About this service …

Good evening! I’m Rev. Val Ohle, pastor of Union Grove United Methodist Church in Friendsville and I welcome you to this Hanging of the Greens at Home Service.

I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to bring the activities we’re used to doing at the church home for you. One of those ways is by bringing you a version of Hanging of the Greens that you can do at home.  For those of you who’ve never participated in Hanging of the Greens, it’s a service in which those present decorate the sanctuary while hearing the stories and origins of the decorations they’re using.

If your “home” decorations are like ours, you probably have a nativity set, a few angels, some stars, and maybe a few other faith-themed ornaments, but it’s likely those decorations are outnumbered by snowmen, gingerbread, and a host of other images that seem to dominate the season these days.

It’s likely if you’re new to Hanging of the Greens, that you’re not fully aware of why we use certain decorations at Christmas time regardless of whether we’re decorating the Sanctuary or our homes.

And in thinking about all that, it dawned on me that this may be the best opportunity ever to bring some new old traditions into your home.

The service I’m using is adapted from service designed by Ashley Danyew and by Rev. Alan Thompson, both of whom incorporated portions from the traditional service in the United Methodist Book of Worship.

There is no transcript for this video. Feel free to leave feedback by commenting on this page, on the video itself at vimeo.com, or on our Facebook page. 

Even though we can’t meet together in person, the church still has expenses that need to be met. If you are able, please consider making an offering or paying your tithes through the online service provided by Holston Conference. It’s safe. It’s free. It will help us continue ministry at Union Grove.

Just visit http://www.holston.org/churchoffering, and follow the instruction for making your offering.  When asked, please choose Smoky Mountain District and Union Grove UMC Blount – Friendsville.

If you are not comfortable using a debit or credit card online, you can mail your offerings/tithes to:

Smoky Mountain District
Holston Conference
PO Box 905
Alcoa TN 37701-0905

Please be sure to make your checks payable to Smoky Mountain District and write “Union Grove UMC Friendsville” on the memo line!