MMessengerThe Church Street For members & friends of Church Street United Methodist Church • Knoxville, Tennessee Volume 73 • No. 45 • December 6, 2011 It’s Time for The Christmas Pageant Third Sunday in Sunday, December 11...5 to 6:30 pm...Parish Hall & Nave Advent This Sunday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 6:30 pm in Parish Hall and the Nave, Church Street will host “The Christmas Pageant” (formerly Community Christmas), featuring a • Sunday, December 11 light supper and a unique nativity pageant. It is a time for young and old, rich and poor, member and guest, to come together in fellowship Worship and Christian love. Be a true example to others! Beginning in Parish Hall, we’ll enjoy entertainment − 8:30 am & 11:00 am Nave and snack supper. Then as the storyteller begins to tell the Rev. Andy Ferguson story of the birth of Jesus, those who wish may put on simple costumes to become angels, shepherds, wisepersons, or townspeople. Costumes are provided − • Monday, December 12 No acting or speaking required. As persons of all ages don Community Worship costumes, the remaining attendees journey up to the Nave to witness the pageant. Come celebrate the birth of the Christ Child on Dec. 11. You will be blessed! 6 pm − Chapel − Rev. Darryll Rasnake NOTE: Volunteers still needed. Call Sue Piper at 690-5188 for details. Community Worship Hospitality Hosts Dec. 12: Partners Dec. 19: Cornerstone We need mittens, scarves, gloves, hats & socks! We need many, many more items for the mitten trees, located in the church office/ • Wednesday, December 14 library hallway, the 2nd floor children’s hallway and the Preschool area. Collected items will be given to our “Christmas Pageant” guests. NOTE: We especially need Advent Communion Service lots of warm socks for adults also!! Please help out putting the items on the trees or bringing them to the church 11:40 am - Nave office on this Sunday, Dec. 11. Recital by Eunjin Choi, Organ “God’s Healing, Restoration and Transformation of the World” Next Four Course Fellowship begins in January Rev. Darryll Rasnake Sign up in the breezeway this Sunday! The next 4-month rotation of Four Course To sign-up or for more information, 2012 Pledged Received: Fellowship begins in January. In this visit the breezeway on Sundays, Dec. 11 “dinner club” fellowship opportunity, and 18, before or after Sunday School. 411 pledges total $1,744,987 groups are established and locations, You may also contact Julia Kelley at 693- 96% of the $1.815 Million needed appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts 6239 or [email protected] by rotate monthly within the group. Sunday, December 18. We are anticipating pledges from another 59 member/families, who have yet to submit a pledge card. Order your Christmas Poinsettia now! It’s poinsettia time, and you can Poinsettias may be ordered on Sunday, If you have not made a pledge, be a part of a Church Street Dec. 11, in the Chapel Hallway or through please prayerfully consider your tradition when beautiful poinsettas the church office until noon on Dec. 12. 2012 pledge and/or contribution are ordered in memory or in honor of Cost is $12 each. in support of the 2012 financial loved ones. These poinsettias will decorate Please note: This listing of donations needs of our church’s ministries! the Nave on Sunday, Dec. 18, as well as will be published in next week’s Please respond today! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Messenger. Blue Christmas service to be held Messenger to take holiday break Wednesday, Dec. 21 - 12 noon - Chapel The final Messenger of 2011 will be the Christmas is a season of joy. But, for those of us who have lost December 20th edition. The Messenger will someone we love and for those who are dealing with unusual return with the January 3rd edition. challenges, the joy of the season can leave us feeling out of place. On the last Wednesday before Looking ahead to Sunday, Dec. 25 -- one worship Christmas, Dec. 21, we will hold a Blue Looking ahead to Sunday, Dec. 25 -- one worship Christmas Service – for those who are service only / special fellowship gathering feeling “blue” at Christmas for any reason. This will be a service On Christmas Sunday morning, Dec. 25, we will worship with of prayer and assurance. This will be a service where being out one service only, at 11 am in the Nave. Everyone is also invited of place in the joy of the Christmas season will fit right in. to a special fellowship time in Parish Hall from 10 to 10:45 am. The service begins at 12:00 noon and will last about 30 Church Streeter and storyteller, Steve Roberts, will share minutes. All are welcome. Christmas stories. Hot cider, hot chocolate and coffee will be NOTE: Lunch will be served in Parish Hall following the served. Note: Childcare will not be available on Christmas Day. service. Please call 524-3048 to make meal reservations. Welcome/Information Center needs volunteers MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! Our new information center is located in the Church Life Center Financial Peace University (FPU) begins in hallway. As an expansion of our WOW (Words of Welcome) greeters, February 2012.....Orientations scheduled February 2012.....Orientations scheduled volunteers are needed to staff the center one Sunday a FPU Orientations will be held at 12:15 pm on Sundays, Jan. 22 month from 9:15 to 10 am or from 10:30 to 11 am. and 29...with the series beginning on Feb. 5. All literature and information about Church Street ministries FPU is a 13-week program on personal finance designed will be provided. Volunteers will answer visitor questions, assist to empower people to manage their money better, eliminate debt persons on Sunday mornings, and just provide a friendly, and build wealth. Cost for the 13 weeks is $75 for Church welcoming presence. Street members and $100 for non-members. If you are interested in this new opportunity, please contact Questions? Contact J.R. Hertwig at (865) 384-7049 or Rick Isbell, minister of discipleship, at 521-0266 or [email protected]. [email protected].
New military addresses are needed Have you lost something? If you have a new or updated address for your military family If you have lost your keys, your gloves, your Bible or any other member, please contact Cindy Hollingsworth at 673-2083 or item, please check with Doris Lively (521-0271) or Brenda [email protected]. Flenniken (521-0270) if you’ve lost or found something.
CHURCH STREET UMC CALENDAR: DECEMBER 11-17 WORSHIP LEISURE ACTIVITIES PERSONAL & MEETINGS Morning Worship & FELLOWSHIP SPIRITUAL GROWTH Stephen Ministry Team Mtg Sunday, 8:30 & 11 am, Nave Sunday, 2:30 pm, rm 204 Rejoice! The Christmas Pageant Disciple IV (R. Isbell) Benevolence Team Sunday, 8:30 am (WVLT-TV) Sunday, 5 to 6:30 pm, Parish Hall/Nave Sunday, 3 pm, rm 202 Monday, 12 noon, rm 118 Sunday, 10 am (WVLT2) Bridge: Mon., 6:30 pm, CLC 120 Study of Book of Isaiah (Wender) Board of Trustees Advent Recital & Worship Yoga: Mon. & Thurs., 7 pm, rm 204 Sunday, 4 pm, rm 201-A Wednesday, 5:45 pm, rm 202 Wednesday, 11:40 am, Nave Swing Dance Lessons Men’s Bible Study Mon., 7 pm, Beginning, Gym Sunday, 6 pm, rm 103 Sunday School • 9:40 a.m. Mon., 7 pm, Intermediate, CLC 11 Women’s Beth Moore study Wednesday Lunch Wednesday, 9 am, rm 202 YOUTH Wednesday, 12:30 pm, Parish Hall Pastor’s Bible Study (Ferguson) Youth Girls Basketball Practice Men’s Basketball Wednesday, 7 pm, rm 204 Sunday, 7 pm, Gym MUSIC Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Gym Thursday, 6 pm, Gym Line Dance Lessons Pastor’s Bible Study Youth Ministry Visioning Retreat Adult Choir Practice Thursday, 7 pm, Gym Wednesday, 7 pm, Choir Room See Lectionary Listings on back Sunday, CLC 11 page for Sundays, Dec. 18 & 25 [+ Friday & Saturday, Dec. 9-10]
Stop by SINGLES & help Singles Lakeshore Project & Dinner anytime! Thursday, 6:15 pm, offsite Set-Up Days & Times Friday Games Night Friday, 6:30 pm, Gym & CLC 124 9 am to 6 pm.....Wednesday - Thursday - Friday 15th Annual Event!
Sunday, December 18 ... 1 to 6 pm
• If you have never attended... WTB Volunteer STATUS Report “Walk Through Bethlehem” began in 1997 and each year has become We NEED YOUR HELP! the largest assembly of persons gathering at Church Street on any This year’s Walk Through Bethlehem is less day. Please let this be the year that you experience what the village than two weeks away and we still need many volunteers. of Bethlehem might have been like over 2,000 years ago...right in We can use YOU!! our Parish Hall and surroundings. Visit the shops, listen to the storytellers, learn in the synagogue, talk with the townspeople (fellow Set up Days: Dec. 14, 15, & 16 Church Streeters who will stay in character as 1st century residents As you can imagine, turning our Parish Hall of Bethlehem), taste the local Bethlehem foods, see the animals on into Bethlehem is quite a task. Stop by anytime the hillside, and try to find the special baby born that night. between 9 am and early evening on December 14, 15 & 16 and there will be a job for you. We need A few tidbits for those new to Walk Through Bethlehem... help with stringing lights, setting up shops, decorating • This is a free event / No reservations needed. shops, etc. [We especially need persons on Thursday • Visit anytime between 1 and 6 pm. morning with shovels and wheelbarrows to help move the wood chips into Parish Hall.] There will • Line forms in Church Life Center hallway. be a job for YOU! • We are open rain, snow or shine! All of Walk Through Bethlehem, except the animals in the Event day: Walk Through Bethlehem: Dec. 18 shepherds’ field, is situated indoors. Also, if Summary: We still need several costumed and non- you have to wait to enter Bethlehem, your wait costumed Church Streeters during the event. is indoors (in the Church Life Center). • This is not a play or a pageant but an interactive URGENT needs -- 1st shift (1 to 3:30 pm) event that allows one to interact with characters • We need WISE MEN and Nave greeters. while visiting different points of interest in our (Note: All Nave greeters don’t give tours; they village of Bethlehem. are just friendly faces welcoming guests who come • Animals (camels, sheep, donkey, etc.) are an to see the Nave). exciting part of this event, but our animals are URGENT needs -- 2nd shift (3:30 to 6 pm) stabled at dusk and in the event of steady rain. • We need WISE MEN, a census taker, • For more information about Walk Through innkeeper, & storyteller. We need Bethlehem, call 524-3048 or visit our website shopkeepers for the metal, carpentry, jewelry at www.churchstreetumc.org/wtb.php. and medicine shops. We need non-costumed greeters for the Breezeway & the Nave. • If you haven’t attended since the early years... • Food is needed for volunteers’ breakroom on Dec. 18. Come back to see the changes, such as the canvas backdrop of the Clean-up Days: December 19 & 20 Judean hillside, the interactive shops, the camels, and the nave visits. After a successful event...taking down shops, storing • If you have or have not attended and would like to be items, and taking out the wood chips are the big tasks during clean-up day. Your help is needed. one of the hundreds of volunteers... Call Sue Isbell at 521-0282 as soon as possible. We NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS prior to the event, during the event and after the event. Check out the volunteer status report in the 2nd column. Pray for this year’s Walk Through Bethlehem! Westminster Choir will perform in January - Tickets available! Kay Center selling knives & The Westminster Choir, under the direction of Joe Miller, will present a concert in the gift cards Nave on Friday, January 13. Tickets are now on sale in the church office and music Rada Knives and Food City/Kroger Gift office, as well as in the chapel hallway on December Sundays. Adult Cards will be on sale in the breezeway on tickets are $20 per person and $5 for students. Sunday, Dec. 18. Money raised is used Setting the standard for choral excellence for 91 years, the for Kay Center activities. Westminster Choir is composed of students at Westminster If you have questions about this Choir College, a division of Rider University’s Westminster project or need more information about College of the Arts, in Princeton, NJ. It has been the chorus-in-residence for the the Kay Center, please call Judith Winters Spoleto Festival USA since 1977, performing both in concert and as the opera chorus. at 521-0293. Expressions of interest being taken for new study, You Lost Me. Join the Picture Patrol! A new book study may be held in early 2012 if enough persons are interested. David During the holiday season (and all times Kinnamon, who wrote the “UnChristian” book study in which several Church Streeters of the year), if you have good photos participated, has written another study entitled You Lost Me: Why Young Christians taken at Church Street events and are Leaving the Church...and Rethinking Faith. services, please submit copies to Teresa The fact is that millions of young Christians are disconnecting from church as Williams for future use (bulletin boards, they transition to adulthood. Now the best-selling author of UNChristian, David archives, brochures, website, etc.). Kinnaman, reveals the long-awaited results of a new nationwide study of 18- to 29- Please Note: We especially need year-olds with a Christian background. Discover why so many are disengaging from pictures taken at The Christmas Pageant the faith community, renew your hope for how God is at work in the next generation on Sunday, Dec. 11, and Walk Through of teens and young adults -- and find out how you can join in. Bethlehem on Sunday, Dec. 18. If you would be interested in this study, please contact Tom Hood at 577-1131 or Pictures (hard copies or CD) should [email protected]. be delivered to Teresa’s mailbox in the church office soon after the event. Please Church Street’s Preschool received mini-grant make a note if you need your pictures Our Preschool recently received a “Healthy Habits” mini-grant from the Knox County returned. Digital pictures may be sent to Health Department to enhance nutrition and fitness programs in our classes. Since the [email protected]. Preschool is designed to foster the development of the whole child, nutrition and fitness are critical to this effort. The money will be used to develop new nutrition-related materials for our classes, and to purchase large motor materials, like a new trike, a “hop,skip and jump” set for Have You Listened the gym and healthy play food sets. To God Today? Sharing Christmas with our disabled and homeless neighbors Again this year, Central United Methodist Church is the location where donations of Remember Sterchi Lodge! Christmas gifts will be given to our area disabled and homeless persons on Christmas Our church has an incredible advantage Eve. You can help by purchasing a few inexpensive gifts and delivering them directly to have Sterchi Lodge as a nearby retreat to Central UMC, prior to Christmas Eve. in the midst of the Smoky Mountains. Bookings are available for Sunday school Gift suggestions include: classes, work groups, clubs, and family For Men (wrap gifts in WHITE paper): suspenders, stretch belts, reunions. Contact the church office at socks, playing cards, billfolds, slippers, combs, brushes, shampoo, 524-3048. shaving cream, disposable razors, cologne, ties, handkerchiefs, small Also, please consider Sterchi Lodge inexpensive Christmas decorations, and candy. as you plan your end of year For Women (wrap gifts in COLORED paper): Pantyhose (queen size), knee high contributions. Designations can be made hose, warm stretch gloves, perfume, lipstick, powder, nail polish, brushes, combs, to either the Sterchi Lodge Capital hand and face cream, shampoo, costume jewelry, slippers, scarves, make-up, small Account for immediate and current inexpensive Christmas decorations, and candy. projects or the Sterchi Lodge Trust Fund for long-term, major investments. Your Helpers needed to serve Christmas Dinner....on Christmas Eve gifts will ensure that our lodge will have If you would like to help serve Christmas dinner to our homeless neighbors, come to the resources needed to maintain the lodge Central UMW at 10 am on Christmas Eve. to be enjoyed for many years to come. NOTE: Central UMC is located at 201 East Third Avenue, between Lamar Street and Morgan Street, just off Broadway near the intersection of Broadway and North Central. Domestic Violence Helpline Look for the square brick tower. Their phone number is 524-1659. (865) 521-6336 “Reflections....on new parking management” News & Needs − Andy Ferguson, senior pastor
I want to inform you about an important For church members, the parking Children’s News • Remember to take an angel from the tree in the change that is coming; it is a change to arrangements are fairly simple: Gathering Place. Items should be returned the parking at Church Street. • Church families will get an I.D. for each unwrapped on Dec. 18. As you may know, this church has of our cars. Anytime you come for an perhaps the last free parking in the activity at church, you can park anywhere downtown area. We have over three without charge. Youth News hundred parking spaces • On Sunday morning and during large close to the church, but • Hey Youth! Be sure and join us for “The church events (like Christmas Eve), all Christmas Pageant” (formerly Community also close to the Knoxville lots will be reserved for Church Street Christmas) this Sunday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 6:30 pm. Convention Center, the activities. Visitors will be welcome to park City-County Building, free at those times, too. downtown offices, • For special events, like funerals, needed and the University. Singles News parking will be available and cleared for Over the past three • The Friday Fun Night Dance for December will members and friends who attend. years, as I have be held on Friday, Dec. 9 instead of Dec. 2. The theme is “Christmas Formal.” served this church, people use our parking For visitors, the guidelines above apply, plus: • Donations for “The Cart” (which benefit regularly through the week – people who Volunteer Ministry Center) continue with Microwave are not coming to any activity at the • A one-time visitor who comes during Popcorn for December. The Cart is located outside church. Too often, church members find the week can call ahead for a pass code. Parish Hall. ourselves hunting (or competing) for a • Most visitors come on Sunday morning parking space around our own church. to worship; visitors are always welcome. Something must change. Special situations: On Dec. 1, our church Properties • Parking for UT football games has been Web News Committee entered a contract with reserved for the youth and youth choir www.churchstreetumc.org Republic Parking to manage our parking fund-raising as always. • To read The Messenger online, go to the News lots. Our arrangements are similar to • The Magnolia Lot (the one with the & Events category and select Newsletters. The those at other downtown churches. Messenger is usually online by Wednesday automatic gate) is always reserved for Except for our gated lot, Republic now afternoons. church use. manages all the lots 24/7. • Listen to and watch REJOICE!, streamed The contract is being phased in; full It appears that we now need to manage on our website at www.churchstreetumc.org/ enforcement of the contract begins our parking on a day-to-day basis − ways stream.php. February 1. we have not done before. However, we • Like us on FACEBOOK! Just go to www.facebook.com and search for can do this and still make the church Questions? Kevin Anderson, Chair of “Church Street United Methodist the Properties Committee, is making welcoming for members and visitors alike. Church.” himself available to explain this new And, given the competition for our own arrangement (865-789-6085). parking, it appears that we must. Do you wish to receive 2011 contribution credit Music News for your donation? [ Final 2011 Deposits - Dec. 30 at 2 pm ] Please note: The Business Office will make its final 2011 bank deposit at 2 pm on Thursday, Dec. 30. Donations postmarked on or before Dec. 30th but received after New Year’s Day will also be credited to your Dec. 31, 2011 statement of contributions. • Sunday, December 11 Stock transfers, mutual fund gifts or IRA distributions must be deposited into Youth & Children’s Choirs − morning worship church accounts or delivered to the church by Dec. 29th to assure inclusion on year-end reports. Contact Charlotte LaFevor (521-0268) for instructions. Stock • Sunday, December 18 transfers go to church accounts at either Charles Schwab or Fidelity Investments, Parish Adult Choir with Brasswind Quintet Inc. Making such transfers without prior notification to our Business Office -morning worship complicates our accounting process and possibly, with market volatility, lowers the • Saturday, December 24 church’s return on the sale of stock. Parish Adult Choir & Instrumentalists For more information, please call Charlotte LaFevor at 521-0268. Traditional Candlelight Communion Services Services begin at 5 pm & 10:30 pm CSUMC: “A beacon...Living Christ, Teaching Christ, Offering Christ” NOTE: Family Service (designed for young children) begins at 3 pm. Non-Profit Org. The Messenger U.S. POSTAGE Church Street United Methodist Church PAID P. O. Box 1303 Knoxville, TN 900 Henley at Main Permit No. 800 Knoxville, TN 37901
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Memorials Stewardship in memory of STAFF (521-0 + ext.) We will be loyal to The United Methodist Church • Grace Baynes Senior Pastor Andy Ferguson-236-0951 and support it with our prayers, presence, Sound System: Elizabeth Reagon Associate Pastor Darryll Rasnake-279 gifts, service and witness. • Rachel Cochran Associate Pastor Sarah Varnell-263 Rejoice! TV Ministry: Marilyn McCall Special Needs Pastor Cabel Trent-264 Our Prayers • Jennifer Landon In the hospital: Jennifer Landon Teaching Center: Christina Minister of Discipleship Rick Isbell-266 East Tennessee Children’s Hospital: Ashton Sullivan Director of Music Ministries Tim Ward-276 Whaley • Marjorie Lloyd Music Associate/Organist Edie Johnson-277 Parkwest: Pat Varhol, Carol Moody, Darla United Methodist Women: Dwight & Michele Children’s Director Sue Isbell-282 Gamble Lloyd, Alpha Omega Chapter - Beta Sigma Phi ChildCare Coordinator Jamie McKinney-290 U.T.: Nancy Dennis, Joseph Golden • Carroll (Curly) Parsons Youth Director/Trav. Mission Marc Gamble-287 Home from hospital: Memorial Fund: Marilyn McCall Communications Director Teresa Williams-299 Drake Johnson, Gordon Abbott • Brad Thompson, Sr. Preschool Director Beth Libby-524-3511 Music Ministry: Dawn von Weisenstein Kay Center Director Judith Winters-293 Christian Sympathy to: • Dr. Lucian Trent Kay Center Kay Center Staff-289 Caroline Fuller and family in the death of her Memorial Fund: Dr. George & Julia Shiflett Church Administrator Charlotte LaFevor-268 sister, Eldora Lott, in St. Augustine, FL, on Food Services Bobby Tolley-273 Nov. 30. Bookkeeper Francine Jenne-267 Jenny Cheatham and family in the death of Honoraria her grandmother, Irene Thomas, on Dec. 3. in honor of Administrative Assistant Kelly Woods-262 • Children’s Ministry Ministers’ Secretary Emerita Loretta Best-280 Lila Jane Morton: William & Linda Varnell Executive Secretary Doris Lively-271 Our Presence Secretary Julie Hill -278 Worship (including weekday worship) 876 Receptionist Brenda Flenniken-270 Sunday School 542 Prayer requests are Sterchi Lodge Caretaker Essie Burgin always invited Building Superintendent Walt Sands-295 Our Gifts Custodians -274 Brandon Amburn, Tim Montgomery, Operating Budget $76,483 Blue cards found in the pew racks are Matt Newberry, Mike Plyler, Anita O’Dell Other Designations $20,109 available for your prayer requests. Placed in the offering plates, these will MAIN OFFICE HOURS be lifted at the altar during worship and − Our Church Family throughout the week by the clergy staff. 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Church Office: (865) 524-3048 New Members - Sunday, Dec. 4 FAX: 521-0261 • Don and Gail Borio joined by transfer from Westminster Presbyterian Church, in Lectionary Readings Pastor-on-Call Number: 236-1518 For emergencies, Call the number and the Birmingham, AL. • December 18 Pastor-on-Call will answer, or you may leave a 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:47-55 message and the pastor will return your call. Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 Altar Flowers for • December 25 Sunday, Dec. 11 Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98 • The Chancel Altar Flowers are in loving Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14 Visit us memory of Bishop and Mrs. Eugene M. Frank, on the Web given by daughter Gretchen Beal and family. New Arrival W • The Chapel Altar Flowers are in loving • Isaiah Grubb was born on Nov. 18 to memory of Charles Sterchi on the occasion of his Jeremy and Jennifer Grubb. Grandparents 89th birthday, given by Mildred Sterchi. are Jim and Judy Grubb. www.churchstreetumc.org