We resume our Wednesday night programs next week on September 7. We will begin by gathering at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall for our first church family dinner of the new program year. On the menu are Chicken Divan, rice, salad, and dessert. The Adult Program will follow at 6:20, and Wednesday Night Kids and Student Small Groups will meet at 6:00.

The Adult Program promises two very interesting segments. Dave Welch will give us an overview of the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly, its form and content. Kim Allerton will give a presentation on her recently completed mission trip to Thailand. She spent February 2015 through June 2016 interning with the college ministry Campus Outreach in Chiang Mai. Kim will share about her time in Chiang Mai and the ways in which First Presbyterian Church's financial and prayerful support affects the Kingdom of God on the other side of the world.

As Dr. James Comer of Yale University observed, "No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship." In the interest of both, Fairmount Elementary School is recruiting adult volunteers for its Reading Buddy program. A Reading Buddy meets with an assigned student once a week to read together or take part in other activities to build reading skills. This program improves a child's reading ability as it builds a crucial relationship with a caring adult.

An hourlong orientation meeting for this year's program will be held Tuesday, September 13, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, please contact school liaison Kay Ward at wardk@btcs.org or (423) 652-9251.

We are happy to see September and our new program year! On the welcome wagon, or should we say mower, are Aaron Brooks then Dan Gross, taking care that the first two weeks of the month are carpeted with freshly mowed lawn.

Stuart Wilson

Noted soprano Cheryl Parrish sings at FPC September 11.

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir; Pat Flannagan, director; Alan Hunter, organist. The Feys will be out of town, participating in the wedding of King graduate and former choir scholarship student Rachel Barker.

Sunday's music: The text of the Sanctuary Choir anthem, "Day by Day," is attributed to Richard of Chichester. Richard (1197-1253) was a noted scholar and cleric and was venerated by generations afterwards for his faith and humility. The current English version of the text used in the anthem was first published in a collection in 1931; whether or not it is truly Richard's matters not, as it is a genuine prayer of humility, asking for wisdom, love, and understanding in the realization of the marvelous "benefits which [Christ] hast won for us." The musical setting is by K. Lee Scott (b. 1950), who lives and works in Birmingham, Alabama, and has written numerous hymns and anthems widely used by the church.

Ringing in the year: The last two music department ensembles to begin rehearsals are Youth Bells for those in grades 7-12 and Sanctuary Bells, for advanced high schoolers through adults. Youth Bells will begin next Wednesday, September 7, at 4:45 p.m., and Sanctuary Bells will begin Monday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m.

Arts Series: Although the brochures haven't been mailed yet, the first program in our 2016-2017 series will be here soon! On Sunday, September 11, at 3:00 p.m., soprano Cheryl Parrish will kick off the season! Accompanied by Vicki Fey, Cheryl will sing a variety of music, from Mozart to Donaudy and two living American composers of note. She will also present a voice Master Class at King University on Monday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel, working with voice students taught by King Instructors Pat Flannagan and Rachel Milligan Helton. We continue to gratefully accept donations for this series.

 

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

5:00 p.m.       Stewardship Task Force, Room 117

Church office closed for Labor Day holiday

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

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

4:30 p.m.       Heart to Heart Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Classroom

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

9:30 a.m.       Lorri Looney's DVD Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Classroom

4:15 p.m.       Children's Handbells

4:30 p.m.       Heart to Heart Steering Committee, Room 117

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

4:45 p.m.       Youth Handbells

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Nursery

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

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Student Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir

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

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