Warming Center Support Needed

The Oak Ridge warming center (hosted by TORCH at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church) is in desperate need of volunteers for the coming weekend as bitterly cold weather moves in. If you are able to help make this vital ministry possible, please follow the link below to sign up for a time slot. Thank you for loving our neighbors!

Inclement Weather Preparations

We are closely monitoring the weather system forecasted to move through our area this weekend. By 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, an email will be sent out with information about the worship services on Sunday. For now, you may assume that worship will proceed as usual, but you will hear for sure either way tomorrow afternoon!

Warming Shelter: For those in our community without any warm shelter on these bitterly cold nights, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is once again opening its warming shelter through the weekend. Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact them at ORUUCwarmingshelter@gmail.com

FUMCOR Inclement Weather Policy: FUMCOR, First Steps Child Development Center (CDC), and Keystone Adult Day Program will close when Oak Ridge City Schools are closed due to bad weather. If City schools open one hour late, FUMCOR, First Steps CDC, and Keystone Adult Day Program will open one hour late; if City schools close early, FUMCOR, First Steps CDC, and Keystone Adult Day Program will close early.

Always be mindful of your driving capabilities and comfort level in various conditions. Be safe and be warm!

New Grief Support Group

The loss of a loved one or another cherished relationship is often overwhelming, and we find ourselves in need of companionship in order to face our grief and move forward.

Recognizing this need, First Church is offering a Grief Support Group for those suffering loss, recent or chronic, on Thursdays, January 29 - March 12, 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Room 203. The group provides a safe, confidential setting where participants can better understand and express their grief. Brief weekly reading assignments will guide group discussion.

Co-facilitators are Gielda Reese, a retired school teacher who lost her 14-year-old daughter to cancer, and retired pastor Bob Cantrell.

Advance registration is encouraged, but not required. For more information or to register, contact Pastor Denna Hornby at dhornby@fumcor.org or 865-483-4357.

Get Your Keystone Karaoke Tickets

Tickets for Keystone Karaoke on February 7 are now for sale. If you would like to support this vibrant ministry and enjoy a fun evening, please contact Connie Warford (tenn.homes@comcast.net) or Phyllis Spangler (pspangler@fumcor.org) to purchase tickets today!

Dynamite Prayer Series

“Infrequent prayer teaches a church that God is needed only in special situations–under certain circumstances but not all. It teaches a church that God’s help is intermittently necessary, not consistently so. It leads a church to believe that there are plenty of things we can do without God’s help, and we need to bother God only when we run into especially difficult situations.” -John Onwuchekwa

A new worship series begins on February 1, as we intentionally seek God's power through a 28-day prayer experience. We are going to learn to listen to God and hear God. We are going to experience great adventures for God’s Kingdom. We hope you will plan to be part. Contact Pastors Ken (ksauer@fumcor.org) or Clair (csauer@fumcor.org) if you have questions or would like more information.

Centering Prayer

The Centering Prayer group that used to meet at First Church is now gathering at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. The group meets every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in St. Stephen's Chapel. Centering prayer lasts about an hour with 20 minutes of silent prayer time. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact Carol Gardner at (865-304-2093, gardnerwe@gmail.com) or Judy Smith (yahyahjude@yahoo.com).

KARM Card Ministry

Did you know that First Church participates in a card ministry to serve the clients of Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM)? Located in downtown Knoxville, KARM provides many essential services, including an overnight shelter. Every night (365 nights/year), KARM has 300 beds available for the unhoused in the greater Knoxville area. Across a year, KARM makes available a safe overnight shelter for as many as 110,000 people! KARM also aims to have a personal, handwritten note on "every bed, every night."

That's where you come in! First Church keeps notecards (with our church logo on the front) stocked in baskets located in both the hallway outside the Sanctuary and in the Library. You are invited at any time to pick up a pack of cards (bundled in groups of 10) and write personal notes to be placed on beds at KARM. Once you've completed the notes, simply return them to the baskets at the church.

This is a wonderful and easy service opportunity for individuals, families, and small or large groups. If you're not sure what to say, there's a card in each basket with ideas. Completed notecards will be bundled and mailed once each month. For more information, contact Judy Smith (yahyahjude@yahoo.com).

January Special Offering -

Community Assistance Fund

The special monthly offering for January will support the Community Assistance Fund. The pastors use these funds to provide gas and utilities assistance to our neighbors in need. On average, the pastors support 8-12 households each month, spending approximately $2,000.00 to help people in times of emergency. To support the January Special Offering, mail a check to the church with "Community Assistance" in the memo line, or follow the link below.

Worship for January 25

Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 9: 1-4

Psalm 27

1 Corinthians 1: 10-18

Matthew 4: 12-23

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

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



Preaching: Rev. Clair Sauer, Rev. Ken Sauer

Our Giving

Offering 1-5-2026 through 1-11-2026: $33,421

2026 YTD Offering: $34.956

2025 YTD Offering: $3,692

January Special Offering (Community Assistance Fund): $580

Offering 1-1-2026 through 1-4-2026: $1,536

2026 YTD Offering: $1,536

2025 YTD Offering: $2,257

January Special Offering (Community Assistance Fund): $535

Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.

Pastoral Staff

Ken Sauer, co-lead pastor

ksauer@fumcor.org

Clair Sauer, co-lead pastor

csauer@fumcor.org

Denna Hornby, associate pastor

dhornby@fumcor.org

Pastor on call:

865-272-9862 (call or text)

pastor@fumcor.org (email)