Presbyter's Ponderings

Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

Happy Advent! This might just be my most favorite liturgical season. I love the time to focus on hope, peace, joy and love from a theological perspective. I love the anticipation of the Christ Child and the preparations we make to receive him once again. I love the readings from the prophets about the prince of peace, the light shining on the people sitting in darkness, the words of comfort, comfort my people. The contrast of the dark and barren winter being broken by the pain of labor then the joyous sounds of a newborn crying always seems to be the jolt I need to remember who I am and what I am to be about as a child of God who worships the Christ Child. Blessings to all of you who will preach and teach, pray and sing, hang greens and create flower arrangements, light advent candles, sort costumes, set up chairs, open doors and share joy this Advent season. Your preparations help us to receive the Christ Child once again.

Don’t forget to make the Christmas Joy offering part of your Advent celebrations. There is more information about that offering in the newsletter, and there is an opportunity to support Living Waters for the World and have your gift matched.

Grace and peace,

Wendy Neff

Around the Presbytery

2026 PET Stewardship

Thank you for your faithful witness and support of the presbytery and larger church. We appreciate your gifts of time, talent and treasure offered in service to the Presbytery of East Tennessee. We pray for your church during this time of discernment of your commitment to our ministry and mission together in the presbytery for 2026.

John Knox Center

Greetings from John Knox Center!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is looking forward to the Christmas season. While this is a season of celebration and anticipation, it is also a season of numbers. We count the days until Christmas morning, the number of sermons to be preached between now and December 24th, and the miles we will travel to visit loved ones.

Here at John Knox, we also think about numbers. How many kids (will register for Summer Camp, https://johnknoxcenter.campbrainregistration.com/) this month? How many teachers are preparing their classes to come to River Ridge this Spring? How many of our 63 toilets have been properly winterized to withstand the cold? How many of our 28 thermostats are set to keep buildings safe? How many pounds of bacon do we need to budget for next year, and will it top the 180 pounds we served this year? How many opportunities will we have to share God?s love with everyone who visits this thin space?

We are able to consider all of these numbers because of the generosity of our churches and the faithful support of their members. It is through your gifts that the mission of John Knox continues to be lived out each day.

As you think about your own numbers this season, we ask that you prayerfully consider (making a donation, https://johnknoxcenter.campbraingiving.com/) to John Knox Center. Thank you for walking alongside us as we live into our call of radical hospitality in this beautiful space God has created.

Youth Ministry - Project Hope

From the PC(USA)

Christmas Joy Offering

Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we lift up past, present, and future leaders of the church. God has blessed the church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. This Offering provides support for Presbyterian church workers and their families in their time of need and leadership development and education for communities of color at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

Giving Tuesday @ Synod of Living Waters

Tomorrow, December 2nd, is Giving Tuesday! This 24 hours of generosity has the potential to provide clean water for entire communities, empowering them to forever change the lives of their children, and their children’s children.

https://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/giving-tuesday

Ministry Toolbox

Practical Resources for Churches

Discover our Advent products and resources to enhance your congregation's spiritual growth and community outreach. Little to no prep necessary for these high impact resources that engage the generations!

Email Jaclyn (jaclyn@presbyteryeasttn.org) to get the discount code making your total $0 with the Presbytery's Practical Resources for Churches Subscription!

Ordination Anniversaries

December Ordination Anniversaries



Rev. Dr. Andy Morgan, December 6, 10 years

Rev. Julie Thompson, December 10, 25 years

Resources for Congregations

The PET website has many resources to help our congregations.

Check it out at www.presbyteryeasttn.org.

If you need to find someone to preach and lead worship, here’s the link to the pulpit supply list: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/Pulpit-Supply-Directory.pdf

Looking for a login to access the great Christian Education resources on Amplify? Fill out this form: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/amplify-request/

You can find all of this information and much more at the PET website under the resources tab. Check it out!

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.

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