We shared fellowship, fun, and food at our annual church picnic last Sunday in Steele Creek Park. We enjoyed the break in the weather and the break in our lives. Thank you to everyone who made it happen! And a big thank-you to Amy McCracken, who took these photographs!

What's Happening Wednesday Night

Plans are still firming up for our Wednesday adult learning program for August 21, next week, but we can report that it will probably be a Bible study on missions, continuing the missions theme of the first two presentations this month.

Please join us in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. for a baked chicken dinner. The adult program will follow at 6:15. Student Ministries small-group discussions will begin at 6:00 in the Youth Wing, and Wednesday Night Kids will gather at the door to the hall when they see the big Kid's Time sign, also around 6:00.

Wednesday Night Kids

Last week during Wednesday Night Kids, we began our study of the attributes of God. Through story, experiments, and games, we learned that our God is loving. Our next lesson, led by the Drs. Beaker, will help us understand that god is omniscient, or all-knowing. Come join us as we seek to know more about God through the story of David anointed as King and through our own experiments with a growing capsule, magic feet, jelly beans, and our own fingerprints.

Kids: Ask a friend to join you because, as we learned this week, we are to love others in the same way that God loves us. Parents: expect a take-home paper that will help you share in what we learn each week!

Volunteers Urgently Needed to Help with Fellowship Dinners

Ruthie Blair is looking high and low for willing hands to help prepare food for, set up for and serve dinner at, and clean up after the Fellowship Dinner on Wednesday evenings. Food prep volunteers are needed during the day on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Setup and server volunteers are needed from 4:30 till 6:00 p.m., and the cleanup crew needs to be on deck from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m. The Fellowship Dinners follow the Bristol, Tennessee, school schedule, but volunteers choose when and how often they want to help. For more information, call Ruthie at 423-797-1815.

FPC to Receive New Members August 25

PCUSA seal small On Sunday, August 25, at 10:20 a.m., the Session will meet in the chapel with those interested in joining FPC. Everyone who wishes to become a member of our congregation is invited to attend.

Officer Nominating Committee Seeks Suggestions

This year's Officer Nominating Committee will soon begin its work to discern a slate of officers to present for election in the coming year. Because a vital component in this process is direct input from the congregation, the committee requests 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: Lee Galliher, Karen Vann, Lorri Looney, Emily Hyder, or Debbie McMillin. Please offer your suggestions as soon as possible. Thank you!

Boys & Girls Club Outreach Begins in Four Weeks, Volunteers Needed

Last year, our church began an outreach to the children who attend the Boys & Girls Club afterschool program that meets at our church. We were welcomed with excitement from the children and loads of support from the B&G Club staff. This year, we will begin mid-September, and we need two activity leaders and five shepherds. Won't you please prayerfully consider joining this outreach program?

Activity leaders present the lesson and plan a simple craft or game to emphasize the lesson's main points. Activities are about Jesus and God's saving love for all of us. Each lesson and fun activity lasts from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the plans for the day.

Shepherds are helpers that sit by the children during the activity, hand out materials, and generally help individual children during the lesson. Along with the activity leader and the B&G Club staff, we like to have at least one shepherd with each group.

The program begins around 4:30 on six fall and six spring afternoons. The activity leaders and shepherds choose the days that are most convenient for them.

If you would like more information about becoming an activity leader or a shepherd, please contact Peggy Hill at peggyhill145@gmail.com or 423-956-0209.

Oh, Boy! It's Girls' Night Out!

h2h logo - new The women of FPC and their friends will share another Heart to Heart Girls' Night Out Tuesday, August 27, congregating at Machiavelli's at 6:00 p.m. Child care will be available at the church at 5:30. Please contact Jane Prater in the church office at 423-764-7176 or jprater@fpcbristol.org by noon Monday, August 26, to let her know how many children will need care. Please pack a supper for your children. Pick-up time will be 8:15 p.m.

We Have a Women's Bible Study for You!

Betsy Turnbull's Heart to Heart Bible study will study John's gospel this fall, beginning Tuesday, September 3, at 7:00 p.m. This group will continue to meet at the church on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Feel free to invite a friend!

Lorri Looney's Wednesday Morning Heart to Heart DVD Bible Study will start back September 4 and begin twelve lessons through December 4 on Twelve Women of the Bible: Life-Changing Stories for Women Today by Lysa TerKeurst and others. A study guide will be available at the first session for $11.00. This group meets 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays in the church parlor.

Jackie Burt's HeartsBurn small group Bible study will commence their fall study with a soup and salad luncheon on Tuesday, September 10. They invite you to join them in pursuing God through the study of scripture and other materials. This fall the group will explore "an invitation to the Christian Spiritual life" through reading and discussion of Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson. Weekly meetings are Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. at Jackie's home. Those able to arrive a bit early are welcomed with fellowship, coffee and tea, and sometimes shared treats. For more information, contact Jackie at 423-646-7405 or jburt@chartertn.net.

Lynette Wallen's Heart to Heart group resumed weekly gatherings Wednesday, August 14. The group has begun an inductive study of the book of John and will continue meeting weekly until early December. They meet in the New Mothers' room from 9:30 to 11:00 on Wednesday mornings. Child care is available. New members are always welcome. If you missed the first meeting, please feel free to come to the second!

Sunday Is Discount Deadline for Fall Youth Retreat

Spend a weekend in the mountains enjoying fellowship and adventure! All students in 7th0inh grade are invited to retreat to Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in Andrews, North Carolina, September 6-8. Students can enjoy whitewater rafting, paintball, mountain biking, skeet shooting, high ropes courses, and more! Mornings and evenings will be spent with other youth groups in worship, discussion, and games.

The cost of the trip is $100-if money and forms are turned in to Katie Arnold, Director of Youth Ministries, by this Sunday, August 18. After August 18, the cost will be $140. Space is limited, so register today!

Please note: transportation will be arranged for athletes who have late practice on Friday, September 6.

Student Ministries to Kick Off Sunday

All sixth- through twelfth-graders are invited to join us for the Student Ministries Kickoff this Sunday, August 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We will enjoy dinner, games, worship, digging in the Word, and great fellowship. For more information, contact Katie Arnold at karnold@fpcbristol.org.

5th Quarters at Katie's House This Fall!

All high school students are invited to 5th Quarter after Tennessee High School home football games this fall. The first 5th Quarter is coming up next week on August 22. All 5th Quarters will be held at the Arnolds' home, 1308 Hillside Avenue, Bristol, Tennessee. These are the 5th Quarter dates: August 22, September 27, October 4 & 18, November 1.

Students are welcome to bring friends and enjoy fellowship around a bonfire with s'mores and games. Parents are asked to assist with supplying snacks and drinks. All drivers are asked to be courteous to neighbors as they park in the neighborhood.

Fractionally Like the Life of Pi

It's hard to catch a break in the rain, and when they do, the grass could be drier. Nevertheless, our intrepid mowers venture out with the Tiger Cat in pursuit of their dream, a neat church lawn. Aaron Brooks sets out August 14-17, and JB Madison takes over August 21-24. To join the crew, contact Randy Cook at 423-956-1541 or npolecook@aol.com.

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday's music: Adapted from Revelation 22 by his wife Ruth Manz, the text of Paul Manz's anthem "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" speaks appropriately to the sermon theme, "Thy Kingdom Come." Paul Manz (1919-2009) was most noted as a composer of organ music based on hymn melodies, but this choral work has become an international standard and is often used during Advent. Written in the early 1950s as their then three-year-old son was critically ill, it speaks both musically and textually with anticipation of the joy that will be ours in eternity with Christ.

David Gambrell

Our middle hymn, "The Days Are Surely Coming," is a new (2009) text that will appear in the new Presbyterian hymnal. Written by David Gambrell (b. 1972), the associate for worship in the office of Theology and Worship of the PCUSA, it draws inspiration from a number of scriptural passages about the second coming of Christ. It is set to the tune "Llangloffan," a Welsh folk melody first used for a hymn text in 1872 and appearing with four different texts in our current hymnal.

The organ postlude is an annual tradition. John Rutter's Toccata in Seven was the postlude played on our first Sunday here. This year's rendition marks the beginning of our fourteenth year of music ministry at First Presbyterian.

Rehearsal schedule: By the time you read this, the children's choirs and Youth Bell Choir will have had their first rehearsals of this program year. Jubilate Youth Choir (grades 6-12) will kick off the singing year this Sunday, August 18, at 5:00 p.m., followed by regular youth fellowship activities. Come join the fun!

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Cathy Andersen

Mack Blevins

Sue Cannon

Bill Darnell

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Carolyn King

Peggy King

Mary Landrum

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Bob Millard

Mary Rice

Janet Wright

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

To the Church Triumphant

Robert Myron Nicar

August 13, 2013

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

August 18 Riley McCracken, Jack Southerland

August 19 Mary Nell Harris, Sherry Worley

August 20 Parke Morris, Jim White

August 21 Katie Arnold, Sue Cannon

August 22 Briggs Evans, Pat Hunigan, Bill McRee

August 23 Pat Felty

August 24 Jack Smith

Church Calendar

Sunday, August 18

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Cherub Choir, Room 209

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. Evangelism & Outreach Committee, Room 117

5:00 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir, Music Wing

6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Fellowship Kickoff, Youth Wing

Monday, August 19

4:45 p.m. Administrative Committee, Room 117

7:00 p.m. Christian Education Committee, Room 117

Tuesday, August 20

9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting. Room 123

10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing

Wednesday, August 21

9:30 a.m. Lynette Wallen's Heart to Heart Bible Study, New Mothers' Room

4:15 p.m. Children's Handbells, Room 212

4:45 p.m. Youth Handbells, Room 212

4:45 p.m. Savior's Singers Children's Choir, Room 209

5:15 p.m. Baby & Toddler Care, Nursery

5:30 p.m. Fellowship Dinner, Fellowship Hall

6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Kids, Rooms 11 & 31

6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Small Groups, Youth Wing

6:15 p.m. Adult Learning, Fellowship Hall

7:15 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, Room 202

Thursday, August 22

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

12:00 p.m. Noon Bible Study, Room 117

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

Friday, August 23-Saturday, August 24

Student Ministries Leadership Retreat

Windows is a publication of First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, TN. Please direct questions and suggestions to the editor, Kathy Acuff, kacuff@fpcbristol.org.