January 2009
I always look forward to the arrival of latest copy of our denomination’s magazine, Presbyterians Today. In the January/February issue, editor Eva Stimson echoes what we all have been experiencing. “This new year, more than most, seems to herald momentous changes in our nation and world. Many base their hope for brighter days on the dawning of a new U.S. presidency. As citizens of a realm that transcends this world, Christians always have grounds for hope—even in the face of grim economic forecasts, a global food crisis and outbreaks of terrorist violence.
Hope…hope is not the naïve expectation that all will go smoothly, that desolation will remain a stranger. It is a conviction that God will always be with us in whatever happens. In the midst of the dark days of winter and the daily disclosure of more jobs loses and continuing bleak economic forecasts, it is a challenge to hold on to hope, especially when we and our families and friends are personally impacted by circumstances and events beyond our control.
We pray in Jesus’ name for peace and healing and freedom from fear about what the future holds and yet we live with war, suffering, anxiety and death. Our hope is that these tough realities are not the final word. The birth of Jesus was the birth of hope in the ultimate sense, hope which came to fulfillment in the empty tomb of Easter. In this hope we come to know a Presence with us through every seeming impossibility and challenge. We discover a response to the futility and cynicism of the world. Hope gives us vision and strength beyond what this world alone gives. And we become part of this hope as we live out St. Francis’ prayer, “Where there is despair, let me sow hope.”
May we be mindful of those in our church family and beyond who are presently experiencing difficult times and seek God’s direction and compassion in reaching out to one another with hope and support.
Blessings and Joy,
Miki
March 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
I’d like to share a story with you that bears repeating about a cathedral in England which was bombed during World War II. There had been a beautiful stained glass window in that church depicting one of the stories of Jesus. Unfortunately, in the bombing the window was shattered beyond recognition. The pieces of colored glass, splintered and cracked, were all that remained of the beloved window.
Even as the people of the city wept over the broken window, they were determined to put the window back together. Not for its original scene for that would have been impossible but to piece the broken glass back into a window that would become a testimony of hope. The result was to be a stunning work of love and of faith, a window whose beauty was born in hope.
The season of Lent is like that broken window for Lent is a time when we remember the cross and the price that was paid for our salvation. Like the shattered glass, the cross of Jesus Christ at first seemed to be testimony that the powers of evil and of sin had won after all. Death had triumphed. The beauty was shattered.
But Lent reminds us, even as we contemplate the cross, that in Christ death is not the last word; that beauty can be found even among the broken shards of war. We find meaning in that hope. We find beauty in that faith. We find life in that resurrection.
There is a wonderful hymn that calls Christians to “Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim.” Here in the season of Lent, as we move toward the events of Holy Week, we have the opportunity to contemplate the brokenness of the cross, the power of sin and darkness, the emptiness of life without God. But as we lift high the symbol of brokenness—the cross—we lift it high as a sign of our victory in Christ. The cross is empty. The price has been paid. The pieces can be put back together in a work of hope and beauty. It is God’s work. It is our work, too.
In these troubling times many of us are presently experiencing brokenness—the loss of jobs, the loss of loved ones, the loss of health, the loss of financial security, the loss of hope. During these forty days of Lent through prayer and reflection, may you experience the peace, hope and promise of the One who walks with us through the wilderness; the One who is our companion on our journey of faith.
Blessings and Joy,
Miki
April 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
Spring is such a blessed time of the year, a virtual feast for the eyes. In our area the redbuds, cherry and pear trees are in full bloom. Tulips, daffodils, pansies and forsythias are all dressed up in their finest attire. The melodic songs of birds fill the air and herald the dawning of each new day. From the deadness of winter, new life is emerging all around us.
In our Christian tradition Holy Week is also a time of rebirth and renewal. From the glad “Hosannas” of Palm Sunday to the solemn observance of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday; from the passion and death of Jesus on Good Friday to the glorious resurrection of our Savior on Easter morn, we are once again reminded of the amazing love and grace that God has for each one of us and for all of creation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” John 3:16.
I hope you will join me in celebrating Holy Week as the family of faith at West Emory Church gathers together for worship and fellowship. Please make note of the many opportunities to participate in the events highlighted in this newsletter and come join us as we journey from the cross to the empty tomb Easter morning.
I want to extend to you a very special invitation to join me on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 pm in our sanctuary as our congregation hosts renowned Scottish troubadour, Bruce Davies. I first met Bruce many years ago when he performed at my former church in Virginia as part of his American tour. Over the years I have continued to enjoy his music on CD as well as live in concert. I am delighted that he will be vacationing in our area in May and has agreed to do a special concert at West Emory for all of his fans and lovers of Scottish music in the Knoxville area. I hope you will mark this date on your calendar and invite your friends and neighbors. A suggested donation of $10 + will be welcome.
Blessings and Joy,
Miki
May 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
If you love Scottish music, I would like to invite you to a wonderful, toe-tapping, never-to-be-forgotten concert by the outstanding performer and troubadour, Bruce Davies. This award-winning singer/songwriter from Scotland will be performing at West Emory Church on Tuesday, May 12th at 7:30 pm.
I have had the pleasure of hosting a number of Bruce’s concerts at my former church in Virginia. In 2007 Betty Jorda and I had the opportunity to attend one of his concerts in Morristown, TN and loved it. At that time Bruce thought that this 25th American tour would be his last. However, such is the love that Bruce and his wife Sandra have for this side of the Pond that they are back for a working vacation and he will appear in concert in our sanctuary at my request as one of only three venues in our country.
Often regarded as a “Scottish John Denver” he is no stranger to East Tennessee having made five appearances at the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games as well as appearing locally on Channel 10 and nationally on ABC’s Good Morning America, and television specials in Washington, DC, California and on the BBC. One reviewer said, “Many folk singers sing for the hands and feet, Bruce Davies sings for the head and heart.” His music is wonderful and his CDs are worth having as part of any music collection.
A suggested donation of $10 or more will be received at the concert with all proceeds going to the Appalachian Network of Living Waters for the World which provides clean water systems to our neighbors in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. I hope you will come and bring your friends. Check out Bruce’s web site for more information www.brucedavies.com.
Blessings and Peace,
Miki
June 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
Sesame Street’s Kermit the Frog has been known to lament, “It’s not easy being green.” Maybe it is easier goinggreen but discipline and commitment are still required. Scriptures are clear that God calls us to be good stewards of the earth. With a growing awareness for our need to take better care of the environment, going green has become the ecological symbol and challenge of our time.
West Emory Church and our Child Enrichment Center are striving to do our part in becoming more eco-friendly by recycling plastics, aluminum and metal cans, paper and cardboard as well as Sunday bulletins. Our children are very aware of this practice and are strongly committed to doing their part.
Hopefully, we all are finding ways to consume less and recycle more. The library, book stores and the internet have many excellent resources to guide us in this process. If you haven’t begun to tackle the issue of recycling and living simpler, I invite you to find ways that you can go green.
You will notice that during the summer and fall green is the liturgical color for the season of the church year following Pentecost and is known as Ordinary Time. Green is the color of growth, fertility, abundance, possibility. This season of the year is also a time for remembering the possibilities for the blossoming of the kingdom of God in our midst. Each Sunday this is brought to mind in the green paraments that grace the pulpit and the lectern and the stoles worn by the pastor and choir members.
The Christian year is a balance of the extraordinary and the ordinary—a profile with peaks and plains. The peaks of Christmas and Easter are surely extraordinary, as are their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent and the festive seasons that follow lasting through Epiphany and the Day of Pentecost. But between these two extraordinary times—these mountain-top times—are the great plains that we call Ordinary Time.
The world “ordinary” as it is used in this context is not a put down or meant to diminish the importance of these days in our liturgical calendar. Rather it means “usual” or “regular.” Nothing can be extraordinary unless something else is ordinary. The term also reminds us of “order” and “the orderly,” as when the lectionary readings in Ordinary Time go in an orderly way through the books of the Bible.
As we journey through this season, let us remember and rejoice in the wonder of God’s creation. Let us be reminded that caring for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect our planet and all of its inhabitants, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.
May we all seek to do everything in our power to recycle, reuse, and reduce our consumption. Let us go green, serve God and save the planet.
Peace and Blessings,
Miki
July 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
It doesn’t seem possible that I will soon be completing my third year as pastor of West Emory Church. Over our three years together I have been the recipient of your loving nature and caring attention. I have witnessed your love for one another in times of joy as well as sorrow. I have been gratified by your willingness to stretch beyond the walls of the church and to share your generous spirit and monetary resources with those in our community, nation and world.
Who can forget our first Pumpkin Patch? What a glorious sight to see our front lawn festooned in a sea of orange as we welcomed our neighbors to share in our outreach to the homeless in our community through Knox Area Rescue Ministries. The second year was even bigger and better with the addition of a Fall Festival catering to young families in the area. Now you just have to mention that we are the “Pumpkin Patch Church” and even strangers know where we are located and the missions we support. Mark your calendars for October 10 when a new shipment of pumpkins will once again grace our lawn.
In addition to the meaningful worship services our church provides enhanced by our outstanding choir, there are a variety of opportunities for fellowship, study and service. And there is always room for more. Our former sanctuary still provides ample storage for household goods donated to the Bridge Refugee Services and our Child Enrichment Center continues to be a loving, nurturing place for toddlers, pre-school age boys and girls and elementary children in the after-school program.
I am excited about our new mission outreach to families in the Appalachian region of Kentucky and Tennessee through our partnership with Living Waters for the World. In the fall we will join others Presbyterian churches in our area in installing water filtration systems in the homes of those who do not have access to clean water. David Little will be our point-person for this mission project and will be letting us know when these weekend work projects will begin. In addition, we will be partnering with First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge in providing school and health supplies and other resources to families in the Viking Mountain area of Appalachia.
It was a joy to welcome six of our young people into the Body of Christ as Confirmed members this past month. We look forward to having them share their gifts, energy and visions for the church with us in the days and years ahead. As more individuals, couples and families with children visit us on Sunday morning, let us continue to welcome them warmly. First impressions do matter so let’s make sure that those who have made the effort to come to worship with us will find the joy of God’s welcoming and caring presence alive and well in our midst.
Having our infant and toddler nursery staffed each Sunday is important so please volunteer to become part of the new team being set up for this ministry by contacting Julie Michel who is coordinating the rotation list. This might entail serving only one Sunday every two months depending on the number of volunteers and the need.
As we begin our fourth year in ministry together, I pray for God’s continued blessings upon our family of faith at West Emory. I have no doubt that God through the power of the Holy Spirit and the leading of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has great things in store for us. What a blessing it is to a part of Kingdom of God in this time and in this place.
Peace and Blessings,
Miki
August 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
Do you remember when the first assignment upon one’s return to school in the fall was to write a paper on “What I did on my summer vacation”? Well, I thought I would give this task a go for old time’s sake.
Recently the Girl Scout ditty I used to sing around the campfires of my childhood resurfaced from the deep, dark regions of my memory bank: “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” How wise these simple words are when one thinks about them. Friends and family are the precious metals that bind our lives together.
With that in mind I decided this summer was the opportune time to reconnect, after three years away, with some of the special folks back in my former church in Newport News, Virginia who have been a part of my life’s journey while I was a pastor there for seventeen years. One dear friend is now 95 years young and is experiencing the challenges that often come with advancing years. Another special lady in my life is recovering from a recent hip fracture while two other mothers have just suffered the unexpected and tragic death of their adult son or daughter. Theirs is a sadness and loss that never seems to goes away.
Another dear soul is the primary caregiver for her husband who is on the long journey with Alzheimer’s while a growing number of my friends are valiantly caring for loved ones who are suffering with Parkinson’s disease. For some of us living longer is a mixed blessing.
I was also able to reconnect and hug the necks of those with whom I have enjoyed many moments of laughter as well as tears, of personal as well as professional challenges, of shared meals and sacred encounters. It was rewarding to become reacquainted with the young mother who was once an active part of my youth group and now is enthusiastically providing enriching experiences like she received for the next generation of children and youth in the church. Some of my former parishioners have changed hardly at all while the youngsters I baptized as infants or shepherded through Sunday School classes and youth outings have grown by leaps and bounds. My, what a joy it is to be a part of the body of Christ, the church.
My week in Virginia visiting friends continues to bless me with fond memories and golden moments to savor. I return renewed and refreshed cherishing all the more the silver friendships I have found in my new church family here at West Emory.
I am excited about getting started in a hands-on way with our joint outreach ministry with those living in nearby Appalachian communities through the Living Waters for the World program. One part of this ministry will be working with First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge in providing support for the Viking Mountain community with resources and supplies for school children and health agencies. Soon we will be inviting those of you who have a weekend or two you wish to put to good use to join us in the installation of clean water treatment systems in homes in the Tazewell community of our Tennessee mountain region.
No matter our age or stage in life, no matter our abilities or interests, there is something our Lord is calling us to do for the good of kingdom and the people of God. And along the way we are able to “make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”
Peace and Blessings,
Miki
September 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
We are fast approaching my favorite time of the year. Soon there will be a fresh crispness in the air. The trees will begin to show off their most colorful selves and the splendor of God’s handiwork will adorn the hills and valleys. Even though we have been blessed this year with an unseasonably cool summer and an ample amount of rainfall, there is just something invigorating about autumn. I saw my first “v” formation of geese this week. Perhaps they were practicing for their upcoming winter vacation down south.
The start of fall is always a special time for our congregation. New programs, mission projects and fellowship activities are gearing up. There are new, eager young faces in our Child Enrichment Center. As our church folks return from vacations and visitors join us for worship in hopes of finding a loving church home to which they can be a part, there is a renewed energy and lively spirit all about.
I hope you will take a moment to read about the variety of ministry opportunities and mission endeavors that help shape who we are at West Emory Church. Share this information with your friends and neighbors and invite them to join us for worship on Sunday as well as for the other events. We have good news to share and God’s blessings to impart. As God has blessed us, let us be a blessing to others.
Peace and Blessings,
Miki
October 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
It is hard to believe that October is here already! The delightful, cool days and clear blue skies along with a few hints of color in the trees herald the changing season and the coming of autumn. Before long the front lawn of the church will be festooned with billions and billions of plump orange pumpkins. Our Fourth Annual Pumpkin Patch mission project will not only be an eye-catching display inviting our neighbors to come and enjoy stocking up on their fall decorations but it will also give us the opportunity to extend an invitation to them to join us for worship and other activities of our congregation. This year we will be hosting the Pumpkin Festival once again on Saturday the 17th with lots of fun and activities for the whole family including hay rides, art activities, bake and craft sales and games galore.
As the Pumpkin Patch article in this newsletter states, proceeds from this project are designated for the Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) for their Thanksgiving baskets as well as for clean water systems for our neighbors in the Kentucky/Tennessee region of Appalachia through Living Waters for the World. I hope you will join me in participating in these events by volunteering to unload over 1500 pumpkins from the semi-trailer truck at 12:30 pm am on Sunday, October 11. [Wear you comfortable clothes to church if you wish. The church will provide lunch immediately after the worship service] We also need lots of folks to signup to staff the patch for a few hours, October 11 – 31 [Bring your neighbors. Recruit your friends.] and to help with the Pumpkin Festival on the 17th, 10 am to 2 pm. [We need baked goods, craft items to sell, and volunteers to help staff the festivities.]
I also hope you will join me and members of your church family on October 4th as we celebrate World Communion Sunday and receive our Presbyterian Peacemaking Offering. More information is include in this newsletter. In November we will celebrate and give thanks for the gifts God has given to each and everyone of us and to this faith community. We will have the opportunity to respond to God’s love and grace in worship on Stewardship/Commitment Sunday, November 8th. In preparation for this special Sunday when we will be dedicating our pledges to God, I invite all of us to be in prayer seeking to discern what God is calling us to give of our time, talents and treasures for the work of the Lord.
May God continue to bless you and our congregation as we seek to be faithful disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peace and Blessings,
Miki
November 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
Could it be? November is here already which means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. We have a lot to celebrate and give thanks for this fall. A highlight was certainly our 4th Annual Pumpkin Patch. So many of you shared your time and energy in making this mission project a rousing success once again. Through this endeavor we will be able to help feed the hungry through Knox Area Rescue Ministries and bring clean water to our neighbors in Appalachia through Clean Waters for the World. We especially thank Coordinator Julie Michel and all who helped with the Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival for your outstanding participation this year.
This month we will once again have the opportunity to respond with grateful hearts to all of God’s good gifts to us. The Stewardship theme for this year is “Blessed to be a Blessing” On Sunday, November 1, All Saints’ Day, in Word and proclamation we will explore Grace, Gratitude and Gladness as well as celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. Each of us are invited to be in prayer as we seek to discern what God is calling us individually and as a congregation to share of our many blessings of our time, talents and treasures for the Lord’s work in the coming year. Pledges for 2010 will be received and dedicated on Stewardship Commitment Sunday, November 8.
As the holidays approach, preparations are already underway for the Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, Angel Tree project, the Hanging of the Greens festivities, Advent and Christmas activities and worship opportunities. In the midst of all of the busyness of the season, I hope you will make it a priority to be in worship with your church family on Sunday mornings and to participate in as many of the events we will be offering as possible. I hope you will also invite family members, friends and acquaintances to join you as we experience God’s blessings, love, mercy and peace at West Emory Church.
May God continue to open our eyes and our hearts to the worship, service and fellowship that we are being called to as faithful disciples of our Lord and Savior. May we who are so blessed be a blessing to others.
Blessings and Peace,
Miki
December 2009
From the Pastor’s Pen
By Miki Vanderbilt
O holy child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
These beautiful words from Phillips Brooks’ beloved carol are my prayer for all of us this Advent and Christmas season. Many of us—in our nation and around the world, in the lives of our families and friends—are experiencing great difficulty and stress during these challenging economical times. It is easy to allow the darkness of despair to over take the light of hope. May we all seek to find a new measure of faith, a new commitment to God’s cause in our world, and a deeper sense of God’s peace than ever before.
These days before Christmas are called ADVENT, which means “coming.” For hundreds of years this has been a time of preparation. But let us be careful of that for which we prepare. Let us prepare not so much for “Christmas” which will come and go, but for “Christ” whose love and grace does not pass with the season.
I hope that you will build into these sometimes hurried and harried days time for prayer and quiet moments of peaceful stillness. Read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke and the words of prophesy from Isaiah. Pray for peace and good will to come alive in all the troubled parts of our world. Pray for new evidences of God’s love to those who are in difficult circumstances.
I hope you will also take advantage of the many opportunities in your church family for worship and service. Be present on Sunday mornings. Come to one of our Christmas Eve services. Provide a gift for someone on the Angel Tree. You will be blessed, and you will be a blessing.
O Christ, be born in each of our lives today,
Miki
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