New Ministry to Homeless Families Begins This Month

Family Promise of Bristol, our community's new ministry to homeless families, begins this week. First Presbyterian Church will first host families in our building the week beginning Sunday, August 19.

More than two years in the planning, Family Promise of Bristol is an affiliate of Family Promise Interfaith Hospitality Network. A coalition of ten host congregations and five support congregations is ready to provide a rotation of hosting for homeless children and their parents. This arrangement provides families the stability they need for the parents to pursue the financial and vocational goals that lead toward self-sufficiency.

First Presbyterian Church was the first congregation to commit to hosting, more than two years ago. Our congregation's coordinators for this ministry, Chris and Jennifer Kennedy, have been hard at work to enlist those interested in the many tasks involved in our upcoming week of hosting. This Thursday, August 2, 6:00-9:00 p.m., volunteers and interested members of the church are invited to a training session led by Sharon O'Keefe-Hicks, Director of Family Promise of Bristol. Anyone interested in helping in this effort can contact the church office.

This Sunday, August 5, an Open House is scheduled for 1:30-3:00 p.m. at the Family Promise Day Center adjacent to Redeemer Lutheran Church. This celebration and grand opening will include a dedication and house blessing of the Day Center led by the Rev. Gary Chenoweth, Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran.

Rally Day Celebration August 12

It's time to celebrate the incredible Christian Education at FPC! Join us during the Sunday School hour on August 12 at 9:45 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast, entertainment from the Children's Ministries, news about what's happening for the next school year, information for students moving up to a new class, and news about all the adult Sunday School classes. This celebration will take the place of Sunday School. All classes are asked to join in the fun!

Wednesday Evening Programs Return August 15

Søren Kierkegaard

On August 15 we will return to our regular Wednesday evening programs: Fellowship Dinner at 5:30, followed by an Adult Learning segment taught concurrently with Kid Connection at 6:15.

Our fall adult programming will open with a two-week study of Søren Kierkegaard, the philosopher, theologian, and social critic who challenged the Church to think and act differently. How do believers live in the world, giving evidence of their love for Jesus Christ? Please join us August 15 and 22 as we engage Dr. Paul Warhurst, lecturer at King college, Kierkegaard scholar, but more importantly husband and father who worships with us. Week one will focus on "Kierkegaard the Man" and week two on "Kierkegaard on Worry."

The topic of study for the first semester of Kid Connection will be "God's Wonderful World." Through story, games, art, experiments, and guest speakers, we will be reminded of our powerful God and his creation of a world designed especially for his children.

Also resuming on August 15 are rehearsals for the Children's Handbells(4:15 p.m.), the Savior's Singers Children's Choir (4:45 p.m.), Youth Handbells (also at 4:45 p.m.), and the Sanctuary Choir (7:15 p.m.).

Heart to Heart Opportunity

Inductive Bible Study Resumes August 7

 Our biweekly Inductive Bible Study begins a new topic in August, so it's a great time to recommit and to share information with friends who might enjoy the group. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month (not necessarily every other week) at 7:00 p.m. in the church. We try our best to finish up by 8:30 p.m.

The group has chosen to study two epistles this fall. We'll begin with James on August 7 and turn our minds toward Ephesians when we've completed our work with James. In the first meeting I'll review inductive Bible study techniques and then go right into teaching the first chapter of James.

Feel free to contact Betsy Turnbull at 423-878-9523 or gbturnbull@btes.tv, if you have any questions.

Ladies' Bible Study Resumes August 22

The Wednesday morning Ladies' Bible Study resumes August 22 with a study of the book of Proverbs. The group will meet at the church from 9:30 to 11:00 in the New Mothers' Room across from the nursery. Child care will be provided.

Guiding the group in a detailed study of this book of wisdom literature will be Kathleen Nielson's Proverbs: The Ways of Wisdom. Each lesson's five days of questions (along with helpful comments and context) will provide a process of careful examination and application of the biblical text. Early lessons will explore the background, shape, and theme of the entire book. The bulk of the lessons will dig into Proverbs' poetic kaleidoscope of wisdom themes: words, work, neighbors and friends, marriage and family, sex, money, planning for the future. This study will lead group members to listen well to God's inspired word in the book of Proverbs.

If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Lynette Wallen at 423-360-7488 or lynette.wallen@gmail.com.

Mortgage Elimination Project

In the next few weeks, you will hear about efforts to eliminate the debt incurred when the church completed renovations about three years ago. Nearly $2 million has been paid to date on the original project. The end of 2012 marks the completion of the 2009 capital campaign, at which time we will owe slightly more than $1 million on the debt. 

In the coming weeks, church families will be asked to make a pledge over a period of years to eliminate the current loan. Your church officers, trustees, committee members, and staff have already pledged generously to this project. We hope that everyone will want to participate at some level of giving to this project over and above regular pledges. 

Please keep this effort in your prayers as you hear more about it, and consider your level of support for this endeavor.

Back from Babylon

 Our visit to Babylon during Vacation Bible School was a fun-filled few days with the tribes of Israel. We visited Daniel, played games at the palace playground, sang new songs, and learned how to make a variety of crafts in the marketplace. Through all these activities, the tribes learned from scripture, story, song, and drama that the one true God is always with us. On the final day, last Wednesday, we celebrated Daniel's preservation from the lions, as parents and grandparents joined us for music and a delicious meal.

Our offering this year will go to World Vision, which works with Group Publishing to prevent the spread of malaria to children in Africa. Our generous donation will purchase 65 nets, which will protect two children for four years. VBS participants took home a mosquito clip printed with "Be a Bugs Pray-er!" to remind them to pray for the children who receive the nets.

It takes many hands to bring a program to life, so thank you to all who made our visit to Babylon possible. Loaned items yet to be claimed are located in the right front of the chapel.-Ann Abel, Director of Children's Ministries

Student Ministries to Kick Off August 12

Sunday night events return as we kick off the new Student Ministries year August 12! Rising sixth through twelfth graders and their families are invited to enjoy an evening of dinner, music, and games, while they hear about all the upcoming events for the new program year. Parents will be able to ask questions and gather information in a breakout session. The fun will begin at 6:00 and go until 8:00. Bring your friends and come celebrate with us!

Spend Saturday at Doe River Gorge!

Last Shot at Last Hurrah of Summer!

FPC Student Ministries still has space in the Doe River Gorge outing for rising sixth-graders through college-age youth who would like to enjoy a Saturday filled with fun and adventure. We will meet at the church at 9 a.m. on August 4, head for Doe River Gorge in Hampton, and return around 6 p.m.

Join us and whip down a 700-foot water-landing zipline, get blasted by the blob, swim in the lake, enjoy the white sand beach, and play water basketball and volleyball. If your adrenaline still needs charging after that, battle it out on the paintball course, enjoy a guided horseback trip, or ride the scenic railway.

The cost of the adventure-filled day is $18. If you use the paintball course, there is an extra charge of $20 for a bag of 500 paintballs (these can be shared). Horseback riding is an extra $20 per person.

Reservations are necessary and spaces fill up fast, so send the Doe River release form and $18 to Katie Arnold now to guarantee your spot. Make your check payable to First Presbyterian Church. FPC will be able to reserve spots until Doe River says they are full, so make sure to turn your money in ASAP!

FPC Scouting News

Cub Scout Pack 3 will reorganize and meet after the school year begins. There will be a recruiting night at Fairmont Elementary School in August. Meetings will be in the Scout Hall at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday nights from 6:00 to 7:00. For more information, contact Anna Booher, Council Commissioner, at boohera@btcs.org or 423-956-6372.

Boy Scout Troop 3 meets year-round on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Scout Hall. Boy Scout membership is open to boys who are not yet 18 years old. Boys are eligible if they are age 10 and have completed Arrow of Light, or age 11, or have completed fifth grade. For more information, contact Karen Haaser, Scoutmaster, at karenhaaser@gmail.com or 423-383-1287.

Venture Crew 3 is for young men and women who are 13 and have completed the eighth grade, or who are 14 to 20 years of age. The year-round program provides positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run high-adventure activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills. Venture Scouts, like Boy Scouts, pursue rank advancement and can earn the Ranger Award, the equivalent of the BSA Eagle. For more information contact, Anna Booher or Karen Haaser (contact information above).

Flexible Schedules!

FPC Outreach to Boys & Girls Club Needs Volunteers

Our church will begin the Boys & Girls Club Bible Outreach in September, and we're looking for people who can give an hour or two of their time to make the program come alive.

The Neighborhood Outreach Steering Committee is planning an hour's worth of Bible study and fun twice a month during September, October, and November and again in February, March, and April. That's six sessions in all, and the activity hours will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. here at the church.

The good news is that the Boys & Girls Club is flexible, so we'll be able to pick the days of the week to match the availability of our volunteers. There are several age groups of kids, and their programs can be on different days, so now's the time to get involved so we can work around your schedule!

We need people to do a brief devotional, or lead a craft, or play a game. Other activity ideas are always welcome. And when we say flexible, we mean it! You can come one time. Or you can do one craft with all the age groups. Or you can come once a month. You can choose an activity that takes 15 minutes, or one that takes 45 minutes, or anywhere in between. You get the drift. Whatever time you have, we can plug you into the program. We even have books full of devotional, crafts, and game ideas so you can select something that suits your skills, interests, and personality.

If you feel led, we even have several opportunities for you to be the shepherd for one age group, to come twice a month to be the friend who stays with the group, gets to know them, and prays with them. The Boys & Girls Club staff will accompany each group, too, so you'll have help with that shepherd ministry.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact coordinators Peggy Hill (423-652-1732 or hillp@btes.tv) or Donna Sikorski (dgsikorski@bvunet.net or 423-646-1213), or call the church office. You can also find details at www.fpcbristol.org/sending/opportunities/. Look under "Serving Opportunities," and you will see the heading "NEW FOR 2012!" Boys & Girls Club Outreach is in the list below that heading.