|
May Devotional |
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|
Bideeo!
By Molly
Garnett
Interim Associate Executive Presbyter for the
Care of Church Professionals
"Bideeo!"
My curly-headed toddler was
desperately trying to tell me something. A Bible
storybook in his chubby little fist, he almost shook
with intensity.
"Bideeo!
Bideeo!"
Finally, flipping through the pages, we
found what he sought...
To read the rest of
the devotional, click here. |
| Did someone share our
e-newsletter with you? |
 |
| PET Calendar |
|
|
2008 Presbytery Meetings:
Saturday,
May 3 @ 10:00am - First,
Knoxville
Tuesday,
August 19 @ 10:00am - Location
TBA
(packet deadline: July
31)
Saturday,
November 15 @ 10:00am - Location
TBA
(packet deadline: Oct.
28)
May
Clergy Gatherings:
Retired
Ministers: Fri. 5/2, 12:00pm @ New Providence
Interim Ministers: Mon. 5/5,
11:00am @ The Gondolier Restaurant in Sweetwater
May
Mission Team/Committee
Meetings:
New Vision Committee - 5/6,
12:00pm @ First, Sweetwater Equip Mission
Team - 5/8, 10:00am @ Mars Hill
Outdoor Ministries Team - 5/10,
10:00am @ John Knox Center
Committee on Ministry - 5/13,
11:00am @ Mars Hill
Committee on Preparation
for Ministry - 5/15, 12:00pm @ First,
Harriman
Events
at John Knox Center:
Dates for Summer Camp 2008 online at the JKC web site. Once there, click on
Summer Camp.
For the latest meeting and
events information, go to the presbytery website: www.presbyteryeasttn.org
and click on the Calendar of Events
link.
Church Info-Pak Deadlines
for 2008:
These Info-Paks include information
for pastors and sessions, notices of churchwide events,
resources for church educators, and the presbytery
calendar. Info-Paks are mailed to all churches,
affiliated colleges and agencies, at-large and retired
ministers, and current members of PET mission teams and
committees.
|
| 2009 Mission
Yearbooks |
|
|
Order through PET and
save money
It is time to
order the 2009 Mission Yearbook. The bulk price
remains at $5.10 each, compared to $9.25 each plus
shipping. The order form and payment must be
received in the Presbytery Office by July 7 to be
included in the bulk order. Orders must be picked up at the Presbytery
office, 609 Cedar Lane, Knoxville.
To print or download the order
form, click here.
|
| PC(USA) Resources for Lay
Leaders |
|
The Office of
Theology and Worship and the Office of Christian
Formation have two programs for lay
leaders:
The
Christian Discipleship Network for Deacons, Elders and
Congregational Leaders is a new network of
highly trained regional servant leadership specialists
who will facilitate quarterly training and networking
sessions for church leaders. To find out more
about this network, click here.
 The
Order of Elders is a membership-based
program that offers resources to guide elders in their
calling and provides opportunities to network with
others. For more information about The Order,
click here. |
| Board of Pensions
News |
|
Here's what you'll find
in the latest newsletter from Helen Locklear, our
regional BOP representative:
*Relaunch
of Pension.org includes new BenefitsConnect
tool
*A new Member Advocate position has been
created
*Introducing Stewardship of
Self
*Disability Benefits transition to Liberty
Mutual
*Board of Directors meeting
summary
*Middle Governing Body
Grants
To read the full newsletter, click here. |
| Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance |
|
Calling Youth to
the Gulf Coast - You Have a
Mission!
Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance is recruiting interested youth (16+)
and adults to serve on hurricane relief mission teams in
the Gulf Coast area this summer. For more
information, go to the PDA website: www.pcusa.org/pda.
For a PDF of a full color flyer, click here. |
| News from Montreat |
|
Presbyterian Heritage Center Grand
Opening
The Presbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) at Montreat
will hold its Grand Opening on Memorial Weekend
- at 10:30 am, Saturday, May 24,
2008. The Center will offer an
innovative, interactive and educational museum and
research facility (onsite and online) presenting
Presbyterian history and Reformed heritage, the church's
tradition of worldwide mission, and the interesting role
of Montreat. For more information visit the Center's
website at www.phcmontreat.org.
Reclaiming the Text Conference,
May 26-30
Consider a
continuing education that does not cost a fortune.
Montreat's annual Reclaiming the Text Conference (aka
Preacher's Conference) will be May 26 to 30 in the
beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.
This year's theme is
"New Life Emerging from
Ancient Texts: Breathing New Life Into the
Lectionary"and our keynote speaker is Dianna Butler Bass
along with many seminary professors, deans, and
chaplains who will lead the multiple workshops
offered. Details can be found at www.montreat.org.
Mark Lampley, associate
pastor at Sequoyah Hills, will
be glad to not only answer any questions, but also
carpool for the conference. Contact him at:
Attn: Church
Professionals
Montreat
is offering a special rate at the Assembly Inn for
church professionals - $55 per night, June 1-6
and July 13-19. For more information, click here. |
| We Want Your News! |
|
|
The purpose of this
newsletter is to provide you with the
information and support you need to keep in touch
and connected with your fellow Presbyterians in East
Tennessee. This monthly publication features news
and events from around the presbytery, resources to
assist you in your ministry, and devotionals authored by
our members.
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, preferably in electronic format. Her
e-mail address is Dana@presbyteryeasttn.org. | | |
| PET Stated Meeting, May 3 at
First, Knoxville |
|
|
The
Ninety-Fifth Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of East
Tennessee will be held on Saturday, May 3 at
First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
Registration will begin at 9:30am and the meeting will
begin at 10:00am.
At this meeting, the Interim Executive
Presbyter Search Committee will be presenting their
candidate, the Rev. Dr. Carl
Schlich (pronounced "slish"). For
information about Dr. Schlich, click here.
Please note that a special offering of
canned food will be taken up during the worship
service in the morning. This offering will help
establish a new food pantry at the Marcella Center in
Sweetwater. (See next article
below.) |
| A Special Food Offering for
the Marcella Center's New Food
Pantry |
|
By Deborah
Phillips, Hunger Action Enabler
 Have you ever had the opportunity
to help fill the shelves of a new food pantry? The opportunity
lies before us to show our concern for the hungry during
our next worship time together. You may have seen the
agenda for the May 3, 2008 presbytery meeting and
noticed a special request in the worship portion: Please bring canned
goods for an offering to support the new food pantry at
the Marcella Center in Sweetwater. This will be a
special offering brought forward individually during
worship.
To learn more about the
Marcella Center and review a list of suggested items for
the offering, click here. |
| From the Committee on
Nominations |
|
WANTED: Faithful Presbyterians with
gifts and enthusiasm for service in the Church of Jesus
Christ through the Presbytery's mission teams,
committees, and groups. The Presbytery's
Committee on Nominations is seeking your recommendations
of yourself or persons from your congregation who are
called to serve the church on the Presbytery level.
A form to submit your
nominations is on the presbytery website (under
Resources - Forms) or you may download or print the form
by clicking here.
The Committee
needs to receive your forms by July 1.
Thanks for your participation
in the nominating process,
Ann Owens Brunger for the Committee on
Nominations
|
| No Child Should Miss the Camp
Experience |
|
 Whether it is a single mom working
two jobs or a family of four who would like all their
children to have a camp experience, no child should miss
coming to camp because of financial hardship. This
is why we have established the Camp John Knox
Scholarship Program. Camp John Knox would like to
partner with your church to send kids to camp this
summer. We offer sessions for kids ages
4-18. Scholaships are awarded based on need and
other contributing factors.
For a camper scholarship form, click here. Campers need to register as
soon as possible to secure their space in the camp
program.
For more information, click here. |
| Loaves & Fishes 2008
Wrap-Up |
|
|
 The Loaves & Fishes
Experience, April 4-5, 2008, at Rivermont in Chattanooga
was a tremendous success! A good 250 folks from around
the presbytery were equipped and inspired by the worship
services, the workshops, the delicious food and the
times spent with fellow Presbyterians.
Hear from some of those who
participated:
- Everything was well planned
and organized.
- The Listeners Forum was
very informative.
- The Extended Expressions
with Synod Executive Terry Newland was helpful for
knowing more about the national church trends, problems
and hopes. - Eugenia Gamble's keynote address
was very inspiring, affirming and challenging...
FABULOUS.
To read more
comments from the weekend, click here.
The Loaves & Fishes
Experience will take place again in two years, due to
budgetary restraints of the Presbytery. But we are
looking forward to it being at the Sequoyah Hills
Presbyterian Church, the weekend of April 16-17,
2010. |
| Environmental
Stewardship |
|
Spring "Green"
Cleaning
This article was written by Lisa Ellis, a member of
Environmental Care Team at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, and originally
appeared in the church's newsletter.
This year as you begin that
wonderful ritual known as spring cleaning, you might try
a few of these earth friendly
ideas:
 Window
Washing - Combine equal parts of white
vinegar & warm water in a spray bottle. Wipe clean
with sheets of newspaper. Then recycle the
newspaper when you're finished!
Furniture Polish -
Combine 2 parts olive oil to 1 part
lemon juice in a squeeze bottle. Shake well and
squeeze a little onto a soft cloth for an excellent wood
cleaning/polish.
Kitchen & Bath
- Use baking soda & wet sponge
to clean counters, sinks & tubs. For hard water
residue, try vinegar or lemon juice in equal
parts with water, in a spray
bottle.
For more "green" cleaning
ideas, click here. |
| News and Events Around the
Presbytery |
|
Center for Strong Communities
Reception
 In celebration of its first full year of service,
the Center for Strong Communities (CSC) at
Maryville College is hosting a
reception for the public.The event, scheduled for
3:30-5:30 p.m., May 7, in the Proffitt
Dining Room of Pearsons Hall, will include a PowerPoint
presentation on the CSC's activities in 2007-2008 and a
discussion of program and partnership priorities for the
2008-2009 academic year.
To read more about the
Center for Strong Communities, click here.
Take a Fair Trade
Coffee Break
 The
Presbyterian Campus Ministry at
UT-Chattanooga invites you to join them on
Saturday, May 10 from 9:00am to
2:00pm for a Fair Trade Coffee
Break. They are located at 808 Vine Street.
Why is this coffee so
special? To find out, clickhere.
Volunteers
Needed!
 Saturday, May 10, River Ridge & John
Knox Center will be
hosting the First Annual Girl Scout Appreciation
Day and a few extra hands would be appreciated. There will be
canoeing, swimming, and food where we could use a few
volunteers.
Certified lifeguards, EMT/EMS, etc. are all
welcome to come be of assistance. Feel free to
come and join us either way! To volunteer, call Rachel
Norris, Director of the River Ridge Environmental
Education Program, at 865-376-2236.
Older Adult
Ministry Group Annual Spring
Event
 Noted author of children's books,
Roxie Gibson, will be the featured speaker at the annual
spring event sponsored by the Older Adult
Ministry Group of the Presbytery of East
Tennessee. The event will be held on
Wednesday, May 14, from 9:30am to 1:30pm at Mars
Hill Presbyterian Church in Athens. The
cost is $10 per person.
For more information and a
registration form, click here.
Northminster
Event Celebrates
Diversity
The Session
through the Evangelism Committee at Northminster
Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga
is inviting friends and family of the
Presbytery to a very special event on Saturday,
May 31, 2008. This will be a
time for creating appreciation for diversity in our
community.
The event, which goes from 10:00am until
3:00pm is highlighted by presenters Dr. Luke
Powery (ThD. U. of Toronto), Assistant Professor of
Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr.
Emerson Powery (PhD. Duke Univ.), Professor of New
Testament at Lee University in Cleveland,
Tennessee.
Emerson is a co-editor of True to Our Native
Land: An
African-American New Testament Commentary. They will come
from an African-American perspective on
"Spirituals, Slave Narratives and
African-American Biblical Interpretation". Music and song
will be evident during this event, as well. Lunch will be
served by the Church - RSVPs are requested.
For more
information, click here.
Maryville College
Summer Youth
Get-a-Way
 The 2008 Summer Youth Get-a-Way
at Maryville College, June 8-12, is an
exciting five-day retreat that fuses discovering a
potential for leadership with exploring the values of
Christian Faith in a complex world. Rising
10th, 11th and 12th grade students will spend
the week contemplating how their gifts might answer the
needs of the world.
Room and board fees for four nights
are $150 per student and financial aid is
available.
Tuition and program fees are funded by the
Maryville College Initiative on
Vocation.
For more information,
click here.
Officer
Training Event, Aug. 2
The Presbytery is
sponsoring another Officer Training
Event on Saturday, Aug. 2 at First
Presbyterian Church in Cleveland. The
event is from 9:00am to 1:00pm with lunch
included. Participants will choose one of
two workshops being offered: Presbyterians
in the Bible Belt...what's so unique about our Reformed
Theology? OR Elders as
Spiritual Leader (What? Isn't the Session like a Board
of Directors?)
For more information and a registration
form, click here.
The
Shepherd's Crook
 David Tullock, pastor of
Northside Presbyterian Church in
Cleveland, is happy to announce the
release of his first book, The Shepherd's
Crook. It is available for
purchase at www.xlibris.com. In few weeks after its
release, it will also be available at www.amazon.com, or at any major bookstore in
the summer. If they do not have it in stock, they
can order it. All the proceeds of the
book will go to Parson's Porch,
a
ministry of pastoral care to the poor and
disenfranchised. To learn
more about
Parson's Porch, go to http://parsonsporch.com.
Other books scheduled to be published in
2008 are Killinger: Celebrating 75
Years; Mingling Heart and
Mind; Safe Thus Far: An
Autobiography and Tools for a Grieving
Church. |
| PET Marketing and Advertising
Update |
|
|
The marketing and advertising
evangelism program continues throughout April and May,
with special billboards covering our area. All of the
boards have the same Presbyterian cross graphic, but
each of them tells you that you can find a certain thing
at our churches.
Find love, compassion, faith, forgiveness, hope,
grace, community, acceptance, and peace - all things
that we have in abundance in our congregations! The locations
are available - please email Donna Hoppestad for a
current list at 2008newvision@gmail.com.
For more
information about the advertising and marketing program
and resources available to your congregation,
click here. |
| Quick Links |
|
Mission Team
Blogs:
The Tool Box - Equip
Resources for ministry, conference
announcements, grant application forms,
etc.
Care Cafe -
Support
Special events for
clergy and their families, area clergy lunches,
conference info, link to BOP, etc.
|
| Spread the News! |
|
| Don't keep the good news of our presbytery to
yourself! You can easily forward this newsletter
to others (friends, family, church members, etc.) by
using the convenient "Forward email" link at the bottom
of this newsletter. To help them get on the list
to receive our newsletter directly every month, you
can tell them to go to our website -- www.presbyteryeasttn.org -- where we
have a sign up button right in the middle of our home
page. We appreciate your
help! | | |
