Rowland S. Buck is the new lead pastor at Signal Crest United Methodist Church.Coming up at SCUMC
Wednesday dinners and programs are held in the Crest Center each week except Oct. 12, during fall break. Those interested can sign up for dinner on the church website under the “Events” tab. Dinner is served at 5:45 p.m. and programs begin at 6:30. The church has a nursery available along with programs for children, youth and adults.Children’s bells, children’s drama, adult bells and children’s music programs are held Wednesday afternoons, and the chancel choir rehearses Wednesdays at 7 p.m.Youth meet on Sundays at 5 p.m. for youth group and a snack supper. Most Sundays they host youth sports at 7 p.m. Youth in grades six through 12 are invited to attend and must have a waiver signed to participate (parents can sign waiver at dropoff).A new small group for fourth- and fifth-graders called “Club 45” meets Sunday at 5 p.m.“Crest Fest” on Oct. 22 is a craft and holiday fair held as a fundraiser for the church. Everyone is invited to come shop. If you interested in being a vendor, email Annette Wildman at awildman@signalcrestumc.org.Trunk or Treat is Oct. 30 at 5 p.m, in the parking lot. You can participate by decking out your trunk and passing out candy, or simply come dressed to enjoy this family-friendly event.
Signal Crest United Methodist Church has a new lead pastor in Signal Mountain resident Rowland S. Buck, who gave his first sermon at the church the first Sunday in July. He preaches during the church’s three Sunday morning services, held at 8:30 and 11 (traditional) and 9 (contemporary) on a rotating basis.
He said that as a pastor, he has a passion to make the Bible understandable and applicable.
“I hope [members of the congregation] will walk away hearing something that God wants to do in their lives,” Buck said of his goal when giving a sermon. “He wants to engage their life to make a difference in the world.”
The son of a Methodist pastor, Buck said he moved around a bit as a child, spending his elementary years in Dayton, Tenn., and graduating from Red Bank High School and UTC. This is his fifth assignment after graduating from seminary in 1990, with the most recent being at Burks United Methodist in Hixson, where he spent the past four years, he said.
At SCUMC, he said his goal is to help the church discover and accomplish God’s mission and vision for the congregation.
“I’m trying to engage people in prayer and trying to hear what God may be speaking to us,” said Buck. “This is a church that’s passionately pursuing Jesus, and we want to continue to look at how to help other people experience what Jesus has to offer them as well.”
He said that he wants to strengthen the church’s already-strong community outreach programs, such as its partnership with The Howard School in Chattanooga and SCUMC’s free firewood ministry that helps people in need to heat their homes.
SCUMC is at 1005 Ridgeway Ave. and can be reached at 886-2330, or visit signalcrestumc.org to learn more.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman at timesfreepress.com