Celebrate Rally Day This Sunday

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!

New Program Year Begins

Søren Kierkegaard

On August 15 we will return to our regular Wednesday evening program schedule: 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. We will consider the question: 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, and 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.

Middle school and high school students will have small-group time from 6:15 to 7:00, after the Fellowship Dinner. The small groups will be made up of students of the same age and gender and will be led by an adult.

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.).

Dimensions of Stewardship

Fellowship: We Are the Church Together

Our Stewardship Committee is inviting leaders in our church to speak in worship about different dimensions of stewardship. Most recently, Ruthie Blair offered these remarks about fellowship.

Fellowship comes from the Greek word koinonia, which means "to share in common." Christian fellowship is more than attending church; it is assimilating into the body of believers, becoming one in worshiping, loving, caring, and sharing. Take a moment to think back on memories of precious times of fellowship with this or other church families you have been a part of.

God's word tells us that fellowship is not an optional matter for believers: "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all our sins" (1 John 1:7).

I am so passionate about the topic of fellowship among believers because of the rich experiences of God's love I have always been blessed with as part of a church family. Both throughout my childhood and while raising my own family, I have been surrounded by countless expressions of Christ's love and grace. These relationships with men and women that love the Lord have been a steady support and encouragement throughout both the joys and the difficult times of my life. I am sure many of you can tell similar stories of how God's love came alive to you through the words and actions of other believers in your life.

I was taught very early the little song that says: "I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together. All who follow Jesus all around the world, we are the church together." I guess that with learning those words began my love for spending time in worship, service, and fellowship with the people of whichever church I am participating in. In no other place can I imagine experiencing the acceptance and love that God knew we would need to walk this life on Earth together. Each of us is blessed when we fellowship with those God has placed in our lives.

I want to remind us all that fellowship in its New Testament sense is an inner unity expressed outwardly. It is not just being together but doing together. It is not just doing anything together, but it is working together to accomplish God's will. I pray that each one of us will desire to be good stewards of our fellowship with one another in the body of Christ at First Presbyterian Church, joyfully encouraging one another in brotherly love and support as we diligently serve the Lord together. -Ruthie Blair

Heart to Heart Opportunity

Inductive Bible Study Is Back!

Our biweekly Inductive Bible Study group began studying the epistle of James this week. This is still a great time to recommit and to share information with friends who might enjoy this 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 to finish up by 8:30 p.m.

In the first meeting (August 7) the group reviewed inductive Bible study techniques and then turned to the first chapter of James. We will take up the epistle to the Ephesians when we've completed our work with James.

If you would like to join this group or simply find out more about it, please contact Betsy Turnbull at 423-878-9523 or gbturnbull@btes.tv.

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.

Student Ministries to Kick Off This Sunday

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!

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.