Oak Ridge Today

Service of Psalms on Apr. 2 at First United Methodist Church

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Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

 

Six choirs, with members from three states, will perform in the third and last Service of Psalms for the Lenten season, which will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The service will consist of reflections by local pastors and choral and instrumental performances of psalms selected for Lent that have been set to music by Knoxville composer John Purifoy, a press release said.

An offering collected during the service will be donated to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachia. ADFAC, an independent nonprofit agency located in Oak Ridge that is celebrating its 30th anniversary, serves the basic needs of primarily low-income residents in Anderson and surrounding Appalachian counties.

Running from Ash Wednesday to Easter, Lent is a season in the church year that is marked by an examination of one’s personal faith and spiritual journey.

Steve Boyce, cantor, will sing solo verses or passages to which the choir and congregation will respond. [Read more…]

First United Methodist announces two new staff members: Rev. Rachel Witt, Seth O’Kegley

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The Rev. Rachel Witt, new associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Rev. Rachel Witt, new associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge has announced that two new staff members will be joining the church’s ministry team on July 1. The Rev. Rachel Witt will be assuming the position of associate pastor, and Seth O’Kegley will begin serving as music director. Their first Sunday in worship with the congregation will be July 3.

Originally from Kingsport, Witt has a bachelor’s degree in religion and a minor in music from Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia. She graduated in May with a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She has served as a clergy intern at Church Street United Methodist in Knoxville and at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

Her experience also includes working as a counselor at Buffalo Mountain Camp outside Johnson City and as a summer youth ministry intern with the Holston Conference United Methodist Church based in Alcoa. Witt will be sharing in preaching and pastoral care responsibilities and will also provide leadership in outreach to young adults as well as various other ministries, a press release said.

A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, O’Kegley has a bachelor’s degree in music education from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. He graduated in May with a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. [Read more…]