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Presbytery of East Tennessee E-Newsletter
October 2013 
In This Issue
Church Professionals Seminar
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
2013 Advent Devotional
John Knox Center News
Hope 808 at UT-C
From Finance & Stewardship
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Montreat Conference Center
Church Leader Support Groups
News and Events Around the Presbytery
Quick Links
 
John Knox Center
 
Meeting Highlights from the August 24, 2013 PET meeting
 
PC(USA) News
 
PET Budget Report as of 8-31-13
 
Workshops & Conferences
 

 

Websites

 

Presbytery of East Tennessee
Presbytery Staff 
Judd Shaw
General Presbyter
865-688-5581 ext. 103

James McTyre
Stated Clerk
865-688-5581 ext. 104
Executive Director, John Knox Center
865-376-2236
Office Manager
865-688-5581 ext. 101

Gwen Pyle
Financial Assistant
865-688-5581 ext. 102


Office Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 5436
Knoxville TN 37928-0436

Office Fax:
865-689-3364

Office Hours:
8:00am to 4:30pm Monday - Friday
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Church Professionals Seminar

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

 

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

 

Melissa 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.

Prebyterian Disaster Assistance

Western US Flood Relief

 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is responding to the western United States flooding, where recent heavy rain has caused severe flooding in Colorado and adjacent states.

Residents of affected areas need your prayers and financial support in these critical hours and days.            

Twenty-three shelters, including the Highland Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado, are housing thousands of families displaced by the flooding. PDA is there with spiritual support and caregivers who understand and are trained for the unique challenges of those going through disaster. PDA works directly with mid councils to ensure we're meeting the needs of the community.

Now is also the time when PDA begins coordinating volunteer teams. These teams are vital and make rebuilding possible for those most in need. In the weeks, months, and years that follow, PDA will remain-helping with the long-term recovery even when others have moved on to the next disaster or story.

Will your congregation stand in the GAP (Give/Act/Pray) to help communities recover from this devastating disaster?
 

   

What You Can Do  

 

Give.  Financial gifts are always needed in disaster situations.  We ask that you prayerfully consider giving online .  Individuals may also give through your local Presbyterian congregation or by mailing a check to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.  Please designate your gift for DR000015 - Western U.S. Flooding.  You can also text "PDA" to 20222 to donate $10.

 

Act.  

  • Gift of the Heart cleanup buckets are often needed following flooding situations, and hygiene kits are often used when people are in shelters. Help ensure that the buckets and kits will be available when needed.  Learn how to assemble and ship the kits. 
  • Volunteer work teams will be needed to help with cleanup and rebuilding.  Contact the PDA Call Center at (866) 732-6121 or by email to let us know of your team's interest, skills, and availability.  You can then be contacted when volunteer hosting sites are open and in need of volunteers. 

Pray.  Please pray that through the response of the faith community, the people and communities affected by flooding in the Western United States and those offering assistance will be reminded of the faithful hope that is found in Christ.

2013 Advent Devotional

Featuring writings from Presbyterian Youth Triennium 

 

In July of 2013, more than 5000 high school students and leaders from Presbyterian churches across the country descended upon Purdue University for Triennium. In the Prayer Center, participants were asked to reflect on a Biblical text and write a devotion.  The twenty five reflections featured in this years' Advent devotional are a testament to the brightness of PCUSA youth and their leaders.

  

Order your Advent Devotionals today at  
http://store.pcusa.org/2435813005
John Knox Center News

12th Annual 

JKC Women's Retreat

"Teach Us To Pray"

November 2, 2013

*Optional overnight on Friday night

 

We all lead busy lives. We are constantly moving, working on tasks, washing, cleaning, helping, driving, calling, correcting... the list goes on and is never ending. Juggling all the balls can get very difficult and tiring. Sometimes you just need a break! 
 
That's what this retreat is about; giving you a break from all the busyness that consumes life. It is about getting a chance to get away to relax in natural surroundings that put us in awe of God's creation. It is about recreating with others in our community; enjoying warm conversations by a fire or around a good meal, playing outside with others, or taking a nice peaceful walk. It is about rejuvenating yourself and your faith through teaching from a guest speaker and group discussions.  This year we are lucky to have Ginny Baker as our Retreat Leader.  Ginny serves as a Christian Educator in the Presbytery.  She is excited to join us this weekend as we learn what it means to be still and take Sabbath.

 

The retreat schedule will include times for workshops and recreation.  For an additional fee you can sign up to make some Christmas crafts. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Online Registration
Women's Retreat Flyer 
Hope 808 at UT-Chattanooga

It has been a busy month for Hope 808 the Presbyterian Campus Center at UTC. We have started a non-for profit coffee house called "Fairly Decent Coffee." We are serving Presbyterian Coffee Project Equal Exchange coffee. We are creating an amazing environment for students to hang out and enjoy the best and cheapest coffee, cappuccino, and espresso on campus. We are also trying to inform the students about how important Fairly Traded coffee is for workers all over the world.

 

We would love to show off our hard work and outstanding coffee shop to all of you so please stop by and enjoy a cup of Java. Also please let any of your college students who are going to UTC know about us.

 

Thank you

Rev Bob Hill

From the Finance & Stewardship Committee

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT!

   

The Finance of Stewardship Committee wants every Presbyterian in East Tennessee to know exactly how the congregations' contributions to our common ministry are used.  Our committee developed two tools to inform and inspire Presbyterians eager to participate in God's mission.

 

1. Pie Chart

2. A Web Video which highlights the ministry of John Knox Center, our Presbytery's largest mission.
Blessed are the Peacemakers

How do Peacemakers MAKE PEACE?  Peace is not doing nothing. Peace labors long and hard, and begins with thinking and being adamant about telling the truth.  Hitler said "it is fortunate for leaders when the people do not think."  "Learning how to disagree" sounds like making peace, and also leads us ever closer to the truth, without which there can be no peace.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. . . By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up."  Jesus and his disciples/followers overcame evil with good, and helped establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of hate and war.

 

We are fortunate to have a Syrian Peacemaker, Rev. Butros Zaour and his wife, sharing their peace throughout the Presbytery from Sep 27 thru Oct 3.  If they aren't visiting your own church, you are welcome to attend his remaining presentation/discussions at any of the following:

 

Tues, Oct 1:   7pm talk at New Providence Pres., Maryville      

Wed, Oct 2:   7pm talk at First Pres., Knoxville

Thur, Oct 3:   Noon lunch/speak at Westminster Pres., Knoxville; 7pm talk at Bethel Pres., Kingston

 

Through the annual denomination-wide Peacemaking Offering, received around World Communion Sunday (Oct.6 this year), PC(USA), since 1984, has made possible the visits of over 210 International Peacemakers from 57 countries to presbyteries thruout the U.S.  $450 from the Presbytery's share of the Peacemaking Offering also supports the Presbytery's Peacemaker.  Local congregations get to keep 25% of the Peacemaking Offering for local peace and justice-related programs.

 

For more info on the Peacemaking Offering, see PC(USA)'s Peacemaking Offering 2013 website and particularly "Ways Your Congregation Can Enhance Its Commitment to Peacemaking."
Montreat Conference Center
New Conference at Montreat Conference Center!

Montreat's new
leadership conference, designed for ALL leaders in the church, is Oct. 14-18. It's sponsored by the Institute for Church Leadership, and this year's theme is The Church in Purple, which seeks to address what it means to be the church together and how Christians with differing views can come together as a community in an often polarizing environment. The leadership recruited for this conference is representative of very diverse opinions about the church, ranging from the future of our denomination to the hymns we sing. Discussions will no doubt be passionate, lively, and faithful.

Read more about the conference and our leadership:
www.montreat.org/purple, or watch/share this great (brief) video put together by Josh Richard:  http://vimeo.com/51543534. Scholarships for church professionals are available. If you would like to know more about Montreat, their conferences, or would like to connect with Montreat Bridges to our presbytery, contact Rev. Mark Lampley (865) 522-9804 or Rev. Laura Becker (423) 894-3773.
Church Leader Support Groups
From the Support Mission Team

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.   
News and Events Around the Presbytery
Erin Presbyterian 2nd Annual Art Show - Oct. 12-13

Pawley's Island Scene by
Charles H. "Chili" Dean - 1972 
The late Charles H. "Chili" Dean, Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) General Manager and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Chairman, was a well known engineer, utility administrator and community leader. But Dean's love for painting was a facet of his life known to few other than his family.

Artwork by "Chili" Dean will be displayed at Erin Presbyterian's 2nd Annual Art Exhibit (200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville). Titled Art and Hors d'Oeuvres, the exhibit is free and open to the public on Saturday, October 12th from 3-6pm and Sunday, October 13thfrom 12:30-2:30pm.  Sharon Gillenwater, a local award-winning painter, will be a featured guest artist at the Art and Hors d'Oeuvres event. Erin members and guest artists will display paintings, photography, computer art, wood art, stained glass and jewelryMore information.

The Word Players presents Doubt: A Parable
Word Players logo
The Word Players presents Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley and starring Carol Mayo Jenkins at Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville.  Presented on select dates, Oct. 18-27.  For tickets and information, call 865-539-2490 or visit www.wordplayers.org.

 

The Hungry Heart at Westminster - Oct. 20

 

The Missions committee of Westminster Presbyterian Church would like to invite all of the churches in the Presbytery to attend a performance of The Hungry Heart vignettes at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 Northshore Drive on Sunday, October 20th, at 5PM.

 

The Hungry Heart vignettes is a short dramatic presentation chronicling the mission of the Fish Hospitality Pantry, and the diverse community of people who volunteer their services and receive services of this Food Pantry in Knoxville. The Hungry Heart is a play written by Beth Carol Hunley featuring original lyrics and music of several Knoxville area musicians. The vignettes is adapted from the full-length play that was presented in collaboration with Carpetbag Theatre.

   

This is a great educational opportunity for people who are not familiar with the food pantries in Knoxville, and it is a great way to learn more about what the Pantries are presently doing.

 

The vignettes is about thirty minutes long, and will be followed by a discussion of this dynamic ministry and the surprising growth of a diverse community of the people touched by this ministry. The performance is free and there will be a free-will offering taken up for the benefit of the Fish Hospitality Pantry. The author of the play will be on hand along with the founder and director of the Fish Hospitality Pantries for the question and answer discussion. There will be a reception following the performance.

Wartburg Celebrates 134th Anniversary - Oct. 27

On Sunday, Oct. 27, Wartburg Presbyterian Church (205 Kingston Street, Wartburg) will celebrate it's 134th Homecoming. Service is at 11 a.m. with a covered dish luncheon afterward. Of special note this year is the church is now on Tennessee's historical  register. The information will now be sent to the National Park Service to make Wartburg PCUSA a candidate for the national register. The church hopes to receive formal notification with instructions for getting a metal plaque to place on our door prior to Homecoming. Please join us as we celebrate 134 years of work, worship, and witness in Morgan County, and a place on the Tennessee historical register.

Spread the News!
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, [email protected].