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Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
This is the Season of the Peacemaking and Global Witness offering – one of four PCUSA offerings. In these days, we certainly need the witness of peace and the call of peacemaking from the Gospel. Further in the newsletter we’ve shared today’s devotion from a Season of Peace. You can subscribe to this seasonal devotional, and I hope you will. There is also more information about the offering itself, including resources for promoting it.
Yesterday it was a joy to be with Brad Parish and the congregation of First Presbyterian, Sweetwater for Brad’s commissioning as he begins his ministry with them as a
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Apostles’ Creed signed as part of Brad's commissioning. | | |
commissioned pastor. It was a beautiful reminder of our connections to one another as members of Brad’s home church, Bethel Presbyterian, came to worship and celebrate with the Sweetwater congregation. Jon Faraone, who has served as Sweetwater’s session moderator for several years was also there, as were a number of current commissioned pastors serving a variety of congregations in our presbytery. It was a service filled with joy, lovely music, and a charge to us all to answer God’s call in our lives.
Be sure to check out the webinars available through the Presbytery’s subscription to Practical Resources for Churches. Many of these may be useful whether you are serving a congregation or a specialized ministry. You will find upcoming ones listed further in the newsletter. If you are still looking for Christian Formation materials for all ages, Practical Resources for Churches (PRC) has really good ones available to you for free. So does Amplify, another free Christian Formation resource for our churches. If you have not yet requested a log in for Amplify you can do so here.
Grace and peace,
Wendy
wendy@presbyteryeasttn.org
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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).
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Children's Poetry Books
by Wyn Bryant and Kim Barry
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Wyn Bryant and his daughter, Kim Barry (a member at Erin Presbyterian), are celebrating the release of their two delightful children’s poetry books—now available on Amazon!
Written from the playful perspective of a wildly imaginative 7- or 8-year-old, these poems explore a world where trees become friends, cats tickle the ivories, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
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Hope House @ UTC
Meet the Interns
| | Lake Forest Presbyterian is Hiring | | |
Lake Forest Presbyterian Church (Knoxville, TN) is seeking a part-time Church Office Manager to support the ministry and mission of our congregation. As the heart of our church office, this role keeps ministry running smoothly and helps our faith community stay connected through clear communication, thoughtful organization, and warm hospitality.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support to the Pastor, Session, and committees.
- Prepare worship bulletins, newsletters, weekly emails, and other communications.
- Maintain the church calendar, website updates, and organized records.
- Respond to emails and voicemails, and serve as a welcoming contact for members and guests.
- Order supplies, coordinate flowers, and other deliveries.
- Work with Building & Grounds to schedule maintenance and repairs.
Qualifications
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Proficiency with computers, email, and basic office software (familiarity w/ the Google suite & Canva is a plus).
- Ability to manage multiple tasks with attention to detail.
- Friendly, professional, and welcoming presence.
This is a part-time position under the supervision of the Pastor (Head of Staff).
To apply or learn more, please contact us at office@lakeforestpc.org.
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Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
“He’s the last of the great churchmen.”
From time to time, I will recite this line to my wife and co-pastor, Meg, in reference to some male member of our congregation. It’s intended to be a compliment — a way to describe somebody who is thoroughly “solid” — committed to the community, capable of laying his ego aside, and dedicated to ensuring that the church of tomorrow is as healthy as the church that formed him yesterday.
I feel certain that I would have used this phrase to describe Frank Shirley. His resume would include serving as pastor, Army chaplain, Sunday school missionary and synod newspaper editor. His calling, however, was to cultivate health in Black Presbyterian churches. Shirley was a leader always in search of the next generation of leaders.
In his salutations to the church in Philippi, Paul includes Timothy as co-author in this epistle of care and encouragement. Paul understood that the health of the church tomorrow depends on identifying and cultivating leaders today. Shirley practiced this same kind of fidelity — and that is precisely why that phrase I use to describe rock-solid churchmen will never actually be true. What makes great churchmen “great” is that they would never allow themselves to be the last of the great — they always have an eye on the next generation. Thanks be to God that we have an opportunity to be those “great church people” today.
Prayer:
We give thanks to you, O God, for every sibling in Christ who — with spit, grit, and the Holy Spirit — shaped this church and thus shaped the contours of our own hearts.
Help us take that same long view today, always on the lookout for tomorrow’s leaders that the Spirit has just begun to anoint.
Amen.
This reflection was prepared by the Rev. Jarrett McLaughlin, who serves as co-pastor with his wife, Meg Peery McLaughlin, at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As one shaped by presbytery youth councils and opportunities to serve and lead at Massanetta Springs and Montreat youth conferences, he is incredibly grateful for the elders who shaped him.
Subscribe to the Season of Peace Devotions here
| | Peace and Global Witness Offering | | Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Through the Peace & Global Witness Offering, congregations are encouraged and equipped to find and address the anxiety and discord that is prevalent throughout this broken and sinful world. | | | |
Ministry Toolbox
Practical Resources for Churches
| | Did you know that PRC was one of the leaders in faith based webinars and professional development? We started this part of our ministry back in 2011, bringing in top-name presenters in big topics of ministry. We have new webinars each month featuring highly engaging and knowledgeable presenters, all provided to you because of the generosity of our subscribers. | | |
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. | | | | |
