REV. DON HANSHEW, SENIOR PASTOR
REV. RACHEL COLLINS, PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
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A Note From Our Lay Leader, Misty McComas
Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, gratitude, and hope. This year, FCUMC tirelessly lived out our mission of making disciples and changing lives. Flood buckets, coats, diapers, food, and more were collected and distributed. Crafters created warm blankets, cooks prepared many meals, our tech team made sure we could hear and see our worship services, musicians and choirs prepared many worship songs, and our staff and pastors cared for our congregants and building.
Advent is fast approaching and we’re reaching out to the community through Come To Bethlehem and our choir’s Come, Celebrate Christmas! concerts. Like the Inn Keeper, we voted to become a warming center this winter by offering a warm place to sleep on the coldest of nights. We are trying our best to become a city on the hill for our neighbors, with Christmas lights on our landscaping and Christ’s light in our hearts.
Our discipleship opportunities continue to grow and create entry points for people who aren’t yet involved in a small group. Our children and youth are studying the Bible and learning the importance of a relationship with God. Our music ministry is just as much about caring for ourselves and others as it is about making a joyful sound.
Hope seems to follow gratitude. The more we look for reasons to thank God; the more hope we can find in God’s faithfulness. When the world was dark, God sent a great light. We are called to reflect the light of Jesus into every dark corner and cold heart.
We celebrate 200 years of letting our light shine in Fountain City in 2025. As we enter our 200th year, let’s make sure God’s light shines bright for hundreds of years more.
Misty McComas,
FCUMC Lay Leader
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On December 3, we will take part in Giving Tuesday – a global day of giving! This is a day when we can come together to support organizations and ministries that are making a difference in the world. You may not realize all of the good ministries we do through our church for our community, region, and world. We have a goal of raising $5,000 in new giving on Giving Tuesday.
Check out the many ways you can give back to our church, community and the world!
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North Knoxville Warming Center Update: Dates To Know
Sign up to help prevent frostbite and death and join the volunteer movement! We are on track to activate our Warming Center on December 15. We will hold our final walk-through and on-site training covering all policies and answering questions on December 12 from 7-8:15 p.m. in Old Fellowship Hall (enter from the parking lot near Fountain City Lake). This is an excellent way to invite a non-church attending friend to participate in helping the common good of our community.
Additionally, you may have heard that some warming centers will be active this weekend and into next week. We will not be active until December 15. If you would like to serve and help at one of the other sites, visit the Office of Housing Stability Volunteer Signup webpage. Questions? Contact Gail Clift, Charley Grey, or the church office.
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Art Sale To Benefit The Kelly Family Fund
For Holston Home For Children
December 1 • 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, December 1 in Wesley Hall, there will be a sale of original paintings by Stan Kelly. All proceeds will go to the Kelly Family Fund in support of Holston Home For Children. This fund was established by the Kelly family following the death of Dan Kelly and is an endowment program at the Holston Foundation. You can choose from over 100 paintings, most of which are framed and ready to hang. Prices range from $10-$80. Checks and cash only please.
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Blessing Box needs:
- Water is critically low!!
- Canned corn and green beans
- Chef Boyardee products
- Toothpaste
- Bar soap
Giving thanks for all the people who keep this ministry going!
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Poinsettia Dedications for Christmas
It is a longtime tradition at FCUMC to honor or memorialize loved ones by dedicating a poinsettia to them. These poinsettias will be used to beautify and add a seasonal touch to our worship spaces during Advent. Each dedication is $11, and the poinsettias can be taken home by donors following our Christmas Eve services. Request your dedications online. Paper order forms are available in the church office, and will be inserted in Sunday bulletins on December 1 & 8. Dedication requests must be made, either online or by submitting a paper order form, no later than 12 p.m. on Monday, December 9. Thank you for participating in this precious tradition with us!
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Beginning this Sunday, December 1, we will have a weekly release of Advent Devotionals available each Sunday morning, as well as on our website and social media. Please enjoy these scripture and reflections which align with the themes we'll explore over the next four weeks-
the traditional Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Week One Advent Devotional >>
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Pie for a Cause! 🥧
Join the fun and support a great cause!
🍫🍠 Holiday Treats: Reserve your limited-edition chocolate or sweet potato pie, lovingly baked by the UWF. Each pie is frozen with thawing and reheating instructions included.
🎯 Support Flood Relief: All donations go toward flood relief efforts in our community.
📍 Sign Up: Stop by the Welcome Center on December 1 to secure one of the 63 pies.
🎁 Pickup: December 15 between services or after 11 a.m. worship.
Plus, don’t miss Pastors Don and Rachel getting a whipped cream pie to the face on December 29 when we meet out $1500 goal! 🍰
Your support makes a difference—let’s make this season extra sweet and impactful!
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Come To Bethlehem Costume Fittings This Sunday
If you are a soldier, shepherd, angel, Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Innkeepers wife, or town gossip for Come To Bethlehem, you will be able to try on your costume on Sunday morning, December 1 between 9:30-11 am. Costumes are located on second floor in Room 207 across from the Whobodies classroom. David Carter and Kim Gentry will be there to assist you with your costume, which will be labeled with your name. You will pick it up to dress on December 8 in the same location.
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Special Events For The Season of Advent
Please visit our website to check out all of the events and worship opportunities at Fountain City United Methodist Church during this special season of Advent.
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WordPlayers Advent Production This Sunday
December 1 • 6 pm in the Sanctuary
The greatest story ever told takes on new life with this short play. Sleepers, Wake! brings you into the room with the characters of the biblical account of the coming of Christ as told in Luke 2, with gripping music, thought provoking historical context, and humor that will have you dancing in your seat. Prepare to celebrate Advent with a vibrant, fresh, and timeless telling of the Story that changes the world.
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Come To Bethlehem • December 8 • 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Join us for our annual Christmas experience Come To Bethlehem, featuring live music, games, a community meal, a Christmas photo booth, and of course the town of Bethlehem. Admittance will be timed entry allowing everyone to enjoy each station sufficiently.
Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free and walk in registrations will be accepted at the door. This is a community favorite! Register for a travel pass!
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Come, Celebrate Christmas!
The Traditional worship ensembles are once again preparing for our Christmas concert. The dates are December 15 at 3 p.m., and December 16 at 7:30 p.m. Please plan to attend!
Financial support of this program is always appreciated. The musicians of our church need everyone’s help covering the expenses of the orchestra and television broadcast. Donations may be made to FCUMC (memo: Chancel Choir Fund); individuals and groups offering gifts by December 10 will be listed as donors in the printed concert program. Thanks in advance for supporting us!
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An End-of-Year Giving Opportunity!
As we approach the final stretch of 2024, we find ourselves needing just at $75,000 to finish the year on solid financial ground.
The good news? Historically, the last four weeks of the year are the strongest for giving, and together, we can make this happen! We believe this goal is well within reach, but it will take all of us coming together to make a final, impactful push. We invite you to prayerfully reflect on how God is moving through you to support the incredible work being done through our church. Let’s finish the year strong and ready to step boldly into 2025. Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity—let’s do this together!
2024 Financial Gifts must be postmarked by December 31 or dropped off in the church office by Tuesday, December 31 by noon.
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We will not have Communion this Sunday, therefore, we will have Fountain Kids and Bible experience.
Mark Your Calendars!
Fountain Kids’ Float in the Christmas Parade • December 21 • 9 AM
We invite our Fountain Littles and Fountain Kids as well as parents to join us on our parade float! The parade begins at 9 a.m. stepping off from Gresham Middle School, crossing Broadway and ending at Central High School. The children can be dressed in Christmas Eve costumes to ride on float. Costumes will be available at the float site to be named later. Older children and parents or guardians can walk along parade route and give out Christmas Eve information about our church. What a fun experience, and who doesn't like to be in a parade? Merry Christmas to Fountain City from Fountain Kids!
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Youth Schedule
- 9:45 a.m. • Sunday School with Dana Underwood and Misty McComas
- 6:30 p.m. • Wednesday night for Youth
Just a reminder of our upcoming activities. Add these events to you calendars!
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Sunday, December 1: The Word Players Christmas Performance • 6pm in the Sanctuary
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Wednesday, December 4: All Youth Skating at Market Square • 6:30 pm (Middle Schoolers must have parent or guardian)
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Sunday, December 8: Come to Bethlehem
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Wednesday, December 11: Youth Christmas Party • 6:30 pm at FCUMC
| Tasty treats and fun were had by all at the Youth Thanksgiving Dinner. Thank you to the Castleberrys for hosting us! | |
Resurrection 2025
January 24-26 at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN
Through inspirational words and music led by nationally known speakers and musicians, young people at Resurrection encounter the Lord in new and deeper ways. FRVR FREE is leading worship again this year.
Students in 6th-12th grades are invited to register for Resurrection. We will stay at Splash Mountain Cabin in Sevierville, TN. The total cost per student is $200 which includes lodging, food, and entertainment. Please pay the $50 deposit at the time of registration and the remaining balance is due on January 20, 2025. There is a discount for families with multiple students. Partial and full scholarships are available – just ask Donna Lewis!
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SUNDAY SCHEDULE
- 8:30 a.m. Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
- 9:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Discipleship
- 11:00 a.m.Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
- 11:00 a.m. 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.
Combined 11:00am Worship Services, Sunday, Dec 29
On Sunday, December 29, we will have an 8:30 a.m. Traditional service in the Sanctuary and a combined 11 a.m. Traditional worship service with the Journey in the Sanctuary. Don’t miss a great way to help our church be united around worship! We will share in Holy Communion.
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.
Bulletin for December 1, 2024
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! See you Sunday!
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THE SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
Check out the December 2024 edition of The Spirit Newsletter.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The Church Office is closed today.
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NEXT UP AT FCUMC
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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December 1: WordPlayers Performance
December 8: Come To Bethlehem
December 15: Come, Celebrate Christmas! Concert at 3 pm
December 16: Come, Celebrate Christmas! concert at 7:30 pm
December 22: Longest Night Worship Service at 6:30 pm
December 24: Christmas Eve Worship Services
January 15: Fountain City Fellowship on Wednesday Nights returns
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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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