1ST CHURCH IN THE NEWS

From time to time, media outlets put the spotlight on 1st UMC and folks here who are working to make the community better.  

Below are a few of these stories from local media. 

*Be aware, some publications limit the number of free stories you can read.




Exit plans made for several area UMC churches

Several United Methodist Churches in Blount County are making plans to exit the denomination in the Spring of 2023.  The Maryville Daily Times provides an update on the process and reaction to it, including comments from 1st UMC Senior Pastor, Jonathan Jonas. 


___________________________________



Former SEC Commissioner (and 1st UMC Member) selected to the College Football Hall of Fame

Back in 2017, Roy Kramer shared some stories during our Churchwide Thanksgiving Dinner about his time working with SEC Athletics. Kramer who is now in his early nineties has received a special honor from the College Football Hall of Fame. Read more at the link above.


___________________________________



WHAT HAPPENED AT HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022

___________________________________


NEW LEADER AT FAMILY PROMISE OF BLOUNT COUNTY

Family Promise of Blount County is one of the many organizations 1st Church supports.  In July 2022, a new person stepped up to lead Family Promise as the previous director took a position with the national Family Promise Organization.  On July 14, 2022 the Daily introduced us to April Smith.  


___________________________________





How He Came to Minister to Hikers on the Appalachian Trail


On September 30, 2021, Guideposts online featured 1st UMC's Celebrate Recovery Minister in an article about his time serving as the

Appalachian Trail Chaplain

___________________________________


Not Alone

In February 2021, 1st UMC'er (and current pastor at Lincoln Park UMC in Knoxville) had one of his devotionals printed in the

Upper Room Daily Devotional Magazine. along with a blog post on the Upper Room Website. 



___________________________________


PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY


The death of George Floyd and the response to it dominated recent news coverage in 2020.  

Senior Pastor Rev. Catherine Nance offers up her response to the situation as she asks for prayers for Our Country. 


___________________________________



Leading by example

Knoxville's Cityview magazine profiles veteran and 1st UMC member Owen Ragland




Celebrate Recovery and the Holston Annual Conference work to fight opioid addiction

WATE's Laura Halm:  Mission of addiction recovery through faith growing among East TN churches





1st UMC Member recognized for his selfless work with Habitat for Humanity

Read more about 91-year-old Bill Mueller's volunteering in the Maryville Daily Times


1st UMC member is honored for 35 years of leading youth in Scouting

Read more about Dean Moss and his work with Scouts over the year and his recent honor. 


Welcome Table Celebrates 10-years at New Providence

Read more about the beginnings and successes of The Welcome Table, a ministry that began a decade ago at one church, eventually becoming a big part of ministry at 1st UMC. 


Sudanese refugee, a familiar face at 1st UMC,

receives the keys to her Habitat Home

 Read more about the dedication of the home of Nyadeng Kuot in 2018.


Local Television station comes out for the All-Church Tailgate at 1st UMC

Click here to watch WBIR 10 News coverage of our 2nd annual All-Church Tailgate event. 


Celebrate Recovery speaker talks about why "Change is possible"

Read more in the Maryville Daily Times about the struggles Jeff Stultz encountered and how he went from being a hopeless dope addict to a dopeless hope addict. 


1st UMC family marks 5 generations working at the family business

Read more about the latest member of the West family working at West Chevrolet.


1st UMC'er spends time volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club

Read more about Marty Miller and how she and other volunteers are making a difference in children's lives.



The gift of life: Maryville Woman becomes living donor for 1st UMC's Director of Music

Church member Teresa Morton and Director of Music, Terry Wilson will forever have a special bond after Teresa donates a kidney to Terry.  Read their story in this Daily Times article. 


UT expert brings South Sudan solutions to 1st UMC

Read more in the Daily Times, about this important discussion that was part

of the church's Conversation Matters series. 


Girl Scouts earn Gold Awards for community projects

Three young women are given a special award for their achievements in Girl Scouts.

Click here for the Daily Times story.


Family Promise celebrates the grand opening of its new Day Center

Click here for the Daily Times story. 


District Superintendent looks to Senate for energy leadership

Click here for the Daily Times story. 


Young voices from all over Maryville come together at 1st UMC

The 28th Spring Sing in the Smokies brought together children in grades three through eight for a big concert in the Sanctuary of 1st UMC.  Throughout the day, they could be heard getting ready for the big event.

More on this special day in the Daily Times


Habitat for Humanity dedicates a home in Alcoa

1st UMC and churches across the Maryville District pitched in to help build a home on W. Howe Street in Alcoa. Read more about the dedication in the

Daily Times


Couple Remembers an Old Family Drug Store

Marvin & Jimmie Eaves (members at 1st UMC) talk about their time owning

Martin's Drug Store on Washington Street in this Daily Times article.


Gala Raises Money for City Schools

During an event to support Maryville Schools, 1st UMC Members Jerry and Francis Hodge received the Foundation Partnership Award.  Other members, Julie Elder and Doug Jenkins were also featured in this Daily Times article. 


Rebuilding Homes, Rebuilding Lives

1st United Methodist Church is part of the Holston Conference which

is teaming up with Appalachia Service Project to rebuild homes in Sevier County.


Three cores of Civility 101

Opinion piece in the Daily Times from 1st UMC member Timothy Lomperis



Church is a Community

Clayton Hensley, the Director of Communications at 1st, recently got a chance to interview one of the founders of the Christian group Rend Collective.  The band led worship at this year's Resurrection 2017 event for youth.  Click below to read what advice band member Gareth Gilkeson has for youth.

Interview with Rend Collective

Holston.org



2017 Appalachian Trail Chaplain brings message to Celebrate Recovery

Matt Hall (Associate Pastor at 1st UMC)  is a recovering addict who served as the 2017 Appalachian Trail Chaplain.  He said his journey to recovery has been one of adventure and one that is helping him pursue his dream of hiking the AT.

The woods are calling: Holston Conference chooses next AT Chaplain

Maryville Daily Times



Family Promise Director receives Athena Leadership Award

Several times a year, 1st UMC hosts homeless families that are part of the Blount County Family Promise program.  Recently the director of the program received an award for her work helping others.

Passion for the homeless

Maryville Daily Times