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REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR
REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
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CR North Recognized as a Certified Recovery Congregation
Celebrate Recovery North has been officially recognized as a Certified Recovery Congregation by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.
This certification affirms that Celebrate Recovery North at FCUMC is not simply hosting recovery meetings, but has established a consistent, safe, and sustainable recovery ministry that supports individuals and families impacted by addiction, mental health challenges, and life-controlling issues.
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Becoming a Certified Recovery Congregation reflects an ongoing commitment to providing Christ-centered recovery, cultivating a stigma-free environment, and partnering with community and state resources to promote long-term healing and transformation.
The guiding message on the certificate captures the heart of recovery ministry well: "The opposite of everything negative in life is connection.”
Scripture echoes this truth, reminding us that “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
Celebrate Recovery North continues to serve as a living expression of the church’s call to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), offering hope, healing, and restoration through the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
We give thanks for all who lead, serve, pray, and show up each week, and we celebrate what God is doing through this ministry in our church and community.
In View of God’s Mercy,
Seth Charles
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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 21 Menu: Chicken & Dumplings (recipe by Carol Sterling Bellgrau) and Chess Bars (recipe by Becky Ripley). 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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Community Outreach
Don’t forget to come eat with us at the Community Meal on January 24! We need some volunteers to help out. Contact Gail Clift for further information.
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, On a recent cold night, the shelters housed 385 neighbors combined. All the centers were above capacity and some folks had to sleep in chairs.
This week, as the temperatures are frigid, the need is high. We are supporting the other 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. 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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If you give via automatic withdrawal from your bank or in Realm, please check your giving schedule amounts to ensure they match your 2026 financial commitment. Please contact Ashley Garren if you have questions.
Faith Promise is Now Part of the General Fund
The ministry once called Faith Promise, which supported local, national, and international mission partners, will now grow from the same root system as our general ministry budget. By uniting all giving into one shared commitment, we are expressing a deeper truth. Everything we do is mission. Every class taught, every child nurtured, every meal served, and every act of compassion offered in Christ’s name are all part of the same living tree that bears fruit for the kingdom of God. Having one unified budget allows us to see more clearly how the ministries of Fountain City United Methodist Church are connected. If you were previously giving to Faith Promise, please combine that giving with your General Fund contributions.
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There’s still time to make your financial commitment for 2026. Consider how your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness can nurture the roots of this church and extend its branches of love even further as you prayerfully complete your commitment card. Rooted in faith and renewed by grace, together we will grow.
Learn more and make your commitment >>
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Blessing Box Needs:
- Peanut butter (1pound)
- Shelf stable milk individual servings (Horizon or Kroger brand)
- Chunky soups
- Canned spaghetti sauce
- Spaghetti noodles
- Toboggans and gloves
God bless your generosity.
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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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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. (ET) 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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In order to inform our community about our wonderful Sunday School classes, we have launched a Sunday School Promotional Video Initiative. You have probably seen a few of these videos on our social media! We are asking each Sunday School class to film a 30-second video that covers the following:
- Name of your class
- Room number
- Age range
- 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.
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FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES
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Family Opportunity!
Sunday mornings, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, can be a very hectic time for parents getting kiddos to church. We do appreciate parents who put in the effort and care of the spiritual lives of their children. If you are running late on Tuesday or Wednesday night, our amazing Miss Teisha has a plan! Please take a few minutes to bring your kiddos to the kitchen and she will have your dinner. Both you and your child will receive teaching better with a tummy full of Miss Teisha’s food.
Sunday mornings, we will have simple breakfast bags in the welcome center. Please share with your check-in person that you are running late and need a breakfast bag. You and your kiddos have the opportunity to take a breath and a moment to eat at the welcome center before checking your child in at our secure KidCheck system.
We love our families at FCUMC and we want to help with the “getting to church” stress. I am so thankful to all of our church staff for navigating ways for your family to have your best experience on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity.
Love you all,
Miss Donna
Children’s Director
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Fountain Kids Club
Sometimes in the chaos, we have to listen to good counsel as Moses listened to Jethro. Next Wednesday night, it's Chutes and Ladders with the ups and downs of the life of Joseph!
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23rd Annual Father Daughter Dance
Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 5:30–8:00 pm
All ages are encouraged to celebrate the special relationship between fathers and daughters. Tickets are $25 per daughter and father/ father figure, and $5 per additional daughter. This is one of the biggest fundraisers for our Fountain Kids Ministry! Everyone is invited so share with your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your coworkers! Tickets are almost sold out so don’t delay! Register now >>
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Parents, the summer schedule of our four one-day camps in June and VBS will be announced soon.
We know families are already checking the list of summer camps in Knoxville. Stay tuned!
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Resurrection 2026 is next weekend!
January 23-25 | LeConte Center, Pigeon Forge
Resurrection is an annual weekend retreat filled with worship and spiritual growth for youth and their mentors. Each year over 12,000 individuals come together in Pigeon Forge, TN to celebrate the God of The Resurrection.
Students in 6th-12th grades (and parent volunteers!) are encouraged to register! Registration includes lodging in a cabin (the Legacy Lodge in Pigeon Forge), entry to the event, and some meals. A deposit of $50 is suggested and the total cost per student is $100. Scholarship opportunities will be available to cover some of the expense for students who participate in our January fundraisers!
All students who have attended multiple youth group events in the last six months are invited to sign up, including new events leading up to Resurrection. If have a question about your student’s or your student’s friend’s eligibility, please contact Matt Randle.
This registration is for youth only. If you are interested in being an adult chaperone, please contact Matt. Register here >>
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Pasta Making Party!
Teisha Clapp, FCUMC Director of Food Services, is hosting pasta making classes on Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the FCUMC kitchen. The delicious results will be used for a Pasta Feast at Fountain City Fellowship on Wednesday, February 4!
Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please select either Monday, February 2 or Tuesday, February 3 from the drop down menu.
Register >>
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Sacred Kneads Bread Making Event
February 2 | 3-6 pm
Teisha Clapp and Pastor Rachel will meet with Sacred Kneads, FCUMC’s bread making group, on Monday, February 2 from 3-6 p.m. in the FCUMC kitchen. Bread made during this session will be served at the Pasta Feast at Fountain City Fellowship on Wednesday, February 4. Space is limited and slots will go fast, so be sure to register soon!
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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 18, 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 27: Free Community Meal | 5:30 p.m. | Wesley Hall
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
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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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