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Church


Noted Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber Speaks At Rachel Held Evans Funeral

Saturday, June 1, 2019 - by John Shearer
A crowd of several hundred attendees mostly filled up the the lower level of First-Cententary United Methodist Church’s nave Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to noted Christian author Rachel Held Evans of Dayton, Tenn.

Not previously announced publicly, the main sermon during the 90-minute service was delivered by the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, the best-selling Christian author and noted speaker, who gained national attention as the former pastor of the well-known church, the House for all Sinners and Saints, in Denver. 

The Colorado church has garnered attention for uniquely reaching out to everyone from the LGBT community, to those battling drug addiction and depression.

During the sermon, Ms.
Bolz-Weber, a self-proclaimed recovering drug abuser known for wearing tattoos, related while wearing blue jeans under her robe the story from the Gospel of John of Jesus appearing shortly after the Resurrection. She compared this story of Mary Magdaline meeting Jesus in the darkness to the life of Ms. Evans.

Mrs. Evans, who had made the New York Times bestseller list for “A Year of Biblical Womanhood,” had grown up in Dayton and graduated from Bryan College, but she later broke from some of the fundamentalist Christian views she had been raised on and became supportive of the LGBT community.

She died at the age of 37 on May 4 after a severe reaction to medication while being treated for a flu-like illness.

Offering eulogies during the service were her former youth pastor, the Rev. Brian Ward, and her younger sister, Amanda Held Opelt of North Carolina, who also sang a song in tribute to her while playing her acoustic guitar. 

Other musicians performing during the Requiem Eucharist service were Audrey Assad and Solveig Leithaug. Jeff Chu gave the prayers of the people, and several scriptural readings were done.

Also officiating the service along with the Rev. Bolz-Weber was the Rev. Winnie Varghese, who is a priest and staff member at the well-known Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Rev. Varghese was the celebrant for Holy Eucharist.  

Rev. Bolz-Weber is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor.

Mrs. Evans was not connected to First-Centenary UMC, but her family chose it to have a larger and suitable venue for her funeral. A number of First-Centenary members served as greeters and communion ushers, and associate minister the Rev. Will Lauderback welcomed funeral attendees at the start.


June 20, 2019

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June 18, 2019

Faith, Science And Climate Solutions Tour Is In Chattanooga Monday


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Rev. Susan Hendershot, president of Interfaith Power & Light, and Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, will speak at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga ... (click for more)


Church

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More than 20 years ago, after my first trip to Europe where I walked for miles every day, I decided to continue my new habit by power-walking several times a week. Then, after my open-heart surgery in 2006, I resolved that if I came through the operation successfully, I would do everything my doctors recommended for recovery, including exercise. Ever since, I’ve been engaging ... (click for more)

Men's Discipleship Conference Is June 29 At Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist

Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, 1115 N. Moore Road in Chattanooga, announces their Men's Discipleship Conference on Saturday, June 29 from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Speakers include Pastor Marcellus Barnes, Pastor Alfred Johnson, Pastor Ron King, Pastor Terry Ladd, Brother Jerry Marshall, Pastor Emeritus Paul A. McDaniel and Pastor Willie ... (click for more)

Breaking News

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Douglas Holmes, 35, Shot And Killed On Portland Street After Argument Over Fake Money; Jeremy Sutton, 20, Charged

Douglas Holmes, 35, was shot and killed early Monday morning on Portland Street after what police said was an argument over fake money. Jeremy Sutton, 20, has been charged with criminal homicide after police said he admitted to shooting the victim 7-8 times after initially shooting him. At approximately 12:23 a.m., Chattanooga Police responded to the 2000 block of Portland ... (click for more)

Opinion

HCDE's Proposed Budget AKA Social Experiment

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Roy Exum: One Vote In Nashville

Let’s just suppose, if only for the sake of supposing, that when the Hamilton County Commission votes tomorrow on a 34-cent tax increase on top of County Mayor Jim Coppinger’s proposed FY 2020 budget, the vote might end 5-4 against. We’ve just witnessed a full month with lively gnashing of teeth that has centered on the radical difference of opinions, this on what the county’s public ... (click for more)


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