⛪ A Hymnal Homecoming, Seminar Nights and a Saturday of Neighbors — Your Valley Church & Community Week

Or: Where to Worship, Where Neighbors Decide Things, and Which Drives Need Your Help This Week in the Sequatchie Valley

Good morning, neighbor. Pour the coffee and settle in. This is your church-and-community week — the pews, the potlucks, the public meetings and the quiet ways folks in the Valley look after one another.

Sunday, Fredonia Church of God planned a homecoming up on the mountain to mark 75 years of the Red-Back Hymnal. That is a fine place to start a week like this one: old songs, a shared meal, and neighbors coming home.

Below you will find service times for several Dunlap congregations, free evening seminar nights at the Adventist school gym, the meetings where neighbors decide things, a veterans drive that needs new socks and toiletries, a few library gatherings for grown-ups, and a full Saturday on the 17th. Times come from church posts, church websites and directory listings. Schedules can change, so a quick phone call before you go is always wise.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Yesterday (Sun., Oct. 11): Fredonia Church of God’s homecoming honored 75 years of the Red-Back Hymnal. Regular services there: Sunday 10 a.m., Wednesday 6 p.m.
• Tonight (Mon., Oct. 12), 6:30 p.m.: Sequatchie County Board of Education meets at Griffith Elementary.
• Tue., Wed., Fri., 6 p.m., and Sat., 10 a.m. & 6 p.m.: Free “The Future Unfolding” seminar nights, Adventist school gym, 105 Apache Lane.
• Thu., Oct. 15, 5 p.m.: Dunlap Board of Mayor and Commissioners, 15595 Rankin Ave. Public comment on agenda items comes at the start.
• Sat., Oct. 17: Farmers Market 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Harris Park, and a church Fall Festival in Whitwell at 5 p.m.

📝 Jot This Down

1. Help a veteran: VFW Post 5772’s drive takes new, unopened comfort items through the end of October — drop them at the library (227 Cherry St.) during open hours or at Veterans Hall.
2. Need help, or want to give it? Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank, 103 Heard St.: 423-949-7716. Call for hours.
3. Where neighbors decide: School Board tonight, 6:30 p.m. at Griffith Elementary · Dunlap city board Thu., 5 p.m. · City Hall: 423-949-2115.

🎵 Yesterday on Fredonia Mountain: A 75-Year Hymnal Homecoming

Fredonia Church of God, at 4024 Fredonia Road atop Fredonia Mountain, invited the whole community to a homecoming service Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. The church set the day around the 75th anniversary of the Red-Back Hymnal — the red-covered songbook many Valley folks grew up singing from — with special singing and a meal afterward. The church’s theme for the day was “Faith • Family • Fellowship.”

Homecomings are one of the oldest habits in our country churches. Former members drive back in, families fill the pews they sat in as children, and the covered dishes come out after the last song. If you could not make it up the mountain Sunday, the church’s regular schedule is simple: Sunday worship at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 6 p.m. (Central). The church website lists Pastor Levi & Paige Taylor. The church office is 423-949-3609, and services are also livestreamed from the church website.

What it means for you: If one of those old hymns has been running through your head, you are not alone. A Wednesday evening visit is a gentle way to hear them again — and to say hello to neighbors you have not seen since the last homecoming.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Fredonia homecoming) · Fredonia Church of God

🕊️ Finding a Pew This Week: Sunday and Midweek Times Around Dunlap

Here are regular service times for several Dunlap congregations, as listed on their own websites, recent church posts or Dunlap.Directory listings. All times are Central. Every church below says visitors are welcome. If a time matters to you, call the number first — holidays, revivals and special events can shift a schedule.

• Dunlap United Methodist Church, 1958 Main St. — Sunday School 9 a.m.; one combined worship service 10 a.m. Parking in front below the steeple or around back, both with accessible entrances. 423-949-2724.
• Dunlap Church of Christ, 15964 Rankin Ave. — Sunday Bible Class 9:30 a.m., Morning Worship 10:30 a.m., Evening Worship 6 p.m.; Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. 423-949-3286.
• First Baptist Church in Dunlap, 12 Church St. — Sunday worship 8:15 and 10:30 a.m., Sunday School 9:30 a.m.; Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services (call for times). Office Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 423-949-2441.
• East Valley Baptist Church, 28 Davis Loop — Sunday School 10 a.m., Morning Worship 11 a.m., Sunday night 5 p.m., Wednesday 6 p.m. The Wednesday 6 p.m. program includes a meal and welcomes children 3 and up. 423-883-0532.
• Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church, 6191 Tennessee-28 South — Sunday Mass 8 a.m. (confession 7:30–7:50 a.m. before Mass); Thursday Mass 7 p.m. in Spanish. 423-949-6903.
• Dunlap Seventh-day Adventist Church, 14420 Rankin Ave. — Saturday (Sabbath) first service 8:15 a.m., Sabbath School 9:30 a.m., second service 11 a.m. The church calendar shows the Wednesday prayer meeting canceled during seminar weeks. 423-949-2814.
• Fredonia Church of God, 4024 Fredonia Rd. — Sunday 10 a.m., Wednesday 6 p.m. 423-949-3609.
• Highway 28 Church of God, 5847 W. Valley Rd. — Pastor Andrew Charles Benson. The listing says service times vary; call 423-949-5811.

These are only a handful of the congregations in Sequatchie County. Dunlap.Directory keeps listings for many more, from Lewis Chapel to the Church of the Nazarene.

What it means for you: If you have been meaning to try a new church, or go back to an old one, this list saves you a few phone calls. Arrive ten minutes early, introduce yourself to a greeter, and let them show you where the coffee is.

👉 Read more (Dunlap UMC visitor information) · Dunlap Church of Christ · East Valley Baptist · Shepherd of the Valley · Dunlap SDA

📖 Free Evening Seminar Nights at the Adventist School Gym

Dunlap Seventh-day Adventist Church is hosting a free series called “The Future Unfolding,” a Bible prophecy seminar from the It Is Written ministry featuring Pastor John Bradshaw. It began Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 31 at the church school gym, 105 Apache Lane. Admission and study guides are free.

This week’s sessions, from the church’s own calendar (Central Time):

• Tue., Oct. 13, 6–7:15 p.m. — “Prophecy’s Final Deliverance”
• Wed., Oct. 14, 6–7:15 p.m. — “Charmed by the Supernatural”
• Fri., Oct. 16, 6–7:15 p.m. — “Revelation’s 1,000-Year Prophecy”
• Sat., Oct. 17, 10–11:30 a.m. — “Hope Beyond Hell”
• Sat., Oct. 17, 6–7:15 p.m. — “The Subject the Devil Hates the Most”

There is no session Thursday, Oct. 15. Sessions pick back up Tue., Oct. 20. Registration is offered at futureunfolding.org, and the church calendar lists every date. Earlier news posts listed slightly different weeknights, so go by the church calendar or call 423-949-2814.

What it means for you: If you enjoy an evening Bible study and a folding chair among neighbors, this is free and close to home. Supper early, a sweater for the gym, and you are set.

👉 Read more (Dunlap SDA church calendar) · Dunlap.Today: The Future Unfolding

🏛️ Where Neighbors Decide Things: This Week’s Public Meetings

Church is where many of us gather on Sunday. The meeting room is where a lot of community decisions get made the rest of the week. These meetings are open to the public, and a few familiar faces in the chairs make a difference.

• Tonight, Mon., Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m. — Sequatchie County Board of Education, Griffith Elementary. Dunlap.Today’s school calendar lists first readings on student allergy and medicine policies.
• Thu., Oct. 15, 5 p.m. — Dunlap Board of Mayor and Commissioners, Commission Room, George L. Wagner Municipal Building, 15595 Rankin Ave. The agenda should be posted by Tuesday at City Hall and dunlaptn.gov. Public comment on agenda items comes at the start. City Hall: 423-949-2115.
• Sequatchie County Commission — The commission has met on third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the courthouse courtroom (July 20 and Sept. 21 this year). That pattern would point to Mon., Oct. 19, but no October agenda was posted as of this morning. Call ahead to the county at 423-949-3479. Past meetings have streamed live on the BTC Fiber YouTube channel.
• Marion County neighbors (from the county’s meeting calendar): Jasper City, Mon., Oct. 12, 6 p.m., 32 Courthouse Square · South Pittsburg City, Tue., Oct. 13, 6 p.m., Senior Citizens Activity Center, 315 Elm Ave. · Powells Crossroads City, Thu., Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m., 140 Alvin C. York Hwy., Whitwell.

What it means for you: You do not have to speak to make a difference. Simply sitting in on one meeting a season tells the folks up front that neighbors are paying attention. If you do want to speak, read the agenda first and keep it short and kind.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Courthouse Corner) · Marion meeting calendar · Sequatchie County events

🤝 Helping Hands: Drives and Open Doors This Week

VFW Post 5772 Veteran Support Drive. The Sequatchie County Memorial VFW Post 5772 is collecting comfort items for veterans with unexpected or long stays at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro. Items must be new and in original packaging — things like toiletries, socks, books and snacks for men and women. Drop-off spots include Veterans Hall and the Sequatchie County Public Library during regular hours. The drive runs through the end of October, with delivery planned for early November. Questions: vfw5772@gmail.com or legionpost190@gmail.com.

Canned food drive, through Thu., Oct. 15. The Sequatchie County High School sophomore class is collecting canned goods for local food assistance. Drop them at North Star Boutique on Rankin Avenue (next to Patron Mexican Grill), inside Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., or any day in the box at the back entrance by the Harris Park lot.

Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank. Local churches work together through the Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank, 103 Heard St. Hours are by arrangement, so call 423-949-7716 if you need help or want to volunteer or donate.

A Monday open door. First Baptist Church in Dunlap, 12 Church St., hosts a free Women’s Support Program from Champion Recovery Community every Monday, 4:30–7 p.m., with a meal, a recovery meeting, Bible study, a life-skills class and one-on-one mentoring.

What it means for you: A pack of new socks, a few cans from the pantry, or a phone call to tell someone about Monday nights at First Baptist — none of it takes long, and all of it counts.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: VFW drive) · Canned food drive · Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank · Women’s Support Program

📚 Library and Club Corner for Grown-Ups

The Sequatchie County Public Library, 227 Cherry St., is closed today for Columbus Day. Regular hours: Monday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 423-949-2357.

• Tue., Oct. 13, 4 p.m. — Friends of the Library meeting. A good way to meet the folks behind next week’s book sale.
• Wed., Oct. 14, 9–11 a.m. — Genealogy Assistance. Bring family records or notes.
• Wed., Oct. 14, Fri., Oct. 16 and Mon., Oct. 19, 1 p.m. — Chair Dancing for adults. No sign-up; first-timers should come a little early to sign a waiver.
• Tue., Oct. 20, 6 p.m. — Book Club.

What it means for you: Tracing the family tree, a little gentle movement, or a book club with neighbors — the library is one of the friendliest rooms in town, and it costs nothing.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library)

🍲 Saturday, Oct. 17: Market Morning and a Whitwell Church Fall Festival

Dunlap Farmers Market returns 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Jeff Johnson Pavilion, Harris Park, 245 Cedar St., after last Saturday’s storm cancellation. It is also Young Entrepreneurs Day, so expect a few young vendors. Only two regular Saturdays remain after this one: Oct. 24 and 31, weather permitting.

Over the line in Marion County, Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 215 Mt. Calvary Rd., Whitwell, invites the community to its Fall Festival at 5 p.m. with a soup and chili cookoff, a cake walk, a hayride and games for children. Questions: 423-800-1861. Regular services there are Sunday School 10 a.m., worship 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Wednesday 6 p.m.

The same weekend, the free Days of Yesteryear antique tractor show fills Coops Creek Commons downtown, with gates at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Dunlap.Today reports the season’s first big cold front is expected next weekend, with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s. Bring a jacket for any evening gathering.

What it means for you: Saturday is a good day to see half the county in one place: coffee and tomatoes in the morning, a bowl of chili and a cake walk by suppertime.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Mount Calvary Fall Festival) · Dunlap Farmers Market · Dunlap.Today: Main Street Roundup

📅 Your Church & Community Week on One Page (Mon., Oct. 12 – Mon., Oct. 19)

• Mon., Oct. 12: Columbus Day; library closed. Women’s Support Program, First Baptist Dunlap, 4:30–7 p.m. Jasper City meeting 6 p.m. School Board 6:30 p.m., Griffith Elementary.
• Tue., Oct. 13: Friends of the Library meeting 4 p.m. South Pittsburg City meeting 6 p.m. Seminar night 6 p.m., 105 Apache Lane.
• Wed., Oct. 14: Genealogy Assistance 9–11 a.m. Chair Dancing 1 p.m. Midweek services (East Valley Baptist and Fredonia COG 6 p.m.; Church of Christ 6:30 p.m.). Seminar night 6 p.m.
• Thu., Oct. 15: Last day of the canned food drive. Dunlap Board of Mayor and Commissioners 5 p.m. Powells Crossroads City meeting 6:30 p.m. Shepherd of the Valley Spanish Mass 7 p.m. Library closed.
• Fri., Oct. 16: Sequatchie County homecoming parade Friday morning (school game that evening). Chair Dancing 1 p.m. Seminar night 6 p.m.
• Sat., Oct. 17: Farmers Market 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Days of Yesteryear, gates 8 a.m. SDA Sabbath services 8:15 and 11 a.m.; seminar 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mount Calvary Fall Festival, Whitwell, 5 p.m.
• Sun., Oct. 18: Sunday services (see the pew list above). Days of Yesteryear, day two.
• Mon., Oct. 19: Chair Dancing 1 p.m. Women’s Support Program 4:30 p.m. Possible County Commission meeting — call 423-949-3479 to confirm.

Looking a little further ahead: Library Book Sale & Silent Auction at the Fair Building, 103 Heard St., Oct. 21–24 · South Whitwell Baptist Fish and Chicken Fry, 111 South Oak St., Sat., Oct. 24, 2 p.m. (423-658-6009) · Great Pumpkin Festival at Dunlap UMC, 1958 Main St., Sat., Oct. 24, 3–5 p.m. — hayrides, pumpkin rolling, games and caramel apples · Marion County Commission, Mon., Oct. 26, 6 p.m. · Highway 28 Church of God Fall Party, Wed., Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m. — costume contest and dinner for kids and youth; the church welcomes pizza donations (423-949-5811).

✅ Your Front-Porch Church & Community Checklist

• ✅ Pick one service to visit this week and call ahead to confirm the time.
• ✅ Set aside a few new, unopened items for the VFW veterans drive and drop them at the library.
• ✅ Drop a few cans at North Star Boutique by Thursday.
• ✅ Skim the Dunlap city agenda after Tuesday; sit in Thursday at 5 p.m. if you can.
• ✅ Call 423-949-3479 to see whether the County Commission meets Oct. 19.
• ✅ Bring your family notes to Genealogy Assistance Wednesday morning.
• ✅ Mark Saturday the 17th: market in the morning, fall festival in Whitwell at 5.
• ✅ Pull out a jacket for next weekend’s cooler evenings.
• ✅ Save the Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank number: 423-949-7716.
• ✅ Bookmark Dunlap.Today for next week’s church and community roundup.

Practical rule: Write down the day, the place and the phone number — and when in doubt, call the church or the office before you drive.

Service times and event details come from church websites, church posts, Dunlap.Directory listings and public calendars, and can change. Dunlap.Today lists them as a community service and does not endorse any congregation or teaching.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Community Glossary

• Homecoming (church): A yearly service when former members and families come back to their home church, usually with special singing and a meal afterward.
• Red-Back Hymnal: A red-covered church songbook long used in Church of God and other Pentecostal congregations. Fredonia Church of God marked its 75th anniversary this year.
• Sabbath School: The Saturday-morning Bible class at a Seventh-day Adventist church, similar to Sunday School.
• Board of Mayor and Commissioners: Dunlap’s city governing board. It votes on city business such as ordinances, budgets and contracts.
• Agenda: The list of items a board will discuss and vote on. It is posted before the meeting.
• Public comment: Time set aside during a public meeting for residents to speak to the board, usually briefly.
• Cake walk: A festival game a bit like musical chairs — when the music stops, the person on the lucky number wins a cake.
• Fellowship meal: A shared church meal, often covered dishes, after a service or event.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a member to attend these churches?

No. The churches listed here say visitors are welcome. If you are unsure about a time or about parking and accessibility, call the church office first.

Is the seminar at the Adventist school gym free?

Yes. The church lists free admission and free study guides. This week’s sessions are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m., plus Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., at 105 Apache Lane. Call 423-949-2814 with questions.

Can I speak at Thursday’s Dunlap city meeting?

The meeting notice says public comments on agenda items come at the start. Read the agenda after Tuesday, keep your remarks brief, and call City Hall at 423-949-2115 if you have questions about the process.

When does the Sequatchie County Commission meet in October?

No October agenda was posted as of Monday morning. The commission met on third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in July and September, which would mean Oct. 19. Call 423-949-3479 to confirm before you go.

What can I give to the VFW veterans drive?

New, unopened comfort items for men and women — for example toiletries, socks, books and snacks. Drop them at Veterans Hall or the library during open hours, or email vfw5772@gmail.com with questions. The drive runs through the end of October.

Where can someone in Sequatchie County find food help?

Call the Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank at 423-949-7716. Hours are by arrangement, so calling first is best.

🔗 Other Resources

• Dunlap.Today
• Dunlap.Directory — find local churches, clubs and services
• Fredonia Church of God — 423-949-3609
• Dunlap United Methodist Church — 423-949-2724
• Dunlap Seventh-day Adventist Church calendar — 423-949-2814
• The Future Unfolding seminar registration
• Highway 28 Church of God — 423-949-5811
• City of Dunlap government — City Hall 423-949-2115
• Sequatchie County events calendar — 423-949-3479
• Sequatchie County Public Library — 423-949-2357
• Sequatchie County Fellowship of Churches and Food Bank — 423-949-7716
• Dunlap Farmers Market
• Great Pumpkin Festival (Chamber listing) — Chamber 423-949-7608

☕ A Good Week to Show Up for Each Other

Nothing on this list needs hurrying. Pick one pew, one meeting and one small kindness this week — a visit, a seat in the meeting room, a bag of new socks for a veteran. That is a full and good week in the Valley.

We’ll keep watching the church calendars, club notices and meeting agendas for you. Read Dunlap.Today for calm, plain-English Sequatchie Valley news, and send us your church homecomings, suppers and community notes so we can share them.