First Things for May 23, 2025

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Food for Zimbabwe

All the buckets have been claimed. Thank you so much for your commitment to sharing food with our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe! If you picked up a bucket, please fill it with the items listed below only (this helps ensure the kits get through customs easily). Include $8.00 for shipping (make checks payable to First UMC with "buckets" in the memo line), and return the packed bucket to the Welcome Center no later than this Sunday, May 25.

1 bag of sugar (4-5 lb)

1 bag of self-rising flour (4-5 lb)

1 bag of rice (2 lb)

1 bag of dried beans (2 lb)

1 powdered milk (no larger than 64 oz)

1 bottle of cooking oil (48 oz or less)

2 cans of meat: ham (2 - 1 lb cans) or spam, tuna, chicken

Memorial Day Closure

In observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, the church offices and building will be closed. This includes First Steps Preschool, Keystone Day Program, and all other activities. We hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend with family, friends, and loved ones, and we look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Glow Dance Party

Children and Family Ministries invites you to celebrate the end of the school year at the annual Glow Dance Party! This year, the party will be held in the Multipurpose Room on Friday, May 30, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Contact Shelby Fowler (sfowler@fumcor.org) for more information.

Get Registered for VBS

Register now for Vacation Bible School! Students Pre-K (5 years) through 6th Grade can join us for a week of fun as we learn about the Fruits of the Spirit through engaging Bible stories, crafts, games, and more!

First Steps Picnic and Trike-a-Thon Fundraiser

On Friday, May 30th, First Steps Child Development Center will be hosting its annual end-of-year picnic for students and their families from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This year, in conjunction with the picnic, we will also be holding our St. Jude's Trike-a-thon fundraiser and carnival! This fundraiser benefits St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and 100% of all proceeds from the trike-a-thon and carnival go to St. Jude's. Lolli & Bobo's ice cream truck will also be there for purchase as an added treat. First Steps is seeking volunteers to help with the carnival games for this fundraiser. If you would like to volunteer, please click the link below, contact First Steps Director Julie Martin (fsdirector@fumcor.org), or call the First Steps office at 865-483-6291.

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Stephen Ministry Training Coming This Fall

FUMC has a 35-year tradition of offering Stephen Ministry support to our congregation. Help us continue that tradition. In conjunction with Grace Lutheran and First Cumberland Presbyterian churches, we will be offering a training course this fall for those interested in becoming a Stephen Minister. Classes are held once per week for a total of 17 weeks beginning September 23, 2025. The classes cover a broad spectrum of topics, including Christian caregiving, effective listening, confidentiality, maintaining boundaries, and process-oriented relationships. If you have any interest in pursuing this vital and personally gratifying ministry, please contact Rev. Ken Sauer (ksauer@fumcor.org) or any of our Stephen Leaders and Ministers.

Around the Community

May Special Offering - Music Ministries

Throughout the month of May, the special offering will support the FUMC Music Ministry. For years, this church has influenced many lives through music, bringing congregants closer to God in worship and offering activities for all ages. The Music Ministry currently involves approximately 75 regular participants in various groups, including the Parish Adult Choir, Parish Youth Choir, Children’s Treble Choir, Schola Cantorum, Carillons handbell ensemble, and the brand new FUMC Orchestra. Other musicians contribute through vocal or instrumental solos and by participating in special choirs.

In traditional services alone, around 223 musical pieces are performed or sung each year. This number only includes preludes, anthems, offertories, and postludes. If additional music such as psalms, service music, introits, and unique hymns were accounted for, the total would well exceed 300. In the past year, the children's choir, adult choir, and handbells have experienced growth. FUMC has seen the emergence of another large ensemble in the form of the orchestra. On June 21, 2025, FUMC will host a concert by the internationally renowned, professional handbell ensemble, The Raleigh Ringers. Our own Carillons handbell ensemble just attended the Smoky Mountain Ring handbell festival. This June, a group of church members from children to adults will attend the Music & Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska.

There are so many additional expenses for the activities listed above (as well as many others not listed) that are not included in the budget, such as music, robes, stand lights, and other necessary tools. Tuning and maintaining the pipe organ and six pianos also require financial resources. The line items for handbell-related purchases and children's choir-related purchases were removed years ago. Additionally, any trip taken by the Music Ministry incurs costs. Our music ministry is revitalizing in tangible ways, but it needs your support to continue growing.

Music has a profound impact on us, creating lasting memories and friendships. The Music Ministry humbly asks for your support of the May Special Offering, which will benefit all musical endeavors at our church so that FUMC can continue to inspire the community through song.

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