In our worship this Sunday, October 25, we invite worshipers to dedicate their financial pledges for 2016. After your prayerful consideration, please complete and sign your pledge card and bring it with you to worship on October 25.

If you are unable to attend worship that day, feel free to mail your pledge to the church, bring it in person to the church office during the week, or drop it in the weekly worship offering some Sunday.

Your timely response to this request will help our Finance Committee to craft a budget for our 2016 ministry that is both ambitious and responsible. Our leaders are committed to a balanced budget; we are not able to depend on estimates for unpledged giving. So we hope for bold, generous commitments to the ministry of Jesus Christ through First Presbyterian Church.

We strive to handle all gifts, pledges, and inquiries with the utmost fidelity and discretion. If you have any questions or need more information about the church's finances or your own giving, please feel free to contact Betsy Galliher at (423) 764-7176.

Martin Dotterweich

We're having a hoedown Sunday, November 8, at 4:30 in and around the Fellowship Hall. There will be plenty of outdoor games, a photo booth, and irresistible music. FPC will provide beverages, hamburgers, and hotdogs, and the musicians will provide the zest! Attendees are encouraged to bring the extras, according to the list below:

Last name: A-H I-P Q-Z

Please bring: Dessert Side dish Salad

Anyone interested in serving at the hoedown should contact Katie Arnold (karnold@fpcbristol.org) or Lilly Osborne (losborne@fpcbristol.org). 

Youth and children will work together to fill shoeboxes with Christmas gifts for children in straitened circumstances overseas on All Saints' Sunday, November 1. This worthy event will take place in the Fellowship Hall during the Student Fellowship time, which begins at 6:00 p.m.

It's time to sign up for Passion 2016 in Atlanta, 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 only a few slots left in her allotment. Please contact her soon 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.

Jim Mayden has demonstrated good stewardship by grooming the lawn for Stewardship Sunday, October 25. Randy Cook will do the honors next week for All Saints' Day. There's really no trick to this treat, though, and it's never too late to join our mowing team. Just call Randy at 423-956-1541 or email him at npolecook@aol.com. Even if you've never used a Scag mower before, he will have you up and running in no time.

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir, Sanctuary Bells.

Sunday's music: The text of the anthem "Christ the Lord Is Risen Again" has its origins in a 12th century Latin/German Easter song that was translated and expanded by Michael Weisse (1488-1543) into a German hymn for the Bohemian Brethren. Noted translator Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), the source of many of our English versions of German hymns, translated and adapted it in English. Although not in our hymnal, it is widely used, particularly in Lutheran hymnals. It is a joyous celebration of the sacrifice of the cross and victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The music is by John Rutter (b. 1945), one of the most widely performed and celebrated British composers of our time. He has composed extensively for the church, and this anthem is a relatively early work, first published in 1971. Its vigorous, rhythmic nature captures the excitement and joy inherent in the text.

Christmas pageant: All children, ages 4 through grade 6 are welcome to participate in our annual Christmas pageant, to be presented on Wednesday, December 16, and followed by the annual Joy Gift Dinner. Our children's choirs have already begun rehearsing music and auditioning for speaking parts/singing Kings, and those auditions will continue until all those wishing to audition have done so. Children ages 4 through grade 1 choose whether to be angels, shepherds, the star of Bethlehem, or animals, while the older children have the speaking/singing roles, but all the children sing!

Program of Note: Voices of the Mountains, under the direction of Pat Flannagan, and accompanied by Vicki Fey, will present a program called "World without End." The first half will include sacred texts through the ages, set by some of the greatest composers. The second half will give a nod to All Saints Day and All Hallows' Eve and feature a likely world premiere! This concert will take place in our sanctuary (instead of at King University, as previously scheduled) on Saturday, October 31, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 (free to all students) and can be purchased through Symphony of the Mountains or at the door.

Arts Series: November 1 is fast approaching! On that day 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. 

Becky Busler

Jane Crewey

Dorothy Dollar

Fred Frazier

DeeDee Galliher

Dorothy Giesler

Ron Grubbs

Will Hankins

Sharon Hatcher

Hawley Heglar

Vivian Hill

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Brenda Rogers

Virginia Rutherford

Faye VanNostrand

Deborah Whitaker

 

 

October 16, 2015

 

October 26      Josh King

October 27      Ralph Booher III, Peggy Hill, Peggy King

October 28      Eddie Hill, Claire Pruner

October 29      Jim Daniel, Virginia Rutherford

October 31      Flora Mae Turner

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

6:00 p.m.       Student Fellowship, White Fork Ranch

5:30 p.m.       Sanctuary Handbells

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

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

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

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