Welcoming others Page 2

GOD BREAKS IN Isn't just like God to break into history and into our lives in the most unexpected ways? The Biblical testimony of salvation history is truly amazing. The story of the aged Abram and Sarai being asked to move from the comfort of their home in the most fertile land in the region to some unknown land in the south is compelling. Even more so, the story of a murderous fugitive named Moses being used as an instrument of freedom and nation-formation is almost un imaginable. Perhaps most shocking is God revealing Godself in the person of Jesus from a nowhere town like Nazareth. God continues to intrude, to break into our lives, in many ways. If you consider that God uses the Church, the Body of Jesus, the Community of Faith as the primary instrument of healing, reconciliation and restoration in the world today, boggles the mind. A community of sinners, empowered by the Holy Spirit, being asked to be the very presence of Jesus in the world is simply remarkable. I have said many times that if most businesses were managed the way the church is managed, it wouldn't have lasted one year. The fact that the Church has lasted over 2000 years is a testimony to power and presence of the Holy Spirit. God has always used the weak, the sinful, the frail, the broken, to manifest God's glory. It is God's power, God's vision, God's authority that has reigned and continues to reign over the affairs of human existence. God breaks in to our midst when God sees the need to do so. Thanks be to God. If you were present for worship Sunday, you heard Mike Whitlock share his story about how God broke into his life in a powerful way. Mike showed up to church for a couple of Sundays a few years ago and God broke into, what Mike called, a tiny sliver of an opening in his heart. He has not been the same since. For those of us who share a similar story, we know the feeling. God continues to break into First Church Maryville. We are being stretched to do even more in our community and beyond so others might know the joy of God breaking into their lives.

Being stretched by the vision of new space and new ministry requires being selfless in the resources we give to to ministry in the church. It 's not just about the money, it about what kind of legacy will we leave to those left to do ministry both now and in the future. "Where is your heart?" "Where is your treasure?" are questions for all of us to answer as we live out our vows to be faithful by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. So be it!

Grace and Peace,

Larry

Issue 33 October 21, 2013

A drive to do more Page 3

Operation Christmas

Child Donations needed by November 10th

Details on page 5!

Silly for

Chili

Page 4

Lending a hand Page 4

Prepare for Worship Joel 2: 23-32 Psalm 65 (UMH 789) 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18 Luke 18: 9-14 Kids Own Worship Preschool: John & Julie Elder Elementary: Darby & Emily Abbott Staff on call: Please contact Brenda (414-8493) or Larry (414-8494) Parsonage (233-2712)

Greeters:

8:15 Morning Glory Doug & Virginia Hardwick Lila Eby

10:30 Sanctuary David & Teresa Morton Brent & Whitney Roberts

10:30 The Crossing Barbara and Roger Campbell Lori Strait Acolytes: Macy Waters Reid Waters

Happening at 1st October 27, 2013—November 2, 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013 7:35 AM Morning Glory Chorus 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 11:30 AM Sandy Interest Meeting, 153 1:30 PM Compassion Counseling Meeting, 215 3:30 PM Youth Praise Band, The Cove 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 6:00 PM Embrace Grace, 215 6:00 PM Bible Study, 214 6:15 PM Men’s Chorus & Morning Glory Cantata rehearsal, 249 6:30 PM 12 Steps for Christians, 213 Monday, October 28, 2013 3:30 PM Primary Praise Singers (K & 1st grade) 3:30 PM Merrymakers (2nd & 3rd grade) 3:30 PM Joy Singers (4th-6th grade) 7:00 PM Troop Meeting, Asbury Hall 7:00 PM Church Council, 254 Tuesday, October 29, 2013 6:00 PM Family Fall Celebration 6:00 PM Primary Players, 249 7:00 PM AA, 128 Wednesday, October 30, 2013 12:00 PM Smiles Volunteers, Wesley Hall 3:45 PM Girls Bible Study, Vienna Coffee 5:30 PM Quintet, 2154 Recovery at Maryville, Asbury Hall 5:30 PM Light Meal, Asbury Hall 6:30 PM Celebration Service, Asbury Hall 7:45 PM Sharing Groups (assigned room) 7:00 PM Dude’s Bible Study, Taco Bell 7:00 PM Ladies Bible Study, Panera 7:30 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal, 249 Thursday, October 31, 213 6:00 AM Men’s Bible Study, 214 10:15 AM Asagao, 252 5:00 PM Welcome Table, Asbury Hall 7:00 PM Adults Pick Up Basketball, Asbury Hall 7:00 PM AA, 128 Friday, November 1, 2013 10:00 AM WOW Group, Asbury Kitchen 10:00 AM Craft Time, Wesley Hall Saturday, November 2, 2013 10:00 AM Craft Time, Wesley Hall

Sunday commitments for October 27, 2013

Our Church Family

THE CHURCH BELL Page 2

Welcome! Please take time and welcome the newest members of 1st UMC, Tom and Karen Axley. They joined the church on October 20th.

Baptism Paul Henry Warner was baptized on October 20th during the 10:30 Traditional service. His proud parents are Amber and Ryan Warner and older brother is Tom.

This is the theme for this year’s stewardship campaign.

One’s life does not consist in the abundance of one’s possessions.

Luke 12:15

The flowers on the altar are given in memory of Susan Phillips Knoll in honor of her birthday by Olivia and Andrew Knoll and the Phillips family.

Contact: Asa Majors at rev.asa.lee@gmail.com or 865-982-1273

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Spicing things up for Wesley Woods On a cool Fall evening nothing warms you up like a hot bowl of chili. This past Sunday, seven teams from across the Maryville District came out to 1st UMC for the annual chili cook-off benefitting Camp Wesley Woods. The crowd gathered for the event got a chance to sample each of the chilis and the desserts. Our United Methodist Men took things to a whole new level with their western themed booth, while the 1st UMC Youth got a little “silly.” In the end, the people’s choice award went to the United Methodist Men. Seymour UMC took home the judges award. This year’s chili cook-off raised $1700 for the ministries at the camp.

One important morning Ms. Bailey'’s brother was in a car accident about a year ago and he has been living in a nursing home ever since. Her hope has been to care for him in her home but was not financially able to have a ramp added to the house.

This was a relatively simple project given to the Blount County Housing Repair Collaborative; they just needed some labor to put the pieces together. This past Saturday, a crew of young adults,

along with some more experienced help, built Ms. Bailey a ramp. Everyone shared the opportunity to change Ms. Bailey’s life and her brother's life. They can now be reunited and no longer feel the financial burden of the nursing home.

Called to clean? With the addition of Recovery at Maryville and the continued growth of the Welcome Table, the kitchens here at 1st UMC are getting quite a bit more use. While people clean up the kitchens after each event there is a need for a deeper cleaning. This needs to be done several times a year. If you are willing to support our outreach ministries by helping with these deep cleans please contact Karen Parker at 865-776-6721.

The next cleaning is November 4th!

Interested in helping with Sandy disaster relief?

Informational Meeting Sunday, October 27th @ 11:30 am

Room 153 (Heritage Class)

Thanks to all who came out Saturday; especially Dan Johnson, Gene Lovell, Rob Davis, and Jim Hamlin. Your help was invaluable and we loved spending time with you!

Keep your eyes peeled for future opportunities where you can help change someone's world.

Special guest We'll be taking a break from our UNDEAD series on October 27th to join a breakfast gathering in Wesley Hall (upstairs) for the college ministry visiting from Georgia Southern where David Large is currently working with former 1st Church associate, Carl Blackburn. Many of you will remember Carl from your own days in youth and know David from being in the church. Others of us will just get to enjoy breakfast and fellowship with the Trendsetter Class and the college students from Georgia.

Adult Ministries

Contact: Ginny West Case, ginnywc@fumc-maryville.org 865-982-1273

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Save the date! Friday, November 15th

Trip to Greeneville, TN to visit the Andrew Johnson National Historic sites, Holston Home for Children and have lunch at The Farmer’s Daughter.

United Methodist Women Pecan Sales

Please place you order by October 27th!

Contact any of the women below to order your pecans!

Check out prices and selection online at

www.fumc-maryville.org

Mary Kay Hamlin—mk323@att.net Mary Helen Peery– mhpeery@me.com Frances Hodge—jfhodge@aol.com Linda Richards—tlrich@charter.net Sue Cox—ccoxjr@earthlink.net

Tuesday lunches If you are 60 years or older and are looking for some company for lunch then consider joining us on Tuesdays in Wesley Hall. The meal is free and is provided by the Blount County Office on Aging. All you need to do is call the church office at 982-1273 and make your reservation.

Caring with cars A client at Haven House is now getting around town more easily thanks to the work of volunteers with 1st UMC’s Used Car Ministry. Rocky Rochelle and Chris Hurley (on the left)

head up this program that relies on people to donate old cars and volunteers to help fix them up. Saturday, the Daily Times featured the ministry in an article. (Also pictured: Valerie Day, Brenda Carroll and Larry Carroll)

If you would like to help in any way please contact Rocky at 977-4517 or Chris at 984-5488.

A time for thanks! Less than a month from now hundreds of people from the church will be gathering in Asbury Hall for a huge Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, you heard it right, the annual church wide event is coming up on Sunday, November 17th at 6:00 pm. Reservations are needed for this event so we can get a head count to know how much turkey and dressing to get. You can do that online at www.fumc-maryville.org or call 982-1273. Please bring a side dish to share. Donations will be taken to cover the cost of the turkey and dressing. During the Thanksgiving Dinner the Youth choir, praise band and handbell choir will be providing music. Some volunteers are needed to help with the event. Please contact Ginny West Case at 982-1273 if you are interested in helping.

All e-mails end with @fumc-Maryville.org unless otherwise noted.

Phone: 865-982-1273

Staff Member Email Extension Brenda Carroll brendac 111 Larry Carroll lecarroll65@gmail.com 106 Asa Majors rev.asa.lee@gmail.com 107 Mark Blodgett mblodgett 103 Clayton Hensley chensley 100 Ginny West Case ginnywc 105 Terry Wilson sacmusic 109 Susan Daves sdaves 110 Denise Johns djohns 113 Jane Sanders jsanders 101 Stephen Nelson stephennelson22@gmail.com 202 Amelia Geis ameliageis@yahoo.com Dwain Pesterfield DwainP602@bellsouth.net Paul Brown Sherri Justice Bryan Holder

STAFF DIRECTORY

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What are your children learning?

Sunday, October 20th (Last Sunday) Preschool—4th Grade Lesson– David Dances Bible Verses— 2 Samuel 6: 1-19 Tweens Being called by God (Samuel’s call)

Sunday, October 27th (This Sunday) Preschool – 4th Grade God chooses Joshua Deuteronomy 31: 1-2,7-8,23; Joshua 1:1-9 Tweens

Carve your creation Come join the fun on October 26th from 4-6 as we bring you a pumpkin carving party! This is for children up to 6th grade. All you need is a pumpkin, some carving tools and a little creativity. We’ll be taking pictures of each creation and letting folks at the Family Fall Celebration vote for their favorites! The children’s department is providing drinks, plates and silverware, but you are asked to bring a pizza to share along with a side dish or dessert.

For more information on any of these events, please call Denise at For more information on any of these events, please call Denise at

982982--1273 or e1273 or e--mail her at djohns@fumcmail her at djohns@fumc--maryville.org .maryville.org .

Silent night … crafty night Please mark your calendars for December 8th as we bring you a special event for families. The night will begin at 5:00 pm and will include some singing, crafts and plenty of food. Your help is needed to help make this event a success. If you are interested in preparing the Christmas crafts for this special family event please give Denise a call at 982-1273 or e-mail her at djohns@fumc-maryville.org .

Time to shop! Some Christmas trees are appearing here at the church, but don’t worry you still have a little time before the big day! Each tree is filled with “ornaments” listing items needed to fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child. This year, the children’s department and the youth are joining forces to collect goods for this special mission. All items are needed by November 10th. After all the items are collected the youth and children will have a “packing party.” You can also buy all the items for a box and fill it yourself. Shipping is $7 for each box.

Trick or treat! Claire and Barrett Roberts donned their Halloween costumes this past Sunday and paid visits to several Sunday School classes.

They hope YOU will step up and volunteer for next week’s Family Fall Celebration or donate some candy or cupcakes!

Alternative Gift Fair

November 10th

9 am—3 pm Wesley Hall

Vendors include: Handmade by Sewing Hands, MOJA, Good Neighbors of Blount County, Kuldiga Partnership, Mayaworks, New Hope Advocacy Center, Olive Branch Oil, Partners for Just Trade, Humane Society of East TN, Shop the World, The Gate, Trinity Dental, Sudan’s Women Center, UMW, Community Food Connection, Welcome Table and Recovery at Maryville.

More information available at: www.fumc-maryville.org

Maryville First United Methodist Church 804 Montvale Station Road

Maryville, Tennessee 37803 Phone: 865-982-1273 Fax: 865-983-5408

www.fumc-maryville.org