In the latest edition of "The Church Bell" you will find a list of Holy Week Services and information about this year's Easter Offering. Next month, one of our church members returns to South Sudan where your generosity has helped one community built a permanent church. More on the progress in Pukuka on page 4. And the Youth are back from a few days in Atlanta. Find out what "missions" they accomplished while they were there on page 8. Finally, could you walk or bicycle 100 miles in a week? Find out who in the Maryvillle District will be doing that and why on page 6.
Hope Springs It seems that we just got the Christmas decorations put away. The “he is born” phrases from Christmas carols still echo. The ashes on our foreheads came so quickly on the heels of “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Already we approach Palm Sunday. The repetitive nature of the Christian calendar is an anchor for us. The events of our personal lives may swing us from pillar to post, but the steady cycle of the Christian year is a strong foundation for our lives as spiritual pilgrims. We approach Palm Sunday…..and maybe it is the celebration of the parade we most feel this year……or maybe it is the intensity of the very sad week being started on “passion Sunday.” Life changes from year to year, season to season. But the opportunity to walk with Jesus, our bridge to God, through this 5 th week of Lent to Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday, is an anchor for deepening our relationship with God in the circumstances of this time in my life. “Palm Sunday, reminds us that at the moment of what seems to be the height of Jesus’ public acceptance, also begins the process of His public betrayal, His public failure, His public abandonment. Only in the mind of God is Jesus any longer a success, it seems. It is the contrast between the laws of the world and the law of God that dooms Him. On Palm Sunday, we are forced to remember the distance between apparent public success and personal commitment. Jesus stays the course to the end, and so must we, despite all other pressures to the contrary. We trace the struggle, one scene at a time, through the last week of Jesus’ life, and see confirmed again that there are some things worth living for, even if we find ourselves having to die for them as well.”(The Liturgical Year, p 130, by Joan Chittister) So next Sunday, we will sing our Hosanna’s and the children will wave palm branches. And we will be reminded that we, who sing and celebrate , “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, will also be capable of betrayal in the same week. But let’s not drop the hosanna’s. Let’s find moments of deep delight in Jesus’ presence in our lives and our world. As Mary poured out the expensive perfume on His feet, let’s pour out the best of our worship and the best of our serving and the best of our living and the best of our loving. I am so excited that several of our youth are using the first week-end of their spring break to serve the poor in Atlanta. They will experience the feeling of serving, of giving themselves away. As the sweet smell of Mary’s perfume filled the whole house, many lives will feel the sweetness of their gift of time and service. I hope you will mark all of the Holy Week services on your calendar and that you will consider making a special offering to the mission projects. But I also hope that you will ask yourself how Holy Week and Easter of 2013 intersect in meaningful ways with your life. How do these events call you to a deeper faith relationship with the Christ? How is your life touched by the one who walked into the deepest darkness and lived a resurrected life beyond the darkness? I hope you will invite others to come and worship with the congregation at First Methodist. It is a time of deep meaning, and who isn’t searching for that? Maybe you have a new neighbor, or a new co-worker, or met someone at the gym or health center, or maybe you even have a family member…whose life would be enriched by the faith we share at FUMC. Will you be the one who will open the door? May this be a season of growth, of spring time, of new life, for our hearts and our church. Brenda Transformed by Christ, we will TELL TEACH TOUCH the World. Issue 9 March 18, 2013 The Church Bell Easter offering Page 5 Prayers and pledges Page 4 Spring into mission Page 8 Click to communicate Page 3 Support still needed Page 4 Going the Next Mile Page 6 Registration reminders Page 7
Transcript
Hope Springs It seems that we just got the Christmas decorations put away. The “he is born” phrases from Christmas carols still echo. The ashes on our foreheads came so quickly on the heels of “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Already we approach Palm Sunday. The repetitive nature of the Christian calendar is an anchor for us. The events of our personal lives may swing us from pillar to post, but the steady cycle of the Christian year is a strong foundation for our lives as spiritual pilgrims. We approach Palm Sunday…..and maybe it is the celebration of the parade we most feel this year……or maybe it is the intensity of the very sad week being started on “passion Sunday.” Life changes from year to year, season to season. But the opportunity to walk with Jesus, our bridge to God, through this 5
th week of Lent to Palm Sunday/Passion
Sunday, is an anchor for deepening our relationship with God in the circumstances of this time in my life. “Palm Sunday, reminds us that at the moment of what seems to be the height of Jesus’ public acceptance, also begins the process of His public betrayal, His public failure, His public abandonment. Only in the mind of God is Jesus any longer a success, it seems. It is the contrast between the laws of the world and the law of God that dooms Him. On Palm Sunday, we are forced to remember the distance between apparent public success and personal commitment. Jesus stays the course to the end, and so must we, despite all other pressures to the contrary. We trace the struggle, one scene at a time, through the last week of Jesus’ life, and see confirmed again that there are some things worth living for, even if we find ourselves having to die for them as well.”(The Liturgical Year, p 130, by Joan Chittister) So next Sunday, we will sing our Hosanna’s and the children will wave palm branches. And we will be reminded that we, who sing and celebrate , “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, will also be capable of betrayal in the same week. But let’s not drop the hosanna’s. Let’s find moments of deep delight in Jesus’ presence in our lives and our world. As Mary poured out the expensive perfume on His feet, let’s pour out the best of our worship and the best of our serving and the best of our living and the best of our loving. I am so excited that several of our youth are using the first week-end of their spring break to serve the poor in Atlanta. They will experience the feeling of serving, of giving themselves away. As the sweet smell of Mary’s perfume filled the whole house, many lives will feel the sweetness of their gift of time and service. I hope you will mark all of the Holy Week services on your calendar and that you will consider making a special offering to the mission projects. But I also hope that you will ask yourself how Holy Week and Easter of 2013 intersect in meaningful ways with your life. How do these events call you to a deeper faith relationship with the Christ? How is your life touched by the one who walked into the deepest darkness and lived a resurrected life beyond the darkness? I hope you will invite others to come and worship with the congregation at First Methodist. It is a time of deep meaning, and who isn’t searching for that? Maybe you have a new neighbor, or a new co-worker, or met someone at the gym or health center, or maybe you even have a family member…whose life would be enriched by the faith we share at FUMC. Will you be the one who will open the door? May this be a season of growth, of spring time, of new life, for our hearts and our church.
Brenda
Transformed by Christ,
we will
TELL
TEACH
TOUCH
the
World.
I s s u e 9 M a r c h 18 , 2 0 1 3
T h e C h u r c h B e l l
Easter offering Page 5
Prayers and pledges Page 4
Spring into mission Page 8
Click to communicate Page 3
Support still needed Page 4
Going the Next Mile Page 6
Registration reminders Page 7
Memorial Fund
In Memory/Honor Of Given By Don Lippenberger Joe & Beth White Herb Ogle Lee & Sharron Kull Don Lippenberger Salon Visage Hazel Goddard Liza Graves Hazel Goddard Friends Don Lippenberger Harry Blankenship Hazel Goddard Barbara & Pat Henry Hazel Goddard Roger & Faye Williams Hazel Goddard Pam & Randy Inman Hazel Goddard AMEC, Inc.
Chancel Choir In Memory/Honor Of Given By Edwin Shelley Lee & Sharron Kull Frances Smith Lee & Sharron Kull
Music Fund In Memory/Honor Of Given By Don Lippenberger Robert & Gwen Norris Beulah Strange Herbert Dixon
Welcome Table
In Memory/Honor Of Given By Mike Davis First Tennessee Bank Don Lippenberger Doug & Sally Gross
Imagine No Malaria
In Memory/Honor Of Given By Marvin & Jodie Trew Betty Stallard
7:35 AM Morning Glory Rehearsal, 249 8:15 AM Morning Glory Worship, Asbury Hall 9:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 10:30 AM The Crossing, Asbury Hall 11:45 AM Easter Egg Hunt & Luncheon, Wesley Hall 4:30 PM Youth Handbells, 252, 254 5:10 PM Celebration Singers, 249 5:15 PM Evensong Handbells, 252 6:00 PM Bible Study, 214 6:00 PM Youth, Asbury Hall 6:30 PM Women In the Bible, 243 Monday, March 25, 2013 3:15 PM Primary Praise (K-1st), 254 3:15 PM Merrymakers (2nd & 3rd), Asbury Hall 3:15 PM Joy Singers (4th—6th), Asbury Hall 6:00 PM Seder Meal with reservations, Wesley Hall 7:00 PM Church Council, 254 Tuesday, March 26, 2013 10:00 AM Bible Study, 214 6:00 PM Devoted Fitness, Asbury 7:00 PM Dude’s Bible Study, Taco Bell 7:00 PM AA, 128 7:00 PM Brass Rehearsal, Sanctuary Wednesday, March 27, 2013 7:00 AM 8th & 9th MJH to Chicken @ Church 3:45 PM High School Girls Bible Study, Vienna 6:00 PM Recovery at Maryville, 214 6:15 PM Men’s Chorus, 249 7:00 PM Ladies Bible Study, Panera 7:00 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary 7:15 PM Ladies Bible Study, Panera Maundy Thursday: March 28, 2013 6:00 AM Men’s Bible Study, 214 10:15 AM Asagao, 252 5:00 PM Welcome Table, Asbury Hall 6:00 PM Fibromyalgia Support Group, 254 6:00 PM Craft Group, 214 6:30 PM Wesley Day School Board, 118 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service, Sanctuary 7:00 PM AA, 128
Church Offices Closed 7:00 PM Good Friday Service, Sanctuary
Commitments for Palm Sunday: March 24, 2013
Prepare for Worship Luke 19: 28-40 Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 (UMH 839) Isaiah 50: 4-9A Psalm 31: 9-16 (UMH 764) Phillipians 2: 5-11 Luke 22: 14-23:56 (or Luke 23: 1-49) Greeters: 8:15 Morning Glory Mitchell & Gail Flynn
Mike & Cookie Crowson
10:30 Sanctuary Gary & Ellie Doughty Betty & Leonard Adams
10:30 The Crossing Barbara & Roger Campbell Lori Strait JoAnn Murphy
Acolytes: Mia Carter Elizabeth West Kids Own Worship Pre-school – Travis & Stacey Roberts Elementary – Mike & Janel Nocton Staff on call: Please contact Brenda (414-8493) or Larry (414-8494) Parsonage (233-2712)
Holy Week: March 24th—30th, 2013
THE CHURCH BELL Page 2
The March 25th edition of “The Church Bell” will be a double issue. If you would like to something included
in the upcoming issue please submit it by March 22nd. Please send submissions to:
Family Promise Week Starting on Palm Sunday, 1st UMC will once again be hosting Family Promise. During the week a new support church, Rio Revolution will be joining us. Chris Hurley expects around 50 new volunteers to attend the training sessions this week. The regular volunteer meeting is Thursday at 7:00 pm.
Hard at work The children’s choirs have been practicing their Spring Musical for several weeks now. The show called “A Technicolor Promise” is about Noah and comes your way on April 16th. Showtime is at 6:30 pm. We hope to see you there!
Staying in touch online In this day and age social media plays a big role in how many people and organizations
communicate. Here at 1st UMC-Maryville we are riding that social media wave. Just this month we surpassed the 300 mark for “Likes” on our Facebook page and we have nearly 60 followers on Twitter. Both outlets continue to grow and we hope YOU will take time to join the conversations on both Facebook and Twitter and encourage your friends to do the same. Throughout the Lenten season you may have seen daily devotionals from “The Way” posted on our social media outlets. These daily thoughts and questions are aimed at sparking discussion as we take the journey together and “follow in the footsteps of Jesus.” If you haven’t been a part of the discussion so far, what are you waiting for? We would love to hear from you. At the beginning of February we launched a newly designed church website. Since the debut we have logged nearly 2000 visits. In the coming weeks you may see ads running outside of the church for 1stchurch.org. This web address takes you to the same site. The www.fumc-maryville.org address still works. The other address is designed to make it easier for those not familiar with the church to remember.
Our new website allows us to use more video and pictures, something we will be doing even more of in the future.
This is just another way of helping YOU keep up to date with what is going on at 1st UMC-Maryville.
Disaster relief continues About five months ago Hurricane Sandy unleashed her fury on the coastal regions of New Jersey and New York as well as many other parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. As the disaster relief efforts continue there is a need for more teams to do the work. United Methodist coordinators in the region are beginning to schedule rebuilding teams for people whose homes were damaged last October. The Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church has a long term recovery goal of repairing 300 to 500 homes. An estimated 15 to 20-thousand volunteers will be needed for that effort. The Outreach team here at 1st UMC Maryville is looking into the idea of sending a team this Fall to help with rebuilding efforts. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Kristy Crandall at 865-681-3879.
A mission for May Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast about the same time of year as Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast back in 2005. More than 7-years after the storm rebuilding continues in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. Volunteers from 1st UMC will be heading back to New Orleans on May 29th through June 4th as part of the “Bayou Mission.” If you are interested in joining the team please contact Doug Jenkins at 865-681-1326.
A pledge to Pukuka In 2010 our church pledged to support the village of Pukuka in the construction of a permanent Church building that would be used for worship, as a school, community center, health clinic, and a source of
clean water. We were the very first church in Methodism to partner with a village to build a church in Southern Sudan. A communion chalice and paten were presented to the congregation in September 2010 as a confirmation of that pledge. In 2011 the new country of the Republic of South Sudan was born. All but very young children had known nothing but war, starvation, death, and destruction of their land for their entire lives. Because they had lived “on the run” and in refugee camps, they have nothing, including basic skills for self-sufficiency. As a church we have been able to provide clean water for the first time in their history, teach them to grow crops, learn to practice good hygiene, become educated, and be empowered to have a better life as they share their love of Christ with others around them. A year ago this month, Chris Hurley and Jane Robinson traveled to South Sudan with a Covenant signed by First United Methodist of Maryville to be signed by Pukuka United Methodist Church of Yei District, South Sudan. The two churches are now in covenant to support each other through prayer, fellowship, and Christian love.
Our church agreed to provide resources for the building of the church facility; to help provide financial support for the pastoral leadership; to sponsor orphaned, abandoned, and needy children in the village of Pukuka with their educational needs; to partner with Pukuka to re-establish a school in the new facility and provide educational opportunities and financial support for the teachers. In the fall of 2011 the congregation of 1st UMC raised $30,000for the construction of the church. It is exciting to report, the church building has housed worship for several months. Next month the bishop of Holston Conference will be going to Pukuka to dedicate the new church. Accompanying Bishop Taylor will be Jane Robinson and eight others from around the Conference. Through the generosity of individuals as well as our church we have also supported orphans and church leadership. In March of 2012, Jane organized the United Methodist Women of the Yei District and led a three day workshop for them. The women expressed a desire to learn to knit. No yarn or needles were available in the market, so Circle One has showered Jane with two 18 gallon totes filled with yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks to take to them in April. They also contributed 30 dozen pencils. Good pencils are hard to get over there. In her previous three trips to Pukuka, Jane has given a pencil to each child present at church. This time there will be enough pencils to share with children in other churches. Please pray for Jane as she returns to South Sudan on April 4
th.
As of February 2013 UMCOR had raised $7.3 million for Sandy relief and recovery.
The UMC hopes to repair up to 500 homes as
part of a long term recovery plan. 15 to 20 thousand volunteers are needed to help
the UMC achieve its goal. You can donate directly to Hurricane Relief by
using Advance number 3021787. By Texting RESPONSE to 80888 you can give an
immediate $10 donation to UMCOR Sandy relief.
Sandy Statistics
Making room for guests Easter Sunday is one of the busiest days of the year at 1st UMC-Maryville. In order to make as much room as we can for our guests we are asking choir and orchestra members along with 1st UMC members park BEHIND the Middle School. There will be a continuous shuttle running from there to the Porte Cochere from 6:45 am until 12:15 pm. The shuttle should help free up 70 parking spaces.
THE CHURCH BELL Page 5
Simple gifts As you near the end of your Lenten journey we hope that the season has been a time of joy as we prepare and make our way to the Cross and Resurrection. Continuing a long Easter tradition, we will once again be focusing on the needs of others. To that end, the church is asking for a special offering to be given on Easter Sunday, March 13th. The money will be used to supplement money we already give to various outreach and mission efforts. Below are the three ministries included in the Easter 2013 special offering. Imagine No Malaria—This is an effort to completely eradicate this dreadful disease from the African continent by 2015. Every $10 contribution saves a life through the use of nets, education and training. Sudan Health Initiative– The money for this ministry is to train women to be effective midwives and help significantly lower the infant mortality rate in the world’s newest nation. Holston Conference missionary, Diantha Hodges, is heading this effort. The Bayou Mission Team—Even though Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, 1st UMC-Maryville and First Grace UMC in New Orleans have been active participants in the city’s recovery. This summer another mission team from Maryville will be heading to New Orleans for some more mission work.
If you plan on coming to the Potluck Lunch on Palm Sunday, the Seder Meal, or the Easter Lunch you can register online at www.fumc-maryville.org (under event registration) or call 865-982-1273.
Parallel traditions In the Jewish tradition the season of Passover is marked with something called a Seder Meal. There are more than a dozen parallels between the Last Supper and this important part of Passover. On Monday, March 25th, the Rev. Dr. Jack Van Hooser (retired Episcopal) will be
here at 1st UMC to bring you the Seder meal experience and explain its importance. Dr. Van Hooser attended seminary at California Divinity School in Berkeley. He was a teaching fellow at Harvard Divinity School where he received his Doctorate in Theology in 1961. The Seder meal begins at 6:00 pm
THE CHURCH BELL Page 6
A trivial reminder! We have another Trivia Night this week on Wednesday, March 20th at 7 pm. Just meet us at Smoky Mountain Brewery for some fun and fellowship. Who knows you might even come home knowing a few new things.
A sweet idea During Holy Week we want to provide a few sweet treats for our Welcome Table guests. YOU are invited to join the Young Adults on March 27th at 7:00 pm to bake cookies and cupcakes Little or no experience is required, we have a job for every skill level.
A good discussion Attention Young Adult women! If you are looking for a good book to read and a group to discuss the book with, join us as we read Does this Church Make Me Look Fat? By Rhoda Janzen. It promises to be a book that is entertaining and thought provoking. As an added treat for this book experience we will be discussing it with another of the women’s book clubs in our church. The meeting will be in May, so you have plenty of time to read! If you would like a copy, contact Asa.
THE NEXT MILE Over the past few months you have heard a lot about the Imagine No Malaria campaign. This is a United Methodist initiative aimed at stamping out malaria on the continent of Africa. Here at 1st UMC
we have pledged $15,000, of which we have raised $11,000. We are well on our way toward reaching our goal. Every $10 saves one life! The Maryville District has pledged to save 1100 lives before Annual Conference in June. To help jumpstart the drive to give the people of Africa a fighting chance, District Superintendent Charles Maynard and Camp and Retreat Ministries Director Randy Pasqua are going to do something extraordinary! Beginning on April 21st, Charles will begin a 100 mile journey across the district on foot, starting at Ironsburg UMC. Randy will bicycle across the district starting on Wednesday April 24th at Pleasant Hill UMC in Roane County. The journeys will end on April 28th at a district wide rally at Pearson Springs Park in Maryville. This initiative will allow the children of Africa the chance to go “The Next Mile.” Learn more about what is going on and keep up with preparations and the journey by visiting www.thenextmile.weebly.com. You can also join the journey on Facebook and Twitter.
All e-mails end with @fumc-Maryville.org unless noted. You can also access the staff online at
www.fumc-maryville.org (under Inside 1st tab) or 865-982-1273
Staff Member Email Extension Brenda Carroll brendac 111 Larry Carroll [email protected] 106 Asa Majors [email protected] 107 Michael Funderburk mfunderburk 116 Mark Blodgett mblodgett 103 Clayton Hensley chensley 100 Ginny West Case ginnywc 105 Terry Wilson sacmusic 109 Susan Daves sdaves 110 Brittany Littleton blittleton 112 Denise Johns djohns 113 Jane Sanders jsanders 101 Stephen Nelson [email protected] 202 Tom Slawson [email protected] Amelia Geis [email protected] Dwain Pesterfield [email protected] Paul Brown Sherri Justice Bryan Holder
STAFF DIRECTORY FOR 1ST UMC –MARYVILLE
Enjoy the great outdoors ALL YOUNG ADULTS are invited to take a walk on the wild side as we trek through the Smoky Mountains in search of wildflowers and waterfalls. This Day Hike is coming your way on April 13th, beginning around 9:30 am. The trail you will be taking is The Little River trail near the Elkmont Campground. The hike is about five miles round-trip. Bring a packed lunch and plenty of water to drink as we get a taste of Springtime in the Smokies. Please let Asa know if you plan to go and if you are interested in more hiking trips.
Don’t Forget! The Young Adult Sunday School class meets from 9:15 am until 10:15 am every Sunday in
A festival of fun The date of the Dollywood trip has been changed. It is now scheduled for Friday, April 5th. We’ want YOU to join us for a little international fun as Dollywood brings back its Festival of Nations. More than 20 nations are represented this year including new shows Cirque Shanghai and Mystic India.
Dollywood Trip (NEW DATE!) Friday, April 5th
Leave the church at 8:30 am $5 for gas; purchase your own ticket
A camp just for YOU! The camping experience isn’t just for children. In fact, if you are 55 or older then Camp Wesley Woods has a special event planned just for YOU!
Coming up on April 9th and September 8th YOU can attend the “You’re Never Too Old for Camp!” event. During those days you will get a chance to do things like canoeing, archery, crafts and even tackle the climb-ing wall. The cost is only $5 and includes lunch and all the activities. Visit www.campwesleywoods.com for more information.
Deadline near You have until the end of the month to register and secure lodging for the upcoming Jubilation 2013 event in Kingsport. March 31st is the deadline. This conference is geared toward people 50 and up and features keynote speaker Rev. Ed Kil-bourne, Worship Leader Rev. Kim Goddard, Maryville District Superintendent Rev. Charles Maynard, workshops, music and much more. Registration fees cover meals and lodging. For more information contact Ginny West Case at 865-982-1273. You can also find information at jubilation.holston.org.
Symphony Savings The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s 2013-2014 season is about to get underway. Season tickets are now on sale at a discount that is nearly enough to pay for the bus rides to the concerts. A season of bus rides from 1st UMC cost $100 and the bus takes you right to the door of the Tennessee Theatre. Bus reservations for the concert series can be made by contacting John Steiner at 681-4033. It leaves the church at 6:30 pm for the concerts beginning at 7:30 pm.
Raccoon Reminder A great underground adventure is just a few weeks away. Children ages 6-years old and up are encouraged to attend an overnight adventure to Raccoon Caverns near Chattanooga. The trip is set for April 6th & 7th. While there we will be exploring the cave, enjoying an evening campfire, smores and having devotions. Parents are welcome to join us (adults must accompany 6&7 year olds). The cost is $40 per person and includes the cave crawl, a t-shirt and cabin stay. See Brittany Littleton for forms and a medical release. The forms and money need to be turned in by March 24th.
Ready, set … register! While many of you are enjoying Spring Break we’re already thinking ahead to Summer. Vacation Bible School this year will be from June 2nd—June 6th with a VBS Family Night on Friday, June 7th, an evening with a family style dinner, comedy show by Tom Toombs and a chance to hear the children perform their VBS music! VBS will run from 6 to 8 pm for preschoolers and through 8:30 for school agers. Registration begins on April 1st. The other big event coming up this summer is Day Camp. It runs from July 15th to 19th (9am until 2 pm). Camp Wesley Woods staff will come and lead the children in five days full of worship, crafts, games, storytelling and TONS of fun activites! Registration will be begin April 1st for church members, then open in May to the public. Day Camp is for children ages three years-old to fifth grade.
Look what I learned! Sunday, March 17th (last Sunday) Preschool—Praying in the Garden (John 3:16) K-4th Grade—Praying in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46) 5th & 6th Grade—Suffering (Jesus’ Betrayal)
Taking the lesson home Play a game of hide and seek with your child. After several rounds of hiding and finding, talk about how Jesus went to the garden to pray by himself (Matthew 26:36-46). Discuss the importance of spending time alone with God and quiet places where your child might like to pray. For more information on these events contact Brittany Littleton ([email protected])
Wildflower hike If you like to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature join in on the hike to White Oak Sinks, Sunday afternoon, April 7th. Ellie Doughty is leading up the relatively easy 5-mile hike. Call her at 254-2415 if you are interested.
On a mission! Spring Break may be a time to relax, but not for one dedicated group here at 1st UMC. More than a dozen Youth headed to Atlanta along with Stephen and Asa on March 15th. Most of the trip focused on mission work. On Saturday, the group worked at Medshare a group that takes surplus medical supplies and ships them to developing countries. The 1st UMC youth served as the organization’s workforce on Saturday. The supplies will be shipped to Niger, Liberia, Ghana, and the Congo. Sunday morning the group attended Ben Hill United
Methodist Church. Stephen called the congregation “extraordinarily welcoming” and they “felt right at home.” He said the group can’t wait to go back. Monday, 1st UMC’ers pitched in to help an Atlanta homeless ministry and did some
volunteering at Open Hand, a non profit outreach to people with specific dietary needs. The Youth from here at 1st UMC certainly demonstrated they could be the hands and feet of Christ outside the church.
Six times the fun! It wasn’t all work down in Atlanta over the weekend. Right after church on Sunday, the mission team headed to Six Flags Over Georgia Theme Park. They got a chance to meet some colorful characters and even try and tackle Acrophobia, a free-fall ride, 200 feet high.
A few reminders! Resurrection Run—Early registration is over for this event coming up on March 30th. However, there is still room on the 1st UMC team! The church with the most entrants will win a trophy. Registration is $25. Please see Stephen or Asa if you want to run in this 5K race benefiting Family Promise of Blount County
Easter Egg-stras The youth will be helping hide Easter Eggs here at the church next Sunday. Just stay after church if you want to participate. During Youth on Sunday night YOU can participate in the Extreme Egg Hunt. That will be at the regular Youth time, 6:00 pm. Pocket Lent! If you want to see Stephen with a bleached Mohawk and soul patch then you need to round up some more change. So far the Youth have only raised enough money for an ice cream party. All the money goes to the Imagine No Malaria Campaign.
