Youth Ministry Highlights | | |
Hey PET friends!
My name is Paul Earheart-Brown, and I am the MAST Director at Maryville College and Chair of the Youth Committee here in PET. I wanted to give you a year-end update on all the wonderful things that are happening in youth ministry here in the Presbytery. In 2025, we had two fantastic retreats for our youth, with our Youth Summit for high schoolers in February and our Middle School Retreat in September. Youth Summit went to Holston Camp in Banner Elk, North Carolina and had an amazing time worshiping, singing songs and doing energizers, skiing, and learning about Jesus' invitation to "come and see" the new possibilities God has for us. We had Middle School Retreat at our fabulous campground, the John Knox Center, and we played 9-square-in-the-air, danced the night away with plenty of glow sticks, went down a massive water slide in the rain, and learned about God's grand story and how our stories fit into what God is doing in the world. We also had a wonderful year of Small and Mighty Youth Group, where youth groups in the Presbytery come together to form a Presbytery-wide youth group that meets once a month. We finished our Small and Mighty year with a youth-centered worship service at Farragut Presbyterian where our youth grew closer together by sharing a Thanksgiving meal and singing praises to God. I want to thank all the youth who attended these events and helped our Presbytery grow closer together, and I absolutely want to thank all the youth leaders and parents who helped make these moments possible!
As we look forward to 2026, I could not be more excited for what is coming. We will have Youth Summit and our Middle School Retreat again, but this year, we are moving Youth Summit to the John Knox Center on April 10th-12th! We can't wait to take advantage of that awesome space and help our young people find an appreciation for this place and the ministry that happens here. We are also planning big things with Small and Mighty! If your church has not participated in Small and Mighty before, or not in a while, please reach out to me. We want every church in the Presbytery to feel comfortable joining Small and Mighty for fellowship, games, worship, and good food! We will send out the schedule for the entire year in this newsletter in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out and we hope to see you there! Thank you all so much for valuing and prioritizing youth ministry in this Presbytery. When we work together as a Presbytery, we are able to help our youth experience God in new and powerful ways, and I am so excited to see what God has in store for us next year. Blessings to you all, and merry Christmas, friends!
In Peace,
Paul Earheart-Brown
Associate Chaplain and MAST Director at Maryville College
paul.earheartbrown@maryvillecollege.edu
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Important Information
for Clerks of Session
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As the Advent season continues and we prepare for the New Year, that means it is almost time for annual reporting season! Some reports need to be submitted to the presbytery, and one is submitted directly to the General Assembly.
Two annual reports that need to be sent to the presbytery:
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Necrology Report for 2025 (due by Jan 31) (to report deaths of elders or others during the year 2025)
Link to Online Necrology Form: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/necrology/
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Annual Compensation Report (due by March 2) (to submit terms of call or salaries for Ministers, Commissioned Pastors, and Educators). This form can be completed online, or printed out and returned to the presbytery office.
2026 Online Compensation Report: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/compensationreport/
2026 Printable Compensation Report: https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Compensation-Report.pdf
As a reference, here are the 2026 Required Terms of Call for pastors:
https://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Minimum-Salary-Information-for-Pastors-1.pdf
Annual Statistical Report to the General Assembly
You can submit your congregation’s annual statistical report starting on Friday, January 2, 2026. This is an important report that helps our denomination get a snapshot of our congregations and presbytery in order to better serve us. Please have your Session approve the statistical report before you submit it.
You can use this PDF as a worksheet to gather information: “What information will I need for my report?” https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/2025_1211_2025_Guide_Statistical_Reporting_en.pdf
You can get other helpful information about this report and a link to access the system here: https://pcusa.org/resources/statistics-lists/statistical-reporting-faq
The online statistical reporting site will be available to churches starting on January 2, 2026. Statistics must be submitted no later than February 20, 2026.
If you need your church’s PIN, User ID, or Password, contact Laura by January 31.
If a new Clerk will be serving your congregation in the coming year, please make sure we have their contact information.
Please let Laura know if you have any questions, laura@presbyteryeasttn.org
| | 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. | | |
The Longest Night Service
Hosted by our South Knoxville Churches
| | Graystone Presbyterian Church | | |
In 2005 Rev. Eugene Thomas came to Graystone as the interim pastor and has celebrated his shared birthday with Graystone member Monet since then. This year was extra special as they participated in Graystone's first Un-planned Christmas Pageant together as the Angel of the Lord and Mary. It was a blessing to have the children, youth, young adults, and children's leaders take the lead in worship as we celebrated the birth of our Savior for Eugene and Monet's birthday!
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John Knox Center
Sewing on the River
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Greetings from John Knox Center!
Calling all quilters, camp isn't just for kids! Grab your coat, fabric stash, machine, and current projects, and join us at John Knox Center for Sewing on the River. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food in a beautiful setting. There are several options for your length of stay so you can customize your experience!
Guests may choose to stay in Cabins or a Dorm room. All accommodations include bottom bunk twin beds, showers, sinks, restrooms, and quiet HVAC units. Wifi is free and available in most areas of the camp including most sleeping and sewing spaces. If you want to take a break from sewing, snuggle up with a good book, or enjoy a movie on Netflix. The lounge area of the Dorm also has coffee service, a mini fridge, comfy couches, and restrooms.
Participants may choose to sew in Abel Lodge or B Lodge. Each space has tables and chairs as well as a small hospitality kitchen. Feel free to bring your own sodas & snacks. Our large sewing spaces are bright, and feature 6-foot tables, and comfortable chairs for each guest. Sewing spaces include multiple design walls, and cutting and ironing stations with multiple trash cans in each room.
All sewing and continental breakfasts take place in Abel Lodge and B Lodge with lunch and dinner by a cozy fire in our Dining Hall.
Please register here, we are excited to host you in January!
| | In Concert @ Lake Forest Presbyterian | | New Hymns for Advent and Christmas | | |
"Acclaimed hymn-writer Carolyn Gillette has done it again with God’s World is Changing. She has produced another exceptional resource for public worship and private daily devotions, this one related to the season of Advent. As the title suggests, the theme of this season is change, how the world is changing rapidly, how we require new hymns that articulate our new concerns, how we need to change during this time, and how hymns can play a role in bringing about that change. For each day of Advent (and twice on Sundays). Carolyn provides one of her remarkable hymn texts set to traditional music along with the biblical basis for the lyrics.
Each day also includes a brief meditation that often explains the inspiration for the lyrics and follow-up questions that grow out of the hymns. While Carolyn is a gifted poet and lyricist, her theological training and extensive pastoral experience shine through her hymns and meditations.
This is evident in Section Four entitled "Longest Night - Blue Christmas," which is aimed at ministering to those who are overwhelmed with grief and loneliness during a season that too often emphasizes joy and celebration.
Her treatment of issues such as immigration, the environment, racism, and poverty in other hymns and meditations makes this volume both timely and timeless. What Carolyn has produced is another book that is theologically-sound, socially-sensitive, and remarkably creative.
I would highly recommend this work to worship leaders, church musicians, and anyone interested in deepening their faith in today's world. Whether you read this volume from cover to cover or use it more selectively, you will not be disappointed by God’s World is Changing."
-The Rev. Charles (Buz) Myers, Ph.D., Presbyterian minister and Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Gettysburg College
Click here to see a sample from the book posted on Amazon.
This is a wonderful book for group and personal study, worship planning and sermon preparation as well as an early Christmas gift.
| | Luminosity Conference 2026 | | |
We hope you’ll join us for the upcoming Luminosity Conference,
March 9-11 in 2026!
If you haven’t registered yet, now is a great time to do so. Through powerful keynote/plenary sessions from faith-based leaders, dynamic workshops, and meaningful conversations, we’ll explore how to navigate challenges, maximize church and ministry, and lead with confidence, in your own faith communities.
Workshops Now Open Online
The full list of conference workshops is now available online.
You can visit the Luminosity website to:
Review workshop titles and descriptions
Explore topics that best fit your ministry context
Book your hotel stay
Scholarships Available
We are committed to making Luminosity accessible to as many faith leaders as possible. Scholarships are available for those who may need financial assistance to attend. Details and application information are available on the conference website.
To learn more and register, please visit the Luminosity Conference website. If you have any questions about registration, workshops, or scholarship support, you can contact us at serving@presbyterianfoundation.org.
We would be delighted to see you at Luminosity 2026!
Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Advent season,
The Luminosity Conference Team
Presbyterian Foundation | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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Ministry Toolbox
Practical Resources for Churches
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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!
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December Ordination Anniversaries
Rev. Dr. Andy Morgan, December 6, 10 years
Rev. Julie Thompson, December 10, 25 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. | | | | |
