Clergy Gatherings for February and March

Interims – Thurs., Feb. 14, 11am-1pm, Ruby Tuesday in Athens, just off Exit 49
South area – Tues., Feb. 19, noon at Second, Chattanooga
Mid area – Wed., Feb. 20 – noon at Cracker Barrel in Athens, just off Exit 49
West area – Mon, March 3, noon. Location TBA
Knoxville area – Tues., Mar. 4, noon @ PET office

Self-care resources available from BOP

EducationTalk, an online resource through the Board of Pensions, celebrates its one-year anniversary this fall. This issue includes useful articles that focus on self-care in the areas of health, finance, and personal life for ministers and church workers, including:

· retirement planning to-do list
· home fire and burn prevention
· eating right without thinking
· credit card "Change of Terms" provisions
· Sabbath Sabbatical Support Grants

Christian Educators to Gather

Christian Educators and Youth Directors are invited to gather for lunch and fellowship on Thursday, Jan. 10, at noon at Second Presbyterian, Chattanooga. Watch your e-mail sometime in December for more information, but for now, mark your calendars and plan to enjoy the refreshment of being with your colleagues.

Advent Dinner and Retreat

Registration is open now for the Advent Dinner and Retreat for Church Professionals Dec. 7-8 at the John Knox Center. Go to www.johnknoxcenter.org, click on the Calendar of Events, and go to Advent Dinner and Retreat.

The dinner itself is $15 per person, half-price for kids. Children and youth will gather for supervisted activities, movies, and pizza in Abel Lodge.

The optional retreat part is offered free of charge for church professionals and their families. This is a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy your colleagues as the busy Advent season begins!

Clergy Lunches for November

Wed., Nov. 7 – South Area – noon at McCallie School
Wed., Nov. 14 – Knoxville Area – noon at the presbytery office
Thurs., Nov. 29 – Blount Area – noon at House in the Woods, Maryville College

Pastor Lunches Scheduled

Upcoming lunch gatherings for ministers include:

Mid-Area - Tuesday, August 7, noon at Kring's Restaurant in Etowah. The restaurant is on Highway 411 on the north end of Etowah. This will be the last chance to visit with seminary intern Linda McCord before she heads back to Louisville, so plan to come and send her off with your good wishes and words of wisdom. RSVP to Alan Payne: alanpayne@comcast.net or 423-263-5548.

Blount-Area - Monday, Aug. 13, noon at the home of Ann Owens Brunger. RSVP directly to Ann at brunger@mindspring.com or 865-984-7746.

Living the Sabbath

If you happened to miss the devotional in August's presbytery e-newsletter, check it out. Ed Umbach of First, Lenoir City, has said it well: we need to be taking time for God and letting that Sabbath time renew us for ministry. Go to http://www.presbyteryeasttn.org/documents/Augustdevotional_000.pdf

A great online resource for your health from BOP

The Board of Pensions has a new health website that is worth checking out. Go to www.presbyterianwellness.org to connect to the Mayo Clinic Embody Health portal.

Five top reasons to register for the Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth portal:
It's your personalized gateway to relevant, accurate health information.
You can connect with Mayo Clinic experts via Q & A's, podcasts and more.
It's jam-packed with interactive tools and programs.
You'll find up-to-date information on your organization's resources.
Spend just one minute registering and you'll get full access. What more do you need? Register now and start embodying health!

$100 incentive offered for preventive healthcare

Preventive healthcare is key to living a long and healthy life, yet less than 25% of Benefits Plan members regularly receive preventive healthcare, and family participation is even lower. We can and must do better!That’s why the Board of Pensions is offering a 2007-2008 Preventive Incentive. This program pays $100 to each active Benefits Plan member and spouse age 50 or older who completes a preventive health examination and appropriate medical tests and screenings. Full details of the covered services and the Preventive Incentive were recently mailed to eligible individuals and are also described at www.pensions.org/preventiveincentive. Schedule an appointment with your doctor today!

Interin Pastor Lunch May 23

WHO: Interim pastors, Presbytery of East Tennessee
WHAT: Fellowship and lunch
WHEN: Wednesday May 23, 2007; 11:00 a.m. for fellowship and lunch at 12:00
WHERE: Resource Center, PET office, 609 Cedar Lane, Knoxville.
RSVP: to Laura Tappan in the presbytery office: 865-688-5581, 800-542-4246, or laura@presbyteryeasttn.org.

Chattanooga Area Clergy Lunch May 23

Chaplain John Rogers from McCallie School is inviting the Chattanooga area clergy for lunch on Wednesday, May 23rd, from noon-1:30pm. Please RSVP to John by Monday, May 21 at jrogers@mccallie.org or 423-493-5844. Let the gate security officer know you are there for the presbytery lunch. Park above the middle school. You will be near the dining hall. Cost is $5 for lunch.