St Andrews Episcopal Church Maryville TN

05/31/2026

Congratulations Fr. Sean!!

Bishop Nick is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev Sean McEwen as Priest-in-Charge of St Columba’s, Largs initially for three years. His licensing will take place on Wednesday, 29th July 2026 at 7pm, the Feast of Martha and Mary of Bethany (white stole).

Sean says, “I am honoured and deeply grateful to be called to serve the wonderful community of St Columba’s, Largs. I look forward to discerning together how God is at work among us, as we grow in prayer, deepen our common life, and bear witness to the risen Christ in the world. I am grateful to the vestry, Dean Reuben, and Bishop Nick for their thoughtfulness and welcome in this process, and I look forward to joining in the life of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway and the Scottish Episcopal Church.”

Bishop Nick says, “I am really delighted to welcome Father Sean to the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, and to St Columba’s, Largs. It is a joy to receive someone from another part of the Anglican Communion (Diocese of East Tennessee), bringing fresh experience, new perspectives, and a deep commitment to prayer, community and mission. I know that Sean and Lance will find a warm home among us, and I am sure we will have much to learn from one another as this new chapter begins.”

Please pray for Sean and his husband Lance as they prepare to move from the USA in order to come and live and work here in Scotland in the coming months.

05/31/2026

A Message from Father Sean

Dear People of St. Andrew’s,

I write to share some news with you.

After a season of deep prayer, conversation, and discernment, I have accepted the call to serve as the next Priest-in-Charge of St. Columba’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Largs, UK. My final Sunday at St. Andrew’s will be June 14th, and Lance and I will be moving to Scotland later this summer to begin this new chapter in our life and ministry.

We are both very excited for what lies ahead. St. Columba’s is a parish with a strong sense of identity, a generous and welcoming spirit, and a commitment to living faithfully in its seaside community in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. I am humbled by the trust that they and Bishop Nick have placed in me, and I am eager to see how God will shape this new season of shared ministry in the years to come.

It goes without saying that this has been a truly challenging decision. Leaving St. Andrew’s is not something I do lightly. My time in this community of faith has formed me in ways I could never have expected, as a priest and as a person. I am grateful beyond what words can express for each of you and how you have trusted me with your stories, your questions, your joy and your grief. To have served among you during a season of transition, growth, and deep faithfulness has been one of the great gifts of my life.

I am profoundly grateful for the ministry we have shared together. Week by week, we have gathered at the altar to be formed by word and sacrament. We have walked together in seasons of joy and loss, offering prayer and presence. We have asked hard questions, listening for the Spirit speaking in scripture and contemplation. And we have sought to live our faith as the Body of Christ in the world, extending welcome and advocating for justice and compassion in our community. I have seen the risen Christ alive in you, in this community, this place, and you will always be a part of who I am.

Ours is a faith shaped by discernment and pilgrimage. From Abraham and Sarah setting out not knowing the destination, to the disciples leaving familiar shores to follow Christ, the people of God have long trusted that faithfulness sometimes means movement, listening deeply and stepping forward, trusting in the One who calls. It is that same faith in which we now place our hope, trusting that God is calling us forward to unknown shores. Discerning a new call in ministry rarely comes without a mixture of joy and grief, and this call holds both. We go with full hearts and with trust in what God is continuing to do in the life of St. Andrew’s, even as God call us to a new chapter.

Please keep me and Lance and the people of St. Columba’s in your prayers. Know that you are and will always be in mine.

There will be time in the weeks ahead to say more and to give thanks properly. For now, know how deeply grateful I am to have been your priest.

With love, gratitude, and unrelenting hope,
Fr. Sean+

05/16/2026

A wonderful article about our ministry partners at A Place to Stay.

A Place to Stay, a Blount County nonprofit whose mission is making sure every person has a bed to call his/her own — hosted community members at a celebration luncheon

05/14/2026

St Andrew's was honored to be recognized today at the annual "Together We Thrive" event for A Place to Stay with the "Neighbor to Neighbor" award alongside New Providence Presbyterian Church.

A Place to Stay is one of our valued community partners which works to end homelessness in Blount County. We are fortunate to host the offices and community resource center of APTS at St. Andrew's and to participate in their quarterly Street Outreach Service Days at New Providence.

To find out how you can get involved and support our ministry with A Place to Stay, please contact our Evangelism Committee Chair Jon Coomes or Fr. RJ or Fr. Sean.

05/10/2026

Members of St. Andrew’s were joined today by representatives from Weekly Witness—a local grassroots organization—to discuss the impacts of the current immigration policies on our community and how to support our immigrant neighbors. To find out more about how you can become involved, contact the church.

05/08/2026

During a special session of the Tennessee State Legislature on May 7, 2026, state representatives approved new boundaries for some of Tennessee’s congressional districts. The redrawn map will divide Tennessee’s […]

05/03/2026

Our first World Labyrinth Day event in collaboration with New Providence Presbyterian Church was a beautiful success!

04/18/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to help with the Spring Clean-up Day! Many hands makes fun work! We’ll do another in the Fall. 🧹💪🛠️🪏🗑️♥️

04/15/2026

Come on! Grab some coffee and let’s talk!