Several of you who attended the Ash Wednesday Noonday service commented on how meaningful the prayer I
shared was to you. It was written by Macrina Wiederkehr and is included in her book, Seasons of the Heart. I’m
thankful to my sister, Rev. Barbara Clark, for introducing me to her writings. This coming Sunday, March 19th, the
Gospel reading is John 4:5-42 which is the conversation between Jesus and the woman of Samaria who comes to
the well at noon. That scripture inspired this prayer.
Empty Water Jar Prayer
by: Macrina Wiederkehr
Jesus, I come to the warmth of your Presence
knowing that You are
the very emptiness of God.
I come before You
holding the water jar of my life.
Your eyes meet mine
and I know what I'd rather not know.
I came to be filled
but I am already full.
I am too full.
This is my sickness:
I am full of things that crowd out
Your healing Presence.
A holy knowing steals inside my heart
and I see the painful truth.
I don't need more. I need less.
I am too full.
I am full of things that block out
Your golden grace.
I am smothered by God’s of my own creation.
I am lost in the forest of my false self.
I am full of my own opinions and narrow attitudes
full of fear, resentment, control;
full of self pity, and arrogance.
Slowly this terrible truth pierces my heart;
I am so full, there is no room for You.
Contemplatively, and with compassion,
You ask me to reach into my water jar.
One by one, Jesus, you enable me
to lift out the things
that are a hindrance to my wholeness.
I take each on to my heart.
I hear You asking me,
"Why is this so important to you? "
Like the murmur of a gentle stream
I hear You calling,
"Let go, let go, let go! "
I pray with each obstacle,
tasting the bitterness and grief
it has caused.
Finally, I sit with my empty water jar.
I hear you whisper,
“You have become a space for God;
Now there is hope.
Now you are ready to be a channel of Life.
You have given up your own agenda.
There is nothing left but God.”
I Thirst- Jan Richardson
Welcome to 1st!
Staff
The main church phone number is 865-982-1273
*Please note that ALL staff emails now end with
1stchurch.org unless otherwise noted.
Pastors
Catherine Nance
Parker Benson
Sarah Slack
The Burns Family
Bill and Amanda
Everleigh & Waylon
cnance
pbenson
sslack
Music
Terry Wilson
sacmusic
ext. 109
Susan Daves
sdaves
ext. 110
Chris Lee
clee
ext. 116
Dwain Pesterfield (organist)
[email protected]
Sarah Lawson
slawson
Katie Russell
krussell
Children’s Ministries
Denise Johns
djohns
Carmen Faircloth
[email protected]
Youth Ministries
Nathan Irwin
The United Methodist Women of 1st UMC are hosting
the annual Call to Prayer and Self Denial this Thursday,
March 16th. The event focuses on Abundant Health
for Women and features speaker, Jaclyn Hone, MD
with Trinity Medical Associates.
This event begins at 11:00 am in Wesley Hall and is
followed by lunch ($5 donation suggested). Please
help the UMW get an idea of how many people are
coming by signing up at www.1stchurch.org or call the
church office at 982-1273.
ext.113
nirwin
Administrator
Mark Blodgett
Event Reminder
ext.111
ext. 106
ext. 107
ext.202
mblodgett
ext. 103
Communications
Clayton Hensley
chensley
ext.100
Membership Secretary
Jane Sanders
jsanders
ext. 101
Welcome Table
Amelia Geis-Scott
[email protected]
Technical Director
Samuel Williams
[email protected]
Maintenance & Custodial Staff
Paul Brown, Sherri Justice, Bryan Holder
General Questions
982-1273
[email protected]
Publishing Schedule
March 27th
April 10th
Submission deadline: March 24th
Submission deadline: April 7th
*If you have something you would like to see in The Church
Bell, please send it to [email protected] or drop it by
the church office. If you are wanting an event promoted
please fill out the online event promotion form at least a
month prior to the event. Hard copies of the event form
are available in the church office.
Are you considering church membership or
just want to learn more about the United
Methodist Church or 1st UMC Maryville?
If so, be sure and check out this class
starting in April.
March 22nd - A Timely Table
Rev. Carol Wilson, Holston Conference of the UMC
Traditional Worship at 8:15 & 10:30
Contemporary Worship at 10:30 am
March 29th - A Forgiving Table
Rev. Bob Hayes, Broadway UMC, retired
April 5 - A Wide Table
Easter Egg Hunt for Children up to 6th Grade
during the 9:15 am Sunday School Hour.
Lunch for Families with Children at 11:45 am
in Wesley Hall
(Please sign up online or call 982-1273.)
For more on what’s happening during Lent,
Holy Week and Easter please visit:
www.1stchurch.org
Look for “Lent and Easter 2017” under the
“Happening at 1st” tab.
Rev. Eric Bronkala,
Shannondale Community/ Middlebrook Pike UMC
Pilgrim Walk in the Woods
Monday, March 20th
Leaving the church at 9:00 am
Experience nature and Lent in a new way as you
hike the Middle Prong Trail at Tremont in the Great
Smoky Mountains. Along the 4-mile hike there will
be stops for prayer and reflection. Rev. Laura
Rasor of Broadway UMC will be your guide.
The hope is that the communion with creation will
lead to greater communion with God. Sign up
online at www.1stchurch.org or call the church
office at 982-1273.
Monday, April 10th
Rev. Betty Furches - Friendsville UMC
Tuesday, April 11th
Rev. Laura Rasor - Broadway UMC
Wednesday, April 12th
Rev. Daniel Castillo - St. John UMC
Thursday, April 13th
Rev. Alta Raper - Binfield UMC
Friday, April 14th
Tim Kobler - UTK Wesley Foundation
All the services are in the Sanctuary.
A light meal will be served in Wesley Hall
following worship.
THE CHURCH BELL
page 3
reduced rate. That is truly a godsend
since rent in Blount County is among the
highest in the state. In many cases
monthly mortgage is cheaper than rent if
only a down payment was possible.
During Going Home, Staying Home, case
workers continue to work with the families
for a year even when they are paying full
rent to help ensure they stay on their feet.
1st News
Helping the homeless one step at a time
by: Mavis Ziegler - 1st UMC Family Promise Coordinator
1st UMC was scheduled to house homeless families
as part of the Family Promise mission the week of
February 19th to 26th. For the first time in the nine
years since Family Promise has been in Blount
County there were NO families in the emergency shelter
phase of the program! If only there were no longer
Do you remember Summer and 8-week-old Abbygaile
homeless families, it would be an answer to prayers.
when they were in Family Promise? They were
dependent on the income of Summer’s husband/
Nationwide there is a lower census this time of year due Abbygaile’s father, and when he died
to tax refunds. Sadly, many families are unable to
they lost their home. Check out
remain stable and soon need shelter so their children
Abbygaile now!
have a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs.
In fact, a new family entered February 26th. Also, nine
Summer has her own home-based
other families remain in the other two phases of the
business in addition to working at a local
program. Family Promise is such a blessing for those
office. This family is thriving now
who are experiencing a truly low time in their lives.
because of Family Promise and YOU.
Also, they are volunteer hosts now.
Once families graduate from the Emergency Shelter
Save a little time June 18th to 25th and
phase of Family Promise, the mission program stays
with them through Bridges and Going Home, Staying
you can make a difference volunteering too. That’s the
Home. During Bridges, families will pay rent at a
next host week for 1stUMC.
Rebuilding homes and lives
Your support of the Holston Conference
wildfire relief efforts are about to take a step
forward. Through a cash gift from the
Conference and an in-kind donation of
framed walls, Appalachia Service Project
(based in Johnson City, TN) plans on underwriting and
building 25 replacement homes in Sevier County over
the next 12 months.
This effort is similar to one in Rainelle, West Virginia
where flooding in 2016 destroyed dozens of homes.
Appalachia Service was founded in 1969 by Methodist
minister, Rev. Glen “Tex” Evans.
Antiques and Appraisal Fair
(Benefitting Compassion Counseling Center)
Saturday, March 18th
9:30 am to 2;00 pm
First Baptist Church - Maryville
$5 Each appraisal
$5 Lunches available
Singles’ Ministry
Potluck Lunch
March 19th
1:00 pm
Wesley Hall
The Power of Love and Laughter
Dinner Show and Silent Auction
April 1, 2017 @ 5:30 pm
Asbury Hall
Come support True Purpose Ministries and Dane’s House
at this special event. Enjoy a great meal, the comedic
talents of Bob Smiley and Bean and Bailey as well as a
chance to bid on a variety of items at the silent auction.
Tickets are available from Jan McCoy at $30 per person.
Call her at 865-384-7307.
For more on True Purpose Ministries visit:
www.truepurposeministries.com
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page 4
There is a greater need than ever to save 70 - 90 Easter Sunday parking spaces for our guests and visitors. There will be a
continuous shuttle on Sunday, April 16 for all choir and orchestra members. Also, 1st UMC members are asked to use
this shuttle from BEHIND the Jr. High School to the Porte Cochere.
The shuttle will run every 3 to 4 minutes from 7:00 am until 12:15 pm.
Coming up at Celebrate Recovery
March 22nd - Laura West of LOL Ministries
Christian Comedienne
March 29th - Teen Challenge
*and our own John Cherry singing
Garth Brooks!
Celebrate Recovery has more than 30 active volunteers from various churches that serve to greet, prepare
food, set up and tear down facilities, facilitate sharing groups, act as security, provide hospitality, and work as
administrators and public relations representatives. Local participants meet every Wednesday night at
1st United Methodist Church in Maryville. Between 150 and 225 free meals are prepared and served each
week at 5:30 pm. Group worship begins at 6:30 pm. It incorporates, teaching, testimony and Contemporary
Christian music (and more) played by a five-member band. Average attendance for group worship is around
100 to 150 people
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Page 5
News
Congratulations to these young people who took a big step in
their faith journeys on March 5th during their Confirmation
service. When you see them, please be sure and congratulate
them on their accomplishments.
(Pictured from left to right.)
Front row: Maggie West, Anna Henneke, Drew Barton,
Abram Abott
Back row: Sophie Shepherd, Jack Walker, Lane Pinkerton,
Ty Elder, Luke Keller
Fellowship and fun on Palm Sunday
Denise Johns
Children’s Ministry Director
[email protected]
865-982-1273
Lent lessons for Children
Session 2
March 29th and April 5th
5:30 pm
Dinner provided.
Please sign up online or call.
The Children’s Ministry Action Team (CMAT) is hosting a
Palm Sunday lunch for children and their families following
the 10:30 am services on April 9th. The main dish will be
provided along with beverages. Just sign up online or call
982-1273 and bring a side dish to share on the day of the
luncheon.
Earlier that morning, the children are invited to go room to
room here at the church to hunt for eggs (filled with nonedible treats). Just meet in your Sunday School classrooms
at 9:15 am and then each class will make the rounds visiting
the adult Sunday School classes.
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Page 6
Memorials and Honorariums
In memory of:
Russ West
Julia Hood Crawford
In memory of:
Sam Johnson
Mike Flynn
Building Fund
Given by:
Tommy & Carol Hunt
Tommy & Carol Hunt
Celebrate Recovery
Given by:
Recovery Kitchen Crew
Brad & Patsy Lunde
In memory of:
Doris Starner
Helen Calloway
Burl Depew
Chancel Choir Fund
Given by:
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Children’s Department
In memory of:
Given by:
Russ West
Ernest & Anne Hand
Family Promise
Given by:
Marvin & Jimmie Eaves
Memorial Fund
In memory of:
Given by
Russ West
Rodney & Julie Nelson
Russ West
John Cochran
Erna Link Kearns
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Julia Hood Crawford
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Russ West
Ernie & Pat Blankenship
Russ West
Bill & Marilyn Johnson
Steve Davis
Bill & Marilyn Johnson
In memory of:
Russ West
Marilyn Foster
Melba Bruce
Joined First Church:
August 3, 1986
CAST Singles’ Ministry
Given by:
Men’s Bible Study
Men’s Bible Study
In memory of:
Richard Meyer
“Red” Doig
In memory of:
Melba Bruce
In Memoriam
Music Fund
Given by
Dwain & Jane Pesterfield
Jerry & Lin Reichelt
Welcome Table
In memory of:
Given by:
Russ West
Donn & Ann McElhaney
Julia Hood Crawford
W.B. & Dawn Hood
Norma McDonald
Brad & Patsy Lunde
Entered the Church
Triumphant:
March 7, 2017
Our Church Family
Christian sympathy extended to:
Rhonda and Gordo Watson in the death of
Rhonda’s father, Bobby G. Brown, on March 1st.
Renee Hood in the death of her father, Grady
Olive, on February 26th.
James and Ralphine Hood in the death of their
daughter, Julie Annette Hood-Crawford,
on February 18th.
Suzanne and Moe Click in the death of Suzanne’s
father, Richard Meyer, on February 22nd
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Shut-in Ministry Training
April 23rd
Following the 10:30 am Worship Services
Lunch will be provided
(More details coming soon)
Volunteer Breakfast and Training
May 6th
(More details coming soon)
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Page 7
Maryville First United Methodist Church
804 Montvale Station Road
Maryville, Tennessee 37803
Phone: 865-982-1273 / Fax: 865-983-5408
Change Service Requested
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
MARYVILLE TN
PERMIT NO. 113
Sundays
* 7:35 am Morning Glory Chorus, 249
* 8:15 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
* 9:15 am Sunday School (Various rooms)
*10:30 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
*10:30 am Contemporary Worship, Asbury
* 4:30 pm Youth Handbells, 252, 254
* 5:10 pm Celebration Singers, 249
* 5:15 pm Evensong Handbells, 252
* 6:30 pm A World Worth Saving Study, 202
March 19th
*No Youth Choirs or Handbells
*No Evensong Handbells
1:00 pm CAST Singles Potluck Lunch, Wesley Hall
March 26th
11:30 am Outreach Meeting
Mondays
*10:00 am A World Worth Saving Study 202
* 3:30 pm Children’s Choirs
Primary Praise (K-1st), 254
Merrymakers (2nd/3rd), 249
Joy Singers (4th - 6th)
March 20th
*No Children’s Choirs
10:00 am Book Club, 202
6:00 pm CR Team Meeting, 205
March 27th
6:30 pm Make Peace with Your Past (Introduction)
7:00 pm Church Council, 202
Tuesdays
*10:00 am Bible Study (VanPelt), 152A
* 7:00 pm Pickleball, Asbury Hall
Wednesdays
*10:00 am More Than Enough Study,205
*12:00 pm Noonday Lenten Service, Sanctuary
* 5:30 pm Celebrate Recovery Light Meal, Asbury Hall
* 6:30 pm Celebrate Recovery Worship, Asbury Hall
* 7:40 pm Celebrate Recovery Share Groups
(various)
Happening at
* 7:30 pm Chancel Choir, 249
*7:40 pm Know the Story Study
Thursdays
* 6:30 am Men’s Bible Study, 254
* 5:00 pm Welcome Table, Asbury Hall
March 16th
9:00 am Youth Cades Cove Trip
11:00 am UMW General Meeting, Wesley Hall
March 23rd
9:00 am Youth Lunch and Laser Tag
6:30 pm Trustees, 202
Saturdays
www.1stchurch.org
* 9:00 am Pickleball, Asbury Hall
April 1st
5:30 pm The Power of Love and
Laughter, Asbury Hall