We will be getting our new phone system installed on Wednesday, September 8th. The company doesn’t expect a long disruption that day with the phone but I just wanted to let you be aware of the possibility. I look forward to the upgrade!
An Open House is scheduled for September 12 during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday school hour. Worship services will switch back to 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. I am excited for the fall programs to begin! The Christian Education committee will be sending out information concerning this new style of “Rally Day” in the days ahead.
Ginny Baker, our soon-to-be Director of Christian Formation and Lay Ministry, will be arriving in Knoxville on Monday, September 13. She is going to let me know how many volunteers she will need; but I know we will need at least a hand full of people to help move her into the house they are renting. If you are able to help, please call the church office. Also – please pray for safe travels. Wisconsin to Knoxville is a VERY long drive – especially in a U-haul! What an exciting time in the life of Westminster Presbyterian Church!
We will be begin the process of our new church directory in the coming weeks. After interviewing five different companies, we have decided to continue our relationship with Olan Mills. We will each get a printed directory as well as use of an online directory that will be hosted from our website. Each family who gets their portrait done will receive a free 8 x 10 picture. The pictures will arrive by Christmas – just in time for presents to loved ones! The dates Olan Mills will be here photographing are: November 1 and 2, November 22 and 23, and then December 2, 3, and 4. Online registration will take place from September 20 to October 7. Registrations on Sundays will be offered October 10-24. Smile!
I don’t know about you – but I have to be reminded daily what my calendar holds for the day. If you ever want to know what is happening at Westminster on any given day – you can log on to our website to look at the calendar . Please let me know if an event needs to be added to our calendar. It gets updated all the time!
Several people over the summer months have had the joy of setting up the new JoAnn Reafsnyder Memorial Library. There are books for all ages so please come check it out anytime! We are putting the finishing touches to it this week (computer being installed and Wi-Fi capabilities). Buran is planning a dedication of the Library on September 14. I appreciate all the MANY wonderful angels who have been working hard behind the scenes to make this Library what it is today!
Speaking of calendars – mark April 1,2, and 3 as Westminster’s next All Church Retreat!
I love teaching 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school. I find it is an age where children are beginning to have the ability to discuss topics and form their own opinions. I love watching children discover what the world looks like through their eyes.
Hello, my name is Debbie Babelay. This year I have the wonderful opportunity of teaching the 2-3 year olds in our Sunday School program. They are all precious to me. We have fun learning about God’s love and how each of us is a special child of God. I look forward to their smiling faces each Sunday morning. This is my 3rd year teaching in the Sunday School program. I have also worked with vacation bible school.
I have known Westminster my entire life! I grew up in the church since birth. My faith is rooted in so many wonderful experiences at Westminster such as going on trips with Choristers, Montreat, and a Mission experience to Mexico. I went to college in Alabama at Birmingham-Southern. After college, I lived in Birmingham where I worked in sales. I met and married my husband Wiley there. Jim Carter (former Westminster minister) married us at Independent Presbyterian in Birmingham. Wiley’s career has taken us to New Mexico and Arkansas, and now back to Knoxville. We have been here since 2011. We have 3 children, Ella (11), Grant (7), and Walker (5). I work as the Assistant Director of the preschool at Central Baptist which allows me to have a similar schedule to my children. My favorite job is being their Mom!
Bio: Junior at the University of Tennessee 
I am a senior at UTK majoring in Global Studies with a focus in Economics. I am currently in the process of apply to graduate school for CSP. I love to be outdoors and travel. I also work as an Resident Assistant at Volunteer Hall on campus and enjoy babysitting and baking.
My name is Malena D’Alessandro and I’m a junior studying marketing at the University of Tennessee. I’m originally from south east Michigan where I attended high school at Oxford High School. I am currently part of Spring Sports Ambassadors, Volunteer Team and Best Buddies at UT.