August 3

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Communion

Lessons

Genesis 32:22-31

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

From Empty to Full

Gordon A. Turnbull

Hymns

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken

For the Bread Which You Have Broken

Duet

I Waited for the Lord

Sheena Hunter & Lenita Thibault

Attendance for July 27

8:30: 176; 11:00: 90

August 10

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rally Day

Lessons

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon

The Firm Path We Walk

Gordon A. Turnbull

Windows

Come learn about and celebrate the lively Christian education programs at FPC! All Sunday School classes, children, youth, and adult, are invited to the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 10, to kick off the church school year and get the scoop on our new churchwide study of Ephesians, "Connect." This event will take the place of Sunday School. 

A seven-week worship series on the Letter to the Ephesians will anchor a churchwide learning opportunity in August and September. Starting August 17, the Ephesians study will engage us with the majestic promise of God's blessing, a great opportunity for every person in our congregation.

Our Christian Education Committee invites each of us to join in this opportunity. A full schedule of study opportunities is planned: new and existing small groups for study and discussion, Sunday School classes at every level, and a booklet of devotional reflections.

The theme is "Connect." Please look for ways to connect with God and with each other through this upcoming effort. May God bless and strengthen our life together as we connect with God's Word.

As the new school year nears, we are excited about a new format for Christian growth in grades five and six. In addition to our customary Sunday School class, Wednesday evening program, and musical opportunities, kids will have their own fellowship group with fun gatherings and service outings. There will be lots of fun and plenty of opportunity to bring friends. Parents and students can look forward soon to hearing the specifics. Get ready for a big time together!

FPC's Children's Ministries is looking for volunteers to teach or aid Sunday School classes, to organize the classrooms and those so important supply closets, to work with Wednesday Night Kids, and to take a turn or two caring for children in the nursery. You can do it, we can help! Sign-up forms are available throughout the church. For more information, please contact Lilly Osborne at 423-383-5476 or losborne@fpcbristol.org. 

Laurie Cole

A new Wednesday morning women's Bible study will consider the virtue of contentment through a study of scripture guided by Laurie Cole's Experiencing Contentment in Every Season of Life.

How many of us can say with the Apostle Paul, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11)? Laurie Cole was living what looked like "a good Christian life," when she realized how very discontented she was. She sought the spiritual gift/virtue of contentment and has shared what she learned in this study, which looks at many scriptural lessons, including Ecclesiastes, Proverbs 31, the life of David, and the teaching of Paul.

Through a combination of group Bible study, mutual sharing, and audio messages from Laurie Cole, we will examine the different seasons of our own lives, we will seek to be honest about our own level of contented living, and we will learn principles to help us live contentedly in all seasons and circumstances.

This Bible study, led by Elizabeth Patrick, will meet in the New Mothers' Room across from the nursery, on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30, beginning September 3. Women in all seasons of life are encouraged to attend! This study is definitely not just for mothers of young children, but a nursery will be provided by the church. If you have any questions, you can contact Elizabeth at (423) 956-9716 or elizabethpatrick22@hotmail.com. Join us!

FPC will provide meat and beverages, and supper will be served at 5:30. Please bring one of the following dishes with you, according to the initial of your last name:

A-H:      a side

  I-P:      a dessert

Q-Z:      a salad

We look forward to sharing good fellowship, fun, and food with you!

We here present the highlights of our year-to-date financial summary as of June 30, followed by a tabular summary.

Highlights

• Pledges/Offerings/Reimbursements through the first six months of the year exceeded expectations by $43,536.
• Expenditures continue to track favorably to expectations, coming in through the end of June at $14,499 below budget.
• Expense Notes: (1) Interest paid to date on our Eastman Credit Union capital loan was $18,259; (2) utility expenses, year-to-date, were $30,700, which is $1,650 under budget and $2,274 more than the same time last year.
• Capital Loan: The balance with Eastman Credit Union on June 30, was $905,034.
• Anticipated Budget Shortfall: Through June, we anticipated having to utilize approximately $8,300 of these funds to meet current year operating requirements. We have not had to utilize those funds.

*Anticipated Budget Shortfall is an estimated amount of money that is expected to be drawn from our emergency reserve funds in order to fulfill our ongoing budget. Our reserve funds are limited and comprise monies from prior years that were above and beyond what was required to meet those years' respective budgets. 

The season of biweekly newsletters is drawing to a close. The next issue of Windows will be published August 14 and herald the return to our regular weekly publishing schedule. Thanks for reading!

Bristol Sings!, a gospel and bluegrass concert to benefit Bristol Faith in Action, will be presented Friday, August 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Paramount Theatre downtown. For only $10, you can hear Anthony Mangrum, The VW Boys, Mark Hicks, East Bristol Baptist Choir, Like Brothers, Highlands Fellowship Choir, Josh Rush, and The Lee Street Baptist Praise Team in a program emceed by The Mayberry Deputy.

Tickets are available at the Paramount Center for the Arts or online at www.etix.com. For more information, contact Al Diamond at 423-914-2116 or allen.diamond777@gmail.com. 

A registration fee of $20 includes the simulcast, a listening guide, and a sandwich lunch. You can pick up a registration form in August at FPC or register online at www.cccbristol.com, where online payment is an option. If you write a check, please make it payable to Central Christian Church and write "Beth Moore Simulcast" on the memo line. Send mail to Central Christian Church, ATTN: Beth Moore Simulcast, 424 Melrose Street, Bristol, TN 37620.

Registration and payment are due by August 30. For more information, contact Carolee Hacker at 423-383-6232 or cwh6232@gmail.com.

In Our Prayers

Becky Busler

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

Faye VanNostrand

Ann Woods

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

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

August 3      Jon Pruner

August 4      Sheena Hunter, Changsub Shim, Young Shim, Melody Wallen

August 5      Alex Regan

August 6      Suzee Bolick, Louise McCall

August 7      Keith Blair, Mark Mervis, Katy Sikorski, Jeannie Williams

August 8      Ellie Beck, Mechala Blankenship, Mary Lee Schiesz

August 10    Loretta Thomas

August 11    Cheyenne Poteat

August 12    Jennifer Covington, Madison Ratliff, Penn Story

August 13    Drew Davis, Katy Stigers, Amber Warhurst

August 14    Bettie Hite, Nora McCracken

August 16    David Frazier

Sunday, August 3

8:30 a.m.      Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.      Sunday School

11:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

Monday, August 4

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

Tuesday, August 5

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 6

4:00 p.m.     Heart to Heart Steering Committee, Room 117

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

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

Thursday, August 7

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

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

Saturday, August 9

8:00 a.m.      Men's Breakfast, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, August 10

8:30 a.m.      Worship, Fellowship Hall

10:00 a.m.   Rally Day Event, Fellowship Hall

11:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

5:15 p.m.     Finance Committee, Room 123

Monday, August 11

7:00 p.m.     Building & Grounds Committee, Room 117

7:00 p.m.     Worship Committee, Room 123

Tuesday, August 12

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

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

6:00 p.m.     Venture Crew 3, Room 123

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

Wednesday, August 13

6:30 p.m.     Sanctuary Choir Picnic, Home of Nancy & Randy Cook

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

Thursday, August 14

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

8:30 a.m.      Meals on Wheels, Fellowship Hall

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