Events, activities, and news for the Presbytery of East Tennessee, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Stated Meeting of the Presbytery
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Saturday, February 8, 2020
First Presbyterian Church
433 North Ocoee Street
Cleveland, TN 37311
Registration begins at 9:30am
Meeting begins at 10:00am
The meeting packet is available on the presbytery website.
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From the Hunger Committee
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Lenten Meditations on Hunger from Bread for the World
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With Lent beginning at the end of February, Bread for the World offers free table tents of Bible readings, prayers and activities concerning hunger, which are linked to the Lectionary, Year A. The table tents are suitable for home use or adult Sunday School classes. They can be ordered online from
www.bread.org
by searching for
Lenten Meditations on Hunger
.
“Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Working through churches, campuses, and other organizations, Bread for the World equips and inspires people of faith to persuade Congress to change the policies and conditions that allow hunger to persist.”
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Since churches are tax exempt organizations, we are limited in lobbying Congress for legislation to end hunger. Bread for the World is not tax exempt and, therefore, can lobby freely. This year it will sponsor an Advocacy Day in Washington, DC on June 9-10.
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From the Immigration Crisis Task Force
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The Serve Team, acting on a recommendation from the Peacemaking Committee, has established an Immigration Crisis Task Force to investigate the current crisis in order to advise the Presbytery and its congregations on how to compassionately respond to this critical situation.
The purpose of the Immigration Crisis Task Force is to enable and empower the congregations of our Presbytery to make better informed and just decisions about how to be involved in the current immigration crisis.
Please take a moment to complete this short survey through this link to tell us about your congregation’s involvement in this critical issue.
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June 13, 2020
John Knox Center's 60th year of ministry
More details to follow
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Summer camp registration is open! Registrations are rolling in.
Register now!!
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Covenant Partners - June 7 - June 17
Marathon Camp - June 21 - July 3
Night Owl Camp - June 16 - June 19
High School Adventure - July 5 - July 10
Marathon Camp - June 21 - July 3
Middle School Adventure - July 12 - July 21
Night Owl Camp - June 16 - June 19
Marathon Camp - June 21 - July 3
Native Ways Camp - July 5 - July 10
Mini Camp - June 14 - June 17
Day Camp #1 - June 8 - June 12
Day Camp #2 - July 13 - July 17
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Summer Staff Applications
are now open
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"Best camp ever. I can't say enough about
the positive experience our daughter has had
each year."
- Angie, summer camp parent.
"Staff has been such an amazing experience.
I love every day at camp and it never feels like work because I love it. Watching campers grow in faith and character is such an amazing experience. And in the end, you learn just
as much from them as they do from you."
-Andrew Brittain, 1st Pres Oak Ridge
Do you know a young adult in your congregation or within your community who is looking for a life changing summer of service, play and faith development? Encourage them to apply to be on staff at John Knox Center. We are looking for people 18 and older to serve as support staff, lifeguards, counselors, adventure programming staff and other positions.
Click
HERE
to learn more and apply. Contact our Program Director, Ryan Hughes,
[email protected]
, for more information.
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Presbyterian Campus Ministry
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On January 15th, Rev. Rachel Penmore was installed as UKirk UTK's Campus Minister.
We are extremely thankful for all of those that came to worship with us that evening and for those that couldn't be there but continue to show their support and love of UKirk. We are excited for this next chapter in our ministry.
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Maryville College Cummings Conversations
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2020 Margaret B. Cummings Conversations on Faith, Learning, and Service - March 9 & 10
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Each year the Center for Campus Ministry at Maryville College invites a guest speaker to help spark conversation on campus about important issues related to faith, ethics, and current social challenges. The 2020 Margaret B. Cummings Conversations on Faith, Learning, and Service will be Monday evening March 9 and Tuesday afternoon March 10. Our speaker will Lucia Hulsether, Asst. Professor of Religion at Skidmore College. Lucia holds degrees from Agnes Scott College, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale University. Her primary research focuses on compassionate capitalism, and how religious communities think about such things as fair trade, microfinance, and impact investing, in imagining ways to make positive change in the world.
Here's the link to the press release:
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Full disclosure: some of you know Lucia Hulsether, who is Anne McKee’s daughter. Lucia was deeply shaped by growing up in and around the churches of the Presbytery of East Tennessee. She is likely to tell a story about her confirmation class at Farragut. In fact, the second of her two talks is called “Total Depravity!” If that doesn’t make you want to come, I can’t imagine what will.
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From the Peacemaking Committee
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Parades Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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January 20, the national holiday honoring Nobel laureate Martin Luther King, Jr., saw Presbyterians of East Tennessee braving low-20s temperatures and snow flurries to march in Chattanooga, Alcoa-Maryville, Knoxville, and probably other places.
Ranging in age from young children to octogenarians, these peaceful demonstrators paid tribute to King and racial and ethnic equality with homemade signs as well as banners proclaiming "Presbyterians for Peace and Justice."
The events recalled how members of our denomination of all races, during the 1960s, marched for basic civil rights. Then UPUSA Stated Clerk Eugene Carson Blake, with other clergy and lay people, joined the historic event in Washington, where King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Others braved the march from Selma, Ala., and suffered arrest and injury at the Edmund Pettus Bridge there and elsewhere.
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The Rev. Laura Becker, of Northminster Church, with other clergy, lines up for Chattanooga parade.
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Members of all ages from Highland Church, Maryville, prepare to step off from Alcoa's MLK Center before the Blount County parade.
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Clerk of Session Reminders
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Annual Church Statistics Report
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The statistical reporting system is up and running. Here is the link to the online statistical reporting site:
http://oga.pcusa.org/stats
Guidance on how to complete the statistical report is provided alongside each question.
The last day you can enter data for your statistical report is Thursday, February 20
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The 2020 Annual Compensation Report for Ministers and Commissioned Lay Pastors
serving churches
If you have questions or need assistance
, please contact Dana Hendrix, Presbytery Administrator -
[email protected]
/ 865-688-5581 ext. 101
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Montreat Older Adult Ministry Conference
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April 30 - May 1
Organized by POAMN, the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network
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"Stronger Together:
Faith In Action Across Generations"
If you work with older adults or if you want to thrive after 55, you will want to attend
Stronger Together: Faith in Action Across Generations, April 30 – May 1 at the Montreat Conference Center.
Registration is now open, with early bird rates until March 1. Accommodations, meals, and sessions are all located at the recently renovated Assembly Inn. The day and half conference is organized by POAMN, the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network, in collaboration with committed leaders from our region.
Highlights include addresses by Eileen Linder, Deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, and Cindy Kohlman, Co-Moderator of the 223
rd
General Assembly. Worship will be led by Jon Brown, former Program Director at Montreat . Exceptional and experienced leaders will offer workshops covering the gamut of older adult concerns and issues. These breakout sessions include Beginning and Building Older Adult Ministry, Nutrition and Health, Transitions, Sage-ing, Leaving a Spiritual Legacy, Musical Morphine, Active Spirituality, Becoming a Dementia Friendly Congregation, Loss, and Grief.
Students from Appalachian State will lead two workshops on healthy eating. Plus, there will be moments for hiking, visiting the labyrinth and wildlife sanctuary, entertainment, mountain air, relaxed fellowship, and more. This conference is a great opportunity for volunteer and professional leaders, retired clergy and church educators, and active senior adults. Consider bringing a group from your congregation. Spend a night or two, or come as a commuter. Check out our
brochure
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News & Events Around the Presbytery
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Highland Presbyterian Church
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Members of Maryville's Highland Church, which is sponsoring settlement of a Congolese family, survivors of terrorism and life in refugee camps, helped dedicate their east Knoxville home Jan. 19.
At the request of husband and wife Janvier Malipo and Mayele Vumillya, all assembled on the front porch. As per tribal custom, Mr. Malipo sprinkled with water the front door and eventually every room from basement to second floor.
In each part of the house Highland's interim pastor read a Bible verse and prayed a short collect. The ceremony climaxed with the blessing of the dining room, where all joined in brief home Communion.
Ms. Vumillya, expecting a baby soon, served everyone delicious red beans on rice with special spices resembling the cuisine of New Orleans.
The home blessing combined that of the new PCUSA
Book of Common Worship
(2018) with United Methodist, Lutheran, and Episcopal similar liturgies.
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Fairfield Glade Community Church
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Members of Fairfield Glade Community Church gathered on the 14
th
of January to make pouches for orphaned and injured animals of the recent bushfires in Australia. The pouches are being delivered to the Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild for Australia.
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First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville
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First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, has approximately 75 copies of the red “Hymnbook” (1955 edition)…if any church has a need of these gently, used hymnbooks, please call the church office: 865-546-2531.
On the Presbytery's
Classifieds Page
of the website, you can find this and other notices of available items and job openings at our churches.
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Staff:
Judd Shaw, General Presbyter
865-688-5581 ext. 103
James McTyre, Stated Clerk
865-688-5581 ext. 104
Josh McGill, Treasurer
865-654-4646
Bri Payne, Executive Director, John Knox Center
865-376-2236
Dana Hendrix, Presbytery Administrator
865-688-5581 ext. 101
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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]
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Presbytery of East Tennessee | P.O. Box 31625, Knoxville TN 37930
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