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July 12, 2026
Psalm 126:1-3; Zephaniah 3:17
"Delighted by God"
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What is Christian joy? Is it simply happiness when life is going well, or is it something deeper?
This Sunday, we begin a new worship series, The Seasons of Christian Joy, by exploring one of the most beautiful truths in Scripture: God delights in us before we accomplish anything.
Through Psalm 126 and Zephaniah 3:14–20, we will discover that our worth is not measured by our achievements, our productivity, or our success. Instead, our joy begins with God's gracious love for us. The prophet Zephaniah offers a remarkable image of God rejoicing over God's people with singing—a reminder that before we ever serve God, we are already God's beloved.
Whether you've had a week filled with celebration or one marked by challenges, this service offers an opportunity to remember God's faithfulness, receive God's grace, and make room for the joy that comes from knowing you are deeply loved.
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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
United Women of Faith - July 22, 12:00, Fellowship Hall
Blessing of the Backpacks – August 2, during worship.
Bring a bag to be blessed *
Finance Meeting - August 3, 6:30 Library
Choir Practice returns August 4
2nd Thursday Social - August 13, 6:30 Pizza Hut, Alcoa Hwy
Council Meeting – Next Meeting August 17, 6:30
You can read June's minutes here.
United Women of Faith - August 25, 12:00 Fellowship Hall
District Day with the Bishop – September 2, more info to come
Finance Meeting -September 7, 6:30 Library
2nd Thursday Social - September 10, 6:30 Pizza Hut, Alcoa Hwy
Council Meeting – Next Meeting September 21, 6:30
You can read June's minutes here.
Dedication of Natalie's Walk - September 27
*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 6:30
- Council Meeting - Every third 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 (On break until Aug 4)
- Tuesday Cub Scouts Pack 285 6:30 pm Education Building
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Wednesday Book Club 6:30 pm – Last Wednesday of the month
- 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 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. Or you can click on this Excel form Click Here
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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 | | |
Camp in the Community: Thank You!
Last week, our church was filled with energy, laughter, and meaningful connections as we hosted Camp in the Community. With 51 children registered, the week was a wonderful reminder of the impact a caring community can have when people come together to serve.
Behind every activity, meal, and smiling face was a dedicated team of volunteers. More than 20 volunteers worked faithfully behind the scenes, preparing food, cleaning up, and taking care of countless details that helped make the week run smoothly. Their generosity and willingness to serve created a welcoming environment where children could learn, play, and experience God's love.
One of the many blessings of the week was the incredible generosity of our congregation. Because of your donations, we had more than enough food to care for everyone who participated in Camp in the Community. As your pastor, I was deeply encouraged — not only by your generosity, but by the confidence of knowing that together we would be able to feed our campers, volunteers, and staff well throughout the week.
When Camp concluded, there was still some food remaining. After setting aside what we could use for upcoming church events, we donated the rest to Wesley House in Knoxville to support their ministry and the people they serve. Your generosity continued to bless others beyond our own congregation, extending Christ's love into the wider community.
Camp in the Community was much more than a week of fun — it was a beautiful expression of our congregation living out its faith through hospitality, service, and care for our neighbors. Thank you to every volunteer, every donor, every family, and every child who helped make this week such a joyful success. Together, we witnessed how God multiplies acts of generosity into blessings that reach far beyond what any one of us could accomplish alone.
I attached a video recap of the week below.
Click on the image to view it.
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Join us as we explore Experiencing Emmanuel.
• How do we experience God in times of joy and in challenging times of anxiety, fear, or sadness?
• Can we experience God’s presence in community as we work for justice?
Come learn together to transform the world! Mission u will explore the times in the Bible when people experienced Emmanuel, or “God with us.” What can we learn from these encounters with Emmanuel to inform our discernment of faith, hope, and love in action?
The study leaders for the adult classes are: the Reverend Walter Cross, Reverend Dr. Angela Hardy Cross, Ms. Karla Kurtz, Reverend Carol Price Guthrie, and a Virtual Study Class led by Ms. Becky Hall.
The youth study leader will be the Reverend Austin Byerly, and the children's study leader will be Deaconess Mitzi Sadler-Thorne.
This study is open to all clergy, laity, young adults, and youth!
Come join us!!
July 17 - 18, 2026
State Street United Methodist Church, 650 Valley Dr, Bristol, VA
Sponsored by the Holston Conference United Women in Faith
Click here for the brochure and more information!
Register online here!
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Next Linking Laity ZOOM Meeting
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
The next Linking Laity for Empowerment will feature Deaconess Margaret Frazier, Intergenerational Ministry Specialist. Margaret will share the different programs and events for our various age groups. Please share this with others and have them register. You will have time to share or ask questions. We would love to see YOU on ZOOM!! Register here.
For more information, email Becky Hall at BeckyGHall@gmail.com.
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Blessing of the Backpacks – A Prayer for the Journey Ahead
The beginning of a new school year is often a sign that life is settling back into familiar routines. As students prepare for classrooms and learning, many others are also returning to the rhythms of work, volunteering, caregiving, and the many responsibilities that fill our days. Our Blessing of the Backpacks celebrates all of these journeys.
During Wondering Time on Saturday, August 2, everyone is invited to bring the bag that accompanies them through daily life — a school backpack, work bag, briefcase, volunteer bag, diaper bag, or even a play bag. Together, we will offer a prayer asking God to bless not only the bags we carry, but also the people who carry them and the places they take us.
Whether you are heading back to school, returning to the workplace, caring for loved ones, serving in the community, or simply embracing a new season of life, this blessing is a reminder that God travels with us wherever our path leads. All are welcome as we begin this season with gratitude, hope, and the assurance of God's presence.
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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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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 17-19, 2025 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.
| | 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. | | |
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."
July 2026
Get rid of your junk catalogs. Over 100 million trees are cut down annually to produce junk mail. You get waste, clutter, and deforestation. Opt out of unwanted catalogs through Catalog Choice, a free service from the Story of Stuff.org.
Let your lawn grow taller. Traditionally manicured lawns do not allow enough water to sink into the ground during peak rainfall events. Instead, the rain washes over the surface, carrying pollutants with it. Taller grass has deeper roots, which absorb rainwater, replenish groundwater, and keep streams alive during drought times.
Get rid of concrete, brick, and tile where you can. Replace it with soil and plants or with chipped wood for a pathway. Temperatures will drop, rainwater will soak in, and pollinators will find a home.
Retreat to renew. With your family, friends, or church group spend a day or more at a United Methodist camp or retreat center. Immerse yourselves in God’s creation and community. Hike, paddle, explore, volunteer, and decompress in these “sacred places apart.” Check with your church office to find a camp nearby.
Improve access to nature. Research has found that two hours a week in nature significantly improves health and wellbeing. Lower income neighborhoods, however, have much less access to greenspace. Speak up and dig down to advocate for parks and plant more trees.
Don’t mix hot and plastic. Heat causes plastic to release microplastics and harmful chemicals, which harm human health. Don’t microwave food in plastic. Don’t drink hot coffee or tea in “paper” cups that are lined with plastic. Don’t feed your baby with a plastic baby bottle. Use shatterproof glass or ceramic instead.
Shop farmers markets. Your purchases support pasture-raised meats and eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, organic and regenerative farming practices. Additionally, because the produce is from the local area, transport emissions and costs are cut.
Wash your car without wasting water. Use a bucket and rag; don’t let a hose run. Or take the car to a car wash that recycles water.
Reduce food waste is a climate action that’s accessible to us all. Choosing appropriate portions or planning for leftovers, monitoring and using what’s in the fridge, and composting are each actions that reduce wasted food and therefore methane, which harms the planet.
Conserve water. Set up a rain barrel, plant tea bags with your flowers and veggies to hold moisture longer, use leftover pet water on the plants. Inside, fix leaks, add a low-flush toilet, install a fine-spray shower head, take shorter showers, run the dishwasher only when full. Presoak silverware and dishes in a container rather than rinsing with running water.
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Church Finance
Year to Date Giving: $57,122
Estimated Year-to-Date Expenses: $62,583
Annual Budget: $150,200
July 5, 2026
Sunday School - 13
Worship - 43
March - April
Peanut Butter 97 lbs
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Chip Hultquist: family and friends of Calvin Jones
Bill West: daughter-in-law, Hannah.
Karen Mathas recovering from surgery
Those Grieving
Pam Gildre: Carrie, dealing with cancer
Dianne Scent: sister Karen, radiation treatments
Mary Lynn Roy: Sharon Mitchell, liver cancer.
Hilde Phipps: brother Doug cancer.
Cindy Wells: Dennis Walker
Tracy Gormley and Beverly Jordan: mother, Pat.
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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