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September Devotional |
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Our Christian Curriculum
By the Rev. Les Rust, Mars Hill
By now most of us have taken advantage of the "sales tax free weekend." We have outfitted our young charges with new shoes and clothes that match whatever dress code is in effect at their places of learning. We have read and signed more forms than we might have expected. We have paid the rest of the fees that go with our system of "free education." We have now settled the questions about schedules and teachers. We're about ready to settle in for the long haul.
To read the rest of the devotional, click here. |
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| PET Calendar |
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2008 Presbytery Meetings:
Saturday, November 15 @ 10:00am - Coker Creek Village, near Tellico Plains, TN
(packet deadline: Oct. 28)
Pastor Gatherings:
South Area Pastor Lunch - 9/3, 12:00pm @ Rivermont
Retired Ministers Lunch - 9/12 @ the McNiel's home
Interim Pastor Lunch - 9/17, 11:00am @ Ruby Tuesday, Athens
September Mission Team/Committee Meetings:
Connect and Equip Mission Teams: Joint Mtg - 9/4, 12:00pm @ First, Sweetwater
Finance and Stewardship Committee - 9/4, 2:00pm @ Farragut
Youth Council - 9/6, 10:30am @ First Cleveland
Committee on Ministry - 9/9, 11:00am @ Mars Hill Equip Mission Team - 9/11, 10:00am @ Marcella Center, Sweetwater
Outdoor Ministries Team - 9/13, 10:00am @ John Knox Center
Committee on Nominations - 9/15, 10:00pm @ First, Sweetwater
Committee on Preparation for Ministry - 9/18, 12:00pm @ First, Sweetwater
Events at John Knox Center:
Information on events and activities at John Knox are available on the JKC website.
For the latest meeting and events information, go to the presbytery website: www.presbyteryeasttn.org
and click on the Calendar of Events link.
Church Info-Pak Deadline:
These Info-Paks include information for pastors and sessions, notices of churchwide events, resources for church educators, and the presbytery calendar. Info-Paks are mailed to all churches, affiliated colleges and agencies, at-large and retired ministers, and current members of PET mission teams and committees.
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| PC(USA) News |
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Help wanted
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission leaders are asking the church to help them identify qualified candidates for international mission service. To read the full article about this effort, click here. Messages from GA Leaders
Click on the following links to read messages from our General Assembly leaders:
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| Montreat Conference Center |
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For CLPs
Montreat Conference Center's Continuing Education for Commissioned Lay Pastors and Preachers, October 22-24, 2008 new fall conference brings CLPs together from across the country to encourage each other, share "best practices," and find renewed energy for their calls to ministry. Speakers will include Jack Haberer, editor of The Presbyterian Outlook, and Marcia Myers, director of Vocations, PC(USA). For more information, click here.
For Young Adults
Singles, couples, and families with children are welcome to attend Young Adults Weekend at Montreat, Oct. 24-26. The theme is "All Year Round: The Litergical Year at Home and in Community." For more information, click here.
The Presbytery's Equip Mission Team is offering grants to cover the registration fees for this conference. Contact Mark Lampley (MLampley@SequoyahChurch.org
or 865-522-9804) for more information.
Elderhostel Opportunities
Montreat has numerous Elderhostel oppertunities covering a wide variety of topics, such as the Civil War, the history of Christianity, and health and wellness. To find out more, click here. |
| Interim Pastor Training |
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Jan. 12-16 2009
The Calvin Center in Hampton, GA is sponsoring Interim Pastor Training Level I and Level II, Jan. 12-16, 2009. For more information, click here. |
| For Christian Educators |
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MSAPCE Fall Retreat
Oct. 27-28, 2008
The theme of the MidSouth Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Fall Retreat is The Spirituality of Play. The retreat is being held on Oct. 27-29 at Camp NaCoMe near Nashville, TN. For more information, click here. |
| Board of Pensions News |
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Here's what you'll find in the latest newsletter from Helen Locklear, our regional BOP representative:
*Preparing for the Final 403(b) Regulations
*Summer Issue of The Board Bulletin Available
*Increased Minimums and Maximums for Transition-to-College Assistance Grants
*Regional Benefits Consultation Presentations Posted
To read the newsletter, click here. BOP Fall Seminars
Location: First Presbyterian Church, Sweetwater
Growing Into Tomorrow... Today Seminar
Sept. 9 & 10, 2008
Holistic retirement planning for Benefits Plan members age 50 and older. For more information, click here.
Render Unto Caesar Seminar Sept. 11, 2008
Clergy tax and terms of call issues. For more information, click here. |
| We Want Your News! |
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The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with the information and support you need to keep in touch and connected with your fellow Presbyterians in East Tennessee. This monthly publication features news and events from around the presbytery, resources to assist you in your ministry, and devotionals authored by our members.
We invite you to share your news with us! All articles and news items must be submitted by the 20th of the month prior to publication. Send your information to Dana Hendrix, preferably in electronic format. Her e-mail address is Dana@presbyteryeasttn.org. |
| Spread the News! |
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| Don't keep the good news of our presbytery to yourself! You can easily forward this newsletter to others (friends, family, church members, etc.) by using the convenient "Forward email" link at the bottom of this newsletter. To help them get on the list to receive our newsletter directly every month, you can tell them to go to our website -- www.presbyteryeasttn.org -- where we have a sign up button right in the middle of our home page. We appreciate your help! | |
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| The Breath of God |
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By Carl Schlich, Interim Executive Presbyter
When I was 14 or 15 years old, Albert Ray Reed and I would, on occasion, ride our bikes to a special, secret spot we shared with none of our friends and certainly not with our parents. It was what we called the bone place.
To read more, click here. |
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PET Meeting Highlights |
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 The Presbytery of East Tennessee held its Ninety-Sixth Stated Meeting on Tuesday, August 19 at Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. To read the highlights of actions taken at the meeting, click here.
 The next Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of East Tennessee will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Coker Creek Village and Retreat Center near Tellico Plains. Churches in the "Middle Kingdom" of the Presbytery are hosting the meeting, including the Epperson, Farner, Brown Hill and Center churches. The Connect Mission Team is making plans for fellowship activities on Friday evening for those who wish to come and spend the night. Accommodations will be available at Coker Creek Village, as well as the nearby Tall Pines Lodge and Cabins and the Lodge at Tellico. Details and information regarding reservations will be sent out soon. |
| College Day |
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 Each fall the Serve Mission Team encourages congregations in the Presbytery to celebrate College Day. This event is designed to raise up the value of Presbyterian-related colleges in general, and in particular, to let each church have contact with an area PCUSA college each year.
While it is wonderful to highlight church related college education anytime of the year, we especially suggest that this year your church choose a Sunday in September or October for this emphasis.
A list of the churches and their assigned colleges is available by clicking here. The participating colleges this year are Knoxville College, Tusculum College and Maryville College. Someone from the college will call your church and offer to come do something for college day, at a time that is mutually convenient. Perhaps this would be a message for mission in worship; perhaps a guest sermon or church school class; perhaps it would be a program for teens and parents about church related education. You may download or print a bulletin insert by clicking here.
If you have questions, please call Anne McKee, at 865-981-8298. We look forward to celebrating College Day with you!
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| Youth Ministries |
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What is the G + A + P ?
Find the answer to this question at the Middle School Retreat '08 as we discover together God's Grace, Acceptance and Peace.
Friday, Oct. 3-Sunday Oct. 5
John Knox Center, Ten Mile, TN
Keynote Speaker: Kim Justice
Worship Leader: Ethan Norman
Registration Deadline: Sept. 22
Cost: $75 per person; Early Bird rate is $65 per person if postmarked by Sept 15.
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| News from John Knox Center |
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| Grades at Camp
Mention the word "grades" to our summer campers and you will be met with horrified looks and probably a few "boos". But we aren't talking about school books and classes. On July 29, 2008, the John Knox Center was inspected by the visitors from the American Camping Association. Not only does your remain an ACA accredited camp, we join a very slim percentage of camps throughout the country that score a perfect 100%! We didn't miss a single standard!
 The American Camping Association is an organization that sets standards and guidelines by which camps must comply to become an accredited facility. For more information on these guidelines see the ACA website at www.acacamps.org.
The main focus of these guidelines is, of course, keeping everyone safe. Every possible aspect of camp is addressed: where we keep extra paint, records on our staff and campers, the condition of our canoes, there are hundreds of standards with which we comply. A lot of hard work has been put in by everyone to receive this incredible achievement. The framed certificate will be displayed in Abel Lodge but look for the ACA logo on our brochures, signs, and t-shirts!
John Knox Center Family Picnic
Celebrate God's gifts of creation and fellowship at the playground of the Presbytery! Everyone is invited: friends, neighbors, kids and adults. Spend the day relaxing by the lake, catching up with friends, enjoying the beautiful John Knox property, and end the day with a sunset worship service.
 Sunday, September 21
2 P.M.- 5 P.M.
$5 Adults / $4 Kids
Age 5 & under FREE
Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with plenty of hotdogs and burgers, Bluegrass music, swimming, canoeing, and Nature Center tours! Please call the John Knox office with questions - 865-376-2236 |
| Hunger Action! |
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Lower Donations to Food Banks Affect Food Pantries' Purchases
 Two food banks serve the counties within our Presbytery: Second Harvest in Knoxville and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Both food banks are part of a national network called America's Second Harvest Food Bank Network. Within our Presbytery, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves Hamilton County, Bradley County, Polk County, McMinn County, Meigs County, and Rhea County. The other twelve counties in our Presbytery are served by Second Harvest in Knoxville. Both food banks are reporting that food donations are down across the network. Corporate donations are down as well, and operation costs and demand for food are up. What does that mean for area food pantries that are members of one of the food banks? It means that a place like the Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville, that buys food from Second Harvest for 18 cents a pound or so, is suddenly unable to buy all that it needs. It may need 10 cases of peanut butter, but is allowed to purchase only five cases because quantities are limited. Now the Good Shepherd Center is forced to find the best buys at grocery stores, where higher costs strain its financial resources. Meanwhile, the number of families seeking help continues to rise sharply. To learn what you can do to help, click here.
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| The Dispensary of Hope |
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| Medication Assistance for People in Need
 The Dispensary of Hope is a program that provides short-term medication assistance at no cost to uninsured Knox County residents who cannot afford to pay for their medicines who are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. All of their medicines come from the generosity of physicians who donate their excess, in-date samples. (Federal law prohibits expired samples.) These samples can then be dispensed at no cost. Thus, samples are not wasted, patients get the medicines they need, and residents stay active in the community instead of in the hospital. They DO NOT stock any controlled substances.
For information about how to access this service, income guidelines, how to donate samples, and more, click here. |
| Church Leaders Equipped to Serve |
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 On Saturday, August 2nd, more than 60 church leaders from around our Presbytery gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, to supplement their training, to learn from each other and to enjoy the fellowship of just being together. This event put on by Equip's Small Church Ministry Group, offered two workshops - "Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt" led by the Rev. Dr. Brad Palmer, Pastor, Epperson Presbyterian Church and "Church Officers as Spiritual Leaders" led by the Rev. Dr. William C. Pender, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. To learn more about the training, click here. |
| New Vision News |
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New Vision Banners Awarded to Trinity Presbyterian Church
 At the August 19, 2008, Presbytery Meeting at Northside Presbyterian in Chattanooga, Equip's New Vision Committee Moderator Mike Chamberlain presented to Trinity Presbyterian Church the Loaves & Fishes New Vision Banners for all the excitement they are experiencing reaching out to their Hispanic neighbors. Present to receive these 2 colorful banners were Interim Pastor Rev. Bill Mills, Doug and Peggy Brady, Bob and Joyce Merritt, Bill Counts and Richard Wald, their new Bilingual Hispanic Coordinator. It should be noted that these banners were made in a Loaves & Fishes workshop led by Patty Quinn from New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville and their 8' collapsible poles and stands were made by Ed Umbach, CLP at First Presbyterian Church of Lenoir City.
To learn more about what's happening at Trinity, click here.
Trinity will be able to display these banners in their church for three months. At the November 19th Presbytery meeting they will need to return them so they can be presented to yet another congregation that has captured a New Vision for ministry. If any church in our Presbytery is interested in nominating themselves or another church that captures the essence of this New Vision ministry, please contact Melanie Rasnake at New Providence Church, Maryville at melanie@newprovidencepres.org or by calling her at 865-983-0182 for more information.
BANNERS, BANNERS, BANNERS!
The Equip Team has approved the purchase of an outdoor banner for each church! Each banner is vinyl, waterproof, and will include your choice of one of the billboard designs personalized for your church. Please email Donna Hoppestad at 2008newvision@gmail.com to order your banner today!
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| News and Events Around the Presbytery |
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First, Knoxville Lecture Series - Sept. 7 & 8
 First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, will host a lecture series on September 7 and 8 with Rev. Dr. Amy Plantinga Pauw, theology professor at Louisville Theological Seminary. The lecture series begins on Sunday with worship, Sunday School and an evening presentation, followed on Monday by lunch and evening presentations. All interested parties in the Presbytery are invited to attend.
For more information about the lecture series and Dr. Pauw, click here.
Marcella Center Fish Fry - Sept. 13
 The Marcella Center for the Arts and Education in Sweetwater (located at the former St. Paul Presbyterian Church) is hosting a Fish Fry on Saturday, September 13, 5:00 to 8:00pm. Cost: Adults, $7.00 per plate; Students, $5.00 per plate; kids under 5 eat free! Proceeds benefit the Marcella Center. For more information, click here.
Maryville College Events
It's college search time!
Trying to find the "right fit" college? Want an insider's view of the admissions process? Do you need to make a campus visit? Contact Kathleen Farnham, director of church relations, to arrange a program at your church for youth groups and parents to answer questions about the college search, in general, and Presbyterian-related colleges and Maryville College, in particular. kathleen.farnham@maryvillecollege.edu / 865.981.8217
You may also attend an on-campus session of Meet Maryville! For more information, click here.
Center for Strong Communities
 New Neighbors in Appalachia
Community Forum and Panel Monday, September 22, 2008 7:00 pm Listening to the Experiences of Latin Americans in East TN Latino leaders in business, nonprofits and community affairs will speak as panel about their experiences and perspectives on how Latin Americans are being received as new neighbors in our communities. The evening will include a reception with information booths hosted by Latino organizations in this region. Location: Alumni Gym at Maryville College The community forum and panel is free and open to the public. Organizations that wish to sponsor a booth may call 865-273-8894. Sponsored by the Center for Strong Communities at Maryville College and the League of Women Voters of Blount County. For more information, click here.
Appalachian Lecture Series
Two Appalachian writers and one historian will visit the area this fall as part of Maryville College's annual Appalachian Lecture Series. The 2008 lineup includes Tony Earley, a fiction writer from North Carolina; Jane Hicks, a poet and fiber artist from East Tennessee; and Dan Pierce, a North Carolina historian. For more information, click here.
Fall Community Conversations Series
"A Young Person's Guide to the Fall Election" is the title of Maryville College's Fall Community Conversations Series, which will bring several guests to campus for four separate events. One seasoned political journalist, one documentary, three young alumni with experience in the political process and a satiric duo all will offer insights on the election. The events get underway Sept. 9. For more information, click here. |
| Quick Links |
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Mission Team Blogs:
The Tool Box - Equip
Resources for ministry, conference announcements, grant application forms, etc.
Care Cafe - Support
Special events for clergy and their families, area clergy lunches, conference info, link to BOP, etc.
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