Vacation Bible School Begins Monday!

Our ever popular Vacation Bible School will be held Monday through Wednesday, July 20-22. As the delightful displays outside both worship spaces make clear, our theme is Jesus as a child in Nazareth. And when you're in the main building, take a few minutes to stroll through the hallways and enjoy the artwork from the 1940s and '50s that depicts life in Nazareth at that time.

Session to Receive New Members This Sunday 

Those wishing to join FPC are encouraged to attend the special Session meeting this Sunday, July 19. It will be held at 10:20 a.m. in the chapel for the sole purpose of receiving new members into our congregation. 

We Need Volunteers for Food City Race Night 

Volunteer registration forms are available at the church. If you need light duty, please write "light duty" on the form. Please return your completed form by July 22, either to the church or directly to Scottie Bales. Please disregard the instruction on the form to send it to Food City. For more information, contact Scottie at Scottie@rtherapeutics.com or 423-360-5357.

The Family Promise program is going well, and now has one family in it. The second family has moved out and on, and we wish them further success! 

Reach Out to the Neighborhood with FPC 

Did you know that more than half the homes in FPC's defined geographical neighborhood were built before 1949 and are more than 65 years old? While many are well maintained, there are families whose circumstances have prevented this care. Thus arises the opportunity to witness through word and deed, so that these families may experience more fully the love of God, one family at a time.

The Evangelism & Outreach Committee is seeking interested folks within our congregation who will be part of an outreach team that will expand our church's ever-growing presence in our community and service to our neighbors.

The vision is to come alongside those who struggle, build relationships through careful listening, and together develop a course of action in which we work with our neighbors, offering practical assistance and strategic support and inviting collaboration with other agencies. At times, we might provide relief in crisis; mostly, we will work alongside the neighbor to help make home repairs, encourage, and affirm.

There will be opportunities for training, scripture study and application, and working through each step of this process together. If the idea of helping some of our church's neighbors in need excites you, you need to be a part of this team. For more information or to sign up, contact Gordon Turnbull at the church or Peggy Hill at 423-956-0209 or peggyhill145@gmail.com. 

Ethiopia Mission Trip in the Works 

EPIC Stories Continue 

This Sunday, July 19, our EPIC journey through The Jesus Storybook Bible brings us to "Let's Go!" and the story of how Jesus chose his disciples after being tempted in the desert.  Next Sunday, July 26, we will hear "A Little Girl and a Poor Frail Lady," two interwoven stories of the power of Jesus and the power of faith. Please join us!

We Have Other FISH to Fry! 

Middle school students FISH Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00, and high school students meet Thursday nights in the same time slot. We study the Bible and enjoy snacks and fun activities. We meet in a different place each week, so make sure you are enrolled in the Student Ministries info text service. Text FPCBRISTOL to 95577.

Adventure Sunday: Laurel Falls on July 19 

And Another Adventure Sunday: Tubing July 26 

All middle school and high school students are invited to meet at the church at noon on July 26 for a day of river tubing. Wear a bathing suit and shoes that fasten securely to your feet. Bring lunch money, a towel, water, and a snack. Parents who can help with transportation are encouraged to contact Katie Arnold at karnold@fpcbristol.org.

High School Campout at South Holston Lake July 30-31 

High school students are invited to gather at Lakeview Dock at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. They will be transported to an island for a day of water sports and an evening of fellowship under the stars. The cost of the event is $5, and a completed FPC Medical Release form is required. The form can be found here. Register with Katie Arnold at karnold@fpcbristol.org by July 29.

College Lake Day July 29 

Student Ministries invites 18-to-20-somethings to enjoy a day on the lake with a cookout, games, and fellowship! Meet at the church at noon on Wednesday, July 29, or meet out at Lauren Rutherford's lake house at 23259 Tiki Way in Abingdon. Dinner will be at 7:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, contact Katie Arnold at karnold@fpcbristol.org.

Final Family Fun Fellowship Falls on August 5 

We have a new date for the next Family Fun Fellowship event. It has been moved from July 29 to August 5. And because choir practice starts back on that afternoon, we will meet at the church at 5:30, either in the Fellowship Hall or outside, for our final summer hot dog dinner. Please join us!

Mowing: It's a Gift 

We never cease to be amazed by the versatility and range of talents shown by our volunteers. They sing, play instruments, conduct musical ensembles, run charitable endeavors like our community food pantry, lead and mentor our youth, coordinate short- and long-term projects for our church, and do so much general good while remaining perfectly likable people that, frankly, it boggles the mind.

We have the pleasure of knowing that, with everything else they will be taking care of, the following volunteers will also be taking care of our lawn through the end of the month. Dan Gross is on duty this week, Jim White takes over next week, and Pat Flannagan sees us into August.

To join our mowing team, call Randy Cook at 423-956-1541 or email him at npolecook@aol.com. If you've never used a Scag mower before, Randy will be happy to show you how. 

Music participants:Jordan Pennington will be our soloist July 19, and George Huber will be our soloist July 26.

Ringing bells on stage at the final concert at Montreat.

Montreat wrap-up: We want to thank the church, and Gordon in particular, for the support we have received over the past two and a half years as we prepared for serving as conference directors for the Montreat Conferences on Worship and Music, sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. The conference faculty was stellar, we had a great planning committee, and worship was, as some conferees told us, some of the best ever at Montreat. Those attending from our church had a wonderful time and some rich worship experiences. We also want to thank Nancy and Randy Cook, volunteers extraordinaire. We could not have done what we did without them.

These folks helped make it happen!

Musical reminder: Kids and parents, don't forget! Table for Five ... Thousand will be presented Sunday, August 30, at One Worship! We hope everyone is listening to the CD and learning lines! We will have rehearsals from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: August 5, 12, 19, and 26. Our final dress rehearsal will be Saturday, August 29, at a time to be determined.

In Our Prayers

Becky Busler

Jane Crewey

Dorothy Dollar

Fred Frazier

DeeDee Galliher

Dorothy Giesler

Ron Grubbs

Will Hankins

Sharon Hatcher

Hawley Heglar

Vivian Hill

Carolyn King

Sue Olsen

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Brenda Rogers

Virginia Rutherford

Katy Sikorski

Faye VanNostrand

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

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

July 20       Bryan Boyd

July 21       Brad Arnold, Lily Hankins, Ginny Osborne

July 22       Rebecca Beck, Don Preston

July 23       Mason Borsch, Mark Comer, Liz Graham, Porter Hillery, Denny Samuel

July 24       Nancy DeFriece, Leigh King

July 25       Gracie Brooks

July 26       William Bane

July 27       Sarah Beckner, Barbara Daniel, Cyndi Madison

July 28       Ralph Booher Jr., Jennifer Kennedy

July 29       Shawn Nelson

July 30       Mandy Dorton, Lisa Holmes

We gratefully acknowledge recent gifts in memory of the following individuals:

Juanita Goforth: from John & Ann Tickle, to the Memorial Fund

Mary Nell Harris: from Peggy B. Peters, to the Children's Ministries Fund

Sunday, July 19

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

8:45 a.m.       Kids' Kirk, Creation Station

9:45 a.m.       Sunday School, Education Wing

10:20 a.m.     Session Receives New Members, Chapel

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

12:00 p.m.     Decorate for VBS, Fellowship Hall & Chapel

12:00 p.m.     Youth Hike to Laurel Falls, Meet at FPC

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

Monday, July 20

9:00 a.m.       Vacation Bible School, Day 1

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

Tuesday, July 21

9:00 a.m.       VBS, Day 2

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

2:00 p.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 123

7:00 p.m.       Middle School FISH, TBD

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

Wednesday, July 22

9:00 a.m.       VBS, Day 3

5:30 p.m.       VBS Final Celebration

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

Thursday, July 23

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

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

7:00 p.m.       High School FISH, TBD

Sunday, July 26

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

8:45 a.m.       Kids' Kirk, Room 31

9:45 a.m.       Sunday School, Education Wing

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

12:00 p.m.     Youth River Tubing, Meet at FPC

Monday, July 27

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

Tuesday, July 28

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.       Middle School FISH, TBD

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

Wednesday, July 29

12:00 p.m.     College Lake Day, Meet at FPC

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

Thursday, July 30

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

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

1:00 p.m.       High School Campout, Meet at Lakeview Dock