October 27, 2026

CHURCH WIDE EVENT

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner & Presentation
Wednesday, November 18

Dinner 5:30 p.m., Presentation 6:30 p.m.

Join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, followed by a special presentation by:

Dr. Amy Jill Levine

“Misunderstandings of Jesus”

at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel.

PLEASE RSVP HERE

November Sermon Series:

"Dangerous Emotions"
Dr. Clay Stauffer

Starting this Sunday, November 1st, we will begin a brand-new sermon series called “Dangerous Emotions.” These are emotions that we must all learn to handle and navigate as we live from day to day. Most people believe that the spiritual life matters. Even those who reject organized religion will tell you that they believe in the importance of spiritual growth and formation.

However, we live in challenging times where there are many obstacles and challenges to achieving spiritual growth and inner peace. These emotions need to be named because in many ways, they serve as “enemies of the heart” and obstacles to spiritual growth. If we don’t learn to manage them, they will manage us.

The first emotion is FEAR. We live in a culture of fear, and politicians use that fear to control us. Fear keeps us in a state of uncertainty because we never know what might happen next. Fear can be crippling and even paralyzing, sucking away our quality of life and our ability to enjoy the present.

The second emotion is ANGER, which seems to be the direct result of fear. In a highly polarized and contentious culture where partisanship has become toxic and even deadly, anger is real. We see it all around us. Einstein once said that, “Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.” Emerson said, “For every minute of anger, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” But Aristotle put it best: “Anybody can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.” Acting out in anger is usually a bad idea.

The third emotion is ENVY, much of it resulting from major socioeconomic divides within the culture. Arthur Brooks of the American Enterprise Institute once said, “We must recognize that fermenting bitterness over income differences may be powerful politics, but it injures our nation. We need aspirational leaders willing to do the hard work of uniting Americans around an optimistic vision in which anyone can earn his or her success. This will never happen when we vilify the rich or give up on the poor.” Envy is a dangerous road to travel because there is always somebody who has more. Envy is often the result of ingratitude and a lack of contentment.

The fourth emotion is LUST. Lust has destroyed many marriages and families, and decisions that are made in just a few short moments can have life-long consequences. Lust has become even more common in a culture that glorifies sex and ignores boundaries.

The fifth emotion is RESENTMENT. Failure to forgive and let go of the past keeps many people in unnecessary bondage. Some are better than others at letting go of the past.

The sixth emotion is EXCESSIVE NEGATIVITY. Psychologists have confirmed that our brains tend to automatically remember negative situations and criticism, but it takes a more concentrated effort to focus on what is good and positive. Negativity becomes a downward cycle, and there is nothing worse than two negative people feeding off each other.

In the coming weeks, we will be talking about these emotions and how, if we don’t deal with them, they can quickly become DANGEROUS. We will look at what Jesus and the Apostle Paul have to say about these things. I am also recommending John Mark Comer’s new book, “Into the Quiet” as a complement to this series.

Blessings,

Book Launch

CWF MEETING

Young Professionals

OUTREACH

Free Concert

The Bridge

A Word From Tammy Morgan

Intentional Faith 

Clay has been asking the question, “What does it truly mean to make faith and spirituality a priority in your life?” It’s a good question to sit with and reflect on.

I am currently in week eight of Co-Leading the 26/27 Leadership Woodmont Class with my good friend and mentor Randy Smith. Being with other fellow Christians who want to deepen their relationship with God, seeking to find how God has uniquely created them to be a disciple and serve in this church and beyond, is so fulfilling for me.  I truly count it as an honor and a blessing to walk into this class each week with the 12 people that have said yes to this faith journey. 

When I personally went through LW 4 years ago, one of my biggest takeaways was learning different ways of implementing Spiritual Practices into my daily routine. I already did some of the typical practices; reading scripture here and there, praying through journaling, and regular worship attendance. But LW took me deeper and I will always treasure that.

My prayer for each of you reading this today is that God would lay on your heart a strong yearning to sit down in a quiet space, with no distractions but your own thoughts, and ask the question stated above and then intentionally listen. God will respond as you embrace the stillness, it may be the first time you try or it may come slowly.

God has designed each of us to spread unconditional love and kindness which can be fulfilled in different ways, just like Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12, “12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 

One of the things asked consistently as we go through LW, is “How do I know I am doing it right?”. The answer, that speaks to prayer here, but I think speaks to all our Spiritual deepening, is quite simple; “If you find that through your prayer you have deepened your relationship with God in Jesus Christ, with yourself, and with other people, then you are ‘doing it right’. If you do not find yourself going deeper, then you may want to re-evaluate and try something new.” -Beth Pattillo, Faith Leader (LW Curriculum). 

I encourage to do the above practice of stillness and listening with God this week and see if something pulls at your heart. Not sure how to do this? Or maybe something does pull at you, and you don’t know what to do with it. Reach out to a mentor or companion and talk through it. Or give me a call, I would love to talk through it with you or connect you with a minister or mentor to walk alongside you. 

God has a joyful and fulfilling faith purpose for you. With some intentional slowing down and talking with God, I believe that purpose will shine in your life along with a deepening relationship with God.   

Trunk or Treat Fun!

Prayers for our Church Family

CONGRATULATIONS:
Caroline and Brett Bergy on the birth of their son, Baylor Hayes Johnson, on October 23. Big brother is Wake, and proud grandfather is Jerry Johnson

Katie Kronk and Matthew Loeffler who were married on October 24, 2026

NEW CONCERNS:
Sandra Kyne - Williamson County Hospital - lower back compression fracture

CONCERNS:

Pat Bell - At NHC Place at the Trace, Room 430

Lindsey Cooper - At home

Becky Griffith -NHC at The Trace - No visitors please.

Josie Gung - (daughter of Justin and April Gung) arteriovenous malformation (AVM) surgery on November 11 at Boston Children's Hospital

Jerry Ford - At home

Penny Stelling - Going home tomorrow

Barrett Sutton - Richland Place

CONTINUING PRAYERS FOR:

Savannah Bolton, daughter of John & Courtney Brain tumor

Bill Johnson - placed with At Home Hospice Care

Jennifer Lackey

Walker Sharpton, 2 1/2 yr old son of Katie and Scott Sharpton

FAMILY & FRIENDS OF MEMBERS:

Jeff Dyer, Jr. - (parents were Jeff and Jane Dyer) placed with Hospice in Knoxville

Peter Kyne, Jr., son of Sandra and Dr. Pete Kyne, in Pittsburgh

Mary Kiger's Aunt, Iva Stanley - in Key West (cancer)

GIVING

October 4: $101,805

October 11: $74,746

October 18: $111,450

October 25: $106,943

www.woodmontchristian.org

Growing disciples of Christ by seeking God, sharing love, and serving others.