Oak Ridge Today

Food First: Walk of Abundance at four local churches

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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…]

Divorce Recovery Group being offered at First United Methodist Church

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Ellen Hitchcock

Ellen Hitchcock

A Divorce Recovery Group is being offered at First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, for anyone who has experienced a recent or not-so-recent divorce. The group will begin on Wednesday, February 1, from 6-7:30 p.m., and will meet for six Wednesdays through March 8.

The group will provide people a safe, supportive community in which to express and explore the many reactions that come in the aftermath of divorce. People can share their experiences, struggles, concerns, sorrows, fears, anger, joy, hopes, and dreams to the level of their own comfort, a press release said. Meetings will be in a relaxed informal setting. There is no cost for participation, however, there is a $5 material fee. [Read more…]

First United Methodist offers free community meals

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First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge is pictured above at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and North Tulane Avenue. (Photo courtesy Jeff Kile)

 

During the month of December, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge hosted a free community dinner to any and all people in our community who were in need of a home-cooked meal. No questions, no hoops, no requirements…just a time of delicious food and heartfelt fellowship with whomever decided to wander into our doors, a press release said.

Beginning this month, the church, located at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, is going to begin regularly hosting a free community meal on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. [Read more…]

Yoga, Christian contemplation offered at FUMC

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First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge

The First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by First United Methodist Church)

 

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For some yoga and prayer go well together because they experience yoga as a way to pray with the body, uniting body, mind, and spirit. For others, yoga, with its careful use of breathing and postures, serves to quiet and focus the mind, thus beautifully preparing us for prayer. First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, will again be offering classes which combine yoga and Christian prayer. The classes will be led by professional yoga instructors and the Rev. Jenny Caughman.

In these classes, we will practice yoga with conscious awareness of God’s constant presence with us. Yoga can be used to open ourselves up to the spirit. In the words of Fr. Thomas Ryan, when practicing yoga “one creates an atmosphere of calm, peace, and silence without and within, establishing a harmony between body and spirit so that nothing hinders the working of grace, the Holy Spirit. The aim is to bring tranquility to one’s mind from anxieties and problems; and to render it available to the Spirit.” This class will seek to make us increasingly open to the Spirit by integrating Christian contemplative prayer with the practice of yoga. [Read more…]

FUMC offers Divorce Recovery Group for adults

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Divorce is a difficult time and often traumatizing. Feelings can be overwhelming, and it is easy to get stuck in denial, anger, fear, and loneliness. First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, is offering a Divorce Recovery Group on Wednesdays, August 12-September 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. for adults who have experienced a recent or not-so-recent divorce or the end of a relationship.

The group will provide adults a safe, supportive community in which to express and explore the many reactions that come in the aftermath of divorce. Adults can share their experiences, struggles, concerns, sorrows, fears, anger, joys, hopes, and dreams to the level of their own comfort. Meetings will be in a relaxed informal setting. There is no cost for participation except for a $5 fee for class materials, which include “Rebuilding When the Relationship Ends” by Bruce Fisher and will be available at the first session. Scholarships are available for the materials if needed. [Read more…]