January 2015

The Banner

Inside this issue:

From your pastor 2

Member spotlight &

welcome

3

Food for thought &

FPC in 2015

4

History page—

3rd decade

5

Parish nurse &

thank you 6

Youth & children;

Oak Ridger article

on Belize

7

December surprise &

session news 8

Bits ‘n’ pieces 9

Worship volunteers

& invitation 10

Calendar 11

First Presbyterian Church

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

This Month’s Events

Centering prayer

Elders installed

Session retreat

Movie nights

Health lunch

Annual lasagna

dinner and congre-

gational meeting

Coffee chat

“Uncensored”

FPC at Ecumenical Storehouse in February; volunteers needed

move, find furniture, and set

up a new home, six local

churches, including First

Presbyterian, organized a

nonprofit corporation

called Ecumenical Store-

house, Inc. According to its

state-approved charter, its

purposes in 1984 were the

“collection, storage, and

distribution of household

items and other articles

(continued on pg. 2)

A father of six was injured

in a coal-mining accident; he

lost his job and failed to

make his mortgage pay-

ments. A mother of three

was abused often by her

alcoholic husband, so she

finally left her home, taking

the children with her. A fire

destroyed the house of a

family of five; all escaped but

everything they owned was

gone. Another family lost

their home to a tornado.

Recognizing 30 years ago

that circumstances can

force low-income folks to

2015 signals a big year ahead for FPC

Happy New Year—and

happy anniversary, First

Presbyterian Church! We

are entering 2015 in a big

way—and here are some of

the reasons why:

We will mark “the First 70

Years” as a congregation

this summer, which calls for

a celebration! The 70th an-

niversary planning team has

its sights set on a wonderful

gala event on Sunday, June

7, 2015, which will be the

Sunday closest to our actual

charter date of June 10,

1945. But, as you may

know, we aren’t waiting

until June to mark this im-

portant year. For example,

Carolyn Krause is providing

us with decade-by-decade

highlights of our church his-

tory each month in The Ban-

ner leading up to the June

gala, we have a new FPC

logo (see right), we will

have copies of our new pic-

have many more details

about this project at the

annual congregational meet-

ing, which the session has

called for Sunday, Jan. 25.

Finally, we also enter this

new year having met our

goal budget of $356,800 for

2015. Thank you for your

pledges and commitments

to the work and witness of

this congregation. Each and

every gift matters, regard-

less of the amount. Addi-

tional details about the 2015

budget will be in the annual

report, which will be avail-

able a week

prior to our

meeting on

Jan. 25. (By

the way, if

you find that

giving to FPC

online is more convenient

than writing a check, that

option is now available.

Read more about that and

FPC in 2015 on pg. 4.)

torial directory next month,

and Chuck Hadden is hard

at work writing a new hymn

text for us. And those are

just for starters.

Perhaps the largest project

we will undertake this year

in conjunction with the 70th

anniversary is a refurbishing

of the fellowship hall. We

are so excited and incredi-

bly grateful to announce a

generous, anonymous gift of

$50,000 toward this pro-

ject! The planning commit-

tee anticipates having ready

for this month’s session

meeting a final recommen-

dation on a contractor who

will do the work, all in time

for the June gala. We will

You can help:

Mon., Wed. or Fri. morn-

ings in Feb., from 8:45 a.m.

to noon.

Saturdays, same hours;

people and trucks needed

to pick up furniture dona-

tions.

Sign up in fellowship hall.

I listened to an interesting

segment on NPR’s “Morning

Edition” recently, which

reminded me of this con-

gregation. Dorothy Stoltz,

head of outreach and pro-

gramming for the Carroll

County (Maryland) Public

Library, was interviewed on

the subject of literacy.

Stoltz identified “talk, sing,

read, write, and play” as five

practices that, if parents do

with their children at an

early age, help with those

children’s success later in

school. She cited a 1995

study that indicated that

children from higher-

income families hear 30 mil-

lion more words at home

by the age of 4 than children

from low-income homes.

She called it “the 30 million-

word gap.”

Thirty million words by

the age of 4 is a mind-

boggling statistic to me.

Equally mind-boggling is

how complex and numer-

ous the issues are sur-

rounding poverty. The in-

terview made me thankful

for this congregation’s com-

mitment to our local educa-

tion missions and the many

ways we are partnering with

others to make a difference

in this arena—whether it’s

filling backpacks with food

for kids who might other-

wise go hungry, or tutoring

Roane State Community

College students in math

and other subjects. And our

commitment extends well

beyond this region to in-

clude our brothers and sis-

ters in Belize.

I also appreciate how

many of you engage in con-

tinuous, lifelong learning for

yourselves. I hear regularly

about your latest class in

pottery or computers, just

to name a couple.

As we enter a new year, I

invite you to consider how

you might expand your

knowledge of your faith. If

there were ever an area

that involves continuous,

lifelong learning, it is our

relationship with God and

all of the mysteries and

wonders therein. For start-

ers, check out the lineup of

adult educational opportuni-

ties being offered here at

FPC in 2015. Happy New

Year—and happy learning!

With a grateful heart,

Sharon

From your pastor

Page 2 The Banner

Sharon Youngs, Pastor

Volunteers needed (continued from pg. 1)

primarily to needy persons

of Anderson County.” Today volunteers from 13

Oak Ridge churches oper-

ate the Ecumenical Store-

house on a rotating basis. Its

service area has expanded;

the Storehouse accepts and

distributes free of charge

most household goods, ex-

cept for food and clothes,

to referred clients in Ander-

son, Roane, Campbell, Mor-

gan, and Scott counties. Each of the 13 churches

staffs the Ecumenical Store-

house for a month. Our

church’s turn is coming up

in February.

“You can help by volun-

teering to staff the Store-

house from 8:45 a.m. to

noon each Monday,

Wednesday, and Friday in

February,” said Janet Swift, a

regular volunteer there. “At

least four to six volunteers

are needed on these days to

help clients choose furni-

ture and household items

or to assist in the office. “Other volunteers are

needed to help sort and

shelve linens and kitchen

items. In addition, at least

six persons and three trucks

are needed each Saturday

morning from 8:45 a.m. until

noon to pick up donated

furniture.” Sign-up sheets will be avail-

able in the fellowship hall

this month. “Those who have worked

at the Ecumenical Store-

house in the past can tell

you what a blessing it is to

meet and help some of the

people who come to the

Storehouse,” Janet contin-

ued. “We pray for God’s

hand to guide us in February

to do his work in the com-

munity.” The Ecumenical Store-

house is located at 134 East

Division Road. For more

information about FPC’s

work at the Storehouse,

please contact Ted Atkinson

at 483-4412 or Janet Swift

at 482-5767 or swift-

jan@gmail.com. For addi-

tional information, please

visit the Ecumenical Store-

house’s website at http://

www.ecumstore.org.

Ashley Hadden (left)

and Connie Book

Sign-up sheets

available in the

fellowship hall

Sunday, Jan. 11.

Page 3 J anuary 2015

Peggy Gregory is one of

the earliest members of

FPC who still attend our

church services. She recalls

attending Presbyterian ser-

vices in the Pine Valley

School gymnasium. She and

her late husband Jim be-

came members in January

1949. They had moved to

Oak Ridge with two chil-

dren and had two more

here.

Peggy was born in Wash-

ington, Pa., and grew up in

nearby Canonsburg. She

majored in dietetics at the

women’s college of West-

ern Reserve University in

Cleveland, Oh., where she

met Jim, who was earning a

degree in civil engineering at

Case Institute of Technol-

ogy. They had their first

child in Buffalo, N.Y., where

Jim worked for the Curtiss-

Wright Corporation, which

built cargo planes during

World War II. Their second

child was born in Cleveland

before Jim got an engineer-

ing job at K-25 and later Y-

12 in Oak Ridge.

After her children were

older, Peggy worked in the

children’s library and at the

reference desk of the Oak

Ridge Public Library. In 1970

she and Jim moved to a

house they built on Watts

Bar Lake in Kingston.

In the early 1980s they

both retired and traveled

together to Hawaii and the

other U.S. states, as well as

Canada and countries in

Europe. When Jim’s health

declined, they returned to

Oak Ridge and our congre-

gation in 2000. Jim died two

years later.

Three of Peggy’s four chil-

dren, including FPC member

Melinda (Mimi) Tilley, live in

East Tennessee. Michael

lives in the Tri-Cities area

and John, who works for

the Tennessee Wildlife Re-

sources Agency, lives on

Douglas Lake. Peggy spends

most of the winter with her

eldest daughter Priscilla,

Member spotlight—Peggy Gregory

who lives in North Florida.

Peggy has six grandchildren

and five great-grandchildren.

Mimi’s son Wes is an FPC

member and his wife Ryan

and their two children,

River and Willow, attend

regularly. Peggy’s grand-

daughter Maggie Williams is

a regular guest.

The Gregorys were active

in our church. Jim helped

rebuild the first pipe organ,

sang in the choir, and

served on the session. Peggy

was an active member of

the Women’s Association

and taught fourth- and fifth-

grade children in Sunday

school. Their children were

active participants on our

church’s ball teams and at-

tended church camps. To-

day Peggy says she most

misses all the women’s cir-

cles through which she re-

ceived helpful tips and made

lots of friends.

Welcome the familiar faces of Hannah Tippett

and Cheryl Barr when you see them in church.

They've been regular visitors to the church for

about 9 months now. Hannah and Cheryl are

from Malawy in Africa. Hannah is an attorney

with the Mostoller law firm while Cheryl is a

grant and finance manager through UCLA for

an organization in Malawy. Welcome to our

church and also to Tennessee!

WelcomeWelcome

Cheryl Barr (left) and Hannah Tippet at a FPC

Wednesday night dinner, Fall 2014

Peggy Gregory

will realize all the marvelous

gifts that come from above:

rain, sunshine, blessings.

Then I will thank you with

all my soul.

“Thank you for the work

you do inside me by your

love and power.

“Thank you for your

mercy which makes all

things new each morning—

even after a day of failure.

“Thank you for adopting

me as your child. Thank you

for restoring a right rela-

tionship with me through

the cross. I will strive to be

more like Christ through

the burdens and blessings

you allow to cross my path.

Give me eyes to see and a

heart to do your will this

new year.

“Lord, thank you for hear-

ing my prayer. We offer it

in the name of and through

our Lord and Savior, Jesus

Christ. Amen.”

… adapted from allabout-

prayer.com

tunities instead of apatheti-

cally overlooking them. This

readiness involves praising

and worshipping you with a

pure heart.

“Though at times I don’t

feel your presence, remind

me that you will never leave

or forsake me. Give rest for

my troubled heart. Let your

Word renew my mind day

after day in this new year.

“This new year I will trust

in you rather than be

clothed with discourage-

ment. My desire is to follow

you wholeheartedly. Let my

mind be renewed, re-

freshed, and returned to

joy.

“This new year I trust

your closeness and care. I

have no need for fear be-

cause you lavish your love

on me. I will learn more and

more of you, seeking your

kingdom and reign over my

life. May my actions prove I

treasure the Holy Spirit in-

dwelling inside me.

“I will take the time daily

to lift your name on high. I

“Lord, my precious Savior

and God, help me turn to

you throughout this new

year. I will be grateful for

every breath. As circum-

stances and issues came

against me last year and

have followed me into this

new year, I cry out to you.

Empower me with your

Holy Spirit to overcome

these obstacles with a good

perspective, realizing they

strengthen and mold me

into the image of your mar-

velous Son.

“May my mind focus on

heavenly priorities: loving

you and my neighbor. This

new year let me walk in

humility, serving you, loving

you, giving you glory and

honor every day. Each day

of this new year, I will ac-

knowledge you in every-

thing and for everything.

“May I not be only a

hearer of your Word, but

also a doer, practicing your

teachings, no longer

quenching the Holy Spirit.

Cause me to act on oppor-

Food for Thought: A New Year’s prayer

Page 4 The Banner

Easy, secure,

and a whole

lot more. You can sup-

port the mission of First

Presbyterian Church

online anytime. Visit

fpcor.org and click on the

“Give now” button (or

look for a pew card with a

QR code to scan) to make

a one-time gift or set up

a recurring “e-tithe.”

Exciting days

are ahead as we

both celebrate

our rich history

as a community of faith

and look ahead to the

next 70 years of respon-ding to God’s call

through worship, fellow-

ship, education, and ser-

vice!

FPC in 2015 (continued from pg. 1)

70TH ANNIVERSARY

CALENDAR FOR 2015

FPC will celebrate its 70th

anniversary in 2015. To

commemorate the occa-

sion, the 70th anniversary

team has prepared a 12-

month 2015 calendar fea-

turing historic and current

photos, available for $20

each. Please call Priscilla

Campbell at 483-8140 to

purchase one.

Jim Wessel, Clerk of Session

Page 5 J anuary 2015

On June 7, 2015, FPC will

celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Between now and then, high-

lights on a decade of FPC’s

history will appear in The

Banner. For the full history, go

to fpcor.org.

At the start of 1967, the

Rev. Alex Stuart became the

sole pastor after having

served as co-pastor. In April

1967 the session wrote this

statement on our church's

theological position: “The

sole requirement for mem-

bership in this church is

confession of faith in Jesus

Christ. . . Each member

must come to his (sic) own

understanding of faith and

must justify his system of

belief only to himself." The

position paper also stated

that the church should pay

attention to the problems

of racial relations and rural

poverty.

On August 25, 1968,

ground was broken for the

Activities building, which

houses the church offices. A

University of Tennessee

architectural student de-

signed the building, which

was completed in 1969.

Many community groups

have used the building over

the ensuing years.

In the late 1960s church

members started and staffed

an ecumenical vacation

church school in Scarboro,

which has a high concentra-

tion of African Americans.

As a result of the anti-war

sentiments aroused by the

presence of U.S. troops in

South Vietnam, on March

17, 1968, 14 church mem-

bers performed James Pos-

eral church

members pro-

vided items for

the prison and

visited prison-

ers, helped

their families,

and organized

Christmas par-

ties for the

inmates.

In late 1970 Alex Stuart's

request that John Minear's

status be changed from as-

sistant pastor to associate

pastor was approved. Be-

tween July 1972 and March

1973 both ministers ac-

cepted calls from other

churches.

At the direction of Union

Presbytery, the church ac-

cepted the Rev. Robert R.

Crothers from the United

Presbyterian Church's New

York City headquarters as

the stated supply. Crothers'

interim ministry began July

8, 1973. Several church offi-

cers' and family retreats

were held at Walden

Creek. Also, in 1973 Jim

Allen, a UT engineering stu-

dent, was hired as church

organist.

ten’s one-act play "The

Milestone." It depicted a

scene following a hypotheti-

cal nuclear war.

By June 1969 Alex Stuart

recognized the need for an

additional pastor for the

size of the congregation. So,

the Rev. John Minear, a gui-

tar-playing minister who

counseled youth, was in-

stalled as assistant pastor on

Oct. 12, 1969.

In the fall of 1968, FPC

joined three other local

congregations in establishing

a Coffeehouse at Grove

Center for young people

needing a place to gather

and exchange ideas and con-

cerns. The Coffeehouse

offered food, soft drinks,

and entertainment for all

Oak Ridge teens.

From 1971 to 1975 our

church alone sponsored the

Coffeehouse. Every Friday

night 100 to 300 teens

would meet in the Activities

building. At least seven adult

chaperones served as

"listeners" for young people

with concerns. A board of

nine youths and nine adults

operated the Coffeehouse.

Church member Maria

Schenck, daughter of Jose-

phine Jeffress, published a

series of articles in The Oak

Ridger on the plight of pris-

oners at Brushy Mountain

State Penitentiary in nearby

Petros, touching off com-

munity concern about their

treatment. In 1971 leaders

from the church's Social

Concerns Commission

were instrumental in orga-

nizing Prisoners' Aid Society

of Tennessee (PAST). Sev-

Chronology

Jan.1, 1967—Alex

Stuart becomes

pastor

April 1967—

Session issues a

position paper

Aug. 25, 1968—

Groundbreaking

for Activities build-

ing

1968—Ecumenical

church school in

Scarboro started

Mar. 17, 1968—

Anti-war play pre-

sented

Oct. 12, 1969—

Rev. John Minear

hired as assistant

pastor

1971-75—

Operation of first

Coffeehouse for

teens

1971—Prisoners’

Aid Society of TN

organized

July 8, 1973—Rev.

Robert Crothers

hired as interim

pastor

70 years of FPC history: The third decade (1965-1975)

Alex Stuart, 1968

From your parish nurse: Some adults have ADHD

Page 6 The Banner

Meg Tonne, Parish Nurse

Health Luncheon There will be a

health lunch on Thurs-

day, Jan. 15, at noon,

in room 102. The

speaker will be an offi-

cer from the Oak

Ridge Police Depart-

ment who will address

staying safe in your

home and in the com-

munity.

Lunch is $5 and the

program is free and

open to the public.

Please call the church

office at 483-1318 to

make a reservation.

Many people think of

rowdy kids who can’t sit

still when they hear the

term “attention deficit hy-

peractivity disorder.” But a

number of adults don’t real-

ize that some difficulties

they face, including staying

organized or being on time,

are symptoms of adult

ADHD. Here are 10 poten-

tial warning signs:

Trouble getting organ-

ized. For people with

ADHD, the responsibilities

of adulthood can make

problems with organization

more obvious and more

problematic than in child-

hood.

Reckless driving and

traffic accidents. ADHD

makes it hard to keep your

attention on a task, so

spending time behind the

wheel of a car can be hard.

ADHD symptoms can make

some people more likely to

speed, have traffic accidents,

and lose their driver’s li-

censes.

Marital trouble. Often

the partners of people with

undiagnosed ADHD take

poor listening skills and an

inability to honor commit-

ments as signs that their

partner doesn’t care. If

you’re the person with

ADHD, you may not under-

stand why your partner is

upset, and you may feel

you’re being nagged or

blamed for something that’s

not your fault.

Extremely distractible.

Many people find that dis-

tractibility can lead to a his-

tory of career underper-

formance, especially in noisy

or busy offices. If you have

adult ADHD, you might find

that phone calls or email

messages derail your atten-

tion, making it difficult for

you to finish tasks.

Poor listening skills. Do

you zone out during long

business meetings? Inability

to pay attention results in

poor listening skills in many

adults with ADHD, leading

to a lot of missed appoint-

ments and misunderstan-

dings.

Restlessness and trou-

ble relaxing. Although

many children with

ADHD are “hyperactive,”

this ADHD symptom often

appears differently in adults.

Adults with ADHD are

more likely to be restless or

unable to relax.

Trouble starting a task.

Procrastination often adds

to existing problems, inclu-

ding marital disagreements,

workplace issues, and pro-

blems with friends.

Lateness. Adults with

ADHD are often distracted

on the way to an event.

They may realize the car

should be washed and then

notice it’s low on gas. Peo-

ple with adult ADHD also

tend to underestimate how

much time it takes to finish

a task, whether it’s a major

assignment at work or a

simple home repair.

Angry outbursts. ADHD

often leads to problems

with controlling emotions.

Many people with adult

ADHD are quick to explode

over minor issues.

Not prioritizing. Often

people with adult ADHD do

not prioritize, failing to

meet big obligations, such as

a deadline at work, while

spending countless hours on

something insignificant.

If you or a loved one is

diagnosed with adult

ADHD, you’ll need to work

together with your doctor

to come up with the best

treatment plan. Often, adult

ADHD is treated with a

combination of ADHD

medications.

Source: WebMD Medical

Reference

Dear First Pres Family,

I can’t thank you all enough for your

outpouring of love & support following

Tim’s passing & also the many months

leading up to it. I’m so grateful for the huge effort that

you went to hosting the reception following his service.

It was just lovely. Thank you also to the choir & Anna

& Jim for providing such beautiful music at the service.

It touched my heart.

Much love,

Teresa Myrick

Page 7 J anuary 2015

Youth and children’s ministry

Children’s Moment

1/4: Sharon Youngs

1/11: Gene Ice

1/18: Karen Pence

1/25: Colin Colverson

Activity time

1/4: Mary Keller, Andre Darko

1/11: Teresa Brittain, Jarred Julien

1/18: Bonnie Murray, Laura Budai

1/25: Anna Childs, Jean-Luc Julien

Presbyterians bring clean water to Belize

“Water treatment

at Jaguar Creek is

complicated by sea-

sonal rains that stir

up silt in the creek,”

Dave said. “Silt in

the water supply can

clog charcoal filters and

block the transmission of

the ultraviolet light through

the water. The supply wa-

ter is treated by a series of

pleated paper filters that

can be rinsed as they clog. “Citizens of Belize have

very discriminating tastes in

water. Most use their lim-

ited resources to purchase

their water from a com-

mercial bottler. The water

purification team was grati-

fied that the low-cost

treated water passed the

Jaguar Creek staff’s taste

test.” FPC’s Chuck Hadden and

Dan Terpstra also traveled

to Belize in November to

lay the groundwork for fu-

ture water purification

partnerships and projects.

In late November FPC’s

Dave Mullins and two mem-

bers of a Presbyterian

church in Springfield, Mo.,

installed a water purification

system at the Jaguar Creek

Mission and Conference

Center in Belize. The participants are

trained members of Living

Waters for the World

(LWW), an organization

sponsored by the Presby-

terian Church (USA) whose

goal is to bring clean water

to communities in need.

They trained three Jaguar

Creek staff to install and

maintain LWW systems. Jaguar Creek hosts mission

teams serving communities

in the Cayo District in cen-

tral Belize. The center also

hosts continuing education

training sessions conducted

by Pathlight International for

primary and secondary

school teachers in Belize. Students from Roane State

Community College, as well

as FPC teams, have stayed at

Jaguar Creek while partici-

pating in medical, educa-

tional and water missions. In addition to supplying

clean drinking water to the

guests and staff of the Jaguar

Creek center, the LWW

team plans to include a bot-

tling station for providing

clean water to surrounding

villages. “We hope Jaguar Creek

will serve as a hub that sup-

ports a network of water

purification systems

throughout Belize,” Dave

said. The Jaguar Creek center

obtains its water from

nearby Jaguar Creek. The

untreated water contains

biological contaminants that

can cause gastrointestinal

problems. The LWW system treats

the water by running it

through activated charcoal

filters that remove most of

the large parasites and mi-

croorganisms. In the final

step, smaller bacteria are

killed by ultraviolet radia-

tion.

Presbyterian Youth Connection (PYC)

Youth grades 8-12 are invited to attend the Presbytery of East

TN (PET) Youth Summit 2015, a weekend retreat at

Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg Feb. 27-Mar. 1. The weekend

will include small groups, a keynote speaker, big group games,

and exploring Gatlinburg. Registration is $115/person by Jan.

23, or $130 by Feb. 2.

A schedule of PYC programs and activities in coming weeks:

Sunday, Jan. 11—5:30-7:00 p.m. PYC Dinner out

Friday, Jan. 16—6:00-8:30 p.m. TGIF Movie night

Sunday, Jan. 18—5:30-7:00 p.m. PYC Program

Sunday, Jan. 18—5:30-7:00 p.m. PYC Game night

Friday, Jan. 30—6:00-8:30 p.m. TGIF Movie night

Jaguar Creek Mission and

Conference Center in Belize

Page 8 J anuary 2015

*November Presbytery

Communion *on a

Tuesday or Saturday

Nov. 29—First Sunday

in Advent

Dec. 24—both Christ-

mas Eve services

In other news presented

at the session meeting, the

All-Church Retreat for

2015 will be held on Satur-

day, Sept. 12, at John Knox

Center. Also, the Finance

committee has formed an

Investment Team to decide

on the specific parameters

of church investment that

will generate income while

keeping the risk low and

being mindful of socially

responsible options. The

session also expressed

thanks to the ruling elders

rotating off at the end of

2014: Joe Grey, Ryan John-

son, and Dave Mullins.

At a called meeting on Jan.

4, the session approved a

goal budget of $356,800.

At its December stated

meeting, the session ap-

proved the following mo-

tions:

These curricula for

2015: the Alpha Course

curriculum, concurring

with the Congrega-

tional Care and Wel-

come Committee; the

Kerygma Bible in Depth

curriculum; the book

We Make the Road by

Walking by Brian

McLaren for use in the

monthly BYOB Bible

study; and the Home-

town Nazareth: Where

Jesus Was a Kid curricu-

lum by Group Publish-

ing for Vacation Bible

School, which FPC will

conduct with First

Christian Church and

another small church.

This statement to place

on any acknowledge-

ment of giving to the

church from an individ-

ual: “All goods and ser-

vices provided by

FPCOR are free and

any contributions are

voluntary.”

A revised Human Re-

sources Policy Manual,

which will go into ef-

fect Jan. 1, 2015.

Jan. 25, 2015, as the

date for the annual

congregational meet-

ing.

The 2015 Communion

schedule:

Jan. 11—Baptism of the

Lord

Feb. 18—Ash Wednes-

day

Apr. 2—Maundy

Thursday

May 24—Pentecost

June 7—FPC 70th An-

niversary Gala

July 5

Aug. 2

Sept. 6

Oct. 4—World Com-

munion

Nov. 1—All Saints

Session news: Curricula and HR policy

Last month, through your

support, our congregation

turned a $20,000 budget

deficit on Dec. 1 into a

$4000 surplus by Dec. 31.

Our December income was

the largest single monthly

total Dave Mullins has seen

in over eighteen years as

treasurer. Our pledge com-

mitments can be counted

on, even though many arrive

at the last minute. Thank

you for your gifts!

December Blessing

Bits ‘n’ pieces

January Birthdays

1/4 Catherine Backus

1/4 Emily Backus

1/5 Syd Murray

1/9 Sandra Edwards

1/12 Mary Ann Davidson

1/13 Ashley Layendecker

1/16 Kate Porter

1/16 Madeline Stone

1/19 Sue Byrne

1/20 Debra Stone

1/22 Rick Shipp

1/25 Jere Duke

1/26 Bob Fulcher

1/26 Janet Swift

1/29 John Drake

1/31 Brian Drane

Congratulations

and blessings!

Page 9 J anuary 2015

Women’s lunch On Monday, Jan. 12, the women of First

Presbyterian are invited to gather for

lunch at 12:30 p.m. at Dean’s Restaurant &

Bakery. The women try to visit area res-

taurants that participate in donating a por-

tion of that day’s profits to ADFAC’s Dine

and Donate program.

Early FPC member dies We received word that Ruth Jones

Brown died in Chicago in late October

2014. She was a “calutron girl” at the Y-12

plant in the mid-1940s and an early mem-

ber of FPC. Her sons are Chan and John.

Ed Frome honored Congratulations to Ed Frome, who trav-

eled to Atlanta in October to attend the

50th anniversary of the Department of

Biostatics and Bioinformatics at Emory

University. Ed, who is retired from Oak

Ridge National Laboratory, was selected as

an inaugural recipient of the Michael H.

Kutner Distinguished Alumni Award based

on his accomplishments in statistical sci-

ence. Ed earned his Ph.D. degree in biosta-

tistics from Emory in 1972. His wife Ann

received her master's degree in education

there in 1969.

FOOD 4 KIDS BACKPACKS Come help sort and pack food

for hungry children!

Next Monday, Jan. 12, and

Tuesday, Jan. 13, are the next

work days for Food 4 Kids, a program

through the Family Resource Center.

Here are the specifics:

Monday—starting about 2:30 p.m.

(dependent on the delivery truck) there is

a lot of work to be done unpacking boxes

and sorting and dividing individual snacks

so that the packing of bags for the back-

packs can be started by 5:30 p.m. The goal

is to complete all packing by 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday—8:30 to 10:00 a.m. any unfin-

ished packing from Monday is done and

deliveries are made to the local schools. If

you want to help with deliveries please

contact Cara Weigel, 481-8108.

Contact Gretchen Drane at

gfdrane@gmail.com or 483-1472 to get

involved. Or you can just show up at First

United Methodist and you’ll be put to

good work.

CONTACT Teleministries, an outreach supported by FPC, will offer two

training workshops on “The Art of Active Listening.”

This training teaches empathetic listening skills useful in all aspects of life,

and, for those who are interested, serves as the first step in becoming a

CONTACT volunteer.

CONTACT Care Line offers support for callers with mental disorders

and those who are feeling overwhelmed. CONTACT increases the safety

and independence of the elderly and disabled by checking in with them

daily, and through a new online chat program, reaches out to teens, too.

Cost: $50; Students $25. Call the CONTACT business office for more

info at 312-7450. Register online at http://www.contactcarelinetn.org/

training/training-registration.

Tuesdays, Jan. 20-Mar. 10

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Hodges Library

1015 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville

Thursdays, Jan. 22-Mar. 12

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Oak Ridge UUC

809 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Shirley Sauls (left) and Ted Atkinson helping in

the Ecumenical Storehouse in 2014. Get the

scoop on pg. 1—and don’t miss the chance to

share in this community ministry in February.

Sunday, January 4

Liturgist: Fred Haywood

Children’s Moment: Sharon Youngs

Activity Time: Mary Keller, Andre Darko

Sound Guild: A

Ushers: Team I, led by Irene Darko

Counters: Bill Bostick, Irene Darko Flowers: Bonnie Murray

Fellowship Hosts: Daisy Campen, Judy Greeson

Opening/Closing: Mike Hilliard, Dave Mullins

Sunday, January 11

Liturgist: Peggy Hilliard

Children’s Moment: Gene Ice

Activity Time: Teresa Brittain, Jarred Julien

Sound Guild: B

Ushers: Team II, led by George Darko

Counters: George Darko, Bonnie Murray Flowers: TBA

Fellowship Hosts: Jeri & Jere Duke

Opening/Closing: Mike Hilliard, Dave Mullins

Worship Volunteers

Page 10 J anuary 2015

Sunday, January 25

Liturgist: Parker Jarnigan

Children’s Moment: Colin Colverson

Activity Time: Anna Childs, Jean-Luc Julien

Sound Guild: D

Ushers: Team IV, led by Dennis Strickler

Counters: Jim Campbell, Matt Stone Flowers: TBA

Fellowship Hosts: Janet & Richard Alexander

Opening/Closing: Mike Hilliard, Dave Mullins

Page 10 The Banner

Sunday, January 18

Liturgist: Chuck Hadden

Children’s Moment: Karen Pence

Activity Time: Bonnie Murray, Laura Budai

Sound Guild: C

Ushers: Team III, led by Joe Grey

Counters: Sherith Colverson, Tammy Pietrzak Flowers: Shirley Knight

Fellowship Hosts: Mike Bast, Lou Dunlap

Opening/Closing: Mike Hilliard, Dave Mullins

Pilgrimage to Compassion

How do local ministries and service organizations help people in

need? Why do some people rely on these services? Want first-

hand answers? Join a group of 15 to 20 people in an immersion

experience for three days the first week of March. Learn what

services these organizations provide, visit with their clients, and

hear their stories.

Encounter persons who are impoverished, homeless, mentally

challenged, addicted, or severely disabled. Talk with men and

women recently released from prison, or unable to access health

care. Meet struggling veterans.

Ministries you may visit include the Free Medical Clinic of Oak

Ridge, TORCH, Keystone Eldercare, Patricia Neal Rehabilitation

Center, Stepping Stones at Ridgeview, and Focus Ministries (for

ex-offenders). The cost per person will range between $25 and

$40; church scholarships are available. If you’re interested, con-

tact the church office at 483-1318.

Januar y 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

28 December

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

29

12 pm

Men’s lunch

6 pm Boy Scouts

30

12:15 pm

Centering Prayer

6:30 pm Guitar

workshop

31

10:30 staff mtg.

1 January

Happy New

Year!

Office closed

2

7 pm Chinese

Bible study

3

4

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

11:15 am Sun. school

12:30 pm class on

suicide

4 pm called session

meeting 6 pm Christmastide

5

12 pm

Men’s lunch

6 pm Boy Scouts

7 pm Soc.

Concerns

6

10 am Cong. Care

& Welcome

10 am Planning

12:15 pm

Centering Prayer

6:30 pm Guitar workshop

7

9:30 am FPC writer’s

group

10:30 staff mtg.

6 pm Worship

7 pm Christian Ed

8

6 pm Finance

committee

7 pm Choir

9

7 pm Chinese

Bible study

10

11

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

(Communion)

11:15 am Sunday

school

12:30 pm class on

suicide

12

12 pm

Men’s lunch

12:30 pm

Women’s lunch

6 pm Boy Scouts

13

10 am Prayer

Shawl Ministry

12:15 pm

Centering Prayer

6:30 pm Guitar

workshop

14

10:30 staff mtg.

2:45 Com. Team

5:30 pm Property &

Maintenance

15

10 FMCOR

nutrition class

12 pm Health

Luncheon

16

7 pm Chinese

Bible study

17

18

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

11:15 am Sunday

school

12:30 pm class on

suicide

19

12 pm

Men’s lunch

6 pm Boy Scouts

20

12:15 pm

Centering Prayer

6:30 pm Guitar workshop

21

9 am 70th planning

10:30 staff mtg.

7 pm Session

22

23

7 pm Chinese

Bible study

24

25

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

11:00 Lasagna dinner

& Annual meeting

(Sharon at CREDO thru Jan. 30)

26

9:30 am

Coffee Chat

12 pm

Men’s lunch

6 pm Boy Scouts

27

12:15 pm

Centering Prayer

6:30 pm Guitar workshop

28

10:30 staff mtg.

29

30

7 pm Chinese

Bible study

31

9 am

“Uncensored”

*PYC—Presbyterian Youth Connection Please note this calendar is subject to change. Check fpcor.org for real-time calendar.

Located at the corner of

Lafayette & Oak Ridge Turnpike

Phone: 865-483-1318

E-mail: fpcadmin@comcast.com

Website: FPCOR.org

Facebook: First Presbyterian

Church, Oak Ridge TN

The Banner team includes

Carolyn Krause, Jim Tonne,

Adrienne Pyle, and Sharon

Youngs, with thanks to

contributors from the

congregation, session, and

church staff.

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 6106

Oak Ridge, TN 37831

First Presbyterian Church January 2015 Oak Ridge, Tennessee

God’s spirit, given by Christ, flows through us as

living water to wash, heal, and satisfy. As a congregation we

become a fountain, sharing this living water with others.

The Banner

Blessed with God’s love and grace, we celebrate

gifts of diversity. By Jesus Christ’s example, we welcome,

in love, all who rejoice and worship with us.