Surprises in Spring We are well into the first days of spring but the weather has not been anything like most of us expected. As I sit here to write this article, flakes of snow are being dropped from the sky. Punxsutawney Phil is under indictment in the state of Ohio for making a fraudulent prediction of the weather. They are claiming the rodent “purposely” predicted an early spring as written by the Boston Globe. Spring has not happened quite the way we expected. Sometimes life just doesn’t go the way we think it is supposed to go, or the way we predicted. We see the road taking us into one direction or one particular event taking place and then out of nowhere something drastically opposite occurs. I imagine that is how all of Holy Week and Easter and the weeks after felt for Jesus’ first disciples. He entered Jerusalem as the victorious ruler and king just as we celebrated yesterday. As the week continued the warfare was never initiated and the next thing they knew, Jesus was arrested and before they could bring themselves to make a plan of action he was crucified and dead. Not quite the vision they all had in mind for the end of this journey. But again, that wasn’t the end. Life took another unexpected turn. Jesus had a game plan he tried to explain but they never understood. He RESURRECTED! The power of death could not hold him! Talk about a game change indeed. Who could compete with that? Not even Rome herself. Following Christ has certainly added some twists and turns in the road for me and more often than not I made the journey more difficult by wanting to take my own path. Following Christ is much like living in the tension of Holy Week. Some days it is a joy-filled procession with my Savior. Some days I know that I have enjoyed intimate communion with my best Friend. There are times when I feel as Jesus did: abandoned and alone. And thanks be to God there are times when my journey with Christ takes me to places where the Resurrection is so powerful, all I can do is give praise. The weather may not always look the way we (or the rodent) predicted but if we look to Jesus Christ even the unexpected snow falling brings us joy. Peace brothers and sisters, Asa Transformed by Christ, we will TELL TEACH TOUCH the World. Issue 10 March 25, 2013 Double Issue The Church Bell The hunt goes on! Page 7 The right answers Page 6 Scout honors Page 3 Rest and relaxation Page 4 An epic challenge Page 8
Transcript
Surprises in Spring We are well into the first days of spring but the weather has not been anything like most of us expected. As I sit here to write this article, flakes of snow are being dropped from the sky. Punxsutawney Phil is under indictment in the state of Ohio for making a fraudulent prediction of the weather. They are claiming the rodent “purposely” predicted an early spring as written by the Boston Globe. Spring has not happened quite the way we expected. Sometimes life just doesn’t go the way we think it is supposed to go, or the way we predicted. We see the road taking us into one direction or one particular event taking place and then out of nowhere something drastically opposite occurs. I imagine that is how all of Holy Week and Easter and the weeks after felt for Jesus’ first disciples. He entered Jerusalem as the victorious ruler and king just as we celebrated yesterday. As the week continued the warfare was never initiated and the next thing they knew, Jesus was arrested and before they could bring themselves to make a plan of action he was crucified and dead. Not quite the vision they all had in mind for the end of this journey. But again, that wasn’t the end. Life took another unexpected turn. Jesus had a game plan he tried to explain but they never understood. He RESURRECTED! The power of death could not hold him! Talk about a game change indeed. Who could compete with that? Not even Rome herself. Following Christ has certainly added some twists and turns in the road for me and more often than not I made the journey more difficult by wanting to take my own path. Following Christ is much like living in the tension of Holy Week. Some days it is a joy-filled procession with my Savior. Some days I know that I have enjoyed intimate communion with my best Friend. There are times when I feel as Jesus did: abandoned and alone. And thanks be to God there are times when my journey with Christ takes me to places where the Resurrection is so powerful, all I can do is give praise. The weather may not always look the way we (or the rodent) predicted but if we look to Jesus Christ even the unexpected snow falling brings us joy. Peace brothers and sisters,
Asa
Transformed by Christ,
we will
TELL
TEACH
TOUCH
the
World.
I s s u e 1 0 M a r c h 25 , 2 0 1 3
D o u b l e I s s u e
T h e C h u r c h B e l l
The hunt goes on! Page 7
The right answers Page 6
Scout honors Page 3
Rest and relaxation Page 4
An epic challenge Page 8
Church Calendar: March 31—April 6, 2013
THE CHURCH BELL Page 2
Memorials & Honorariums
Sunday, March 31, 2013 6:45 AM Shuttle bus begins 7:15 AM Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 249 8:15 AM Morning Glory Worship, Sanctuary 9:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 10:30 AM The Crossing, Asbury Hall Monday, April 1, 2013 3:15 PM Primary Praise (K-1st grade), 254 3:15 PM Merrymakers (2nd-3rd grade), Asbury Hall 3:15 PM Joy Singers (4th-6th grade), Asbury Hall Tuesday, April 2, 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 Wednesday, April 3, 2013 7:00 AM 8th & 9th MJH to Chicken @ Church 3:45 PM High School Girls Bible Study, Vienna 6:15 PM Men’s Chorus, 249 7:00 PM Ladies Bible Study, Panera 7:00 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary Thursday, April 4, 2013 6:00 AM Men’s Bible Study, 214 9:45 AM Circle #1—Elaine Graves Cox Home 10:15 AM Asagao, 252 5:00 PM Welcome Table, Asbury Hall 7:00 PM AA, 128 Friday, April 5, 2013 8:30 AM Dollywood Trip 10:00 AM WOW, Sue Dawson’s home Saturday, April 6, 2013 Children’s trip to Raccoon Mountain
Church Calendar: April 7—April 13, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013 7:35 AM Morning Glory Rehearsal, 249 8:15 AM Morning Glory Worship, Asbury Hall 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:15 AM Acolyte Training, Sanctuary 10:30 AM Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 10:30 AM The Crossing, Asbury Hall 11:45 AM Youth to Lunch, TBD 1:00 PM Eagle Scout Ceremony, Sanctuary, Wesley Hall 4:30 PM Youth Handbells, 252, 254 5:10 PM Celebration Singers, 249 5:15 PM Evensong Handbells, 252 6:00 PM Youth, Asbury Hall Monday, April 8, 2013 10:30 AM Circle 3, 214 3:15 PM Primary Praise Singers (K-1st grade) 3:15 PM Merrymakers (2nd-3rd grade) 3:15 PM Joy Singers (4th-6th grade) 6:00 PM Finance, 214 Tuesday, April 9, 2013 10:00 AM Bible Study, 214 6:00 PM Devoted Fitness, Asbury Hall 7:00 PM Dude’s Bible Study, Taco Bell 7:00 PM AA, 128 7:00 PM Witness, 214 Wednesday, April 10, 2013 7:00 AM 8th & 9th MJH to Chicken @ Church 3:45 PM High School Girls Bible Study, Vienna 6:15 PM Men’s Chorus, 249 7:15 PM Ladies Bible Study, Panera 7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal, 249 Thursday, April 11, 2013 6:00 AM Men’s Bible Study, 214 10:00 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry, 243 10:15 AM Asagao, 252 12:00 PM Habitat Luncheon, Wesley Hall 5:00 PM Welcome Table, Asbury Hall 6:30 PM Trustees, 215 7:00 PM AA, 128 Saturday, April 13, 2013 9:30 AM Young Adult Hike
Memorial Fund
In Memory/Honor Of Given By Hazel Goddard Jack & Kathleen Stewart Hazel Goddard Order of Eastern Star Don Lippenberger Jack & Kathleen Stewart Don Lippenberger Dr. & Mrs. Leo Giambarresi Don Lippenberger Dick & Marolyn Finney Don Lippenberger Jerry & Lin Reichelt Don Lippenberger Homer & Betty Isbell Don Lippenberger Andy & Jean Spickard Don Lippenberger Richard & Sandra Dalhaus Don Lippenberger William & Barbara Steverson
Don Lippenberger Elizabeth Atkinson
Organ Fund In Memory/Honor Of Given By Hazel Goddard Dwain & Jane Pesterfield Don Lippenberger Dwain & Jane Pesterfield
Preparations! The Children continue working on this Spring’s musical telling of Noah’s story. If you haven’t done so already, mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 16th @ 6:30 pm. That’s when the musical makes its debut here at 1st UMC. This summer the children will take the show on tour. Also on the 16th we will be hosting a silent auction of children’s art to raise money for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
THE CHURCH BELL Page 3
Our Church Family
Commitments for Easter Sunday: March 31, 2013
Prepare for Worship Acts 10: 34-43 Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 (UMH 839) 1 Corinthians 15: 19-26 John 20: 1-18 (or Luke 24: 1-12) Greeters: 8:15 Morning Glory
Clerinda Mynatt Jerry & Frances Hodge
10:30 Sanctuary
Ron & Carol Werker Rob & Fran Goddard
10:30 The Crossing
Maria & Brett Coulter/Family Trish & Tim Badgett
Acolytes Sara Kate Delaney White Kids Own Worship Pre-School Kirk & Julie Lowe Elementary Chip & Summer Webb Staff on call: Please contact Brenda (414-8493) or Larry (414-8494) Parsonage (233-2712)
Commitments Sunday: April 7, 2013
Prepare for Worship Acts 10: 34-43 Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 (UMH 839) 1 Corinthians 15: 19-26 John 20: 1-18 (or Luke 24: 1-12) Greeters: 8:15 Morning Glory
Gary & Sherry Hensley Don & Cathy Watson
10:30 Sanctuary
Betty & Harold Bowman Betty Sessoms Betsy Halliday
10:30 The Crossing
Doug & Joan Jenkins Allen & Alisa Rathbone
Acolytes Ashten Nickerson Mia Carter Kids Own Worship Pre-School Craig & Kristen Dutton Elementary Jenny & Greg Gideon Staff on call: Please contact Brenda (414-8493) or Larry (414-8494) Parsonage (233-2712)
Scout honored Sean Dunn was awarded his Eagle Scout Rank by the Boy Scouts of America on December 27, 2012. He received his award at a ceremony on March 2, 2013. His Eagle project was to provide signs for the outdoor displays at the Little River Railroad Museum in Townsend. Sean is a member of Troop 451 in Knoxville. He is the son of Pat and Sharon Dunn, brother to Megan and grandson of Lamar and Mary Ann Dunn.
A special invitation
There will be an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Christopher George on Sunday, April 7th at 2:30 pm here at the church. Refreshments will follow in Wesley Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Russell George invite everyone to attend this special ceremony and celebrate Christopher’s big achievement.
A festival of fun Dolly Parton opened up the 28th season of the theme park bearing her name last weekend. The big attraction at Dollywood this time of year is the “Festival of Nations.” We want YOU to join us for a trip there on April 5th. More than 20 nations are represented at this festival including
new shows like Mystic India and Cirque Shanghai.
Dollywood Trip (NEW DATE!) Friday, April 5th
Leave the church at 8:30 am $5 for gas; purchase your own ticket
You’re never too old for camp! This Spring and Fall those of you 55 or older can get a chance to canoe, tackle a climbing wall or test your archery skills. Camp Wesley Woods, “You’re Never Too Old for Camp!” event is coming up on April 9th and September 8th. The cost is only $5 and includes lunch and all the day’s activities. Visit www.campwesleywoods.com for more information.
Deadline for Jubilation this week!
March 31st is the deadline for registering and securing lodging for the upcoming Jubilation 2013 event in Kingsport. This event is sponsored by the Holston Conference and is geared toward people 50 and up. For more information contact Ginny West Case at 865-982-1273. You can also find information at www.jubilation.holston.org.
Up for discussion? Looking for a good book to read and some people to share it with? Then look no further than the 1st UMC Book Club. The next meeting will be at 10:00 am on April 15th. The April selection is Flight Behavior: by Barbara Kingsolver. The novel is set in a place called Feathertown, Tennessee, where
environmental, economic and political issues all converge forcing citizens to come to terms with their changing place in the larger world. Kingsolver and her husband Steve Hopp live near Emory & Henry College where he teaches Environmental Science. E-mail Sally Thierbach at [email protected] for more information.
May selection: Does the Church Make Me Look Fat? By Rhoda Janzen
Avoiding the hustle and bustle
Please consider joining the United Methodist Women on Saturday, April 6th for the Maryville District “Day
Apart.” The event features Reverend Margaret Palmer, author of “Winnie’s Walk.” It will be at the Twin Creeks Picnic Pavillion in Gatlinburg beginning at 1:00 pm. The registration deadline is March 29, 2013. Visit www.maryvilledistrictumw.holston.org for more information. The cost is $3 per person. Bring your water bottle and camp chair!
Tablescapes This annual fundraiser for Wesley House is set for May 11th this year. The UMW here at 1st Church will have a table at the event. We invite you to join us. The cost is $25. Please contact Sue Cox for tickets or additional information.
General Meeting
April 18, 2013 Board Meeting is at 9:30 am in room 243
General Meeting is in room 214. Asa will be presenting a program on Imagine No Malaria.
Supper with Friends Tuesday, April 9th
Leave the church at 5:45 pm “Mystery Destination”
Add some music to your Monday! Get your week and the month of April off to a great start by joining us for another Mighty Musical Monday at the Tennessee Theater in Downtown Knoxville. We’ll be leaving the church at 10:45 am (April 1st). After the concert we’ll be going out to lunch.
A call for volunteers The need for disaster relief continues to rise and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is always ready to respond. Five months after Hurricane Sandy decimated the coast of New Jersey and New York there is still a call for help. United Methodist coordinators are starting to schedule rebuilding teams for the region. The Greater New Jersey Conference wants to repair as many as 500 homes a goal that may require as many as 20-thousand volunteers. The Outreach team here at 1st UMC Maryville wants to know if there is interest in putting together a relief team to go to the Northeast in the Fall. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Kristy Crandall at 865-681-3879.
Back to the Bayou There is still time to volunteer to join the summer Bayou Mission. Volunteers from 1st UMC will be heading back to New Orleans on May 29th through June 4th, continuing work in conjunction with our “sister” church, First Grace UMC. If you are interested in joining the team please contact Doug Jenkins at 865-681-1326.
Easter Sunday parking Easter is a day filled with joy and a time the church is often filled. In an effort to free up parking spaces for guests we are asking choir and orchestra members along with 1st UMC members to 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
Continuing a long Easter tradition, we will once again be focusing on the needs of others as the Lenten season comes to a close and the focus is on Easter, and Christ’s Resurrection. On Easter Sunday, March 31st we will once again be taking up a special holiday offering. The money will be used to supplement money we already give to various outreach and mission efforts.
Here 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.
EASTER OFFERING
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A trivia triumph On March 20th the Young Adult trivia team from 1st UMC met its challenge and took home the top prize. Every question was answered correctly and the team received $50 in gift certificates to the Smoky Mountain Brewery.
Spring and Summer plans The Young Adults want YOU to join them for future activities. Wednesday, March 27th (7 pm) you are invited to join in a baking frenzy to provide this week’s Welcome Table guests with sweet treats. Later on there will be trips to baseball games, more trivia nights, movies, plays and plenty of opportunities for service. Stay tuned!
Sunday School invitation The door is always open to room 128 on Sunday mornings for people looking for stimulating Sunday school conversation. We hope YOU will come be a part of the learning experience as we all continue to grow in our faith together. The gathering begins at 9:15 with some fellowship time and the discussions start around 9:30. Come be a part of what God is doing through the Young Adult Sunday school!
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 by calling 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 1ST UMC –MARYVILLE
A great Spring read The next Young Adult Women's book club reading is Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? We are reading it with another women's book club in the church. We will meet in May to discuss this book. Let Asa know if you need help getting a copy. There is still LOTS of time to read it.
God’s wonders Spring is an awesome time for enjoying all the wonders of God’s creation. Coming up on April 13th, we’ll be hitting the trails in the Smokies for a special Day Hike. The trip will be about 5-miles round-trip along the Little River Trail near the Elkmont Campground. We’ll be starting around 9:30 am. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water to drink. Just tell Asa you plan on going and she’ll provide you with more details. Hope to see everyone on the trail!
While part of this year’s Easter Offering will go to the Imagine No Malaria Campaign there is another way to give to this important initiative. If you receive a printed copy of “The Church Bell” you might consider going to “digital delivery.” For each person who makes the switch, $10 will go to the INM campaign. Remember $10 saves ONE life! All you have to do is go online to www.fumc-maryville.org (under Happening at 1st), click on “The Church Bell”, scroll down, launch the form and submit it. You can also call the church office 865-982-1273 and make the request to be switched. It’s that easy!
Ready to go spelunking? If you have signed up to go on the trip to Racoon Caverns on April 6th, here are a few details to remember. Meet at the church no later than 11 am on the 6th. Wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. You will need closed toed shoes in the cave. Pack a change of clothes for after the cave crawl. Bring linens or sleeping bags, towels and toiletry
items. Bring money for eating dinner Saturday night and
breakfast on Sunday morning. Bring a good attitude and be ready to have fun. We will return around lunch time on Sunday, calling with an exact time once we get on the road heading back. In the mail you will be receiving a form. This is different from the medical release form the church had you fill out. This is for Raccoon Caverns. Please fill it out and have it ready to turn in on Saturday when we leave!
Look what I learned! Sunday, March 24th (last Sunday) Preschool-Palm Sunday (John 3:16) K-4th Grade—Palm Sunday (Mark 11: 1-10) 5th & 6th Grade—Grieving the Crucifixion
Sunday, April 7th Preschool—Paul’s Conversion (Acts 16:31) K-4th Grade—Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9: 1-19) 5th & 6th Grade—Overcoming Doubt www.growproclaimserve.com For more information on these events contact Brittany Littleton ([email protected])
Taking the lesson home
March 24th—Celebrating Jesus Host a parade. Gather toy musical instruments (or create some homemade ones). Cut strips of construction paper and tape them to straws for banners. Place stuffed animals in a toy wagon so they can join the fun. March around the house hooting, hollering and waving. Talk about how much fun parades can be. Then discuss Palm Sunday and how we celebrate Jesus just as the people in Jerusalem celebrate him many, many years ago (Mark 11:1-10). March 31st—Symbol of New Life Decorate a coffee filter for this fun Easter craft. Ask a child to use watercolor paints or markers to decorate the filter. When dry, pinch the filter in the middle with a clothes peg. Curl a pipe cleaner clear around the middle of the peg to create antennae. Remind children of the story of the Resurrection (Matthew 28:11-10). Tell them that butterflies remind us of the new life following God when we believe in Jesus For more information please contact Brittany Littleton ([email protected])
Register for Summer fun This year’s VBS theme is Kingdom Rock, and registrations are just about to roll. Beginning April 1st you can start registering for this event coming up June 2nd-7th (6:00-8:30 pm). That Friday (June 7th) will be a special family night with special guest Tom Toombs. Day Camp is set for July 15th—18th, (9:00 am-2:00 pm). Camp Wesley Woods staff will be leading the children in games, worship, music and more. That Thursday the children will spend the day outdoors at Camp Wesley Woods. Church members can start registering on April 1st. The public can register beginning in May. We have 60 slots. Online registrations can be found starting April 1st at www.fumc-maryville.org .
Easter egg hunt 2013
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Although the weather didn’t cooperate for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt there was not enough rain to dampen anyone’s spirits. Dozens of children along with their parents, grandparents and friends packed Wesley Hall for this annual event. A BIG Thank You goes out to all the volunteers who helped with the fabulous potluck and who helped hand out the treat filled eggs to all the children!
Save the Date Wednesday, May 15th @5:30 Children’s Ministry Cookout
E-Delivery Extras! Finding 1st UMC videos online! Our new website gives you a place to watch what is going on here at 1st UMC-Maryville. We are working to build up the content on this section. Right now you will find promotional videos, clips from special services and a look back at 2012. You’ll find the video gallery under the “1st Look” tab on the home page.
