First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville » Adult News

Vacation Bible School for Adults

amurray — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:24:46 +0000

The Adult Program for Vacation Bible School is Legacy from Our French Presbyterian Cousins, the Huguenots. It will be presented by Dwyn Mounger and run all 4 nights. Dwyn Mounger is a graduate of Mississippi State University (M.A. history), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Union Theological Seminary, New York (Ph.D. religious history). Dr. Mounger, and his wife, Kay, live in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sanctuary Bulletin for May 20, 2012

amurray — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:32:30 +0000

Click here for May 20, 2012 Bulletin

First Presbyterian Book Club

amurray — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:51:28 +0000

Do you love to read? Do you constantly discuss the book you just read with your friends or spouse, only to find they aren’t really listening? Well, you will have an opportunity to share your ideas with like-minded people. First Presbyterian has a book club, facilitated by Paul Rader. The group will discuss a variety of books from many different genres. If you are interested in joining, please contact Paul Rader at 546-2531 or paul@fpcknox.org for more information.

The Book Club will meet at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 24th, at the Buckingham Retirement Community Club House (7303 Manderly Way, 37909, near Shannondale). We will discuss Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.

Register for 2012 Vacation Bible School

amurray — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:40:21 +0000

Vacation Bible School will be held June 18-21. Dinner starts at 5:30 (see menu below). The children’s program starts at 6:15 p.m. and ends at 7:45 p.m. The adult program begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. More information will be available soon.

VBS for Children:

The theme for this year’s VBS for children is “Sonrise”. Please see the description below for more information.

Get ready for exciting wilderness thrills as you head out to beautiful SonRise National Park! Kids will be awestruck by snow-capped mountains, thundering waterfalls, wildflower meadows bursting with color, and amazing animals like soaring eagles, friendly huskies, 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!

At SonRise National Park, kids will learn to trust Jesus as their all-powerful guide and Savior!

Manmade Breakfast

amurray — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:57 +0000

The Manmade Breakfast (formerly the Men’s Breakfast) is usually held on the first Saturday during the school year. We’re starting breakfast later this year! We moved breakfast back to 8:30am, in order to attract more folks. You can still come at 8:00am for coffee fellowship.

This group meets for breakfast followed by a speaker from the local church-at-large or the Knoxville community. The breakfast is prepared by the Men of the Church. Come enjoy a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fried apples, and great fellowship. The speakers lecture on a variety of topics and are often affiliated with the University of Tennessee.

Where: Fellowship Hall for breakfast and then the James Park room for the speaker.

Contact: Walt Montgomery at 577-1866

Position Available for Receptionist/Admin Assistant

amurray — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:25:45 +0000

A receptionist/administrative assistant position will be available starting immediately. Please send inquiries and/or resume to Diane Gross at diane@fpcknox.org.

New church photo directory

amurray — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:42:45 +0000

It’s time for a new church directory! Lifetouch will photograph Church members’ families on May 21-23, June 14-16, and June 26th (at the Church, in the James Park Classroom), although sign-ups for June 26th are not currently available. In-Church sign-ups have concluded, but there are still two ways you can sign-up: on-line by clicking the link at the bottom of this page, or by calling the Church office during normal office hours at 865-546-2531. Families that sign up online will receive a $10 coupon good towards the purchase of additional photographs. All families that have their photograph taken for the directory will receive a complementary 8×10 photograph and a Church photo directory. When having your picture taken, please dress as if you were going to a worship service.

Please click here to signup online for the photography sessions.

2012 Congregational Mission Trip

amurray — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:00:38 +0000

The mission trip this year is open to the entire congregation (minimum age 14; 12 with a parent present) and will be held from June 3-9. We will be helping our neighbors in West Virginia overcome the devastation of natural disasters or poverty. Wednesday is a rest day so you can go for Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday or the full week. If you cannot attend the whole week, please consider joining us for the first or latter half of the week.

The cost for the trip is $125 for two days or $250 for the full week. The fee includes transportation, lodging, meals while at the center, and our contribution to the cost of supplies for the tasks. We will be staying at a church in Hampden, West Virginia. Sunday school classrooms are converted into dormitories. There are cots for approximately 30 people. There are two bathrooms and two showers. There is wi-fi available. Groups have the opportunity to participate in the Tuesday evening youth program!

For more information, please contact the church office or email: missiontrip@fpcknox.org.

Register Online

From the West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps (WVMAW) website:

http://www.wvpresbytery.org/Ministries/WVMAW/tabid/68/Default.aspx

The West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps (WVMAW) is a Christian ministry supported in part by the Presbyterian Church (USA) that offers the opportunity for discipleship by partnering with those in need whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters or by the disaster of poverty in areas of West Virginia.

WVMAW – Frequently Asked Questions

WVMAW Statement of Values

♦We strive to serve people in ways that will be sustaining for the good of their communities as well as for the good of individuals and families.

♦We encourage spiritual and faith development among those who serve as well as those who are served by our efforts.

♦We seek to encourage and enable mission leadership that will strengthen churches and community members, bringing new life and vitality to West Virginia and beyond.

♦We seek to treat all people with respect and dignity, regardless of their situation.

♦We believe that volunteers are called by God to be partners in ministry.

♦We seek to help people find safe, sanitary, and affordable housing.

♦We are committed to careful stewardship of all resources entrusted to our care.

♦We seek to witness to the goodness of God by providing quality workmanship on all jobs we undertake.

♦We believe that God opens the doors that provide opportunities for ministries that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

♦We seek to find those opportunities for service, and to partner with other organizations involved in similar ministries.

Turnip Patch Knitting Group

amurray — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:12:09 +0000

What: The Turnip Patch Knitters, with organizer Jean Moore, knit items to be given to senior citizens and infants. If you knit, or would like to learn how, and are interested in participating in this service project, please contact Jean at 583-0285 for more information.

When: The knitting group meets:

-The third Monday of every month

Location: Meet in homes

Mission Market

amurray — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:52:19 +0000

The Mission Market

The Mission Market of First Presbyterian Church is open the first and third Sundays of every month (and during special events) in the fellowship hall. Sponsored by the Global Mission Committee, The Mission Market features fair trade crafts and foods from around the world. Located in the south end of the Fellowship Hall (old PW office), the market is open from 9:30-10:00, 10:30-11:00, and 12-12:30.
The market will not be open during Sunday school or Worship.

Upcoming Dates:

May 27, June 18, June 21, July 15, August 19

The Mission Market exists to provide an opportunity for members to purchase items made by low-income artisans and farmers. The income from these sales helps to lift families out of poverty, giving them hope for a better future for themselves and their children. In the fair trade model, the producers are paid a “down payment” when an order is placed so that they can buy supplies and sustain themselves as they work. When they deliver their goods to organizations such as SERRV and Equal Exchange, they receive the balance of their payment. Fair Trade organizations then provide the goods to craft markets and churches to recoup the payments and continue the process.

At The Mission Market you will find old favorites such as Olive Branch Olive Oil, fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate, global crafts and the opportunity to support Heifer Project International and Keep Hope Alive olive trees. New this year will be Out of the Blue granola from a Tennessee group, a new Congo Coffee that benefits Panzi Hospital (a mission partner of the Presbyterian church (USA) in the DRC), as well as many new products from SERRV and Partners for Just Trade and the Presbyterian Women’s cookbook.

Since The Mission Market will be an ongoing endeavor, sales tax will be charged on purchases. The small profit made on these sales will underwrite the market’s expenses and begin a fund to help emerging craft groups of our mission partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

http://www.serrv.org/product/bright-endeavors/united-states

http://www.serrv.org/product/craft-link/vietnam

http://partnersforjusttrade.org/ht/d/sp/i/9987/pid/9987%20

Spring has arrived in The Mission Market!

The Mission Market provides products that are good for the artisans, good for the environment and good for you!

Check out the Aquamarine Recycled Glass Pitcher from Guatemala, Rice bag wallets and lunch sack from Vietnam, and Smiling Sun Wall Art crafted in Haiti from an oil drum. Invite feathered guests to your yard with charming bird houses and bamboo chimes. Refill you pantry from a new shipment of coffee and tea.

New this week are Geobars from Equal Exchange. The bars have over 50% fair trade ingredients from South African grape farmers, Pakistani apricot collectors, Chilean beekeepers and berry farmers, Indian and Thai rice farmers. Three varieties: Apricot, Chocolate-Raisin, and Mixed Berries. Introductory Price only $3.50 for a box of six bars.

and always . . . your favorite fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, granola, jams, olive oil plus a new shipment of Za’tar, the Middle Eastern spice & herb blend.

Shop with a conscience, bringing hope and justice to low-income farmers and artisans around the world. Your purchases transform lives while enriching your own.

“The Fair Trade Resource Network has just announced the winners in “The Best in Fair Trade” online voting, including two of our partners in The Mission Market.

SERRV was named Most Outstanding in Long Term Commitment to Producers.


The company has a history of starting work with previously unknown artisan and producer groups and a reputation for sticking with them for the long haul, through thick and thin. Enormous respect from artisan and producer groups who have worked with SERRV over the past 60 years and more. Long lasting impact for artisans and producers in more than 30 developing countries around the world. Network of thousands of artisans and producers around the world. Effective artisan/producer development program – product design and development, business training, disaster assistance (earthquakes, flood, cyclones).

Equal Exchange was cited for Best Support of the Fair Trade Movement.


The company partners with 12 faith-based groups, including the Presbyterian Church (USA) involving about 11,000 congregations through their Interfaith Program in which they make Fair Trade products, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, more accessible to people. EE gives 10 cents for each pound of product sold to the faith-based organization to use to support small farmers. The company is also advocating for small farmers by opposing the addition of large plantations to Fair Trade.