Rally Day is this Sunday, August 7. Everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. to learn what's in store for the new church school year. This will be Promotion Day for our children, whose teachers will take them to their new classrooms. The adult Sunday School classes will resume August 14, when all classes return to the normal 9:45 start time. Come celebrate the lively Christian education programs at FPC!

The congregation will meet to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee Sunday, August 14, at 10:20 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Church Officer Nominating Committee (Chuck Thompson, chair; Scottie Bales; Andrew Beck; Beth Flannagan; Heidi Harkleroad) will bring forth a slate of candidates to be approved and elected by the congregation. Please make plans to be there to cast your vote!

Our annual church picnic will be held next Sunday, August 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Rotary Shelter at Steele Creek Park. There will be no charge for parking; just tell them at the gate that you are with First Presbyterian Church.

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:

Last name beginning with	A-H	I-P	Q-Z
Please bring	1 side	1 dessert	1 salad

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

By now you have heard that our much-loved Food Service Coordinator, Ruthie Blair, has secured a new job and will no longer be cooking incredible meals for us on Wednesday nights. The Personnel Committee is already responding to this change by scheduling interviews with applicants for that position, but until the right person is identified and hired, we will follow this plan:

As always, if you have a question, please call the church office at 423-764-7176 or send an email to Lilly Osborne (Children's Ministries) at losborne@fpcbristol.org, Katie Arnold (Student Ministries) at karnold@fpcbristol.org, Steve and Vicki Fey (Music Ministries) at svfey@fpcbristol.org, or Dave Welch (Minister for Discipleship/Stated Supply) at dwelch@fpcbristol.org.

FPC is looking for persons with the gifs, characteristics, and experiences that make for effective service as church officers. We are beginning the process of nominating church officers for the coming year, and we welcome your suggestions of those members whom you see as particularly gifted for serving as elders or deacons. We ask that you submit names as soon as possible, and no later than Monday, August 22. For the next two weeks, nomination forms will be in late-service bulletins and on seats in the Fellowship Hall. Feel free to consult any member of the 2016 Church Officer Nominating Committee for more information. They are Chuck Thompson (Chair), Scottie Bales, Andrew Beck, Beth Flannagan, and Heidi Harkleroad.

The Book of Order, G-6.0304, states: "It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world, visit and comfort and care for the people, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed. They should inform the pastor and session of those persons and structures which may need special attention. They should assist in worship. They should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible and may be authorized to supply places which are without the regular ministry of the Word and Sacrament. In specific circumstances and with proper instruction, specific elders may be authorized by the presbytery to administer the Lord's Supper. ... Those duties which all Christians are bound to perform by the law of love are especially incumbent upon elders because of their calling to office and are to be fulfilled by them as official responsibilities."

The Session of First Presbyterian Church is composed of fifteen elders who serve on a three-year rotation. Dottie Havlik is the current Clerk of Session; Dave Welch serves as Moderator. The following are our current elders:

Current FPC Elders
Class of 2016	Class of 2017	Class of 2018
Kevin Buck Tom Daniel Dottie Havlik Brian Miller Paul Warhurst	Ann Abel Beth Flannagan Tom King Ernie Pennington John Vann	Aaron Brooks Randy Cook Debbie McMillin Stuart Parker Chuck Thompson

The Book of Order, G-6.0402, states: "It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. They shall assume such other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the session, such as leading the people in worship through prayers of intercession, reading the Scriptures, presenting the gifts of the people, and assisting with the Lord's Supper."

The Board of Deacons of First Presbyterian Church is composed of fifteen members who serve on a three-year rotation. The following are our current deacons:

Current FPC Deacons
Class of 2016	Class of 2017	Class of 2018
Andrew Beck Jon McClain Chad McCracken Lensey Richardson Donna Sikorski	Nathan Heacock Jim Mayden Mark Mervis Robin North Byron Schiesz	Adam Abel Nancy Butterworth David Ginn Rett Stocstill Ann Woods

 

FPC's Session of Elders met Monday, July 25, and was reminded, through Stuart Parker's devotion, of our primary purpose as followers of Christ and as Elders to worship God, who alone is worthy of our praise. Stuart's devotion served well as the foundation for the evening's work, reflection, and deliberation, which included a conversation with the Reverend Tom Phillips of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, who is our Committee on Ministry liaison to the Holston Presbytery.

Rev. Phillips helped the Session to identify the next steps for both the expected calling of the Interim pastor, and the upcoming congregational meeting that will establish the Pastoral Nominating Committee. This committee will be charged with gathering information from the congregation and preparing all the documentation necessary to secure our next fully installed senior pastor.

The Session was pleased to hear of the great ministry this summer that took place with middle school students at the Great Escape and with senior high students at the Journey.

The Session continues to devote significant time and energy responding to concerns of the congregation about leadership and denominational disquiets, while faithfully and prayerfully shaping our community's responses. To that end, the Session continues to invite the members of the church to pray for God's wisdom and for God's Spirit to guide us.

Please note that the agenda of every stated monthly Session meeting includes time for members to engage the Elders of FPC, whether by questions, letters, suggestions, or simply their presence. Elders are always available to members of the congregation. Your current Elders are listed under "Nominating FPC Members to Serve as Elders and Deacons," above.

2016	June Actual YTD ($)	June Budget YTD ($)	Over/(Under) Budget ($)
Revenue
Total Pledges	351,929	349,542	2,387
Offerings	55,279	51,650	3,629
Other Income & Reimbursements	44,429	46,806	(2,377)
	451,637	447,998	3,639
Expenses
Evangelism & Outreach	9,417	11,678	(2,261)
Worship	78,394	76,094	2,300
Christian Education	102,864	112,902	(10,038)
Administration	90,424	124,108	(33,684)
Building & Grounds	65,541	86,091	(20,550)
Fellowship & Stewardship	16,827	17,838	(1,011)
	363,467	428,711	(65,244)
Surplus/Deficit(-)	88,170	19,287
Anticipated Budgeted Shortfall/Transfer*	0	0
Net Position	88,170	19,287

Carol Frey

The Presbyterian Women of Holston Presbytery will hold a spiritual growth retreat Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24, at Holston Camp. Speaking will be Carol G. Frey, a humorist and writer from Norcross, Georgia. She will bring copies of her humorous cookbooks for purchase. The retreat is open to "any woman between the ages of 13 and 120 years."

The registration fee of $47 per person covers three meals, overnight lodging, and the program. Saturday-only attendance costs only $25. Registration forms will be available later this month. The camp is located at 6693 Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk, North Carolina. For more information about this retreat, call Lois Bronson at 423-239-4285.