New Series by the Communication Committee, "God in the Midst of Us"
The Communication Committee is launching a series of narratives titled "God in the Midst of Us," featuring accounts of how our community members have experienced God through their journeys at First Presbyterian Church.
We kick off this series with a story contributed by Kelly Norrell. Kelly wears many hats within our church family; she serves as the Chair of the Global Missions Committee, contributes to communication efforts for Presbyterian Women of East Tennessee as well as the Congo Mission Network, is a talented writer and photographer, and recently collaborated on the book titled "East Tennessee Garden Stories." She is also a devoted mother to Katie, Leila, Jay, and Eliza.
We are seeking congregants who would like to share their personal experiences of encountering God within the community of First Presbyterian Church. If you have a story to share, please reach out to Katie Norrell at katie@fpcknox.org. Your contribution is very appreciated!
Kelly and Eliza Norrell
How God Shows us to Love
Kelly Norrell
One way I have experienced God at First Presbyterian Church is through the faces and actions of other people. I saw him in the face of Pego Dempster, who brought cookies to our family after our first visit to the church 25 years ago. I saw him in Sharon Patton, Anne Pittenger, Ken Wise, and so many others who taught our children in Sunday School. I saw him in their church mentors, youth leaders and chaperones. I saw him in Fred Brackney, who cheered at my daughter Eliza’s softball games – even when her team was losing. I saw him in the faces of the Rev. William Pender, who performed my mother’s funeral, and choir director Ashley Burrell, who selected and played her favorite hymns. I’ve seen him in all the people who walked alongside me at hard times. Once, when I agonized over a mistake I’d made, I saw him in the face of the Rev. Carswell Hughs, who said simply, “Be at peace, Kelly.”
We are blessed to have amazing pastors and church staff now, who lead us during these times of pandemic, homelessness, inflation, and climate change. They challenge us to show fellowship and compassion to one another, but also to our brothers and sisters outside the church walls.
They assure us that God is in the midst of us as we try to reach people where they are -- through Justice Knox, the Fish Pantry, Family Promise, our global and local missions ministries, our partners in Mountain of Faith Church, and Bridge Refugee Services among other outreaches. It’s not always easy to connect and show our love to people, but we know how. That’s because God loved us first – often using other people like us as his faces and hands.