Announcements

Join us for a special screening of Beyond Survival followed by a panel discussion with domestic violence survivors and advocates from Women on the Rise GA in Georgia and the Survivors Justice Project in New York.

Beyond Survival is a new, feature-length documentary sharing the story of the New York Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, the 10-year campaign to make it law, and its impact on incarcerated survivors of domestic violence.

Following the film, we will hear directly from survivors and advocates with Survivors Justice Project (New York) and Women on the Rise GA (Georgia). They will share the impact of the recent successful campaigns in Georgia and New York to change state sentencing laws and get domestic violence survivors out of prison. They will also share how you can support this vital effort and be part of making a positive change for incarcerated women who have survived abuse.

This two-hour virtual event offers an opportunity to learn, connect, and engage in meaningful conversation about advancing justice for all survivors. We hope you can join us for this powerful and thought-provoking gathering.

This event is hosted by United Women in Faith. All are welcome. There is no cost to participate.

Panelists:
• Judith Clark
• Robyn Hasan-Simpson
• Tammara McCoy
• Latoya Dickens

Join us for our annual Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 29th from 5:00–7:30 p.m. This fun-filled evening will include inflatables, trunk-or-treat, games and activities, delicious food, and so much more! Bring your family, invite your friends, and come enjoy a night of fall fun together.

How You Can Help
We need volunteers to help make this event a success! Opportunities include:
• Running inflatables
• Decorating a trunk and passing out candy
• Cooking and serving
• Running activity booths

Candy Donations
We’re also collecting candy for trunk-or-treat! Donations can be dropped off in the Welcome Center or in the buckets outside each worship space.

Mustard Tree Ministries is excited to once again host Trunk or Treat at both College Hill Courts and East Lake Courts on October 31st! We’re looking for volunteers willing to join us with decorated trunks and ready to hand out candy to children in the community.

We will gather in the Oak Street Center parking lot at 3:30 p.m. and caravan over together, OR you can meet us there. Please plan to be set up by 4:00 p.m. and the event will wrap up around 6:00 p.m.

Candy Donations
We’re also collecting candy donations! Donations can be dropped off in the Welcome Center and labeled MTM.

For more information, contact Barry Kidwell at bkidwell@firstcentenary.com.

Join us on November 2nd during the 10:45 a.m. worship services in both the Sanctuary and The Vine as we honor and remember the saints who have gone before us. You are invited to bring a photo or small piece of memorabilia in remembrance of a loved one who has passed away to place on the altar as part of this meaningful time of worship and reflection.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is teaming up with our College Ministry for a sweet fundraiser! Stop by The Vine Lobby on Sunday, November 2nd between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to grab a delicious bundtlet cake (or two) before or after worship.

You’ll also have the opportunity to pre-order full-size Bundt Cakes to pick up on November 23rd, just in time for Thanksgiving! All proceeds will support our College Ministry programs and missions. Come enjoy a treat and make a difference!

Join us for our next Devotional Hike on November 2nd at 1:00 p.m. at Greenway Farms! We’ll start with a short devotion led by the Creation Care Ministry, then stay for Notes in Nature—a free, self-guided musical adventure hosted by Arts, Culture & Creative Economy and Outdoor Chattanooga. Explore the trails, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and experience live performances by local artists along the way. This event is fun for all ages, so bring your family and friends!

Centenary Sunday will be celebrated on November 9th during the 10:45 a.m. worship services in both the Sanctuary and The Vine. Join us for this special day as The Centenary shares a short surprise presentation during worship, you won’t want to miss it!

College is bringing back the heat! Join us for our next Chili Cook Off right after the 10:45 a.m. worship service and put your best recipe to the test. Enter your chili for a chance to be voted on by the congregation and win prizes!

Registration to participate (bring a chili) is $20.
Meal tickets (which include tasting and voting on all chilis, chips, and a drink) are $10.
Kids 10 and under eat free!

Come for the food, stay for the fun, and help support our college ministry!

Join us for a deliciously fun evening on November 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Oak Street Center as we explore the art of building charcuterie boards and stronger marriages! Whether you’re new to charcuterie or a seasoned pro, come ready to learn, share tips, and enjoy an evening of connection and creativity. Hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the night.

Couples are encouraged to bring their own boards, but it’s not required. The cost is $30 per couple, and free childcare will be provided. You don't want to miss this fun evening!

Are you a first time visitor or have been visiting for a while? Do you want to know more about First-Centenary? Are you interested in becoming a member of First-Centenary? Or, do you simply want to get to know the Senior Pastor? Then join Pastor Jason every third Sunday of the month at 9:45 a.m. in the executive conference room located outside the pastor's office for Coffee with the Pastor!

Commitment Sunday is November 16th! This is a special day for our church family to come together in faith and generosity as we submit our commitment cards for the coming year. You can turn in your card during worship or submit it online through our website. Every commitment makes a difference as we move forward together in ministry!

Travel to England with Rev. Dr. Will Lauderback April 22- April 30, 2026 to explore the historical sites of the Methodist movement, learn about our history as a denomination, and experience the beauty of the English countryside and London.

Optional five day excursion to Ireland to explore the roots of celtic Christianity available based on interest.

For more information or to sign up, email Rev. Dr. Will Lauderback at wlauderback@firstcentenary.com.

Looking for a place to connect, grow, and explore your faith? Check out our fcCollege Ministry Small Groups! Whether you're passionate about inclusivity, creative Bible study, or connecting with fellow veterans and military members, we have a group for you.

Put your talents, energy and ideas to work. You’ll find flexible opportunities for spiritual growth and ways to act for social justice, support your community, live your faith and enrich your life right here at First-Centenary United Women in Faith in our small groups/Circles.

The Oak Street Playhouse is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our team! From helping behind the scenes to welcoming guests at the door, there are plenty of ways to get involved and support our productions throughout the year. Whether you have a passion for theater or simply want to lend a hand, your time and talents can make a big difference. Come be part of the magic of live performance!

Opportunities include:
SET WORK: Work up to four times a year (across several Saturday mornings) at the theater with the managing director, show director or set designer to build or paint sets for each show. Volunteers can be expert woodworkers or anyone willing to do minor tasks like holding boards or walls while someone screws them together, or anywhere in between. Volunteers are welcome as frequently, or infrequently, as they are willing.

HOST INDIVIDUAL SHOW: Arrive approximately 45 minutes before performance to greet guests and point out restrooms. Put out refreshments (cookies and water) for guests before intermission. Straighten up and leave after guests return to the theater. Volunteers can do this several times during the run of a show and up to four shows per year.

RUN TICKET SALES: Generate a list of pre-paid patrons from ticketing website and check in patrons for show, hand them programs and direct them to the theater. Learn how to use the church's easy Square Reader system when patrons not on the list want to pay by credit card. Volunteers may be needed once or twice during the show's run for up to four shows per year.

MAINTAIN OAK STREET PLAYHOUSE EMAIL LIST: Update after each show and then prior to each subsequent show send out emails to people on the list for auditions, shows, and reminders about the first and second weekends of the show. Each email is customized for its intended purpose. (We are currently using Vertical Response, which is not the most user friendly program, but it is the cheapest most basic program and suits the needs of OSP.) The volunteer also would answer general emails from persons on the list.

MAINTAIN TICKETING WEBSITE: Set up On The Stage ticket website for each show (appx. two hours four times a year). This includes creating a custom code that can be included on the postcards and other advertising.

OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR SHOW POSTCARDS AND PROGRAMS: Communicate four times a year with managing director and play director to obtain information to give to Clair Harrison, who requires a 10-day turnaround to process.

MAINTAIN OAK STREET PLAYHOUSE WEBSITE: Ideal volunteer would have knowledge of website building and would update current website four times a year with photos Clair Harrison or others take from each show, and, as time allows, create new website pages from previous shows.

MANAGE OAK STREET PLAYHOUSE SOCIAL MEDIA: We currently use only Facebook, but we'd love to branch out if someone more media savvy could establish our presence on other sites such as Instagram, Tik Tok and similar outlets.

COMMUNICATE WITH TELEVISION, RADIO, AND NEWSPAPER: Coordinate cast appearances on TV and radio, or feature stories in newspapers, four times a year to promote individual shows.

SHOP FOR SET SUPPLIES: Communicate with the managing director, set designer or show director four times a year ahead of each show to see what needs to be purchased (paint, wood, etc.) for the set.

MANAGE PROP ROOM: Coordinate with the managing director or show director four times a year to pull props before shows and return them to their proper place after the show's run.

MANAGE FURNITURE CAGE: Coordinate with the managing director, show director or set designer four times a year about furniture and other items needed from the cage (in the basement area) and then make sure they are efficiently stored after the show's run.

MANAGE WORK ROOM: Coordinate with the managing director, show director or set designer four times a year to be sure supplies are available in the work room and maintain the work room in a need and orderly fashion.

RUN LIGHT BOARD: Be trained to run light board for one to four shows per year. Requires attending multiple rehearsals and all performances of a show.

RUN SOUND CUES: Be trained to administer sound cues for one to four shows per year . Requires attending multiple rehearsals and all performances of a show.

COSTUME DESIGN: Work with show director four times a year to help select costumes for performers, or sew and create new ones.

MAINTAIN COSTUMES (could be combined with costume design): Maintain costumes four times a year, including laundering them (or taking them to cleaners) after a show's run, and doing minor costume repair.

For more information, contact oakstreetplayhouse@gmail.com. To sign up, please fill out the form below and we will reach out to you about the opportunity!

We want our college students who are studying away from Chattanooga to know they are still loved and supported by their church family! To encourage them at the start of a new school year, we are sending gift cards as a reminder that they are in our prayers and hearts, no matter the distance.

If you have a college student in your family who is away from home, please fill out the form so we can send them this small gift of encouragement.

You can also help support by donating $5–$10 gift cards (to places like Starbucks, Taco Bell, Sonic, etc.). These will be combined into “treat bundles” and mailed out to our students. Gift cards can be dropped off in the Welcome Center.

We're excited to announce that First-Centenary is expanding our recycling efforts!

You can now recycle:
• Paper
• Aluminum
• #1 and #2 Plastics

Look for designated bins around the church and help us care for God's creation by disposing of these items responsibly.

We take sack lunches every week into College Hill Courts. It helps provide some food and hope in these tough times. We would like to expand this ministry into the East Lake Courts and are looking for someone to lead this group and volunteers to go with us.

If you are interested in, please contact Barry Kidwell at bkidwell@firstcentenary.com.

For the past few weeks, the Mustard Tree Ministries have been taking laundry pods to people in the College Hill Courts. We are met over and over again with gratitude and "Thank you Jesus's" over a baggie of 4 laundry pods. You can't buy laundry detergent with food stamps. Kathleen coupons and she is able to get three bags for $20, but 3 bags doesn't go far. If you would like to help families keep some clothes clean, we would truly appreciate any donations of laundry pods for the effort. Thanks again for the support in our endeavor to build bridges into the community.

Donations can be dropped off in the welcome center and labeled with Mustard Tree Ministries.

Do you have a heart for kids and a passion for sharing God's love? First Kids Children's Ministry is looking for volunteers to serve as Sunday School teachers to help guide and nurture the next generation in their faith journey! No prior teaching experience? No problem! We provide curriculum, resources, and support to make it easy and meaningful. Whether you can serve once a month or every week, your time and dedication will make a lasting impact.

Join us in creating a fun, faith-filled environment for our kids!

Each year we ask families of the church to donate money towards our Sunday & Wednesday meals. This is a lot easier than asking parents to sign up to bring breakfasts and dinners and it is cheaper as well.

If 36 of our youth's families donate $150 then we will have enough money to pay for ALL of our meals for the entire school year. Give the full amount or give part of the amount monthly or in whatever way you would like. Some choose to give $50 per month for 3 months or $25 a month for six months. Any amount is helpful. We currently need donations for our kickoff to fall!

To give, you can click the link below or simply write a check, write "Free Meals Campaign" or "Youth Meals" in the memo line and drop it in the offering plate on Sunday or send it with your child on Wednesday night.

Our Sunday night service has continued to grow and with that, we have had a lot more children join in on Sunday nights. What started out as two or three children and the sweet kitchen ladies starting to teach them Bible stories has become fifteen regular children and the children’s ministry stepping up to help on Sunday nights. There are 1 in 5 children who live in food insecure homes in our country and the majority of the children on Sunday nights come from low income households and face hardships many of us never have to worry about. In order to make life a little easier and enjoyable in their young lives, we have worked together with the children’s ministry to put together snack bags for the children to take home with them on Sunday nights after church. These bags include non perishable things they can snack on during the week, use as a breakfast item, or take to school for lunch. Most of our children do not get the luxury of picking and choosing a snack or something they might enjoy for lunch and often times our children have to just go without. Please keep in mind that this happens year round, not just during the holidays. This ministry plans to continue indefinitely as children need food all year long and not just around the holidays.

If you feel led to donate to this specific snack bag ministry, here is a list of items we could use that will help these kids throughout the week:
• Individually wrapped muffins or muffin bites
• Fruit cups
• Fruit snacks
• Ramen noodles
• Microwavable mac and cheese
• Fruit or apple sauce cups or pouches (Gogo Squeez)
• Pop tarts
• Instant oatmeal
• Individually wrapped danishes or pastries
• Chewy granola bars
• Vienna Sausages
• Individual trail mix of packets of mixed nuts
• Multi pack single serve cereal
• Slim Jims
• Nutri-grain bars

If you prefer to make a monetary donation you can do so by check to Mustard Tree Ministry or First Centenary UMC just write “MTM Loaves and Fishes” in the “for” line or you can find us on Venmo @MustardTreeMin.

Do you believe children are strong and capable? Want to help them build life skills and promote wonder and inquiry in a warm, nurturing environment? The Children’s Enrichment Center at First-Centenary may be the place for you!

With full and part-time positions available, we are in search of dependable, energetic, and enthusiastic candidates to join our team. Our staff is hired in compliance with the state requirements and qualifications as a base minimum. When hiring educators we take a lot into consideration such as experience, education and dedication as we know every educator brings their own strength and professional growth with them once they are hired. We also believe that one hires not only by education but also by the heart. We believe the Children’s Enrichment Center staff is a family and a team and when an educator is hired they understand this is a profession and a commitment as we are raising the future. We have a strong belief in professional development that exceeds the minimum state requirements.

Benefits
• Thirteen holidays off, as well as spring, (mini) summer, and Christmas breaks.
• Full-time employees receive a benefit package.
• Pay: $12.00 - $15.00 per hour

Required: Must pass a background check and drug screening.

If you are interested, please fill out the employment application and email it to cecdirector@fcumc.org. Call 423.265.9736 or email cecdirector@firstcentenary.com for more information.

We're looking for someone to join our First Kids' team! Email firstkids@firstcentenary.com if you have any questions. Click below to apply!

Want to... Make a positive difference in the life of a child? Encourage literacy? Gain valuable job experience leading a group of students? Use your creativity to encourage young minds? Help students grow into resilient and capable leaders of our city?
Since 1967 The Centenary has been providing academic support, physical education, life skills development, and avenues for spiritual expression to students from across Chattanooga.