Saturday Is Leaf Day

If You Can't Use Them, Join Them!

The FPC Household Task Team is happy to announce that Leaf Day is back! This year it will be this Saturday, November 3.  This is how it works: We will have teams with rakes and blowers to get rid of leaves, and ladders for getting at gutters. You request service, and we send a team to your house.

If you would you like a visit by a Leaf Team, please call the church office (423-764-7176) and let us know.  We will call back to confirm before the Saturday event.

If you are interested in serving on a Leaf Team, email Gordon Turnbull at gturnbull@fpcbristol.org or call him at 423-764-7176 to get your name on the list. We will meet at the church at 9:00 a.m. for coffee, doughnuts, and directions, then head out on our rounds.  Each team will be finished by noon, in time to watch football or do your own chores!

Back to Standard Time This Sunday

Daylight Saving Time ends in the wee hours this Sunday, November 4. Remember to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed Saturday night (or Sunday morning!).

Heart to Heart Event

Girls' Night Out at Machiavelli's Tonight!

Women of all ages are invited to Girls' Night Out at Machiavelli's tonight, Thursday, November 1. Bring a friend! We will meet at the restaurant at 6:00 and enjoy an evening of fellowship and food. We look forward to seeing you.

New Wednesday Program DVD Series

Join Our Intergenerational Journey to Bethlehem

On Wednesday, November 7, we will begin our intergenerational Journey to Bethlehem. After our Fellowship Dinner, we will travel comfortably by DVD. Stay tuned for details!

Wednesday Night Kids

On the same evening, we will continue our study of creation and learn that on the sixth day "God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind." Then God created humankind in his image. What an exciting time on the earth! Come join us as once again God views his work as very good.

Combined Worship November 11

Remember Pledges and Stories for Stewardship Sunday

Dimensions of Stewardship

Abundant Opportunity, Abundant Ministry, Abundant Life

Over the past year, our Stewardship Committee has invited leaders in our church to speak in worship about different dimensions of stewardship. Last Sunday, Karen Vann offered these remarks about our attitudes toward treasure.

This year the Stewardship Committee has been exploring ways to consider our lives as totally under the sovereignty of God. Our goal has been to suggest through scripture how each of us can see more clearly and understand more fully our Temple, Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Our focus for our Stewardship Campaign is "Abundant Opportunity, Abundant Ministry, Abundant Life." As we move closer to Stewardship Sunday, I am challenged and want to challenge you to think about our attitudes toward treasure, the fourth part of our Stewardship message. Today, I am lifting up for your consideration the stories of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000.

These stories tell us that Jesus had been very busy healing, and the crowds had gathered over several days. In the story of the 5,000, the disciples come to Jesus and tell him to send the people away so they can get food. Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them to feed the people. In the story of the feeding of the 4,000, Jesus said, "I have compassion for these people, they have been with me and are hungry and will collapse if I send them away hungry."

Both scriptures say the crowds ate and were satisfied and there was an abundance of food left. As I have pondered these scriptures, I have been struck that giving thanks before the bread was broken and given to the disciples for distribution was important. The first action was to give thanks.

Then I am struck that there is a level of trust. The disciples have in one story five loaves and two fish and in the other seven loaves and a few small fish to serve. Certainly not enough to feed the more than 10,000 talked about in the stories. Jesus told the disciples to feed the people and, I am quite sure, the disciples looked at the meager offerings and said to themselves, "How could there be enough?" The disciples had to have known that there was not enough. However, the disciples stepped out in obedience as they moved to feed the first person. So this story also instructs us in trusting that God will provide and instructs us in our obedience to respond to Jesus' command. After everyone had eaten there were 19 baskets of leftovers between the two stories.

Through this story we see that there was abundant opportunity because Jesus did not send the people away and did not let the disciples withhold either.   And, because they served the people, abundant ministry was witnessed. Is that not a lesson for us? Abundant life was experienced because Jesus was healing the people, showing compassion, feeding their physical and spiritual needs.

Again, I am seeing that there is great value in giving thanks for our blessings, trusting that God will provide even when it appears as if there is not enough, and obeying Jesus' command to feed the people in ministry.    

The crowds had gathered to be close to Jesus and some had come to receive healing. Jesus met them where they were in need. Hasn't God met us where we are and supplied our needs? Are we not richly blessed? We, as a church body and as individual members, receive gifts from God every day: some huge and others very small, but we have to have eyes to see these gifts.

Many years ago I was in a place of great need. I thought I had nothing. However, you came alongside of me to offer beautiful words of encouragement, food from your kitchen, clothes from your closet so I could go to job interviews, and some bills paid anonymously so I could feed my children and myself. I have never forgotten that, and out of gratitude I have tried to come alongside of you in quiet ways when you have been in need. I have tried to offer encouragement, a meal, to sleep at the church with the homeless, to learn more about Jesus' instructions to me through Bible study, or to give money to the Minister's Discretionary Fund so Gordon could help others when they need it. A dance was begun. In both situations, there is abundance.

Through these scriptures, we are not told how the people reacted. I like to think a lot of the peoples' hearts were filled with gratitude and hope because the Word was offered to them for their spirits and food was supernaturally there for their bodies. And they responded. My prayer is that we will have eyes to see and ears to hear and we will respond too!

Officer Nominating Committee Seeks Suggestions

Our officer nominating committee is working to discern the slate of officers to present for election in the coming year. They welcome your suggestions as to who would serve best as elders, deacons, or trustee. Suggestion forms are available at the church, or you can contact a member of the committee: Kevin Buck, Beth Flannagan, Bill Linderman, Leigh Beth Phipps, or Loretta Thomas. Please offer your suggestions as soon as possible. Thank you!

A Few Post-Halloween Treats

Thank you to everyone who made last Sunday's Trunk or Treat so much fun! In the crowd we spotted:

Sally Buck's mustachioed ghost

Melody and Lynette Wallen's Legos

Abbey Kitts and Linda Welch ready for the cold

Sign Up by Sunday!

Serve 2012 Coming Up Next Weekend

Next weekend, November 9−11, the FPC High School Ministry will be going to Pulaski, VA, for a couple of days and nights of fun and service. Students will stay at a farm and enjoy fun and fellowship on Friday evening. They will spend most of Saturday helping with relief work for damage from the 2011 tornado. Students will help move residents into their new homes, take part in building a house, and prepare a nearly completed house to be moved into. On Saturday and Sunday evening, they will relax on the farm, playing games and spending some time in worship.

How to Sign Up

Sign up by sending your payment of $40 to Katie Arnold by this Sunday, November 4.

Sunday Deadline for Discount

Early Bird Price for Great Escape 2013

Join FPC Middle School Ministry on a summer adventure to the Great Escape. Pay your $100 deposit by this Sunday to save $15 off the regular price of the week.

We will leave from the church on Sunday, June 16, and head to Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Middle school students from all over the country will gather for a wild 'n' crazy week of incredible music, captivating speakers, engaging entertainment, and the messiest games imaginable. We will return Friday, June 21.

A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure a spot on the trip. If the deposit is paid by this Sunday, November 4, the cost will be $370. After November 4, the cost will increase to $385. Take advantage of the early bird rate and get your deposit to Katie Arnold today!

Children's Ministries News

What We Are Doing in Children's Sunday School

Every Sunday morning our Sunday School children meet together before going to class. We sing together, acknowledge birthdays, and pray together. In this way, children may begin to understand that they have a church community. For a number of weeks we have enjoyed singing several songs, and at the 8:30 service on November 4 the children will glorify God by sharing their gift of music.

Kids' Kirk Lesson for November 11

During the combined service on November 11, Kids' Kirk will meet in room 32 and learn about "Jesus in the Desert." The emphasis of this lesson is on the Bible. Jesus used the Scriptures to help him turn away from temptations and do what God wanted him to do. Children will be reminded that the Bible is a special book that helps us learn what God wants us to do.

Library News from Bill Wade

It's Kids' Time in Our Church Library!

If you think all the books in our church library are for adults, think again! And read on to learn about some of the newly acquired bright and interesting books just for children in our library. Bring yours around for browsing, as we have books that will appeal to all ages.

Budgie and Boo

If you've got small children who like a good story at bedtime, look for the tale of Budgie and Boo, a lovable bear and rabbit making their way through a daily schedule of activities. And little kids in preschool or the early grades love a field trip. Here's a delightful and colorful trip to Farmer Fandangle's place, but watch out for Juan - he's always getting lost! And then there's Lucy, an inquisitive little puppy who takes her first exploratory trip out of her yard to see what's in the big world beyond. And we have classic tales also; every library for kids needs to have the story of Pinocchio. What adult didn't learn an important lesson about telling the truth from that tale? Katy is a little tractor whose big day comes when the snow is very deep, and she gets her chance to prove how strong she is. And kids can enjoy feeling the "snow" on the book's cover.

Those who like books of biblical tales can take a look at Five-Minute Bible Stories. It's just perfect for that sleepy child who needs a brief story before dropping off to slumberland. The Story of Noah's Ark is a well-illustrated book that introduces young kids to this famous story from the Book of Genesis. For children aware of kings and queens in biblical times, Kings and Queens of the Bible will fill them in on all those stories of David and Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Jezebel, and Esther.

For those early readers, Sam Stars at Shakespeare's Globe will introduce them to this well-known literary figure and how plays were produced in earlier years. If you've got a budding artist in the family, show them the delightful story of Grandma Moses, and your artist-in-the-family will have paintbrush out in no time. And The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will introduce them to the writings of C. S. Lewis and the marvelous world of Narnia. Everyone's heard of the classic The Secret Garden. We are fortunate enough to have a lavishly illustrated and annotated copy that will keep your middle-schooler glued to the story all the way to the final page. And our copy also tells the story of the author, Frances Hodgson Burnett. When your reader learns that she lived for a while in her teens--which is when she began writing--in New Market, Tennessee, between Bristol and Knoxville, you may have an exploratory trip on your hands!

There's more! These are just samples of some of the delightful new children's books in our library. Be sure to have your children come by to see the display and check out a favorite.

Important note: Please remember to write your name on the library card in each book you take home and leave the card in the little box at the checkout table. Thank you!

The Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee needs 14 more boxes of Teddy Grahams to have enough for all the children at Fairmount Elementary School who cannot bring their own snacks to class. Either plain or cinnamon Teddy Grahams will do; just 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. Next on the list for November and December are pretzels, either the small ones or the little pretzel sticks.

Kay Ward, the community outreach liaison at Fairmount, 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!