Glencliff United Methodist Church members and staff, local leaders, neighbors, and The Village at Glencliff (TVG) board members gathered July 19 for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of 12 micro homes — Phase 1 — on the church’s campus. Once the interiors are complete, the homes will house adults experiencing homelessness. Blending two residential models — bridge …

Centertown (Tennessee) United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. Money from this grant was used to help fund a storage building for non-perishable items used in the church’s weekly food ministry program. The program started in 2012 after church members learned about area children who were going to school hungry. Initially two volunteers prepared 20 …

Clark United Methodist Church in McMinnville, Tennessee, received a $2,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helped fund new front entrance doors. The previous wooden doors had deteriorated to the point that they were out of alignment, resulting in heat loss during the winter and difficulty opening …

Carthage (Tennessee) United Methodist Church received a $5,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. The grant helped fund equipment needed to improve online and in-person worship services. Pre-pandemic, the average attendance was 200 people each Sunday. The average number of people attending in person each Sunday now is about 100, but services also are livestreamed and posted on YouTube. “Our …

Morton Memorial United Methodist Church in Monteagle received a $2,500 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helped purchase equipment needed for outdoor and online worship services. In the early months of the pandemic, congregation members formed a COVID Task Force, staying up to date on pandemic-related numbers …

Miriam’s Promise, an independent not-for-profit adoption agency in Nashville, received a $1,250 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helps fund a webinar series to prepare grandparents for an adopted grandchild. During the pandemic, Miriam’s Promise has moved training to a virtual setting. After researching possible topics, grandparent/extended …

Tennessee Ridge United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. Money from the grant was used toward repairing and resurfacing an aging parking lot to increase safety and accessibility for all who attend. Comprised primarily of older congregants, the small-membership church is on a charge with three additional churches forming the Tennessee River Charge of the …

First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee, received a $10,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant is being used to help fund a community soup kitchen. The Shelbyville Community Soup Kitchen (SCSK) was started in February 2016 by the Bedford County Ministerial Association on a six-week trial …

Winchester First United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant is being used toward purchasing and installing a four-person lift. Built in 1893, the church’s sanctuary is on the ground floor. Over the years, other floors were added including the first floor that …

Elder’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Smyrna received a $1,600 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helped buy food for a food pantry ministry. Spearheading the ministry is Elder’s Chapel member Shelia Howse. After being challenged by a discipleship course to step out of her “boat” and …