News from Presbytery of East Tennessee

On Saturday, 5 September 2009 at 8:00 AM, Madisonville Presbyterian Church will host its second Men's Breakfast. Along with good fellowship, a meal of eggs, sausage, biscuits, sawmill gravy, juice and coffee will be available. A short devotional will be held after the meal. All Men are welcome. For more information, contact one of the people listed below.

Shan Harris 865-389-0216
Gene Moudy 423-442-5009
Bill Garrett 423-884-3894

Maryville Churches Collaborate for Habitat

Two Maryville churches, Highland and New Providence, along with Maryville College, are working together to build a Habitat for Humanity house this fall. The big "wall-raising" kickoff will take place on Sat, Sept. 12, with some early preparation work starting even sooner. To sign up as a volunteer, contact one of the church offices: Highland - 865-982-9272 ; New Providence - 865-983-0182

Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Risk Management Seminars

The Presbytery is providing seminars on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Risk Management for all clergy and ministry professionals. Attendance is strongly encouraged.

** Tuesday, September 22, 8:30am-12:00pm, Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, Knoxville.

** Wednesday, September 23, 8:30am-12:00pm, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga.

These seminars will be led by Carl Schlich, Interim General Presbyter, and by Eric Spacek, senior church risk manager at GuideOne Insurance, our presbytery's insurance carrier.

Cost: Free

Register online at www.presbyteryeasttn.org
or call the Presbytery Office - 865-688-5581 / 800-542-4246

Lancing Hosts Benefit Concert

We are having a benefit concert on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. to raise money to help us finish the inside of our new fellowship hall. Tim Coleman, an actor/singer from Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre in Gatlinburg (marvelous baritone, he's won several awards for his singing), and Rachel Snider, actress/singer from same theatre, will be our guest performers. We will have a reception after the concert is over. There is no set charge; we're taking up a love offering for the building fund. Tim and Rachel are providing their services free of charge. If you would like to attend, please email Carolyn Anderson - canders@utk.edu

International Peacemakers to Visit PET

The Peacemaking Committee is hosting two International Peacemakers from Sudan from Sept. 25 through Oct. 2.

International Peacemaker Rev. Orozu Lokine Daky, Coordinator for Peacemaking, Mission and External Relations, Eastern Jonglei Presbytery, Sudan, and Dr. Ingrid Reneau, Mission Worker from the PC(USA) in the Sudan, will be in the Presbytery of East Tennessee Sept. 25 - Oct. 2, 2009. They will be talking about peace and justice issues from the perspective of the Sudan. To read more about them, click HERE.

The peacemakers will be speaking at the following events:

Saturday, Sept 26, Rev. Daky and Dr. Reneau will meet with Knoxville Sudanese fellowship at 3 pm at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Maryville.

Sunday, Sept. 27, Sunday School and Worship: Rev. Daky will speak at Erin Presbyterian Church, Knoxville; Dr. Reneau will speak at both services at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Knoxville.

Monday, Sept. 28, both will travel to Chattanooga for lunch and program at Rivermont Presbyterian Church. Lunch at 11:30 am. Supper will be with Peacemaking Committee at the home of Ann and Scott Brunger.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, both will be at Maryville College, speaking at the MC chapel service at 1:15 pm in the Center for Campus Ministry. In the evening, they will speak at Highland Presbyterian Church in Maryville.

Wednesday, Sept 30, speak at First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville evening program.

Thursday, Oct. 1, attend morning, afternoon, and evening circle meetings at New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville

For more information about these events, contact Caroline Best, cell: 865-414-1066, or email: broady307@hotmail.com.

Information: www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/intl/international.htm#2009

1st Cleveland Takes Fourth Mission Trip to the Gulf

First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland just completed its fourth mission trip to the Gulf coast. This year we had 17 adults and young people travel down and stay at Long Beach Presbyterian Church. We were joined there by a group from First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, TN. All together we had about 35 people going into the community serving in the name of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

This year we built a pump house for a woman who had been out of her home for four years. As we completed our project she was finally moving back into her tornado damaged home from the winds of Katrina. We split into two work teams - the other one totally refurbished a home for a 83 year old grandmother. This house was split in two by the hurricane. We did dry wall, mudding, painting, staining, resetting the brick walkway, installing kitchen cabinets, and some electrical work.

The highlight of this adventure was surprising the owner with a rocking chair and ferns for her porch. The smile on her face and her words of gratitude were amazing. She called us and said the first night after we left she could not sleep because her house looked so good inside and out. She just went from room to room saying "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus for those folks from Tennessee!"

The best part of the trip was getting to know the home owners and their family, hearing their stories, eating lunch with them, and giving out hugs. We traveled back to Cleveland in Old Blue, our trusty 500,000 mile van, which is a faith experience all by itself! Most of the adults drove in their personal cars, not fair! As a pastor it was great to work side by side with church members, get to learn some new songs from our youth, have a hairy spider put into my sleeping bag by these same youth, and playing sardines in the sanctuary at night. It was a rewarding experience and we plan on going on another trip next summer.

God bless,

Rev. Joe Tanner, First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, TN.