http://blounttoday.com/news/worship/?partner=RSSblounttoday.com Stories: Worshipen-usworshiphttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/23/love-feast-offers-sweets-time-prayful-thought/?partner=RSSFairview United Methodist Church took a different twist in one of the church’s Christmas celebrations and held a Moravian Love Feast on Dec. 7. Love feasts are a centuries-old tradition resurrected by the Moravian Church in 1727 after the 4th-century Christian church stopped the practice. The feasts are composed of a brief message, a great deal of music and singing and a light meal of sweets served in the middle of the ceremony. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14919-733399community/newsLocalLove Feast offers sweets, time for prayful thoughtblounttoday.comlove-feast-offers-sweets-time-prayful-thoughturn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14919-733399Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/23/living-nativity-draws-record-crowd/?partner=RSSPerhaps the largest Christmas event in Blount County was the 8th Annual Living Nativity created by First Baptist Church of Maryville on Dec. 6 and 7 in the West Theater in Greenbelt Park near the Courthouse. The performance, narrated live, drew more than 1,500 spectators who viewed the 30-minute presentation in groups of 150. Cast members performed six times each night, quite a feat for the 50 actors and 25-35 additional crew members. Included in the show were three camels, five sheep and a burro named Mary, as well as King Herod, a score of angels, camel handlers, a crowd of shepherds, wise men, and of course Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:28:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14918-733399community/newsLocalLiving Nativity draws record crowdblounttoday.comliving-nativity-draws-record-crowdurn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14918-733399Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/23/crafty-day-celebrates-season-first-maryville-umc/?partner=RSSFirst Maryville United Methodist Church held its “Christmas Fun Night” from 5 to 7 on Dec. 7 for more than 300 people from the church and community. Volunteers made soup, chili and finger-foods for the guests. The church’s Asbury Hall was filled with dozens of craft stations for both children and adults to exercise their creativity. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:21:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14917-733399community/newsLocal‘Crafty’ day celebrates season at First Maryville UMCblounttoday.comcrafty-day-celebrates-season-first-maryville-umcurn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14917-733399Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/23/worship-listings-dec-25-2008/?partner=RSSWorship listings for December 25, 2008 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:22:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14898-733399worship/newsLocalWorship listings for Dec. 25, 2008blounttoday.comworship-listings-dec-25-2008urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14898-733399Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/18/worship-listings-dec-18-2008/?partner=RSSWorship Listings for December 18, 2008 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:38:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14867-733394worship/newsLocalWorship Listings for Dec. 18, 2008blounttoday.comworship-listings-dec-18-2008urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14867-733394Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/10/worship-calendar-dec-11-2008/?partner=RSSWorship Calendar for the December 11, 2008 edition Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:20:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14830-733386worship/newsLocalWorship Calendar for Dec. 11, 2008blounttoday.comworship-calendar-dec-11-2008urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14830-733386Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/04/beautiful-forest/?partner=RSSA new fundraiser at Maryville Christian School was meant to not only raise money but also inspire some Christmas spirit. On Nov. 15 the school held its inaugural Festival of Trees event. Debbie Farnsworth had the idea for a festival of trees and Becky Gay, Hilary Anderson and Kim Wood helped coordinate the host of parents and volunteers who made it happen. The idea came up last Christmas, and they started putting plans in place in August when school began again. The funds raised were to pay for an addition to house the science lab and the orchestra. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:31:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14808-733380community/newsLance ColemanLocalBeautiful forestblounttoday.combeautiful-foresturn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14808-733380Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/dec/04/worship-listings-december-4-2008/?partner=RSSBlount County church worship listings for December 4, 2008 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:04:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14800-733380worship/newsLocalWorship Listings for December 4, 2008blounttoday.comworship-listings-december-4-2008urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14800-733380Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/nov/26/worship-calendar-nov-27-2008/?partner=RSSWorship Calendar Listings for the week of November 27, 2008 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14781-733372worship/newsLocalWorship Calendar for Nov. 27, 2008blounttoday.comworship-calendar-nov-27-2008urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14781-733372Change0Usablehttp://blounttoday.com/news/2008/nov/26/living-nativity-goes-even-tough-economic-times/?partner=RSSWhile the economy has everyone, including churches, thinking about how to save money, First Baptist Church of Maryville opted to keep their annual Living Nativity program in place for the Christmas season. “Like the rest, we have been struggling with budget concerns and having to cut back, but the Living Nativity is part of what First Baptist is,” said associate pastor Gary Stinnett. “It is something we offer the community, and is one of those traditions. It has grown every year and has a very rich tradition. This is our eighth annual Living Nativity, and it has really grown since the first year Chuck O’Connor, minister of missions, started it.” colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:58:00 -0000urn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14780-733372community/newsLance ColemanLocalLiving Nativity goes on even in tough economic timesblounttoday.comliving-nativity-goes-even-tough-economic-timesurn:publicid:blounttoday.com:news-Story-14780-733372Change0Usable