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Dogwood Blossoms

Presbytery of East Tennessee E-Newsletter
December 2013 
In This Issue
From the Presbytery Staff
From the PC (U.S.A.)
John Knox Center News
PET Youth News
Honoring our pastors
Legacy Christmas
Report from Sunset Gap
Peacemaking News
News and Events Around the Presbytery
Quick Links
 
John Knox Center
 
Meeting Highlights from the November 12, 2013 PET meeting
 
PC(USA) News
 
PET Budget Report as of 10-31-13
 
 
Resource Center
 
Workshops & Conferences
   
Websites

Presbytery of East Tennessee 
 

PC(USA) 
 

Synod of Living Waters
Presbytery Staff
Judd Shaw
General Presbyter
865-688-5581 ext. 103

James McTyre
Stated Clerk
865-688-5581 ext. 104
 
Bri Payne
Executive Director, John Knox Center
865-376-2236

Dana Hendrix
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
Join Our Mailing List
From the Presbytery Staff

Isaiah 52: 7-10

 

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,

who brings good news,

who announces salvation,

who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,

Mary, Joseph and the Star

together they sing for joy;

for in plain sight they see

the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth together into singing,

you ruins of Jerusalem;

for the Lord has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations;

and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God.

 

May grace and peace fill our hearts as we celebrate together the loving kindness and faithfulness of God.  Have a very Merry Christmas from the staff of the Presbytery of East Tennessee!  

 

From the PC (U.S.A.)
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan devastated large parts of the central Philippines on November 8, 2013.  Survivors are still reeling from shock of the storm and are in need of assistance. Nearly 4.5 million people have been displaced, 2.5 million are in need of food aid, and close to 400,000 are staying in evacuation centers across the six damaged regions.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has responded with One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) funds to provide basic humanitarian needs of food, water/sanitation repair and shelter, and has planned for non-food material resources assistance and livelihood restoration programs.  PDA is working in collaboration with our mission partners in the Philippines and with our ecumenical partners in the ACT Alliance. "We know it will be a long road to recovery.  PDA will continue working with our partners to meet the long-term needs of those affected by the typhoon and to assist with redevelopment efforts," said Laurie A. Kraus, coordinator, PDA.    

Find out what you can do to help

Sharing God's Mission 
Your Shared Mission dollars make a difference

Thank you for your ongoing gifts to the presbytery for our shared mission. As you know, we send a portion of your gifts to the Presbyterian Mission Agency as part of our collective commitment to support God's mission in the wider church. The following story provides a firsthand account of how your congregation's generosity is helping to make a difference both within your presbytery and in Presbyterian ministries across the United States and around the world. As you work on your budgets this fall, please consider a gift to the shared mission of the church through your presbytery.

As Africans immigrate to the United States, many seek worshiping communities that have a touch of home. With the unprecedented growth among African communities comes a host of challenges. Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries is providing essential resources to help these congregations and new worshiping communities thrive.

One beneficiary is Stephen Yaw Nkansah, pastor of 700-plus-member Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. The church's building is so packed that Sunday school classes don't always have enough places for children to sit. Nkansah has reached out to the larger church for help finding similar congregations and for assistance with his blossoming ministry. Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries is providing essential support for Nkansah's congregation and many others across the nation as they grow into and with the larger PC(USA) family.


2013-2015 Book of Order

Check out the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s new 2013-2015 Book of Order.
It features:

* Nine amendments from the last edition
* An e-book version for Kindle with a linked index
* A large print format
* Korean and Spanish editions

The cost: $10 for a hard copy and $9.99 on Kindle.  A PDF version for download is also available free of charge.
To order: Call 1-800-524-2612, or go online
John Knox Center News
Annual Advent Dinner for Church Professionals
Friday, December 6, 2013
6:00pm  Hors d'oeuvres
7:00pm  Dinner
Cost: $15 per person; Children's program - $7.50 per child

You are cordially invited to join the John Knox Center family for an evening of celebration, fellowship, and delicious food at the annual Advent Dinner on Friday, December 6, 2013.  This is an opportunity for our partners in ministry to gather and enjoy an evening together.  
Diane and Roy at the 2012 Advent Dinner 

This year's honoree is the Rev. Roy Scarbrough.  Roy has a long history with John Knox Center.  He currently serves on the Outdoor Ministries Team on both the property and program committees.  He has worked as an instructor for our River Ridge Environmental Education program, and served on our summer staff during staff training and throughout the summer.  We are grateful for his service and look forward to celebrating this evening with him and his wife Diane.    

 

Children are welcomed; we encourage you to bring your whole family.  There will be a special program for your children with our staff and pizza and Christmas cookies. This will be a fun experience for your children while you have a wonderful evening in the dining hall.  

   

Please RSVP for the Advent Dinner by completing the registration form . 

We look forward to celebrating this special season with you and your family.

Sewing on the River

January 27-31, 2014 

 

Retreat Cost:  

$140  Monday - Wednesday 

$185  Monday - Thursday

$225  Monday - Friday

 

Grab your coat,  stash, machine, and current projects and join us at the John Knox Center for three, four, or five days of Sewing on the River.  Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, delicious food, and a beautiful setting.  All sewing and continental breakfast takes place in Abel Lodge and B Lodge with lunch and dinner by the cozy fire in our Dining Hall.  There will be a small shop with fabric, notions and books for sale and on Wednesday we have a masseuse for chair massages.  Information and registration    We hope to see you there!

PET Youth News
Confirmation Retreat at John Knox Center
Camp John Knox Logo February 7-8, 2014
Sponsored by the Equip Mission Team

SAVE THE DATE! 
  • Does your church have only a few young people ready for Confirmation?
  • Would you welcome the idea of other leaders in our presbytery helping you lead Confirmation?
  • Want to have an event where many inquiring youth can learn from their peers as well as other pastors and teachers to supplement their faith development?
If your answer is YES to any of these questions, make plans to attend the Confirmation Retreat at John Knox Center, February 7-8.

Registration will be available online soon.  Deadline: January 24, 2014
Cost: $45 per person

Youth Summit is Coming!
SAVE THE DATE
February 28-March 2, 2014
Glenstone Lodge, Gatlinburg TN


Watch for more information coming soon...
Honoring our pastors

From the Support Mission Team

 

We are excited to announce significant ordination dates of Teaching Elders in our Presbytery for 2014.  We encourage congregations to plan a celebration for a Teaching Elder celebrating a significant ordination anniversary.

 

Significant Ordination Anniversaries of Teaching Elders in 2014

 

60 years: Paul McNiel (6/6/54)

55 years:  Herbert Barks Jr. (3/1/59), J. Robert Phillips (5/15/59), John Davis II (7/1/59), Fred Lupton II (7/19/59)

50 years: Carswell Hughs (10/4/64)

45 years: Arthur Hampson (6/1/69), Erik Johnson (8/3/69)

40 years: Bob Lucas Jr. (5/23/74), Michael Mills (9/29/74), Joseph Tanner (10/9/74)

35 years:  Charles Farmer (7/1/79), John Stuhl (7/29/79), Ann Owens Brunger (10/28/79), Alden Marshall (12/1/79)

30 years: Paul Rader (3/25/84)

25 years:  Michael Stanfield (1/8/89), Teresa McAnally (6/18/89), Buran Phillips (8/19/89), Jerome Ferrari (7/23/89), George Waters (8/6/89), Lina Robinson Hart (10/27/89), Miki Vanderbilt (11/19/89)

20 years: Linda Springer (10/30/94)

15 years:  Lisa Negus (1/3/99), Holton Siegling, Jr. (3/21/99), Ronald Sabo (7/25/99), Teresa Cramer (12/5/99)

10 years:  Elizabeth Peterson (6/20/04), Kally Elliott (10/3/04)

 

Legacy Christmas

Benefiting Living Waters for the World and Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering

 

Dear Living Waters for the World Partners,

Help us build momentum for the Legacy Christmas project! 

  

 CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

A quick recap: As part of a special gift to LWW, artists from the United States and Ireland, including acclaimed vocalist Alyth McCormack, have come together to create Legacy Christmas, treasured carols of the Kirk.

All proceeds from this project equally benefit Living Waters and the Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering fund. 

 

 

Provide Legacy Christmas to your members: Order a free church kit (shipping included), which includes CDs, posters and gift cards; collect donations for the CDs (suggested donation of $15) and return proceeds to the PW office in Louisville, KY. The kit contains all instructions. (If you play the CD as part of your display, you'll also provide beautiful background music during the Advent season!) Based on word of mouth, over 250 kits have already been ordered.

To order the Legacy Christmas church kit, go to
www.legacychristmas.net. The Legacy Christmas website also has song histories, music samples, artist bios, and serves as the gateway to order individual copies (CD's, downloads) as well as the kits.

Spread the word! The gift of a new music video has been created featuring images from Living Waters for the World and PW missions, and set to O Holy Night from the Legacy Christmas album. Please ask your members to share the video via Facebook, Twitter and via email and let's help it go viral!

To view the video, click the image below or this link:
http://youtu.be/VcWlBeCmcSU  

Report from Sunset Gap

From the Serve Mission Team

 

Sunset Gap is one of the ministries supported by the mission budget of the Presbytery.  The following report has been provided by Loretta Teter, member of Rivermont Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga and board member for Sunset Gap.

 Sunset Gap Logo

These have been exciting weeks at Sunset Gap.  Our Mission groups have come and gone completing much work.  New groups are looking to come back.

 

We have purchased a house, garage, some land adjoining the Gap. The house has been turned into a twenty-two bed dorm, and the free standing garage has been turned into a shower room and laundry facilities.  The former director's house has been redone to be a dorm to house mission workers.  A third double-wide has been purchased and set up and made into a dorm.  All the buildings have been painted white with green roofs, and all repairs have been done. New parking area, new ball field, new food pantry are being made.  The buildings have been named after persons that have given so much to this ministry over the years.

 

At the present time a new septic system, and water system are being looked into.  Both need updates to keep with the code of the area.

 

Come visit and tour anytime.  An auction and fund-raising dinner will be held on December 7th at 5pm. A Christmas Gift Room is being set up for children to come shop for gifts.  If you care to donate to either of these projects contact Sunset Gap Phone-423-623-4313.

 

Presbyterian Women's Day at the Gap hosted about ninety women for lunch, tours, and the building dedications. A team of Presbyterian Women from all over the United States visited in June.  An article was written in HORIZONS magazine about their visit.  Sunset Gap has been chosen for 2014 Mission giving project for PW.

 

It has been an exciting time to be involved with this work.  The wise use of insurance money to rebuild, and redirect our mission outreach.  As we come to the end of the year please keep Sunset Gap in your prayers, and in your giving as you are able.

Peacemaking News
7th Annual MLK Community Conversation
January 17, 2014
Beck Cultural Center, Knoxville
Martin Luther King Jr.
The PET Peacemaking Committee is one of co- sponsors of the 7th annual MLK Community Conversation. The theme for the event is "Moving Forward: Civil Rights Then and Now." Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of this very important piece of legislation. Gather at 6:30 pm on January 17, 2014 at the Beck Cultural Center, 1927 Dandridge Avenue, for light refreshments followed by the program from 7 - 8:30 pm. This will be a time to meet with other community and religious leaders to listen, discuss and reflect. This event is part of The Greater Knoxville Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission events with the 2014 theme "Moving Forward, Claiming Our Greatness." For more information, contact Donna Schall,  [email protected]

Jesus Weeps

Resisting Violence - Building Peace

   
Many types of violence afflict our world. Come to the Advocacy Training Weekend 2014 to address the causes of that violence and to seek hopeful solutions.

Advocacy Training Weekend 2014

March 21-24

Washington, DC

 

Join Presbyterians for Compassion, Peace, and Justice Training Day

Friday, March 21, 2014, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Register early for the best rates! Early registration open October 1 - January 15

 
$60-CPJ Day, not attending EAD
$40-CPJ Day, also attending EAD
$20-CPJ Day, student and youth (under 30)

 

Continue learning with our ecumenical sisters and brothers during Ecumenical Advocacy Days

Friday, March 21, 6:00p.m. through Monday, March 24, 2014

 

Register early for the best rates! Early registration for EAD through March 21

 
$195-Friday through Monday

$100-Friday and Saturday only

$100-Sunday and Monday only

 

For additional information, please visit pcusa.org/washington. 

News and Events Around the Presbytery
Folk @ Fourth Concert at Fourth United, Knoxville - Dec. 4

An evening meal and an evening of song with The Emancipators on December 4 at Fourth United Presbyterian Church, 1323 North Broadway, Knoxville.  An informal home cooked meal will be served at 6:00 pm.  Bring a friend and make some new ones.  Tickets: $10, children under 12 free.

The Emancipators describe themselves as "subversive hootenanny" and have been seen around town at such fabulous venues as the Birdhouse and WDVX Blue Plate Special!
  See their facebook page for links to music and more!   

Maryville College Feaste of Sweetes - Dec. 6 


An Evening Of Sweet Sounds & Dessert
Friday, December 6
6:30 P.M. Concert
7:30 P.M. Serving of dessert and hot drinks

Featuring holiday music by small ensembles Off Kilter * Lads * Lassies
This is the Concert Choir's annual holiday fundraiser for international travel.

Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall, Clayton Center for the Arts

$15 Admission for Concert & Dessert
Tickets available in the Clayton Center Box Office 865.981.8590

Roberta Childress receives ARMSS Certificate of Merit

Roberta Childress, wife of the late Rev. Bill Childress and daughter of the Rev. Dr. C. McCoy Franklin, was honored by the Association of Retired Ministers, Their Spouses or Survivors.  Each year the ARMSS Executive Committee invites Presbyteries to nominate a retired minister, a spouse of a retired minister, or a spouse of a deceased minister, who has made a significant contribution to the mission of their Presbytery subsequent to retirement. Roberta, a member of Center Presbyterian Church in Tellico Plains, received the Certificate of Merit at the ARMSS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.  Click here to read her biography.

Korean Church of Chattanooga Culture Academy

The Korean Presbytery Church of Chattanooga, technically located in Rossville GA, has established the Chattanooga Christian Academy for music, language and culture.  Click here to see the article published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.



First United in Athens preserving it's history

 
First United Presbyterian Church in Athens, a historically black church established in 1889, is receiving support to preserve its historic building.  In 2008, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and now it is on the Tennessee Preservation Trust's 2013 Ten in Tennessee Endangered Properties List. Click here to read an article from the Daily Post Athenian.
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].