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Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
Blessings to you in this second week of Advent. This past Saturday I gathered with 10 of our Commissioned Pastors for a workshop on small church ministry. It was an exciting morning of sharing, learning, and resourcing each other for the work of ministry. I’m grateful for their pastoral leadership in each of their places of ministry and for their witness in the Presbytery of East Tennessee.
If you are interested in how the special offerings are changing next year, please sign up for one of the webinars listed in the newsletter. There are four webinars offered – each the same thing, so you only need to register for one. If your church receives any of these offerings, you will want to attend one of the webinars.
I leave you with this Advent prayer from the book Candles and Conifers by Wild Goose Publications, The Iona Community:
Lord Christ, born of Mary, in our littleness, in our weakness, let your light shine.
Lord Christ, born of Mary, in our strength and our achievement, let your kingdom come.
Lord Christ, born of Mary, in the overturning of our values, in the renewing of your people, let your kingdom come. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Wendy Neff
| | 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
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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!
| | 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. | | Special Offerings Webinars | | |
You’re invited to see what’s in store for Special Offerings! Sign up for an upcoming
webinar to deep dive into the upcoming changes to the Churchwide Special Offerings
and ensure your congregations are well prepared for 2026. All webinars will include the
same presentation with a Q&A session at the end and will be recorded for any who
cannot attend live – we look forward to seeing you there!
General Audience Webinar 1 – December 15, 2025 – 4:00-5:15pm CST
General Audience Webinar 2 – January 15, 2026 – 3:00-4:15pm CST
General Audience Webinar 3 – January 28, 2026 – 6:00-7:15pm CST
General Audience Webinar 4 – February 10, 2026 – 3:00-4:15pm CST
| | 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. | | | | |
