REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR

REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP

Come, Stay Awhile

If your Black Friday cart is full but your soul feels a little empty, you are not alone. Holidays bring with them a mix of emotions. The good news is that Advent is almost here!

This Sunday, we begin a new worship series using Kara Eidson’s book, “Stay Awhile: Advent Lessons in Divine Hospitality.” Eidson invites us to see Advent as holy hospitality, preparing our hearts like we prepare the house for company, and learning how to make room for Christ and for our neighbors. Pastor Rachel and I hope to help you experience Advent through a new lens of hospitality this holiday season. 

And don’t forget, in the Traditional services this Sunday you will experience the story of the anticipated coming of Christ through a series of Biblical readings, hymns, and choral music selections. They will recount the story of God's promise of a Messiah. If you are struggling to change gears from Thanksgiving to Advent, this service is for you! 

Also, if you are looking for a place to connect, many of our Sunday School classes will be using the book that Rachel and I are using as a guide in our sermons. This Sunday is a great Sunday to try a class for the first time or to come back if it has been a while. Stop by the Welcome Center, and we will help you find a good fit.

Between the online deals and leftover pie (okay, in my house, there is no leftover pie), I hope you will not miss worship! Come stay awhile with us as we wait for the King, together.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel,

Pastor Don

SERVING OTHERS

Congregational Care Holy Communion Visits

At this time of year many people make special efforts to spend time with family. For some in our church who are homebound, this is an especially difficult season. Our Congregational Care Team takes Holy Communion to our homebound members once a month (if not more frequently). If you would like to help ensure our elder Saints received Holy Communion, we would love for you to come be part of the effort. Arrive at the church office Conference Room at 12:30 p.m. for instructions, the consecration of the elements, and group prayer before we head out two-by-two. Contact Kurt Wiberly for more information. 

Winter Clothing 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.



Fountain City UMC is hosting a Community Meal on December 13 at 5:30 p.m. This event is open to everyone in the church, our housed and unhoused neighbors, and anyone else who is HUNGRY. We have some great cooks so come and eat with us. All are WELCOME!

If you know someone who could benefit from receiving a ticket for a free coat, please have them contact the church office at 865-689-5175 or have them drop by and pick up a voucher.

Tickets can be redeemed through December 6 at any KARM Store location.

Blessing Box Needs: 

• Shelf stable milk individual boxes
• Juice boxes
• Canned spaghetti sauce
• Peanut butter or cheese crackers

God bless you and thank you!

NEWS AND NOTES



Experience 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 today!

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.

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. Cost is $7 per person. Contact Leslie Hill if you have any questions about this fun event! Register >>

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! Have you seen the one for the Damascus Class?! 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. 

Poinsettia Dedications

Fountain City UMC has a longstanding tradition of honoring loved ones with poinsettia dedications at Christmas time. You are invited to make a dedication in honor or memory of family and friends. For $11 per dedication, your loved one will be honored or memorialized in our bulletin. For inclusion in the dedication list, please submit all requests by Monday, December 8, 2025. Thank you! Request a dedication >>

PRESCHOOL



Preschool Pajama Drive

FCUMC Preschool is collecting pajamas for families experiencing uncertainty. Join us this year as we collect new pajamas in sizes infant to adult through 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.

FOUNTAIN KIDS & FOUNTAIN LITTLES



Calling all Fountain Kids families! Hang out on the Fountain Kids float for the Fountain City Christmas Parade on December 6. Step off is at 9 a.m. Children and parents can board the float at 8:30 a.m. at Gresham Middle School. The parade ends at Central High School.

Others can join us on the FCUMC front lawn to watch the parade. Bring your chair and your blanket and enjoy!

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 November 30, 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 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 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 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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