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August 30, 2026
1 John 4:7–21 | Matthew 22:34–40
"A Church Known by Love"
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What does it mean to be a church centered on Christ? This week, our series brings us to the heart of Jesus’ teaching: love God and love our neighbors.
That sounds simple enough, but Jesus is describing more than a feeling. God’s love takes shape in the way we live—in how we listen, care for one another, notice those who are overlooked, seek what is good for others, and allow grace to keep changing us.
The good news is that this kind of love doesn’t begin with our ability to get it right. Scripture reminds us, “We love because God first loved us.” God’s love comes first, meets us where we are, and continues shaping us into people whose lives reflect that love.
Join us this Sunday as we explore what it might mean to become A Church Known by Love—a community where love received becomes love lived.
| | On the last Sunday of each month, we pass the Blessing Bucket and share a blessing and an offering. These connectional ministries help our understanding that congregations can do more together to transform the world for the sake of Jesus Christ. To see 2026's full list click here. | |
United Women in Faith
Raise $1,280 for Hope Center in Latvia
What an amazing day! Green Meadow’s United Women in Faith hosted a wonderful picnic and collected $1,280 for the Hope Center in Latvia!
There may still be a few additional donations to come in, but what an incredible offering from a simple picnic. This generous support will help the Hope Center continue its important ministry and outreach in Latvia.
A heartfelt thank you to Green Meadow’s United Women in Faith for organizing the picnic and to everyone who donated, volunteered, prepared food, attended, and helped make the event such a success.
Through good food, fellowship, and generous hearts, this gathering became an opportunity to extend Christ’s love far beyond our own community. What a wonderful example of faith in action!
To learn more about the Hope Center, you can read about it: Hope Center
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*For corrections, additions, or updates to the calendar,
email GreenMeadowPastor@gmail.com
Adult Sunday School 9:30
Children's Sunday School 9:30
Sunday Morning Worship 10:30
Sunday Evening Worship (Sudanese) 5:30
Please note the District Dates highlighted in yellow.
Special Meetings or Events are in orange
2nd Thursday Social - September 10, 6:00, Pizza Hut, Alcoa Hwy
Churchwide Breakfast - September 13, 9:30
(No Adult Sunday School)
Finance Meeting -September 14, 6:00, Library
Church Council - September 14, 6:30, Library.
You can view August Council Minutes here.
United Women of Faith - September 22, 12:00
Dedication of Natalie's Walk - September 27, 4:00
Charge Conference - October 4, 3:00 - all church paperwork will be due
in the church office on September 24.
Finance Meeting - October 5, 6:00, Library
Church Council Meeting - October 5, 6:30, Library
District Day with the Bishop – November 17, Seymour UMC
*For more information on these activities and events, see below...
Groups:
- Sunday School 9:30 am - children through adult
- Sunday Lunch at Panera - following worship
- Finance Committee - Every first Monday at 6:00
- Council Meeting - Every first Monday at 6:30
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United Women in Faith 12:00 - Every fourth Tuesday of the month For the full 2026 Unit schedule, click here.
- Tuesday Bible Study 2:00 Library
- Tuesday Evening Choir 6:00 pm Sanctuary
- Tuesday Cub Scouts Pack 285 6:30 pm Education Building
- Thursday Lunch Bunch at Southland Cafe - 11:30 am
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Thursday Supper Group 6:00 pm - Second Thursday of the month: Pizza Hut on Alcoa Hwy (Hwy 129)
- Thursday NA (Narcotics Anonymous) 6:00-7:30 pm
- Earth Club events for everyone happen periodically.
To book an appointment with the Pastor, click here
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Go to Apple store for Apple devices or Play store for Android devices and download the Instant Church Directory app today!
Although this directory is best viewed from a phone, you can go to members.instantchurchdirectory.com and create an account to view this directory. If we have your email address, you can access this directory.
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Mailing a check to the church?
You can send it to: Green Meadow UMC
P.O. Box 485 Alcoa, TN 37701
| | Or send a payment through Venmo @GreenMeadowUnitedMethodistChurch | | |
Come hungry and ready for good food and great fellowship! On Sunday, September 13 at 9:30, our church family will gather for a churchwide breakfast.
Breakfast will be prepared and served by a group of men from our church. Want to help? Additional hands are always welcome! If you would like to assist with preparing, serving, or cleaning up, please contact Bill West.
We hope you will join us for a wonderful morning of food, fellowship, and church family. Everyone is welcome. Feel free to bring a friend!
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We invite all women to join in our purpose "to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. We are turning “faith, hope and love into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the world.”
Contact: Glenda Eastridge 865-984-8682 eastridge_gs@bellsouth.net
| | Mission U, July 16-18, 2026 at State Street UMC | | UWF 2026 Program Schedule | | |
Meetings are held monthly on the 4th Tuesday at noon
for shared lunch, program, and action.
For the full 2026 Unit schedule, click here.
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Each week, the bulletin includes Continuing the Conversation: Living the Word Together, a few short questions connected to the sermon that invite reflection on how God’s Word shapes daily life.
These questions can be used over lunch after worship, around the dinner table, in a small group, or in conversation with a friend. The hope is simple: that the sermon continues beyond the benediction through thoughtful conversation and lived discipleship.
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Change for Children
Throughout the year, we invite everyone to drop their loose change into the pitcher. Change for Children is a ministry of the Holston Conference that provides grants to ministries serving children. Each year, we take the money collected in our pitcher as one of our church’s offerings to Holston Annual Conference.
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Our United Methodist Social Principles remind us,
"We affirm that all creation belongs to God... Human beings,
nonhuman animals, plants, and other sentient and nonsentient beings participate in the community of creation, and their flourishing depends upon the care of all God's creation."
August 2026
Start with something. Choose one or two easy changes to make, perhaps swapping single-use water bottles for a reusable one or refusing plastic bags. Commit to your action and allow it to lead you to another “something” you can do for Earth.
Work together. Join or create a local effort, perhaps to clean up a waterway or to help plant a pollinator garden. Or donate to a large-scale organization that can use your support to make a greater difference.
Stay ambitious. The goal is big change. Start with a small action, but keep your eyes, mind, and heart open to opportunities that move you—and those with you—closer to what you desire for the sake of Earth and all its inhabitants.
Act for the good of all. Individual actions have a collective impact. For example, when one person installs solar panels or buys an EV, it signals that renewable energy is desirable. When more individuals buy in, that creates demand, which drives down cost, expands investment, creates jobs, and pressures politicians to deliver for their constituents. Apply the same principle to all the places you can act for good.
If a move is on your timetable, flatten any shipping boxes you receive and store them for when you need to start packing. If you’ve just moved, advertise through your networks to find someone who can use the boxes again.
Use and reuse the same natural fiber dryer balls 1,000-plus times instead of single-use, chemical-laden dryer sheets. Think of the difference for your wallet, your health, and the landfill.
For packed lunches for school, purchase foodstuffs in the largest package available and then divvy them out into reusable containers for the day. Avoid the trash of “snack size” packaging that adds to the landfill, teach your children an alternative to the throw-away culture, and empower them to do something good for the environment.
Change your light habits. To save money and Earth, transition to LED bulbs. Also, engage the whole family in turning off lights when they are not in use. This easy practice is a reminder to care for Earth in other actions too.
Avoid the toxic trio: food, plastic, and heat. Do not cook meals in a sealed plastic bag. Don’t heat up leftovers in plastic in the microwave. The heat releases chemicals from the plastic into the food you consume.
Tree planting season (September–March) is coming. Now is the time to investigate potential tree sources and planting services, including local government, nonprofit foundations, and nursery businesses. Trees pull down carbon from the atmosphere and nourish the soil, provide habitat and food for birds and other pollinators, and give shade in the summer and allow sun in the winter, reducing the need for fossil fuel energy.
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Church Finance
Year-to-Date Giving: $87,307
Estimated Year-to-Date Expenses: $87,616
Annual Budget: $150,200
August 23, 2026
Sunday School - 18
Worship - 48
May - June
Peanut Butter 79 lbs
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Ron and Cathy Kudich: nephew Bill Stec
Sharon Tippton: April Smith, husband, Chip with leukemia
Mary Lynn Roy: Regina Orr, recovery cancer surgery.
Chip Hultquist: Vicky Bowling
Those Grieving
Pam Gildre: Carrie, dealing with cancer
Mary Lynn Roy: Sharon Mitchell, liver cancer.
Hilde Phipps: brother Doug cancer.
Cindy Wells: Dennis Walker
Our Nation and the political unrest
Seedbed Initiative – praying for next steps in ministry
Julie Hamlin: Nephew, Tim Kopf.
Dan Moore: Margaret with ongoing health issue
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