Community-wide, 100-mile potluck Sunday, August 18

August 2013

The Banner

This Month’s Events

Centering Prayer

Coffeehouse evenings

College swing dance

classes

Combined worship

service at the Grove

100-mile Potluck

Bill McKibben

presentation

Evening Light

Inside this issue:

Note from the Pastor

& Session news

2

Member spotlight &

Bill McKibben

3

Food for thought &

Noah

4

Divestment overture

(continued)

5

Parish Nurse 6

Children & Youth

Ministry

7

Treasurer’s report &

Nominating request 8

Bits ‘n’ Pieces 9

Worship volunteers,

New hymnal update 10

Calendar 11

Fossil fuel divestment overture—Session votes to recommend

At its July meeting, the

session of First Presbyterian

Church of Oak Ridge ap-

proved a recommendation

to the Presbytery of East

Tennessee (PET) that the

presbytery send an overture

to the 220th General As-

sembly (2014) calling for the

Presbyterian Church

(U.S.A.) to divest from fossil

fuel–related companies.

If our presbytery approves

the FPC overture and if one

other presbytery in the PC

(USA) also passes it, then a

fossil fuel divestment over-

ture can be introduced at

the General Assembly

meeting next year.

Congregations across the

country and world are dia-

loging about and prayerfully

considering divestment

And, if for whatever reason,

someone cannot bring a

dish, come anyway. That’s

what community is all

about.”

To get recipe ideas for

the potluck event, visit

100milepotluck.blogspot.com

and localharvest.org.

For more information on

the event, visit the FPC

website (fpcor.org), click

on our Facebook page,

or call the church office at

483-1318.

First Presbyterian Church

will host a 100-mile potluck

meal from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 18, on our

soccer field.

Everyone in the commu-

nity is invited to bring a dish

for six to eight people.

Folks attending are asked to

bring plates and utensils, as

well as folding chairs or

comfortable blankets to sit

on. Drinks will be provided.

The dish should contain at

least one ingredient grown

within 100 miles of Oak

Ridge. For example, it might

include produce from your

own backyard garden,

tomatoes from Grainger

County sold in a local

supermarket or corn sold at

a local farmers market or

Community Supported

Agriculture (CSA).

Labels to be stuck on

dishes will be available for

the cooks to write the

names of the dish, local

ingredients and farmers

market, grocery store, CSA,

or family garden from which

the ingredient was obtained.

“We are so excited to be

hosting this event,” said

Pastor Sharon. “It’s a great

opportunity for people to

come together, connect and

chat. It also demonstrates

that delicious, nutritious

meals can be made using

locally grown ingredients

while reducing the need to

burn fossil fuels to transport

foods produced hundreds of

miles away.

First Presbyterian Church

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

from fossil fuels. The ses-

sion of First Presbyterian

Church in Palo Alto, Calif.,

has approved the same rec-

ommendation to the Pres-

bytery of San Jose that we

are bringing to the PET.

Congregations in other

states, including Florida and

Massachusetts, are follow-

ing suit. The United Church

(Continued on pg. 5)

Vegetables from the Farmers Market in

Jackson Square.

You and I just passed a

milestone. It was one year

ago—the last Sunday of

July—when I stepped into

the pulpit and preached for

the first time at First Pres-

byterian Church, and you as

a congregation voted to

concur with the Pastor

Nominating Committee’s

recommendation that I be

your next pastor.

I didn’t arrive until Oct. 1,

but it was the last Sunday in

July when my life changed

significantly. And, I have to

tell you, it’s been one of the

very best years of my life. I

love being your pastor.

As you read this, I will be

in Louisville, Ky., at the Big

Tent—a huge gathering of

some 12 individual confer-

ences that meet together in

the same place at the same

time (Aug. 1-3). It’s like a

big Presbyterian family reun-

ion.

Officially, I’ll be the stage

manager for the joint gath-

erings—worship and ple-

nary events. I’ll also be pick-

ing up ideas and having great

conversations with other

pastors and church leaders.

I’ll see lots of folks I know

and spend time catching up

with them.

After that I’ll be catching

up with myself during some

days of vacation. I’ll be re-

charging the batteries of

both body and soul. To do

that fully, I will not be

checking email or voice mail

while I’m away.

Our parish nurse, Meg

Tonne, will be keeping her

eyes and ears open for any

concerns that arise, such as

hospital stays and sudden

illnesses. I’ve also asked my

friend Wendy Neff, who’s

the pastor at Bethel Presby-

terian Church in Kingston,

to be available for significant

pastoral emergencies. Meg

or Adrienne will know how

to quickly be in touch with

her.

I’ll be back just in time for

the incredible events on

Aug. 18. It will be great to

see you then!

With a grateful heart,

Sharon

Note from the Pastor

Session news: Three motions passed

Page 2 The Banner

Sharon Youngs, Pastor

Session member Sherith

Colverson had the best rea-

son for an excused absence

at a session meeting. She

gave birth to a baby boy on

July 15, two days before the

stated meeting. Congratula-

tions to Sherith, Colin, and

baby Everett.

The session examined

Charity Whitfield in accor-

dance with constitutional

requirements and then wel-

comed her as a new mem-

ber. She joined by reaffirma-

tion of her faith. See page 3

for more about Charity.

The session spent the

majority of the meeting in

conversation with Steve

Potter, a professional

church coach, who provided

suggestions on how our

congregation can be more

welcoming of the increasing

number of guests to our

church. Steve, who has

helped several churches

prepare for growth, gra-

ciously came to advise us

during his visit with family

members in East Tennessee.

Anne Backus was elected

as our commissioner to the

Presbytery of East Tennes-

see meeting on Aug. 24 at

New Providence Presbyte-

rian Church in Maryville.

Sue Byrne reported that

she attended a conference

about ministering to college

-aged guests. Expect to hear

more as we apply what she

learned.

August is our church’s

month to operate the

Ecumenical Storehouse.

Ted Atkinson has been

asking for volunteers during

worship services.

Here are the motions that

the session approved at the

July meeting:

Fill the pulpit in Pastor

Sharon’s absence with

Daniel Tipton on Aug.

4, the Early Bird Class

on Aug. 11, and Ann

McKee on Sept. 15;

Ask our presbytery to

approve an overture

on Divestment from

Fossil Fuel Companies

(see page 1 for details);

Deposit cemetery lot

sale proceeds into a

capital improvements

account to cover the

costs of new construc-

tion and remodeling

projects on church

property.

To learn about the

other information pre-

sented at the July

stated session meeting,

please ask me or any of

our active ruling elders.

—Jim Wessel, clerk of

session

Charity Whitfield was

welcomed into our church

family as a new member on

Sunday, July 21. “I joined

First Presbyterian Church of

Oak Ridge because I imme-

diately felt comfortable

here,” she said. “The people

here are genuine and wel-

coming.”

A native of Anderson,

S.C., Charity lived there 10

years and then moved with

her parents and older

brother Grant to Knoxville

for their father’s job.

While at Powell High

School, Charity participated

in varsity soccer, band, and

student government. She

graduated from UT with a

B.S. degree in journalism

and electronic media.

She has held jobs at a pro-

duction company that

serves Scripps Networks, at

WVLT (where she worked

with FPC member Margaret

Ann King on the morning

show), and at WTNZ as a

traffic coordinator (dealing

with commercials).

Up until the end of July,

she worked at Beader's

Paradise, a small company

that sells craft beads nation-

wide. Now, she is training

hard before leaving for

Officer Candidate School in

Newport, R.I.

Besides getting physical

training she will study the

history of the U.S. Navy,

strategies on warfare, nu-

Member Spotlight—Charity Whitfield

The movie was made after

350.org’s successful “Do the

Math” tour of cities in 2012.

The film focuses on three

numbers.

The first number is two

degrees Celsius. Since the

Industrial Revolution began

in the 18th century, the

planet’s surface tempera-

ture has risen by almost one

degree Celsius (0.8°C). Ex-

perts in most countries

agree that allowing the

earth’s surface to warm by

two degrees since 1750

would usher in long-term,

disastrous climate change.

The second number is

565. McKibben has said that

humankind can burn 565

more gigatons (billion tons)

of fossil fuel by 2050 with-

out causing the global sur-

face temperature to rise

two degrees from heat-

trapping carbon dioxide

emissions.

Fossil fuel companies and

petro-states have proven

reserves of 2,795 gigatons,

the third number. If you do

the math and divide 2,795

by 565, you get 5.

To McKibben and 350.org

“proven reserves” in the

ground suggest business

plans exist for combustion

of five times the amount of

carbon fuels considered safe

for humankind.

He is an appropriate

speaker for a second Jack

Davidson Memorial Lecture

on Science and Religion this

year. On April 28 McKib-

ben, a Methodist, delivered

the sermon “God’s Taunt”

at The Riverside Church of

the City of New York.

Since April 21 the “Do the

Math” movie featuring

environmental activist Bill

McKibben has been shown

around the nation and

world. Its message: Catas-

trophic climate change

looms large this century if

fossil fuel use is not re-

stricted.

The movie has had several

showings at First Presbyte-

rian Church, which is spon-

soring McKibben’s presenta-

tion, “Keep the Faith and

Do the Math,” at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 18, in the Oak

Ridge High School audito-

rium. The movie, which has

helped make McKibben a

“rock star” in climate advo-

cacy, was sponsored by his

grassroots environmental

organization 350.org., a

large climate campaign.

McKibben has

authored 20 books,

including The

Comforting Whirlwind:

God, Job, and the Scale

of Creation (2005) and

The Greening of Faith:

God, the Environment

and the Good Life (1997).

Page 3

McKibben: Keep the faith and do the math

August 2013

clear propulsion, ship me-

chanics, firefighting, emer-

gency damage control, lead-

ership, weapons, and mili-

tary drill. Then she will at-

tend Supply Corps School in

Newport for six months

and receive training on

budgeting, logistics, and gen-

eral management.

“I would like to make the

Navy my career,” Charity

said. “I plan to advance with

them as long as they will

have me. If I should leave

the Navy, my training in

logistics, and experience

with supervision, should be

very valuable in the civilian

workforce.”

Charity enjoys reading and

riding her motorcycle.

Bill McKibben, author, speaker,

and founder of 350.org.

Charity Whitfield, new member, with

Pastor Sharon.

Prayer: what to say?

In past columns I have

written about the major

reason for prayer: to enable

you to establish a relation-

ship with God. God desires

this relationship. Last month

I suggested that you could

start this relationship by

taking your problems to

God in prayer.

After you have poured

out your thoughts and

problems, take one step

farther and thank and praise

God for the good times

and blessings in your life.

These thoughts came to

mind as I read in the Gospel

of Mark that the crowds

obviously came to Jesus first

to get something from him,

not because they loved him

or wanted a relationship

with him.

I think Scottish theologian

William Barclay puts it well

in his commentary on the

Gospel of Mark: “Someone

has said that many people

regard religion as belonging

to the ambulance corps and

not to the firing line of life.

Religion to them is a crisis

affair. It is only when they

have got life into a mess or

when life deals them some

knockout blow that they

begin to remember God.

“We must all go to Jesus,

for he alone can give us the

things we need for life; but

if that going does not pro-

duce in us an answering

love and gratitude, there is

something tragically wrong.

God is not someone to be

used only in the days of mis-

fortune; he is someone to

be loved and remembered

everyday of our lives.”

Call to action based

on a news item

After decades of pursuing

money and job titles and

acquiring lots of stuff, Baby

Boomers are realizing that

material success and finan-

cial security just aren’t

enough. They want some-

thing more fulfilling out of

life, something that feeds

their spiritual side and con-

nects them to a larger pur-

pose. For many, the an-

swers are to embrace faith

and devote their lives to

serving others.

Many Americans in their

50s and 60s are putting

aside thoughts of a comfort-

able retirement and study-

ing theology in seminaries,

where they are the fastest-

growing age group. Still oth-

ers are returning to church

to serve as volunteers in

existing and new ministries.

Like other churches

throughout the country, our

congregation has been see-

ing this trend.

Thank you for inviting and

encouraging our new volun-

teers to participate in our

ministries—and a hearty-

thank you for their services.

…inspired by Anne

Tergesen’s article in the

May 20, 2013, issue of the

Wall Street Journal

Food for Thought Jim Wessel, Clerk of Session

Bible humor: how well do you know Noah?

Page 4 The Banner

Q: Who were the last crea-

tures to leave the Ark?

A: Two snakes. Noah went

back aboard and ordered

them to depart the Ark. He

reminded them that God com-

manded all the creatures to

“Be fruitful and multiply.”

“We can’t,” said one snake.

“We’re adders.”

Q: Who was the first to

leave the Ark after the rain

stopped, the flood subsided,

and dry land appeared?

A: Not sure who was first, but

we know that, “Noah came

forth.”

Q: Why did Noah not catch

many fish while on the Ark?

A: He only had two worms.

Q: Noah and his family de-

cided that, since they would

be aboard the Ark a long

time, they might as well en-

joy themselves and play card

games. But they couldn’t.

Why?

A: An elephant was standing

on the deck!

We must all go to Jesus,

for he alone can give us

the things we need for

life; but if that going

does not produce in us

an answering love and

gratitude, there is some-

thing tragically wrong.

Page 5

August 2013

nies that did business in

South Africa. Desmond

Tutu, who knows first-hand

the effectiveness of divest-

ment to help end apartheid

in South Africa, endorses

fossil fuel divestment in light

of the suffering of African

people from perceived cli-

mate change.

The PC(USA) has the in-

frastructure and a proven

process to deal with divest-

ment. The process is thor-

ough, thoughtful, and

prayerful. It has guidelines

as well as a committee—

Mission Responsibility

Through Investment

(MRTI). In the past, the PC

(USA) General Assembly

has voted to initiate a di-

vestment process because

of particular issues arising

from military-related pro-

duction, tobacco use, and

human rights violations.

Session member Rosalyn

McKeown-Ice, along with

FPC members Dan and Ben

Terpstra, will present the

recommended overture to

the PET on Aug. 24.

of Christ was the first de-

nomination in the United

States to vote to sell its in-

vestments in fossil fuel com-

panies. The largest Protes-

tant denomination in Austra-

lia is also in a similar proc-

ess.

The action of the FPC ses-

sion was taken a month be-

fore Bill McKibben will de-

liver a special Davidson Lec-

ture on Science and Relig-

ion. Author of 20 books,

mostly on the environmental

and socioeconomic impacts

of climate change induced

largely by fossil fuel combus-

tion, McKibben will talk on

“Keep the Faith and Do the

Math” on Sunday, Aug. 18, at

7:00 p.m. in the Oak Ridge

High School auditorium.

In a letter to commission-

ers to the upcoming PET

meeting on Aug. 24, Pastor

Sharon and Clerk of Session

Jim Wessel write:

We live in complicated times

and find ourselves as individu-

als and congregations having

to deal with complex and

weighty topics. The session of

First Presbyterian Church of

Oak Ridge finds that although

the issue of climate change

has been highly politicized, it is

a moral issue that has deep

theological underpinnings.

For example, from Genesis

we know there are three im-

portant relationships: humans

with creation, humans with

one another, and humans

with God. We find that all

three of these relationships

are strained by the over-

production and consumption

of fossil fuels.

Furthermore, the extreme

weather events of the last few

years are disproportionately

affecting the poor, which have

the fewest resources and are

the least resilient to flooding

and drought. It is uncompro-

misingly clear throughout the

Bible that we have a God-

given obligation to care for the

poor.

Divestment often begins

as a symbolic act that even-

tually can lead to real

change, as happened when

American institutions sold

their investments in compa-

Divestment (continued)

To learn more about fossil fuel divestment, visit these websites:

A 3-minute video narrated by Bill McKibben

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSuzNSHPv6c

A 45-second video by Desmond Tutu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR-xBzs09D8

A readable paper that explains the history, future, and economics of cli-

mate change.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new

-math-20120719

PC(USA) information on divestment

http://www.pcusa.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions-mission-

responsibility-/

. . . the extreme

weather events of the

last few years are dis-

proportionately affecting

the poor, which have

the fewest resources

and are the least resil-

ient to flooding and

drought.

You’ve spent a day walking

in the woods or doing yard

work and brush against the

leaves of a poison ivy plant.

Now you’ve developed a

streaky rash with red bumps

that turn into weeping blis-

ters.

You can treat the itchy

allergic reaction with drug-

store or home remedies, or

prescription corticoster-

oids. The rash may last one

to three weeks, but the

symptoms usually peak be-

tween four and seven days.

Poison ivy rash is caused

by sensitivity to an oily resin

called urushiol, which is

found in the leaves, stems,

and roots of poison ivy, poi-

son oak, and poison sumac.

At least 50% of those who

come into contact with

these plants develop an

itchy rash. The most serious

exposure occurs when the

plant is burned and the

smoke is inhaled, affecting

your lungs.

The rash can resemble a

straight line from the way

the plant brushes against

the skin, or if you touch

clothing or pet fur with

urushiol on it, the rash may

be more widespread. If you

have the oil on your skin, it

can transfer to other parts

of your body with your fin-

gers. Your skin must come

in direct contact with the

plant’s oil to be affected.

Blister fluid doesn’t spread

the rash. The severity of the

rash depends on the

amount of urushiol that gets

on your skin.

If you scratch a poison ivy

rash, bacteria under your

fingernails may cause the

skin to become infected.

See your doctor if pus

starts oozing from the blis-

ters. Treatment generally

includes antibiotics.

Avoid the plants. Learn

to identify poison ivy, poi-

son oak and poison sumac.

When hiking or engaging in

other outdoor activities,

stay on cleared pathways. If

camping, pitch your tent in

an area free of them. Keep

pets from running through

wooded areas so that

urushiol doesn’t accidentally

stick to their fur. If you

think your pet may be con-

taminated with the oil, use

long rubber gloves and give

your pet a bath.

Remove or kill the

plants. In your backyard,

you can use an herbicide to

get rid of poison ivy or use

heavy gloves to carefully

pull it out of the ground.

Afterward, remove and

wash your gloves and hands

thoroughly. Don’t burn poi-

son ivy or related plants

because smoke can carry

urushiol.

Wash your skin. Gently

washing the resin off your

skin, using any type of soap,

within five to ten minutes

after exposure may help

avert a reaction. After an

hour or so, however, the

urushiol has usually pene-

trated the skin, and washing

won’t necessarily prevent a

reaction, but it may help

reduce its severity. Wash

under your fingernails, too.

Clean contaminated

objects. Wearing long

pants, socks, shoes, and

gloves will help protect

your skin, but be sure to

wash your clothing

promptly with detergent if

you think you’ve come into

contact with poison ivy.

Handle contaminated

clothes carefully so that you

don’t transfer the urushiol

to furniture, rugs, or appli-

ances. Wash other contami-

nated items—such as out-

door gear, garden tools,

jewelry, shoes, and even

shoelaces—as soon as pos-

sible. Urushiol can remain

potent for years. If you put

away a contaminated jacket

without washing it and take

it out a year later, the oil on

the jacket may still cause a

reaction.

Apply a barrier cream.

Before potential exposure

to poison ivy, try an over-

the-counter skin cream

containing bentoquatam

(IvyBlock) which absorbs

urushiol and prevents or

lessens your skin’s reaction

to the oil.

Treat the itching. A

poison ivy rash will eventu-

ally go away. But the itching

can be difficult to deal with.

Here are steps to control

the itching: apply an over-

the-counter corticosteroid

cream for the first few days;

apply calamine lotion; take

oral antihistamines, such as

diphenhydramine

(Benadryl); soak in a cool-

water bath containing an

oatmeal-based bath product

(Aveeno), and place cool,

wet compresses on the af-

fected area for 15 to 30

minutes several times a day.

From your parish nurse: Dealing with poison ivy

Page 6 The Banner

Meg Tonne, Parish Nurse

Your skin must come

in direct contact with

the plant’s oil to be

affected. Learn to recog-

nize poison ivy to avoid

contact and handle con-

taminated clothing care-

fully.

Page 7

August 2013

A thank you letter from Hannah

Dear First Presbyterian

Church family,

“In their hearts humans

plan their course, but the

Lord establishes their

steps.” When I read these

words from Proverbs 16:9,

I am reminded that my life is

not my own. I belong to

God. I have committed my

life to God’s call and pur-

pose.

For the past three years I

have had the honor and

privilege to serve at First

Presbyterian Church as the

director of youth and chil-

dren’s ministries. I know

that I was called to First

Presbyterian; God led me

here. It was God’s point to

make me a part of this won-

derful church family. God

gave me a great respect for

each of you, and I have no

doubt in my mind that God

has been in our midst every

step of this journey.

These past three years, I

have been witness to God

working in and through the

youth and children of this

congregation: calling them,

grooming them, nurturing

and leading them. Addition-

ally, I have learned, grown

and been nurtured in my

own life and faith journey by

so many of you. For this and

so much more, I will always

be grateful.

While I know that God is

calling me down a new path,

a path that will lead me

away from East Tennessee

and my First Presbyterian

Church family, it was and is

not an easy one. This deci-

sion is the most difficult one

I have had to make up to

this point in my life and min-

istry. The difficult part is not

in saying yes to God, but in

saying goodbye to all of you.

“The LORD himself goes

before you and will be with

you; he will never leave you

nor forsake you. Do not be

afraid; do not be discour-

aged." (Deut. 31:8). Just as I

am confident in God’s call-

ing to me, I am equally con-

fident that God is working

in the heart of someone

new for you. God does not

take away from one at the

expense of another. There

are new and exciting bless-

ings in store for all of us.

Please hear these words

from the bottom of my

heart: though my relation-

ship to you will change, my

love and respect for you

will always remain the same.

Much joy & many blessings,

Hannah K. Norris

While a search team for

our next director of youth

and children’s ministry is

being formed and will soon

begin work, here are the

plans in the interim, an-

chored by the Christian

Education Committee:

The new church school

year will begin the first Sun-

day after Labor Day, Sept. 8.

There will be four classes

for youth and children:

-- non-school-aged chil-

dren will meet in the nurs-

ery

--kindergarten through

second grade will meet on

the second floor of the Edu-

cation building

--grades 3-6 will meet in

room 101 of the Activities

building

--grades 7-12 will meet in

room 200 of the activities

building.

While we are very close

to having enough teachers, a

few openings remain for

those who feel called to

teach. Please consider this

opportunity prayerfully and

contact Anne Backus if you

are interested (556-3099).

Presbyterian Youth

Connection (PYC) for

youth in grades 5-12 will

also return on Sept. 8. Until

a new director is hired, vol-

unteers including Colin

Colverson, Anne Backus,

and Sharon Youngs will have

the honor of being able to

spend extra time growing,

sharing, teaching, and having

fun with our youth. During

Hannah's time on-site at

Dubuque Seminary this

month, she will be searching

for lessons, games, and eve-

ning PYC activities for the

interim period.

If you would like to be a

part of this volunteer team

for one Sunday evening or

more, please contact Anne

Backus for more details.

Interim plan during search for new youth director

Children’s Moment

8/4: Chuck Hadden

8/11: Peggy Terpstra

8/18: Community Service

at The Grove

8/25: Mike Hilliard

Financial update for FPC for the second quarter

Page 8 The Banner

At the halfway point of

2013, our church finances

are still running more or

less as anticipated.

“We are currently running

a deficit of approximately

$6700, which is about 2% of

our annual budget,” said

David Mullins, church treas-

urer. “Our pledge income

continues to run below ex-

pectations. However, plate

collections and regular con-

tributions are slightly above

what we anticipated at this

point in the year.

“Only 45% of the money

pledged was received in the

first half of the year. Fortu-

nately, most expenses are

running below budget, off-

setting this shortfall.”

The table below provides

a more detailed look at

FPC’s income and expenses

for the year. “You’ll notice

that in most areas we’re

about the same as we were

last year,” Dave added.

in the box in the back of the

sanctuary, or talk with any

committee member.

To be nominated as a rul-

ing elder, a person must be

Christ-centered, prayerful,

and discerning; an active

member of the congrega-

tion; able to work well with

others, and willing and faith-

ful in service.

The session’s nominating

committee has begun the

search for 2014 nominees

to serve on the session as

ruling elders.

If you know someone who

you think would be excel-

lent in this role, please tell

committee members. You

can do this in one of two

ways: place his or her name

The members of the com-

mittee are Bonnie Murray

(chair), Teresa Brittain,

Susan Sharp, Gene Ice, and

Sue Byrne.

“We welcome your input

and appreciate your partici-

pation in this important

process in the life of the

church,” Bonnie said.

Search for ruling elder nominees under way

Reminder: Because

we will be worship-

ping elsewhere on

Sunday, August 18,

you are encouraged to

include your regular

offering for that Sun-

day on either August

11 or August 25.

Bits ‘n’ pieces

August Birthdays

8/3 Randy Pietrzak

8/4 Billie Moak

8/5 Sarah Strickler

8/6 Ronnie Griffin

8/6 Dot Levin

8/7 Lance Drane

8/9 Cheryl Bast

8/10 Kendra Allen

8/10 Anne Marie

Benton

8/14 Grimes Slaughter

8/14 Jessica Ward

8/17 Kate Fulcher

8/18 Valerie Allen

8/18 Jim Wessel

8/24 Candice Strickler

8/25 Boyd Coker

8/27 Jinny Dunlap

8/29 Dale Hadden

8/31 Donna

Hoppestad

Page 9

August 2013

to use social media.

The students are planning

to show the “Do the Math”

film to members of City

Council and the Chamber

of Commerce. They will

also host a panel discussion

on energy and climate

change issues at 4 p.m. Sun-

day, Aug. 11, in room 102,

Activities building.

Everett Daniel

Colverson was born July 15

to Sherith and Colin Colver-

son. The baby boy weighed

6.6 pounds. All three Colv-

ersons were in worship on

July 28.

Secret City

Sustainability, a group of

college students, met Tues-

day, July 30, to plan their

activities in August. Ben

Terpstra chaired the meet-

ing, which was attended by

fellow FPC member Sumner

Byrne and eight other col-

lege students. Naomi Asher

provided some tips on how

Caleb Bost, a native of

Illinois who visited our

church regularly while a

student at Pellissippi State

Community College, is leav-

ing. He will be attending

Middle Tennessee State

University, majoring in eco-

nomics. Last March he was

one of the 11 folks from

our church who partici-

pated in the mission in Be-

lize. Caleb helped build and

paint tables for the school

in the village of Armenia.

and Anniversaries

8/2 Debra & Matt Stone

8/7 Candice & Dennis

Strickler

8/11 Cheryl & Mike Bast

8/15 Carolyn & Herb

Krause

8/18 Arlene & Oakley

Crawford

8/20 Paul Akers &

Barbara Reeves

8/20 Frances & John Drake

8/23 Mike & Peggy Hilliard

8/23 Karl & Mary Keller

8/26 Bob & Sandra Edwards

8/28 Bob & Julie Clausing

8/30 Lila & Thomas Metcalf

8/30 Alex & Marylee Stuart

Congratulations

and blessings!

Ted Adkinson reports

that he still needs volun-

teers to help him at the

Ecumenical Storehouse

this month.

“At least four volunteers

are needed to work in the

office each Monday,

Wednesday, and Friday

from 8:45 a.m. until noon,”

Ted said. “At least six peo-

ple and three trucks are

needed to pick up furniture

on the five Saturdays in Au-

gust from 8:45 until noon.”

If you can help, please call

Ted at 483-4412.

Our congregation is one

of several Oak Ridge

churches that rotate

monthly volunteer efforts

throughout the year. The

organizers thank all volun-

teers in advance for helping

to sustain the success of

this local mission project.

Caleb with a duckling.

Secret City Sustainability students form a 350 for 350.org.

Secret City Sustainability

Sunday, August 4

Liturgist: Janet Swift

Children’s Moment: Chuck Hadden

Sound Guild: Sydney Murray

Ushers: Team III, leader Joe Grey

Counters: Jim Campbell, Tammy Piertzak

Flowers: Bonnie Murray Fellowship Hosts: Kate & Walt Porter

Opening/Closing: Dan Terpstra, Jim Tonne

Sunday, August 11

Liturgist: Peggy Hilliard

Children’s Moment: TBA

Sound Guild: Dale Hadden

Ushers: Team IV, leader Dennis Strickler

Counters: Teresa Brittain, Dan Terpstra

Flowers: Bill & Maxine Vaden Fellowship Hosts: Vivian Jung, Shirley Sauls

Opening/Closing: Dan Terpstra, Jim Tonne

Worship Volunteers

Page 10 August 2013

Sunday, August 25

Liturgist: Colin Colverson

Children’s Moment: Mike Hilliard

Sound Guild: Don Spong

Ushers: Team II, leader George Darko

Counters: Bonnie Murray, Jack Russell

Flowers: Shirley Sauls Fellowship Hosts: Carolyn & Herb Krause

Opening/Closing: Dan Terpstra, Jim Tonne

Page 10 The Banner

Sunday, August 18

First Presbyterian Church will join three other

congregations for worship at the Grove Center at

11:00 a.m. in place of our regular 10:00 a.m. service.

See you there!

Glory to God Is On Its Way!!

The new Presbyterian hymnal, Glory to God, is in full production at the

printer. Pages are rolling off the presses, ready to be cut and assembled. Ship-

ping for pre-orders begins in late September.

Our hymnal committee has been working through the summer months to

have everything ready when our hymnals arrive. The dedication plates have

been organized and reviewed. In September, everyone who purchased hym-

nals for the church will have the opportunity to see the dedication plates for

those hymnals, and to make corrections as necessary.

If you are interested in keeping up with the production process,

visit presbyterianhymnal.org. You will find interesting articles that chronicle

the development of Glory to God. If you enjoy Facebook, search for Glory to

God: the Presbyterian Hymnal. Up-to-the-minute information is posted often.

August 2013

Please note this calendar is subject to change.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

No Choir

2

7 pm

Coffeehouse

3

4

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

5:00 pm 100-mile potluck

committee

5

12 pm Men’s

Lunch

6

12:15 Centering

prayer

6:30 pm Worship

Committee

6:30 pm Guitar Workshop

7

7 pm Christian Ed

Committee

7 pm Swing Dance Class

8

No Choir

9

7 pm

Coffeehouse

10

11

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

4 pm Climate change

panel (Rm. 102)

12

12 pm Men’s

Lunch

12:30 pm

Women’s lunch

7:30 pm Social

Concerns

13

10 am Prayer

Shawl Ministry

12:15 Centering

prayer

14

7 pm CC&O,

Prop. & Maint.

7 pm Swing

Dance Class

15

No Choir

16

17

18

11 am Worship

at Grove Center

1-3 pm 100-mile

Potluck @ FPC

7 pm Bill McKibben

@ ORHS

19

12 pm Men’s

Lunch

20

12:15 Centering

prayer

6:30 pm Guitar

Workshop

7 pm Swing

Dance Class

21

7 pm Session 7 pm Swing

Dance Class

22

No Choir

23

Banner

Deadline

24

25

9 am Early Bird Class

9:19 am Choir

10 am Worship

11:15 Finance Committee

6 pm Evening Light (service of music &

prayer)

26

12 pm

Men’s Lunch

27

12:15 Centering

prayer

6:30 pm Guitar

Workshop

7 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry

28

29

No Choir

30

31

*PYC—Presbyterian Youth Connection

Located at the corner of

Lafayette & Oak Ridge Turnpike

Phone: 865-483-1318

E-mail: fpcadmin@comcast.com

Website: FPCOR.org

The Banner team includes

Carolyn Krause, Diane 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, Oak Ridge, Tennessee August 2013

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.