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Presbytery of East Tennessee E-Newsletter
October 2014 
In This Issue
Presbytery Youth Events
Campus Ministry at UT-K
Support Mission Team Resources
Peacemaking Offering
Sexual Misconduct Prevention Seminar
Sunset Gap Community Center
News and Events Around the Presbytery
Quick Links

 

John Knox Center
 
Meeting Highlights from the August 16, 2014 PET meeting
 
PC(USA) News
 
PET Budget Report as of 08-31-14
 
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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Presbytery Youth Events

Middle School Fall Retreat

The Middle School Fall Retreat was held the weekend of Sept. 26-28 at John Knox Center. With a 115 Middle School youth, their leaders and youth council, it was an exciting weekend for all who participated. Thanks to all of the Youth Committee for their hard work in planning this event and a special thank you to Penny Laitos, Carrie Nicely, Keli Shipley, Kally Elliott (keynote speaker) and Reed Sorrels (music leader) for their leadership in this event.

 

Youth Council members participate in Presbytery meeting worship

 

If you missed the last Presbytery meeting, you missed an opportunity to meet our Youth Council members. They, along with Alan Payne and Jason Graffis, led the worship service. Thanks to all of you for such an inspiring worship service.

 

Youth Summit - Mark your calendars for Feb. 27-Mar. 1

 

Youth Summit will be here before we know it. Please mark your calendars for this high school event, which will be at the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Feb. 27-Mar. 1. Michelle Thomas Bush will be our keynote presenter!

Campus Ministry at UT-K
Presbyterian Campus Ministry house at UT-Knoxville The students at the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at UT-Knoxville will be raising money to be able to attend the College Conference at Montreat and our spring break mission tripIf you or your church has a job or two some of our students could do to raise money for these activities, please let us know!  You can contact the PCM at [email protected].  Thank you!
Support Mission Team Resources 

One of the challenges of ministry is developing a balanced life that honors one's commitments to ministry, family, the self, all while serving Jesus Christ. If you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, the Support Team would like to provide you with the following resources:

 

 2014 Presbytery Pastoral Care Network Conference -- "Overcoming Isolation"  

 

Church Coaching Solutions 

 

 The Transforming Center -- "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership" 

Peacemaking Offering
Peacemaking Logo - Dove

Most churches in the Presbytery will be receiving the Peacemaking Offering on Sunday, October 5, World Communion Sunday.  This is one of the PC(USA)-wide Special Offerings.  It supports the efforts of Presbyterians through their congregations, presbyteries, synods, and the Presbyterian Mission agency, to work for peace by helping to transform cultures of violence into communities of peace.

 

Church treasurers may keep 25% of the offering for the congregation's peacemaking ministries and remit 75% to the Presbytery for distribution by financial administrator, Gwen Pyle. Over the years, local churches have used their 25% of the offering to support various local organizations. Our Presbytery Peacemaking Committee has used its portion of the Peacemaking Offering to financially support several churches members' attendance at conferences such as as Big Tent; Compassion, Peace & Justice Training Day; and Stony Point; to support such local peace-advocating activities as the Knoxville Martin Luther King Community Conversation; and to participate in or lead Presbytery-wide events related to peacemaking.

 

If your church does not participate in the "Peacemaking Offering," but you wish to make a personal donation, you may send it to the Presbytery of East Tennessee, P.O. Box 5436, Knoxville, TN 37928, attention Gwen Pyle.   Churches desiring more info can look at the PC(USA) Peacemaking Program Office webpage, or call Donna Schall, 865-531-1788 for more info.
Sexual Misconduct Prevention Seminar - Oct. 21
How to Create and Uphold a Sexual Misconduct Policy for your congregation

Tuesday, October 21

9:00am to 12:00pm
Farragut Presbyterian Church
209 Jamestowne Blvd., Farragut

The annual Sexual Misconduct Prevention Seminar will be led by Clark Brandon of Fountain City Presbyterian Church.  He will present on HOW TO CREATE AND UPHOLD a Sexual Misconduct Policy for your congregation (a REQUIRED policy, G-3.0106 of the Book of Order).

All teaching elders, CRE's and ruling elders responsible for personnel issues are encouraged to attend.

Sunset Gap Community Center
The Serve Mission Team of the Presbytery heard a report from Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby, TN, a Presbytery-supported organization, and shares the following with you:

Sunset Gap Community Center in 1924. 
At the August meeting of Sunset Gap's Governing Board we were presented with a concise but very significant history of Sunset Gap. The primary purpose for its initial creation as a Mission of the Presbyterian Denomination was education. Presbyterianism's emphasis on an educated clergy led to an early awareness of such need in society as a whole.  This awareness was critically apparent as the Civil War ended slavery but left much of the nation so poor even education was being neglected. Internationally, Presbyterianism had been pioneering in Missions to bring God's message of salvation through His Son to the rest of the world, but it took almost 50 yeas for even Presbyterians to appreciate the plight of sisters and brothers in our neighboring states, especially the severely economically depressed areas of Appalachia extending from portions of Ohio and Pennsylvania to Georgia. Sunset Gap's answer to that problem has become the oldest continuously operating Mission activity in America's Presbyterian Church.
 
The initial emphasis was on child education, then child health, then community health, and then the economic well-being of Appalachia.
SSG's most significant success has been the impact of preschool training, which was initiated in 1966. As a consequence, over 30 percent of children in Cocke County who had benefited went on to college, compared to only 7 percent for the county as a whole. Similar successes have been evident wherever SSG's missional activities have been Spirit-led.
 
Sunset Gap had a very successful "Mission Camp" season in 2014. A total of 17 groups participated, some from as far away as Illinois, Indiana, or Michigan. More than 400 campers were able to complete 26 projects creating a revenue for SSG of over $150,000, with an enhancement of just over $90,000 to the SSG budget, or 57% over expenses. Monetarily, SSG's benefit has been substantial in both years of Kenny Morgan's leadership. Of even greater significance has been the significant benefit to our community with the many improvements, but particularly the increased self esteem provided to the recipients and the noticeable self satisfaction of the Mission Camp participants themselves.
 
The Thrift  Shop is continuing to improve under the new style of management, whereby the staff of dedicated ladies receive a percentage of sales as pay for their employment. 
 
It is significant that, so far 2014  the Food Pantry provided food or hot meals for over 350 meals per month, with over 50% of those meals going to individuals over 60 years of age.
 
Without doubt SSG is providing a much needed support to our citizens, but at the same time seeking ways to enable them to lift themselves out of poverty.  www.sunsetgap.com

 

News and Events Around the Presbytery
Glory to God Hymnfest - Oct. 12

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God
with thankful hearts. Col. 3:16 NLT

Rev. Meg Flannagan
The Glory to God Hymnfest
will take place on Sunday, October 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Graystone Presbyterian Church (139 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville).  Our guest speaker is the Rev. Mary Margaret Flannagan, Advocacy and Relations Coordinator for Glory to God. All are welcome to attend: pastors, worship leaders, music directors, singers, instrumentalists, and congregation members.  If you are a singer or instrumentalist and would like to participate, please contact Anna Thomas, Director of Music, First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge at [email protected]Church Bulletin Insert

Washington Presbyterian Apple Festival - Oct 18
 
Come enjoy the
37th Annual Washington Presbyterian Church
Apple Festival!
Saturday, October 18 - 9 AM until 3 PM
Washington Presbyterian Church
7405 Washington Pike, Corryton

Follow signs to church pavilion.Apple

Apple Butter - Apple Cider - Apple Pies & Baked Goods - Bar-B-Q Sandwiches & Ribs - Country Market - Fried Apple Pies - Granny's Attic - Great Music - Silent Auction - Fun for Everyone!

Get there early! 
The fried apple pies, apple butter, and apple cider go quickly! Proceeds Go to Missions

Erin Presbyterian 3rd Annual Art Exhibit - Oct. 17-19
"Poppies Under the Tuscan Sun" by Betty Bullen 

 

"ART AND HORS D'OEUVRES"  

Erin Presbyterian Church in Bearden

200 Lockett Rd., Knoxville   

 

Hours:  

6:00-8:00pm Friday 

10:00-3:00pm Saturday 

12:30-2:00pm Sunday  

 

Free admission. Exhibit of paintings, photography, stained glass, woodworking and digital glass by 10 artists. Plus "cross" art by children and youth.  Art demonstration Sat. and Sun.  

Info: Joelle Smith 588-5350   

Event flyer 

 

Shannondale Presbyterian Save the Bell Tower Campaign - Beans & Cornbread Supper - Oct. 24

Although a small congregation, the members of Shannondale Presbyterian Church (4600 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville) are up to  something big!  In May, they started a campaign to raise money to repair the bell tower of their almost 128 year church building. The sides and floor of the tower are deteriorating and water sometimes comes through the ceiling of the entry way to the church.  They had an Up-Scale Yard Sale in May and raised about $3,000.  After a sign was put in the yard and television coverage by two local stations (WATE and WBIR) they started getting donations from people in the community.  Many people have said they enjoy hearing the bell ring and want it to continue. The bell, they are told, is still secure and it is rung every Sunday morning prior to the 10 a.m. service. 

On June 29th, the church sponsored a Piano Concert with Jim O'Connor, a church member and professional musician who plays at Club LeConte and The Orangery.  Because he is well known in the area, they were pleased to have about 90 people in attendance - the most that church has seen in many years!  A reception followed and over $1600 was collected in our "Save the Bell Tower" jar.

On Friday, October 24 they will have a Beans & Cornbread Supper with silent auction and entertainment. The cost is $10. The supper is 5:30-7 p.m. with entertainment by Dr. Hugh McCampbell following at 7:15 p.m.

Second Presbyterian, Chattanooga - Turning Hunger into Hope

 

Second Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga joined with scores of Chattanoogans to turn hunger into hope at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event September 14-16 at the Convention and Trade Center.

 

Nearly 50 adults, youth and children from Second participated in packing meals with 400 others on Sunday after worship combining great fellowship, deeper friendships among diverse ages, and a deep satisfaction in helping to provide nutritious meals. At this one session lasting only 2 hours more than 102 thousand meals were prepared - enough to feed 208 children for one year.

 

Last year FMSC distributed more than 196 million meals and in 2014 it is calculated that volunteers will pack and the organization will ship their one billionth meal. These "Manna Packs," as they are known, are sent to schools, orphanages, and NGOs around the globe. Community MobilePacks are scheduled throughout the country or can be arranged for specific groups.

 

If you wish to know more about Feed My Starving Children, go to www.fmsc.org.

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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].