Let me take a few minutes and update you on events and opportunities here at Central Bearden.

Holy Week

Our traditional Maundy Thursday service will be at 7 PM on April 1st. We will, safely, still share in the Lord’s Supper at the front of the sanctuary. Rather than by intinction (dipping the bread in a common cup),  we will have the prepackaged “Fellowship Cups” available on the tables.

Easter Morning services are scheduled for 8 AM and 10:30 AM on April 4th. We want to be safe and we want all who choose  to attend to feel safe. At this time, mask requirements are still in place and we will also need to socially distance by family and household groups. Those planning to attend should reserve their seats in advance at centralbearden.org/holyweek or by calling the church.  Reservations will allow us to add a third service, should the numbers suggest the need.  So, if you know that you are going to worship with us in-person on Easter morning, please register now! We don’t want to turn people away on Easter morning but we must also follow pandemic safety guidelines to respect and safely accommodate with so many of our members who are still at-risk. Thank you for taking the time to help in this way and for showing continued concerns for our community’s well-being.

ROC Ministry

Josh Hickey has faithfully worked with us for four years as Director of Recreation Outreach Ministry and, for a short time, with our college students. Josh has decided it is time to follow other pursuits and we want to thank him and celebrate his time with us. We will recognize him during one of the remaining Sunday worship gatherings  in April.

We want to take this time to evaluate our ROC ministry, its current effectiveness, and future ministry opportunities. We will appoint a lay-led team to study this area, learn how other churches have adapted and changed their approaches to recreation ministry, and bring recommendations to our church for consideration.

College and Young Adult Ministry

The Personnel Committee has approved the position of a regular, part-time Minister to College Students and Young Adults. In our next quarterly business meeting (Sunday, April 19, 5 PM), we will vote on a search committee to lead us in finding the right person for this ministry. We have so much to offer in this area and we are all aware of the great opportunity in Knoxville and the need (not to mention blessing) to help develop new leadership for our world and new disciples in the Kingdom of God. We are currently exploring options for leadership and momentum in that area until the search committee completes their work.

COVID-19 Response

Thank you for making wise and careful decisions during this pandemic. It has not been easy for any of us and it has stretched out longer than we  imagined. As a church, we have lost so many dear friends and are still grieving. Of course, our Christian and biblical response is for the safety and well-being of our community, even if that includes personal inconveniences. We regularly check for updates to the recommendations coming from the Center for Disease Control and Knox County Board of Health and will make appropriate changes in accordance with those guidelines. Thank you for your understanding and for receiving the vaccinations.

Budget Report

The faithfulness and generosity of our church is humbling – truly humbling. On behalf of all the staff, the missionaries around the globe, and the ministries (literally around the world) that depend on us – thank you. 

As of last Sunday, we are $122, 876 behind budget. That’s just 4% of our annual budget. But we are $185,896 ahead of expenses. That is an outstanding and encouraging report – especially during a pandemic! We continue to minister, share the gospel, and work with God in God’s kingdom.

“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).

Wade Bibb,

Senior Pastor