Where has the Fall gone?  As John Knox Center transitions from a busy fall season to a quieter winter season, we take a minute to think back on what has happened at camp this Fall.

*Our River Ridge Environmental Education program has already welcomed more than 700 school children, along with their parents and teachers.  They have enjoyed time In God's creation, learning about science, nature, and team work in fun and innovative ways.  Our Environmental Education staff came to us this year from across the country including Tennessee, North Dakota, Indiana, and Minnesota.

*In September, Keith Wheeler of First Presbyterian Church, Sweetwater, delivered a great message at our Family Picnic.  Liz Peterson, 4th United Presbyterian, shared her gift of music and lead worship.  160 people enjoyed a day of recreation and relaxation at John Knox complete with good food and lots of fun program activities! Make plans to join us for this great event next year!

*In the midst of all this programming; churches, scout troops and other guest groups have enjoyed retreats at John Knox.

While things may be a little quieter in the winter, we offer some great program opportunities.  In January, come and join us for Sewing on the River.  Bring your stash and half-finished projects to enjoy a week of fellowship around a sewing machine.  Sewing on the River starts January 26th and participants can spend 2, 3, or 4 nights at John Knox. Please visit our website, johnknoxcenter.org for more information and to register for this event.     

Mr. Peter Steyn, moderator of the Board of Directors of HOPE 808 is pleased to announce the appointment of two new staff members. The Reverend Tricia Dillon Thomas has been named interim director of campus ministry (part-time). She assumes her duties on November 2. The Board looks forward to her leadership in the continuing development of programming to nurture the spiritual lives of the members of the UTC community and to her role as interim in assisting the Board in its reassessment of the structure of this important ministry in the Presbytery of East Tennessee. The Board looks forward to the new perspectives Rev. Thomas will bring to the ministry.

Rev. Thomas is joined by Terry Paris, ruling elder at Northside, Chattanooga, who will serve as coordinator of hospitality. Mrs. Paris has long been active in the campus ministry at UT-Chattanooga. She has resigned as a Board member to assume her new full-time duties in making the house a welcoming place which nurtures body and soul. Among her accomplishments as a volunteer was the establishment of a coffee house within the center. She will also be working with the faithful local churches that assist the ministry in providing meals for the students - a big job in a growing program which feeds over 100 students at its well-known Tuesday noon gatherings!

HOPE 808 is located in the historic Ft. Wood district in downtown Chattanooga. It was built at the turn of the 20th century by the Hope family; its address is 808 Vine Street, thus its designation as HOPE 808.

The Board of HOPE 808 is composed of members of the local churches and falls under the Equip Mission Team of the presbytery.

Our Presbyterian Women serve beyond East Tennessee 

Presbyterian Women enjoy a multitude of opportunities to use our talents and resources to share the good news of God's love, to build relationships, and to be used for God's service. Not only do we have a strong network of women in East Tennessee, we also serve on the Coordinating Team of the PW Synod of Living Waters and have a particularly close relationship with the PW Synod of South Atlantic as both synods support Columbia Friendship Circle (CFC) at Columbia Theological Seminary and Mission Haven in Decatur, GA.

For the 2013-2014 fiscal year, PW contributed $41,911.21 to CFC to provide scholarships for three seminary students who have children and who have demonstrated strong academic and leadership qualities. These scholarships will pay for tuition, fees, insurance expenses, etc., allow the students to give up the extra job, and then spend more time with their families. What blessings for them!

Mission Haven, home away from home for PC (USA) Missionaries on furlough, those studying in the area, or those in transition after retirement or the end of their term, is totally owned and operated by Presbyterian Women in AL, FL, GA, MS, SC and TN. Housing consists of three homes and six apartments - all fully furnished. A clothes closet provides good quality new and used clothing for the residents as well as local seminary students.

At two of our PW PET Fall Spiritual Retreats in September, we collected underwear for women, men and children to help stock the Mission Haven Clothes Closet. We delivered five 13-gallon size bags stuffed-full of "down unders"when we attended the October 16th meetings of the Mission Haven Board and the Columbia Friendship Council - Presbytery Women Moderators Meeting, both held at Columbia Seminary. Needless to say, the "down unders"were greatly appreciated.

Presbyterian Women enjoy a great fellowship and we encourage all the women of our churches to join us and share in our important ministry.

International Peacemaker's Ministry a Microcosm of Self Help

 When Rosario Jocabed (Joca) Gallegos Viesca, this year's Mexican International Peacemaker, visited our Presbytery the last week of September, we did not expect such an exceptional, down-to-earth leader. She is Mexican Coordinator with Frontera de Cristo, a bi-national Presbyterian border ministry between the sister cities of Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, Sonora. Even though she graduated from the Presbyterian Seminary in Mexico City, she cannot be ordained, per the rules of the Mexican Presbyterian Church. (This difference caused the break-off of the Mexican Presbyterian Church in 2011, but the Mexican and U.S. churches continue to work together on such projects as Frontera de Cristo.)

While migration north from Latin America continues, small villages that were once self-sustaining through local agriculture now find themselves filled with more and more impoverished people. Joca said during just a few years in the earlier 2000's Agua Prieta jumped from a population of only 8,000 to 40,000. And with that came more poverty and drugs, prostitution and all the scourges of people living in areas that cannot support the population.

Joca talked about at-risk youth getting involved with the drug cartel, then prostitution at as young as 10 years old, in order to help provide food for their families. To further their interpersonal relationships with such young people and provide them alternative means of making a living, Frontera de Cristo is working in partnership with JUST COFFEE (a coffee grower cooperative) to build a coffee house where there is dignified work, where minors can be counseled on drug intervention/prevention, where they have art and music, and where the love of God can be shared.

Joca emphasized the importance of having a relationship with those that you want to help, not just offering money. Frontera de Cristo, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, has short-term immersion programs for those who desire hands-on experience with the ministry.

Frontera de Cristo and JUST COFFEE are ministries responding proactively to global economic issues that leave most of us feeling totally powerless. You can find more information on both at www.fronteradecristo.org and www.justcoffee.org. For a fascinating primer on developing local economic opportunity, THE PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK recommends the book JUST COFFEE: CAFFEINE WITH A CONSCIENCE by Mark Adams and Tommy Bassett.

While she was here in E. Tennessee, Joca spoke at: 5 churches in greater Knoxville and Chattanooga areas to over 250 people, the PW Fall Retreat, 2 classes and chapel at Maryville College (about 130), and a UT anthropology class. We were all privileged to meet her.

2014 Sanctuary Speaker Series

Westminster Presbyterian Church

6500 Northshore Drive, Knoxville

Dr. Deanna Thompson, Professor of Religion at Hamline University

Sat., Nov. 8 - 7:00pm in the Sanctuary, "Hoping for More"

Sun., Nov. 9 - 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall, "The Virtual Body of Christ"

Sun., Nov. 9 - 9:00am and 11:00am in the Sanctuary, "Hope"

Deanna Thompson, PhD., author of Hoping For More, is a stage IV breast cancer survivor who documented her journey through disease and recovery in her thought-provoking book. This is not just a book for those who have personal experience with cancer. It is also a guide for reaching out to people with chronic or life-threatening illness. There is no charge for this event, and books will be available for purchase following the presentation Saturday evening.

Visit http://wpcknox.org for further information. 865-584-3957

Folk@Fourth Concert Series  

Common Table - Common Purpose

Fourth United Presbyterian Church

1323 North Broadway, Knoxville

Nov. 12 - The Lonetones

Dec. 3 - Boogertown Gap

Jan. 7 - RB Morris

6:00pm - Tickets $10 at the door

An evening meal and an evening of song. Raise your cup and your voice with us at Fourth United Presbyterian's folk music series.

An informal home cooked meal will be served at 6:00pm. Bring a friend and make some new ones. We think you'll like the idea...we'll set the table for you. Just show up and enjoy. Children under 12 free.