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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1303, Knoxville, TN 37901
Physical Address: 900 Henley at Main, Knoxville, TN 37902
Office: 865-524-3048
Communications@churchstreetumc.org
Church Street aerial photo by Aaron Blake.
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All Are Welcome
All are welcome at Church Street! We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We welcome and celebrate the gifts God has given to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation. We respect diversity of opinion and expressions of Christian faith. We believe God loves everyone unconditionally! As God loves us, so let us love and serve in the name of Christ.
Church Street Welcome Statement
Intern Interview – Marcy
YouthMeet our youth intern Marcy!
Name
Marcy Sullivan
School Info
Sophomore, Global Studies and Leadership Studies
What you want to be “when you grow up”?
When I grow up, I want to be a good person! That’s the first goal. Secondly, I want to research different cultures, different cool people doing cool things, and different musics and maybe publish research or articles on these findings.
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I could eat one food, my brain screams QUESADILLA and my heart screams WAFFLE HOUSE. So, I will follow my heart.
What made you want to pursue this internship?
This internship came at an amazing time in my life where I couldn’t put my finger on what God was calling me to. I felt like doors were closing, and I was shutting doors for other college ministry positions or being a young life leader. When Jenny talked to me about applying, I knew all these closings had led me to this opening! It was exactly what I was supposed to do.
What are some ways you experience God’s presence?
I experience God’s presence through the ways He gives me grace. In my prayer, when I finally say something that holds some truth, it is a gift from the Holy Spirit. In reading the word, the same goes. When we serve and give our life away, walking closely with things that are unlike ourself, God shows himself there to me.
What do you wish you could tell your younger self?
I wish I could tell my younger self thank you for being so silly! It has made growing up wonderfully funny.
All in a Day’s Work
Featured, From the PulpitOn the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
How Much Faith Do We Need?
Featured, From the PulpitThe apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Service of Choral Evensong
Featured, MusicEnjoy this presentation of holy music from the Church Street Parish Adult Choir, Youth Choir and Chorister Choir on September 29, 2019.
Hot Spots
Featured, From the Pulpit“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers— that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
What Will You Do with Blessings?
Featured, From the PulpitThen Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Volunteer Needs Weekly Posting
Beacon of Hope, Featured, MissionsBeacon of Hope Benevolence Volunteers — Meet every Tuesday at Vestal UMC in South Knoxville (12 pm) to provide assistance to our neighbors in South Knoxville. Contact Dona McConnell if interested.
All About NightLife
YouthOur 2019 writing team captain, Caroline Powell, had a conversation with one of our students, Ann Clark Bellamy, following our first NightLife together. Here is what they said:
“NightLife is honestly my favorite part of my week. I look forward to it every week because it is such a great way to step out of the hustle of my busy week and to find peace in God’s love. I love getting to spend time in fellowship and worship before I start my school week. Each week, we get to eat dinner in fellowship, play games, worship and sing together. This year, I hope that the group learns more than ever. Our youth program is so special and I really hope that we all get the most out of it. The leaders do the absolute best with leading us in worship and making it so fun! I hope this can be the best year yet!”
Ann Clark Bellamy, sophomore
“Last week the youth group had our first NightLife of the year and it was a great success! As we continue with our study of Galatians, I hope you all decide to come give NightLife a try! I promise you won’t regret it!”
– Caroline Powell, junior
Words God Never Says
Featured, From the PulpitNow all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Volunteer Needs Weekly Posting
Adult Ministries, Church Street Events, Featured, Volunteers