If you are looking for a place that respects tradition while embracing the future, then you discover why God brought you here. We are a faithful place, which is led by the graciousness of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word. We hope that you might consider our church to be your spiritual home!

Brown Bag Study begins on Monday, September 10, 11:00-1:00 p.m. in the Good News Classroom. Bring a dish to share. We will be studying Acts by Max Lucado. Can anyone encounter the resurrected Christ and remain unchanged? Understanding and accepting the most compelling event in the history of mankind changed the disciples. Having been brought face to face with God, they couldn’t remain the same. Filled with the Holy Spirit, bold in their declarations, confidently trusting Christ daily, their days were full of witnessing, ministering, solving practical problems, and resolving differences. They live a God-centered life, followed God’s leading, and saw God’s faithfulness. The disciples were transformed. They founded the early church, and gave us a legacy of faith. The earliest Christians demonstrate that what God did for them, he longs to do for you.

WOW – Beginning September 26 – 6:00-7:00 p.m. – cookout on the lawnCorn hole, face painting, craft table, ice breakers. Gradye will be signing his book, Our Connectional Church, we will be studying in the following weeks.Reservation forms are in the pewholders to sign up for dinner.

These Days, daily devotionals for October-December are available at the entrances to the sanctuary.

Women’s Fellowship – Sunday, October 14 – 3-5 p.m. Soup exchange. We will also be making bookmarks for shut-ins.

Christian love and sympathy is extended to Cherrie Stevens on the loss of her sister.

Christian love and sympathy is extended to the family of Fred Watkins, former member, who passed away in Memphis.

You may contact our interim pastor Gradye Parsons at 865-368-2762 or gradyemorton@gmail.com.

God Of Heaven Lyrics by Heather Sorenson

God of Heaven. God of all the earth and sky.Great Creator. Master of all nature.Who gives birth to snow from heaven,holds the waves at ocean's edge,gives the orders to the morning,shows each dawn its place to shine?

God of Heaven. God of Heaven. God of all the earth and sky.

God of Ages. God of Ages.God who wrote the Book of Time.Sovereign Ruler. Sovereign Ruler.Alpha and Omega.Saints before, He's guided safely.History's pages signed by Him.Author of our days and hours.Things to come are held secure.

God of Ages. God of Ages.Alpha and Omega.God of Power!God who breaks the darkness.Righteous Warrior.Champion of His children.Goes before us into battle.Good and evil bow to Him.Those in bondage freed forever.Victories won at His command!

God who heals us.God who gives us peace and hope.God who listens.Carries all our fragile dreams and heartaches,wins and failures.Binds the broken, hides the weak.New beginnings freely offered.Who can make us whole again?

God who heals us. God who heals us. God of Power. God of Power. God of Ages. God of Ages. God of Heaven. God of all the earth and sky. Welcome

Fountain City Presbyterian

Church

Facebook: Fountain City Presbyterian ChurchFountain City Presbyterian Church Youth

Instagram: fountaincitypresbyterianTwitter: @FCPresbyterian

Webpage: www.fountaincitypres.org 500 Hotel Road

Phone 865-688-2163 Past Sermons and Bulletins Ministries and Missions Devotional Resources Life Needs Church Happenings Staff Information Online Giving …and much more!

For our members and guests convenience we have baby changing tables in the following locations – please see an usher if you are not sure of the locations:

Hallway below the narthex (entrance to the sanctuary) Women’s restroom in the hallway to the left of the pulpit 2nd & 3rd floor men’s & women’s bathrooms in the Davis Education Building

(located to the right of the pulpit)Facebook: Fountain City Presbyterian ChurchFountain City Presbyterian Church Youth

Instagram: fountaincitypresbyterianTwitter: @FCPresbyterian

Webpage: www.fountaincitypres.org 500 Hotel Road

Phone 865-688-2163 Past Sermons and Bulletins Ministries and Missions Devotional Resources Life Needs Church Happenings Staff Information Online Giving …and much more!

Sunday, September 923rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

10:30 A.M.

ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAMEWelcome to our worship service. We are honored by your presence and count it a blessing to share this time together. May the warmth and acceptance of Christ’s love surround you this, and every day.

Organ Prelude

Welcome Gradye Parsons

Choral Prelude Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Chancel Choir

Call to WorshipLeader: We are called here this morning to learn of Christ’s

healing love.People: Help us, O Lord, to learn your lessons of compassion.Leader: Everyday there are many ways in which we can offer

help to others.People: Help us, O Lord, to be ready to reach out to all in need.Leader: Come, let us worship the One who prepares us for

service.People: Let us sing our songs of praise to the One who has

healed us.

Opening Prayer Shelley MillerLord of mercy and compassion, be with us this day as we hear of the healing love of Jesus. Remind us that we are also recipients of his compassion and we are called to bring the same hope and love to others. Prepare us for service in His Name. Amen.

(please stand as the organ begins)

*Hymn No. 38 Ye Servants of God

Scripture Reading Isaiah 35:1-7 p. 549

Call to Confession Hear Our Prayer, O Lord, Chancel Choir

Prayer of ConfessionPatient Lord, you know us so well. We are fascinated by healing and can talk all day about the miracles, but we do not understand the compassion of Christ. We often say, “Just heal us; or Just make me rich; or Just make things go better at work” or other such deals and then we promise our faithfulness and witness. But in our hearts, we just don’t get it. Please forgive us, Lord, when our greed and fear gets in the way of understanding. Help us to know the transformational power of your love. Get us ready to be faithful witnesses to you in all that we say and do. It is in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Declaration of Pardon

*Response Sung by CongregationGlory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

*Hymn No. 170 Give Thanks

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

Ritual of Friendship Members and Guests - Please sign and pass the friendship register

located on the center aisle under the pew in front

Children’s Sermon Gradye Parsons

Anthem God of Heaven, Chancel Choir (led by Bob Eubanks) (lyrics on back)

Scripture Mark 7:24-39 p. 768Sermon Learning Inclusive Compassion Gradye Parsons

GIVE THANKS TO GOD

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy

kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offertory Shelley Miller

*Doxology Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

The Celebration Hymnal, p. 815

*Affirmation of Faith (from St. Johns-Grace Episcopal)We are reborn in the Spirit, followers of that Way shown by Jesus: to love God with our whole being; to love our neighbors as ourselves; to treat others as we would have them treat us; to strive for justice and peace; to have respect and compassion for every person and for the whole of creation; to forgive those who do us harm; to love one another as Christ loved us. This is our community. This is our faith.

GO IN GOD’S NAME – BEGINNING OF MISSION

*Passing of the Peace Shelley Miller

Leader: As Jesus offered himself to secure our peace with God, let us share that peace with one another. The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And Also with You. (Exchange Signs of Reconciliation and the Peace of Christ with your neighbor - e.g., “The Peace of Christ be with you.” Response - “And also with you.”)

*Hymn No. 656 Take Time to Be Holy

*Pastoral Benediction Gradye Parsons

*Congregational Benediction Make Us One Make us one, Lord, make us one. Holy Spirit make us one. Let Your love flow so the world will know We are one in You. (repeat)Tag: Let Your love flow so the world will know We are one in You.

*Organ Postlude ____________________________________________________*For those who are able, please stand

Ushers: Ben Cartledge, Walt Tappan, Sherry Brown, Mickey BrownAccompanist: Todd Spangler, George Hill Hearing Aids are available for use anywhere in the sanctuary. The ushers have them available.

Enlarged copies of hymns are at the sanctuary entrances.

Please recycle the bulletins and enlarged hymns. Place them in the boxes provided at the entrances to the sanctuary.

Fountain City Presbyterian LOVES children in worship

To make families more comfortable we have worship bags that contain a clipboard, a “boogie board”, markers, crayons and colored pencils in the wagons located in the Narthex and outside the sanctuary near the chancel. Children’s bulletins and color sheets are in the clear bags. Please return the worship bags to the nearest wagon after worship.