Home : The Voice : December 2002  

Erin Church, Knoxville,
entertains with open air concert

On a recent brilliant Sunday afternoon, outside, beside the church, the musicians of Erin Church in West Knoxville made the welkin ring with spirited singing, dancing, and instrumental music. Inspired by their pastor, John Stuart, who, with his wife, Evelyn and their two daughters moved from Maybole, Scotland, to accept the Call from the Erin congregation, the members speak of God’s love with their songs and dancing. A group of 14, called the Erin Express, sang with obvious pleasure, accompanied by a small band. Still another singing group of six women, called Right Spirit, sang music of a type they called “middle of the road” music. Then came the Dayspring Dance Ensemble, the Sonshine Company , Dyongyn, and Glenfinnan. Much of the music had the flavor of Scotland and of Appalachia about it.

The Stuarts first came to Knoxville for a summer pulpit exchange with the family of Mark and Nancy Knisley, of Graystone Presbyterian Church, also in Knoxville. Following a Call by the Erin church, the Stuart family moved to Knoxville permanently. John confessed that he didn’t bring his guitar along the first time, because he thought EVERYBODY in Tennessee played the guitar.

Fairmont Church, Knoxville,
makes big dreams work

Prospero, in Shakespeare’s immortal “The Tempest” opined that we are “such stuff as dreams are made of....” The creative, hardworking folks at Fairmont Church prove that a small church can foster big dreams. One of those dreams was, “What to do about Wednesday Nights...?” In addition to the regular Bible studies and choir rehearsals a “Supper N’ More” program has been instituted. Each month, famed chef Ms. Babe Schlatter and her willing workers prepare a delicious homecooked meal, followed by invited guest speakers.

A recent Supper N’ More featured former UT and professional football star Heath Shuler. His topic was his walk with Christ, focusing on Proverbs 3:6. Earlier, Fred Berry, local funeral home director and volunteer at the World Trade Center site, told of his work in New York following that disaster.. Other programs featured historical presentations of local interest, a visit from a Powell Presbyterian Church group telling about their recent trip to Alaska, and Margaret Herrell, a member of Fairmont, who gave a slide show on her travels to other countries.

Mrs. Joe (Babe) Schlatter serves up sustaining food for “SupperN’More” at a Wednesday night gathering that on this week featured a talk by former UT and professional football star, Heath Shuler.

John Knox Center offers an
Adopt-A-Cabin Program

Many mission activities that churches choose to participate in involve foreign travel and battling a language barrier. But the folks from two Knoxville area churches have been working on a project much closer to home. The sounds of hammers and drills echo across the property and the lake at the John Knox Center as the Fountain City Presbyterian Church members begins the final steps of renovating cabin C-1. They are the second group to don tool belts and brush up on their carpentry skills to help improve the facilities at the Center. Farragut Presbyterian Church adopted cabin C-2 last fall and raised the money needed for materials. Members then devoted several weekends to putting in insulation, flooring, a heating and cooling system, windows, and siding. This gave the cabin a much-needed facelift and made it possible for it to be used year-round.

Adopting cabins isn’t just about improving the facilities. These cabins also help us improve the programs and give the staff the ability to minister to a broader range of people.

The members of these two churches say it gives them a renewed feeling of closeness and ownership of the ministry at the Center. And it isn’t just the adults who feel this; children from these churches recognize the work done as well. One camper proudly pointed to a cabin and announced, “That’s the one we did!”

The ministry of John Knox Center is growing and expanding. For more information, please call (865)376-2236

First Presbyterian Church,
Oak Ridge Receives Award

First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge, is the recipient of the Eco-Church Award, given by the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville recently. The Eco-Church designation was for promoting environmental stewardship and being a model for other churches of all denominations. The physical award is a marble plaque, now on display in the church narthex. It is an impressive chunk of rock that is dedicated to recognizing those groups who work to develop Environmental Stewardship policies for church decision-making regarding material consumption, energy use, water use, transportation and recycling. Evidence of the work of this group is publicity regarding use of compact fluorescent bulb replacements, Fair Trade Coffee sales, and Earth Day EcoFairs.