The meeting packet will be posted to the Presbytery's website on Tuesday, April 21.

The Presbytery of East Tennessee has a new mailing address:

Presbytery of East Tennessee
P.O. Box 31625
Knoxville, TN 37930-1625

Please send any future correspondence to this address.  Our primary email address remains office@presbyteryeasttn.org.

The Big Tent is coming  

to the Presbytery of East Tennessee  

and volunteers are needed!

The Big Tent is a national gathering of Presbyterians - a great big family reunion! -that takes place every two years between the meetings of the General Assembly. This year Big Tent will offer a wide variety of workshops and speakers, all designed to inspire and equip Presbyterians to live missionally. There will be something for the whole family, including children's workshops and other activities.  

 

The Presbytery of East Tennessee and its member congregations have been asked to provide up to 200 volunteers to help with everything from onsite registration and information to assisting with worship. This is an incredible opportunity for us to extend the hand of fellowship to our brothers and sisters from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  

 

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at The Big Tent, please contact Dana Hendrix in the Presbytery Office (dana@presbyteryeasttn.org / 865-688-5581 ext. 101).

 

Registration fees:  

$395 single room / $380 double, includes meals and workshops

$295 for commuters

Children/youth: $150 age 6 & up, $100 age 5 & under

 

Visit www.pcusa.org/bigtent for registration, schedule of events, and other information. Registration is open!

  

 

They have an incredible array of fun activities planned on the UT campus, so be sure to register your kids!  They will not only have a wonderful time, but will have the opportunity to meet youth from all over the country. Volunteers are also welcome to help with these activities.  

 

Peacemaking Committee Scholarships for First-Time Attendees

 

To encourage new people to attend Big Tent, the Presbytery Peacemaking Committee will support up to 12 first-time attendees with $200 toward the registration cost. Please submit your nominations by email, via your pastor, to schalldon@att.net, copy to broady307@hotmail.com.  You will be notified by email when accepted. Reimbursement will require your proof of attendance.

Dear friends in faith,

 

We enter the Lenten season nurturing the seed of hope. Harbored within us, this seed finds expression only when exposed to the elements. This seed takes root when we put our faith into action. The Presbytery's Hunger Action Team invites you to join with us and break up our fallow ground - for it is time to seek the Lord, that God may come and rain righteousness upon us (Hosea 2:14-23).

 

Hunger is a real presence in our region. Second Harvest Food Bank reports that 1 in 6 people in East Tennessee currently experience poverty, and that 1 in 5 children risk going hungry today. Addressing crowds of 5,000 throughout the course of his ministry, Jesus speaks to the realities of hunger and discipleship among his community of followers. An approximate 200,000 East Tennesseans lack food security right now. Your congregation can help heal this reality.

 

The Hunger Action Team wants to thank the congregations of Fountain City, Lake Hills, Mars Hill, Powell, Rivermont, West Emory, and First Presbyterian of Rockwood for their generous Cents-Ability contributions, which helped to provide $8,000 in assistance to vital hunger ministries in our region. The Hunger Grant recipients for 2014 include the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Fountain City Ministry Center, Helping Hands Food Pantry, Morgan Scott Project, Roane County Cooperative Ministries and Scott County Homeless Shelter. These hands-on organizations are eager to partner with the Hunger Action Team in combating hunger and its causes in our region.

 

Strong communities can help prevent hunger. In addition to advertising and distributing hunger grant funds, the Hunger Action Team is committed to building a network of churches in East Tennessee who are actively involved in addressing the root causes of hunger and providing urgent hunger relief. Our mission is to engage, educate and equip individuals and churches within the Presbytery who are passionate about creating a world where adequate food and nutrition are available to all people. We are dedicated to addressing the realities of hunger both locally and globally through advocacy, funding and collaborative action.

 

We need you to help us sow the seeds of justice in order to reap the harvest of love. The Hunger Action Team invites your congregation to organize a Cents-Ability offering and send a liaison to join us in the work of rendering God's abundance accessible to all. In order to begin addressing the root causes of hunger in addition to providing crisis relief, we will need your help!

 

Please email Kate Caldwell via katehartleycaldwell@gmail.com to learn more about the Hunger Action Team and how you can get involved.

 

In service and gratitude,

 

Kate Caldwell

Hunger Action Team, Chair

Register for Camp John Knox! 

 

What makes summer at Camp John Knox so exceptional?

Everything!  From the games we play to the campfire songs, Camp John Knox gives campers a chance to expand their comfort zones and gain self-confidence and esteem.

Hiking, canoeing, swimming, arts & crafts, campfires, and hands on nature classes are just the beginning! Each day is packed with tons of activities. Give your child the opportunity to spend their days having a blast with new friends learning new skills and their evenings worshiping with the sun setting across the lake, singing praise songs around a campfire, and making thousands of memories.

For 55 years Camp John Knox has provided a safe, fun environment for campers to grow in faith, develop a positive self-image, and create friendships that last forever and this summer will be no different. Something for all ages! From Day Camps for our youngest to multi-adventure trips for older kids! With fun sessions for all ages in between! Register online and secure your spot!

 

Summer Camp Flyer

Churches!  Want your congregation to hear more about summer camp? Let us know and we will come and visit your church. A director would love to visit for a Sunday morning or evening or a Wednesday evening program; just let us know when you want us to come!

Covenant Partners

 

Do you know a high school student (ages 16-18) in your congregation who shows leadership qualities and is looking for an opportunity to serve the Church?  Covenant Partners is a leadership experience unique to Camp John Knox.  The program gives participants the important opportunity to develop skills, strengths, and talents while benefiting their church in the form of service and leadership. During their time at camp, C.P.'s learn leadership skills and develop individual talents and gifts.  They also focus on personal growth by challenging themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually; and will have the opportunity to put those skills into action working while at camp. Covenant Partners spend two weeks at camp (excluding weekends).  This is an incredible opportunity for youth to work and serve in the camp environment.  If you have someone in mind who would benefit from this incredible 2 week camp experience, please have them contact our Program Director Penny Laitos at penny@johnknoxcenter.org.  We look forward to working with your congregations.

Join PCUSA publisher, Clare Lewis, as we review and look over PCUSA curriculum for children, youth, and adults. Among the curriculum that she will present, Clare will have the new Growing in Grace and Gratitude curriculum that releases this Fall. This event is open to everyone.

Lunch will be provided. Please contact Crystal Fallesen at crystalfrpc@gmail.com to make a lunch reservation.

If you have not already ordered your 2015-16 Presbyterian Planning Calendars, you may join in on a bulk order with your friends in the Presbytery of East Tennessee.

 

The 2015-2016 Presbyterian Planning Calendar is wire-bound 8�" x 11" calendar, punched to fit standard binders, offers numerous useful features that keep you in touch with the church and its ongoing life and work.  

• Monthly calendar pages from June 2015 through December 2016
• Lectionary for the Lord's Day and special liturgical days
• Colors for the liturgical seasons
• Liturgical days, programmatic emphases and secular holidays
• Monthly planning suggestions and resources
• Synod, presbytery and GA staff directories
• Foldout synod/presbytery and world maps in color
• User-friendly size-easily fits into a binder

Regular per calendar price is $14.95 plus shipping - we are able to get a bulk order price of $9.25 per calendar. Calendars will be delivered to two locations: Rivermont Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga and Second Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. You will be notified when the calendars are in and ready to be picked up. Please complete the order form and mail it with a check made payable to The Presbytery of East Tennessee. Orders must be received by our office no later than Friday, April 24. If you have questions, please contact Dana Hendrix - 865-688-5581 ext. 101 / dana@presbyteryeasttn.org

Scholarships for First-Time Attendees to Big Tent 

 

To encourage new people to attend the Big Tent, the church's biennial gathering that is taking place in Knoxville this year, the Presbytery Peacemaking Committee will support up to 12 first-time attendees with $200 toward the registration cost. Please submit your nominations by email, via your pastor, to schalldon@att.net, copy to broady307@hotmail.com.  You will be notified by email when accepted. Reimbursement will require your proof of attendance.

 

2015 International Peacemaker  

 

The Presbytery Peacemaking Committee announces this year's International Peacemaker will be Hendrik Shanazarian from Iran. We are pretty well assured of getting Mr. Shanazarian for Friday, Oct 2 - Thursday, Oct 8. If he is unable to come, our second choice is Rwanda, then Cuba. His bio information will appear soon at the PC(USA) Peacemaking website.  Churches (and Maryville College) who desire to host the International Peacemaker should notify Donna Schall of preferred date and time (schalldon@att.net , phone 865-531-1788).

Youth Summit 2015 was a huge success!   

 

With Michelle Thomas-Bush as keynote leader, a hundred youth and adults learned about living a "Playfull Life!"  Plans are underway for next year's Youth Summit. Mark you calendars for the weekend of 

 

Youth Summit 2016   

February 26-28 

at the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg,TN 

 

More information will soon be coming about the leadership for this event.

 

Not to leave out the Middle School Youth, there will be...  

 

A Retreat for All 

Middle School Youth

Sept. 26-28, 2015  

at John Knox Center 

 

Watch for more information about this event.  If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Child at cherylchild@gmail.com or 865 573 7859.

April 8 & 15

9:00 - 10:30 a.m. @ Chik-Fil-A Bearden
4944 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919

April 8: Reaching Families with Disabilities
Kathy Bryant / Family Disability Expert

April 15: How to Plan & Execute a "Respite" Day
Linda Atkinson / Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church

Roundtables are open to all persons interested in helping local churches serve the Knoxville disability community.  And yes, they are free!

Flyer with registration information

As your high school seniors plan to go to college in the fall, don't forget to check out the Presbyterian ministries available on campus! The Presbytery of East Tennessee supports two campus ministries at UT-Knoxville and UT-Chattanooga.  The University of Memphis also has a Presbyterian campus ministry.  Go to UKirk: the Network of Collegiate Ministries of the PC(USA) to find a ministry at your college.

Several churches in our Presbytery have purchased new hymnals and would like to find good homes for their blue 1990 Presbyterian hymnals.  Check out our Classifieds page to find these and other items available, as well as job postings.

Did you know that our Presbytery was instrumental in the development of the John Calvin Apartments in Hixson, right off Hwy. 153, close to Memorial Hospital North and the Northgate Mall? For many, thoughts of this apartment complex and its ministry have faded, so it may be time to spend a few moments refreshing our memories.

                 

In 1980 - 1981, a group of Chattanooga Presbyterians decided it would be a wonderful thing to provide housing for the elderly members of our churches. Presbytery agreed to contribute ten thousand dollars and form a new, single asset non-profit for the distinct purpose of building housing for low income seniors.   Read more

 The current Presbyterian Homes of Chattanooga Board of Directors for the John Calvin Apartments are all members of Chattanooga area churches.

 

Northside Presbyterian: Carolyn Burnett, President; Leslie Morris, VP; and Clay Davis.  

Northminster Presbyterian:  Thomas Knight, Secretary; Lynne Shockley.   

Rivermont Presbyterian:  Paul Phillips    

Second Presbyterian:  William Fleming

First Presbyterian, Soddy Daisy: Julia McRee    

Mowbray Presbyterian, Berto Chauncey

New Hope Presbyterian: Marilyn Sewell Suber

Member at Large (non-voting):  Jim Abel

 

The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) at Maryville College has received a grant from the Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  

 

The $33,470 Thank Offering Grant will provide additional funding for this year's program, which will be held July 12 through Aug. 1 on the Maryville College campus. The Women's Fund of East Tennessee, a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation, along with private donors, also provided support for the 2015 program.  Read more 

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, dana@presbyteryeasttn.org.