the congregational newsletter of
St John‘s Lutheran Church
St John’s Lutheran Church
The Season after Pentecost
2016 Pentecost III issue
LUTHERAN LIFE
M
ay 15 was the Day of Pentecost, complete with shades of red and a story of wind and fire and language which makes sense only by way of the Holy Spirit. Many consider it the birthday of Church. And lots of folks know the Day of Pentecost leads to the Season of Pentecost, a L-O-N-G season made up of six months that spans late spring through the dog days of summer to the colorful spectacular of autumn and into the colder days that speak of a winter that is to come. What has happened since May 15? There have been experiences characterized by great beauty: babies born, birthdays celebrated, anniversaries commemorated, families gathered on vacation, ministry shared, songs written, Olympic medals won, school started, rooms renovated, Faith Formation programs launched, ceilings plastered and walls painted, and new folks welcomed. We reveled in the “rightness” of life. There have been things shaped by profound pain: unexpected diagnoses, nightclub shootings, scandals displayed as headline news, tragic deaths of the unarmed, ambush attacks on police officers, accidental overdoses of opioid drugs, racial tensions fueled by fear, natural disasters, and a broken political process noted most often for its vitriol. We questioned the “wrongness” of life. What made that life bearable? What allowed us to sleep each night and rise each morning? Martin Bell called it “the merciful being together that makes waking up tomorrow possible.” Drawing on that togetherness, I commend this Jan Richardson poem, “When We Breathe Together, a Blessing for Pentecost”:
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LUTHERAN LIFE
This is the blessing we cannot speak by ourselves. This is the blessing we cannot summon by our own devices, cannot shape to our purpose, cannot bend to our will. This is the blessing that comes when we leave behind our aloneness, when we gather together, when we turn toward one another. This is the blessing that blazes among us when we speak the words strange to our ears, when we finally listen into the chaos, when we breathe together at last. We breathe together by the Holy Spirit who journeys with us, who sustains us in good and not-so-good days, and who makes ready the anticipation of the next glorious season! Let us inhale; let us exhale.
Pastor Amy
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FAITH FORMATION
Faith
St. John’s
Family
Formation
Faith Formation on Sunday Mornings at SJLC Active faith formation continues at St. John s -- here are the options for all of God’s children: Nursery: Our littlest ones will gather with Mary Elizabeth, Lisa, and Bailey for lots of faithful love, group play, an age-appropriate Bible story, and prayer time. The nursery is located across from the Sparks Fellowship Hall. Pre-K through Fifth Grader: Our Children will engage with a team of 21 adults to explore the lectionary lessons of the day. Our topics of learning include: Sunday, October 2 ... First Sunday Brunch with Children's Table and Activity Sunday, October 9 ... Luke 17:11-19 (Ten Men Healed) Sunday, October 16 ... Genesis 32:22-31 (Jacob Wrestles) Sunday, October 23 ... Luke 18:9-14 (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector) Sunday, October 30 ... Luke 19:1-10 (Zaccheus) Sunday, November 6 ... First Sunday Brunch with Children's Table and Activity Sunday, November 13 ... Luke 21:5-19 (God's Love is Forever) Sunday, November 20 ... Luke 23:33-43 (The Day Jesus Died) Sunday, November 27 ... LARGE GROUP TEACHING IN KINDERGARTEN ROOM (Gratitude) Middle School: Our Middle Schoolers will meet with Pastor Amy in the Sharp Youth Room for Confirmation Conversations, digging deeper into matters of faith that support the journey that leads to an Affirmation of Faith as our teens are confirmed. Pop culture, multi-media, biblical truths, and home-made treats will make this gathering something worthy of rolling out of bed! High School: Our High Schoolers will meet with Pastor John & Isaac Taylor at Remedy Coffee House, 800 Tyson House, to unpack theological concepts the youth of today find compelling. Conversation will crank up on Sunday, October 9. Adults: We will continue our "God in Film and Theater" series on October 9 as Dr. Chuck Maland helps us explore "Get Low." Dr. Misty Anderson will follow up with the following offerings: “Medieval Theater” on October 16, “The Book of Mormon on October 23, and “Angels in America” on October 30. In November, we will unpack the beauty of gratitude. Michael Holtz will facilitate conversation of the book, 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik, and Angie Hamstead will lead discussion of 1,000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
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FAITH FORMATION
Stepping Stones of Faith We are wrapping up our inaugural year for Stepping Stones of Faith, a comprehensive faith formation program. Put simply, the church family issues an intentional invitation to families of children to revisit the promises of the baptismal covenant with a gift for the child, an introduction of a family faith formation experience, and a time of dedicatory prayer during worship. We hope to help families:
Remember the baptismal covenant Develop lifelong family faith formation practices Celebrate each child in the congregation at significant milestones Equip parents with faith formation resources Pray for families in the congregation.
On Sunday, October 2, we will celebrate the Stepping Stone of Bible reading with our second graders. And on October 30, we will affirm our baptismal faith with thirteen teenagers who will participate in the Rite of Confirmation. To learn more about Stepping Stones of Faith, please check the “Faith Formation” tab at www.sjlcknox.org or the “Grow” tab on the St. John’s app. You can also reach out to Pastor Amy at amy@sjlcknox.org. Middle schoolers entering the Confirmation program receive a framed family photo and celebrate the journey. To learn more or sign up to participate, please contact Pastor Amy at amy@sjlcknox.org.
Confirmation “Stir up in Anna Elizabeth, Claire, Ethan, Holden, Kylie, Lucy, Maddie, Matthew, Sarah, Sydney, and Trevor the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.”
We will celebrate the Rite of Confirmation on Sunday, October 30 at 11:00 AM. Together, we will remember our baptisms and rejoice in the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Families and friends of our confirmands will then gather at 12:15 PM in the Sparks Fellowship Hall for a joy-filled meal.
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LUTHERAN LIFE
I
t has been an amazing year in at our campus ministry at UT. Here are just a few Tyson House highlights.
An Episcopal Colleague Father RJ Powell, a priest at St James Episcopal, just up the road from St. John’s, began serving at Tyson House as part of his ministry at St James. It’s just a few hours a week, but the students love him (as does Pastor John), and he has made such a difference! A $100,000 Lilly Grant In October, we received $100,000 from the Lilly Endowment Inc., to fund our new LAMP Initiative. LAMP stands for Life and Ministry Practices, and it offers resources and training in practices that support faithful life in Christ: spiritual direction, mentors, service in the community, silent and directed retreats, and experience in collaborative ministry leadership. From Interns to Ministry Coordinators Two years ago, we began post-graduate internships, for young adults to explore life in ministry after college. At the time, we gave them free housing at Tyson House, because it’s what we had to offer. Last year, through the LAMP Initiative, we were able to pay stipends, which freed them from other work and resulted in a beautiful explosion of ministry. This year, our new interns are Rusty Graham and Liza Hawkins, who are both so administratively gifted that we’re changing the title from interns to Ministry Coordinators. Directed Retreats In early fall, our 8 student residents spent a day at Holy Paths retreat center, a farmhouse just outside Knoxville, engaging scripture and each other around Hospitality: Making Room for God, Each Other, and Ourselves. A month later, 20+ went to Grace Point for a lakeside
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An Amazing Year of
retreat on Sabbath. Both were led by Suzanne Hassell, a Spiritual Director with great gifts in listening and prayer. Smokey’s Pantry: A New Food Pantry On Campus On January 26, along with FISH Hospitality Pantries and 100+ UT students, faculty, staff, and community members, we opened Smokey’s Pantry, a campus food pantry at Tyson House. Since January, we’ve fed 859 families. We also raised over $10,000 through a VolStarter campaign, to fund a new internship in pantry oversight and kitchen renovations so we can offer cooking lessons! Trainings in Faithful Life St. John’s own Nancy Friedrich led a workshop in Conflict Resolution. Neil Fischer gave a workshop in Time Management. Pastor John and Father Josh Hill, chaplain of the Episcopal School of Knoxville, led a series in basics of Christian faith. We had weekly Bible study, with students cooking dinner and talking about Acts, the early church’s account of discovering its identity and call, which helps us discover ours! We also offered trainings in Lectio Divina, labyrinth, Anglican prayer beads, and baking Communion bread as forms of prayer.
LUTHERAN LIFE #pridemass #pridemass began as a Communion service emphasizing God’s love for God’s LGBT+ children. Our initial thought was to go to the LGBT+ Pride Festival June 18 and invite people to worship. Tragically, June 12 was the mass shooting in Orlando, and #pridemass became a service of healing and support for far more than we’d anticipated. 300 people filled St. James Episcopal Church, many of whom hadn’t set foot in church in a long time. One moving moment was our volunteer choir, with members of St. John’s, St. James, Metropolitan Community Church, Tennessee Valley UU, Unity Church, and the Gay Men’s Chorus, singing Hezekiah Walker’s “I Need You to Survive.” “I need you, you need me, we’re all a part of God’s body. Stand with me, agree with me, we’re all a part of God’s body. It is His will that every need be supplied. You are important to me, I need you to survive.” Traces of the Trade & Community Conversations In February, Tyson House brought Dain and Constance Perry to UT for a screening of their film, Traces of the Trade: A Story of the Deep North, about an Episcopal family’s discovery that their ancestor was the biggest slave trader in America. After the screening, Dain and Constance led a full auditorium in conversation around people’s experiences of racism. It was a wonderful beginning that led to other events, including the Interfaith Healing for People of Color, in which white folks were asked simply to listen for the first hour-and-a-half, as people of color shared about their experiences. One white participant commented afterward, “It was so freeing not to have to think about how to respond or how it would be received, but just
to listen.” One person of color commented that it was indeed what she hoped for; a time of healing. We also hosted a Community Conversation and Candlelight March, with 80 people overflowing our common room in the wake of multiple police shootings. One #blacklivesmatter leader expressed encouragement that it was the most white people she’d seen at such an event. Moment by moment, as we listen, we learn how to help. Sometimes listening is the best help. We were blessed to have many helpers. In addition to giving workshops in Time Management & Conflict Resolution, Neal Fisher installed seven ceiling lights in the residents' hall at Tyson House and Nancy Freidrich mentored us in how to set up an internship program. Clarke Hincle installed flooring for Smokey's Pantry and Dave Sweany spent almost every Tuesday delivering food for Smokey's Pantry, doing repairs, hanging signs, and mowing grass. Ruthie Kuhlmann and Deanna Lloyd cooked our first meal for Sunday Evening Dinner and Worship and Connie Burkhalter served on council and completely redecorated our common room,* and so many others have helped make it a truly amazing year, one we could not have imagined beforehand. We look forward to what God has in store! If you would like to be involved, there are plenty of ways. Just contact Pastor John
* Brent Collier began serving as treasurer.
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RAISING THE ROOF
N
ow that our new clay tile roof has been installed on our treasured sanctuary, we are beginning the next phase of our Raising the Roof capital campaign. This is a three year campaign that includes capital improvements, endowment, debt reduction and benevolence. The exterior and interior of our sanctuary have been our first project priorities. For the next seven weeks, we will witness interior repairs and improvements in the sanctuary and the Fireside room. Plaster repair work is underway which requires scaffolding as well as a thorough cleaning of all the woodwork from floor to ceiling. Following the repairs and cleaning, the Fireside room and sanctuary will receive a fresh coat of paint. (See images below) As repairs are being made, new lighting for the chancel area of the sanctuary and LED’s for those hard to reach spotlights will also be installed. Additional sanctuary technology upgrades include a new sound board and worship leader microphones to improve the quality of our worship audio. We are continuing to improve our classrooms for children as our Sunday School attendance and faith formation activities for all ages are being well attended. The Kindergarten room was recently transformed with a gift from the estate of Peyton Hairston, Jr. and our new gathering place for children on Sunday morning is alive with music and the Spirit of Christ! We celebrate the faithfulness and generosity of all who are contributing to our Raising the Roof campaign. Soon we will have sufficient funds to move forward with the next project of kitchen expansion and renovation. We encourage your continued stewardship as we make significant investments in the future of our ministry! Together, we are Raising the Roof!
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SERVICE DATE: Friday, October 7, 2016 TIME: Breakfast Served 7:30am Program 8:00 - 9:00am LOCATION: Central Baptist Bearden 6300 Deane Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
HOPE BUILDERS BREAKFAST
The Hope Builders Breakfast is an inspiring opportunity to find out more about Habitat’s mission and impact in the community. Guests will be invited to support Knoxville Habitat and help build a “House of Hope” through donations and volunteering. Questions? Please contact your table host, Neil Fisher at neilfischer22@gmail.com or Pastor Steve at steve@sjlcknox.org.
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his fall KARM is asking us to volunteer in specific ways to help make the Coats for the Cold drive and distribution more accessible to those who are in need of a warm coat. First, you can donate your gently worn coats, or second, you can volunteer to help with the drive. Collection dates for donating coats are October 17-November 12. It is hoped that 15,000 + coats will be donated at either the KARM Stores or Prestige Cleaners. Distribution dates will be November 14 to December 10 at all 18 retail locations of KARM Stores Your help is needed in two ways: Volunteer support is needed to help with sorting, hanging, and racking coats at the KARM Store nearest you during collection. Once all the coats have been donated and hung, volunteers are needed to work in their local store to help with distribution. If you would like to volunteer during the Coats for the Cold campaign, email Linda Whitehead, Director of Operations at linda@karmstores.com or call Rita Schwartz at 865-621-3945, or email her at ritaschwartz33@gmail.com. As a KARM partner, KARM Stores provide the church with eight $10-20 gift cards each month. If you know someone who is in need of clothing or household items and could use a gift card, please get in touch with Rita Schwartz, or call Toni in the church office
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LOOKING AHEAD ...
A
s we look toward the brisk days and candle-lit nights of Advent, our lives take on an intentionally measured rhythm. We wait. We watch. We anticipate. We hope. We “Walk in the Light of the Lord,” and here we find our Advent 2016 theme! Our worship opportunities include: Sunday, November 27 … First Sunday of Advent Wednesday, November 30 … Midweek Holden Evening Prayer Sunday, December 4 … Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 4 … 16th Annual Service of Remembrance Wednesday, December 7 … Midweek Holden Evening Prayer Sunday, December 11 … Third Sunday of Advent Wednesday, December 14 … Midweek Holden Evening Prayer Sunday, December 18 … Fourth Sunday of Advent Wednesday, December 21 … Midweek Holden Evening Prayer Thursday, December 22 … Memorial Service for Our Homeless Neighbors Our ministry opportunities include: Monday, November 28 … Katie’s Sisters Advent by Candlelight Sunday, December 4 … First Sunday Brunch Wednesday, December 7 … SAM’s (Senior Adult Ministry) Lunch and Program Sunday, December 11 … Family Ministry Potluck Lunch & Caroling to SJLC Members Monday, December 12 … Choir Caroling Party Sunday December 18 … Children’s Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 18 … Stepping Stone of Faith: Collegian Welcome Home Dinner
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KIDS HOPE USA
On Sunday September 11th, 26 youth and adults gathered for lunch at St. John’s and then traveled to Christenberry School to spruce up the exterior gardens, walkways, driveways, signs, and playground for the ELCA’s Day of Service. Many hands truly made a huge difference in a very short time. The youth spent time cleaning up and clearing the sidewalk and pulled lots of weeds. Ten flower pots were filled with mums and pansies to beautify the school for fall. Planting beds were lined with black plastic and filled with dirt and are now ready for the afterschool community garden club. The educational boards on the playground were cleaned and made ready to be painted. The school signage was also spruced up. I would like to thank all the wonderful folks who supported this effort: Meal preparation and clean up were Rita Schwartz and Nancy O’Callaghan. Work At the school: Deaver, Alan and Kylie Shattuck; Phyllis and Ray Collins; Bill Wing (who built a fabulous box to contain rocks at the water spigot); Laura, Maddie and Will Trout; John Rice; Caleb, Dani, August, Elisabeth, Asha, Spencer and Emelia Warren; Ethan Zinser; Kelly and Lucy Page; Elizabeth and Claire Blankenship; Christine Oehler; Isaac Taylor; and Owen Peterson. What a wonderful expression of love as we continue to show the St. John’s servant heart by improving our adopted elementary school.
Thea Petersen
fter for the a u o y k ent n Tha efore par b k c a n ha school s was suc It ! s e c n e confer get t to help nice trea ong day al through anders Nikki S
Than ky that y ou very m o u Chris u showed ch for the tenbe to the ki rry to appre facult ndness day. ciate y at I re a St. Jo hn's h ll that you ally ave d and o could on th n the su ot do our e for us. W ers at jobs a pport s wel e really that w e get fr l without Than om yo k you u. again ,
Thank you again for all of the work last Sunda that was don y. Our grou e here nds look abso We are so ble lutely beauti ssed. ful.
ch for u m o sooo king of u o y k Than ks and thin ac the sn us ! ubbs t S y v I
Thank you ALL SO much for ALL you do for Christenberry! We are so blessed to have you partner alongside us. You will never know how much you all mean to our school family!
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MINISTRIES
ST. JOHN’S
SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY SAMs meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30am, September thru May in Sparks Fellowship hall. There are six components to SAMs: fellowship, prayer, service projects, laughter, delicious lunch, and a wonderful program. Contact Mary Cole for details at memecole@comcast.net. Here’s a look at what’s coming up in October and November for SAMs: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 Our speaker is Lisa Oakley, Curator of Education for the East Tennessee Historical Society. Our menu is Lasagna, salad, bread, dessert. $5/person November 2, 2016 Our speaker is Wanda Sobieski, Family Law Attorney, who will present a program on “The Legacy and Challenges of Women’s Suffrage” as we celebrate the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. Our menu is Cole’s pork BBQ, slaw, beans, dessert. $5/person
The Men’s Ministry of St. John’s known as “BANDED BROTHERS” are meeting for B.E.E.R. The acronym stands for Brothers Engaged in Enriching Relationship. The next two B.E.E.R. gatherings are schedule for Tuesday, October 18th at Balter Beerworks and Tuesday, November 15th at Bearden Brickyard. Contact Caleb Warren with any questions at calebwarren@comcast.net.
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Please join us in support of the Compassion Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT) for IGNITE A FORCE, Thursday, October 27th, 5:30pm . Katie’s Sister will host a table at the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to support our local agency in the fight against human trafficking. Ticket prices and details TBA. Contact Ruthie Kuhlman at ruthieskuhlman@gmail.com or at 865-850-4955 with your questions.
MINISTRIES
We have some exciting opportunities to participate in Youth Ministry coming up in October and November. OCTOBER 2nd - Oakes Farm Corn Maze NOVEMBER 12-13 - All-TN Youth Gathering I’m looking forward to continuing to grow in faith with all the youth and their families!
Isaac Taylor SJLC Youth Associate Minister
Stephen Ministry Continuing Education As a congregation connected with Stephen Ministry, we equip and empower lay caregivers— called Stephen Ministers—to provide highquality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. If you’re interested in participating in this valuable ministry Stephen Ministers will be meeting for the following Continuing Education opportunities: Sunday, October 9 … Caregiving for Those Living with Depression Sunday, November 6 … Caregiving for Those with Anxiety Disorders Please plan to bring a sack lunch; following conversation over lunch we will begin instruction at 12:45pm. Contact Pat Krogmann with questions at boomboomgolfpk@hotmail.com.
BOOK FAIR Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for your kids or grandkids? Stop by our Book Fair and shop award-winning Bibles, books, and videos for babies to twelve-year-olds. Save up to 40% PLUS free shipping on all Book Fair titles. Stop by the Welcome Center on October 16, 23, and 30th after the 1st and 2nd service to get faith-filled books and videos for your children. Our Book Fair, sponsored by Sparkhouse Family, will feature a wide variety of new resources based on the beloved Spark Story Bible, including a family devotional, a collection of prayers for kids based on the Psalms, a picture book about Noah’s Ark, the first-ever animated Spark video (starring Squiggles the caterpillar!), and a new line of Spark Play and Learn Books to help make family faith formation easy and fun. Other noteworthy titles included in the upcoming Book Fair are a new Christmas picture book from the Frolic series and a gorgeous Advent pop-up book that will make a delightful gift. Each book and video is designed to help parents instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children at every age and stage. Questions? Talk to Jeanne Misenheimer or Sarah Marriott.
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SEEN AT ST. JOHN’S …
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Staff Meeting Selfie (why are they smiling?) Pastor Amy KinderChurch Pastor Amy’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Emory Place Block Party The “KinderChurch Crew”
Birthdays
October 1 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12
John Stancher Vyvette Solt Chrystal Brewer Libby Stinnett Richard Bender Chris Wise Madi Murphy Deaver Shattuck Amy Hamer Emily Bradford Mary Sue Bjorklund David Hegseth Terry Irwin
14 15 16 17 19 20 21
Scott Hamstead Bill Wing George Fowler Thea Peterson Sharon Gamble Sarah Lowe Pat Krogmann Will Trout Matthew Freeman Hailey Hamer
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Beck Hamstead Sarah Morgan Jim Friedrich Sarah Holtz Joe Miller Rivers Chapman Pat Keyes Greg Kalmon Linda Efteland Craig Friedrich Bob Sharp Reid Zinser Preston Tucker
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26 27 28 29 30
Howard Capito Lee Gagle Joseph Ray John Rice Helmut Busse Barbara Thompson Jon Efteland Kellen Walker Lee Ballard Lee Metelka
November 1 2
3 4 5 6
Susie Racek Thomas McGalliard Rowan Daugherty Wilma Miller Herta Olive Dani Warren Scarlett Thrasher Anna Chappelle Josie Whitehead Jonathan Freeman Terry Hamer Jenny Ladage Sarah Bast Linda Welch
8 10 11 12 13 15 16 19 20 22 23
26 27 28 29 30
Russ Miller Ryan Lee David Thomas Jennifer Roberts Barbara Teague Bari Gerbig Will Wing Elisabeth Bernard Dreama Feezell Charlotte Miller Arlene McCarthy Andrea Menendez Will Boyd
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 544 Broadway, NW Knoxville, TN 37917
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
CHURCH LEADERSHIP & STAFF Stephen Misenheimer Senior Pastor steve@sjlcknox.org Amy Figg Pastor of Faith Formation & Leadership Development amy@sjlcknox.org John Tirro Pastor of Campus Ministry John@sjlcknox.org Deborah Dunne-Sousa Minister of Music steve@sjlcknox.org
Phone:: 865.523.3330
Christopher Clay Ministry Coordinator & Director of Communications chris@sjlcknox.org
Isaac Taylor Youth Ministry Associate isaac@sjlcknox.org
Toni Denton Administrative Assistant toni@sjlcknox.org
Thea Petersen Kids Hope USA Director Mary Elizabeth Petersen & Lisa Minton Nursery Assistants Lisa Foxwell Facility Staff facility@sjlcknox.org Darrell Murrell Facility Staff facility@sjlcknox.org
Fax: 865.524.7895 Email: INFO@sjlcknox.org Website: www.sjlcknox.org