Our worship services this Sunday will celebrate God's grace to us and invite us to respond in gratitude. Each service will offer the opportunity for members and friends to commit to our church's 2012 ministry by presenting and dedicating our financial pledges.

The life of the Church depends upon the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The vitality of any congregation depends upon how deeply its members claim that grace and respond in faithful service. Our hope is that each member and friend of First Presbyterian Church of Bristol will embody his or her faith in a bold commitment to Christ's ministry.

Pledge cards and response envelopes have been mailed to the local membership; they will also be available for each worshipper. Please plan to worship with us this Sunday and share in the inspiring response to God's lavish commitment to us in Jesus Christ.

This week Dyan Buck concludes her service as Receptionist in the office. Dyan has offered a warm welcome and gracious care to members and visitors throughout her years of this work. We wish her the best in this transition, and we are grateful that she remains a vital member in our church. Thanks and Godspeed, Dyan!

The church is now accepting applications for the position of Receptionist. Those seeking more information may call the church office and speak with either Betsy Galliher or Gordon Turnbull.

The Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee is gearing up the Fairmount Elementary School snack program for the new school year. We're asking folks to bring in boxes of plain or cinnamon Teddy Grahams and put them in the Little Red House in the Fellowship Hallway. The committee will take them to the school, and the teachers will divide them into snack portions as needed.

The Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee has been providing afternoon snacks for students whose parents cannot afford to purchase them. Kay Ward, the community outreach liaison at Fairmount, works with the committee to identify the children in need and to distribute snacks to the teachers to hand out each day. Kay has discovered that there are at least two children in each of 23 classrooms whose parents cannot give them snacks. That adds up to a need for 46 snack portions every day, a total of 230 snacks per week, or 920 snacks each month.

Your loving contribution will give dignity to children from low-income families by allowing them to enjoy snacks with their classmates, and tide them over until the end of the school day. Say a prayer of blessing as you send them on their way!

The ichthus symbol points the way.

We invite you to take a moment and admire the scriptural banners that now adorn many of the light poles around the church grounds. They complement a walking trail that now welcomes the many visitors who regularly enjoy our beautiful campus for recreation and exercise. The quarter-mile path is discreetly marked by the ichthus (fish) symbol in colors indicating different aspects of the life of faith. An explanatory brochure is available for the spiritual nurture of those who participate.

This walking trail is the product of our Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee and its leader, Peggy Hill. This group continues to seek ways to reach out to our Fairmount neighbors and welcome them into our church's life.

We have a rich opportunity to embody Christ's love and extend our commitment to the children of our partner church, Felipe Camarão in Natal, Brazil. The Bethel School of IPI Felipe Camarão currently serves 134 children from prekindergarten through grade 5. A pledge of $35 per month provides a caring and stimulating classroom experience, plus a nutritious meal in the morning or midday-a great gift to this impoverished community.

Our church's support is the largest and most dependable contribution to this transformative opportunity for the children and families of Felipe Camarão. Commitment forms are available through the church office. Thanks for your steadfast support of this mission partnership.

Now that fall is here, and the holidays are drawing closer, our youth groups are preparing Christmas cheer for other children. You can support them in this effort by donating small gifts (or shoe boxes to be filled), which they will send on to Operation Christmas Child. Please drop your donation off at the church before October 31.

Here are some gift ideas:

Toys

Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch-A-Sketch-like toys that light up or make noise (and extra batteries), Slinkies

School Supplies

Pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons, markers, stamp and inkpad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books

Toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap in a plastic bag, comb, washcloth

Other

Hard candy and lollipops (please double-bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (and extra batteries)

Personal Note

In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may write back.

Ladies, join your friends for a dinner out on Tuesday, October 25! Meet at the church at 6 p.m. to drop your children off for child care, then carpool to Machiavelli's for a casual evening of fellowship. Heart to heart, we'll have a blast!

Email Lynette Wallen at lynette.wallen@gmail.com to let us know you can come and to reserve child care.

FPC's car-trunk stylists have designs on Halloween, and you can see-or participate in-their trunk show at our Fall Festival with Trunk or Treat, Sunday, October 30, beginning at 6:00 p.m. At our first such event, last year, about 250 of our neighbors joined us in the front parking lot to enjoy a great evening of fun and fellowship. This year we add experience to craftiness! You can help us put on an even better festival by showing off your decorated car trunk, donating candy, serving food, or helping with games for the kids. It's a great way to reach out to our community as well as enjoy the company of our own church kids!

Look for the trunk-decorating sign-up sheet at the Children's Ministries' registration table and the candy donation trunk that will be located next to it. If you have any questions or would like to reserve a place for your car, please contact Cathy Newton at 423-764-7176 or at cnewton@fpcbristol.org.

For the safety of our children, please remember to sign your child in and out of Sunday School. Sign-in sheets are located at the Children's Ministries' registration table before Sunday School and will be in the classrooms afterwards. If you have not registered your child for Sunday School, you will find the necessary form at the registration table.

Breakfast for Dinner!

A kids' buffet will be available.

Volunteers:

Morning: Patti Hagerty

Servers/Cleanup: Jerry & Linda Poteat