Windows August 16, 2012

On August 15 our regular Wednesday evening programs returned, with some innovations. Our Fellowship Dinner still begins at 5:30, and is still followed by an Adult Learning segment taught concurrently with Wednesday Night Kids (formerly Kid Connection) at 6:15. Two helpful changes are that the nursery will open at 5:15 to care for children three or younger, and older children will have a brief play period between dinner and study. Read on to discover how our youth ministry is evolving.

Adult Learning

Our adult program opened with a two-week study of Søren Kierkegaard, the philosopher, theologian, and social critic. We are considering the question: How do believers live in the world, giving evidence of their love for Jesus Christ? Please join us August 22, as we engage Dr. Paul Warhurst, lecturer at King College, Kierkegaard scholar, and husband and father who worships with us. The focus of this concluding session will be "Kierkegaard on Worry."

Student Ministries Small Groups

Middle school and high school students divide into small groups for wide-ranging discussions from 6:15 to 7:00, after the Fellowship Dinner. Adults lead these groups, which are made up of students of the same age and gender. Come and help them choose a new group name!

Wednesday Night Kids

The Wednesday Night Kids' study of "God's Wonderful World" began last week, but it is not too late to join them. They started at the beginning with the first day of creation. The study continues this week, as they experiment with light and dark and begin work on a Creation Tower. After the Fellowship Dinner, they have a short time of recreation before breaking into two age groups. If you are at least four years old and not yet in sixth grade, come join them at 6:00, as they learn how God prepared a special place for his children to live.

Rehearsal Schedule

Wednesday also was the first day of our choirs' regular rehearsal schedule for the new program year: Children's Handbellsat 4:15 p.m., Savior's Singers Children's Choir at 4:45 p.m., Youth Handbells at 4:45 p.m., and Sanctuary Choir at 7:15 p.m.

Fellowship Dinner for August 22

Spaghetti

Salad bar

Green beans

Dessert

Volunteers

Morning: Emily Hyder

Server/Cleanup: David & Sherry Worley/Kevin Buck

Celebrating Our Sunday School Experience

Enthusiastic students share what they appreciate about Sunday School.

Last week's Rally Day brought all ages together during the normal Sunday School hour. After a breakfast served in the hallway, we moved into the Fellowship Hall to celebrate what Sunday School means to us individually and as a group. Children shared music with motion, and representatives of all age groups provided a visual display of the impact of Sunday School on our lives. Teachers for children and youth were introduced, and a summary of adult Christian education offerings was provided. It was a time to remember the importance of deepening our faith through learning and an encouragement as we begin the fall schedule. Even if you missed Rally Day, we hope you will join us at 9:45 each Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour.

Student Ministries to Sell FPC Logoware

The youth of our church will be selling FPC logoware to church members next week. They will be taking orders for the Spirit Wear articles shown in the photo after worship on Sunday, August 19, and during dinner on Wednesday, August 22. All orders must be turned in by Sunday, August 26, to Katie Arnold, Director of Student Ministries, or to the church office.

Orientation Wednesday for FPC's Outreach to Boys & Girls Club

On Wednesday, August 22, at 4:30 p.m., there will be an orientation session for activity leaders and shepherds who will be working with First Presbyterian's Boys & Girls Club Outreach program, which will begin mid-September. The orientation will be held in room 123 at the church.

Ladies' Bible Study Resumes Wednesday

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.

Food Pantry Needs More Donations

red grocery cart icon

According to our own Jim White, the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry normally spends $8,000 a month on food but spent $10,000 in July; it normally processes 500 vouchers a month but processed 646 in July. Jim reminds us that the Food Pantry always needs donations: "We may have lots on the shelves one day but next to nothing a day or two later."

Jim adds that donations are down although demand is up, and the Food Pantry urgently needs nonperishable food items of all kinds. You can bring your donated food items to the church and place them In the grocery cart in the Fellowship Hallway, or you can take them directly to the Food Pantry at 21 Washington St., in front of First Baptist Church. The Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Financial donations are also welcome. Please make your check payable to Bristol Emergency Food Pantry. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1471, Bristol, VA 24203. For more information, call Jim at 423-571-4449.

Mowing Schedule through September 1

As we leap into our new program year, the following volunteers will get us off to a good start with a springy lawn:

Aug. 22-25 Roger Sikorski & Brian Miller

Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Karen White-Smith & Eric Cline

If you'd like a shot at breaking the record for the sitting high jump, contact Randy Cook at npolecook@aol.com or 423-956-1541 and join the Tiger Cat team.

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Music participants this Sunday: Sanctuary Choir.

Alfred V. Fedak

Sunday's music: Inspired by 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses," J. S. B. Monsell's hymn text "Fight the Good Fight" is appropriate both as we consider the life of the adult Christian and as we complete a season of athletic competition. Rather than a call to military action, it is a charge to face the challenges of life with vigor and energy. Monsell (1811-1875), an Irish-English clergyman (who died as the result of a fall from the roof of his church as it was being rebuilt!), wrote a number of hymn texts, but this has remained his most popular. It serves as the basis for the Sanctuary Choir anthem in a setting by Alfred V. Fedak (b. 1953). Since 1990, Fedak has served as Minister of Music and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, NY; he has an extensive catalogue of compositions, performs frequently as a recitalist, and serves on the committee of the PCUSA preparing Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal.

Rehearsals are in progress! Children and youth kicked off the fall program year with various rehearsals this past week, but it's not too late to join in the fun! Ringing and singing choirs are available for all ages. Contact the Feys for more information. Also, the Sanctuary Choir is now in rehearsal, on Wednesdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m. College students and adults are welcome. The Praise Team, under the direction of Fred Foy Strang, rehearses on Thursday evenings. Contact him for more information. Lastly, Sanctuary Bells will rehearse on Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., beginning September 10. We warmly invite new ringers to join us!

Hymnal event coming up: We will sponsor a hymn event, on Saturday, September 8, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Churches in both Holston Presbytery and Abingdon Presbytery are being invited to attend, and it is open to all, whether clergy, choir singers, worship committee or session members, or congregation members. The Reverend Meg Flannagan, joined by the Feys and others, will lead the event, which anticipates the 2013 publication of Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal. The day will feature worship, workshops, seminars, a light lunch, and lots of singing! RSVPs are requested; email or phone the Feys at church by September 1.

Sunday Worship

August 19: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lessons: Psalm 1; Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon: God of Our Lives through Adulthood, Gordon Turnbull

Hymns: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name!; Dear Lord and Father of Mankind;

Called as Partners in Christ's Service

Anthem: Fight the Good Fight

By the numbers for August 12: 8:30: 207; 11:00: 135

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Cathy Andersen

Jim Bowdoin

Sue Cannon

Dorothy Dollar

Bill Goforth

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Lisa Holmes

Sheena Hunter

Carolyn King

Betty Millard

Ruth Musser

Sue Olsen

Karen Pennington

Bob Vann

An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.

Congratulations

We rejoice with Rebecca and Andrew Beck in the birth of a daughter, Eleanor "Ellie" Brooks Beck, August 8.

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

August 19 Mary Nell Harris, Sherry Worley

August 20 Parke Morris, Jim White

August 21 Sue Cannon

August 22 Briggs Evans, Pat Hunigan, Bill McRee

August 23 Pat Felty, Nancy Hull

August 25 Samuel Shim, Roger Sikorski

Church Calendar

Sunday, August 19

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Cherub Choir

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

5:00 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir

6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Dinner, Worship, Fellowship

Monday, August 20

7:00 p.m. Administrative Committee

Tuesday, August 21

10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Group

10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

7:00 p.m. Heart to Heart Bible Study

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3

Wednesday, August 22

4:15 p.m. Children's Handbells

4:30 p.m. Orientation for FPC's Outreach to Boys & Girls Club

4:45 p.m. Youth Handbells

4:45 p.m. Savior's Singers Children's Choir

5:15 p.m. Nursery for Evening Program Opens

5:30 p.m. Fellowship Dinner

6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Kids

6:15 p.m. Adult Learning

6:15 p.m. Student Ministries Small Groups

7:15 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, August 23

7:00 a.m. Men's Bible Study

12:00 p.m. Thursday Noon Bible Study, Bristol Grind House

8:15 p.m. Praise Team, Fellowship Hall