A Sunday Rhythm on Sutherland Avenue
Bearden United Methodist Church sits at 4407 Sutherland Avenue in the Bearden neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee, a few blocks from the greenways and restaurants that give the area its character. The congregation gathers under the motto "A Place Where You Matter," and the rhythm of a Sunday morning is built around three simple touchpoints. Coffee Fellowship begins at 9:00 AM, giving neighbors a chance to catch up before the day begins. Sunday School classes for all ages start at 9:30 AM, and the main worship service follows at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary. The church's digital home was created in honor of Buck and Linda Vaughn, with the phrase "It Is Well with My Soul" placed at the top of the page - a small reminder of the congregation's roots.
Worship is led by the Rev. Dr. Bradley Hyde, who has served as an ordained elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church for twenty-seven years. Dr. Hyde holds an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and a DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary, where his work focused on creating a culture of call in local churches. In addition to pastoring Bearden, he serves as the vocational discernment coordinator for the Holston Conference.
An Associate Pastor Rooted in Knoxville
The Rev. Stephanie Parrott serves as Associate Pastor. A Knoxville native, she is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church and describes her call as bridging the community and the church through compassion and justice. Before entering ministry, she spent more than thirty years as a pediatric critical care nurse. That background shapes her work at Bearden, where she is passionate about discipleship, outreach, social justice and children's ministry. She also walks with people discerning a call to ministry of any kind, drawing on her own experience of hearing that call later in life.
Music and the Arts
Music is a defining part of Sunday worship. Brandon Loveday directs the church's Music Ministries, and Julie Callisto serves as accompanist. The chancel choir and orchestra present an annual Christmas Cantata, and a handbell ensemble known as the "Rings of the Lord" performs during worship several times a year. The handbell group is rehearsing regularly and is featured in services, including during the Advent and Christmas season. Music recordings of services and special events are shared through the church's YouTube channel, where past worship and cantata performances can be viewed online.
A Garden That Feeds the Neighborhood
In 2025, Bearden UMC broke ground on a Community Garden on the west side of the sanctuary, in a space that was once an unused playground. The garden was established to grow fresh organic food for neighbors in need, and one hundred percent of the produce from the community beds is donated to local food pantries and giveaways. Gardeners who adopt individual plots are asked to donate ten percent of what they grow as well.
Master Gardener Leigh Cheek coordinates the project and keeps a running blog about its progress. The garden is part of the Knox County Community Gardens and Growers Alliance and benefits from the support of the Knox County Master Gardener Program. Volunteers gather for three scheduled work times each week: Tuesday evenings from 4:30 to dusk, Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to noon, and the first and third Saturday mornings of the month from 10:00 AM to noon. Anyone interested in adopting a plot or helping in the garden can reach Leigh at garden@beardenumc.org.
Youth, Missions and Costa Rica
Youth ministry and missions at Bearden are led by Lindsey Piercy, the Director of Youth Ministry and Missions. The church partners in international mission work, including an annual Costa Rica Mission Trip. Each year the congregation hosts a "Luncheon of Love," a pasta lunch and talent show fundraiser that helps send the team south. The mission effort is also a family affair, with Lindsey and Allen Piercy serving as the primary contacts for anyone interested in traveling or supporting the trip.
Pub Theology, Pickleball and Other Weekly Gatherings
Bearden UMC values the kind of conversation that happens outside the sanctuary walls. Pub Theology meets several times a year at Flock Beer & Wine on Sutherland Avenue, offering a relaxed setting to discuss faith over a beer with friends and strangers. Pickleball has become another weekly favorite, with players of all skill levels meeting at Lakeshore Park on Fridays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, weather permitting. The gatherings are open to anyone who wants to join.
Safe Sanctuary and Care for Children
The congregation takes the safety of its children and youth seriously. Through the Safe Sanctuary program, all adults who work with minors complete online training, fill out background check paperwork and pass a quiz before serving. Associate Pastor Stephanie Parrott oversees the program, and the materials are available to anyone interested in volunteering with the church's children and youth ministries.
Worship Through the Church Year
Beyond Sunday mornings, the congregation gathers for the central services of the Christian year. Ash Wednesday is observed in the Fellowship Hall, and Good Friday is marked with a brief, reflective service in the Sanctuary. Palm Sunday morning worship is followed by a congregational lunch and the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Advent brings the Christmas Cantata and the "Rings of the Lord" handbells in worship, and Christmas Eve closes the year with a candlelight service.
Joining the Community
Visitors who want to learn more can fill out the Connect Card on the church's "I'm New" page. The office can be reached at 865-588-6562 or office@beardenumc.org. Giving is available online through the church's donation platform, and recordings of recent worship services are posted on the Bearden UMC Media YouTube channel. Whether someone arrives for the first time at Coffee Fellowship, signs up for a garden plot, or joins a mission trip, the invitation is the same one carried in the congregation's motto: a place where you matter.