The Loaves & Fishes Experience 2010 
April 16, 17, 2010
Sequoyah Hills PC, Knoxville
Our presbytery's biennial event organized to equip and inspire its participants took place in Knoxville, at the Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church on April 16 & 17, 2010.
“Loaves & Fishes is the best thing our presbytery does for us,” says an elder from Powell Church. “This year's Loaves & Fishes was outstanding... from the times spent with colleagues, to the variety of excellent workshops, to the inspiring worship experiences. Thank you..." says one pastor of a smaller member church.
Close to 200 Presbyterians gathered on a beautiful mid-April weekend at the Sequoyah Hills Church for Loaves and Fishes 2010. We learned new, lively songs in worship under the leadership of Chip Andrus - pastor, songwriter and scholar from Harrison, AR. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Gradye Parsons spoke to a packed room of interested folks Friday afternoon providing updates on what this summer's General Assembly will primarily address. Then in his keynote address that evening he challenged us to be either Surfers or Spectators as we relate with the huge waves of change in our culture. On Saturday morning Rhashell Hunter from the General Assembly preached an insightful and inspiring sermon “When You're Hiding in Plain Sight” informed by the text of Jesus relating to the Syro-Phoencian woman in Mark 7:24-30. With more Chip-led singing, engaging liturgy and Erin's Dayspring Dancers, doing a beautiful interpretive dance, participants gave glory to God. The closing part of the service was led by Carl Schlich and Rhashell serving the joyful feast of Communion
Workshops were held on Saturday throughout the hospitable facility at Sequoyah Hills. We learned about how to move a traditional church into the 21st C (Jan Edmiston), bringing clean water to Appalachia (Tim Myrick) and more about breathing new life into our small churches through missions (Ed Umbach). There were classes on many other topics, including - prayer, Christian education, stewardship, growing older, peacemaking, sacramental worship and living, youth ministries, pre-teens, reformed theology and self-care. Among the many displays featuring missions around our presbytery and the world, we also had Ten Thousand Villages, SERRV and Cokesbury with a handsome array of crafts, books and gift items for sale. And our John Knox Center's staff, led by Chris Ford, gave the elementary age children a memorable Kids Kamp experience.
Cheryl Child did a phenomenal job at coordinating the thousands of details with her planning team. Susan Hyde and her cadre from the church staff and the Local Arrangements Committee made sure that we were welcomed, well fed and knew where to go. To God be the glory!