This Sunday, September 17, all Sunday School classes will begin at 9:30 so that we can share ONE Worship at 10:30 in the sanctuary. Our annual congregational meeting to elect church officers will follow. This meeting is your chance to nominate fellow congregants to serve three-year terms as elders, deacons, or trustees. Please make plans to attend!

There is a saying, common in the youth ministry world, that goes, "God doesn't ask for us to be able, just available." This week, I've had the privilege to hear two different sermons from Exodus 3, God's calling to Moses. Let me remind you of a couple of points from this Exodus narrative. Moses is taking care of sheep, doing what he does, and he comes to Horeb, the mountain of God. It is interesting to note that Moses is beyond the "wilderness," which may reflect both his actual location and his self-location. In Hebrew, Horeb has several possible meanings, including desert, waste, and wilderness. To me it is a fascinating idea that Moses is out beyond where he should be, beyond the comfortable, in the wildness of the wilderness and perhaps even beyond where it is safe. Then, seeing a bush that, though burning, is not consumed, Moses turns "aside" to see what's what. Moses changes direction, changes course, moves toward the invitation, if you will, of God. Finally, after Moses turns to look, God addresses him by his name. Thus begins an incredible salvation history of covenant, redemption, restoration, and belonging, of which we at FPC are now included.

Here are some of my takeaways from this narrative. First, God always initiates or "bids" us into relationship; never forcing, never overwhelming, always inviting. Usually, at least for Moses and me, this bid comes as and is experienced as an interruption in our normal, everyday activities. Second, God's bid or invitation is always intimate and personal. Just as He did with Moses, God knows and addresses us each by name, not by "Hey, you there." Third, God intends, desires, even yearns for us to partner with Him in an incredible adventure. God heard the cries of the people, His people, and invited Moses to be used to secure their freedom. Where might we be available to serve, to join God, not in work, but in an adventure? 

This Sunday, September 17, both FPC Student Fellowship groups will meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. then head to Roan Mountain for a little hike and worship on a bald as the sun sets. Dress warmly and be ready to hike. Bring a blanket to sit on, if you like. We plan to be back around 8:30 p.m. If it rains, we will stay at FPC. For more information, contact Katie Arnold, Director of Student Ministries, at [email protected].

Bible study is a vital part of any Christian's life. As brothers in Christ, we rely on each other for fellowship. What better way is there for this togetherness than to begin the day in prayer and discussion? The Men's Bible Study meets in the parlor for about an hour at 7:00 a.m. each Thursday for a deep dive into the upcoming sermon scripture. We talk about ways to live as servant-leaders through the Word in our families, our work, and our play. Come join in fellowship and spirit to explore the Word.

• What: Two hours or two days (or more) for tearing out and replacing a bathroom (walls, ceiling, floor, and fixtures).
• Who: Any person of any age (youth under 18 require a parent's signature).
• Where: The house of one of our church's neighbors in great need.
• When: Work will begin the first week in October.
• How to volunteer: Call Peggy Hill at 423-956-0209, or email her at [email protected]; call the church office at 423-764-7176; or email Diana Mattison at [email protected].

• North: The Tennessee/Virginia state line
• South: Lakeview Street
• West: The railroad tracks
• East: Booher Road, King College Road (along the border of King University but excluding the campus), Golf Street

When we come to FPC for ONE Worship and the congregational meeting this Sunday, we will be greeted by the last of the summer lawns. Autumn in the United States begins September 22, at least by the astronomical calendar, so Randy Olson will be the last of the summer mowers. It will fall to Dan Gross to kick off the final weeks of the mowing season as he prepares the lawn for Stewardship Sunday next week.

It is all about stewardship. If you'd like to be a good steward of the church grounds, join our mowing team! You can sign up at any time of year. We welcome men and women, adults and teens. You can even make a family outing of it: younger children can move debris to the curb, and a parent or an elder sibling can mow. If you're unfamiliar with Scag mowers, Team Captain Randy Cook will be happy to give you a lesson on our Tiger Cat. If you can mow even once during the growing season, please email Randy at [email protected] or call his cell at 423-956-1541. Thank you! 

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday's music: This week's anthem was composed by renowned American church musician David N. Johnson (1922-1987). He studied organ and composition at Curtis Institute of Music. Between 1942 and 1946 he served in the US Army Signal Corps/Air

	David N. Johnson

Corps in India, Burma, and China, receiving a Meritorious Service Award and campaign ribbons. He continued his music studies at Trinity University (Texas) and Syracuse University. Johnson was a lecturer at Syracuse University (1951). From 1960 to 1967, he was college organist and organ instructor at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. He was named music department chair at St. Olaf in 1965. In 1967, he succeeded Arthur Poister as professor of music and university organist at Syracuse University. He moved to Arizona in 1969, where he taught at Arizona State University, Tempe. Johnson published well over three hundred compositions, most of them for church use, and was the author of Instruction Book for Beginning Organists.

Organist's footnotes: I have been a fan of David N. Johnson for many years. Indeed, his Instruction Book for Beginning Organists was the very book I worked through during my first year of organ lessons. Johnson is perhaps best known for his Trumpet Tunes (he wrote dozens of them). But he also wrote many lovely, and quieter, pieces as well, two of which I'll play today.

"Be Still, My Soul, for God Is Near" (Prelude) is based on the tune ANGELUS, which was composed by Georg Joseph in 1657, later harmonized in 1847. Johnson pairs this tune to a communion text, but it is more often found in connection with an evening (vesper) hymn.

"Thee We Adore" (Offertory) is a setting of a 13th century Benedictine plainsong, ADORO DEVOTE. To maintain the asymmetrical feeling of the original, Johnson's setting changes meters constantly from 2, 3, and 4 eighth-notes per measure, with the instruction "in flexible tempo" at the beginning. Johnson's setting also changes tonal centers constantly. One later edition of this piece tries to be "helpful" to the performer by changing time signatures every few measures, but I'll stick to Johnson's original edition.

"Now Let the Vault of Heaven Resound" (Postlude) is based on the German chorale LASST UNS ERFREUEN, first found in the Geistliche Kirchengesäng published in Cologne in 1623. It was originally associated with an Easter/Resurrection text. Johnson's setting is appropriately joyful, and not quiet!

Sunday, September 17

9:30 a.m.       Sunday School

10:30 a.m.     ONE Worship, Sanctuary

11:30 a.m.     Congregational Meeting, Sanctuary

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

                         Room 117

5:00 p.m.       Student Fellowship at Roan Mountain,

                         Leave from FPC

5:30 p.m.       Finance Committee, Room 123

Monday, September 18

4:45 p.m.       Strategic Initiatives & Implementations Committee, Room 117

5:30 p.m.       Adult Handbells

Tuesday, September 19

9:00 a.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 117

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

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

Wednesday, September 20

9:30 a.m.       Women's DVD Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Room

4:45 p.m.       Youth Handbells

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Rooms 34-36

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

6:00 p.m.       Pastor Nominating Committee, Room 117

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering

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

7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir

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

Thursday, September 21

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

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