|
Clerk’s Report
The Session of John Knox Presbyterian Church met on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 11:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall for their monthly Stated Meeting. Associate Pastor Rev. Carter Rief served as Moderator.
Transition Team
Ken Rowe, Moderator of the Transition Team, reported that they have conducted both phone and in-person interviews with Bridge Interim Pastor applicants. They are close to making an offer.
December Stated Session Meeting
The next Session meeting would be Dec. 21. Because Greenville County Schools close for 2 weeks of holidays Dec. 19, Session voted to move the meeting to Dec. 14, 2025, at 11:30 AM. Newly elected Elders will be invited to this meeting, and lunch will be served.
Following are a few of the other items discussed.
Administrative
· Financial expenses are under budget. Pledges and general revenue are ahead of YTD budget through October.
Christian Education (CE)
· CE Committee did not meet in November, but Anna Kenan submitted reports from Staff that are summarized in Staff Reports section.
Christian Mission & Outreach (CMO)
· Lake Forest Elementary is asking for food drive instead of coat drive, at least until December 15. They are in desperate need of canned goods and other shelf stable items. Collection bins are in Narthex and Church Office building. Peggy Pulver is JK liaison with LFE.
· Side-by-Side and Greer Relief have teamed to sponsor Angel Tree Ministry this year. Side-by-Side made ornaments for the tree. On the back of each is QR code to access Amazon wish list to purchase gifts for the Christmas Morning Shoppe at Greer Relief. We can also use Greer Relief’s Amazon wish list to purchase gifts. Jessica and Stella Bixler are the collection contacts for this ministry.
Evangelism
· Work on podcast and visual marketing continues. Bread delivery is going well, and note cards are being sent visitors.
Fellowship
· Farewell luncheon honoring Betsy and Gordon Turnbull on Nov. 16, their last Sunday at John Knox, went really well. There will be no December luncheon because of so many other holiday events. Next church-wide luncheon is Jan. 11, 2026 after 10:00 AM worship service. Chili cook-off luncheon is Feb. 8, 2026.
· It is time to shift members in Supper Club groups. Sign-ups are in December.
Music & Worship
· There will be two services Christmas Eve: 5:00 PM in Sanctuary and 11:00 PM in Chapel. Children’s Choir and Chancel Choir will sing at 5:00 service; reception will follow. Betty and Graham Ward will provide music in 11:00 service.
· Annual Hanging of the Greens will be Nov. 30 at 5:00 PM. Over 50 poinsettias have been ordered. Article in Steepletalk will tell people how to dedicate poinsettias in honor or in memory of a loved one.
· John Knox will host Greenville Chamber Singers Christmas Concert on Dec. 4 at 7:00 PM in our Sanctuary.
· Mason Whildin has been approved for both baptism into the faith and membership into John Knox Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
Nurture
· Jessica Bixler is working on care packages for college students and requests anyone wishing to write note(s) contact her.
· Twenty-three John Knox members will serve as Care Companions in 2026.
· Quilters sent 8 quilts to WNC for distribution by Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville on Nov. 20. Eight quilts will be given to Guatemalan refugee families soon.
· Side-by-Side Respite Care added Wednesdays to their weekly schedule beginning Oct. 22. Discussion continues on how to increase participant and volunteer counts.
· Serving Saturday on Nov. 15 had 13 volunteers servicing 3 homes.
Property and Operations
· Expenses are 9.3% below budget YTD through October 2025.
· May 2023 hail damage repair update: Sanctuary lightning protection system is system of strategically placed vertical copper or aluminum rods, heavy-duty conductor cables and grounding electrodes to provide safe path for lightning strikes to dissipate into the earth. P&O will meet with insurance carrier re “certification” and schedule installation.
· Playground renovation is complete. Dedication ceremony was Oct. 27 at 5:15 PM. Playground is now in use!
· Kitchen water heater and Gym HVAC have been repaired.
· Current fence at Columbarium will be replaced with originally designed fence.
· Current Sanctuary HVAC is mostly original from the 1970’s. P&O discussed plan of readiness, including updated quote, funding source and disruption of facility and services. Note that quote in 2023 was around $275,000.
Staff Reports:
Susan Felton, Director of Children’s Ministry, reported the children who participated in Seeds of Service Mission Challenge were celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 9. Each had received $100 S.O.S. grant. Olin Bixler, Adrian Fragoso, Sydney Jackson, Emerson Rigot, Eli Watson and Sam Watson were recognized as Susan spoke on what each had done with the money. These organizations were recipients of their work: Shriner’s Hospital for Children, The Hope Fund for the Greenville Humane Society, Saving Animals Southern Style Rescue, Sunday Dinner with a Twist and Isaiah 117 House.
Children’s Ministry Team added Family Mission Night to fall calendar. On Friday, Nov. 21, six families gathered in Fellowship Hall for dinner and mission work. They made personalized Christmas cards for In-Home Ministry members that will accompany poinsettias our pastors and Session members deliver during Advent. Each family brought items to stock the pantry for our Neighborhood Blessing Box on Shannon Drive. Next Parents’ Night Out is Friday, Dec. 12. This will be Holiday Edition PNO with pajamas, dinner, Christmas games and Christmas movie. Volunteers are needed.
Rev. Justin Cazel, Parish Associate, said the M3 men’s group continues to enjoy meeting at Community Tap. They will not, however, meet in December. Instead, there will be Men’s Christmas Gathering on Dec. 11 at 6:00 PM at the home of Walter Robinson. It will be a night of fellowship that includes a meaningful service project. Village Wrench is a bicycle ministry that provides bikes, free mechanic services, biking classes and mentorship programs. John Knox Men’s Ministry is going to provide 4 brand new bikes for people who are beneficiaries of this bike ministry. Some Village Wrench folks will join the JK party to help put the bikes together. No prior skill is required, and they bring the tools!
Rev. Carter Rief, Associate Pastor, highlighted strong finish for youth ministry: Nov. 16 – Youth Group; Nov. 23 – I’m In Thank You Dinner; Nov. 30 – Hanging of the Greens; Dec. 7 - Christmas Party at Greer Relief. Carter is meeting with Youth Ministry Team Nov. 18 to finalize plans for these events and continue planning for youth ministry coverage while he is on parental leave in 2026. Team is discerning those who could be good leaders, especially for middle school youth group. Rev. Justin Cazel will cover Confirmation classes (Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM) as needed in early spring. Rev. Buzz Wilcoxin (Presbyterian College) will be available to cover Youth Group one Sunday evening in the spring.
Carter is finalizing date and details for College Christmas Party in December. Nurture Committee will assist Jessica Bixler in putting together care boxes for college students to receive before finals. There are 20 college students on “roll.”
Session also received notes on ministry of Tami Wall, Director of John Knox Kindergarten & Parents’ Day Out, which had been submitted to CE for October.
Ann Brumley
Clerk of Session
| 
