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April NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
The Beacon A PUBLICATION OF ERIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 200 Lockett Rd. — Knoxville, TN 37919 — (865) 588-5350 — www.ErinPresbyterian.org
PASTOR Rev. John Stuart
SESSION Vacant
Clerk of Session [email protected]
CONVENERS Kim Pennington, Fellowship [email protected]
Charles Snodgrass, Discipleship
Rickey McCallum, Stewardship [email protected]
Mike Pierce, Outreach
Susan Miller, Creative Expressions [email protected]
David Stinnett, Property
STAFF Nancy Berry, Organist
Michele Meer, Administrator
Cindi Stooksbury, Nursery [email protected]
Joe Jaynes, Choir Director
Joy Bornhoeft, Family Ministry
Elizabeth Snodgrass,
Youth Director, [email protected]
April, 2012
A Message From The Pastor
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of
them were written down, I suppose that even the whole
world would not have room for the books that would be
written. John 21:25
Dear Friends, As most of you know, I’ve been writing regular devotions for several years, which I send out by email and post on the Internet. Members at Erin and people from all over the world often read what I have written. Sometimes I get feedback from our church folks and international emails from people that I have never met. Recently, I received an email about a devotional which I had written years ago called “God Will Find You.” The concluding remarks on the email both humbled and amazed me: “After reading the story and even though I am a Muslim, I loved Jesus more than even before.” –HB, Saudi Arabia.
I had no idea that Muslims near Mecca were actually reading my devotions. God works in mysterious ways and the Internet is now providing wonderful opportunities to communicate Christ’s words and His Gospel to people all across this planet. What began as a small spiritual growth devotional message to our staff and elders has now blossomed into a life changing ministry around the world. Our church may be small in Knoxville, but our work is being felt around the world! At the end of last month, I electronically published my fifth book of devotions and called it “God Will Find You.” I dedicated it to HB and other God-seekers all over the planet. I think it’s my best e-book of devotions so far, and I hope that many people will find it and use it for their own faith journey with Christ. Thank you, Erin, for allowing me to do this. In years to come, other people will get to read the messages that I write from my study at Erin Church and hopefully it will bring them closer to God. Perhaps like HB from Saudi Arabia, they will also be able to say: “I loved Jesus more than even before.” God bless us all,
Rev. John Stuart
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
1—David Snodgrass 2—Carol Robbins 3—Kathryn Bornhoeft 3—Henry Thomas Ritchie 4—Becky Cameron 5—Peggy Cuany 6—Karen Price 9—Dan Berry 9—Craig Strad 14—Erin Mccallum 16—Margaret Garrett 16—Sierra Henshaw 16—Peter McKay 17—Jennifer Gahan 18—John House 21—Melinda Massengill 22—Seth Dunaway 22—Cathy Satterfield 25—Josh Evans 26—Joseph McLeod 30—Aaron Foster 30—Ann Rust
NEWSLETTER
Submissions to “The Beacon” are due on the 20th of each month. Your articles may be
submitted by calling 588-5350 or by sending an email to ad-
PRAYER CHAIN Would you like to receive weekly prayer requests by email, phone, or even text message? Call or email the Church Office to sign-up for
the communication of your choice!
UPDATE YOUR INFO
If your contact information has changed, please call or email the Church Office at
[email protected] to update your information.
________________________________________ CLASS OF 2014 ELDERS
Last month, you got to know Don Quinley. this month, we bring you the Statements of Faith from two more incoming elders. ________________________________________________
Allyson Streckfuss I was raised in the coastal area of Texas,
where my family was Southern Baptist. I
became a Christian and was baptized at the
age of eleven. I joined the Presbyterian
faith when I was twenty. I became active in
the Pastoral Care and was Youth Director
for three years. When my family settled in
Houston, we joined Northwoods
Presbyterian Church, where I became active
in Congregational Care and worked with the
Wednesday Night Dinner program. I joined
Erin Church with my family in 2000, after
my youngest discovered Creative
Ministries, and the rest was history. I have
always felt called to the area of care giving,
being either pastoral care or congregational
care. My family has been blessed beyond
measure with the fellowship, friendships,
and care we have received at Erin. Being
aware of all the changes in our church
(PCUSA) as a whole, I am excited and
grateful to be called to serve as an elder at
this time.
John C. House, PhD I believe the phrase "journey of faith" to be
an accurate description of my walk with
Christ and my experience of God. As a
child, I went to church occasionally and
liked it well enough. As an early
adolescent, I continued to go to church even
after my parents stopped going. There was
something there that appealed to me, and I
actually enjoyed confirmation classes. In
later adolescence, as my life spun out of
control, I stopped going to church and did
not go back until that spin-out was complete
and I had crashed some 10 years later. At
that time it seemed natural that I should
somehow re-connect with God.
It was at that time I returned to school,
finding two things there that significantly
shaped me spiritually. One was a top-notch
religious studies department where I was
able to satisfy both my newfound love of
learning and my yearning to grow closer to
God at the same time. The other was the
woman who later became my wife, a friend
whose faith was unique in my experience at
that time, someone who was, and is still,
quite an inspiration to me in my own walk.
I was raised and confirmed in the
Presbyterian church, but I also spent several
years in the Baptist church serving as a
deacon and Sunday School teacher. I have
also belonged to Congregational and
Community churches. Cynthia and I came
to Erin in 1995 with a group of spiritual
refugees seeking a church home and, though
we are the only ones from that group
remaining, we have found it to be the best
church home we have ever had. I have
served on Session at Erin two times prior to
this. I view the Christian Church today as
torn by two dysfunctional extremes. One
extreme seems to subscribe to the notion
that everything is okay and that our faith
should never challenge or inconvenience us.
It espouses that being a good person is
enough to assure salvation, largely making
Christ's sacrifice meaningless. The other
extreme seems to concern itself with being
right, subscribing to the notion that simply
having the "right" beliefs is enough to
secure salvation. The love of Christ is lost,
thus making His sacrifice meaningless in a
different way. Both of these extremes are
destructive to the church and, by extension,
to all Christians.
In addition to these challenges, the church
faces the challenge of remaining relevant
and being a priority in a world where fewer
and fewer people find it so. Erin is not
immune from any of these challenges and as
a congregation we need more than ever to
support each other as we journey together to
grow our faith and spread the light of God
to a community and world increasingly in
need of it. I love Erin and with God's help
will work to the best of my ability as an
elder to help us navigate the challenges we
face at this time.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
The Erin Youth Group Pancake Breakfast was an overwhelming success- we raised over $700 to put towards our trip to Montreat! Thanks to everyone who came and supported this fundraiser! The Middle School youth group is having their spring lock-in Friday, March 30, and the High School youth group spring lock-in will be Friday, April 27. Games, discussion, crafts, and a small service project will be included for both groups, and friends are welcome to participate. On Saturday, April 28, the youth groups will be serving at FISH Hospitality Pantry in North Knoxville. Parents and students will be meeting at 9:15 am to carpool to the pantry, and will return to Erin around 1:30. Anyone who would like to join us in service is welcome, and please contact Elizabeth Snodgrass for more information. The annual Youth Silent Auction is coming up Wednesday, April 25 and Sunday, April 29. All proceeds will go towards our Montreat Conference trip, so mark your calendars!
The One Great Hour of Sharing special offering, which benefits the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Hunger, and Self-development of People programs, comes this year on Easter, April 8. If you can't be at church, please send your contribution to the church office.
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Presbyterian Women Erin PW will celebrate the Gifts of Women on
Sunday, April 29th, during worship.
Erin Church is proud to have an active women’s ministry since 1897, when a group of eight
women organized the Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society. The name soon
was shortened to the Women’s Missionary Society and today is called Erin Presbyterian
Women. Written records of the group date back to 1900 and include a list of 35 past and current Moderators.
For over 115 years, the women of Erin have served their church and community in Christian love. On April
29th, we honor women who contribute their gifts to the church and community, lift up issues of women’s rights,
and focus on the role of women in our communities and world.
PW of East Tennessee - Annual Spring Gathering
Friday, April 27th, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville Contact Joy Bornhoeft (207-9122) by April 15th if you are interested in attending.
The Complete Handel’s The Messiah will be performed by The
U.T. Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra on
APRIL 15, 2012 Tickets are FREE, and general admission, which
means first-come/first-served. The oratorio will be presented at
the James R. Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building,
1408 Middle Drive,
(on campus).
Easter Services and Festivities April 5, 2012
Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service 6:30 pm
April 8, 2012
Easter Sunrise Service 6:10 AM
Tate’s School of Discovery
Meet at the flagpole for our sunrise worship service.
26th Annual Brandon Breakfast
9:30 AM
Fellowship Hall
Easter Egg Hunt
10:00 AM Playground
All children up to Grade 5 are invited to join our Easter Egg Hunt after breakfast.
Be sure to bring your own basket for collecting eggs.
Worship Service 11:00 AM
Sanctuary
This year, the eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt were purchased from Sunny Bunny Easter Eggs.
This is a charitable organization that has been around since 1966, and employs over 250 people
with disabilities. The eggs have been specially designed so that almost any person, regardless of
their ability, can assemble them. Each egg is stuffed with either a toy or candy by one of these
individuals. This is a wonderful company that provides meaningful employment for
people with varying needs.
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SonRise National Park VBS June 18th – June 21st
Monday – Thursday, 9 am – Noon
Kids will be awestruck by snow-capped mountains,
thundering waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and amazing
animals like soaring eagles and herds of caribou.
As kids explore SonRise National Park, they’ll learn the
most important survival skill of all:
they can always depend on Jesus and His promises of true peace,
true riches, true power, true love, and true hope!
VBS Planning Meeting
Tuesday, April 17th
It’s Baseball Time! Friday, May 4th
7:00 pm
Join us for a group outing to the Smokies Baseball Game.
It’s a Star Wars themed night, so “may the force” be with us
as our home team plays the Montgomery Biscuits.
The night ends with an “out of this world” fireworks show!
Look for a sign-up in the Sunday Worship bulletin.
The cost is $7 per ticket. Please submit your reservations and payment to the church office by
April 15th.
Also, there is a $3 per car charge for parking at the stadium (to be paid that night).
The Tennessee Smokies recently received the 2011 President’s Award as the “organization of the year”
in Minor League Baseball. This national award is given to the “complete” baseball franchise for
significant contributions to the community, its league, and the baseball industry. The Smokies are the
first Southern League Club to win the award since its inception in 1974.
Discipleship Teacher Workshop Saturday, April 28th
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Family Life Center The Discipleship Team will hold a teacher workshop for all Sunday School
teachers (Elementary/Youth/Adult) and volunteers (Planet Worship/Pioneer
Club) on Saturday, April 28th. Please mark your calendars now for this
important meeting.
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Each Sunday, the pastor teaches an adult class in the Noah’s Ark room from 9:45AM to 10:30AM. Each month, he chooses a different subject for the participants to discuss. Throughout April the topic will be about Sharing Our Faith. The schedule is as follows:
4 Week series: How Can I Share My Faith? Apr 1 How Do I Share My Faith with Family? Apr 8 EASTER – NO CLASS Apr 15 How Do I Share My Faith with Friends? Apr 22 How Do I Share My Faith with Neighbors and Co-Workers? Apr 29 How Do I Share My Faith with Strangers? You can read John’s latest devotions on his blog “Heaven’s Highway” at: www.glenkirk.blogspot.com. There is a link to it on our church’s website. You can also receive the email devotions on a regular basis by subscribing to them. Just send an email to [email protected] and ask to be subscribed. We’ll then add your email address to the devotions list. You can also read about John’s e-books for Kindle at his author
website on Amazon. The website address is: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005MAJRNE.
Breadbreakers Dinner Our next dinner is Saturday, APRIL 21 at 6:30 pm. Please call Suzanne Levering at 766-0909 for location information or to host an upcoming dinner. Remember: If you will be needing child care, please let the church office know at least 48 hours prior to the dinner.
Let’s Do Dinner! Tuesday, April 3 at 5:15 pm Sullivan’s - Franklin Square Contact Mary Scarbrough at
691-8658 or Barbara Brazelton at 693-3749.
APRIL 14 at 8:30 a.m. Fellowship Hall
GAME NIGHT! April 13, 2012, 7 pm Fellowship Hall (Game night will NOT be held on the first Friday this
month due to Good Friday) Join us for Game Night on April 13th! Children age 5 and up can join the adults, and bring their own board games or cards. Nursery Care may be requested for pre-school age children. Please contact the church office by Wednesday to request Nursery Care.
Join us for Wednesday Night Dinner each Wednesday in April at 5:45 in the Fellowship Hall. Enjoy a delicious, homemade meal, great company and let someone else do the dishes!! Wednesday May 2nd will be our 2nd Annual Erin Chili Cook-Off. Who will
take home the trophy this year? Look
for more details to come!
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GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET Profit & Loss Year-to-Date Comparison
(Through March 29, 2012)
There are a lot of generous people who give because they have felt blessed by God. I have NEVER heard one of these say, “I wish I had not been generous.” I have never met a tither who regretted giving the tithe. The Christian motive for giving generously is Thanksgiving! God has given us all we have. God has given Jesus. God has given us life. What more can God give? We do not give in
ORDER to receive. We are ALREADY recipients of God’s gracious goodness. We give in order to say, “Thank you, Lord.”
Jan 1 - Mar 29, 12 Jan 1 - Mar 29, 11
Income
Creative Expression Income 0.00 30.00
Discipleship Income 1,661.15 1,102.00
Fellowship Income 2,690.75 1,701.55
Stewardship Income 121.56 94.70
Memorial Income 75.00 1,400.00
Outreach Income 37.50 685.00
Offerings 70,274.00 92,704.16
Total Income 74,859.96 97,717.41
Expense
Creative Expressions Ministry 5,315.62 6,641.78
Property Team 13,173.20 11,449.35
Discipleship Team 2,162.22 3,090.05
Fellowship Team 2,477.10 2,870.90
Outreach Team 5,180.00 4,601.00
Stewardship Team 31,894.37 31,408.36
Worship Team 841.47 931.93
Pastoral Ministry 27,245.32 27,108.90
Memorial Expenses 0.00 14,806.84
Session 0.00 298.27
PW expenses 0.00 0.00
Payroll Expenses 0.00 0.00
Total Expense 88,289.30 103,207.38
Net Income -13,429.34 -5,489.97
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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: Profit & Loss Report (Through March 29, 2012)
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: Statement of Cash Flow (Through March 29, 2012
Mar 29, 12
Income
40000 · Capital Campaign
41800 · Non-Pledged Giving 84,554.04
41900 · Pledges 946,907.00
45000 · Memorials 5,548.48
Total 40000 · Capital Campaign 1,037,019.52
Total Income 1,037,019.52
Expense
60000 · Expenses
60100 · Administrative 49,038.48
60200 · Building and Property Security 111,008.62
Total 60000 · Expenses 160,047.10
Net Income 876,972.42
Mar 29, 12
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income 876,972.42
20000 · Accounts Payable 52,349.35
Net cash provided by Operating Activities 929,321.77
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
13001 · Building -1,323,248.35
13002 · Kitchen -30,932.20
Net cash provided by Investing Activities -1,354,180.55
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
25000 · Line of Credit 471,455.10
Net cash provided by Financing Activities 471,455.10
Net cash increase for period 46,596.32
Cash at end of period 46,596.32
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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Body Recall
4:00 pm
AA 7:30 pm
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Sonshine Co. Set Building
6:00 pm
PW Circle IV 7:00 pm
3 Let’s Do Dinner
5:15 pm
Friendship Force 6:30 pm
Discipleship, Fellowship, &
Property Team Meetings 7:00 pm
10
PW Circle II 10:00 am
Sonshine Co. Set Building
6:00 pm
Staff Meeting 6:15 pm
Stewardship
Meeting 7:00 pm
17
VBS Planning Meeting 7:00 pm
4, 11, 18, 25 Body Recall
4:00 pm
Handchimes 5:00 pm
Kids Art Club
5:00 pm
Wednesday Night Dinner
5:45 pm
Adult Handbells 6:30 pm
SonShine Co.
6:30 pm
Pioneer Club 6:30 pm
Oasis Bible Study
6:45 pm
Choir 7:30 pm
12 MOPS
9:15 am
19 SAM Lunch 12:00 pm
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MOPS 9:15 am
6 CHURCH OFFICE
CLOSED
13 FRIDAY GAME
NIGHT
20 Sonshine Co.
Presents A Place In Space
7:30 pm
MAY NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE
27 High School
Lock-In 5:00 pm
6, 13, 20, 27
Bulletin Team 10:00 am
Body Recall
4:00 pm
AA 8:00 pm
14 Men’s Breakfast
8:30 am
Sonshine Co. Dress Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
21 Breadbreakers
6:30 pm
Sonshine Co. Presents
A Place In Space 7:30 pm
28
FISH Pantries Youth Outreach
1 Communion
11:00 am
CEX Meeting 12:30 pm
Outreach 12:30 pm
22
Sonshine Co. Presents
A Place In Space 2:00 pm
29
Personnel Meeting 12:30 pm
1, 8, 15, 22, 29 SS & Nursery
9:30 am (Pastor-led SS at
9:45 am)
Worship,
Nursery, & Planet Worship
11:00 am
DaySpring 3:00 pm
Journey 7 4:00 pm
EPC Youth
Middle School 5:00 pm
Such Is The
Kingdom 5:00 pm
Erin Express
6:00 pm
EPC Youth H.S. 7:00 pm
**NO CEX
Programs on the 8th this month
(Easter). CEX will meet on the 1st
instead.
April 2012
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ERIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 200 Lockett Road Knoxville, TN 37919-4808 Ph: (865) 588-5350 Fax: (865) 584-7775 www.ErinPresbyterian.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
OUR VISION: To be a hearth of faith; a lighthouse in our community; a beacon of God’s Word.
Erin has its own website on the internet at http://erinpresbyterian.org. You can read about our ministries and missions, projects and programs, staff and beliefs on the various pages of the website. Current and archived newsletters can be read online and a whole host of other material and links is constantly available. The pastor’s collectible artwork and latest drawings can be viewed at his site called “Stushie’s Art.” You can find this at http://stushieart.com.
Erin also has its own page on Facebook where the pastor, staff, and church members highlight forthcoming events and share some church photos. If you are a member of Facebook, just search for the Friends of Erin Presbyterian group or visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/52670786548/