Our Upcoming Events

Lenten Worship and Spiritual Discussion Series
Sundays at 11:00 AM

This series is an invitation to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. Each weekly sub-theme explores two supposed binaries, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” We often consider these ideas to be opposing. However, as we explore these concepts within the scriptures, we find nuance and complexity. We find that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present [in] between.

And so, this Lenten season, we invite you to look beyond black and white binaries and easy answers. We encourage you to notice the dichotomies that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. This will speak to anyone who feels they are living in a divided world and those who seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it. This Lent, we’re trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.

This series is inspired by the Narrative Lectionary and follows the Gospel of Luke from chapter 9-24.

You can worship in community either onsite or online. To experience more community online, consider joining in via Zoom. Register in advance to receive the link to worship via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/v5Ysf-6gqzst116c1dYPvxfVDO0tUCP5Ow 

If you worship via Facebook or YouTube, please consider participating more via the comments. We want to hear your prayers and praises and your comments about the message and service. Let’s worship together and follow the Spirit’s leading in 2025!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MCCKnoxville
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@mccknoxville

MANY WAYS TO GIVE AND SUPPORT THE MINISTRIES OF MCC KNOXVILLE

Please use your preferred method to give. We want it to be easy and convenient for you. Giving is a blessing for the giver and receiver. We thank you for your support of this church.

If you tend to give weekly, twice a month, or monthly, consider setting up a recurring gift. Set it up one time and it’s done. Recurring gifts are very helpful to the church’s cash flow.

Your options:

• Cash or check in the offering plate
• Mail a check to 7820 Redeemer Lane, Knoxville, TN 37919
• Set it up through your bank using auto bill pay. They will mail us your check.
• Donate through the website: www.MCCKnoxville.org/donate
• Text2Give number at 865-509-9980

For all online or text2give donors, you will need to set-up your account on your first use of the system. It’s fast and easy! Use the drop-down menus to choose General Fund or another fund and a one-time gift or recurring gift. Let us know if you have any difficulty. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

LENTEN PRACTIVE FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY

During Lent, many people have a spiritual practice of giving up something for the season. They might give up chocolate or fast from meat on Fridays or give up red meat for all of Lent. The ancient practice is to fast / give up something to take up something else for a spiritual purpose. People who might fast from eating during the day might spend their breakfast and lunch times in prayer or community service, for example.

This year, we are inviting you to choose something to fast from/give up and instead give what you would have spent on that to the Food Pantry. In particular, if you eat out twice a week, choose to eat out only once a week and give the value of that second meal to our Food Pantry to feed others.

As we all know, food prices are going up. Perhaps you will choose not to buy that expensive item or expensive cut of meat and choose something less expensive. With those savings, consider purchasing spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, or a couple of cans of pinto beans to donate to the Food Pantry.

Due to the high demand on our Food Pantry, and before prices rise further, we have spent the funds that were in our Pantry reserve. The food is going out the door quickly. We need your help to feed our hungry neighbors. This year, let your Lenten practice benefit our Food Pantry and our neighbors. Give something up that will help you give food to those in need.

Homosexuality and the Bible – Online, On-Demand Learning

Through Mobilizing Love Ministries, Rev. Colleen Darraugh now offers a 10-session online, self-paced course: Homosexuality and the Bible: Does the Bible Really Condemn Homosexuality?

The course is $15, however, for a limited time, there is a discount coupon code FREEMCC which makes this course free for you! Check it out. If you wish to support this outreach, don’t use the code (wink, wink).

https://mobilizing-love1.teachable.com/p/homosexuality-and-the-bible-does-the-bible-really-condemn-homosexuality

Tuesday Discussion Group (Online)
Tuesdays at Noon Eastern
Location: Zoom

Follow Lenten topics as we continue our spiritual discussions and connections.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88963765176?pwd=VGF4bjdNeGJpWitwYWN4MXlzeWtjZz09

Meeting ID: 889 6376 5176
Passcode: 173772

Lunch & Learn - Bible Basics (In Person)
Wednesdays at 12:30 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville

Bring your own lunch. Share food and fellowship as we dig into Bible Basics. Topics will include how the Bible evolved, how to select a Bible to read or study, what’s a parable, the names/titles of God, and more.

Good Friday Worship (In Person and Online)
Friday, April 18th at 6:30 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville, Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube

Brave Space Support Group (In Person)
Wednesday, March 5th at 7:00 PM Eastern
Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville

Brave Space is a peer support group for survivors of sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern at MCC Knoxville.

Come give and receive support in this group of peers as we discuss triggers and tips. It helps to know you are not alone.

Adult Coloring (In Person)
Friday, April 11th at 1:00 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville

Join us for Adult Coloring at MCC Knoxville on the second Friday of each month at 1:00 PM.

Enjoy adult coloring while you relax and chat. You can bring your own supplies, but there are always plenty of coloring options to share.

Friday Night Game Night - Board Games (In Person)
Friday, April 25th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville

This month at MCC Knoxville, the Friday Night Game Night theme will be board games and cards.

Join us on Friday, April 25th at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to join in the fun and fellowship. Invite a friend. Admission is free. Bring a snack to share if you would like.

Currently (subject to change), because of the low risk level for COVID in our community, masks are optional. Food and drink are allowed.

Pasta With a Purpose (In Person) *
Saturday, April 26th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Eastern
Location: St. Johns Lutheran Church, 544 N Broadway, Knoxville

Enjoy a delicious variety of pasta dishes, fresh salads, decadent desserts, plus live entertainment and a silent auction – all in support of our weekly meal service program. Every ticket purchased helps us continue our mission of providing warm, nutritious meals to those in need within our community.

What to Expect:

• Doors open at 5:00 PM, Dinner begins at 6:00 PM
• A mouthwatering selection of pasta options
• Freshly prepared salads
• Delicious desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth
• Live entertainment and a welcoming atmosphere
• Silent auction with a variety of local goods

Gather your friends and family for an evening of great food and heartfelt purpose. Your support makes a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

Let’s come together to enjoy a meal and make an impact. We can’t wait to see you there!

To purchase tickets to this event, visit: https://apattknox.com/events/pasta-with-a-purpose
 

Spring Congregational Forum (In Person and Online)
    Sunday, April 27th at ~12:20 PM Eastern
Spring Congregational Meeting (In Person and Online)
    Sunday, May 4th at ~12:20 PM Eastern
Location: MCC Knoxville and Zoom

Our Spring Congregational Forum will be held Sunday, April 27th after our worship service and a short break (at about 12:20 PM). The Forum is to help us all prepare for the Spring Congregational Meeting to be held the following week. Everyone will have ample opportunity to ask their questions in a less formal setting. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to participate.

Reports from the Board, Treasurer, Pastor, Lay Delegate and Food Pantry will be available online and onsite ahead of the Forum. Please review the reports prior to this meeting and have your questions ready. They will be on the Documents page of our website (www.mccknoxville.org/documents) by Friday, April 25th.

During the Forum, we will identify candidates for election to three 2-year terms on our Board of Directors. Please be in prayer and discernment for those who are gifted in the areas of administration and leadership. These are the seats currently held by Cassi, Donna, and Steve. Steve has expressed his willingness to run for another term. Cassi and Donna have decided not to continue. We thank both of them for their service.

We will also be discussing a proposed change to our local church bylaws concerning notification methods for Congregational Meetings.

For those online, since the Forum immediately follows our Sunday worship service, please remain in the regular Zoom Virtual Worship meeting. If you don't usually attend virtual worship on Zoom, you may register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/v5Ysf-6gqzst116c1dYPvxfVDO0tUCP5Ow to receive the meeting link.

Our Spring Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, May 4th immediately after our worship service and a short break (at about 12:20 PM Eastern). Everyone is welcome, but members are especially encouraged to attend. Members have voice and vote. Attendees may have voice but no vote. This meeting will be held onsite and on Zoom.

The Agenda includes:

• Approval of the minutes of the last congregational meeting
• Election of three members to the MCC Knoxville Board of Directors (2 year term)
• Approval of a proposed change to our local church bylaws concerning notification methods for Congregational Meetings
• Reception of reports from the Board, Treasurer, Pastor, Lay Delegate, and Food Pantry. These will be available on our website under Documents.

Anonymous voting will be available onsite by ballot and on Zoom using the Poll feature. Please know that every effort is made to conduct the business of the church in accordance with our Bylaws.

The link for the Congregational Meeting (not Forum) is different than for Worship. You do not need to pre-register.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83986162593?pwd=Vzd3a2FDWXBvSG83V25xa1dYOGp5QT09
Meeting ID: 839 8616 2593
Passcode: 654321

Monthly Board Meeting (Online)
Thursday, May 8th at 6:30 PM Eastern
Location: Zoom

Our monthly Board meetings are typically held on the second Thursday of the month. They are open for our members to attend.

Our monthly Board Meetings are held virtually. You can join them by using the following Zoom link:

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/93963675351?pwd=WG1LS1c0QWlzem5ZekgwaWNPdnpPZz09
Meeting ID: 939 6367 5351
Passcode: Genesis

Zoom phone number: 646-558-8656  (passcode 429791 followed by #)
 

Join Us!

We invite you to attend any of our functions.  Come as you are.  Sunday worship services are at 11 a.m.  You may reach us during office hours by phone - (865) 531-2539, by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or through the other methods listed on our Contact Us page.

Communal memory takes shape when we share our stories. In those stories is our longing and yearning for peace, for love, for acceptance, for freedom, equality and justice. In those yearnings is a search for the truth of Spirit.

If you are looking for a spiritual home, come visit us here at Metropolitan Community Church at Knoxville and listen to the voice of the Holy speak to you through the voices of diversity, community, social justice and prayer. We welcome people of many beliefs and backgrounds into the holy space of worship, and pray that you will find justice and peace wherever Spirit leads you.