Our Connection Fair rescheduled to this Sunday, Feb. 8

We will be having our Connection Fair this Sunday, Feb. 8, in the Gathering Hall between services from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM!

The Connection Fair is a way to connect newer and older members or visitors to a group within the church. Sometimes that face-to-face connection is just what’s needed to help someone try out a new group.

Unlike our bigger Ministry Fair, this will be for our open small groups, Bible studies, and Sunday School classes to allow a more intimate setting for mingling and conversation to find a group that may be just right for you!

Contact Tammy Morgan for more details at tammy@woodmontcc.org 

Midweek Worship tomorrow, Feb. 4

February's Midweek Worship will feature a short message by Dr. Donovan McAbee at 6:15 PM in Carpenter Chapel, where the heat was restored last week. There will not be a fellowship dinner for this particular event.

This is a full-band, casual service meant to give you a midweek uplift and reset. Come for some encouragement, music, and fellowship!

Intro to Woodmont Feb. 22

If you’re new to Woodmont, then we want to see you at our next Intro to Woodmont luncheon on Sunday, Feb. 22, at noon in the boardroom! This is a chance to meet with Clay and some of our leaders to learn more about Woodmont and if God is calling you to make this your church home. Lunch is served and you are warmly invited! Childcare is available with an RSVP to tammy@woodmontcc.org

Last week to sign up for "Dinner For 8"

Coming later this month, sign up now for “Dinner For 8” at Woodmont! Meet over dinner with some amazing people from our church once a month in February, March, April, & May. Here’s how it works! Give us your name and contact info and we’ll group you with eight new people you may have never met before, with whom you can share your story and get to know better - the kind of people who could very well become your friends for life! You can meet at someone’s home, a favorite restaurant, or a fun location like a park - it’s your choice!

Click the button below to fill out our registration form and we’ll help you find your “Dinner For 8” group!

Everybody is doing the best they can to recover from this devastating ice storm. We still have many members of our church without power after 10 days! The church boiler was badly damaged by the storm and will most likely need to be replaced. This is what heats the sanctuary, gym, gathering hall, and a number of classrooms. We will have worship this Sunday morning, Feb. 8, and will send out the schedule later in the week. Services may have to be in the chapel. Please stay tuned! I am grateful to everybody who opened up the church this past weekend for family to come and be together.

We have seen a lot of good this week. Friends and family welcome each other into their homes. Neighbors check on neighbors. Shelters open up and people become concerned for one another. NES line workers pulling all night shifts. It seems like it always takes the storms and calamities of life to bring people together. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because we realize that we are all in this together and making it the best we can. Natural disasters don’t discriminate. At the same time, these situations evoke frustration, anger, and impatience. Why is it taking so long to fix this? What is going on? Whose fault is it? Stress can wear on anybody.

Human beings are complicated creatures and have various motivations. In times of crisis, our natural response is to first care for ourselves and our families. Once this is covered, we then shift to checking on the people around us. If you are unsettled and forced out of your home for multiple days, going to either a friend’s house or a hotel, you feel disoriented. It can be hard to check on others when your own situation feels unsettled and chaotic. This is the ongoing human dilemma - self-care balanced with the care of others. Jesus said, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” This implies that we must love and care for ourselves in a healthy way before we can love others. People who have low self-respect will have a hard time loving others. Hurting people always seem to hurt others. This is a timeless truth that becomes a vicious cycle. 

On Sunday, I shared some lessons to keep in mind as we continue to emerge from this natural disaster. First, remember we will get through it. We always do. This too shall pass. Second, recovery from this will take significant time. Many homes and businesses are significantly damaged. Many trees are gone. Thousands still don’t have power and it’s below freezing outside. Debris and limbs will be piled up on the streets for weeks. Third, Christian people always have a responsibility to look out for others. We must check on our neighbors, family, and friends to see how they are doing. We should ask how we can help them. We will only get through this working together. Fourth, let this situation be a reminder that we tend to take so many blessings in life for granted like heat, warm water, a roof over our head, and food on the table. This type of crisis truly puts all that into perspective. We should all become more aware and grateful for these basic blessings that we can be guilty of overlooking. Lastly, once we get through this difficult period, let’s remember to be there for other communities in their time of need. This will certainly not be the last natural disaster. Others will need our help in the future.

Life is fragile. It can change overnight with one storm. Let’s help each other get through this and press forward. 

Welcome, new members!

Wes & Barbara White • Joined Jan. 22

2026 Focus Areas

Every new year is a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and a chance to realign and refocus. At Woodmont, we have identified three focus areas for 2026:

DEEPER DISCIPLESHIP – Moving from just being a Christian to knowing Christ better. Our current sermon series on the gospel of John stresses the importance of “believing in Jesus.” We will also be lifting up our discipleship path at Woodmont.

LIFE GROUPS – In addition to our “Dinner For 8” groups, we want to see more life groups formed at Woodmont. Life groups cannot be assigned. They must be formed by people who want to share life together.

EXECUTE OUR VISION – We had a very successful capital campaign this fall. Over $21 million has been committed to build a new family life center and additional parking on our campus. Our goal is to break ground on this project by early summer. 

This Sunday, Feb. 8: "Restoring Power, Sanity, & Hope"

Clay Stauffer • "The Gospel of John" series • John 8:12, 31-38, and Romans 7:14-15

Our schedule for this Sunday is:

• TBD - stay tuned right here to your inbox!

Ash Wednesday Feb. 18

The season of Lent begins with our Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 18 at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary with scripture, meditations, special music, the application of the ashes, and a sermon from Clay Stauffer. Dinner will be served at 5:30 PM and you can click the button below to register.

The season of Lent traditionally has been a time for reflection on the disciplines of living the Spirit-filled life. Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 25, and continuing for multiple weeks, Woodmont will offer a variety of experiences designed to deepen one’s own faith and spiritual practice. Wednesday Night Dinner will be available in the gym at 5:30 PM on Feb. 25, March 4, and March 11 (class dates will vary according to class because of Spring Break schedules - see class descriptions for exact dates).

If you would like to inquire about childcare options, contact Abby McLean at abby@woodmontcc.org

Please pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/4rc3sh2p 

LENT CLASSES:

“Christian Character & Moral Leadership” with Dr. Clay Stauffer

DATES: THREE WEEKS - Feb. 25, March 4 & 11 – 6:15 PM in Boardroom

This class is geared specifically for Elders, Deacons, and anybody who wants to develop their leadership skills. Clay will be discussing select chapters from his recent book, “What the World Needs Now.” Various scriptures will be incorporated each week.

"Finding the Sacred in Everyday Life" - Led by Vicki Askew and Dr. Christy Ridings

DATES: THREE WEEKS - Feb. 25, March 4, & March 11 – 6:15 PM in Room 232

This class is for anyone looking to find meaning and connection to God in the daily rhythms of life. We’ll explore spiritual formation in three areas of the everyday so that we can become more vividly aware of God’s presence. The three class sessions are: "Everyday Rhythms," "Sacred Spaces in Everyday Places," and "Connecting through Community." The class will be interactive and you will learn formation practices from Vicki and Christy as well from each other, with the goal of being more mindful of God’s attentiveness to us as we live out our lives in the ordinary and the extraordinary moments.

“In the Beginning” with Rev. Justin Gung

DATES: TWO WEEKS - Feb. 25 & March 4 – 6:15 PM in Room 105

Join us for a two-week series on the opening chapters of the Bible. In the great drama of Scripture, Genesis 1-3 serve as "Act I." These defining chapters “set the stage” for the rest of the Bible, which we come to realize is the story of God’s redemptive love for all creation.

"Meeting Jesus at the Table" with Tammy Morgan

DATES: FOUR WEEKS beginning Feb. 25 - 6:15 PM in Room 200

"Jesus imparts wisdom as he shares the wine and grants forgiveness as he distributes the fish." We will be using the book "Meeting Jesus at the Table" to have a great discussion and reflect on what it means to be called to follow Jesus in our own lives individually and as communities of faith. Book link: https://a.co/d/eogqb3L

"The Story That Shapes Us" postponed to Feb. 11

"The Story That Shapes Us" is a welcoming, engaging introduction to the Bible for adults who want both spiritual depth and intellectual credibility. Whether you’ve studied Scripture for years or feel unsure where to begin, this course offers a thoughtful space to explore the Bible’s big story — and discover how it continues to speak into our lives today.

Together, we’ll look at how the Bible came to be, how its different voices fit together, and how we can read Scripture faithfully in a changing world. Along the way, you’ll gain tools for understanding context, asking good questions, and recognizing the themes that connect Genesis to Revelation.

Most of all, this study invites us to listen for God’s presence in Scripture and to consider how these ancient texts still shape our hope, our community, and our daily walk of faith.

Join Rev. Beth Pattillo and Rev. Randy Smith for a journey of clarity, curiosity, and spiritual renewal by registering here: https://bit.ly/49g8JqD

When: Wednesdays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Feb. 11 to March 18.

Questions? Contact Beth Pattillo at bethpattillo@gmail.com



Also, we want to gauge the interest in an evening study via Zoom during the same time frame. If you are interested in knowing more, please fill out the link above as well.

Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the shortness and uncertainty of human life:

• “You are like a morning mist that appears for a while but soon vanishes.” – James 4:14
• “Like a dream, like grass that appears in the morning, in the morning it flourishes; in the evening it fades and withers.” – Psalm 90:5-6
• “Like a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.” – Psalm 144:4

We tend to think that sudden death happens to others, but not to us. But, let me tell you, this new strand of flu – Type A – can change your thinking on that in a fleeting moment. I know. It happened to me last week.

Friday, January 16, I was feeling great and on the go all day. The next day I was watching some Saturday afternoon TV while Anne ran errands. Suddenly, when I decided to get out of my chair, I discovered I could barely do it. My legs were weak and my balance was unsteady. That night, when I went to get into bed, I was so weak I slipped off the bed onto the floor. When I tried to get up, I had no strength. So I told Anne to just give me a pillow and I’d sleep on the floor. I didn’t feel bad. I had no pain or nausea or headache. I was just weak.

Of course, all this scared Anne to death. After consulting with Clay’s wife, Megan (a physician), Anne called 911. The Fire Department ambulance arrived immediately and four great medics loaded me up and took me to the ER. There the real action started. As I said, I wasn’t feeling bad; I was just weak. My blood pressure was 50/30. That’s right – 50 over 30. The ER doctors immediately gave me a very strong IV that got my blood pressure back up but it was such a strong dose that it had to be carefully monitored. Hence, I became an ICU patient. 

Because there are so many people very sick with this Type A Flu, there were no beds in ICU. So I was an ICU patient still in an ER bed (at least I wasn’t in the hallway as were many patients in the ER.) I was in the ER bed until Sunday night when they moved me to the ICU for careful monitoring. I never had any pain or felt bad and once they got my blood pressure back up, I felt pretty good. I actually said I enjoyed my stay in the ICU and a nurse said they had never heard a patient say such a thing. But I was feeling good. The heart-healthy meals were pretty good. I had a TV to watch the NFL championship game (although it was only a 24-inch screen). And I enjoyed talking with the different nurses as the shifts changed and hearing their life stories. So all in all, I did enjoy myself. 

Monday morning, I was surprised to see that doctors were working. Didn’t take the MLK Jr. holiday off. They came by and told me I was being discharged from ICU to a room upstairs. But again, due to the shortage of beds, I was not actually moved out of the ICU until Tuesday evening. After one night in the room, I was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. I was ready to go because being in a private room wasn’t nearly as much fun as being in the ICU unit.

As I look back over this experience, I realize how close I came to actually dying. If Anne had listened to me and just let me sleep on the floor, I might not be here now. You don’t get over what caused my 50/30 BP on your own. In fact, I would have continued to decline rapidly. But we always think a sudden death will happen to someone else, not us. That’s especially true when we are feeling so good... but the next moment the bottom suddenly falls out. So I encourage you to never take your health for granted, and always do what you can and should to take care of your health. As I remember, my father always said when I was a young boy, “If you’ve got your health, you can do anything.” And don’t ever think it can’t happen to you.

Prison Ministry update

Thank you, thank you. Your generosity overflowed in a beautiful way toward those who are incarcerated. Our church family donated more than 800 toothbrushes for the Christmas boxes given to the men at Riverbend Prison. On top of that, nearly 100 Christmas cards were sent, sharing the hope of Christmas and reminding them that they are not forgotten.  

At the next Prison Ministry monthly meeting, Rev. Stacy Rector will present, "Too Flawed to Fix? Perspectives on Tennessee's Death Penalty."  Rev. Rector is the Executive Director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, an organization whose mission is to honor life by abolishing the death penalty, preventing violence, and supporting victims of violent crime. The group will meet in the Boardroom on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 PM.

Church calendar

For a full list of everything happening at Woodmont, click the button below to view our church calendar.