A Safe Sanctuary Church

 

The Bearings

 

Bearden United Methodist Church

4407 Sutherland Avenue

Mail:  P. O. Box 11065, Knoxville, TN  37939

 

Tom Seay, Pastor

 

                                                                                                            January 17, 2006

                                                                                                                 Vol. 56, No. 2

 

 

                    WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE!

                January 25th, Dinner:  5:30 p.m.

Classes & Activities for Youth & Children:  6:30 p.m.

Menu:    Country-style steak, mashed potatoes,

green beans, salad & potato bars, cake & ice cream.

 

Cost:     $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for children; family

               maximum of $16.00.

 

Reservations:  By Noon Tuesday

 

 

                   WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

 

Dot Jeffers joined our fellowship on December 11,

2005.  Dot, who is the mother of Ron Jeffers, comes to

us from Washington Pike UMC.

 

John and Pauline Justice transferred from Buffatt Rd.

Baptist Church in Knoxville on December 18, 2005.

They are the parents of Jim Justice.

 

Donna Lewis joined January 15, 2006.  Donna comes from First United Methodist Church in Bristol.  She has

one son, Bart, who is currently relocating to Orlando, Florida where he will assume an Executive Director position with Boys and Girls Clubs of America and one brother, Darrell, who resides in Spartanburg, South Carolina with his family.  In addition to her duties as Director of Children and Family Ministry at Bearden

UMC, Donna maintains her chaplaincy certification

through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as a chaplain for Raceway Ministries of America and is an Associate on  the IBG (I Believe God) Evangelistic team.

 

 

                  STAFF-PARISH TEAM REQUEST

 

The Staff-Parish Committee would like to receive information from the congregation about your concerns and issues for our church, and recommendations for our pastoral appointment. Please contact us prior to their on meeting on January 24. The committee members for

2006 are: Ben Rivers (chair), Wade Mitchell, Lee

Thomas, Judy McKenzie, Joanne Hill, Doug Lawyer, Christy Cantey, Joe Cox, Nina McPherson, Dick Kelso,

and Linda Vaughn.

 

 

Youth Corner                                 By Shea McClure

 

Wow! What a Weekend!! Thanks to all the youth who attended Resurrection ’06. Also, thanks to the diligent chaperones who sacrificed a weekend of sleep to help

with this event.  It was a weekend of fellowship, fun, and growth. I was challenged to embrace the grace of God, understand God’s direction in my life, and to run the race to the end. Now that we are back at Bearden, it is my prayer that everyone who attended will continue down the path that they began this weekend. Also, I pray that we

will share the lessons we have learned with others so

that we may lift them up. I cannot wait until next year

when we return to the mountain to learn more. At Resurrection fun, fellowship, the Word, and worship are required but sleep is optional.

 

 

 

 

                                  FROM THE PASTOR

 

Bridging the Divide!  Monday was MLK Day and to many that has huge meanings while for others it is nearly overlooked.  I picked up a copy of the Atlanta Constitution last Sunday.  The headline was about a former mayor under indictment.  The headline was “Former Mayor Divides City Again.”  The article indicated that the divide was racial.  We are already seeing friction between African Americans and the new wave of Hispanic people.  Whites are hearing more and more Spanish with apprehension.  Then there is the ever present power broker who wants to divide for gain of power!  And, we still see the need for some to have a group that they are naturally “better than.”

 

All one had to do in order to see the difference in viewpoints is begin a conversation with one of a different race about taxes, schools, lack of ethnic coaches and you will readily experience some of the divide in our midst.  I do not evaluate rightness or wrongness of perspective, only difference.  Unfortunately I do not believe the answers of the future will come from what we now might call leadership pools.  No, I believe the answers will come from the masses of everyday people, particularly the young of all racial groups.  The answers will come when we see more people of differing hues and tones worshipping together.  The answers will come when we who call ourselves Christians just do not need to think racially anymore!

 

Before Christmas I received the year end report forms from the conference.  They really are well intended.  In the congregational makeup section we were asked to include the numbers of various racial groups.  Janice stole the forms before I could write on them  It has a place for African-Americans but no place for Africans from Nigeria.  It had a place for Hispanic and white, but no place for someone who might be “half and half.”  Upon greater exploration and conversation with authorities we discovered the category “others.”  I am now on a search for all “others.”  If there is an “other” reading this letter, please call me collect at the church.

 

I can hear Dr. King now in a lament from beyond saying, “I have a dream of the day when the only category will be the ‘The Fellowship!’”

                                         In Christ,

                                         Tom

                                           

                            CHILD CARE NEWS

 

BEEP! BEEP!  We are going places.  The Childcare Board is pleased to announce that the Bearden Daycare Program is now the Bearden Early Enrichment Program!  BEEP is headed in an exciting direction for 2006 and if you haven't checked us out in a while, then you are missing out on one of the best programs in Knoxville!!  Call Jenny Somerville (588-1492) if you would like a tour of our facility or would like to inquire about placing your child in a classroom with one of our degreed teachers!  Part time spots will be opening up for 2006 on a first come, first served basis. 
Microwave Needed.  A small microwave is needed for the downstairs Children's Education wing.  If you have a microwave that is in great shape, or if you are willing to make a donation towards this purchase, it would be gladly welcome!  Contributions should be marked "children's microwave" or you can drop your donation of a microwave off in the downstairs lobby of the children's wing.  The microwave will be used by BEEP and the pre-school program of the church. Thank you in advance for your support!

 
BEARDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

P. O. Box 11065

Knoxville, Tennessee  37939-1065

Telephone (865) 588-6562; Fax (865) 588-6989

E-Mail: info@beardenumc.org

Web Page: http://www.beardenumc.org

 

Tom Seay, Pastor   tom@beardenumc.org

Bill Balch, Minister of Counseling, 558-8150

Donna Lewis, Director of Children & Family Ministries

donna@beardenumc.org

Shea McClure, Director of Youth Ministries & Recreation

Janice Blair, Church Secretary  janice@beardenumc.org

Nan Proctor, Financial Secretary  nan@beardenumc.org

Ellen Raines, Director of Music Ministries

Barry Wallace, Director of Drama

Nancy Cauthron, Director of Food Services, 454-0043

Traycee Maynard, Director of After School Program, 588-6717

Jennifer Somerville, Director, Early Enrichment Program, 588-1492

 

 

                         CHURCH CALENDAR

 

Thursday          January 19

11:00 AM           Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center

  6:30 PM           Costa Rica Leadership Team, Con.Room

Friday               January 20

  7:00 PM           Scrapbooking, Fellowship Center

Sunday             January 22

  9:00 AM           Worship

10:00 AM           Sunday School

11:00 AM           Worship

  3:00 PM           Pickup Basketball, Fellowship Center

  4:30 PM           Youth Council, Third Floor

  5:00 PM           Handbells, Choir Room

  5:30 PM           Singles Small Group, Searchers class

  6:00 PM           Jammin’ in the Gym

  6:00 PM           Crossroads I, Odds & Ends Class

  6:00 PM           Crossroads II, Ginny Pletz Class

Monday             January 23

11:00 AM           Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center

  3:45 PM           Youth tutor at Wesley House

  6:30 PM            Pickup Volleyball, Fellowship Center

Tuesday            January 24

11:30 AM           Prayer Warriors, Prayer Room

  6:00 PM           Child Care Training

  6:30 PM           Line Dancing, Fellowship Center    

  7:00 PM           Staff Parish, Conference Room              

Wednesday      January 25

  9:30 AM           Staff Meeting, Conference Room

  5:30 PM           WNL! Meal

  6:30 PM           WNL! Classes & Activities

  6:30 PM           Parenting Class – Understanding

                         Temperament, Theresa Blankenship

  7:30 PM           Choir Rehearsal, Chancel Choir

Thursday          January 26

11:00 AM           Senior Aerobics, Fellowship Center

 

 

                                  BIRTHDAYS

 

18—Nadine Meatte

19—Jewell Cashion, Beth Morton

20—Dick Kelso, John Mahiman

21—Carol Balch, Ken Beaty

22—David Dickey, David Miller

24—Julia Brown, Natalie Broyles, Bill Powell

 

 

 

                     RECREATIONAL NOTES

 

Pick Up Basketball at 3:00 p.m. in the gym each Sunday.

Pick Up Volleyball at 6:30 p.m. in the gym each Monday.

 

         

MOBILE MEALS DAY.  January 25th is Mobile Meals

Day, all day, at area Shoney’s Restaurants (in coopera-

tion with the home-delivered meals program of the

Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging).  A portion

of the proceeds for the day will go to the frail and home-

bound seniors’ meal programs in this area.  Please dine

at Shoney’s to show support of this generous sponsor-

ship.

                                                                   Non-Profit Org.

                                                                   U.S. POSTAGE

                                                                               PAID

                                                                       Knoxville, TN

                                                                       Permit No. 39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                               WE SUPPORT BEARDEN

 

By Our Prayers . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . For Our Church Family

By Our Presence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . For  January 8

Worship           9:00 A.M.        71        Sunday School        209

                      11:00 A.M       180       Total Worship           251

By Our Presence . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For January 15

     Worship      9:00 A.M.       69        Sunday School         200

                      11:00 A.M       170       Total Worship           279

     Resurrection                     40

By Our Gifts . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .For January 15

    This report will appear in a future edition of The Bearings.

 

By Our Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For January 22

Ushers   9:00—Brent Pendergast (lead), Terry Alexander,

                 Morgan Cantey, James McPherson, Lee Sherbakoff

             11:00—Fred Johnson (lead), Greg Blackmon, Dick

                         Broyles, Nancy Counts, Haynes Smith

Acolytes    9:00—Brad Houser

                11:00—Caroline & Lauren Adam

Children’s Message—Rev. Tom Seay

Children’s Worship—Greg & Abby Blackmon

Coffee Stewards—Shepherds of the Word

Altar Flowers—Kate Lisner

 

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES.  Aaron Hanna and Kathy Leiann Fritts were united in marriage on December 20, 2005, in Negril, Jamaica.  Parents of the bride are Dwaine and Brenda Fritts.  The groom’s parents are Toby Hanna and Harlan Hanna.  Aaron and Kathy will make their home in Knoxville.

 

 

         OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN

 

Jammin’ in the Gym, Sunday, Jan. 22nd  6-6:45 p.m.,

K- 5th Grade.  (There will not be snack supper!)

 

Understanding Temperament – Parenting class, Jan. 25th, Theresa Blankenship, instructor.

 

Veggie Tales Party!  Parents of pre-schoolers, mark your calendar for Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 -11:30 a.m. for a party in the Fellowship Center.

 

 

PARENTS, COUPLES & SINGLES

The Five Love Languages

Wednesdays, February 1 & 8, 6:30 p.m.

Joe and Anne Thomas, facilitators.

 

 

The BEEP is having a Valentine’s Pancake Breakfast on Sat., February 11th from 8 to 10 a.m. at Charlie Pepper’s on Morrell Road.  This fundraiser will assist in the purchase of manipulatives, which will benefit the young children of the Church and the Early Enrichment Program.  To purchase your tickets see Jenny in the Enrichment Office.  Also, we are looking for substitute teachers and volunteers for the program.  Please call Jenny, 588-1492, if you may be interested.

 

 

CHURCH COUNCIL WILL MEET SUNDAY, JAN. 29, 7:15 P.M.