Announcements

The Scouting America Cub Scout troop at The Centenary will have its first meeting of the school year on Friday, September 12th. The troop is composed of girls and boys in 1st-5th Grade. We are looking for adult volunteers to work with the troop's leader and help with meetings on Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. here at The Centenary. The troop leader comes each week, prepared to implement a great activity.

Volunteers will work directly with boys and girls in 1st to 5th grade on projects and activities. Volunteers are not in charge of weekly programming or student discipline, both of which will be handled by Centenary staff and the Scouting America Den Leader.

Want to open a new world of adventure and service for these students? Contact Mary Grey Moses at mgmoses@firstcentenary.com or 423-654-0050.

FCUMC Family Night – September 26th
We’re doing something special for this production! Join us for Family Night on Friday, September 26th. This evening’s performance will not only be a time to enjoy the show together but also an opportunity to give back—all proceeds from this night will benefit Camp Lookout, our chosen non-profit partner.

Starring:
Sarah Pearce as Adult Anna
Tim Walker as Jacob Witting
Caitlyn Eimers as Anna Witting
Vivian Wyatt as Rose Nordstrom
Micah Wyatt as Caleb Witting
Julienne Walker as Violet Nordstrom
Dylan Vasquez as Ephraim Nordstrom
Daniel Eimers as Matthew Nordstrom
Mae Mitchum as Maggie Nordstrom
Jonathan Cook as William Wheaton, Justin Moffet
Megan Allen as Meg Wheaton
Dana Cole as Sarah Wheaton
Denise Camille Fry as Eben, Miss Titus, Hettie, Levi, Chester

Producer: Jerry M. Draper
Director: Sandy Whetmore
Stage Manager: Emma Veys
Assistant Stage Manager: Alyssa Eimers

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!

Join us for our next Date Night on September 26th from 6:00–9:00 p.m. in Oak Street Center Room 101/102! Couples can enjoy a relaxed evening together with dinner, childcare, and a great program provided. The cost is $30 per couple, and dinner will feature the always-popular Red Robin Burger Bar. Our speakers for the evening will be Kirk and Patsi Walker, who will share from their own experience and wisdom.

Kirk and Patsi Walker have been married for 46 years and during this time they have parented three children and now are enjoying being grandparents. The Walkers have been members at First Centenary for 44 years and have called Chattanooga home throughout their marriage. We hope you will join us on September 26th as we hear about how they managed raising children and kept their marriage alive. This duo is quite comical and they have rich truths to share about the challenges we all face during this stage of life. Have you ever wanted advice from someone who has been there and made it through? This is your chance!

Join us for a fun-filled day of golf supporting Camp Lookout’s life-changing ministry! Enjoy breakfast, lunch, beverages, and snacks, plus prizes for the top teams and contests like Closest to the Hole, Longest Drive, and Longest Putt.

Schedule:
• 7:00 a.m. – Registration, Breakfast, Range & Putting Green
• 8:00 a.m. – Shotgun Start

Format: Four-person select shot (best ball), Low Gross, no handicap.
Cost: $120/player (includes cart, greens fee, and range balls).
Mulligans: 2 for $10 (max 4 per person).
Sponsorships from $50–$500 are available and recognized on the course and in the program.

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.

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.