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St. John’s Lutheran Churchthe congregational newsletter of

2015 Easter Issue

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LUTHERAN LIFE

EEaster is more than a day. Easter is more than a season. Easter is a way of life!

If you choose to celebrate Easter this year, I hope you will also plan to live an abundant life in Christ. We live in a worry-filled world. We find ourselves occupied and pre-occupied with many things, while at the same time feeling bored, resentful, depressed, and very lonely. In the midst of this world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, appears and offers us new life, abundant life, the life of the Spirit of God.

On Easter Sunday, our expression of faith in the resurrection soars with anthems of praise and songs of rejoicing. The celebration continues throughout the seven weeks of the Easter season, but the crowds begin to become distracted and the focus of our Easter faith begins to diminish, and the Spirit of the risen Christ becomes barely noticeable in our day to day living. If the story of the life and ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus is nothing more than a seasonal observance and a cultural Holiday, we Christians are most to be pitied.

If, however, God’s story becomes our story and our way of life, Easter and the resurrection of Jesus can have life changing implications. In his book entitled “Love Wins”, Rob Bell tells the story about a year into his first job as a pastor, he met a man who told him he used to stay up all night, every night, smoking pot and drawing at his kitchen table until going to bed at dawn. On one of those nights just like any other, he was alone in his kitchen smoking his usual pot and drawing his usual pictures, when he became aware of the kitchen filling with an overwhelming presence of warmth and love. The power of this presence was so strong and forceful that this man was unable to remain in his chair.

Struck to the ground, lying prostrate on the kitchen floor in the middle of the night, he said that he knew without a doubt in that moment that

it was God telling him that he was absolutely and unconditionally loved and that the only possible path for his life was to receive that love and become a follower of Jesus.

Which he did… and his life was never the same again.

I have heard many people over the years describe the overwhelming presence of warmth and love at Saint John’s in the Word and sacrament of our worship. We are not using smoke or mirrors here to produce that experience, but we are trusting in the truth of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of his Easter resurrection. In Christ, you are absolutely and unconditionally loved!

If you choose to celebrate Easter this year, I hope your life will never be the same again.

Following Jesus,Pastor Steve

Easter is a Way of Life

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HOLY WEEKHoly Week, together with Easter, forms a time of

deep contrast, an entry into the experience of what it is to be human, with its extreme highs and lows. Even more, it’s an entry into the gift that God enters and redeems our experience in Christ.

PALM SUNDAYOn Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’s entry into

Jerusalem and into our lives, with children parading in procession, waving palms as we sing celebratory hymns. Then the cheers turn to shouts of “Crucify him!” as the crowds in Jerusalem turn against Jesus and we recall the ways we turn against God in our lives as well. It’s a very somber turn, and a jarring contrast, as we shift our focus to Jesus’s passion, the story of his trial and crucifixion. At St. John’s, on Palm Sunday we don’t receive communion. After the reading of the Gospel, we leave in silence. Our worship continues with the next service of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday.

MAUNDY THURSDAYMaundy Thursday, the night Jesus gave us the

holy meal known as the Lord’s Supper, we do receive communion. Then the altar is stripped, all the beauty of cloths and candles and scripture taken away. Again, we enter deeply into the human experience of loss, and again we leave in silence.

GOOD FRIDAYGood Friday, as we follow Jesus through the 14

stations of the cross to his crucifixion and burial, is the most somber celebration of the church year. But it is a celebration, that God in Jesus would go to such depths, out of love for each of us.

EASTEROn Easter, we celebrate the resurrection, in

Christ as he rose from the grave, and in the new life we experience as we come to believe we are so fully loved by God. With choirs and bells and anthems and hymns, we celebrate with all the beauty God gives!

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SWe are thankful you have been attending Saint John’s, and we are eager to hear about your experience of worshiping with us. We also would like to tell you about the life and ministry of this community of faith and encourage you to consider making Saint John’s your spiritual home.

Please accept our invitation to have lunch with us on Sunday, May 3, 2015 immediately following the 11:00 AM worship. We will gather in the Sparks fellowship hall around 12:30 PM for Sunday lunch and conversation. Pastors and congregational leaders will be with us to share their ideas and perspectives of our mission and ministry. We believe this will be a great opportunity to get to know one another and to answer questions you might have about the Christian faith, Saint John’s and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

We know your spring time and weekend activities are important, so we will try to conclude our gathering around 2:00 PM. Please accept our invitation and plan to join us for lunch on Sunday, May 3. If you plan to attend, please do us the favor of sending an email or calling the church office (523-3330) so we will know how many will be attending lunch and how much food to prepare.

Thanks in advance for considering Saint John’s invitation to grow deeper in relationship with Christ and the church. Hope to hear from you and spend time together!

AN INVITATION TO INQUIRERS

LUTHERAN LIFE

Welcome New Members

Beth & Dave Beuhler Michael Johnson

Dave & Lynne PalmerColleen, Zackery, Gus & Wyatt Coppedge

Sarah, Clare & Scott Griswold

Peyton Hairston, III

Kurt Yost

(Picture not shown)

Geri Ressler

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Easter MorningTHE FLOWERING OF THE CROSS

Be sure to stop by the Cross in the courtyard to participate in this amazing ritual. Don’t forget to bring a few flowers from your garden or yard to place on the cross. This is a special activity to do with your children….a wonderful Easter tradition!

First Communion Family Celebration!SUNDAY, APRIL 12

Children who have completed communion instruction with Pastor Amy will be honored on this special day. Please join us as we celebrate these children as they take this important Stepping Stone of Faith!

SAVE THE DATEVACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: JUNE 1-3, 6-7 PM

Back again by popular demand is St. John’s very own Mini VBS.

Christian Education Season of Easter Calendar

APRIL 5 Easter Sunday Celebration - Flowering of the Cross Christian Education will not meet

MAY 24 Christian Education will not meet

MAY 31 Christian Education Summer Session Begins!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

On March 13, 2015, St. John’s Lutheran Church closed on the purchase of the First Christian parking lot.

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YOUTH & FAMILIES

Youth Sunday and Graduation Reception Sunday, May 108:45 and 11:00 Worship10:00 Graduate Reception in the Welcome Center

Youth Sunday = FaithfulYouth Sunday = CreativeYouth Sunday = InspiringYouth Sunday = Hope-FilledYouth Sunday = EncouragingYouth Sunday = EngagingYouth Sunday = IntentionalYouth Sunday = Life-Changing

Youth Ministry Families, we will meet for planning on Wednesday, April 22 (sixth graders through juniors in high school to plan the worship service) and Wednesday, April 29 (seniors to plan the sermon). Please note these dates on your family calendar, details regarding time and location will follow via e-mail.

St. John’s Family Members, please join us for Youth Sunday and the Graduate Reception on Sunday, May 10!

Family Communion CelebrationSunday, April 12

Communion practices vary from one ELCA congregation to another. One congregation may have a long-standing tradition in which communicants must be at 10 years of age; another congregation may commune infants and small children. Both are appropriate according to the ELCA’s The Use of the Means of Grace, available at www.elca.org.

At St. John’s, the pastoral staff shares the communion decision with parents as they observe their child’s spiritual hunger. Bread and wine are offered, as is an age-appropriate conversation about the gift of a meal of Love. Additionally, each year, Pastor Amy offers communion instruction for those families who are interested in exploring the sacrament. This year, Brady Benson, Keaton Gilbreath, and Hudson Ley and their families will celebrate Family Communion on Saturday, April 12.

If you have questions about how to participate in this faith formation experience, please contact one of your pastors.

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RETREATS & CAMPS

WOW 2015 UPDATE: FLIPPING PANCAKES, TRAINING, AND GETTING EXCITED

Win Our World Urban Ministry has taught a lot of people the importance of being flexible, praying, planning, being more flexible, and praying some more. Such is the case again this year as Mother Nature caused us to exercise Plan A, B, C, and D! Snow wreaked havoc with two events: Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner on Tuesday, February 17 and Staff Retreat on Saturday, February 28. Sadly, we had to consider rescheduling.

So, what are Plans E and F?Plan E required some great creativity and some

serious thinking outside of the box as we pondered every possible date for a Staff Retreat—none worked!—and then chose to meet “electronically.” Together, we brainstormed our WOW 2015 theme, T-shirt colors (a HUGE decision), ideas for faith formation, and possibilities for our leadership development activities; we are all thankful for Google docs! Our Knoxville WOW teens met on Sunday, March 22 to make selections, and we are REALLY excited about how the initial summer plans are shaping up!

Plan F deals with the Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner which has now been changed to an Easter Pancake Breakfast/Brunch! Here are the specifics:

DATE: Sunday, April 19

TIME: 10:15 AM – 1:00 PM

LOCATION: Sparks Fellowship Hall … we plan to put up the dividers, so Adult Christian Education will go on while folks enjoy pancakes and sausage on the Kitchen side of the Fellowship Hall!

COST: $5.00 per person $20.00 per family

If you have tickets from the February date, you’re good to go, and we will be flipping pancakes with you in mind. If you need tickets, please see a WOW youth or Board Member in the Welcome Center following worship on Sunday, April 12 or at the door on Sunday, April 19.

We will look forward to sharing WOW 2015 details with you at the Easter Pancake Breakfast/Brunch!

Questions? Please contact Liza Hawkins (615.354.3580 or liza@wowurbanministry.org) or Nancy Friedrich at 865.659.0161 or nancy.o.friedrich@gmail.com.

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Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 11:30 am$5.00 per person

Lunch will be catered by John W. Cole, III and will include BBQ pork, beans, slaw, banana pudding.

To honor Holy Week, we will have a worship service including Holy Communion.

RSVP Mary Cole, 584-3153/memecole@comcast.net

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - 11:30 am

Join us for a salad buffet lunch!Everyone is asked to bring a salad: tossed, fruit,

Jello, pasta, chicken, potato, etc.Birthday cakes provided by Rosa

Program: A birthday party for everyone!

Join us for wonderful music of Oldies from the 40’s and 50’s provided by Don Redman

and the Blue Notes

PROGRAMMING

Quite simply, intercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others. Jewish Scriptures give us accounts of Temple priests making petitions for the Israelites, but we also learn there of Abraham, Moses, and the prophets praying for others. We know that Jesus prayed for others and taught his disciples to do so. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we look to him as the Great High Priest who intercedes with us on behalf of other Christians and the world, asking God to grant our requests according to God’s will.

A partial list of prayer topics mentioned in the Bible include the sick and bereaved, the forgotten and those in harm’s way, all in leadership positions, our family, friends, country, and enemies. God asks us, in fact, to bless the whole world! The basis of all intercessory prayer is a deep trust in Jesus’ promise that God hears and answers each prayer in ways we may not expect. It is not an effort to change God’s mind or to get God to focus more carefully on human needs. God is already there before us! While our prayers on behalf of others are a necessary step in our communication with the divine, it is God who does the healing. One attempt to explain intercessory prayer is that our prayers serve as a kind of channel through which flows the thoughts of those who pray

connecting them with those for whom we pray in the mystery of divine love of healing and transformation. Offering prayers for others is indeed a holy process.

Some modern Christian groups refer to those who offer intercessions as “prayer warriors” and see them called to a special ministry using certain patterns found in Scripture. While we all have different gifts and talents, God invites all believers to be intercessors. This is not a privilege of an exclusive group, and there are no special skills needed to pray except an open mind and a willing heart.

Each meeting of the intercessory prayer group includes a short period of fellowship and devotion, sharing confidentiality the prayer requests, and prayers for those named. No one is expected to pray in a certain manner, and those who prefer may pray silently. The only essential in intercessory prayer is to just do it! Jesus promised: “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). One of the most powerful ways we can pray as intercessors is together with others. Please consider

becoming a part of the intercessory prayer group that

meets each Wednesday evening in the conference

room at 5:45 pm.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER AT SAINT JOHN’S

SENIOR ADULT MINISTRYThis is a small group ministry for God’s older children.

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The Altar Guild A Word of Thanks and Invitation

When I sit or kneel in our beautiful sanctuary before worship, I’m struck by the fact that every bit of brass, every inch of wood, every piece of colorful stained-glass, was placed there by someone’s hand. Not only that, but it’s all been lovingly cared for by generation after generation of people. At the heart of that is our Altar Guild. Every worship service, white altar cloths have been washed and ironed and laid in place. Someone has set out all the bread and wine for communion, every chalice has been polished, every candle has been checked to be sure it will light, and all this has been prayerfully done as a loving service to God and neighbor, by the people of our Altar Guild.

As we approach the high festivals of Holy Week

and Easter, with all the beautiful rituals of celebration and sorrow and rising to new life, let’s express gratitude for our Altar Guild, who work so lovingly to make it all possible.

The people of St. John’s thank you, and we thank God for you!

If you enjoy behind-the-scenes ways of serving and are looking for a new way to serve, please consider being part of the Altar Guild! It’s a beautiful way to serve.

Heather Plett, a palliative care nurse, captures the essence of who a Stephen Minister is in the life of his or her care receiver; she writes:

“What does it mean to hold space for someone else? It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control.”

Here’s what that looks like in real life, in real time. As Stephen Ministers, we:

• Give people permission to trust their own intuition and wisdom.

• Answer the questions as they asked, avoiding the temptation to share too much out of our own anxiety.

• Guard each individual’s personal power.• Strive to keep our own ego out of the way.• Help others feel safe enough to faith.• Offer guidance and help with humility and

thoughtfulness.• Create a safe place for complex emotions

associated with fear or trauma.• Allow individuals to make different decision

and have different experiences than what we would choose.

If you would like to learn more about this ministry, please contact Pat Krogmann at 865.805.5978.

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LUTHERAN LIFE

ARCHITECTURAL TOUR As part of National Architecture week 2015, the East Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects is organizing a historical & architectural Church tour in conjunction with the Knoxville History Project and Author & Historian, Jack Neely.

Members of the community, as well as architects, will participate in a walking tour of six churches along the Broadway corridor from 2p-5p on Saturday, April 11, 2015. The intent is to learn about the history of the buildings and see firsthand the importance of Architecture in our community.

Jack Neely is preparing the research for the walking tour, and the event will be a free for anyone in the community that wants to participate

Saint John’s Lutheran will be opening our church building for the tour. Besides viewing the outside of the building, the primary interest will be viewing the sanctuary of the church.

Members of Saint John’s are invited to be present on Saturday, April 11 to welcome our guests.

What do the following numbers have in common?

8 - 30 - 10/17Announcing that St. John’s Lutheran will be

partnering to build our 8th home!

We will need 30 volunteers for the Blitz!

The Blitz will be on Saturday, October 17th !

This year Neil Fischer and Dale Teague will be the Project Coordinators for this wonderful opportunity and service project. Our covenant partners will be David & Sandy Martin and Church Street United Methodist Church.

There will be five Saturdays in October, November and December where you can volunteer to help. Help will be needed with meals, fund raising, labor and prayers. So plan to become involved!

Contact: neilfischer22@gmail.com or dbteague@comcast.net for more information.

VIA DE CRISTO“THE WAY OF CHRIST”

Please print or type all information (Applications are requested a minimum of 30 days prior to retreat weekend)

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Preferred Name ________________________LAST FIRST MIDDLE

Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _STREET CITY STATE ZIP

E-mail Address________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone #__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

O Married O Single O Divorced O Widowed No. of Children_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Employer_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

S p o u s e ’s First name_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Has your spouse made a Via de Cristo re t reat? O Yes O No

If so, when and where_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Home congregation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Spouse’s congregation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Leadership positions held in the church_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Why do you feel that you would like to attend a Via de Cristo retreat?_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Please describe any special diet, prescription medications of medical conditions_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Has your sponsor explained the Fourth Day program to you? O Yes O No

Sponsor’s Name_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Date of retreat requested_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Date will be honored dependent upon availability.)Information I have provided on this form or which I may subsequently provide may be shared within the Tennessee Via de

Cristo organization for use in preparing for and during the weekend retreat and then it will be returned to me or destroyed.

Date submitted_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Applicant’s signature_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Signature of your pastor_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Pastor has attended a Via de Cristo retreat? O Yes O No Please return this form to your sponsor.You will be notified of your acceptance.

The cost of the weekend is $160.00, payable on the Sunday of the weekend. There are scholarship monies available.Talk to your sponsor if you are in need of scholarship assistance.

If you enjoyed the recent men’s & women’s retreats, give Via de Cristo a try.

Give yourself a gift that last a lifetime! This is a unique experience that is just for you.

Participants experience three days of grace while at this retreat—led by Christian lay people just like you. Not only will you see many familiar faces from

your own congregation, you’ll meet area Lutherans from several different churches as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ from many other Christian traditions.

April 23-26 at Newport Tennessee’s beautiful Carson Springs Retreat Center.

All are welcome! See any pastor or St. John’s own Laura Trout (ltrout13@gmail.com), the leader for the upcoming weekend.

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It happened one snowy February. A band of men - united in their Christian brotherhood - intentionally gathered and shared their glories…their warts. All to understand and further build a community dedicated to living a life filled with hope and love. A life directed by God through the presence of the Holy Spirit to live on purpose, His purpose.

It was no ordinary group of men. They were young(ish). They were old(ish). They were married men. They were single men. They were northerners. They were southerners. Their occupations were as varied as you can imagine. But make no mistake, they were hungry Christians. They were hungry men of St. John’s Lutheran Church - hungry to serve Him with a greater purpose. And that was their commonality.

The “Banded Brothers” – twenty-nine of them – spent the morning and afternoon of February 28th in retreat at St. John’s to renew and/or develop new relationships - relationships that are destined to energize and empower greater ministry from the St. Joh’s community.

The sessions of the day led the group to commit to the continuation of the “Banded Brothers” to gather at regular intervals. Gather to support each other and the broader community we serve as we establish specific outreach.

The retreat was a powerful unifying force for doing Kingdom work.

We encourage all the men of St. John’s to plug in to the “Banded Brothers.” It will add a wonderful dimension to your spiritual journey. For we are yoked, banded together in Christ’s name to do His work.

Next gathering: Breakfast at St. John’s Saturday, May 2 8:30 am

LIVING ON PURPOSE - A MEN’S RETREAT

Women’s Retreat - Come Away With Me

Sisterhood is powerful. On Friday, March 6 and Saturday March 7, 25 women from the St. John’s community got to feel that power as God’s love was revealed to us through each other’s presence. We gathered at Bear Lodge in Townsend for a fantastic retreat led by Angie Hampstead and organized by Ruth Crowley, Rose Perkinson, Tara Galbraith, and Pastor Amy Carole Figg in order to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The accompanying theme, “Come away with me,” reminded us of the importance of stepping away from our busy lives to be in spiritual community across generations and reflect on what the Spirit is doing in our lives. Angie led us through sacred conversation about recognizing ourselves as the unique, beautiful, and delightfully different creations that we are. Reflections focused our attention on how we use our spiritual energies, mindfulness, practices of gratitude, and the spiritual practices and values that shape our lives.

All of this unfolded before the most magnificent vista in Townsend, looking out on rolling fields and snow-topped mountains. The sun warmed our faces on Saturday just as the gathered community warmed our hearts.

The group, “Katie’s Sisters,” a fellowship of women at St. John’s started by Susie Hanson, has provided community, support, and fellowship to women over the years and is now looking forward to a renewed presence in the life of St. John’s. Susie was one of the many who gathered as mothers, daughters, workers, grandmothers, wise women, wild women, and seekers to share in sacred conversations, time for contemplation, rest, fellowship, and worship. While we have not always made time to gather in this deliberate way, we have been a refuge for one another over the years, and we look forward to being more present for each other in the days to come.

In that spirit, our next gathering will be a Friday night in April for a fellowship event at St. John’s. We welcome all the women of St. John’s to join us and discover for themselves the power, comfort, and peace of Christian sisterhood.

Details will follow via email.

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FLUTHERAN LIFE

For many many years, Diana Conn was a tireless, proficient and effective volunteer for her beloved South Knoxville. She was an invaluable member of the Old Sevier Community Group, as well as serving on the boards of many of Knoxville’s advocacy

organizations. Her contributions were wide ranging, from helping to create and maintain hiking trails in the Smokies National Park (always wearing her “bear” bell to warn the bears she was on the trail) to volunteering at South Knoxville Elementary, to helping to win beautification awards by planting flowers and being on the team of neighborhood cleanups. Barbara Kelly of Knoxville Knox County Community Action, on the death of Diana Conn, had this to say, “She was one of our most cherished leaders.” Ms. Kelly also commented on Conn’s intelligence which worked hand in hand with her common sense to bring about improvements in low income communities.

Rita Schwartz can also be said to possess intelligence and a strong measure of common sense, as well as healthy doses of compassion and concern for all who cross her path. These attributes are very evident in the roles she plays not only at St. John’s Lutheran Church, but at Guy B. Love Towers. Rita formed Love Morning Exercise after being diagnosed with cancer and knowing she needed to increase her strength to fight the disease and now leads the residents in exercise programs which not only promotes good health but also serves as a way to get the residents to socialize and become a part of their community. Rita and her program were featured on the Go4Life, a program on the National Institute on Aging’s website as an example of what seniors could accomplish. She has been instrumental in forming a

strong link between the residents of the Towers and the young children and teenagers who come to St. Johns for 5 weeks during the summer to participate in WOW. Then there are the art classes and art shows Rita has begun which brings the residents together in another chance to create a strong sense of community. There are many other ways that Rita has served her community and her church. I think the manager of Guy B. Love Towers said it better than anyone when he recommended Rita for the Diana Conn award, he said, “She has done so many wonderful things for our community, but most importantly, she serves as a mentor and inspiration to others. She has an uncanny ability to steer people outside their comfort zones and to encourage them to try new things. I appreciate her more than I could ever fully express.” And we, the members of the St. John’s family, can say AMEN.

St. John’s Own Rita Schwartz is the recipient of the 2015

DIANA CONN NEIGHBOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

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Dear, sweet people of St. John’s!Thank you for your support of Tyson House!

Serving on council (Connie Burkhalter), as faculty advisor (Misty Anderson), bringing teens to visit (Pastor Amy), doing carpentry (Clarke Hinkle), gathering a team to cook (Nancy O’Callaghan), and allowing me to serve as chaplain, all supports a tremendous faith and leadership development. In

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminarians visit Sunday 6:04 Dinner & Worship!

October, we had a student baptism! In February, several students reaffirmed their baptism, an alumnus was ordained an Episcopal priest, and he’s continuing at Yale Divinity School toward a Ph.D. in Theology! Two more are at Yale, another is at Candler, and another is at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary! Two served in the Episcopal Service Corps, one is a youth minister at Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, and another is in campus ministry at Maryville College! That’s just the past five years! Going back ten, four more Episcopal priests, an Episcopal deacon, and a Lutheran pastor came from Tyson House, while another alumna is working on a Masters in Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary! That’s sixteen clergy, seminarians, lay leaders, candidates, and postulants in the past ten years! That’s before we count the nurses, social workers, nutritionists, nuclear engineers, and other faithful community members who have grown in faith at Tyson House! It’s amazing what God is doing with the gifts God gives us to offer.

Post-graduate Resident InternsThis academic year, thanks to your support and

grants from the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee Opportunity Fund, an ELCA Southeastern Synod Campus Ministry Grant for a New Campus Ministry, and the ELCA Southeastern Synod Morton Fund, we began a Post-graduate Resident Internship Program: three young adults, recent college graduates (including our own Jeremy Roberts), living at Tyson House with students, growing the ministry and growing as ministers. They have done a tremendous amount to build community, to enhance student leader development, and to support student initiatives in Worship, Outreach, and Education.

Alumni Emilie Casey, Justin Crisp, & Zack Nyein, at Justin’s Ordination!

StudentLeadership and Student-Congregation Collaborative Leadership

We also expanded our leadership structure, which brought on a burst of creative energy! We now have student-led Worship, Outreach, and Education Councils; a Finance Committee to optimize use of resources and increase transparency; and a brand new, student-alumni-congregation member Fundraising Team, with a special focus in Alumni Relationship Development! Flowing from all this, during Lent we have daily Morning Prayer, led by a different student or intern each day: one is a slam poet and brings that gift; another loves T. S. Eliot and brings that; Wednesday evenings, we have Vespers by Candlelight, followed by a Bible Study in Continued on page 14

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New Testament Scholar Amy-Jill Levine with Students & Faculty at Tyson House!

following God’s call. We hosted a Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank, an Interfaith Prayer for Peace, a conversation with visiting New Testament Scholar Amy-J ill Levine, plus all our regular events: Halloween/All Saints/Reformation Sunday Costume Eucharist, Mardi Gras Pancake Dinner, and of course our weekly Sunday 6:04 Dinner & Communion, with a different congregation providing a home-cooked meal each week as a gift to our students!

Clarke Hinkle & Faculty Advisor Misty Anderson Do a Little Renovating!

Grateful to God!We have so many reasons to be grateful to

God! Area church members working with students to renovate our common room, friends donating furniture, and direct financial support all bear witness to God’s love for students and campus ministry! We thank you and we thank God, for your part in that!

In Christ, with you,

The Rev. John TirroSt. John’s Lutheran Church, KnoxvilleTyson House Campus Ministry, UT-Knoxville

LUTHERAN LIFE

To my St. John’s family, It is an honor to receive the ELCA’s Fund for Leaders scholarship, made possible for me by SJLC’s Seminary Scholarship. I experience God’s blessings in all areas of my life, and this one is very significant! God is working through St. John’s to make me feel supported and loved — not only financially, but through prayer and relationship, as well.

Because of your generosity, I am able to experience seminary life more fully. I am less burdened by thoughts of debt, which takes some stress off my shoulders. This allows me to focus more freely on my studies and building relationships here for the future of the church.

As SJLC knows well, relationships are the foundation for God’s mission in our world, and I am blessed by the continued relationship I share with so many of you at St. John’s! Whether it is through phone conversations, text messages, or Facebook, I really feel God’s love shining on me from over the mountains. This is why my heart will forever be in East Tennessee, and why I long for opportunities to make the trek up I-26 and across I-40.

As far as coursework goes, I am right at the halfway mark; three semesters down, with three semesters to go. Of course, I have a year of internship outside of my coursework, but it helps me to think, “Okay, I’m over the hump!” As I move forward in my studies, I find comfort in knowing that God has my back. How do I know this? Because SJLC has my back, and God works through SJLC to do some pretty amazing things.

Thank you for supporting me as I pursue my calling.

Sincerely,Will Wing

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1 Ron Woodward Tony Brewer2 Nancy O’Callaghan Adam Schultz5 Kira Ellis6 Katherine Pellek Elizabeth Gibson7 Herm Gerbig9 Chris Brooks10 Doris McCay Susie Hansen Kurt Zinser14 Landry Thrasher15 Sandy Cantrell Andrew Ley ChaiNa-Jade Parton16 JD Chapman17 Bill Wittenberg Sydney Parman19 RuthAnn Henry Martha Nelson Laura Morgan Ragan Holloway Kristin Williamson20 Debbie Sweany21 Marcia Power Jennifer Aiken Trevor Tirro Ethan Zinser22 David Chapman23 Ray Collins24 Calvin Chappelle25 Sandy Bender Jeffrey Welch26 Jody Freeman Taylor Fields Daniel Rieger Andrew Glibbery Evan Ellis Andrew Cooter27 Rob Walker29 Bob Bast Matthew Callo30 Jonathan Burkhalter

Jacob Friedrich3 Jim Roning Andrew Kyle4 Leah Crowley5 Maxine Whistler Shirley Irwin Emmett Kimzey6 Cam Ogle Jim O’Hatnick8 Erica Greene Johnson9 Nancy Maland10 Carson Vandergriff11 Jessie Mae Bowman Zane Dukes12 Miriam Jagels Brent Collins Sarah Wing13 Toni Wise14 Matt Whitehead15 Wendy Thrasher16 Ruth Crowley17 Myra Haynes Christian Vandergriff18 Misty Anderson Connor Bernard Chloe Gibson19 Ruthie Kuhlman Wesley Lyons20 Steve Kyle Jill Sinnott Karen McWhorter21 Bob Draime Mari Brooks Derek Bast23 Don McWilliams Chelsea Kyle24 Sherry Draime Larry Robbins Peyton Hairston, Jr. Stephanie Anderson Frank Callo Krista Lee Paul Brooks Sarah Anderson Stephen Schwahn Nancy Wilson Carmen Solt26 Libby Fred28 John Ley Andy Tirro29 Nancy McGalliard30 Jerry Ballard31 Gregg Vandergriff Gabe Thrasher

APRI

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St. John Lutheran Church544 Broadway, NWKnoxville, TN 37917

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CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND STAFF

Stephen MisenheimerSenior Pastor steve@sjlcknox.org Amy C. FiggPastor of Family Ministry and Caregivingamy@sjlcknox.org John TirroPastor of Congregational Lifeand Campus Ministryjohn@sjlcknox.org Deborah Dunne-SousaMinister of Music Krista LeeChristian Education Director

Sheila RadfordFinancial Assistant finance@sjlcknox.org Toni DentonAdministrative Assistant toni@sjlcknox.org Thea PetersonKids Hope USA Director

Mary Elizabeth Peterson & Lisa MintonNursery Assistants Lisa Foxwell facility@sjlcknox.org

Stephen Douglas

Darrell MurrellFacility Staff

Issue Article Deadline Mail Date

Lent February 6 February 12

Holy WeekEaster

March 16 March 26

Pentecost I May 11 May 21

Pentecost II July 20 July 30

Pentecost III September 21 September 30

Advent Christmas

November 9

November 19

Epiphany December 7 December 17

2015 NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Phone: 865-523-3330Fax: 865-524-7895E-mail: INFO@sjlcknox.orgWebsite: www.sjlcknox.org