THE SPIRITFOUNTAIN CITY UMC

MAY 2017 NEWSLETTER

FOUNTAIN CITY UMC212 HOTEL ROADKNOXVILLE, TN 37918(865) 689-5175www.fountaincityumc.org@fountaincityumc

It’s a sentiment often felt by students this time of year as some are thinking about summer vacations and others are gearing up for graduation… “What’s next?” It’s a great question for us at Fountain City UMC as well. The past few weeks have been so very exciting as we watched God move among us in powerful ways. Our Missions Celebration ended with a Faith Promise commitment of over $78,000, we received 12 confirmands into church membership, and then we had a powerful series of services during Holy Week. God has been so very good to us… “what’s next?”

What’s next is our consideration of possible new, expanded ministries at the Dry Gap Pike property. Over the next few weeks we will continue to have conversations about the feasibility of obtaining use of that property, its costs, and how it could help us

A LOOK AHEADMORE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT

WWW.FOUNTAINCITYUMC.ORG

UPCOMING MAY DATESWEDNESDAY, MAY 310:00 am : GriefShare - Summer session (Room 137)

SATURDAY, MAY 68:30 am : Rummage Sale (Gym)

SUNDAY, MAY 75:00 pm : Church Council Meeting (Choir Room)6:00 pm : Senior Banquet (Wesley Hall) WEDNESDAY, MAY 105:30 pm : Last Fellowship Meal until the Fall (Gym)6:30 pm : Children’s Music Program (Sanctuary)

FRIDAY, MAY 1211:30 am : Adults 50+ Luncheon (Wesley Hall)

SUNDAY, MAY 148:00 am : Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast (Old Fellowship Hall)

TUESDAY, MAY 16 9:30 am : MOPS (Room 135)

THURSDAY, MAY 181:00 pm : Adults 50+ Coloring (Room 137)

THURSDAY, MAY 2511:00 am : Adults 50+ Mixed Media Artz (Room 207/208) SATURDAY, MAY 27Guatemala Mission Team leaves!5:30 pm : Open Door Community Meal (Wesley Hall)

MONDAY, MAY 29Memorial Day - Church Offices Closed

OFF-BROADWAY DEBUTW E D N E S D A Y , MAY 10 AT 6:30PM

Join us for our kids’ choir program in the Sanctu-ary. Our Wiggle Worms and Cross-Trainers have been working hard on memorizing songs and sweet dance moves, and our Off-Broadway com-pany will be debuting their Spring musical, “A Not So Terrible Parable.” If you have never been to an FCUMC kids’ musi-cal, you are in for a treat!

ADULTS 50+ LUNCHEONFRIDAY, MAY 12 AT 11:30AM

Our Adults 50+ Ministry’s May luncheon will feature guest speaker Susan Fowlkes. Are you eating healthy? Come find out! Susan will share her vast knowledge on nutri-tion with ways to eat & stay healthy. There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A ses-sion, so bring your questions! RSVP by May 9 by calling the church office at (865) 689-5175 or emailing jeanie.till-man@fountaincityumc.org.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLJUNE 19 - 22, 9AM - 12:15PM

Vacation Bible School is one of the most exciting weeks during the summer for our children’s ministry!

This year’s dates and theme have been set, and we cannot

wait to share the love of God with the kids in our church and

our community! Each year, we need dozens of volunteers to set up, decorate, learn songs and silly choreography, ush-er, teach, feed, and love on hundreds of school-age kiddos.

For more information on volunteer & student participation, please contact Sherri Smith at ssmith@fountaincityumc.org.

EMERGENCYON CALL

May 5-7 : Amy Aycock(423) 276-1965

May 12-14 : Randy Frye(865) 228-5510

May 19-21 : John Gargis(865) 310-4783

May 26-28 : Amy Aycock(423) 276-1965

PASTOR,

CORNERED

A NOTE

FROM RANDY

STEPHENMINISTRY

Gail Clift(865) 922-9408

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Mary Bolton(865) 688-6277

Tom Harrington(865) 687-8460

more fully live into our vision of reaching new people with the Gospel, making disciples and changing lives.

What’s next is the rollout of a capital campaign to retire our existing $1.1 million dollar debt. This will be a critical step that helps ease financial strains and gives us the opportunity to continue making improvements when they are necessary as well as growth in ministry and program at 212 Hotel Road. What’s next is a summer filled with mission trips to Guatemala and Project Crossroads in Virginia, Vacation Bible School, Youth Choir trip and our Chancel Choir singing at the opening worship service at this year’s Annual Conference. What’s next is more opportunity for small group ministry, Bible Studies and ministries that help us continue to grow in our personal relationship with God.

What’s next is, as Paul said, “far more than anything we can ask or even imagine.” I can’t wait to see what God holds in store for Fountain City UMC. My prayer is “Lord, give me the faith to embrace ‘what’s next’ for your people here!

SUNDAYMARCH 19

SUNDAYMARCH 26

SUNDAYAPRIL 2

SUNDAYAPRIL 9

SUNDAYAPRIL 16

Sunday School 329 330 308 352 387

8:30 am Traditional Worship 162 246 N/A 197 404

11 am Traditional Worship 290 279 473 312 417

11 am The Journey 99 129 N/A 96 106

Celebrate Recovery 104 104 93 83 101

TOTAL MORNING WORSHIP 655 758 566 688 1,028

OUR GIFTS

WEEKLY OFFERINGMarch 20-26 $ 36,441.89Mar. 27-Apr. 2 $ 30,211.68April 3-9 $ 37,648.91April 10-16 $ 26,916.18

FAITH PROMISE FOCUS

Faith Promise Sunday this month will be on May 28.

Do you still want to make a Faith Promise commitment? Please contact Dee Dee Seals at dseals@fountaincityumc.org.

OUR SYMPATHIESWe extend our sympathy to Leslie and Jordan Payne and family in the death of their mother, Nancy Payne, on March 25.

We extend our sympathy to Bob Temple and family in the death of his brother James “Jim” Temple on March 26.

We extend our sympathy to Patti Ball and family in the death of her brother-in-law, Edward Curtis, Jr., on April 11.

We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of JoAnne Jones, who passed away on Thursday, April 13.

We extend our sympathy to Bob Jordan and family in the death of his mother, Hazel Lena Jordan, on Sunday, April 16.

PRAYERS, PRESENCE,

GIFTS, AND SERVICE

YOUTH SENIOR BANQUETSUNDAY, MAY 7 AT 6PM | WESLEY HALL

This May, our community’s high school seniors will graduate from area schools, ending one chapter and embarking on new and exciting ones. FCUMC’s youth ministry will host a banquet for our seniors and their family members on Sunday, May 7, at 6pm in Wesley Hall.

If you or a loved one is a high school senior, or if you would like more information, please contact Daniel Doubleday at daniel.doubleday@fountaincityumc.org.

Please pray for our seniors as they begin a new adventure!

IN MEMORY & IN HONORIncludes 2017 Easter Donations

FAITH PROMISEIn Memory of Charles M. Jones by Gerald & Sarah RisdahlIn Honor of R. Larry & Sharon Smith by John & Martha Routh

FOUNTAIN CITY MINISTRY CENTERIn Honor of Rob White by Park Place Sunday School classIn Memory of Charles & Ruth Sloan by Tom HarringtonIn Memory of Jim Temple by Tom HarringtonIn Honor of FCUMC Pastors, Staff, Music Staff, & Choir Members by Anita Reyes

RISE AGAINST HUNGERIn Memory of Connie Taylor by Angela LemmonsIn Memory of Sandy Adcox by Ralph AdcoxIn Memory of Chloe Kathleen Bible by Allan & Amy BibleIn Memory of Eugene Carden by Ethel CardenIn Memory of Dr. Allen Chamberlain by Carol Chamberlain & FamilyIn Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Cumby by Jim Cumby & Sharon DobbinsIn Memory of Lucy Cusick by Betty WildmanIn Memory of Mr. & Mrs. William Dobbins by Sharon Dobbins & Mr. & Mrs. Gene PayneIn Memory of Martin Ellis by Melissa CoramIn Memory of Virginia & Joe Frye by Randy & Vicki FryeIn Memory of David Gadd by Jenny, Brian, Sarah, Grace, & Finley CookIn Memory of Nonie Griffey by Ethan, Will, Kate & AnnaIn Memory of Vernon & Edna Hueser by David & Betty HueserIn Memory of Cecil Kelly by his FamilyIn Memory of Dr. Rupert Knierim by AnonymousIn Memory of Mako & Betty Loy by Tom & Linda WhittakerIn Memory of John, Justine & Drew McTeer by the McTeer familyIn Memory of Rev. Harold Ray & David Ray by Fay H. RayIn Memory of Papaw Joe & Mamaw Bobbie Searcy by Maria, Dalton, Carlton, Kayla & CorbynIn Memory of Erin Sewell by Kelly HardinIn Memory of Erin Sewell by Mom & DadIn Memory of EM & Jeanette Smith by Charles E. SmithIn Memory of Bob Tadlock by Barry & Lorieta TadlockIn Memory of Connie Taylor by Jenny, Brian, Sarah, Grace & Finley CookIn Memory of Jack Thurman by the Thurman FamilyIn Memory of Dick Whittaker by Tom & Linda WhittakerIn Memory of Charlie Wildman by Betty WildmanIn Memory of Eric van Bauer by Melissa CoramIn Honor of Charley Rose & Della Elizabeth Bible by Allan & Amy BibleIn Honor of all children by Preschool Staff & FamiliesIn Honor of Erin & William Frye by Randy & Vicki FryeIn Honor of Polly Kelly by UMW Prayer PartnerIn Honor of MaryCatherine Landry by Dan, Sarah & DanielIn Honor of Karen & John Needy by Jenny, Brian, Sarah, Grace & Finley CookIn Honor of Susan Schumpert by UMW Prayer PartnerIn Honor of Lacy Sharp by Tim & Debbie SharpIn Honor of Etta & Jim Stephens by Randy & Vicki FryeIn Honor of Bob Taylor by Jenny, Brian, Sarah, Grace & Finley CookIn Honor of Rob White by Open Door Sunday School classIn Honor of Mary Ellen Whittaker by Tom & Linda WhittakerIn Honor of my children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren by Betty Wildman

GENERALIn Memory of Lorene Thomas by David & Johnnie Burkey

JOIN US ON SUNDAYS

8:30am : Traditional WorshipSANCTUARY

9:30am : Coffee & FellowshipFELLOWSHIP HALL

9:45am : Sunday School, all agesCHURCHWIDE

11:00am : Traditional WorshipSANCTUARY

11:00am : The Journey WorshipGYMNASIUM

In January, twelve of our young men and women began the months-long journey known as Confirmation, an important faith tradition in the Methodist church. On Sunday, April 2, our entire church body was invited to worship as one as these students were confirmed into the church as professing members of FCUMC and our faith. Our 2017 Confirmands were:

Jonathan Davis BowlinJames Perry Dendrinos

Alec Tyler EngelstadGrace Michele GarrenJacob Elijah Gillespie

Anabel Grace KoseMallory Marie Murphy

Micah Thomas MustaleskiMary Elizabeth Oakes

John Elias SmithLorelei Alexia SpeeksTucker Patton Vance

In addition to her decision to confirm her faith, Grace Garren also made the decision to be baptized into the Methodist church. Pastors Randy Frye, Amy Aycock, and John Gargis performed her baptism. Grace and her family joined Fountain City UMC together by transfer of membership. We welcome the Garren family, Anthony, Ashley, Grace, and Grant, as the newest members of our church body, and we look forward to the service and min-istry this family will bring to our congregation!

OUR PRESENCENEWEST MEMBERSOF THE FCUMC FAMILY

We celebrate the birth of Harris Clark Douglas Stephens, born to Fashion and Greg Stephens on February 14, 2017. What a special Valentine’s Day present! Harris joins his big sisters Quillyn and Zinnia. Congratulations!

#MILLENNIALMEETUPSATURDAY, MAY 13 AT 11AM | FOUNTAIN CITY PARK

Doughnuts. Coffee. Cornhole. Hashtags. If any of these things sound good to you, then make plans to join us!

We will host a doughnut tasting (with coffee, of course!), some competitive cornhole (corn toss? bean toss? All acceptable vernacular here in the south), and the opportunity to con-nect with God and other millennials from our church and community.

We invite you to come out and experience this intentional time to be spiritually (and literally) fed, and possibly lose to the 2012 Greater Appalachian Conference Corn Hole Invitational* champion, Amy Aycock.

For more information, and to reserve your doughnut, text Amy at (423) 276-1065 or email her at amy.aycock@fountaincityumc.org.

*Disclaimer: This title is 100% made up. #confession

NEWS, NOTES, AND

THE NOTEWORTHY

PENDERGRASS,

PARTY OF EIGHT

Here’s the thing about God: He is intensely interested in this world. God, in His infiniteness, grants each and every one of us His undivided attention. Can you imagine? God, in all His glory and grandness, is deeply invested in each one of our lives.

His Word tells us His

plans for us are always

GOOD AND ALWAYS RIGHT.

So when God is on the move, when His good and right plan begins to unfold, what do you do if you feel God is inviting you along for the ride?

That was question Bill and Becca Pendergrass had to ask themselves six years ago, when they first felt the call toward adoption.

“We struggled with the decision to adopt locally or international-ly,” Bill said. “It wasn’t until Becca went to Guatemala with FCUMC and worked in the orphanage that

it became clear: we were to adopt internationally.”

And so began the years-long journey to Kevin (age 9), Jose (age 8), and Camila (age 5).

In March 2014, Bill and Becca submitted their application through the adoption agency Bethany Christian Services (www.bethany.org) with the hope of adopting a little boy.

In August of 2016, their agency caseworker in Colombia reached out to them about three (THREE!!!) amazing siblings in need of a forever home.

Needless to say, this was certainlynot in Bill or Becca’s originalplan, but God had something big-ger & better in store. After spend-

ing three weeks in Colombia and finalizing what had amounted to years of paperwork, Bill & Becca were finally able to bring Kevin, Jose, and Camila home to their Tennessee family, including their new siblings Elly, Hayden, and Brinley.

“Time and time again God proved His faithfulness,” they said. “So many people have been His hands and feet to us along this journey.”

"IT takes a village AND

OURS DID NOT DISAPPOINT."

And what a journey it has been for this family of eight! A “beautiful chaos,” as Bill puts it. “We can’t imagine anything more worthy of the exhaustion and joy we feel, especially as we kiss each of our six beautiful kids goodnight.”

It may not be easy or neat or tidy to follow God’s bold call wherever He may lead us, but as Bill and Becca can at-test, it will always be worth it.

God had

something

bigger and

better in

store.

THE WORLD IS OUR PARISHMISSIONS AT FCUMC

On the weekend of March 24-26, FCUMC held our annual Missions Celebration weekend, culminating in our Faith Promise Commitment Sunday. During this whirlwind weekend, we packaged 40,000 meals through Rise Against Hunger, hosted representatives from 15 different ministries, and pledged over $78,000 in annual giving for Faith Promise!

If you would like to make your Faith Promise com-mitment, please contact Dee Dee Seals at dseals@fountaincityumc.org.

For a recap of our Missions Celebration, including a full list of our speakers and links to their God-driven ministries’ websites (and photos of volunteers in hairnets), please visit our blog at www.fountainci-tyumc.org/blog.

During Lent, our children’s ministry spearheaded the 15th annual Kids Can for Christ with a goal of collecting 3,000 food items to stock the pantry at the Fountain City Ministry Center. On Palm Sunday, our kiddos

and their grown-up helpers “emptied the tomb” of over 3,100 items! Thank you for your generosity!

Our Adults 50+ Ministry is collecting snack items for the Inskip Elementary 5th Grader Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C. Items will be collected until the Adult 50+ Luncheon on May 12. Suggested items are: 12 oz. bottled waters, 12 oz. Gatorade variety packs, packaged non-perishable snacks such as granola bars, crackers, etc. (please no products containing

nuts). Please contact Jeanie Tillman at jeanie.till-man@fountaincityumc.org for more information. In addition to our Missions Celebration weekend, your annual Faith Promise commitments, Kids Can for Christ, and Inskip donations, (as if that wasn’t enough), FCUMC will also be sending 20 youth, adults, and staff to serve in Guatemala later this month!

The Guatemala Missions team is made up of Sarah Cook, Daniel Doubleday, Kelley Flatford, Brooke Flatford, Cameron Flatford, Kaiti Howell, Bailey Lemmons, Chris Lemmons, Stevie Makres,

Cassidy Poole, Lacey Sharp, Marina Shipman, Rachel Shipman, Molly Shipman, Ben Smith, Kaylin Shipley, Elizabeth Smiddy, Nathan Smith, Maddie Wolfe, and Angie Wolfe. Please be in prayer for these travelers as they make disciples and change lives, and keep an eye on our social media pages for updates from the field!

The team is hosting one more major fundraiser to fund the final $2,000 needed. Mark your calendar for the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast on May 14! Pancakes, missions, not having to make breakfast? What’s not to love!

Beginning at 8am in the Old Fellowship Hall, the Guatemala team and friends will be serving up piping hot pancakes perfect for your palette (yay for alliteration). The price per flapjack is donations only (what’s the going rate for maple syrup?).

As a church body, thank you for representing God’s love! The generosity of our church family continues to surprise and amaze!