August 6 at First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville 

 

Educators in our presbytery enrich one another! Tuesday, August 6, is our next presbytery educator gathering (PEG) at First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, 11:00am to 2:00pm. At our last meeting at Knoxville's Westminster Pres. we had a fabulous attendance.

 

Agenda: Networking and technology education with Neighborhood Nerd Tommy Nguyen and brief tour of Knoxville's First Pres CE area (pertinent to your ministry area). Additional sharing over lunch: 1) what excites you about fall programming, 2) thoughts about the networking ideas presented earlier, and 3) deciding if we want to invite a regional denominational educator support person to our next PEG.

 

Lunch: We will have sandwiches and chips from Lenny's as well as coffee, lemonade, and water available. If anyone would like to bring something to share (dessert or other), please do! No charge for lunch!

 

Directions: Here is a link to the directions on the church website: http://www.fpcknox.org/about/contact/directions/ 

 

Please park either on the level with the tunnel or on "P2" which is out parking deck. Once parked, enter through either the double doors in the tunnel or the glass door at the wheelchair ramp. Press up for the elevator. Follow directions in the elevator.

 

Hope you'll attend August 6 at Knoxville's First at 11:00am and bring a volunteer/ coworker/ CE committee person.

 

Please RSVP to Brianna Cook at 865-546-2531 or brianna@fpcknox.org. 

Many returning Reserve and National Guard warriors and Veterans are likely to look for assistance first among people they know best. Many returning warriors seek help from clergy and expect that seeking help in faith communities will have less negative impact on their reputations and careers. However, many members of the community clergy have a limited understanding of the issues common to returning warriors.

If clergy can gain a better understanding of the health and readjustment difficulties of returning warriors, and assist them in seeking help sooner, many health crises can be avoided.

 

The workshop is open to community clergy and will address issues related to veterans returning from military service. The workshop presenters will include professionals from several disciplines representing the VA Medical Center.

 

The following topics will be addressed:

• Suicide prevention,
• Eligibility for services,
• Re-entry issues facing the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan,
• Spiritual and religious care and support for veterans and their families.

An information packet prepared by the VA National Chaplain Center and the Chaplain Service of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center will be provided to those in attendance.

 

Lunch will be provided. There is no charge for the conference. To ensure an information packet is available, reservations before August 16, 2013 are appreciated. For further information, contact Community Clergy Committee Co-Chairman, Frank Vollmer at 865-933-6954.

 

Registration will be limited. To reserve a spot for the workshop, please complete the registration form that is found on the Council's website.

Mark Your Calendars!

 

The Connect Mission Team of the Presbytery is hosting a fall trip to Lexington, KY - the heart of beautiful horse country and the home of the historic Keeneland Racecourse. We will depart from Farragut Presbyterian Church at 7:00am, travel on a luxury motor coach with club seating and multiple televisions (apparently there is a game that day that some might be interested in watching), stop for brunch at Cracker Barrel (everyone pays individually), and arrive at Keeneland in time to watch the thoroughbreds in action. We will depart at 4:00pm, enjoy a box dinner on our way back, and return to Farragut Presbyterian Church by about 8:00pm.

 

Estimated cost: $77 (depending on box dinner selection) includes transportation, Keeneland entrance fee, box dinner, and driver gratuity.

 

The first 27 people to register will be guaranteed spots on the luxury coach. (If we exceed that number, additional guests will be accommodated on a second very nice bus that has regular seating and no television access for a lower registration fee.)

 

Watch for a special email with registration information soon! Deadline for registration with payment will be Sept. 20.

Middle School Youth Retreat  

   

Save the Dates!   

 

September 27-29 at John Knox Center

 

Details coming soon! 

 

Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2013

 

Every three years, Presbyterian youth from across the nation (and even some from across the globe!) travel to Purdue University in Indiana for a life-changing conference.  2013 was one of those magic years, and the Presbytery of East Tennessee was proud to send 15 youth and 4 adults to the conference July 16-20. 

 

The conference theme was "I AM," and each day was centered around one of the significant "I am..." metaphors of the gospels with an overall nod to the Hebrew people's encounters with Yahweh, "I am who I am." Recreational events, concerts, small group studies, and interest groups enriched the experience, but the highlight was most definitely the daily worship.  Every afternoon 5400 youth (and a significant number of adults!) piled into Purdue's Hall of Music to worship together through song, scripture readings, movement, drama, testimony, and powerful sermons.  Thursday evening everyone gathered on the lawn for a candlelight service centered around the loaves and fishes story, and the beautiful irony of the Triennium crowd of over 5000 sharing the story of the 5000 who were fed that day was not lost on the youth in attendance.

 

The mission project this year was Stop Hunger Now.  Every youth was able to participate by preparing, packing, and shipping thousands of high-protein, vitamin-rich meals to be used in crisis situations and school programs in the United States and throughout the world.  For more information on Stop Hunger Now, visit StopHungerNow.org.  Additionally, the conference offering supported both Asheville Youth Mission and Jovenes Presbiterianos Cumberland

 

The delegation from the Presbytery of East Tennessee would like to thank the Presbytery for its generous support in sending 15 fantastic young people to the conference.  The churches represented were First Presbyterian in Oak Ridge, Farragut Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian, Madisonville Presbyterian, Bethel Presbyterian, 2nd Presbyterian in Chattanooga, New Providence Presbyterian, Mars Hill Presbyterian, Lake Hills Presbyterian, and the Presbyterian Center of UT Chattanooga. Despite a heat advisory across the state and housing in non-airconditioned dorms, the youth maintained a widely positive attitude and are eager to share their experiences with you.

Attention Pastors, Parents, Session Members, Sunday School Teachers, Youth Directors, CE Directors, and anyone else who might have contact with college students!

 

Please, please, PLEASE remember to send the contact information of the students from your churches to the Presbyterian Campus Ministers at the colleges your students attend!  We'll take their info if they are entering freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, or grad students!  We don't care if they are 18 or 65, we just want to connect with them and let them know that we are there to serve them while they are on campus!

 

If you have students attending UT Knoxville, our contact info is...

 

pcutk@utk.edu 

OR

865-604-8560

OR 

1831 Melrose Ave.

Knoxville, TN 37916.

 

Your help in contacting students if vital to our ministry as colleges are not exactly forthcoming in providing information about students.  Thank you so much for your help!  We promise to take GREAT care of your college students!

"Camp is a place where I can be myself."

 

"At Camp John Knox, my counselor encouraged me to grow and take safe risks."

 

"Camp is where faith became real to me and every year I am reminded of that." 

Statements like these remind us how Camp John Knox is a sacred space where campers meet God and grow in relationship with him and others. This summer, campers from as far away as Louisiana and the mountains of North Carolina, as well as right here in Kingston came together to play, learn, have fun, and grow in their faith. Campers spent time paddling, playing, and pushing themselves to try new things. Woven through everything we do are discussions of faith, community, and how God meets us where we are. This summer's theme, "Created and Called", focused on Ephesians 2:10. "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Campers explored who they were created to be and empowered to live into God's awesome plan for them, knowing that the God who created the universe created every hair on their heads. A special thank you to our Chaplains who connected with campers and staff around a cross and a campfire: Max Reddick (Fountain City) Liz Peterson (4th United) Bob Hill (Campus Ministries UTC) and Jon Faraone (Center).  

The power of camp ministry extends beyond the campers. This year, 14 staff from across the country worked as a nurse, counselors, program assistants, lifeguards and support staff. Not only did these young adults learn practical skills in outdoor adventure and safety, they learned to have eyes that looked beyond themselves, took safe risks in a accepting environment, gained confidence to become exceptional leaders and experienced living out their faith in Christian community.

 

To learn more about summer camp Like us on Facebook. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. If this old saying is true, then this Facebook album would make up a novel. Please take some time to browse through and see what you made possible at camp this summer.

 

 

Clean Water U - Sept. and Oct.

 

Living Waters for the World is the global mission resource of the PC(USA) Synod of Living Waters. 

 

Our Mission: Living Waters for the World is a Christian ministry that provides sustainable clean water, fostering long-term, mutually beneficial, relationships between volunteers and communities in need.

 

Through Clean Water U, mission team leaders are trained in:

 

   - partnership development, project administration and system      sustainability evaluation and assurance

 

   - health, hygiene and spiritual education

 

   - LWW clean water system installation, operation and
     maintenance

There are two upcoming sessions to choose from:

 

September 4-8  - Registration deadline is August 21, 2013.

 

October 16-20 - Registration deadline is October 2, 2013. 

 

To register, click here 

 

Thank you for responding to the call to share living water for bodies and souls.  Because of you, there are now over 530 clean water system installations serving communities in 25 nations.  

 

Let clean water flow! 

From the Support Mission Team of the Presbytery:

 

We want to encourage all leaders in our Presbytery to meet regularly in a support group.  Our mission team believes this is so important that we are willing to provide grants to help facilitate growth in our leadership.  We will be providing grants of up to $250 for Teaching Elders (including retired teaching elders), Christian Educators and Commissioned Ruling Elders.  If you already have a support group, simply fill out the application form.  If you don't have a support group, all you need is three others to form one in order to apply for the grant.  The Team will review requests at our quarterly meetings, which are usually 6-8 weeks prior to presbytery meetings (our next meeting is October 9, 2013).  Those of you who are ruling elders, please encourage a teaching elder, commissioned ruling elder or Christian educator to be part of a church leader support group.

Session Minutes Reading

For: Clerks of Session

Saturday, September 14, 2013

9:00am-12:00pm

at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church, Athens, TN

 

Clerks of Session should attend the meeting and bring their church's session Minutes and Register for a round-robin reading time. Bring your minutes from 2012 and any previous years that haven't yet been stamped in approval. This meeting will fulfill the Book of Order requirement that each church's session minutes are read and approved by presbytery on an annual basis.

 

There will also be shared discussion and training materials about how best to fulfill the ministry of Clerk of Session. We'll learn best practices from each other by telling stories and asking questions.

 

Sign up online at tinyurl.com/PET-minutes-registration

Sexual Misconduct in the Church:

A Soul Wound

A seminar for church professionals  

in the Presbytery of East Tennessee

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

8:30am - 12:00pm

Farragut Presbyterian Church

Presenter: Melissa M. Bradley-Ball

 

We do ministry every day with those who have suffered sexual trauma. Sometimes we know it; sometimes not. Our awareness and sensitivity make the difference, both in how we care and in how we work to safeguard those around us.  

     

Author and educator, Melissa Bradley-Ball will share her expertise in helping heal and prevent the soul wounds of sexual trauma.  

 

Bradley-Ball has taught over one hundred-thousand professionals, including physicians, psychologists, nurses, law enforcement, social workers, counselors and clergy in 49 states, Canada and Central America. She is a psychotherapist and consultant as well as a nationally recognized clinical educator, corporate consultant, resilience coach and author. Find out more at www.theomnibuscenter.com. 

 

Bradley-Ball speaks openly and directly about how as caregivers for the soul, we can grow in wisdom and compassion, preventing mistakes before they occur and helping heal the wounds of those near us.

 

Sign up online at tinyurl.com/PET-seminar-registration

INTERNATIONAL PEACEMAKER FROM SYRIA

 

This year, Syrian travel restrictions permitting, we are fortunate to have a pastor/theologian from Syria as International Peacemaker.  A native Syrian, he graduated from the Near East School of Theology (headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon) and is currently pastoring in the Evangelical Christian church, as well as active in Evangelical organizations in Syria and Lebanon.  He and his wife will be in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas Sept. 28 thru Oct. 2. This is the week before the denominational Peacemaking Offering, which is received Oct. 6, World Communion Sunday.

 

Much of the schedule for this speaker/preacher/teacher is tentatively being booked.  Right now, times remaining available (which may expand later) are:

 

        Monday, Sept 30    - all day and p.m.

        Wednesday, Oct 2 - a.m., lunch, and early afternoon

 

If your church would like to host the International Peacemaker during his visit, or if you would like more information about his scheduled appearances or about the Peacemaking Offering, please call or email Donna Schall at 865-531-1788 (schalldon@att.net). 

Creation Care in Oak Ridge

 

Mark your calendars for August 18, 2013! To begin, First Presbyterian Church Oak Ridge will host a community-wide "100-mile potluck" from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on the church grounds (located at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike, at the corner of Lafayette and Oak Ridge Turnpike). The purpose of the event is to enjoy locally grown food, healthy eating and neighborliness. To that end, all are asked to bring a dish for 6-8 folks that contains at least one ingredient grown within 100 miles of Oak Ridge. Other items to bring: your own plate & utensils, and a lawn chair or blanket. Drinks will be provided.

 

The main attraction that evening is Bill McKibben, renowned speaker, environmentalist, and co-founder of 350.org. Come hear his presentation "Keep the Faith and Do the Math," at 7:00 p.m. at the Oak Ridge High School. Admission is free. For more information, contact First Presbyterian Church at 865-483-1318.  Event flyer 

 

Evening Light, Evening Grace at First, Oak Ridge 

 

 

Event flyer 

 

Color of Christ Book Discussions

 

Dr. Edward J. Blum, a historian of  religion and race, the author of several award-winning books, and the co-author of The Color of Christ: the Son of God and the Saga of Race in America will be visiting Chattanooga in September. Publisher's Weekly named The Color of Christ the top religion book of last year, and Dr. Blum has been featured on Fresh Air, in the New York Times, in the Atlantic, and throughout many other news outlets. Dr. Blum edits a regular blog at the Christian Century entitled "Then and Now."

 

Carol Howard Merritt will be hosting a book discussion on the first half of The Color of Christ at Whole Foods in Chattanooga on Wednesday, August 28, following the area pastor's lunch. Then Dr. Blum will be discussing the book with us on Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 am at Green Spaces, 63 East Main Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408.  

 

Dr. Blum will also be in Knoxville on Friday, September 20 at 7:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church.  All are welcome. 

 

Summer Lunch Program at First, Spring City

 

The Summer Lunch Program is thriving at First Presbyterian Church in Spring City. Starting on June 3 through July 31, Monday through Friday, we served a warm lunch to children in our community. Every day children arrived for lunch with many parents/grandparents and extended family joining them at the table. In June we served on average 148 children and 26 adults each week. Summer Lunch is a television/video free space, so following lunch the children have time to play. One thing we have learned is that they love to play checkers and Old Maid!

 

We have been blessed with an abundance far beyond what we had imagined: a garden planted and maintained by our Girl Scout Troop 40035 is producing lots of fresh produce; a group of committed volunteers that includes folks beyond our membership cooks, serves and cleans up each day; we partner with a great hunger advocate, Holly Martin, at the Chattanooga Food Bank; an outpouring of financial support from individuals and grants from TVA, VEC, Middle Tennessee Gas and Electric and the Presbytery of East Tennessee. We give thanks to God for these many blessings as we serve the needs of our community!