Dear Friends, I shared with those of you who attended Holston District Days this fall that II Corinthians 5:17 is one of my life verses. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become ...
May 3, 2021 Psalm 80/ Galatians 5: 16-26 NIV Sarah Wimmer Laity First UMC Maryville Smoky Mountain Psalm 80/ Galatians 5:16-26 NIV 1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, ...
May 2, 2021 John 15:1-8 NRSV Pat Tipton Clergy Lebanon/Old Union Appalachian District John 15:1-8 NRSV Jesus the True Vine 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch ...
May 1, 2021 Psalm 22:25-31 The Message Lisa Nichols Church and Community Worker Mountain View District Psalm 22:25-31 The Message Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I’ll do what I promised right here in ...
April 30, 2021 Amos 8: 11-13 ESV Sean Glenn Clergy, Bluff City/St. Paul UMC Three Rivers District Amos 8:11-13 11 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst ...
April 29, 2021 Psalm 22:25-31 NRSV Rev. David Graybeal Clergy Keith Memorial United Methodist Church Hiwassee District Psalm 22:25-31 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 26 The poor[a]...
April 28, 2021 Psalm 95 The Message Laura F. Ashline Laity First-Centenary United Methodist Church Scenic South District Psalm 95 1-2 Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence ...
April 27, 2021 Psalm 95:3-7 NLT Stephen Hopkins Clergy, Kendricks Creek UMC Appalachian District Psalm 95:3-7 3,For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest ...
April 26, 2021 1 Peter 5:1-5 CEB Rev. Brandon Berg Clergy First United Methodist Church of Bristol Clinch Mountain District 1 Peter 5:1-5 1 Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s ...
April 25, 2021 Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18 NSRV Gregg Bostick Clergy, Mount Hermon United Methodist Church Tennessee Valley District Psalm 23 and John 10: 11-18 Psalm 23The Divine Shepherd A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....
April 24, 2021 Mark 6:30-34 NIV Bob Hayes Retired Clergy Broadway UMC Smoky Mountain district Mark 6:30-34 NIV Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so ...
April 23, 2021 Psalm 23 KJV Tom Seay Emerald Ave UMC Tennessee Valley District Psalm 23 KJV 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he ...
April 22, 2021 Psalm 23 KJV Natalie Justice Smyth County Circuit Clergy Clinch Mountain District Psalm 23 King James Version 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still ...
April 21, 2021 Jeremiah 31: 31-34 CEB John Oldham Clergy Scenic South District Jeremiah 31: 31-34 31- "The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32- It will not be ...
April 20, 2021 2 John 1-6 NRSV Jim Philpott Retired Clergy Scenic South District 2 John 1-6 NRSV Salutation 1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the ...
April 19, 2021 Psalm 150 CEB Ralph Kidd Retired Elder Clinch River District Psalm 150 Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise God in his fortress, the sky! 2 Praise God in his mighty acts! Praise God as suits his incredible greatness! 3 Praise ...
April 18, 2021 Luke 24: 36b-48 CEB Rev. Clair Sauer, Clergy Jones Memorial UMC, Chattanooga Scenic South District Luke 24: 36B-48 CEB Jesus appears to the disciples 36 While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “...
April 17, 2021 Acts 3:1-10 (NRSV) Dell Gates Laity, Piney Flats UMC Three Rivers District Acts 3:1-10 Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a...
April 16, 2021 Psalms 4 CEB Susan Groseclose Clergy, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship Smoky Mountain District Psalms 4 CEB For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. 4 Answer me when I cry out, ...
April 15, 2021 Daniel 9:1-19 Nancy M. Alley Laity, Prospect UMC Appalachian District Daniel 9:1-19 Daniel’s Prayer 9 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first ...
April 14, 2021 Mark 12:18-27 (NIV) Jim Hager Laity Piney Flats UMC Three Rivers District Mark 12:18-27 NIV Marriage at the Resurrection 18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “...
April 13, 2021 Daniel 6:26-27 NIV Rev. Stephen K. Doyal Clergy Bookwalter UMC Tennessee Valley District Daniel 6:26-27 26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God ...
April 10, 2021 Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV) Dr. Ken Sprinkle Retired Clergy Appalachian District Psalm 133:1-3 1How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, ...
April 11, 2021 John 20:19-31 (NIV) Danielle Meyers, Certified Lay Minister, Dutch Valley UMC Tennessee Valley District John 20:19-31 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of ...
April 9, 2021 Psalm 133 (NIV) Mark Hicks Clergy Mt. Zion UMC, Afton Mountain View District Psalm 133 NIV 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on ...
April 8, 2021 Psalm 133:1-3 NRSV Michael Somers Clergy Cameron/Ross Camp Ground UMC Appalachian District Psalm 133:1-3 NRSV 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head,...
April 7, 2021 Mark 16: 1-8 NRSV John Crabtree Clergy Three Rivers District Mark 16:1-8 NRSV When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on ...
April 6, 2021 Genesis 1:20-2:4 (NIV) Pat Roza Laity, Burks UMC Scenic South District Genesis 1:20-2:4 20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the ...
April 5, 2021 Genesis 1:1-19 CEB Rev. Dr. Carole R. Martin Retired Clergy Appalachian District Genesis 1:1-19 1:1 At the beginning of God’s creating of the heavens and the earth, 2 when the earth was wild and waste, ...
April 4, 2021 John 20:1-18 CEB Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor Resident Bishop Holston Annual Conference John 20:1-18 Empty tomb 20 Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that...
April 3, 2021 Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 (NIV) Dr. Ken Sprinkle, Retired Pastor Appalachian District Lamentations 3:1-19, 19-24 1I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather ...
April 2, 2021 Isaiah 52:13-53:12 NRSV Heather Hayes Laity Concord United Methodist Tennessee Valley District Isaiah 52:13-53, 53:12 NRSV Devotion Each year we follow our liturgical calendar and we celebrate the moments in our religion that mark ...
April 1, 2021 John 13:1-17, 31-35 Joseph L. Ratledge Clergy Tasso/Charleston Charge Hiwassee Focus Scripture John 13:1-17, 31-35 Devotion Happy Maundy Thursday, church! What is Maundy Thursday and should I even say “Happy”? Give me a second, I ...
March 31, 2021 Hebrew 12:1-3 Kelly Price Ph.D. Laity Mountain View Focus Scripture Hebrew 12:1-3 ESV Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every ...
March 30, 2021 John 12:20-36 NRSV Karen Peter Laity Tacoma United Methodist Church Appalachian District Focus Scripture John 12:20-36 Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They...
March 29, 2021 John 12: 1 – 11 CEB Ginny West Case Laity Smoky Mountain District Focus Scripture John 12:1-11 Mary anoints Jesus’ feet 12 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 ...
January 31, 2021 Mark 1:21-28 Don Jones Clergy Sycamore Tree United Methodist Church Smoky Mountain District Mark 1:21-28 The Man with an Unclean Spirit 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 ...
January 30, 2021 Psalm 111 Pat Kiper Psalm 111 111 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the godly and the congregation. 2 The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them. 3 His ...
January 29, 2021 Psalm 111, Revelation 2:17 and Deuteronomy 12:32 Bernice Howard Laity 1st United Methodist Church, Maryville Smoky Mountain District Psalm 111 1 Praise the Lord.[b] I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the ...
January 28, 2021 Psalm 111:1, 10 Mary Charles Blair Lay Ooltewah UMC Hiwassee District Psalm 111:1, 10 NIV “Praise the Lord! I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly…The fear of the Lord is the ...
January 27, 2021 Mark 3: 13-19 Natalie Justice Clergy Clinch Mountain District Mark 3:13-19 Jesus Appoints the Twelve 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve[a] that they ...
January 26, 2021 Psalm 46; Genesis 45:25-46:7; Acts 5:33-42 KJV Gary Park Laity Seahorns Chapel Mountain View District Psalm 46; Genesis 45:25-46:7; Acts 5:33-42 KJV Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ...
January 25, 2021 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Rev. Mike Stallings Concord UMC 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Stay as You Were When God Chose You 17 But each believer should live in whatever situation the Lord has given them. Stay as you were when God chose you. That...
January 24, 2021 Psalm 62: 5-12 CEB Rev. Clair Sauer Clergy Jones Memorial UMC, Chattanooga Scenic South District Psalm 62:5-12 CEB Oh, I[a] must find rest in God only, because my hope comes from him! 6 Only God is my rock and my salvation— ...
January 23, 2021 Psalm 62:5-8 Ed and Pat Helton Laity Rising Fawn UMC Scenic South District Psalm 62: 5-8 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be ...
January 22, 2021 Psalm 62:5-12 Danielle Meyers Certified Lay Minister Dutch Valley UMC Tennessee Valley District Psalm 62: 5-12 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress,...
January 21, 2021 Psalm 62:5-12; Jeremiah 19:1-15; Revelation 18:11-20 Debby Hearn Music Director and Certified Lay Speaker (formerly) Scenic South District dhearn@epbfi.com Psalm 62:5-12; Jeremiah 19:1-15; Revelation 18:11-20 Devotion Resonance ...
January 20, 2021 Luke 18:15-17 Doug Silvers Clergy New River District Luke 18: 15-17 Little Children Are Brought to Jesus 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the babies. When the disciples saw this, ...
January 19, 2021 Acts 4:32-35; 5:1-11 (CEB) Paige Wimberly Clergy Newbern-Mountain View Charge New River District Acts 4:32-35; 5:1-11 32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their...
January 18, 2021 Psalm 86 William Shewey Clergy Appalachian District Psalm 86 1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; 3 have ...