erin newsletter - august 2011
DESCRIPTION
Monthly church newsletter of Erin Presbyterian in Knoxville, TNTRANSCRIPT
The BeaconThe BeaconThe BeaconThe Beacon A PUBLICATION OF ERIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 200 Lockett Rd. — Knoxville, TN 37919 — (865) 588-5350 — www.ErinPresbyterian.org
PASTOR
Rev. John Stuart [email protected]
SESSION
Mr. Charles Snodgrass Clerk of Session
CONVENORS Joy Bornhoeft, Fellowship
Kelli Crisp, Discipleship [email protected]
David Eggers, Stewardship [email protected]
Mike Sharp, Outreach [email protected]
LouL Tate, Creative Expressions [email protected]
Dale Webb, Property [email protected]
STAFF Nancy Berry, Organist
Jenny Dell, Administrator
Camie Entrekin, Nursery [email protected]
Joe Jaynes, Choir Director
Rebecca McCurdy, Youth
Karen Stump, Christian Ed.
August 2011
A Message From The Pastor
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.
—Isaiah 40:8
Dear Friends,
When I was growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, one of the
best thrills that I had as a kid was sitting on the top front
seats of a double-decker bus. Almost every other weekend, I used to travel to
the heart of the city with my brothers, and we’d race upstairs on the bus to get
the two front seats. It usually took 30 minutes to ride into the city and because
we sat at the front, we could see everything that was going on in the busy
metropolis. At that time, Glasgow had a population of more than one million
people, so there were bustling crowds and noisy traffic everywhere. It was an
exciting place to be and a wonderful city to grow up in.
As the double-decker bus moved around the city, it passed many stops and
stores. Every now and then a bus stop was located outside a crowded café, a
major department store, or even a pub! I loved watching the people getting on
and off the bus, as well as wondering what they were doing and where they
were going.
There was one bus stop right outside an old Gothic church. The building was an
amazing piece of Victorian architecture, and I always saw something new on its
ornate stonework. Next to the old oak doors, there was a public notice board
which had a poster of a biblical verse in bold letters printed on it. The Bible
verse was changed each week, so I memorized a lot of them and kept them in
my heart for years. I didn’t know it then, but that simple ‘wayside pulpit’ was
feeding me spiritually, and when I crucially needed God most in my life as a
struggling alcoholic, those verses flooded back into my heart and soul.
Years later, when I was a student minister, I was given the opportunity to
preach in that very same church on several occasions. The congregation was
wondering whether or not to continue to display the biblical posters because
the notice board had been vandalized several times. When I preached there for
the first time and thanked them for their ‘wayside pulpit’ ministry to me as a
child, they realized that God worked through their faithfulness and that lives
were being changed in ways that they would never know. To this date, the Bible
verse posters are still displayed outside that city church.
Rev. John Stuart
Continued on pg. 5...
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
2 — Carl Dent
3 — Kirby Agnes
4 — Erin McKenzie Stump
6 — Olivia Baucom
9 — Lauren Stuart
10 — Owen Matthews
11 — Wayne Birdwell
11 — Helen Henry
14 — Mary Frierson
14 — Hugh Jaynes
15 — Keith Stump
16 — Garren Miller
20 — Sue Rayburn
20 — Bud Yard
23 — Keeny Robinson
24 — Mary Ann Hagler
25 — Ruth Henderson
25 — Hillary Pearson
25 — Pam Stevens
27 — Catherine Landstreet
30 — Ray Schall
30 — Lynn Sexton
31 — Lauren Gahan
31 — Bob Price, Jr.
Need to add or change a
birthday? Contact Jenny Dell
in the Church Office at
588-5350.
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 [email protected].
MOPS Open House Erin MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers)
will kick off a new year with an Open
House on Thursday, August 25 from
10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Family Life
Center.
MOPS is a non-denominational Chris-
tian group designed to nurture and
inspire mothers of young children. We
meet in the Family Life Center on the
2nd
and 4th
Thursdays (9:30 – 11:30 am)
during the months of September
through May.
This year's theme is “MomSense: Bold
* Loving * Sensible.”
Developing a mothering style is some-
what like playing a game – and this
year's theme is appropriately game
related. Playing games involves being
bold and taking risks, loving those in
the game with us, and being sensible
while figuring out what works and what
doesn't. Combining her mom intuition
and her common sense helps a woman
discover her own unique MomSense!
The spiritual foundation of this theme is
from 2 Timothy 1:7--
God doesn’t want us to be shy with his
gifts, but bold, and loving and sensible.
(The Message).
So, whether you are new to this game
of motherhood (or you've been in the
game for a while), join us at Erin MOPS.
Connect 4 with other moms, share the
ups and downs of your Chutes and
Ladders like day, Go Fish for new ideas,
and realize that you are not alone in
this stage of Life.
PW Fall Gathering Erin Presbyterian Women will host their
Annual Fall Gathering on Saturday,
August 27 at 10:30 am in the Parlor.
Come join us for refreshments, fellow-
ship, and an introduction to this year's
Horizon Bible Study: Confessing the
Beatitudes by Margaret Aymer.
The Beatitudes are some of the most
beloved teachings of Jesus and some of
the most pointed. We may miss their
point, however, if we do not study
them within their literary, historical,
and cultural contexts. Through nine
different lessons, we will study the
teachings of Jesus in Matthew and
Luke, known as the Beatitudes.
Through a process of reflection and
confession, the author prompts us to
address some of the
most difficult issues
of our world today:
the economy, hun-
ger, poverty, Chris-
tian community,
water issues, a
woman’s role in so-
ciety, faith and pub-
lic life, and justice and peace.
Please join us at our Fall Gathering to
learn more about Erin PW, our mission,
and Bible study. And don't forget that
monthly Circle meetings will begin soon
— September 12 at 7:00 pm and
September 13 at 10:00 am.
For more information, contact Joy
Bornhoeft at 207-9122.
Let’s Do Dinner! Tuesday, August 2 at 5:15 pm
Lakeside Tavern
Contact Mary Scarbrough at
691-8658 or Barbara Brazelton
at 693-3749.
OUTREACH
OPPORTUNITY!
“Feed The Need,” spon-
sored by Second Harvest,
is seeking volunteers to
package food collected at
Worship In The City on
Aug. 26-27 at the Conven-
tion Center. Sign-ups for
two-hour shifts to help
the hungry will be avail-
able in August in the
Narthex.
Jan 1 - Jul 26, 11 Jan 1 - Jul 26, 10
Income
Creative Exp. Income 7,023.40 6,386.30
Discipleship Income 2,603.50 5,158.59
Fellowship Income 5,256.53 4,719.81
Stewardship Income 2,311.80 488.56
Memorial Income 3,569.00 720.00
Outreach Income 3,308.51 3,789.85
Offerings 192,136.16 212,799.10
PW Income 12.00 45.00
Total Income 216,220.90 234,107.21
Expense
Creative Expressions 17,446.96 11,932.21
Property Team 43,846.83 25,343.86
Discipleship Team 10,334.95 16,068.33
Fellowship Team 8,318.78 7,270.69
Outreach Team 20,291.40 31,434.52
Stewardship Team 72,619.58 84,035.44
Worship Team 1,699.88 2,751.03
Pastoral Ministry 63,793.52 64,777.30
Memorial Expenses 14,806.84 76.10
Session 709.11 667.76
Total Expense 253,867.85 244,357.24
Net Income -37,646.95 -10,250.03
GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
Profit & Loss Year-to-Date Comparison (Through July 26, 2011)
Children’s Handchimes
Beginning Wednesday, September 14,
children in grades 4 through 8 will have
an opportunity to learn to play the hand-
chimes. The class will meet in the
Creative Expressions Room from 5:00 —
5:40 pm. The handchime is a slotted
metal tube with an externally mounted
clapper which strikes the tube at a
certain point to produce the desired
pitch. Each handchime is a different
length, therefore, producing a different
pitch. Handchimes are easy for young
hands to grasp, virtually indestructible,
and produce a beautiful mellow tone,
similar to the handbell.
The handchimes are an excellent instru-
ment for children with no musical back-
ground to learn to read music and
achieve immediate success. Additionally,
they teach discipline and commitment
to a group. Because each child is
assigned two handchimes (plus the two
corresponding accidentals), regular
attendance is key to the success of the
ensemble. If the ringer is missing, his/
her notes are not played, which makes it
very difficult for the ensemble to
rehearse.
If your child would like to be part of
Erin’s Handchime Ensemble, please fill
out the form below and drop it in the
offering plate or Nancy Berry’s box. If
you have any questions, contact Nancy
at 588-5350 or [email protected].
HANDCHIME REGISTRATION
Child’s Name:______________________
Grade:_____
Previous musical training, if any:
Parent Name(s): ___________________
______ I would be willing to serve as a
parent helper!
An Excerpt from the Pastor’s Devotionals Christianity is a hard faith to follow. It takes a great deal of persever-
ance and discipline, as well as a whole lot of devotion and dedication.
When we get it right, we live an abundant life and center our choices on
God. When we get it wrong, we merely exist and doom our souls to
destruction. That’s why we need Christ as our Savior. We don’t need to
hide from Him because we can confess our mistakes, redirect our ways,
and receive His grace.
Would you like to receive Rev. Stuart’s devotionals by email each
week? Visit www.ErinPresbyterian.org and click “Subscribe” in the
bottom of the News box.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: Profit & Loss Report (Through July 26, 2011)
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: Statement of Cash Flow (Through July 26, 2011)
Through Jul 26, 11
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income 809,903.71
20000 · Accounts Payable 52,349.35
Net cash provided by Operating Activities 862,253.06
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
13001 · Building
13002 · Kitchen
-1,311,797.00
-30,932.20
Net cash provided by Investing Activities -1,342,729.20
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
25000 · Line of Credit 517,655.90
Net cash provided by Financing Activities 517,655.90
Net cash increase for period 37,179.76
Cash at end of period 37,179.76
Through Jul 26, 11
Income
40000 · Capital Campaign
41800 · Non-Pledged Giving 70,724.04
41900 · Pledges 862,314.75
45000 · Memorials 2,718.48
Total Income 935,757.27
Expense
60000 · Expenses
60100 · Administrative 27,872.25
60200 · Building and Property Security 97,981.31
Total Expense 125,853.56
Net Income 809,903.71
Elder Nominations
The 2011 nominating committee will
present a slate of nominees to the
congregation for election as the
Session’s Class of 2014.
2011 Nominating Committee
Joy Bornhoeft
207-9122
David Eggers
588-1527
Sean Gahan
909-0633
Donna Schall
531-1788
Pat Wallin
588-0219
It is important to receive recommen-
dations from the congregation. Please
let a member of the committee
(above) know of your suggestions, or
complete the card to the right and
place in the offering plate.
Please pray for the Nominating
Committee that, with the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, they may nominate
members who will serve faithfully and
well as elders of this congregation.
My Elder Nomination Suggestion
I recommend: _______________________________________________
Please let us know why you feel this person should be considered for
eldership:
Sunday, August 14
Pastor’s MessagePastor’s MessagePastor’s MessagePastor’s Message ...(Cont. from pg. 1)
At Erin, we don’t have a
bus stop outside of our
door, but what we do have
are dedicated people who
become the ‘wayside
pulpits’ to their families,
friends, and neighbors. We
are changing hearts and
lives in ways that we will
never fully know, and as
long as we continue to
exist, Christ will use our
gifts, our buildings, our
people, and our programs
to bring others closer to
God.
It’s a wonderful and
beautiful thing that we are
doing for God here at Erin.
His mission and ministry
reach out into our
community, effectively and
positively changing the
lives of people of all ages,
backgrounds, and cultures.
It’s an exciting time to be in
this church as we rebuild,
re-envision, and recommit
our congregation to
Christ’s work and ways in
this city.
Thank you!
May God bless you all for
your continued dedication
and future support.
John
A Note of Thanks The entire Brandon Family would like to
thank EVERYONE involved in making
Mom’s Celebration of Life truly that.
We feel the love, people! We feel the
love! — Diana Chappell
Note: To make a contribution in
memory of Mae Brandon, please make
checks payable to “Erin Presbyterian
Church” with “Brandon Breakfast” on
the FOR line.
Erin Stage Co. Scripts Join the Creative Expressions ministry
team on Monday, August 8 at 7:00 pm
in the Heritage Room to review script
possibilities for Fall shows. All who are
interested in reading and discussing
plays for adults in which Erin Stage Co.
might produce are enthusiastically
invited to participate! Questions?
Please contact Joe Jaynes at 588-5350
CE Volunteer Workshop A Christian Education volunteers work-
shop is scheduled for Saturday, August
6 from 10 am—12 pm. All Sunday
School teachers, Pioneer Club leaders,
and Enrichment volunteers are encour-
aged to attend. Join us for a time of
preparing our minds and focus toward
a new Christian Education year. A light
Continental breakfast will be available.
Please call the Church Office at 588-
5350 to register.
Let Us Worship the Lord with Tithes & Offerings By David Draper, Stewardship Team
Is tithing an act of worship for you? Let me confess that for me, the Sunday
morning invitation to "worship" with tithes (a tenth of one's income) and
offerings (gifts over and above a tenth) often comes and goes without earnest
reflection on giving of one's means as an act of worship. Rather than focus on the
worship opportunity in giving, I sometimes fall prey to the "duty" element of
making my tithe. The sense of obligation displaces the sense of opportunity to
demonstrate one's faith. Jesus was deeply troubled by the scribes and
Pharisees who tithed, but with wicked hearts. (See Matthew 23:23).
So how do we bring the Worship element of tithes and offerings into focus?
First, we should be reminded that all
that we have comes from God, and is
God's. We are not giving to God what
we own, but rather returning to Him a
portion of the bounty He has seen fit
to bless us with. (See Genesis 28:10-22.)
Second, we must be mindful that
generosity is a core Christian attribute,
and the measure by which our own
blessings will be rendered. (See Luke
6:38.) That we give generously, and
with a rejoicing heart, demonstrates
our love of God — that He is where
our treasure lies, and not within
ourselves: ...For God loves a cheerful
giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
In our worship, we are presented with
Jesus’ self-sacrifice for our sins, and
we are claimed and set free by Him.
We are led to respond by offering to
God our lives, and likewise our
particular gifts and abilities, and our
material goods. Giving freely and with
a rejoicing heart is a reflection of
God's grace in our lives.
Former Moderator of the General
Assembly, Joan Gray, put it well: "In a
world where we are validated by what
we consume, tithing is one small way
to say ‘no’ to our consumer culture
and ‘yes’ to God’s vision of a world
where everyone has enough."
Perhaps tithing isn’t about percentage
of income or money in the plate. It’s
about Worship!
Connections Class Led By Pastor Stuart
Sundays, 9:45 am—10:30 am
Noah’s Ark Room
August 21—September 25
“The Names of God”
Part 1, August 21:
Elohim — Mighty Creator
OUR VISION To be a hearth of faith; a lighthouse in our community; a beacon of God’s Word.
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Weekly
AA
7:30 pm
8
Erin Stage Co.
7:00 pm
15
Knox County
School Starts
2
Let’s Do Dinner
5:15 pm
Discipleship,
Fellowship, &
Property Teams
7:00 pm
9
Staff Mtg.
6:15 pm
Stewardship
7:30 pm
23
Worship Mtg.
7:00 pm
31
Choir
7:30 pm
4
SAM Trip to
Crossville
18
Session
7:00 pm
25
MOPS
Open House
10:00 am
Women’s
Program &
Guest Speakers
7:00 pm
Weekly
AA
8:00 pm
26
FISH Pantry
Worship In
The City &
“Feed the Need”
6
CE Workshop
10:00 am
20
Newsletter
Deadline
5:00 pm
27
PW Gathering
10:30 am
Worship In
The City &
“Feed the Need”
Weekly
Worship,
Nursery, &
Children’s
Enrichment
11:00 am
7
Communion
11:00 am
CEX Team
12:30 pm
Outreach
12:30 pm
14
Rally Day!
Convener Mtg.
12:30 pm
14, 21, 28
Sunday School
9:30 am
EPC Youth
5:00 pm
Such Is The
Kingdom
5:00 pm
Erin Express
7:30 pm
August 2011August 2011August 2011August 2011
ERIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 200 Lockett Road
Knoxville, TN 37919-4808
Ph: (865) 588-5350
Fax: (865) 584-7775 www.ErinPresbyterian.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL. PLEASE DELIVER BY AUGUST 1, 2011.
