The Thanksgiving Holiday is here! In observance of Thanksgiving, the church offices and building will be closed on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving! | | “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way. Such generosity produces thanksgiving to God through us.” ~2 Corinthians 9: 11 | | |
We should all give and give generously. That is how we say “thank you” to God for the abundant life God provides us. Giving is how we prioritize God and reflect the value of God’s work in our lives. What we know to be true is that there is great joy in giving generously, and once the habit is established, then giving more is far easier. In this wonderful cycle, God blesses us, we give thanks to God by sharing our gifts, and through the sharing of our gifts, God’s work in the world grows.
We invite you to give in gratitude to God and be part of expanding God’s work in and through the ministries of First United Methodist Church as we celebrate Commitment Sunday this Sunday, November 23. If you can't make it, you can still complete your estimate of giving by mailing it to the church office (1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830) or online at the link below.
| | First Church's annual Church Charge Conference was held on Sunday, November 16. On a beautiful afternoon, approximately 35 church members gathered and heard an inspiring message from District Superintendent Ann Robins. We approved Sheila Michel as a certified Lay Speaker and Josh Sumter to pursue Deacon's orders in the United Methodist Church. Together, we celebrated Community Meals, First Recovery, Clean Water for the Home, Stephen Ministry, Shoppes, and all the wonderful people who have agreed to serve in and through First Church in the coming year. To see the approved committee and team leaders and members for FUMC in 2026, follow this link. | | Stephen Ministry Training Rescheduled | | The Stephen Ministry training class, originally scheduled to start in September, has been postponed until January, so you still have time to sign up for this special opportunity. The class will run on Tuesday evenings for 17 consecutive weeks beginning January 6 and ending April 28. Classes will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in joining the class, please contact Pastor Denna (dhornby@fumcor.org), Dan Ingersoll (dingersoll3@comcast.net), Anne Leitnaker (anne.leitnaker@gmail.com), or Peg Ashline (ashline27@bellsouth.net) no later than today, November 21. For more information, check us out at fumcor.org/stephen-ministry. | | Warming Center Volunteer Training | | |
As we gear up for the coming cold season, TORCH and Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church members, along with case workers from Helen Ross McNabb, will be hosting a meeting for past and potential volunteers of the Oak Ridge Warming Center. Topics will include the logistics of the warming center, what to expect, emergency procedures, and more. If you have volunteered in the past, or would like to learn more about being a volunteer for this life-saving service, please join in this special training tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Oak Ridge UUC (809 Oak Ridge Tpk.).
Please email Christina Elliot (christina.r.elliot@gmail.com or oruucwarmingshelter@gmail.com) to RSVP for the training or with any questions.
As a reminder, the warming center is only for adults (18+). Each winter, TORCH spends significant funds to help families with children, disabled, and sick folks in other ways. Donations are always appreciated.
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Any elves out there?
We need your help in two ways!
First, you can help hang wreaths around the church following 11:00 a.m. worship this Sunday, November 23.
You can also help by decorating the Chrismon tree in the sanctuary on Monday, November 24, at 5:00 p.m. It will take about 90 minutes. The tree will be assembled; we’ll be adding the beautiful Chrismons.
Invite new friends and join the fun. We need tall and not-so-tall helpers, ladder climbers, and people who stay grounded. All are welcome!
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As many of you know, we continue to provide a drive-through meal for the community every Wednesday evening, with a fabulous group of volunteers handing out about 180 meals each week. For the last several years, for Thanksgiving, we have given each car that came through a pie, and we would love to do that again!
Please drop off pies (that do not need to be refrigerated) the week of Thanksgiving, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26. Bring pies to the main office or drop them off in the Welcome Center. Thank you so much for helping to make people’s holidays bright!
| | First Recovery Annual Thanksgiving Dinner | | |
The First Recovery ministry will be holding its annual Thanksgiving Dinner on November 26. This is one of the biggest events of the year for the recovery ministry—a celebration of gratitude that, for many of the people we serve, may be the only Thanksgiving meal they experience.
This special evening is made possible through the support of our congregation and dedicated First Recovery volunteers. We are currently seeking donations of side dishes, as well as volunteers to help with preparation and serving.
If you feel led to help, please contact Matt Holder at mholder@fumcor.org or 865-603-7932.
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Advent Pointsettia orders are due soon. These beautiful plants adorn our worship spaces during the Advent and Christmas season and may be purchased in honor or in memory of family, friends, and other loved ones. Orders may be placed by filling out an order form and returning it with cash or a check made out to First United Methodist Church with "poinsettias" in the memo line. Order forms are available with the ushers in both worship spaces and in the office. All orders must be returned with payment no later than Wednesday, November 26. Contact Josh Sumter (jsumter@fumcor.org) for more information.
| | Support Christmas Shoppes | | |
For some, it's the most magical time of the year. For others, it is the most stressful. This year in particular, we have seen a huge influx of our Community partners asking us to help with families at Christmas. The recent reduction in SNAP benefits will have a butterfly effect as we go into the holiday season with more families unable to afford gifts for their children.
The Christmas Shoppes are ready and willing, but we need your help. We anticipate serving close to 140 children this year. But we can only do that through your gifts. If you would like to sponsor a child and shop for them, you can do so by following the link below.
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Your unwrapped gifts are due back to the church no later than Sunday, December 7.
If you want to help but the idea of shopping for a child you don't know is a bit daunting, all financial contributions go to purchasing supplies and gifts for the families referred to us by our Community partners such as the local school systems, United Way, TORCH, and ADFAC. We are planning to spend around $100 per child on gifts. Some kids are asking for toys, some coats, and we even have a teenager asking for a bed. If you would like to make a financial donation, all you have to do is follow the link below and enter an amount on the "Shoppes" line, or you can write a check to FUMCOR with Shoppes on the memo line.
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We are also in need of:
- Gift cards for teenagers (fast food, Cinemark)
- New and like-new books for all ages
- Gifts for kids to give parents (candles, tools, perfume/cologne)
- Volunteers—contact Ashley Craven at fumcorshoppes@gmail.com
All contributions are greatly appreciated and help us continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus .
| | Got Your Advent Study Book? | | |
Have you chosen your Advent study yet? Please consider Bethlehem: An Advent Journey, written by the Rev. David Graybeal. Dave is a United Methodist Pastor and member of The Holston Annual Conference who has served churches in southwestern England and east Tennessee. He is also an adjunct professor of religion at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Dave will be here at First Church on December 14 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss his book. Look for more information about that event as the date draws closer. If you would like a copy of Bethlehem: An Advent Journey, books are available to pick up in the office for $12.
| | Beginning December 2 and continuing through the Advent season, join Gielda Reese and friends for Visio Divina. Visio divina is "divine seeing," the practice of praying with a work of art. By incorporating art into prayer, visio divina invites us to bring our sense of sight as well as our imagination into our relationship with God. Gielda will be guiding us every Tuesday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Room 204 as we create our own artwork and grow in Christ this Advent season! So that we have enough materials, please call the church office (865-483-4357) as soon as possible to register. | | Christmas Homebound Visitation | | |
Can you deliver a poinsettia to our homebound members this Christmas? If so, please follow the link below to complete the online visitation volunteer form, or get in touch with Pastor Denna (dhornby@fumcor.org) or Betty Lou Alspaugh (alspaughbl@gmail.com). Delivery begins December 1.
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November Special Offering -
Christmas Shoppe
| | The monthly Special Offering for November will go to support First Church's Christmas Shoppe. Shoppes season is in full swing, and your support is greatly appreciated! Monetary donations will help provide Christmas meals and staples for families, as well as Christmas gifts for our neighbors in need. To support Shoppes and give to the November Special Offering, follow the link below. | |
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Worship for November 23
Commitment Sunday - Giving in Gratitude
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 100
1 Thessalonians 5: 14-18
Matthew 14: 13-21
Luke 17: 11-19
8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - Multipurpose Room
Preaching: Rev. Ken Sauer, Rev. Clair Sauer
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In the Hospital
Mike Cates
Dismissed
Dee Crumm
Jim Parks
Tiddle Thomas
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Offering 11-3-2025 through 11-9-2025: $20,293
2025 YTD Offering: $1,197,260
2024 YTD Offering: $1,165,714
November Special Offering (Shoppes): $1,425
Thank you to all of you who mailed in your financial gifts or continued to give online.
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