on First Presbyterian Church

October 3, 2013

 

October is here, bringing us the ever-fresh worship opportunities that we look forward to from year to year. We will hear and sing music from around the world this week on World Communion Sunday, October 6. Two weeks later, on October 20, our early and late congregations will worship together as we dedicate our stewardship pledges in a single combined service on Stewardship Sunday.

The single service on October 20 will be held at 10:30 a.m. and take the place of the regular 8:30 and 11:00 services. There will be no Cherub Choir rehearsal, and Sunday School will begin earlier than usual, at 9:30.

Ryan Fogg

The first event of FPC's 2013-2014 Arts Series will take place Sunday, October 20, at 3:00 p.m. in our sanctuary and will feature Carson-Newman professor Ryan Fogg on the piano. Ryan will play a variety of piano literature, including works by composers Poulenc, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Bolcom. The concert is free and open to the public. Suggested ticket donation is $10 for adults and $5 for students aged 6 through college.

It's not too late to mark your calendars for the great series of programs lined up for this year! Coming to our sanctuary February 9 will be students from one of the most vital organ studios in our region. They will be followed March 2 by a veteran of the United States Air Force Band, trumpeter SMSgt USAF (ret.) Clarence Mitchell II, in performance with Dr. David Champouillon and the Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble. Our final concert, April 6, will showcase flutist Mindy Rosenfeld and lutenist Ronn McFarlane of the Baltimore Consort.

Donations are still being received for the Arts Series. If you choose to donate, please make your check out to the church and write "Arts Series" in the memo line so that it can be properly credited.

Donations received will be acknowledged with series tickets at the following levels:

                $500                     4 season tickets

                $250-$499          3 season tickets

                $100-$249          2 season tickets

                $50-$99               1 season ticket

Presbyterian Women will meet Tuesday morning, October 8. We will have circle at 11:00, then Gordon Turnbull will lead our Bible study at 11:30. We will have lunch together in the parlor afterward. Please make your lunch reservations with the church office. Remember to bring small pretzels for the Fairmount children as well as any cancelled stamps you may have.

The Presbyterian Women want your used stamps, except those featuring the flag or the liberty bell. The PW participate in a program that transforms all other used stamps into thousands of dollars for mission work around the world. Please bring your used stamps (a bit of envelope is OK) to the church and put them in the special box outside the Fellowship Hall. Or you can give them to a PW member. Thank you!

The goal of FPC's Care Shepherd ministry is to show Christian love and care to those of our church family who are in need. Opportunities for volunteering include providing meals to those just home from the hospital, sending a card or making a phone call to someone in a special care facility, and providing comfort in other situations.

Volunteers serve one month at a time on a Care Shepherd team that coordinates the needs of the congregation for that month. We are humbly seeking volunteers to serve in October, November, December, and January.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Lorri Looney at jeffandlorri@msn.com or 423-573-1676.

School is back in session, and that means it's time to perk up the hungry students in our neighborhood school who can't afford to buy snacks to see them through the afternoon. We are now collecting small pretzels. The small sticks and the small curved pretzels are best for fitting into snack-sized portions for our Fairmount Elementary kids. As before, please place your contributions in the little red schoolhouse in the Fellowship Hallway. Thank you!

 

On October 4, all FPC 9th- to 12th-graders are invited to White Fork Ranch after the Tennessee High School football game for an all-night 5th Quarter party. We'll enjoy farm games, a bonfire, a hayride, and much more entertainment throughout the night, and it won't end until 8:00 Saturday morning!

Transportation can be provided from THS to White Fork Ranch for those who need it. Please make those arrangements with Katie Arnold. Students will not be permitted to leave White Fork Ranch until 8:00 a.m. Saturday, unless a parent picks them up or arrangements are worked out ahead of time.

All participants must turn in an FPC notarized release form if one is not already on file with the church. Forms can be found at www.fpcbristol.org/growing/youth.

Invite friends, bring sleeping bags if you want to sleep, and dress for the farm!

FPC 6th-graders will head to Atlanta November 1-3 to enjoy a band, outrageous skits, dynamic speakers, and fellowship with other 6th-graders from all over the Southeast at SuperStart 2013. On top of that, we will spend an afternoon at Stone Mountain Park.

The cost of the trip is $125, which includes SuperStart, transportation, lodging in an area hotel, food, and an adventure pass at Stone Mountain Park. Register by October 16 by sending Katie Arnold or Amy Buck your payment and a notarized FPC release form.

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes