Judd Shaw, General Presbyter

Most holy God, Lord of the universe and life, all honor and glory to your name. For the worlds near and far, for the human heart and spirit, for your people the Church - I give you thanks and praise.
 
Gracious and loving God, you have called me to ministry as the General Presbyter of the Presbytery of East Tennessee, and with a humble heart I seek your divine wisdom and guidance. Send forth your Spirit to take me by the hand so that my arms may embrace your people who have as their mission to worship and serve you in the name of Jesus Christ. Help me to lead with a servant's heart, a prophet's courage and a shepherd's devotion. Grant me the words to express my joy at the calling to serve the men and women whom you have called to lead and serve congregations. I pray that you will give them insight into my heart for their families and my desire to be their colleague in ministry.

 

A Life Changing Summer
By Bri Payne, Executive Director of John Knox Center
 
It is a tough decision for some parents to send their child to camp.  I've been talking with a parent who is trying to convince herself SHE is ready for her son to go to overnight camp; he has been ready for years.  I've described our program in detail, explained all the precautions to ensure her child's safety, I've told her about the activities to build confidence and community, of the Bible curriculum we teach (we are a community grounded in scripture), of the many opportunities for participatory worship and how all of this is actually fun!
       

Half way through rattling off supervision ratios I realize parents are concerned with safety, activities and curriculum but when it is all said and done it is outcome of their child's experience, the life changing impact on their spiritual and emotional growth that is most important.  Who the parent really needs to talk to is one of the thousands of campers over the last 50 years who have grown up and recognized their camp experience as the pivotal moment in shaping their life.  These are people who could really extol the advantages of Christian camping over any other type of summer experience.
       

Continued... 

 

The John Knox Center would like to incorporate itself into your planned Vacation Bible School this summer at your church! Rachel Norris, Director of Environmental Education at JKC, can help with various aspects of your programming such as bible study, bringing animals to your church to minister about being a good steward of God's Creation or incorporating various environmental education based classes into your already established VBS. If you do not have a curriculum chosen already, the John Knox Center has various resources at its fingertips to help with the planning process. Our programming focuses on hands-on learning to re-iterate concepts taught at VBS. Many studies show that children and adults learn best by "doing" instead of reading from a book or hearing a lecture. Please call Rachel Norris at 865-376-2236 or email at director@rreep.org to request assistance.
 
Our Mission at the John Knox Center is this: "The John Knox Center is a refuge in the heart of the Presbytery of East Tennessee, set apart to nurture, renew and inspire a love for God and commitment to Christ."  We will bring our programs to your church to help nurture, renew and inspire a love for God and his creation and a commitment to Jesus Christ. We request a mileage donation for travel to your church to help with VBS and other donations for our efforts are always welcome! Don't delay, call today!!!

Pinto Bean Project Donations Twice Original Goal!
 
The original goal of the Presbytery's Pinto Bean Project was to purchase 50 fifty pound bags from Sysco for $25 a piece and deliver them to pantries that desperately needed them; Scout County Food Emergency Assistance was at the top of the list because of Armstrong Flooring's layoff of over 250 employees beginning on April 9th.  
 

To date, a total of 46 bags have been purchased and delivered to Scott County Food Emergency Food Assistance, Food/Life Services of Campbell County, the Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville, Sevier County Food Ministries, Claiborne Hunger Ministry, the Morgan Scott Project, and the Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County.
 
Overwhelming support for the Pinto Bean Project will make possible the purchase of 54+ bags in the months ahead! Thank you!
 

The Presbyterian Hunger Program in Louisville, Kentucky is organizing "Heaven on Earth: An Agrarian Road Trip," which will travel through several states, making stops along the way to visit local food and food justice projects. The trip will celebrate the decentralized, grassroots sustainable food and agricultural revolution that is sprouting up everywhere, and it will end up at the U.S. Social Forum, which is being held June 22-26 in Detroit.
         
The Knoxville area is the road trip's first stop on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.
All area food justice enthusiasts are encouraged to participate by attending a 7:00 pm potluck dinner and gathering at Highland Presbyterian Church, which has a new vegetable garden.  http://www.highlandpresby.org/  Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share that includes at least one locally grown ingredient. Please write the name of your dish and the local ingredient(s) on an index card.

***Update:To avoid overwhelming numbers at the Liles' organic farm, the road trip crew only will have a tour of it before arriving at Highland Presbyterian for the potluck/gathering. 

 
Follow "Heaven on Earth" on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heaven-on-Earth-Agrarian-Road-Trip-to-the-US-Social-Forum/319457469910

 

 

Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table Participants Book is a seven-session curriculum for congregations that explores the relationship between the way we eat and the way we live, published by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. The study uses scripture, prayer and stories from the local and global community to explore five key aspects of our relationship with food.

Participant Books and Leader Guide may be purchased by going to http://www.pcusa.org/food/justeating.htm  or call Presbyterian Distribution Service (PDS) at (800) 524-2612, and request the PDS #74365-05-361 (participant book) or #PDS #74365-05-362 (leaders guide).  Also available in a middle school version.

Deborah Phillips
Hunger Action Enabler
 
"Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8 

Order by July 30 for Bulk Discount 
 
The Presbytery office is now collecting orders for the 2011 Mission Yearbook.  The price is $8.80 each. (The regular price from PDS is $10.50 plus shipping.)  The order form and payment must be received by the Presbytery office by July 30 to be included in the bulk order.  
 
2011 Mission Yearbook Order Form
 
Please Note: The books will be delivered to the Presbytery office in Knoxville and must be picked up there.