First Things for July 18, 2025

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First Things Online

Pop-Up Sunday and Backpack Blessing

This Sunday, July 20, First Church students will be "popping up" to their new Sunday School classes during the Sunday School hour. As part of this promotion, and in preparation for the new school year, we will also have a backpack blessing in all three services, and we will pray for our students and school employees. Please make plans to join together in showing support for our students and their leaders as a new school year begins.

Burgers and Bluegrass

We hope you will join in support of First Recovery at "Burgers and Bluegrass" on September 21. Tickets are $85 each and are on sale now, but are going fast, so be sure to reserve your spot today! Enjoy music by "The Missing Goats," a tasty Fire & Salt burger, and a live auction, all while supporting a great cause!

First Recovery launched almost four years ago with a generous donation and a big dream. Today, First Recovery is a growing and vital ministry in the Oak Ridge area. Offering services like recovery coaching, treatment and sober living placement, employment resources, prayer and support groups, and sober social activities, FUMCOR's Recovery Ministry is addressing critical needs in our area.

Sustaining First Recovery into the future requires securing enduring funds now. This year, First Church will establish a permanent endowment for First Recovery. Our big dreams continue! A $3,000,000 endowment will fully fund First Recovery, meaning that every church budget dollar or every grant dollar helps to grow and expand the ministry. This may seem ambitious, but we would love to launch the endowment with $1,000,000. To help make this possible, a generous donor will double every dollar donated, up to $50,000!

To purchase your tickets, follow the link below or call the church office during regular business hours (865-483-4357). Can't make the event but still want to support the First Recovery endowment? You can donate here (enter the amount you wish to donate in the "Fundraising Events - First Recovery Endowment" line).

Thank you for helping us secure the impact of First Recovery for years to come!

Purchase Tickets

Back to School Bash

New Beginnings Welcomes Dr. Tanya Vargas

On Sunday, July 27, at 10:00 a.m., the New Beginnings Sunday School Class will be joined by Tanya Vargas. Tanya is a retired pediatrician and is involved with an organization called Together Podemos. Together Podemos is a nonprofit organization that serves Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and surrounding counties with the mission to empower and support our Hispanic neighbors through education, workshops, and resource connections. They strive to create a space where Hispanic families feel welcomed, valued, respected, and included while preserving their Hispanic heritage.

All are invited to join the New Beginnings Class and hear from Dr. Vargas to learn more about how we can best be the hands and feet of Christ to our neighbors who are currently facing significant fear and uncertainty. If you or your Sunday School Class or small group is interested in joining this special presentation, please let Melanie Fillauer know by emailing wkfillauer@comcast.net.

Interactive Worship in August

We are so excited about a special worship opportunity in August. You don't want to miss this! During the month of August, we will worship together through intergenerational, interactive experiences in all three worship services. Conversational messages between the pastors will be reinforced with opportunities for personal reflection and interactive prayer stations. There will be time to get to know each other better and connect more deeply with our Creator as we explore the Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition. For more information, please contact Pastor Clair (csauer@fumcor.org). We are excited to grow with you through this worship experience!

Donations Needed for Medical Mission

A medical mission team that includes FUMCOR members Jim and Sheila Michel and George and Tere Murchio will be traveling to Panama in September. The team is requesting donations of certain medical supplies in support of their work in Panama. If you are able to donate any of the following items, please drop them off in the church office during normal business hours, or contact George Murchio (georgemurchio@gmail.com). The needed items are:

triple antibiotic ointment - 36 tubes
anti-fungal cream - 36 tubes
hydrocortisone cream - 36 tubes.

Donations are needed by July 31. Thank you for your support!

New Volunteer Opportunity

The Society of St. Andrew is looking for volunteers to glean the Oak Ridge farmers' market on Saturdays. Volunteers will collect donations from produce vendors (who are already familiar with the process) at the end of the market, then deliver it to be shared with our hungry neighbors. It takes about an hour starting at 11:30. For further details, please contact Rev. Jeannie Hunter at Tennessee@endhunger.org or 615-878-6134 (call or text).

Coffee in the Community Summer Update

July Special Missions Offering -

Second Harvest of East Tennessee

This month’s special offering will benefit Second Harvest of East Tennessee. More than 213,000 East Tennessee children, seniors, and families are unsure where their next meal will come from. When you give to Second Harvest, $0.95 of every dollar is spent directly on hunger relief projects for our food-insecure neighbors, such as Food for Kids, Mobile Food Pantries that reach individuals in their own communities, and empowerment services that connect people to resources to end the cycle of poverty.

Give Today

Worship for July 20

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture Readings:

Psalm 52

Ephesians 2: 4-10

Matthew 20: 1-16

Luke 10: 38-42

8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - Multipurpose Room

Preaching: Rev. Clair Sauer, Rev. Ken Sauer

Worship Service Livestreams

In Sympathy

FUMC mourns the loss of Effie Evans McNew, mother of Debbie Fritts, who died on July 12. We ask for prayers for Debbie and Chuck, as well as all of Effie's family and friends. A graveside service was held on July 16 in Clinton.

In the Hospital/Dismissed

None that we are aware of at this time.