We are called to be Christ’s disciples, and it’s important to understand who we are as God’s children (both individually and collectively). Our "holy ground" experiences with God are an important part of that understanding. This Mid-Week Checkpoint uses scripture, thoughts, questions, and a prayer to help us think through Sunday's sermon. To view this week's checkpoint (September 12), click here.

Sunday, September 12, we began a new sermon series entitled, Five Cups of Coffee. This series is centered around having five conversations geared at helping us find where our deepest passions meet the world’s needs. In conjunction with the sermon series, we’re offering two opportunities to participate in small group discussions:

For more information, contact the church admin, or check out the "small groups" tab on our website.

We are looking for members of the congregation to help us serve lunch to our homeless friends in downtown Knoxville through the Care Cuts ministry. Our next service date is this Sunday, September 19. We are asking for volunteers to serve immediately following the worship service (noon - 3:00 p.m.). If you can only serve during a portion of this timeframe, that’s great, too! If you are unable to serve downtown after the worship service, we are also looking for volunteers who can deliver the food to Care Cuts the day before (Saturday, September 18) between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Directed donations to assist in covering the cost of the food would be sincerely appreciated as well. For more information, or to volunteer, email Stacey Breeding.

FFUMC has supported the West Knox FISH Pantry ministry for more than 20 years. On Tuesday, September 28, Second Harvest will deliver a truckload of food to the West Knox FISH Pantry, 934 N. Weisgarber Rd., on site of Church of the Savior. Because of COVID conditions, we need to limit the number of volunteers at the pantry at any one time. We need 6-8 able servants to help unload the truck around 9:30 a.m. If you are available to help, please contact Laura Derr.

Our usual month to stock the pantry is February, but due to a recent vacancy in October, we are switching our stocking month to October. We are confident this month will be a plus going forward because we can stock and fill grocery bags when the weather is more predictable. Typically we fill the bags on Sunday afternoons, but they can be filled anytime over the weekend. Due to COVID conditions, we are limited to 6-10 maximum inside the pantry at any one time. If you are available Sunday, October 3, October 10, or October 31, please contact Laura Derr so we can set up a schedule for bagging.

The Holston Conference has put out an appeal for cleaning buckets and hygiene kits to replace those depleted by Hurricane Ida and other storms in the Southeast this year. Because of the need to simplify this process with the rising pandemic cases, the Serving Team requests financial donations to provide supplies for cleaning kits. The team will purchase items in bulk and complete as many kits as possible. Our goal is to pack and deliver kits to a transport point by October 1.

The cost of a completed cleaning bucket is about $75, and the cost of a hygiene kit is about $12, but donations in any amount are welcome. Please make your check payable to FFUMC and note “Cleaning Bucket” on the memo line, or click here to give online. Thank you for your generosity to those who lost so much in recent storms. If you have questions, contact Laura Derr.

A couple of years ago, FFUMC hosted a food-packing event through "Operation InAsMuch" that was tons of fun! FFUMC member Ashley Quesenberry is a part of “Charity Chicks,” a group of women passionate about giving back and serving communities. They are hosting a food-packing event on Saturday, October 2, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Grace Church, 1610 Midpark Road, Knoxville. This is a great hands-on way to serve as a family or as individuals and fellowship with each other. If you would like to join Ashley and others, please sign up here. Questions? Contact Ashley Quesenberry.

The FFUMC United Methodist Women (UMW) will meet in the conference room at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 6, to make Linus blankets. All women are invited to attend. We will have a pot luck luncheon at 12:00 noon, so bring your favorite dish. UMW will provide the dessert and drinks. It takes 1-1/2 yards of fleece (preferably non-pill) and a pair of scissors. UMW has enough to make about three blankets, so if you could bring your own, that would certainly help. JOANN's is a great place to purchase the fleece, and they usually have it on sale at this time of year. No experience is required -- it's a wonderful time of fellowship, have a meal together, and do a great service at the same time!

Letters and care packages! There’s nothing better to find in a college mailbox! Jeanette Krupski has faithfully served as the FFUMC package lady for AT LEAST 10 YEARS! This ministry is important if First Farragut is faithful to the congregational baptismal pledge to surround these persons with a community of love. This is a hands-on way to accomplish that. If you think God is calling you, please contact Ondie Reese for details. If you are a parent of one of our college students, please contact Ondie Reese with the current address of your student. It’s time for us to send the first card of encouragement of the semester!

It’s almost that time of year where we get to open our hearts and car trunks to the people in our community through Trunk or Treat. In order to host this event, we need to make sure we have enough trunks. We plan to have a food truck for dinner and a night of fun fellowship. Rain or shine, we will meet in the parking lot on Wednesday, October 27, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. If your family is willing to host a trunk, please let Paige Morgan know by Wednesday, September 22.

The interest (approximately $5,500 monthly) for the payment is paid from the general operating budget, but the principal amount (approximately $10,500 monthly) is paid from designated gifts. As has been previously shared, the finance team does not recommend conducting a capital campaign at this time, and we hope to conduct one in 2022. Please prayerfully consider how God might lead you to greater generosity toward our “We’re All In” capital campaign that is aimed at retiring our mortgage. If you have questions, please contact Lee Mapes, finance chair, or John Morris, church council chair.

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