Oak Ridge Today

Faith, church groups celebrating Community Interfaith Harmony Month

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Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month Logo Feb 2019

The Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge, and Church Women United are celebrating Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month.

The Oak Ridge community is invited to join the celebration. The Community Interfaith Harmony Month is being celebrated from February 5-March 5.

The kickoff event will be held on Tuesday, February 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the historic Grove Theater. At 7 p.m., there will be a program featuring local youth, faith, and community leaders speaking about the importance of religious freedom, loving our neighbors, and engaging in community service, a press release said. During the program, a mayoral proclamation will be presented declaring the Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month.

There will be booths for faith and nonprofit groups. They will be able to share information, service success stories, ongoing service opportunities, and what services exist to help those in need and what each person can do to help support them, the press release said. [Read more…]

Today: Human Rights Rally at ORUUC

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Members of the Human Rights Rally planning committee are, from left, Sue Byrne, Ann Mostoller, Nancy Highfill, Anne Backus, and Mary Zuhr. (Submitted photo)

Members of the Human Rights Rally planning committee are, from left, Sue Byrne, Ann Mostoller, Nancy Highfill, Anne Backus, and Mary Zuhr. (Submitted photo)

 

A Human Rights Rally and March for Equality, Justice, and Inclusivity will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 19, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The program will begin with inspirational talks, readings, and music. Then, all participants are encouraged to march from the Unitarian Church to the First Presbyterian Church along Oak Ridge Turnpike, weather permitting, a press release said.

Several organizations are sponsoring the event, which is hosted by the Unitarian Church and the Presbyterian Church. The Reverend Jake Morrill of the Unitarian Church will welcome participants. The Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, the Reverend Sharon Youngs of First Presbyterian Church, and the Reverends Mark and Annette Flynn of First Methodist Church will be among speakers, and choirs from those churches will provide music. The Reverend Carol Dipboye of Grace Covenant Church will also participate. [Read more…]

Grace Lutheran has Advent Worship, Christmas Eve Services

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Grace Lutheran Church has mid-week Advent Worship Services and Christmas Eve Services this month.

The Advent Worship Services have been on Wednesdays, including on December 5 and 12. There is another service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 19.

The church will also have Christmas Eve services. They will take place at 4 p.m. (Family) and 9 p.m. (Candlelight).

All services are free, a press release said.

The church presented the seasonal work of Heather Sorenson, “Little Lion, Little Lamb,” presented by Grace Lutheran Church’s Chancel Choir on Sunday, December 16, under the direction of Slade Trammell. Sorenson is a Dallas-based composer and highly accomplished pianist whose talents are heard in worship settings around the world, the press release said. [Read more…]

Service of Memory & Hope on Tuesday at First Presbyterian

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Sharon Youngs

Sharon Youngs

 

This time of year is filled with twinkling lights, special music, and lots of eggnog. But some folks experience the holiday season as difficult for several reasons.

Sometimes called a “blue Christmas” gathering, First Presbyterian Church will hold a Service of Memory and Hope on Tuesday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m., in the sanctuary.

“Although the service is designed for those facing a holiday season that is not so merry and bright, everyone desiring a quiet, reflective worship experience will find it in this simple candlelight service,” said Sharon Youngs, church pastor. “It is a way to remember loved ones who are no longer with us, to gather strength for present challenges and to simply be still in the midst of a bustling, frantic season.”

This press release was submitted by Carolyn Krause.

FUMC has pancake breakfast on Saturday to support missions

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The First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Adult Missions Ministry will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Submitted photo)

The First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Adult Missions Ministry will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Submitted photo)

 

The First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Adult Missions Ministry will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Saturday, December 8, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Missions Ministry of the church supports many local humanitarian programs such as ADFAC, TORCH, The Family Resource Center for Oak Ridge Schools, the Ecumenical Storehouse, the Free Medical Clinic, Girls Inc., Agape House, Tabitha’s Table, and Second Harvest “Food For Kids,” a press release said. In addition, they support humanitarian activities throughout the United States and around the world. The most recent mission was to Florida to help repair hurricane-damaged homes. Proceeds from the breakfast will support these efforts.

Come enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice, milk, and coffee while visiting with community friends and listening to live seasonal music, the press release said. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.

Food First: Walk of Abundance at four local churches

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Come join four local churches in creating a Walk of Abundance. As abundant lives are built on generosity, First Baptist, First Christian, First Presbyterian, and First United Methodist churches will be collecting canned food goods between now and October 21 to stock local food pantries, a press release said.

“You can help by taking your donation to any one of these four churches,” the press release said.

On October 21, using some of the collected cans, a labyrinth, similar to the one pictured above, will be built on the lawn of First United Methodist Church. As part of an outdoor worship celebration (which will include inflatables, human bubble balls, and a pumpkin-launching trebuchet), participants can both make a contribution to help local families in need as well as walk the can-lined labyrinth. A collection will also be taken for Second Harvest Food Banks, the press release said. [Read more…]

Today: Alpha House has Community Strong Day

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2018 CS flyer final 9-27-18

On Saturday, October 6, Alpha House will host its Second Annual Community Strong Day for the tri-county area of Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Alpha Bitz Thrift Shop in Oliver Springs.

Linette Brown, president of the Alpha House Board of Directors, explained: “Our faith-based ministry is focused on helping women in our communities who have experienced addiction, abuse, and incarceration. Through our thrift shops and generous donors, we have provided support and guidance to help women return to their families, reunite with their children, and become a stable part of the community. Hosting Community Strong is our ‘thank you’ to the community, donors, and volunteers.”

The Clinton shop at 1726 Oak Ridge Highway will be closed on October 6 to participate in the activities at the Oliver Springs shop. [Read more…]

Election 2018 Community Forum: Liberty and Justice for All

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Submitted

A local faith-led, multiracial and interdenominational coalition of congregations, community organizations, and labor groups will present its vision for East Tennessee to candidates on October 7 from 3-5 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Cox Auditorium on the UT-Knoxville campus.

Through a months-long process of discussion and voting in a series of meetings open to all, the Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee (ACT-ET) has arrived at three specific ways our elected representatives can improve the quality of life in our community:

  • Provide a path for all Tennessee residents to obtain a valid driver’s license.
  • Ensure local lending institutions provide equal opportunity to home mortgages for all families.
  • Increase access to necessary medical treatment for those struggling with opioid dependence.

ACT-ET member organizations include Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Members of First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, and Oak Valley Baptist Church participated in choosing the issues and planning the public meeting. [Read more…]

Young Kim to perform at First United Methodist

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Young Kim, pianist

Young Kim, pianist

 

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge’s Newsong Concert Series is hosting Young Kim in a piano recital on Sunday, September 23, at 3 p.m.

Kim is an assistant professor of music at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, where she teaches applied piano, class piano, and music theory; she also directs the LMU Choir.

Kim received a doctor of musical arts in piano performance with a minor in music theory from Louisiana State University, where she studied with Willis Delony. Under the guidance of Delony and minor professor David Smyth, Kim completed her monograph, titled “Practical Performance Considerations for the Andante con moto of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in G Major, Op. 58.” [Read more…]

‘Religion in Human Evolution’ topic of local faith-science lecture

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Gordon M. Burghardt

Gordon M. Burghardt

 

Gordon M. Burghardt, Alumni Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Psychology and of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, will speak on “Religion in Human Evolution” on Wednesday, September 12, in Oak Ridge.

Burghardt is the first lecturer in a new faith-science lecture series sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church, a press release said. The lecture, which will feature videos, will be held at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room of FUMC, which can be reached through the double doors facing Vienna Road.

Burghardt will speak on the book “Religion in Human Evolution,” by Robert Bellah, the late distinguished sociologist of religion who taught at the University of California at Berkeley, the press release said.

Part of Bellah’s book is devoted to Burghardt’s research on ritual and play. [Read more…]

‘Sergeant York: The Play’ to benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico

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First United Methodist Church Sergeant York The Play 0818 500x333

The touring play, “Sergeant York: The Play,” will be presented in Oak Ridge on Friday and Saturday, and proceeds will benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 17, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 18, in the Multi-Purpose Room at First United Methodist Church.

It’s a one-man show starring Greg Helton as Sergeant York, and it was written and directed by Lisa Soland.

Sergeant York grew up on a farm in Pall Mall, Tennessee, and he was the most highly decorated veteran of World War I, a press release said.

It said Soland did two years of research to put the play together, and it will travel across the United States. [Read more…]

Nurse to discuss mental health issues among school-age children

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A registered nurse who works for Anderson County Schools will discuss mental health issues among school-age children in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The talk is hosted by the Grace Lutheran Mental Health Ministry. It’s title “Mental Health: Back to School Basics,” a free community program scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 4, in the church’s fellowship hall.

Kim Guinn, a registered nurse and director of the Project AWARE Initiative for Anderson County Schools, will discuss the current prevalence and status of mental health issues among school-age children and the correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health problems, a press release said. [Read more…]