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We hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week! Just a reminder that our General Presbyter, Rev. Dr. Wendy Neff, is on vacation this week. Our Office Administrator, Jaclyn Beeler, will be in the office — which is wherever her laptop happens to be — all week and is glad to help with anything you need — you can reach her at jaclyn@presbyteryeasttn.org.
Please note that the Presbytery office will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day. This also means there won’t be a PUpdate next week. Don’t worry — we promise the next edition will be in your inbox on September 8th!
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Fall Spiritual Retreat
Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of East Tennessee
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Disability Ministry:
Continuing Toward an Inclusive Church
Saturday, October 25, 2025
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
John Knox Center
591 W Rockwood Ferry Rd, Ten Mile, TN 37880
Mission Focus: Magnolia Women’s Center, Knoxville, and Northside Neighborhood House, Chattanooga
Keynote Speaker: Sarah Blake LaRose, D.Min.
Disability ministry calls upon us to think about what we want our churches to look like and how our Jesus-seeking can be guided by the Holy Spirit.
You will enjoy spiritual renewal, good fellowship, updates from mission partners, and a delicious lunch!
Cost of attending is just $12 to pay for your lunch. Registration deadline is Oct. 10. Please note that all Presbyterian Women are invited, whether or not your congregation has a PW group. Look for further details in the PET Weekly PUPDATE.
The Magnolia Women’s Center is a Knoxville day center for women in need. Operated by Magnolia Ministries, a partner to Raising a Voice, the center offers free meals, showers, laundry, clothing, hygiene supplies and case management. The ministry’s core mission is to build trust, walk alongside women through every challenge, and create lasting relationships to help women gain stability and succeed.
The Northside Neighborhood House in Chattanooga has provided vital support to residents of North Hamilton County for over 100 years. The nonprofit provides direct aid such as help with utility bills, food and prescriptions, while also empowering families and individuals via education and skill-building programs. With a mission of offering “a hand up, not a handout,” NNH focuses on connecting neighbors to resources that foster stability and independence
| | Iconography Lunch and Learn | | |
Rev. Candace Worth, pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church, will lead this Lunch and Learn. As both an artist and a follower of Christ, she has wrestled with common interpretations of the commandment, “You shall not make for yourself any graven image.” During a sabbatical a few years ago, she sought to combine her love of painting with her need for self-care and sabbath renewal. That search led her to an iconography class.
Although icons are not part of the Presbyterian tradition, Rev. Worth discovered in the practice of painting them a deep and ancient spiritual discipline—one that has drawn her closer to God. She invites participants to explore the history, meaning, and use of icons in the Christian faith.
| | PET Middle School Retreat | | |
September 26-28, 2025 @ John Knox Center
Check-in is Friday, Sept. 26th from 6:30-7:30pm
$150 for Youth and Adult Chaperones/Group Leaders
$75 for Youth Council Members providing leadership
No group from your church? No problem! This year you can sign up solo — no official church chaperone needed (though you will need a grown-up to drive you to John Knox… they haven’t let us build a teleport yet).
| | Hope House @ UT Chattanooga | | |
We hope this message finds you well! As we gear up for a new academic year, we’re reaching out to our extended Hope House family — churches, businesses, and community partners — to help us love and support students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in a tangible way. Would you consider donating snacks or hosting a snack drive for Hope House? Each week, we welcome students into our space for conversation, coffee, study breaks, and shared meals — all at no cost to them. A steady supply of snacks (individually packaged sweet or salty treats) helps us create a warm, hospitable environment that meets basic needs and reminds students facing food insecurity they are seen and cared for.
Here’s how you can help:
Host a Snack Drive:
Organize a collection at your church, business, or with a small group. We're looking for individually packaged snacks that can fuel students through study sessions and long days on campus. Sign up here to host between August - April: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EABAC2CABFCC70-57571811-hope
📦 Ship Donations Directly:
Snacks can be delivered straight to our door:
Hope House
808 Vine Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
🛒 Shop Our Amazon Wish Lists:
Want to send snacks with just a few clicks? Check out our Amazon Wish List here https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PMRMJUR4UM2P?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl and ship directly to Hope House!
Your support allows us to continue offering free resources, radical hospitality, and a home away from home for UTC students. Together, we can ensure students know they are not alone on their journey. Thank you for being part of the mission to care for the next generation — one snack at a time.
With deep gratitude,
Hope House Board, Dr. Tiffanie Wilson (Executive Director) and Denise Schenk (Hospitality Director)
hopeutc@gmail.com
www.hopeutc.org
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Our 12th annual PreTeen Retreat at John Knox Center, which included 5 congregations, focused on the Matthew 5:16 passage of "Letting Your Light Shine."
It was held August 22nd-23rd at John Knox Center. Wonderful way to introduce the camp to the 4th and 5th graders within our presbytery. This summer camp feeder retreat introduces the students to the thrilling ropes course and requires bravery to hold snakes at the River Ridge environmental center.
Thanks to Mary Emily Morris of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church for being this year's speaker and Joy Bornhoeft of Erin Presbyterian Church for leading crafts. Many left eager to do both summer camps and next year's Presbytery Middle School retreat! Next spring watch for the PreTeen dates.
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Fairfield Glade Community Church
50th Anniversary
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Fairfield Glade Community Church—a milestone of faith, fellowship, and service.
The stained-glass window in the sanctuary behind altar is a cherished symbol of the church’s legacy, handcrafted by members with the skill and vision to bring it to life.
In celebration of this special anniversary, a commemorative banner was recently created by current members, continuing the tradition of creativity and community that has shaped the church for five decades.
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Ministry Toolbox
Practical Resources for Churches
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The Presbytery of East Tennessee is excited to provide all of our congregations with access to Practical Resources for Churches (PRC). PRC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping congregations of all sizes with practical tools for ministry. They offer webinars, workshops, downloadable resources, and one-on-one consultations covering everything from Christian education and leadership development to stewardship, mission, and congregational vitality. Their mission is simple: to strengthen churches by connecting leaders and members with the resources they need to thrive in ministry.
Below are a few resources we wanted to highlight for you. If you want to know more or have any questions email the office, office@presbyteryeasttn.org
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Into The Prayground
Into The Prayground gives you the plans you need to create a dynamic children's moment that coordinates with a meaningful activity in your prayground. No prayground? No problem! These can be accomplished in the pews, as well!
Into The Prayground has:
- Ideas for your children's moment following the RCL passage for the day
- Materials list of what you need for the connecting activity (most use what you have in your supply closet!)
- Basics of how to create your prayground
- Plans for each week of the month
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Out The Door Blessings
Out the Door Blessings pack offers simple, meaningful blessings that families can pray over one another each Monday morning—as they head out the door and into the week ahead.
Each blessing is ready to use, with text you can easily copy and paste into your preferred messaging platform—perfect for texts, emails, or newsletters.
You’ll receive 13 weeks of blessings, guiding families from the first day of school all the way to the final week of Ordinary Time. It’s a gentle, consistent way to start each week grounded in love, connection, and faith.
Some tips:
- Use your church’s automated email or text service and preset these to go each Monday morning at 7:15 am. (Families are using texts more than emails at this point, but if you don’t have a text service, email will also work.)
- This document is designed so you can just copy and paste these directly into the message.
- Encourage families to pray these blessings over each other; they’re not just for parents to pray over the children! There is power in the mutuality of the blessing!
- Be sure you have asked families if they would like to receive these. You want them to opt in and trust what you send to them. Just sending to everyone may cause people to keep their contact information to themselves.
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Come to the Water
Presbyterian Youth Workers Association
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A message from the Office of Christian Formation
Calling Youth Leaders paid and volunteer!
Join others from around the country October 6 – 8 in San Diego California for “Come to the Water”, the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association in person gathering.
Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is the keynote speaker and Rev. Dr. Kathryn Threadgill the Gathering pastor for the event. Registration is $140 and includes worship, keynote, workshops, and four meals.
Come ready to be inspired with new ideas to implement. Learn more.
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August Ordination Anniversaries
Rev. Pete Ullmann, August 3, 28 years
Rev. Gerald Anders, August 4, 57 years
Rev. George Waters, August 6, 36 years
Rev. Thomas Preston, August 8, 22 years
Rev. William "Billy" Newton, August 10, 39 years
Rev. Eugene Thomas, August 11, 57 years
Rev. Matt Nieman, August 29, 26 years
| | Resources for Congregations | | All articles must be submitted by Wednesday of the week prior to publication. Repeat publication of articles is at the discretion of the editor. Send your submissions to office@presbyteryeasttn.org. | | | | |
