June 22

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Lessons

Genesis 21:8-21

Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon

Ultimate Loyalty

Gordon A. Turnbull

Hymns

Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty

Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said

If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee

Anthem

King of Glory, King of Peace

June 29

3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Lessons

Psalm 13

Genesis 22:1-14

Sermon

Threat and Promise

David L. Welch

Hymns

Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

God of Our Life

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Anthem

Sing Unto the Lord

Windows

Last week our church was transformed into a "Wilderness Escape"! Each day 60 children gathered to sing praises, learn Bible verses, hear stories from Moses and his friend Martha, create crafts, and discover how God guides and provides for us today, as he did for Moses. The children learned that they can trust God because God gives us what we need, God gives us strength, and God saves us.

As the pictures below show, they had a lot of help from the volunteers who shared their time and talents. A huge thank you to all who made God's Word come to life! Thanks for sharing the love of Jesus with the boys and girls at "Wilderness Escape." 

The photos below confirm Katie Arnold's report, "Everyone had a fantastic week at Great Escape!" That event was held June 9-14 at Lee University, and the FPC team served as a work crew June 7-21. Twenty high school students and four adults will leave June 24 for Jacksonville, Florida, to work with Presbyterian Social Ministries. Students will work with Habitat for Humanity and run a baseball clinic for inner city children. On June 28 the team will head to Panama City Beach to attend BigStuf camp. 

This Sunday, June 22, we will collect an offering for the Five-Cents-a-Meal hunger relief program. This offering, normally collected quarterly, takes its name from its simple system of operation: each of us sets aside five cents for each meal we eat. By the end of three months, we have painlessly accumulated our personal offering of about $13.50, and together we make a hearty contribution toward feeding the hungry. Instead of bringing in a sack of coins, you may write a check payable to FPC, noting on the memo line that it is for Five-Cents-a-Meal. Many mouths say, "Thank you!"

Our next opportunity to serve with the Sharing Christ Ministry on State Street is July 19. We need volunteers to prepare and serve chicken casserole and marinated slaw from recipes they can get from the church office. We also need rolls for that meal, and peanut butter, jam, and sandwich bread for 80 sack lunches, as well as the Ziploc and paper bags to put them in. We also need volunteers to make the sandwiches and fill the bags.

For more information or to volunteer, call Tammy Connolly at 423-968-3831, 423-914-9848, or 276-628-7213 or email her at lconn4691@btes.tv.

Students concentrate on their work during our last visit to the school.

We recently received an update from Pastor João Batista, the financial director of the school we support in Felipe Camarão, Brazil. Here are the highlights of his report:

1. The school will be on recess from June 12 to July 13, 2014, because of the World Cup! Go Brazil! Go USA!
2. The school is hiring a pedagogical director, who will serve as coordinator of curriculum. This is a very exciting step for the school.
3. The school has received its national accreditation, which is valid for five years. There is much effort that goes into meeting the requirements to achieve this status. Congratulations to our wonderful faculty and staff!
4. Our beloved hostess Aldira remains on medical leave until June 30, a period that may be extended. She is doing much better but remains in need of our prayers.
5. The school hired an intern to help us in a class in the afternoon; Jaciara is the name of the teacher, and she lives near the school.
6. This recess period will be used for maintenance on the school building!
7. Pastor Rubens is healthy again and working hard as the senior pastor of our church.
8.  Thank God, the Lord has blessed us in all areas!

To all the brothers and sisters at First Presbyterian who have supported us and the Church of Felipe Camarão, we are very, very thankful. Your partnership continues to have tremendous impact on the children of our community and the entire neighborhood.

To God alone the glory!

Fraternally,

Pr. João Batista

Anthems for the next two Sundays: On June 22, the Sanctuary Choir anthem, "King of Glory, King of Peace," comes from two familiar voices; the text is by George Herbert (1593-1633) and the musical setting by K. Lee Scott (b.1950). Herbert was a Welsh-born English poet and Anglican priest who is remembered today for his devotional poetry. Several of Herbert's poems have been adapted as hymns, and this is one of them. It is said to echo Psalm 116, and like the psalm, it rejoices in the knowledge that God hears our calling and praise. The musical setting by Alabama composer Scott captures the elegance and joy of the text.

On June 29, the anthem is "Sing Unto the Lord" with text and music by Charles Yannerella. Drawing heavily on the language of the psalms, it is a joyous call for all to sing praises to our Lord and God.

Summer musicians: We are grateful for the service of the Sanctuary Choir throughout the year. During the month of July and the first Sunday in August, the choir will be "on vacation" from the choir loft. We will be privileged to host a number of guest musicians, many of them members of the Sanctuary Choir.

At the 11:00 service on July 6, we will be blessed with music by four members of the very talented Lugo family. Cameron Lugo was part of the string quartet accompanying the Sanctuary Choir's special Christmas music last December. Cameron, sister Natalie, and brothers Jonathan and David have all been winners of The Bristol Music Club's scholarship auditions, performing in our sanctuary. In addition, they have all performed in the Paramount's Tunes at Noon summer series. They will play seven to eight minutes of pre-service music, a brief prelude, and the offertory, and they will accompany the hymns, along with the organ. Make sure you're not late for church that Sunday!

Montreat: Week 1 of the Montreat Worship & Music Conferences sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians is almost over! Photos of our group will appear in the next newsletter. Thank you for your prayers for this group. The Feys will also be at Montreat for week 2, as they are on this year's planning committee. They will be back in worship June 29. Thanks to Alan Hunter and Pat Flannagan for playing and directing in our absence.

In Our Prayers

Barbara Daniel

Dorothy Dollar

DeeDee Galliher

Juanita Goforth

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Cindy Heglar

Ann Holler

Opal Johnson

Carolyn King

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Brenda Rogers

Virginia Rutherford

Katy Sikorski

Ann Woods

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

Congratulations

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

June 22     Melinda Akard, Robin North

June 23     Ruthie Blair, Jon Blankenship, Juanita Goforth

June 26     Tom Faucette, Mollee McClain

June 27     Kaye Crutchfield, Robert Havlik

June 28     Chase McCall, Nora Smith

June 29     Noah Ong

June 30     Julia Sikorski

July 1         Abby Corder, Nancy Hoffer

July 2         Wyatt Gross

July 4         Andy Mumpower

July 5         Lisette Wallen

Summer is the season of biweekly newsletters. The next issue of Windows will be published July 3. We will continue to publish every two weeks until we return to our normal weekly schedule on August 14. Thanks for reading!

Sunday, June 22

8:30 a.m.      Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.      Sunday School

11:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

Monday, June 23

7:00 p.m.     Session Meeting, Room 123

Tuesday, June 24

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, June 25

7:30 p.m.     Praise Team Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, June 26

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

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

Sunday, June 29

8:30 a.m.      Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.      Sunday School

11:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

Tuesday, July 1

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

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

Wednesday, July 2

7:30 p.m.     Praise Team Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, July 3

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

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

Friday, July 4

Church office closed for Independence Day