Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Maji

Come help us welcome a very special guest preacher this Sunday! Pastor Sam's friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Maji, was born in Nigeria in 1973, the third of five children in the Christian family of Mr. and Mrs. Maji Dangiwa. His father was a church planter with the Evangelical Church Winning All, a Reformed body in Nigeria. Nehemiah accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized. Over his pastoral career, he has served in different capacities in the Evangelical Church Winning All. Currently, he is the lead pastor of ECWA English Service Kaduna. He is married to Gladys, and their union is blessed with three children, Favor, Faith and Felix.

Nehemiah served as Pastor Sam's Associate Pastor in the English Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of the Lord in Seoul, South Korea. Nehemiah went to Korea to complete a Th.M. at the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary in Seoul, and later completed a Ph.D. His work focused on the life and ministry of Charles Spurgeon as a model for ministry in Nigeria. From this work, Nehemiah would later found the Spurgeon Hope Ministry dedicated to caring for elderly pastors as well as for the widows and orphans of pastors persecuted by extremists like Boko Haram. For more information, please be sure to see the brochures in the narthex.

It's music to our ears! The late service now begins at 10:55 with a prelude as an invitation to come into the sanctuary and prepare for worship. It's an opportunity to make the transition from a world of distraction to the peace of open ears and open hearts. Open the door to sanctuary!

The FPC Session will meet this Sunday with adults interested in becoming voting members of our congregation. The meeting will be held in the chapel after the 8:30 service. For more information, contact Dave Welch at [email protected].

We receive members in one of three ways:

High school students have a new Sunday School option, and it comes in regular or decaf. Student Ministries welcomes them to the High School Coffee House in the Youth Wing on Sunday mornings from 10:00 to 10:45. There they can drink in Bible study and discuss it in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. We expect it will be good to the last drop!

The Wednesday Women's Bible Study has relocated to room 117, the first door on the left as you enter the office hallway from the covered walk. We began our study of Philippians this week with the aid of John MacArthur's Christ, the Source of Joy and Strength. All women are invited to our meetings; if you want to participate, contact Dottie Havlik at 423-956-6747 or [email protected] for a copy of the book. The group meets from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Each session is an informal time to discuss God's Word, pray, and enjoy one another's company. Drop in any Wednesday morning to see whether this small group fits your needs.

Many-layered lasagna and straightforward advice are both on the program for Wednesday, September 19. Please join us for supper at 5:30 and stay for Chuck Thompson's final session on the wisdom in the letter from James, the brother of Jesus. High School Small Groups, Middle School Gathering, and Wednesday Night Kids will meet at 6:00. Come to the Fellowship Hall for a night of nourishment for body and soul.

The Officer Nominating Committee is seeking suggestions from the congregation for members to serve as Elders, Deacons, and Trustee. We welcome your suggestions of those you see as particularly gifted for serving as officers of the church. You will find nomination forms in the narthex and Fellowship Hallway. You may turn your suggestions in to the church office or to one of the committee members: Chuck Thompson (Chair), Nancy Butterworth, Debbie McMillin, Laura Ong, and Kathryn Parker. Feel free to consult any committee member for more information. A table of all current officers of the church is at the end of this newsletter.

The Duties of Elders

The Book of Order, G-2.0301, states: "As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God's Spirit and governance of God's people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they 'lord it over' the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session."

The Duties of Deacons

The Book of Order, G-2.0201, states: "The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.

The Duties of Trustees

The Book of Order, G-4.0101, states: "The corporation so formed, or the individual trustees, shall have the following powers: to receive, hold, encumber, manage, and transfer property, real or personal, for the congregation, provided that in buying, selling, and mortgaging real property, the trustees shall act only after the approval of the congregation, granted in a duly constituted meeting; to accept and execute deeds of title to such property; to hold and defend title to such property; to manage any permanent special funds for the furtherance of the purposes of the congregation, all subject to the authority of the session and under the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The powers and duties of the trustees shall not infringe upon the powers and duties of the session or the board of deacons."

Thunder and lightning may have knocked out our fun, but we are ready to slip 'n' slide this week with Florence! Student Fellowship will meet from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. this Sunday, September 16, for worship, and small groups, and end with a 100-foot slip 'n' slide of mess!

We can't wait to see you for week two of The Greatest! Have you ever felt totally confused or in awe about the way God works? Maybe that feeling has left you with even more questions about who God is. But is there a way to really get to know what He's like? This week, we'll find out that God has already given us the greatest way to get to know and understand Him: Jesus. Cole McBrayer will be giving this message. Cole is a junior at Tennessee High School and the starting quarterback for the Vikings. He is passionate in his pursuit of knowing Jesus and is so excited to bring the Word and share his faith with his church family! / Katie Arnold, Director of Student Ministries

Abby (right) and co-teacher with their sixth-grade class.

Learn more by visiting her   blog, "Further Up, Further In," or click  here to donate now.

Who would believe the value of canceled stamps? In 1972 the Alliance Stamp Ministry was formed, and as of July 2018 a total of $1,000,000 has been generated for Sunday School materials in Spanish-speaking countries and the US. So thanks to all who bring their canceled stamps to the box in the Fellowship Hallway. Remember to leave a border of at least ¼ inch around each stamp. / Peggy Peters

Sunday's music: Our anthem for September 16, "Go Forth and Tell," was composed by David Ogden (b. 1966) and focuses upon the mission of the church. Ogden is a professional composer and conductor based in Bristol, England. In the UK, he has

	David Ogden

worked extensively with the Royal School of Church Music, and with the BBC, conducting choirs on BBC Television. He has been Religious Music Adviser for the BBC's hit series Call The Midwife since its inception and worked with the Royal Mail Choir in the BBC Two series The Choir: Sing While You Work. His compositions are published by the RSCM and White Light Publishing. In April 2008 one of his anthems was performed by a 250-strong choir in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI as part of a Papal Mass in Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium in Washington, DC, with a congregation of 40,000 people in attendance. In 2015 David was made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music in recognition of his services to church music both in England and internationally.

Sunday's music participants: Bob Greene, Pat Flannagan, Sanctuary Choir.

Handbell Choir: In case you missed it, rehearsals will now be held on Wednesdays from 6:20 to 7:15 p.m. Come upstairs to room 212 after the fellowship supper and ring in some fun!

Organist's footnotes: Godwin Sadoh is a Nigerian composer, ethnomusicologist, African musicologist, organist, and choir director. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1965 and holds a B.A. degree in piano performance and composition from Obafemi Awolowo

	Godwin Sadoh

University in Nigeria; an M.A. in ethnomusicology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and a D.M.A. in organ performance and composition from Louisiana State University. Sadoh has published articles on modern African art music, organ building, church music, and the organist-composers in Nigeria. He has performed throughout Nigeria and the United States as a recitalist, accompanist, and choral conductor. He has received numerous commissions and is a recipient of the 2004 ASCAPLUS Award for the performance and publications of his compositions worldwide. Sadoh has also taught at several institutions, including the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Golden West College, Thiel College, and Baton Rouge Community College. He has served many churches in the United States as organist and choir director.

Sunday, September 16

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.       Sunday School

10:00 a.m.     Session Receives New Members, Chapel

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

1:00 p.m.       Student Fellowship, Youth Wing

4:00 p.m.       Evangelism & Outreach Comm., Room 117

Tuesday, September 18

10:00 a.m.     Staff Meeting, Room 117

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

1:00 p.m.       Jackie Burt's Heartsburn Bible Study, Room 117

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

Wednesday, September 19

9:30 a.m.       Women's Bible Study, Room 117

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Rooms 34 - 37

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

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering

6:20 p.m.       Adult Learning

6:20 p.m.       Handbell Choir, Room 212

7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Worship Team, Fellowship Hall

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir, Room 220

Thursday, September 20

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

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

Church Officers
ELDERS
Class of 2018	Class of 2019	Class of 2020
Aaron Brooks	Anna Booher	Nancy Allerton
Randy Cook	Lee Galliher	Rebecca Beck
Debbie McMillin	Pete Holler	David Hyde
Stuart Parker	Han Ong	Jordan Pennington
Chuck Thompson	Pete Stigers	Jerry Poteat
DEACONS
Class of 2018	Class of 2019	Class of 2020
Adam Abel	Sujean Bradley	Blake Bassett
Nancy Butterworth	George Linke	Rhonda Comer
David Ginn	Greg Roberts	Brenda Lawson
Rett Stocstill	Nate Sproles	Barbara Thompson
Ann Woods	Bill Whisnant
TRUSTEES
Class of 2018	Class of 2019	Class of 2020
Charles Webb	Nancy Cook	Peggy Hill