The weather forecast for Sunday has temperatures reaching the high 50s! Daffodils and other spring flowers will soon be bursting into bloom. We will experience the joy and the privilege of joining together in Sunday worship as Priest Lake Presbyterian Church, both in-person and online. The scripture readings will be Micah 6:1-8 (“What does the Lord require?”) and Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes). Sami will fill our sanctuary with her musical gifts at the piano and the choir will lift our spirits with their special music. The children will bless us with their liveliness, their curiosity, and their candor. We’ll invite special offerings of non-perishable food items (canned soup) and financial contributions to feed hungry folks in our community for the Souper Bowl of Caring. We’ll hear updates from our Clerk of Session (Amy Aviles) and our Treasurer (David Sadler) during our annual meetings. We will pray to the Lord often, always, our prayers of thanksgiving as well as our prayers of petition. All of us will be blessed in some ways we can easily predict right now but, also, we will all be blessed in ways that we could never have imagined. God will be near, filling us, focusing us, blessing us, hearing us, healing us, connecting us, loving us, and preparing us for the journey ahead.
I look forward to be with you, in the presence of the Lord, on Sunday!
I look forward to be with you, in the presence of the Lord, on Sunday!
Relationships
by Dave Nock
I learned early on in my emergency management career that building and maintaining relationships was vital to success. Establishing and nurturing relationships is a vital process in emergency management. Through consistent effort, these relationships foster trust among all involved parties. Trust is crucial when responding to emergencies, as it enables teams to rely on one another and make effective decisions under pressure.
Furthermore, relationship building encourages respect between individuals and organizations. This mutual respect forms the foundation for collaboration, ensuring that everyone’s expertise and perspectives are valued and utilized during critical moments.
Understanding is another essential outcome of strong relationships. By working together and maintaining open communication, emergency management professionals gain a deeper understanding of each other’s roles, challenges, and needs. This understanding leads to improved coordination and more successful outcomes in emergency situations.
At the heart of success in emergency management lies the strength of these relationships. When trust, respect, and understanding are present, teams are better equipped to face challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and achieve their shared goals.
This discussion can and should be applied to life. Couples build a relationship over a lifetime. The building process is not a once and done effort. The relationship building effort is a constant and on-going, ever-changing effort. Things change over time. There for the relationship changes. That is why the relationship building effort is a constant and on-going effort. The core of any relationship, just as with coffee with a cop, is sitting down and working together.
The congregation of any church is a relationship. For a church to be successful, the congregation has to sit down and develop this relationship. Growth and development starts with trust, understanding and building the relationship.
Furthermore, relationship building encourages respect between individuals and organizations. This mutual respect forms the foundation for collaboration, ensuring that everyone’s expertise and perspectives are valued and utilized during critical moments.
Understanding is another essential outcome of strong relationships. By working together and maintaining open communication, emergency management professionals gain a deeper understanding of each other’s roles, challenges, and needs. This understanding leads to improved coordination and more successful outcomes in emergency situations.
At the heart of success in emergency management lies the strength of these relationships. When trust, respect, and understanding are present, teams are better equipped to face challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and achieve their shared goals.
This discussion can and should be applied to life. Couples build a relationship over a lifetime. The building process is not a once and done effort. The relationship building effort is a constant and on-going, ever-changing effort. Things change over time. There for the relationship changes. That is why the relationship building effort is a constant and on-going effort. The core of any relationship, just as with coffee with a cop, is sitting down and working together.
The congregation of any church is a relationship. For a church to be successful, the congregation has to sit down and develop this relationship. Growth and development starts with trust, understanding and building the relationship.
Food for thought sunday
February 8, 2026
Suggested Items for the Blessing Box include:
Peanut Butter, Crackers, Boxed Mac & Cheese, Canned Veggies, Instant Oatmeal, Canned Soup, Spaghetti Noodles, Spaghetti Sauce, Canned Fruit, Tuna,
Bottled Water
Some other items suggested for the Blessing Box
personnel hygiene items such as: small hand sanitizers, bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo and body wash, deodorant.
Peanut Butter, Crackers, Boxed Mac & Cheese, Canned Veggies, Instant Oatmeal, Canned Soup, Spaghetti Noodles, Spaghetti Sauce, Canned Fruit, Tuna,
Bottled Water
Some other items suggested for the Blessing Box
personnel hygiene items such as: small hand sanitizers, bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo and body wash, deodorant.
Sunday February 8th
The Souper Bowl of Caring, a nationwide movement that harnesses the energy of the Super Bowl to fight hunger and poverty, began in 1990 in Columbia, South Carolina. It was the brainchild of a simple yet powerful idea from a local youth group at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, who wanted to use the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl to collect food and raise money for those in need. This grassroots initiative quickly gained momentum, spreading to other churches and communities across the country. Today, the Souper Bowl of Caring has grown into a national phenomenon, involving thousands of groups and raising millions of dollars annually to support local charities and address hunger on a broader scale. Its origins in a small church youth group highlight the impact of collective action and the power of compassion to create lasting change.
The session has approved the Souper Bowl of Caring offering, to be received on Sunday, February 8. The session invites the congregation to bring, either or both, canned soup, which will be used for the PLPC Blessing Box, or cash/check which can be deposited in one of the soup pots held by our young people as you leave the sanctuary. The financial contributions will be given to The Branch, to help tackle hunger in our local community.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
The Menu
Creamy Chicken/Amor Beef Casserole
Rice - Green Salad
Dessert
Women's Retreat Reschedule
February 21-22, 2026
Hopefully we have all weathered the ice storm and we have resumed our normal routines and schedules. Ice storm, Fern caused us to postpone our annual women’s retreat with our new dates of February 21-22. We have to start over with our RSVP routines because some of us that were planning to attend in January now have schedule conflicts; likewise, some who were not able to attend in January can make plans to join us on February 21-22
Join the women of Priest Lake Presbyterian Church for our annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Widjiwagan, 3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, TN 37013. Registration starts at 8:30 AM on Saturday, February 21, with the retreat ending at noon on Sunday, February 22. The program includes icebreakers, scripture studies on key Biblical women, small group discussions, meals, crafts, games, walks, and a closing worship service. Attend as your schedule allows—$50 for one or both days or $80 with overnight accommodation. We look forward to this time of fellowship and spiritual growth.
Please RSVP by February 14 using the attached registration form. I hope to see you there.
FAQ:
What to wear? Casual weekend attire, please be comfortable.
What about food? Meals are provided, but we welcome desserts and snacks
What to bring? Overnight accommodations are minimal. Plan to have one or two roommates. There are twin size beds with sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. Some of us bring our favorite pillow and quilt with us.
How many people generally attend? We usually have 20-25 women on the first day with 10-12 women staying overnight. Other questions? Please contact Maureen Meyer m-myr@live.com or 615-974-610
Join the women of Priest Lake Presbyterian Church for our annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Widjiwagan, 3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, TN 37013. Registration starts at 8:30 AM on Saturday, February 21, with the retreat ending at noon on Sunday, February 22. The program includes icebreakers, scripture studies on key Biblical women, small group discussions, meals, crafts, games, walks, and a closing worship service. Attend as your schedule allows—$50 for one or both days or $80 with overnight accommodation. We look forward to this time of fellowship and spiritual growth.
Please RSVP by February 14 using the attached registration form. I hope to see you there.
FAQ:
What to wear? Casual weekend attire, please be comfortable.
What about food? Meals are provided, but we welcome desserts and snacks
What to bring? Overnight accommodations are minimal. Plan to have one or two roommates. There are twin size beds with sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. Some of us bring our favorite pillow and quilt with us.
How many people generally attend? We usually have 20-25 women on the first day with 10-12 women staying overnight. Other questions? Please contact Maureen Meyer m-myr@live.com or 615-974-610
"We will be doing a very neat craft at the retreat on Saturday afternoon."
We will be making a design from costume jewelry pieces -- this can include brooches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants. Do you have old things you will never wear again? Or broken jewelry pieces? Earrings that you lost the mate to? Nothing of monetary value, but things of sentimental value. Feel free to make yourself a bag full of what you want to use for your design. If you have extra pieces to share, please bring those too.
While I have many pieces to bring and share, I don't have enough for all of us. I am bringing an example of what I made for Savannah (my daughter) that has pieces from almost all of her female relatives - including two grandmothers who have passed.
It would be very helpful if some of you could bring wire cutters. ( Label them with your name!!!)
Please reach out to me via text (615-939-2717) or email if you have any questions. I am so looking forward to our time together. "
Nancy L Loudermilk
nloudermilk60@gmail.com
Clear the clutter and give back!
1 - Put it on the calendar
2 - Start "Spring Cleaning"
3 - Bring it to Compton's
March 14th
9 - noon
On March 14 from 9 am - noon Compton's Foodland will host the District 29 "Clear the Clutter and Give Back!" day.
Got bulk trash? Piles of papers to shred? Old clothes ready for a new home?
Here's what's happening:
Got bulk trash? Piles of papers to shred? Old clothes ready for a new home?
Here's what's happening:
- Free Bulk Trash Drop-Off - Clear out oversized junk items
- Free Document Shredding - Protect your information and declutter
- Clothing Donations to ThriftSmart - Give gently used clothes a second life