the senior’s information.
This is a church-wide project sponsored by the Missions Committee. We welcome and encourage individuals, families, and Sunday school classes to participate. Let’s help raise the spirits of Beverly Park Place residents this Christmas!
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Winter Clothing and Food Collection
We are requesting some items for our neighbors as we head into the colder months. Please bring new or gently used sweatshirts, hoodies and fleece jackets (M, L & XL) and place them in the designated bin in the missions collection area near the Gym.
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Thank you for your donations for Coats for the Cold!
If you know someone who could benefit from receiving a ticket for a coat, please have them contact us at 865-689-5175 or have them pick up a voucher in the church office beginning November 17.
Tickets can be redeemed November 17-December 6 at any KARM Stores location.
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Blessing Box Needs:
- Chunky soups-fill the shelves!
- Juice boxes
- Fruit cups
Thank you all for your generous donations last week! The shelves are the most full they have ever been. During this stressful time for our friends and neighbors losing SNAP benefits, it is especially necessary to keep the box filled. This morning while filling the box, I met a young woman needing something to feed her kindergartner when he gets home from school.
We try to check the box later in the day and put a few things in so food is available at those times. Our wonderful staff is covering it during the week, but if you would consider stocking the Blessing Box on Saturdays and Sundays, let the church office know and I will get you the supplies. God bless you all! -Patty
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From Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett: A Milestone for Our Global Church
Grace and peace to you in Christ. United Methodists around the world have overwhelmingly ratified the constitutional amendments approved by the 2024 General Conference — including the Regionalization amendment.
This marks an important moment in our shared life as a global church. Regionalization allows each part of the world to shape ministry within its unique context while remaining united in mission and Wesleyan theology. Other ratified amendments affirm inclusiveness, racial justice, and equality in clergy voting, reminding us that all people are of sacred worth, created in the image of God.
Implementation will unfold between 2028–2032, guided by prayer, collaboration, and a continued commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Read Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett's full message.
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Come To Bethlehem
Registration is Open!
Come to FCUMC's annual event celebrating the night Jesus was born.
There will be new animals this year for our Bethlehem Christmas farm! This is a free event with dinner to kick off the evening as you begin your journey towards Christmas. Register > >
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Visioning and Missional Priorities Listening Sessions
Want to hear more about the progress the Visioning and Missional Priorities team has made? You are invited to attend one of the sessions listed below. We had a great turnout on Wednesday! Members of our Vision Team will facilitate sessions. The more voices, the better the outcome! We hope you will come!
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Sunday, November 9 in the Gym | 9:45-10:45 a.m. & 12:15-1:15 p.m. (light snacks)
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Sunday, November 16 in Wesley Hall |12:15-1:30 p.m. for CR Leadership and others who have missed a previous session.
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Charge Conference & Church Council Gathering | Tuesday, November 18 at 7 p.m.
Location: Choir Room
Our annual Charge Conference will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. in the choir room. This will also serve as a working meeting of our Church Council, and we’re excited to have Rev. Ann Robbins presiding. Ann has asked that our time together be conversational and celebratory, focusing on the many ways Fountain City UMC and our community are experiencing the love of Jesus.
Leaders from various ministries will share a brief (2–5 minute) celebration of how God’s love is being lived out through their areas of service, and how the church and community are responding in meaningful ways. Together, we’ll celebrate all that God has done in this milestone year and look ahead to where Christ is leading us next.
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Hello Friends,
I cannot wait to experience walking in the footsteps of John Wesley with you in a Wesley Heritage Tour of England on November 4-12, 2026. This journey is such an incredible opportunity to reconnect with the history that makes our tradition so rich and meaningful.
Check out the details and register.
- Pastor Rachel
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Building on the successful joint Laity and Clergy Holston Conference Retreat at Pipestem, led by Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, we aim to foster further collaboration between our laity and clergy. We invite your laity and clergy to "This Works Ministry Summit," November 14-15.
We are very fortunate to have the outstanding leadership of Reverend Dr. Laceye Warner from Duke Divinity School and a group of practitioners engaged in transformational ministry within their Appalachian ministry settings. The registration fee is $30 for 1.5 CEUs and Advanced Lay Servant Certification. The summit will be available in person at Rural Retreat United Methodist Church in Virginia. Register >>
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Preschool Pajama Drive
FCUMC Preschool is collecting pajamas for children experiencing uncertainty. Join us this year as we collect new pajamas in sizes from infant to adult, from November 10 to December 5. Our pajama drive will culminate in preschool-wide Pajama Days on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday December 4. This year our pajamas will be donated to Fountain City Ministry Center.
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FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES
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Meet the Fountain Kids Blue Team. This group took time out of their Sunday afternoon to meet, greet and show the love of Christ to over 500 mom, dads, grandparents and kiddos at Central High School as Fountain City Recreation kicks off their basketball season. Thanks for the opportunity and thanks to the Blue Team!
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Confirmation classes meet on Sundays at 3 p.m. leading up to Confirmation Sunday on November 16 at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to share in this special time with our youth!
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Find Comfort for the Season with Surviving The Holidays
November 12 | 10 a.m.
Surviving the Holidays, a seminar on managing grief in the midst of the holidays, will provide support & practical tips for facing holiday challenges after loss. This two-hour event will give you coping strategies to navigate the challenges of the holiday season without your loved one. Register >
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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.
Bulletin for November 9, 2025
THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
Check out the November 2025 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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November 8: Youth Bonfire | 5-8 p.m. | Iglehart Farm
November 9: Visioning & Missional Priorities Listening Session | Gym | 9:45 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.
November 12: Surviving The Holidays Seminar | 10 a.m.
November 16: Confirmation Sunday | 2 p.m. | Sanctuary
November 16: Visioning and Missional Priorities Listening Session in WH |12:15-1:30 p.m.
November 16: BPP Senior Wish List pick up | Before or after worship
November 18: Church Council Meeting (Charge Conference) | 7 p.m. | Choir Room
November 18: Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m. | Room 210
November 22: Community Meal | 5:30 p.m.
December 1: Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) | 6:30 p.m. | Room 137
December 7: Come To Bethlehem | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
December 11: Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m. | Room 137
December 18: Church Council/Visioning Team | 6:30 p.m. | Choir Room
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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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