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Loudon United Methodist Church
April 2015
509 Mulberry Street
P.O. Box 342
Loudon, TN 37774
865-458-3164
Fax: 865-458-2489
.
Web Address: loudonumc.org
E-mail Address: loudonmethodist@bellsouth.net
Pastor: Rev. Walt Simmerman
Parsonage Phone Number: 865-458-2737
Reaching out to all, the people of Loudon United Methodist Church will hear
God’s call and respond with love and abounding faith.
I enjoy watching the games of the NCAA men’s
basketball tournament. There is great excitement in
the drama of which teams are going to make the key
shot and live to play on in the tournament and which
teams will lose and go home. Of course, every year
there are a number of upsets, where a team emerges
victorious from a game that very few expect them to
win. Sometimes even the most loyal fans are
surprised (and thrilled) with their team’s unexpected
win.
I wonder if the first Easter was like that to Jesus’
closest followers. Jesus told his followers on several
occasions he would die and then rise from the dead on
the third day. Yet none of them seemed to be able to
believe the resurrection when they saw it. The women
went looking for a body instead of a resurrection, and
they weren’t sure what to think when Jesus’ body was
missing. The disciples didn’t even go to the tomb; they
were too busy hiding behind locked doors. When the
women arrived with the news Jesus was alive, the
disciples thought they were crazy – that their words
were an idle tale.
Maybe the news was just too good for them to
believe! This good news is almost too good for us to
believe. Jesus is alive. Death has been defeated.
Good news indeed. As we prepare for another Easter,
let us celebrate:
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Grace and Peace,
Walt
HOLY WEEK ACTIVITIES:
Children’s Easter Fun – Wednesday, April 1, 5:30pm
in the Fellowship Hall.
Maundy Thursday - “Come to the Upper Room”, April
2, 6:30pm, 7:00pm, & 7:30pm in the chapel
Tenebrae Service – Friday, April 3, 7:00pm.
Sunrise Service – Sunday, April 4, 7:00am at Loudon
Memorial Gardens.
Quilt Ministry Meetings
April 14 & 28
10:00 a.m.
Church House
HELPERS NEEDED!!
Get This on Your Calendar
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! See Julie Dills to sign up.
PAGE 2
2 – Buddy Swiney
3 – Carroll Tuck
6 – Jim Kirkpatrick
13 – Harrison Nelson
14 – Isaac Peters
16 – Alta Irving
19 – Jordyn Linsey
21 – Tammy Shipman
24 – Elizabeth Pangle
29 – Joe Mourfield
30 – Bradley Llumbet
ANY HIDDEN TREASURES
IN YOUR CLOSET?
Start cleaning those garages, storage sheds,
drawers and closets to find out. Before you
trash, consider making a
donation to the Youth
Garage Sale scheduled for
May 2. Thank you.
United Methodist Women
Deborah Circle
Wednesday, April 8
Time/Place TBA
Hannah Circle
Saturday, April 11
9:00am
Church House
Breakfast will be served.
11:30 a.m.
Church House
Brown Back Lunch
Book selection: IN THE SANCTUARY OF
OUTCASTS by Neil White
Reviewed by Harriette Buchanan
Neil White wanted only the best for those
he loved and was willing to go to any lengths
to provident--which is how he ended up in a
federal prison in rural Louisiana, serving
eighteen months for bank fraud. The beautiful,
isolated colony in Carville, Louisiana, was
also the home to the last people in the
continental United States disfigured by
leprosy--a small circle of outcasts who had
forged a tenacious, clandestine community, a
fortress to repel the cruelty of the outside
world. In this place rich with history, amid an
unlikely mix of leprosy patients, nuns, and
criminals, White's strange and compelling new
life journey began.
Next month, our book club selection will be:
 May – Pope Joan by Donna Woolford Cross.
This is Mark, the young man from Moldova, who fell
from a roof, shattered his lower spine, and both arms,
and lost bodily function
control just 6 months ago.
Bill and Nora Watkins
wish to thank our church
family for their loving
prayers on Mark's behalf.
He has come a long
way. He can even walk
a few steps on a
walker.
Miracles
happen through prayer
every day.
BE ONE OF THE TWELVE
to
COME TO THE
UPPER ROOM
Come and experience the history and tastes of
Bible times. We will be seated in table groups
of 12 at a time as Jesus and the Disciples were on
that Thursday so long ago. Seating is limited.
Each session will last about 20 minutes. Please
bring your family and join us for reflection,
meditation,
and
Communion at one of the
times listed below.
Loudon United Methodist
Church Chapel
Maundy Thursday April 2, 2015
6:30 p.m OR
7:00 p.m.
OR
7:30 p.m.
FLOWERING THE CROSS
Once again, we will have the opportunity
to embellish a plain wooden cross with
beautiful flowers on Easter morning. This is
a tradition that began at Loudon United
Methodist Church many years ago. The
wooden cross is made from a Christmas tree
that was used in our church to
celebrate the birth of Christ. Now
we bring forth the cross and
decorate it with live flowers to
symbolize new life as we
celebrate the risen Christ.
We invite you to bring
flowers from your yard or to
use the flowers that will be
provided. Prior to our Easter
services, you can join with others in our
congregation as we decorate this cross
together. Then, following our 11:00 a.m.
service, the cross will be displayed on our
front steps as we proclaim to the world
“Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed!”
Loudon United Methodist Church has
partnered with Knox Area Rescue Ministries,
in their Corners of Your Field Program.
Corners of Your Field, at its heart, is a plan
to strategically help the poor. The concept of
Corners of Your Field is taken from Leviticus
19:9-10, and it hinges on the themes of
generosity and compassion. In this command,
a plan was put in place where the poor and
foreigner could find food. This plan is shown
most notably in the story of Ruth. Corners of
Your Field tells a modern-day version of the
same story - our extra (be it in a closet, attic
or garage) can be redeemed so the poor can
have their needs met.
And, with every donation, a portion of the
value is credited to the church of the donor
and is returned to church to be used in
their own community. Corners of Your Field
creates an opportunity for everyone to play a
role in helping those in need and experience
the joy it brings.
Children’s
Easter Fun Event
Wednesday, April 1
5:30pm
Fellowship Hall
March 2015
LRFPC Report
Damon Falconnier
NCARB, LEED AP
Damon Falconnier is
a native of Knoxville and
graduated from the
University of Tennessee
in 1983. Mr. Falconnier
has over 9 years of field
experience with an
electrical contractor and
over 29 years of
experience with leading
architectural firms based
in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Damon Falconnier
established in April of
1992 what became
Falconnier Design
Company with a spiritual
approach to the
architectural profession.
The foundation for
the firm's work is
believing wholeheartedly in the
scriptural admonition to
"Do all things to the
glory of God."
Damon continues to
serve as President of
Falconnier Design
Company today. He has
worked with over 50
churches in East
Tennessee.
We are pleased
once again to bring
you a fast forward
report from the Long
Range Facilities
Planning Committee.
During the fall of 2014
we
sought
and
received
excellent
input from LUMC’s
members about the
priorities
you
determined that must
be addressed to
satisfy our needs of
the church as we all
move forward with
planning for the
future.
With
LUMC’S
facility
planning
priorities, determined
the committee turned
its
attention
to
securing a church
planning consultant to
help us develop a
master plan for our
facilities focusing not
just on our immediate
needs, but also with
an eye to the future
and the best possible
use of our entire
physical assets and
property.
Several
church
planning consultants
were approached to
work on our behalf
and two church
consulting firms located in Knoxville were asked to make
formal presentations to the committee detailing their
experience and range of services. Both firms had
excellent experience in working with churches seeking
the development of comprehensive facility master plans
and both had equally impressive references. Deciding
which firm to select was difficult for the committee
because both were eminently well qualified. Our final
decision was to select Falconnier Design Company and
Damon Falconnier as our consulting firm.
We are pleased to introduce Damon Falconnier to
you. Damon has begun working on our master plan and
will be spending a good deal of time over the next few
months visiting LUMC as his work progresses. If you see
a stranger taking notes in the church building it is likely
going to be Damon, so please take time to welcome him
and introduce yourself. He is interested in learning more
about our members and will appreciate your contact.
LRFPC was surprised to find that there are no
blueprints of our church building available for planning
use. Apparently over the 60 plus year history of our
building the original blueprints were misplaced. Because
blueprints are a critical part of determining exactly what
is in place regarding room dimensions, elevations and
utility location, the blueprints had to be reconstructed.
This process produces as-built drawings and is the first
step Damon is addressing in working on our facility plan.
You can see the as-built drawing of the church on the
display easel in the hall in front of the church office.
Overall the planning process is projected to take
approximately 12 weeks after which Damon will share
the master plan with our membership. In the meantime
Damon will be working with LRFPC and other church
members to capture all of the input he can obtain to
make LUMC’s plan relevant and workable for all
involved. Included in the plan will be cost projections for
implementing each of our priorities and will form the
basis for making decisions about how we as a church
want to proceed.
LRFPC Members: Amy Millsaps, Adriance Guider, Chris
Carr, Carl Offutt, Nate Gildersleeve, Jennie Norton,
Pastor Walt Simmerman, John Theobald, John Watkins
Jubilation 2015
A retreat for older adults (50+) who desire to explore and
enhance their relationship with Christ.
April 19-21
MainStay Suites, Pigeon Forge, TN
The 2015 theme for Jubilation is “Our Story.” We
have a great line-up of storytellers. Favorite activities
you have come to expect at Jubilation include bingo,
games, chair massage and other healthy living
activities plus an opportunity to ask a pharmacist.
Bring your medicines for a free consultation. There
will be door prizes.
Registration fees for the event cover the cost of
your room and 4-meals (dinner on Sunday, Breakfast
and lunch on Monday, and breakfast on Tuesday.) If
you opt to stay at the motel, an optional catered dinner
is available for an additional $20 which must be
reserved and paid for with your registration.
Reservation forms are available on the hall table
outside the church office.
Contact Gaye King, Associate Director of Connectional
Ministries for Holston Conference at 865-690-4080 or
email at gayeking@holston.org.
Jerry & Norma Black extend an
invitation to their home for some fun, food
and fellowship. There will be roasting of
hot dogs and other activities. More details
forthcoming. Bring your lawn chair and join
us at 4965 Roberson Springs Road.
Directions will be available through the
church office.
* Rain Date is April 26
Loudon United Methodist Church
509 Mulberry Street
PO Box 342
Loudon, TN 37774
Rev. Walt Simmerman, Pastor
Paul Moseley, Choir Director
Julie Dills, Secretary, Treasurer
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