Registration deadline: March 8, 2013

 

If you're looking for fun, fellowship and affordable golf (or shopping or a trip to Biltmore), look no further than this outing with fellow Presbyterians from all around the East Tennessee area. This is the perfect combination with southern charm in scenic Waynesville.

 

Rustic accommodations are in the Historic Main Lodge at The Waynesville Inn. (http://www.thewaynesvilleinn.com/) We will dine on Friday evening and Saturday morning with a cookout to send us on our way Saturday evening. Join us for this wonderful trip with our church family, friends, and neighbors.

 

 Trip information and registration

It is that time of year where John Knox staff is preparing for the spring and summer seasons.  We have some exiting things to share with you!

 

Staff Recruiting:  We are busy recruiting and hiring staff for both our River Ridge Environmental Program as well as our Summer Camp ministry.  If you know of anyone in your congregations who loves working outside, is passionate about working with kids, and would be excited to spend a season working with schools or summer campers, please pass along this great opportunity!  Read this description of summer staff positions.   

 

Summer Camp Theme:  This year's Summer Camp theme is "Created and Called."  Campers will learn that they are created by a God who loves them and is continuously working to recreate them, the communities they are a part of, and the world around them.  As a way to help connect campers to the theme, we have started a program called Beads for Bible Study.  Please see the Pledge for Beads flyer to learn more about this easy and meaningful way you can support and encourage our summer campers.

 

New This Summer:  As families look at summer calendars, we wanted to highlight a new camp being offered this year, Elementary Adventure Camp. Campers will experience on site adventure activities like ropes course, sleeping in tents and meals away from the dining hall, preparing them to move into our older adventure sessions in the coming years.  This camp will include at least one off site trip. If you know of a younger child who loves camping, hiking and being outside, this is the camp for them.  Visit our website johnknoxcenter.org for more information and to register for this and all our camps.  

Rivermont Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga

Registration: 9:30am
Morning Session: 10:00am
Lunch, followed by Worship
Dismiss at 2:00pm

Come and worship together, enjoy fellowship and share your mission success.  Flyer

We are encouraging churches and ministries in the Presbytery of East Tennessee to pray for one another during the Eastertide, beginning March 31 and ending May 18.

Daily Prayer Schedule
Weekly Prayer Schedule

We encourage church leadership, prayer groups, Presbyterian Women, individuals, etc. to pray daily and/or weekly during the Eastertide.

The Educators Group (pastors welcome) of the Presbytery of East Tennessee is gathering at Knoxville's Westminster Presbyterian Church (6500 Northshore Drive SW) on Thursday, March 7 from 11 to 2 in McKinnon Room to left as you enter church. Lyn Oakley and Mark Lampley will share their recent educator training at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educator's workshop handouts (eg. Confirmation in the 21st century and Laughing, Learning and Letting God into Our Lives).  Laura Tappan will also share reflections from her experience.  Educator Angela Grobe will provide lunch, so contact her angela_wpc@comcast.net no later than March 5th for accurate meal planning.  For additional information, contact Mark Lampley - mlampley@sequoyahchurch.org

World Water Day - March 22

Several years ago, realizing that millions of children are dying every year from preventable waterborne diseases, the United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day, to be observed globally in an effort to increase awareness of the world's growing water crisis.

Living Waters for the World invites you to join with us as we celebrate 20 years of clean water ministry by participating in an observance of this day during worship. Many churches have chosen March 17, however your observance can take place on any Sunday this spring.

Living Waters for the World has prepared a full set of worship resources (liturgies, sermons, children's talks) and educational materials that can be used or adapted to suit your needs.  Of particular note is the hymn Once a Woman Seeking Water, written for LWW by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.

The Presbyterian Campus Ministry at UTK will be celebrating our 50th anniversary of ministry in our current location with a House Blessing and anniversary party!  Be sure to mark your calendars for April 21st at 6pm and join us for the celebration.  We will be showing off our newly renovated basement along with many more improvements we've made to the house in the last year.  We will also be celebrating the support YOU all have given to us over the years!  Come by and help us celebrate!

 

The Maryville College Concert Choir is on tour around the southeast through April 27.  Check out this poster for dates, times and locations.

This summer, Maryville College is offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors.  The first-ever "Great Smokies Experience" will take place July 18 until July 31 on the College's campus and at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, a residential environmental learning center located on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).  Participants can receive three credit hours.  Read more

The Theological Education Fund has been raising funds from the congregations of the PCUSA ever since the reunion in the '80's. East Tennessee Presbytery has been, and still is, a faithful partner in this endeavor.

    

As the TEF rep for our Presbytery, I am pleased to share this good news: The gifts from our Presbytery moved up from $14,038 in 2011 to $20,235 in 2012!

    

That's the good news! While we must be thankful for this showing, The fact is that these gifts came from only seven congregations!!

    

Let's ALL pull together this year and show that we care that our potential pastors will be able to get the best training to prepare them for ministry, training that comes best from our Presbyterian seminaries.

    

Feel free to contact me if you want my help in promoting this vital cause.

Bud Little - cklittle9602@comcast.net  

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, dana@presbyteryeasttn.org.