Elizabeth Patrick

Our guest preacher this Sunday, October 18, is the Reverend Elizabeth Patrick, an ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a graduate of Erskine College, Duke Law School, and Princeton Seminary. Elizabeth served as solo pastor of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in Sandy Springs, South Carolina, before moving to Bristol to marry Dr. Bill Linderman, Professor of Mathematics at King University. Since arriving in 2008, Elizabeth has served as pulpit supply at a number of churches in the Tri-Cities and beyond. She now spends most of her time building train tracks, cleaning up messes, and otherwise caring for sons Henry, 3, and Ben, 1.

Our liturgist this Sunday is Dr. Han Chuan Ong, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and Associate Professor of Biology at King University. A native of Malaysia, he received his doctoral training in molecular biology at Indiana University and performed his postdoctoral research at the University of Washington Genome Center. His wife, Dr. Laura Ong, is also a biology faculty member at King University, and they have three sons, Noah, Moses, and Joseph. Han is also a classical vocalist and amateur cook.

This Sunday, October 18, FPC's first-year confirmands will receive Bibles in the 8:30 worship service. Please join us in prayer for all our students as they journey through confirmation:

First-Year Confirmands AnnaLee Adams Christian Bolick Kathleen Dotterweich Hope Godsey Jason Kreiss Brandi McGill Ginny Osborne Grayson Phipps Ella Robertson Jessica Rogers Rose Rosser Logan Streetman

Second-Year Confirmands Alie Bassett Gracie Brooks Gracie Buckles Riley McCracken Lance Tudor

Martin Dotterweich

What is greatness in light of the gospel? Reflecting on sixteen years of teaching history, Martin Dotterweich will explore some of the dimensions of how followers of Jesus are called to greatness, and how that affects the way that we remember and teach the past. Join us for our Adult Learning program next Wednesday evening, October 21. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 for dinner, and the program will follow at 6:20. Wednesday Night Kids and Student Small Groups will meet at 6:00. Please join us!

On Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, Pastor Mohammad Al-Iaqtah will share his insights into current conditions in the Middle East and how God is at work in the region. Be sure to save the date!

All FPC women and their friends are invited to join the biweekly Heart to Heart Inductive Bible study as it continues next week at the regular time and place. Join Scottie Bales at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, to discuss "A Dark Night in the Garden" (Luke 22, Mark 14, John 18). It's happening in room 123!

Lorri Looney's Heart to Heart Women's DVD Bible study will begin a new series next week, What Love Is, by Kelly Minter. Workbooks will be available for purchase at the first session. This group meets Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 in the church parlor. The new series will run weekly through December 9, with no meeting on November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. All women of the church are welcome at any point!

Fusion, our fellowship group for fifth and sixth graders, will find its way through a corn maze Sunday, October 25. Details to come!

Passion 2016 is a gathering for 18- to 25-year-olds, "the Jesus Generation united for His fame." From January 2 to 4, this conference will connect three locations in two cities to lift up the name of Jesus. Each location will experience live worship in each session, and speakers will be both live and live via video.

Katie Arnold has seven slots left in her allotment. Please contact her at karnold@fpcbristol.org if you would like to attend. The cost is $100. Lodging will be provided, but attendees will be responsible for their meals. For more information, contact Katie or view the conference video advertisement at https://youtu.be/bviDevsn5fc.

Pastor Joćo Batista Amaral de Oliveira of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Felipe Camarćo has been kind enough to share the photos below with us. They show improvements to the church's preschool facility in Natal, Brazil, as a result of funds received from FPC. The newly covered walkway where children are dropped off and collected protects them from sun and rain, the refurbished playground provides an outlet that had been out of commission for at least two years, and the new sinks and counter aid tremendously in the daily delivery of meals to the 150 students. Joćo Batista expressed the school's extreme gratitude for these improvements made possible by the grace of God and our partnership. 

As a thing of beauty, a lawn is a job forever. You can help by joining our mowing team. It's never too late! Just call Randy Cook at 423-956-1541 or email him at npolecook@aol.com. If you've never used a Scag mower before, he will be delighted to show you how. 

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir; Jordan Tumblin and Pat Flannagan, soloists; Lauren Castor, flute.

Sunday's music: The text for this week's anthem, "O Dearest Lord, Thy Sacred Head," has appeared primarily in British and Canadian hymnals, often intended for children. It was written in 1930 by Henry Ernest Hardy, also known as Father Andrew (1869-1946), and its structure has a pedagogical nature. As it reflects on parts of Christ's body wounded by the crucifixion (head, hands, feet, heart), it responds with how we make use of these in our faithfulness to him. Hardy served the poor in the East End of London, and was greatly grieved by the destruction it suffered in World War II. American composer David N. Johnson (1922-1987) created a setting using the American folk hymn tune DETROIT that beautifully captures the contemplative nature of the words.

Christmas pageant: Yes, it's time to start talking about the Christmas pageant! Children's choirs have already begun rehearsing music and auditioning for speaking parts/singing kings, and those auditions will continue next week. All children from age 4 through grade 6 are welcome to participate.

 

BucsWorth Men's Choir

Arts Series: The first program is just two weeks from this coming Sunday! On November 1 at 3:00 p.m. in our sanctuary, we will feature BucsWorth Men's Choir, the men's ensemble at East Tennessee State University, under the direction of Dr. Alan Stevens. Suggested ticket donation for that program is $10 for adults and $5 for students ages 6 through college. Patron donations are still being received to support all of the very fine programs offered this season. 

Our EPIC tale of the week is "The Sun Stops Shining," the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, drawn from Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19 and retold in The Jesus Storybook Bible. Please join us Sunday, October 18, for worship at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall or 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Becky Busler

Jane Crewey

Dorothy Dollar

Fred Frazier

DeeDee Galliher

Dorothy Giesler

Ron Grubbs

Will Hankins

Sharon Hatcher

Hawley Heglar

Vivian Hill

Sue Olsen

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Brenda Rogers

Virginia Rutherford

Faye VanNostrand

Deborah Whitaker

 

 

We rejoice with Amanda and Will Hankins in the birth of a son, David Ezra Hankins, October 7.

 

October 18      Anna Connolly, Mariel Story

October 20      Dyan Buck, Alicia Mumpower

October 21      Dan Heglar

October 22      Cliff Bailey, Peachy Bane, Nancy Cook, Gwen King, J.T. Scott

October 23      Junella McClellan, Carl McGrady

October 24      Trent Dowdell, Alice Graham, Lance Tudor

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

5:15 p.m.       Jubilate Youth Choir, Music Wing

6:00 p.m.       Student Fellowship

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

5:30 p.m.       Sanctuary Handbells

7:00 p.m.       Christian Education Committee, Room 124

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

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

7:00 p.m.       Heart to Heart Inductive Bible Study, Room 123

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

9:30 a.m.       Lorri Looney's DVD Bible Study, Parlor

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

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

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

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Rooms 34 & 35

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

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Student Small Groups

6:20 p.m.       Adult Learning, Fellowship Hall

6:30 p.m.       Neighborhood Outreach Steering Team, Room 117

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

7:30 p.m.       8:30 Worship Team Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall

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

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

Men's Service Retreat Weekend, Louisville

6:00 p.m.       Parents' Night Out, Fellowship Hall