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The Bridge Luncheon Fall 2010

The Bridge Luncheon Fall 2010 Series

"The Me I Want to Be"

Wednesdays, August 18-November 17, 2010

$5 Lunch served beginning at 11:50 am in Trentham Hall

Dr. Shiell Speaks at 12:15 pm

The daily work grind can take its toll, so one local church hopes to provide a sense of solace in the middle of the work week.  

Each week, senior pastor Bill Shiell provides an inspirational message, centered around the workplace. Cost for lunch is $5.  According to Shiell, the luncheon brings around 150 people each week from across the downtown community. Shiell says most of those who attend walk from various downtown offices within a few blocks of the church.

"On any given week, you will find clerks sitting with judges, Republicans sitting near Democrats, and Episcopals dining with Baptists," Shiell said. "We share a love of God, a love for Knoxville and hearts of service through our vocations and workplaces."

Shiell said about 90 percent of those who come to the luncheon attend other churches or no church at all. "Our goal is to refresh, encourage and challenge people to integrate their faith into the workplace through service, values, ethics and love."

The food line opens at 11:50 a.m. and continues until 12:15. Shiell then provides a message and occasionally, music. The luncheon ends by 12:45 to allow attendees to return to work.

The event has been going on each spring and fall for 25 years, and Shiell believes it is important for those involved to interact with others in the community and recharge in the middle of the workday.

"We not only draw people across the working community," Shiell said. "We also promote the events going on in the downtown community as part of our role as neighbors."

The payoff is the fellowship around the tables before and after, Shiell said. "We intentionally do not proselytize and we encourage people to attend their congregations and make a difference in their own house of worship."

"For those who have been burned by religion or Christianity, it's a safe, nonthreatening environment to listen to some very good news and share a good meal," Shiell said.

Bob Calloway, of the East Tennessee Foundation, attends the luncheons and sees them as a way to unite the downtown community.

"It's an easy four-block walk for me," Calloway said. "I enjoy being part of the crowd that seem to be heading in the same direction as we stroll toward First Baptist for the Bridge."

"There is a certain sense of oneness among the Bridge participants, even though we come from many types of businesses and professions," Calloway said.

Written by Ashley Sutphin. This article was adapted from the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

The Bridge Luncheon provides a space for downtown professionals to share a meal and conversation.

Dr. Shiell offers thoughts during a recent Bridge Luncheon event.