REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR

REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP

No Second Sunday Study in December

Instead, make plans to join Pastor Don in Wesley Hall on January 11 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Start the new year with practices that last longer than resolutions. Join us for “Rhythms of Renewal: Crafting a Simple Rule of Life.” Together we will explore simple, realistic ways to spend time with God, care for our own souls and bodies, and love our neighbors well. Whether you are new to faith or a long-time Methodist, you will leave with a gentle, doable plan for the next season.

Advent Sparrow

It has been fun to welcome preschool parents and children each morning this past week. This semester, Rachel and I have been experimenting with a simple practice: one of us stands just outside during the first week of the month from 7:45–8:30 a.m. on Monday through Thursday. (Thanks for the idea, Makayla Ripley!) The preschool provides coffee and snacks. We offer a listening ear, a quick prayer, anointing, or just a calm presence during the busy drop-off.

It shouldn’t be surprising, but it is, that almost every day a real pastoral conversation finds its way into that small window. Some are about big things like illness, family changes, jury duty, or worry about a child. Others are about the ordinary weight of life that people carry as they buckle car seats and chase spilled backpacks in the parking lot. Holy ground has its way of finding us, wherever we are.

I have also noticed a little sparrow that shows up most mornings. When the kids laugh and I get silly with them (one kid likes to play like he is invisible), the sparrow seems to come alive too, flitting about and chirping as if it wants in on the joy. Who knows what is going on in the mind of a bird! But I sometimes wonder if the sparrow is as curious about us as we are about it. Do sparrows sit around and talk about “people watching?”

Jesus once reminded his friends that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside the Father’s care. Advent hope sounds like that promise whispered over a preschool drop-off. God is paying attention. God sees tired parents, wiggly children, anxious teachers, and pastors standing in the cold and trying to be faithful.

As we move through Advent, I invite you to remember that same hope in your own routines. In school hallways, grocery aisles, parking lots, and quiet kitchens, God is near and watching in love. Not even a sparrow is forgotten, and neither are you.

In Christ,

Pastor Don

Loved seeing your additions to the Rooted and Renewed Tree about our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness! 

Let's switch gears and add to a star decked tree about our hopes for Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy throughout the Advent Season.

-Pastor Rachel

SERVING OTHERS

Community Outreach 

A BIG thank you to FOCUS class, Thrive group, and Insight Class for providing the November Community Meal. It was a great success and the number of guests increased!

Community meals continue with the next meal on December 13. We need about ten volunteers to help alongside the youth group and to socialize with our guests. All are welcome! A Sign-Up Genius link is coming soon but you can contact Gail Clift to sign up for December or January.

Donations of hand warmers and gloves are needed for Community Outreach and the Community Meal in December (clothing is not needed at this time).

Warming centers in Knoxville are ready to open when the temperature is below 25 degrees. Although the North Knoxville Warming Center will not be open this year, we are supporting the other centers. If you would like to volunteer at Cokesbury or another site, please contact Gail Clift at 865 207-6791. Many of our church members will be volunteering. We have been asked to transport overflow guests from Cokesbury to other sites. There will be a Sign-up Genius link available soon or you can contact Gail Clift to volunteer.  

Other community outreach events are coming-stay tuned!

Blessing Box Needs: 

• Juices/ Capri Sun - all kinds
• Small toothpastes
• Hand warmers
• Combs/brushes
• Shelf-stable milk
• Peanut butter -small plastic jars

Thank you for supporting the Blessing Box!

NEWS AND NOTES



The Fountain City Christmas Parade is tomorrow!

Come out to support our children and youth! Let's watch the parade together on the front lawn of the church. Bring a chair, a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate and a blanket, and let’s get in the Christmas spirit together!

Fountain Kids and FCUMC Youth who are participating in the parade, please meet at the bottom of the hill at Gresham Middle School at 8:30 am. Look for people in Fountain Kids shirts. Everyone will then walk to the float. Fountain Kids will ride on the float, while FCUMC Youth will walk beside it and hand out candy and church information. Students must be picked up at Central High School where the parade ends.

Come To Bethlehem is this Sunday!

Experience the Bethlehem of Jesus' birth with angels, shepherds, and animals that will greet you and enhance your Christmas! This yearly community favorite is FREE, and dinner is included. Online registration ends today at noon. However, walk-ins will be welcome.

If you are a character or volunteer, please meet in Room 209 at 4 p.m. for prayer, snacks, and final preparations. Please enter through Door 6 on the Fountain Road side of the church, to leave parking at the front for our guests. Doors for guests will open at 5:15 pm so let's be in place!

Christmas Concert

The FCUMC Chancel Choir, Tollers, Youth Ensemble, and Fountain Voices are excited to offer our annual Christmas concert! This year’s program is full of favorite familiar carols played, sung, and rung in exciting arrangements. Come, Celebrate Christmas! We hope you will join us and invite your friends and neighbors.

Christmas Luncheon

Senior Adults! Join the FCUMC Chancel Choir for a Christmas luncheon in Wesley Hall on December 17.

Doors will open at 11 a.m. for an 11:30 a.m. meal prepared by Fountain City’s own Doug Shipman. Guest musicians for the day will be the Gibbs High School Ensemble. The cost is $7 per person. Contact Leslie Hill if you have any questions about this fun event! Register >>

Service of the Longest Night

December 21 | 6:30 pm

There are times when each of us are overwhelmed by doubts, fears, exhaustion and grief. In the dark of night, those feelings can get the best of the love and compassion we know intrinsically are available to us through God’s grace. This service is for all who long for a silent night. A little slice of peace. A moment of encouragement. Some time to ourselves in the presence of the Holy.

Christmas Eve Worship | December 24

• Family Nativity Service | 4 p.m. A family-friendly worship service in the Sanctuary.
• Contemporary Candlelight Service | 6:30 p.m. This candlelight Holy Communion service will be in the Gym and will include contemporary Christian music.
• Traditional Candlelight Service | 11 p.m. This candlelight Holy Communion service in the Sanctuary will include traditional hymns.

Poinsettia Dedications

The deadline for making poinsettia dedications is Monday, December 8 at 12 p.m. Make your dedications online or with the insert in the bulletin this Sunday. We look forward to experiencing the joy of Christmas with you!

In order to inform our community about our wonderful Sunday School classes, we have launched a Sunday School Promotional Video Initiative. We are asking each Sunday School class to film a 30-second video that covers the following: 

1. Name of your class
2. Room number
3. Age range 
4. One sentence description of your class

These videos are being posted on the church's Instagram and Facebook page! Please complete this form to select a date and time for Britney Barthol to visit your Sunday School class. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Britney. 

FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES



Sunday Morning Fountain Kids

We will watch the Christmas movie King of Kings during the December 7 Sunday School hour. It was such a big hit with families last year! Mr. Scotty will also work with the kiddos on Luke 2.

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Youth Christmas Party

Our Christmas party will take place on Wednesday, December 17 during youth group! We will play games, read the Christmas story, and have a white elephant gift exchange! If your student would like to participate, they are encouraged to bring a gift that costs no more than ten dollars. There will be extra gifts just in case there are students unable to bring one.

Young Adults

Sunday nights just keep getting better! The Young Adult group meets from 6–8 p.m. in a rotation of homes around Fountain City. Come for the conversation, stay for the community (and maybe the themed snacks). Connect with Pastor Rachel or another young adult to join the group chat and get all the details.

We’re diving into our new Advent read, The First Advent in Palestine! It will carry us through the end of the year, a perfect way to prepare our hearts (and minds) for Christmas.

Ministry Update & Fast Facts for October

Check out Fountain City UMC's Ministry Update & Fast Facts for October, 2025 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.

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 December 7, 2025

THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER

Check out the December 2025 edition of The Spirit Newsletter.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Friday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

NEXT UP AT FCUMC

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

December 6: Fountain City Christmas Parade | 9a.m.-12 p.m.

December 7: Come To Bethlehem | 5:30-7:30 p.m.

December 12: Movie Night & Food Drive | 6:30 p.m. in the Gym

December 13: Community Meal | 5:30 p.m.

December 14: Come, Celebrate Christmas Concert | 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary

December 15: Come, Celebrate Christmas Concert | 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

December 16: Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m. | Room 137

December 17: Senior Adults Christmas Luncheon | 11:30 a.m. | Wesley Hall

December 18: Church Council/Visioning Team | 6:30 p.m. | Choir Room

December 21: The Longest Night Worship Service | 6:30 p.m. | Sanctuary

December 24: Christmas Family Nativity Service | 4 p.m. | Sanctuary

December 24: Christmas Contemporary Candlelight Service | 6:30 p.m. | Gym

December 24: Christmas Traditional Candlelight Service | 11 p.m. | Sanctuary

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

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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