For Immediate Release
Maryville, Tennessee — Praise Lutheran Church invites the public to witness their Sanctuary and Flagon Blessing at 10:30 a.m. on May 12, 2013 (Ascension Day–observed). The congregation’s pastor, Rev. Derek Roberts, will lead the service and Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola, President of the Mid-South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, who resides in Memphis, will preach and preside over the rites of blessing. Special music including an Ascension Day choral offertory will be presented and a potluck will follow the service. Ascension Day marks the 40th day after Easter when, according to the Scriptures, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven after bodily rising from the dead.
The congregation spent the last 12 weeks renovating its Sanctuary at 1850 Big Springs Road by finishing interior walls, adding an acoustic ceiling, replacing folding chairs with new worship chairs, and installing two large windows to welcome natural light into the Sanctuary. Most of the renovations were constructed by church members and part of the funding came from a sister congregation, First Lutheran Church in Knoxville, where Pastor Roberts formerly served as associate and campus pastor.
A donated flagon, recently discovered in Praise Lutheran’s sacristy, will be dedicated in a later part of the service. A flagon is a pouring vessel, see Exodus 25:29, used for drink offerings. Liturgical Christian churches today use flagons for pouring wine into the communion chalice before consecration and distribution of the bread and wine, Christ’s body and blood of the Lord’s Supper.
The church is located at 1850 Big Springs Road in Maryville and is accessible by turning south off of Lamar Alexander Parkway on Ross Drive by First Tennessee Bank, 1.5 miles west of Foothills Mall. For more information contact Rev. Derek Roberts, Praise Lutheran Church, by calling (865) 977-5810 or visiting the church’s website at praiselutheran.com.