Annual JKC Picnic - September 18 

A Picnic at camp

Does your church have fall festival coming up? We would love to be a part of it. We can provide portable programming to add to the experience for your community, including bringing critters from the nature center, games, and activities. Call our office to get on our calendar!

Under Construction

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6 

WHO:     ALL Middle School Youth

WHAT:   Fall Retreat               

WHEN:   Fri., Sept. 30 - Sun., Oct. 2, 2011

WHERE: John Knox Center

WHY:     We are all under construction! God  

               is not finished with you yet.  

               What does He have planned for you? 

Questions?  Contact Mark Curtis: 865-983-0182,  mark@newprovidencepres.org; Will Purushotham: 865-376-6340,  willpuru@comcast.net; or Laura Tappan: 800-542-4246, 865-688-5581,  laura@presbyteryeasttn.org.

Constitution of the PCUSA available for FREE DOWNLOAD

The download link for the 2011-2013 Book of Order is http://oga.pcusa.org/pdf/boo-2011-2013.pdf 

The Book of Confessions of the PCUSA is available at http://oga.pcusa.org/publications/boc.pdf 

New Form of Government Training

How the New Form of Government (nFOG) affects (or doesn't change) your local church will be the subject of a class at the Leaders Academy, October 28-29, 2011, at the John Knox Center.  (See Leaders Academy article below.) 

PET Manual

The Manual of the Presbytery of East Tennessee is available on the Presbytery's website under About Us 

Session Minutes Reading and Clerks Training

There will be two (2) gatherings for CLERKS OF SESSION to bring their Session Minutes and Rolls for review.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, 3:00pm at Northminster Church, Chattanooga

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, 3:00pm at  

Lake Hills Church, Knoxville

Sexual Misconduct Prevention Seminars

There will be two (2) regional Sexual Misconduct Prevention Seminars for pastors, other church professionals, and elders. All clergy, ruling elders in limited pastoral service, and educators are required to attend a Misconduct Prevention training at least once every three years. These seminars are presented by PET and by our insurance carrier.

Mon., Sept. 19, 2011, 8:30 - 12 noon at Northside Church, Chattanooga

21st Annual Hunger Hike

(2.25 mile walk)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

TVA Pavilion at Lakeshore Park, Knoxville

Registration begins at 2:00 p.m.

Hike commences at 2:30 p.m.

Contributions designated to the hunger organization of your choice.

Cents-Ability Offering At Work

PET congregations unite in hunger outreach...

Roane County Cooperative Ministries' Garden Program ($1,000 grant) 

Morgan Scott Project's Good Earth Garden Project ($1,000 grant) 

Claiborne Hunger Ministries ($500 grant) 

Fountain City Ministry Center ($500 grant) 

Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County ($500 grant) 

Sunset Gap's Food Pantry ($500) 

Chattanooga Food Bank's Sack Pack Program for children ($500) 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Church World Service ($155 grant each) 

FISH Hospitality Pantries ($500 grant)

New grant:  Good Shepherd Center, Madisonville ($500 grant)

Hunger Action Enabler 

Deborah@presbyteryeasttn.org 

It was brought to the Equip Mission Team's attention that many Presbyterians are not as familiar with their presbytery and church histories as we think they are. Committee acronyms and other terminology have made some feel left out of conversations or confused about church topics. Whether you are a born-Presbyterian, or have recently joined our ranks, there may be terms with which you are unfamiliar. Maureen O'Rourke, Media Resource Center Director of Presbytery of the Cascades, wrote "Presbyterianisms" to help explain some church terminology. The following excerpt is used with her permission.

The Book of Confessions

The Book of Confessions outlines the beliefs of the Presbyterian Church (USA) by declaring the creeds (statements of belief) from which the Church's leaders are instructed and led. To affirm, declare, acknowledge or take a stand for what one believes to be true is what the word confession means here. This book is Part 1 of the Church's constitution.

If you're a history enthusiast, you may actually enjoy reading The Book of Confessions. It includes the official texts of the eleven confessional statements. Each creed is introduced by an informative essay providing historical and theological background.   

Read more  

International Peacemaker Majd Lahham to visit East TN 

International Peacemaker Majd Lahham from Syria will be speaking at churches and to Maryville College students in the Presbytery of East Tennessee September 30 - Oct. 7.

A member of the Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Majd serves as assistant director of the program for Iraqi refugees with International Orthodox Christian Charities, providing education, vocational training, community service projects, relief items, and psychosocial support.  He looks forward to speaking about Christian presence in the Middle East, the Damascus encounter program, and his work in outreach and relief to Iraqi refugees in Syria.

His tentative schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 1, speak at the Presbyterian Women's Area 3 Spiritual Retreat at First Presbyterian, Soddy Daisy

Sunday, Oct. 2, speak at 9:30 am to the Connections adult Sunday school class in the Fellowship Hall at Erin Presbyterian Church, Knoxville followed by 11 am Worship at Graystone Presbyterian Church, Knoxville

Tuesday, Oct. 4, speak at the Maryville College Worship at 1:15 pm in the Center for Campus Ministry

Wednesday, Oct. 5, speak at Second Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, at 6:15 pm in the Helwig Fellowship Hall

Thursday, Oct. 6, speak at Presbyterian Women's Circle meetings at New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville

Arranged through the denominational offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, Kentucky, the International Peacemakers Program has been in existence since prior to 1988. International Peacemakers are leaders who are engaged in peacemaking in their own areas of the world. They are invited by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to visit with Presbyterians in the United States and to help us understand the peace and justice concerns of others around the world. This sharing translates into a better understanding of the peace and justice issues in our own communities.

Leaders Academy is

• For training church officers - ruling elders, deacons, clerks, and teaching elders
• Planned by the Small Church Ministry Group of the Equip Mission Team and
• An ongoing leadership development program for leaders in churches of all sizes.
• These workshops are intended to SUPPLEMENT a church officer's training. 

Registration fees: Weekend Rate: $45      

                                 Commuter Rate (not spending the night): $30

Registration Deadline - Submitted/ Postmarked by Thurs., Oct. 20, 2011  

For More Information Contact: 

Miki Vanderbilt  revabv@gmail.com 865-690-5333 or

Laura Tappan Laura@presbyteryeasttn.org  865-688-5581 or 1-800-542-4246

Fall 2011 - Christian Ethics

This fall, the PET School of the Laity is offering a class on Christian Ethics, taught by Maryville College professors Bill Meyer and Andrew Irvine.  It will meet on the campus of Maryville College on October 8 and 29, from 9am to 3pm, with lunch at the cafeteria provided.  Suggested readings will be posted on the School of the Laity page of the PET website (under News & Events).The cost for this course is $65, and registration is due by September 28.  We are a group of very enthusiastic learners who would love to have you join us.

Please note: You do not need to be an elder to take these classes; they are an opportunity for anyone to participate in some in-depth learning and discussion.   

Bulletin Board Flyer 

Mail-in registration form 

U2Charist worship event at Maryville College - Sept. 11  

What do you get when you cross the music of Irish rock band U2 with Holy Communion? It's called a U2Charist, and it's coming Sun., Sept. 11, to the Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College.

Organ Concert at Fairfield Glade Church - Sept. 16

Inca Son Concert at Fourth United Church - Sept. 23

Inca Son, an internationally recognized band from Peru, is coming to Fourth United on Friday, September 23 at 7pm.  This is an amazing opportunity to experience this band in an intimate setting.  They have performed all over the world.  You can find out more about them at their website:  www.incason.com.

Tickets are $10 and all proceeds go to Casa de Sara (www.casadesara.org). Casa de Sara is a school in Santa Cruz, Bolivia which is funded and run by a local Knoxville group under the direction of Lori Santoro.  Call 690-3323 for tickets and more information. Bring the whole family!!! Children 6 and under are free!!  Concert poster  

Maryville College worship series focuses on "Faces of Faith"

Who inspires you in your faith? Whose story in Scripture or faith tradition is most relevant to you?

The Maryville College community will explore those questions - and others - this fall in a chapel series entitled "Faces of Faith." Held every Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. in the Samuel Tyndale Wilson Center for Campus Ministry (CCM), community worship is open to Maryville College faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the public.  Read more 

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets at Erin Presbyterian Church

MOPS groups are non-denominational Christian communities that strive to meet the needs of every mom with children from birth through kindergarten. MOPS recognizes that urban, suburban, and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single, and married moms all share a similar desire to be the very best moms  

                                              they can be.

A MOPS group of approximately 15-20 Christian moms meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 9:30-11:30am at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville.  The cost is $40 per semester.   

More info / MOPS flyer 

Lunch-Time Theology at First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville - Nov. 14

Can the Presbyterian Church (USA) be Reformed?

Lecture and Dialogue: Rev. Dr. William ("Bill") Wood, Pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte  

Dr. Wood grew up in Johnson City and has ably served multiple Presbyterian congregations.  His longest tenure was with the First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, NC, which grew from 1200 member to 2200 member during 25+ years as the pastor.  Says Dr. Wood, "I will talk about the PCUSA and what I think it will take to turn around a denomination that is in a precipitous decline."  Presbyterian ministers, educators, musicians, and other church leaders are invited to join in a lunch conversation with Dr. Wood.

Date and Time: November 14, Noon

Place: Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville

Contribution toward lunch cost: $5

The kindness of letting the church know of your attending will assist in the appropriate lunch preparation.

Phone: 865-546-2531

Email: Barb@fpcknox.org 

What's happening at Knoxville College