INSPIRE 12.29.17

Inspire Newsletter of the Central United Methodist Church

Inspire • December 29, 2017 • Page 1 Shhhh.....Listen

Central Lights - January 2 Shhhh….listen
Just a few days ago, we stood in a circle around the sanctuary with our
The January Central Lights program will candles lit singing Silent Night. After we finished, I gave space for silence. For
feature Central member, Melanie Gangaware. the solemnity of the moment to capture our hearts and souls before rushing
Melanie will share her experience working as into Joy to the World. We are now continuing to celebrate Christmas and all
a third party collector and specific ways you that means for us as “the Word has become flesh and dwelt among us.”
can protect yourself against financial fraud. Re- The 12 days of Christmas are interrupted by another holiday that has
ceive tips for identifying and preventing iden- become sacred in it’s own right: New Year’s Eve/Day. Many of us see it as an
tity theft in 2018 with, “Stop, Ask, Listen. Don’t opportunity for a fresh start. To put the past in the past and move on. We
Be a Victim!” Central Lights will meet Tuesday, make resolutions. We resolve to exercise, to be better people, to read the
January 2 at 10:30 am. Lunch will follow the Bible more, to spend more time with those we love. We eat black-eyed peas
program for $6 per person. Please let Virginia hoping for good luck in the new year. Often, our resolutions focus on us and
Colson know if you will be attending, 522-6992. how we can be our best selves. There is probably some merit to that, but
how many of us find ourselves back in the same rut just a few weeks after
District Name Change January 1?
Or, maybe, for some of us, the morning of January 1 is like every other
The votes are in from all the Knoxville District morning of the previous year. We wake up and nothing has changed (or
churches of the Holston Conference. We will nothing FEELS like it has changed). We human beings place so much on our-
now be known as the “Tennessee Valley” selves to make the changes we see necessary, but where do we invite the
District. For more information about the work of the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and our habits?
district restructuring from 12 to 9 districts in Here’s the thing, though. There’s too much noise in our lives. One of the
accordance with the Holston Annual Confer- things I have learned to appreciate (and even come to crave) is silence. In
ence’s vote to formally adopt the “Compre- a world of constant beeping, flashing lights, screens, our lives have just
hensive Conference Strategy Plan” please visit: become too full of noise. We often cannot discern what is God’s voice and
Strategy.Holston.org what is not. Here’s an idea: maybe we should make our number one
resolution to be quiet more often.
Capital Campaign If you recall, it was in the stillness and the quiet that Elijah heard the still,
small voice of God. As people of faith, listening to God is critical to our jour-
Please remember your pledges for the Capital ney. We listen to find direction and to discern our gifts. We are quiet, at times,
Campaign start in January 2018. As a note in the presence of others in order to be compassionate or empathetic. We
for helpful accounting, please write separate become quiet to help center our noisy selves.
checks for your capital campaign pledge You’ll probably make two to
and your regular budget pledge or any other three resolutions, but if you do
funds you are donating to. We have multiple anything new this year, resolve to
accounts to deposit into and it makes it easier be quiet and be still…
when one check is not split into multiple items. Shhhhhh……..listen.
Grace and Peace,
New Website Pastor Jimmy

We have redesigned our website and it is now
live at knoxcentralumc.org. There are a
variety of new features, including an up-to-
date calendar where you can find out what’s
going on in the life of the church (and see
other groups that meet in the building) as
well as an online building use request form. It
is organized in such a way that stresses what
we value and how we worship and serve. We
invite you to take a look at it and make use of
it frequently as we will share events, upcom-
ing worship series, our newsletters and other
important information on this new site.

Inspire • December 29, 2017 • Page 2

Ministry Spotlight

We will continue our food drive for The Concerts and Lunch
our partner school Beaumont Mag- series offers a musical concert
net. Every Thursday, volunteers from
Central go and stuff food bags with at 12:05 pm followed by
2 dairy, 2 protein, 2 fruit, and 2 grain lunch for $6/person.
items to send home with children/
families with food insecurities every Monday, February 19, 12:05 p.m.
weekend. The food we collect will Vocal Recital by Linda WIlliams
help to supplement the food Beau- Accompanied by Richard Sidey
mont receives from Second Harvest.
Often they are feeding more families than they get sent food for. Monday, March 19, 12:05 p.m.
Cans must be 8 oz or smaller and have a poptop due to the fact Ecumenical Bell Ringers
that some families do not have can-openers or microwaves and
the children must carry the food bags home with them. Please Directed by Richard Sidey
consider bringing some of the following Protein & Dairy items:
chili, ravioli, beef stew, tuna, beanie weenies, beans, soups, small Nourish Knoxville will be hosting
peanut butter, boxed drinkable milks, snak-pak pudding, its Winter Farmer’s Market here at
breakfast essentials, etc. You CAN make a difference! Central starting in January. We are
Thank You to everyone who has already donated! We have now excited to have this community
taken food over to Beaumont every week during the last few event here for the 3rd season.
months. This includes a cartful of food collected by the 4th & Gill
Neighborhood. Central Volunteers are needed to
Thank You Notes from Beaumont: be greeters at the doors and refreshment hosts to work selling
THANK YOU from Beaumont! I can not say thank you enough for a beverages out of the kitchen. A sign up sheet will be located on
food delivery today from one of your members of over 40 cases of the “Sign-Up Central” board.
food for our weekend food bags. Also, we have been so apprecia- Shifts are from:
tive of your members’ weekly donations for the food bags. I have 9:30am-12pm & 12pm-2:30pm.
been blown away by the support and donations. I am so thankful
for the volunteers that come weekly and noticed the need for Dates of this years Winter Market:
more food. I can tell that they love and care for these children January 13 & 27, February 10 & 24,
even though they have never seen their faces. We are so grateful March 10 & 24, and April 7 & 21
for your partnership with BMA! Jill Akin, Community Schools
Resource Coordinator 12/4/17

Jimmy, Ashley, and Jill, Thank you so The mission of Holston Home for
much for coordinating, volunteering, Children is to provide hope and
and donating food to our precious healing to children and families
children in need. We greatly appreciate struggling with life’s challenges.
you! Windy Clayton, Principal 12/4/17 You can help give children and
A note from Jill Akin at Beaumont, youth a better life, good education,
“Please share with those who donated how grateful we are! We and a chance to develop into
have had some families who had needed extra food recently and Christian men and women. Your interest determines their
I have had to take some from our Second Harvest so your support future. Please consider giving to the Holston Home for Children
of extra food is so helpful!” 11/15/17 Fifth Sunday offering on December 31.

Central 90th Anniversary/Capital Campaign “For All Generations” Reminder that you can sign up for
T-shirts & Polos are available for purchase in the church office. dedicated altar floral arrangements.
Please call to have Ashley set out your size for pickup on Sundays. The calendar is on the bulletin board
in the church office. You may order
your flowers from a local florist,
create your own arrangement, or ask
the flower guild members to assist.
Contact Melynda Whetsel or Becky
Hutton for details.

Inspire • December 29, 2017 • Page 3

January Sermon Series Highlight

In the Beginning…
New worship series starts on January 7 (Epiphany Sunday). Since we are beginning a new year, we thought
it would be cool to revisit the “beginning” as it relates to our Judeo-Christian heritage. For five Sundays,
we’ll take a look at some of the major themes/people in the book of Genesis. If you are going to read
through the Bible in a year, I don’t normally suggest you start at the beginning, but perhaps this year
would be a good time to start with Genesis as we connect this ancient text with our lives as people who
seek to follow Jesus.
January 7: The Creation (Genesis 2)
January 14: Flood and Promise (Genesis 6)
January 21: Abraham and God’s Covenant (Genesis 12 and 15)
January 28: Jacob’s Dream (Genesis 27)
February 4: Joseph’s Journey (Genesis 37)

Special Donations

In Honor of Elizabeth Thomas.........by Alpha L Wylie
In Memory of Donald Akers, Sr. and Jean Ellis....... by Dr. Donald Akers, Jr.
Christmas Eve Offering, totaling around $4500, of which a portion will go to support our ongoing
community ministries.
From ALL of the Staff at Central......THANK YOU for our Staff Appreciation Bonus’ . We are all BLESSED to
work in a ministry environment which is rich in service, hospitality, and embracing!

Youth Schedule Youth & Children’s News

Sunday, January 7 Resurrection 2018
Youth Group January 19-21
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Sunday, January 14 Philippians 1:6—“I am sure that he who started a good work in
Youth Group you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
5:30 - 7:00 pm I love this verse from the book of Philippians, Paul loved the
Sunday, January 21 people of Philippi. They had been supporting him in his
Resurrection ministry and he knew that God was doing wonderful things
Sunday, January 28 among the people of Philippi. He encouraged the people of
No Youth Philippi to continue their steadfast efforts for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
January 19-21st our youth will be attending Resurrection in Pigeon Forge. The theme this year is
“Work In Progress”. I pray that our students will be encouraged that they have grown spiritually
over the last year, and that God will reveal the areas where growth is still needed in their spiritual
lives. We will never be perfect, but God shows us daily areas of our own lives where we can grow
in our faith. I hope you will all join me in praying for our youth and volunteers as they embark on
this weekend, that they may grow, and learn what God has planned for their lives.
John Lansford, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, [email protected]

INSPIRE (usps 097-740) is published monthly by Per. Post. Pd.
Central United Methodist Church,
201 3rd Ave.
Knoxville TN 37917-7286.

Periodicals postage paid at Knoxville TN 37950

Address Service Requested.
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Knoxville TN 37917-7286

Our Vision: Making Christ known by extending hospitality, serving the community, and embracing all.

Central Scrapbook Our Staff

Advent Decorations - Thank You to everyone for your donations! Rev. Jimmy Sherrod
The church was beautiful! Please contact the church office if you would
like to be sent the list of memorium & honorariums towards the Advent Decoratios. Pastor
865-805-5373
Central was asked to help hand out [email protected]
postcards and free hot chocolate on
Market Sqare along with the other Ashley Garren

two downtown United Methodist Administrative Assistant
Churches(Second UMC & Church St [email protected]
UMC) as part of the United Method-
ist Communications, unwrapchrist- Austin Byerly
mas.org campaign. Thanks to our
Ministry Assistant
volunteers for thier hospitality [email protected]

knoxcentralumc.org John Lansford
865-524-1659
Director of Children & Youth
Central United Methodist - Knoxville TN [email protected]

Lauren Gangaware

Children’s Ministry Assistant
[email protected]

George Hayden

Music Director
[email protected]

Charles Parham

Organist and Security
[email protected]

Carolyn Cottrell

Pianist
[email protected]

Perry Starkey

Food Services
[email protected]

Jeff Criswell

Custodian
[email protected]

Doug Johnson

Facilities Manager
[email protected]