First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

This month, James E. & Mary Thomas, Vicki & Lew Wallace, and Ben S. Kimbrough have given a memorial for Charlotte Jolly.

Preschool Open House -  on August 10th at 10 am in the sanctuary. Rally Day on August 13 Blessing of the Backpacks  - A ll  children, youth, college students and educators are invited to bring their   backpacks or workbags to be blessed during   10 am worship .  This is a wonderful tradition and a great   way to set the intention at the beginning the year with positivity and   prayer.  Second Sunday Lunch  - Enjoy a complimentary picnic-themed lunch in Fellowship Hall around 11:15 am and learn about exciting opportunities for children and adults to fellowship in Christ in the coming year. First Full Day of Classes -  for both the Learning Center and Preschool on August 14.

The courts in FPC's Activities and Outreach Center ( 215 Foster St. ) are now available for pickleball! The program is open to all, and donations are accepted.    We have balls and four paddles for those who do not have their own equipment.  As the program grows, we will determine when we need to begin scheduling to reserve courts. Please e mail fpc.pickleball@gmail.com if you have any questions. HOURS: Monday/Friday (4:00pm - 6:00pm) Tuesday/Thursday (7am - 9am) Wednesday (3pm - 5pm)

FPC invites you to Second Sunday Lunch on August 13! It is open and free to all, though donations are appreciated. Join us after worship in Fellowship Hall around 11:15 for a picnic-themed menu provided by the Fellowship Committee. During lunch, hear about exciting opportunities for children and adults to learn, grow, and fellowship in Christ this coming year. 

Charlotte Jolly   James E. & Mary Thomas  Vicki & Lew Wallace Ben S. Kimbrough Bold font indicates those who have passed away; regular font indicates those who have requested the memorial. Memorials received after July 16 will be on the newsletter dated August 27.

You are invited to sing or play an instrument during 10 am worship on August 13! This is perfect for beginner-intermediate singers or folks who haven't pulled out their instruments in years but want to ease back into playing.  One and Done Choir rehearsal is at 9 am in the sanctuary. We'll learn an easy piece together and then perform it during worship. If you're playing an instrument, come a little earlier at 8:45 to rehearse the hymns with the band. Contact Hannah Cruse if interested. You will be emailed sheet music so that you can practice in advance.  Let us know if you have any questions or concerns as well so that we can be thinking about how to best incorporate your musical talents going forward! 

We invite all of our children and youth, college students and educators to bring their backpacks or workbags on Sunday, August 13 to be blessed during the Children’s Moment. This is a wonderful tradition and a great way to set the intention at the beginning the year with positivity and prayer.

Join us on Rally Day Sunday, August 13, to discover exciting opportunities for children and adults to learn, grow, and fellowship in Christ this coming year at FPC. Events include One and Done Choir (rehearsal at 9 am in the sanctuary), Blessing of the Backpacks (during 10 am worship Children's Moment), and Second Sunday Lunch (in Fellowship Hall around 11:15). 

Students grades 4 through 12 are invited to the home of Paul and Nicholas Cox on Saturday, August 19th from 5:30-8:30pm. An exciting, fun filled evening of games, food, and fellowship has been planned to kick off the upcoming year of FPC’s Youth in Action! Big thanks to Paul for hosting. Please let Emily Vaughn know if you plan to attend. Hope to see you there! 

We are so excited to be growing our Sunday School class that meets during the 10:00am service. Volunteers are needed to better serve the needs of all our children in order for them to grow and learn. The class meets for about 20 minutes and all lessons and materials are provided. Please consider volunteering to support our youngest and most enthusiastic learners. Contact Emily Vaughn for more information. Thank you! 

"Shower Love" at Loaves and Fishes in Clarksville provides free haircuts, showers, toiletries, and lunches to the unhoused every 4th Monday from 9 to 11 am. The next event is coming up this Monday, July 24. If you would like to volunteer with the FPC team or drop off donations, please contact Margaret Adames or the church office.

Come see displays by blind artist Tracy Bettencourt during Art Walk in the Chapel on August 3rd from 5 to 8 pm!

It’s time for the 5th Annual John Waddle Memorial Clay Shoot benefiting Loaves and Fishes of Clarksville/Fort Campbell!  Please consider becoming a SPONSOR or putting together a 4-Person Team for the big shoot on August  12,  2023,   at CROSS CREEK CLAYS. Get Tickets Here.  Loaves and Fishes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves between 1 00 - 150  meals, six days a week  to our friends who in need of a hot meal. On Saturday, we also provide a to-go  Blessing Bag  as a  Sunday meal option. As we continue to help pack the food programs of other non-profits in the community, we need your help  to continue our mission  in Clarksville and the surrounding communities. Please see the attached flyer for more information or click on the link below to register. Also feel free to pass this information on to your shooting friends. Get Tickets Here.

We are still taking registrations for our Kindergarten Readiness camps! They're coming up fast, so contact us now at reports.alc@gmail.com or (931) 648-BOOK (2665)! Kindergarten readiness is specifically structured to ease the transition between preschool and kindergarten. Students will learn how to speak in complete sentences, use fine motor skills, listen and identify, express emotions, play with others, and more. The first camp runs from July 17 to 20, and the second from July 24 to 27. Times are 9 am to 12:30 pm every day. Costs vary for one week or two weeks, depending on how many students you're signing up.

F irst Presbyterian Preschool has over 70 years' experience with meeting the needs of young children ages 1 through PreK in Clarksville! We are state licensed with a qualified staff who meets all state standards. Register your child for the 2023-2024 school year by calling 931-645-0313 or emailing preschoolatfpc@gmail.com.

FPC Learning Center, a homeschool program with over 20 years' experience, is registering students for 2023-2024! We offer small group instruction, time for individual help, a chance to advance at your own pace, and caring, qualified instructors in a stress-free setting. Register by calling 931-648-2665 or emailing reports.alc@gmail.com. Plan a tour before classes are full!

A huge thank you to Mary Johnson who worked each week from March 30-June 30! Mary interviewed clients and made sure to have all documentation needed for the Community Development Block Grant we received. A total of 75 families were assisted, using all $20,000 provided by the city. Applicants included 58 single persons, 5 married persons, 4 separated, 6 divorced, and 2 widowed. Each client had to provide proof of income, and 64 families had income that was less than $21,150/year for a family of 4 (pro-rated for other family sizes). Some families needed help with water and electricity. Some families needed food, and thanks to Loaves & Fishes, we were able to provide food boxes for those. Additionally, we were able to use our budgeted general funds to pay for past due utilities for a few people who lived outside the city limits or were just over the income limit. A few people had no transportation, and we were able to provide bus passes for them. We did not want to turn anyone away so

The Faith and Fellowship group is for adults of all ages hosted at the home of Lynda and Hershel Basham. It is usually held on the 4th Sunday of each month from 2-4pm or as listed on the calendar. For additional information, please contact the church office. Join us for hors d'oeuvres, Bible study, and good conversation!  July 23 Aug 27 Oct 29 Dec 23

Seasons is growing! Our Tuesday/Thursday group is now seven strong. We don’t fit in one personal vehicle anymore and would like to use the church bus. If you or anyone you know has a CDL and is available for occasional trips on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please contact the church office or  Ann  Waddle. We do have some funds to pay drivers. Thank you!

Please join the Congregational Care Committee in sending cards of warm wishes this month to Charlyne Harvey as well as John and Nancy Sneed. Addresses can be found in Realm.

You are invited to One and Done Choir on July 16! What's One and Done Choir? You come, you sing, you're done! No long-term commitments to choir, no high-pressure rehearsal or performance. This is great for beginners who have always wanted to sing in choir but couldn't commit or felt intimidated in the past. Come to the sanctuary at 9 am to learn a fun, easy piece with the support of our regular choir members. Then sing the piece together during worship!  

If you are a beginner or intermediate singer, join us for our two summer workshops where we will learn how to develop greater vocal freedom, strength, and control in a solo or choral setting. TJ Morin (operatic baritone) and Hannah Cruse (FPC Director of Music & Creative Arts) will lead the two sessions on Saturdays August 19 and 26, both from 11am to 1:30pm. Snacks will be provided. Held at Makers' Corner (Activities & Outreach Building) at 215 Foster St. in Clarksville. TICKETS HERE! Saturday, August 19, 11-1:30 Focus on individual vocal freedom and comfort. Build trust and confidence. Relax and open up breathing. Optimize resonance. And more! Saturday, August 26, 11-1:30 Focus on ensemble balance and blending with others. Align diction. Match volume and timbre. Listen for tuning. And more! Instructor Bio TJ Lucien Morin is an operatic baritone from North Bergen, New Jersey. While at Montclair State University, he studied voice, tuba, and German and later transferred t