Please remember to bring your offering on Easter Sunday. We will all have the chance to donate to One Great Hour of Sharing, the single largest special offering of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Three vital programs draw support from this annual offering -- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People.

Find your Easter treasures at the Mission Market! Choose natural grapevine nests or raffia baskets to hold critters crocheted in Vietnam or hand painted rabbit or chicken "boxes" from India. Fill your nests with quilled eggs, natural wooden eggs or foil wrapped Easter Eggs, in either milk or dark chocolate, $6.50 for bag of 18 eggs.

Recent profits from the First Presbyterian Mission Market will help pay for a foster care program for homeless children in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Presbyterian Community of Congo has found that church-supported foster care provides better care for homeless children than any other method. As the rate of child abandonment in Congo has grown, Presbyterians have struggled as they saw children living alone in brutal circumstances.

In order to keep First Presbyterian Church Knoxville a safe and healthy place for our children and youth to learn and grow in their spiritual lives, we are requiring periodic background checks of all volunteers and teachers. Alex McGavic has copies of the necessary forms for each of you to fill out, and you can contact him at alex@fpcknox.org. You may drop them off at the church office or fill them out and return to Alex personally. For your privacy, please don’t email the forms; they will have all your personal information on them.

The Officer Nominating Committee requests prayers as they select nominees for the 2025 Class of elders and deacons. If you have a willingness to be considered or would like to recommend someone for either office, please contact any committee member or email Melanie Payne at mpayne@kcc.com.

They’re Back! Popular Grocery Items Have Returned to the Mission Market

Two longtime seasoning favorites are back on the shelves in the Mission Market. Your purchases will create jobs in South Africa, where nearly 60 percent of black women and half of the youth are unable to find jobs.

Plans Underway for Fall PW Women’s Retreat at Montreat!

What is one of the best loved yearly events of Presbyterian Women at First Presbyterian?

You’re right! It is the Women’s Retreat in Montreat, slated this fall for Sept. 9-11! Plans are already underway for this event. Details will come soon.

New Series Starting in the Foundation Builders Sunday School Class - Join Us!
Beginning next Sunday, March 13, which is also the first day of Daylight Savings Time, our class will begin a new series on an overview of the Old Testament.

The classes will be in the form of a 30-minute DVD lecture by Professor Robert D. Miller II of Catholic University in America. Dr. Miller is a scholar of the history, literature, religion and archaeology of ancient Israel.

Justice Knox Plans May 2nd Nehemiah Action after Successful FPC Gathering!
About 35 of our Justice Knox team members met over pizza on March 6 to review progress and make plans for the Nehemiah Action on May 2 at World’s Fair Park. Everyone in the church will receive a personal invitation. Be watching for yours!
Now in its sixth year, this initiative on behalf of the city's weakest members is creating measurable change. Justice Knox urges city leaders for help in these areas: mental health, affordable housing, education, public transportation, and gun violence.

Church Women United met at First Presbyterian on Friday, March 4th. It was the organization’s first meeting since the pandemic began. First Presbyterian has long been a partner in this multiracial, ecumenical Christian women's group. The women stood shoulder to shoulder in fellowship and in prayer for God's mercy and grace in Ukraine.

First Presbyterian is accepting donations to provide humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine.

Shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine last week, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) launched an appeal for funds to help support the Church’s humanitarian response to the war. As the violence continues, the number of people being displaced internally and fleeing to neighboring countries increases by the day.

Families with Children and Youth:

Last year we sent home resurrection gardens to help guide families through a devotion following the events of Holy Week. It was received so well that we would love to bring this fun devotion back this year. Last year’s gardens were for our younger families and this year we would like to invite our families with youth to participate as well. So stop by the Fellowship Hall after Palm Sunday’s worship service to pack your garden supplies and grab a devotional.

A special congratulations to youth member Wyatt Brace, son of Gina and David Brace, for being selected as a player on One Knox SC, Knoxville’s new professional soccer club!

Congrats to BK Kisubi, who recently made the West High School soccer team! BK plays a position, right backer, usually played by someone with a bigger size.

This Lenten Season the Flower Guild is offering luxurious silk scarves created by Knoxville native, artist Ruthie Windsor Mann. The 42" square 100% silk scarves honor our rich church history with original watercolor inspired turnip motifs. When the Guild first approached Mann with the project she found our history originating with James White and his turnip patch to be a "lovely story."

There are several staff members and parents who are coming together to develop a calendar of events for children and youth who have important upcoming sporting events, extracurricular activities, recitals, special interests, etc.

The First Presbyterian Mission Market has made the hard decision to raise some of its prices as of Feb. 9. All our high-quality, fair-trade products from across the globe are still available. (Please click here for our new price list.)

Beginning March 9th, for our Worshipful Wednesday program during Lent, we will use the book, The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, to help understand more fully who God has created each of us to be. You can find the book on Amazon in the link in the article.

Meredith will need resources to care for, house and nurture a child in her home. The Staff is coming together to host a brief shower after church on February 27th. Meredith does not yet know the ages or specific needs of the child she will care for, and so requests Gift cards from Wal-Mart, Target or Amazon. Please join us for treats and a joyful celebration and your gift or blessing for Meredith on February 27th.

The Presbyterian Church of Congo (CPC)is doing lifesaving work to protect homeless children in the Kasai region, with the help of our church. The Rev. Marcel Tshibemba, the Legal Representative of CPC in East Kasai, describes its ministries here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhIxGOtAQng&t=196s

Dogwood Elementary is having their annual Dogwood Dinner on February 25th. We are looking for support from the community to help raise money for our playgrounds. There are a couple ways that you can support this cause. You can attend the dinner by buying tickets or you can help by donating things to our silent auction.