Rivermont calls Thomas
The Rev. Clay Thomas, a native of Greenville, S.C., has been hired as pastor of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike. He was installed last Sunday at the church.
The Rev. Taylor Hill, a retired Presbyterian Church USA minister and motorcycle-riding friend of the new minister, preached at the service.
Thomas comes to Rivermont from 1,100-member First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, Fla., where he was associate pastor for the last six years. There, he founded the Sarasota Interfaith Alliance and served on the Sarasota Ministerial Board.
He is a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor's degree in forest resources. He received a master's degree in divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary and is pursuing a doctorate in ministry in Christian leadership from Duke Divinity School.
Prior to seminary, Thomas worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in Sitka, Alaska, was a youth director in Charleston, S.C., was a chaplain for a diagnostic prison and sold medical supplies.
He and his wife, the Rev. Patricia Dillon Thomas, are the parents of three children - Mason, 10, Fields, 6, and Wellspring, 2.
Interfaith service
• Baha'i Faith Worship Center, 2405 Hamill Road, Hixson; 11 a.m. today; interfaith devotional gathering with topic "Understanding and Following the Will of God" (refreshments served); 599-0153.
Marriage
• St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 13; First Things First Maximize Your Marriage class for couples in distress; free (includes lunch); 267-5383.
Music
• First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 433 Oak St. (Oak Street Center); 5 p.m. today; concert by Irish country gospel band Live Issue, with Purely Acoustic from LaGrange, Ga., as openers; free but $10 suggested love offering; 756-2021.
• Greater Community Church of Chattanooga, 1817 E. Third St.; 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14; concert by Cathedral of Praise Choir, Michelle Prater and Pam Crawford; free; 364-3043.
Patriotic services
• Graysville United Methodist Church, 2331 Graysville Road, Graysville, Ga.; 9:30 a.m. Sunday; patriotic international service features message by author and retired military chaplain David Boyd Lackey, patriotic medley by South Korea native Ahmi Emig and the church choir, refreshments by American Red Cross, with guests including World War II English bombings survivor Phyllis Pearson, Catoosa County Commissioner Jim Cutler, Scouts and the Vietnam Veterans of America; 296-4375.
• First Church of the Nazarene, 5455 North Terrace Road; 10:45 a.m. Sunday; choir presentation, "I Salute You"; free; 893-7756.
Retreat
• Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Way, Cullman, Ala.; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Saturday, July 13; day of reflection, "By Little and By Little: Reflecting on Dorothy Day," centers on co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement; free but lunch $9; pre-registration requested but not required; 256-734-8302.
Service camps
• Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga/Chattanooga First Church of the Nazarene, South Terrace Road; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 29-Aug. 2; concurrent Philanthropy Camp for rising first- through sixth-graders, and Camp Tikkun Olam for rising seventh- through ninth-graders, both regardless of religious affiliation; $120 for first camper and $100 for additional sibling; snacks provided but campers bring own lunch; 493-0270, ext. 10, email camp@jewishchattanooga.com.
Transitions
• Mac Brown has been hired as an assistant rector at Church of the Good Shepherd, 211 Franklin Road, Lookout Mountain, and will be honored by the church on Sunday, July 14.
• George Palmer, pastor of Ridgeview Baptist Church, 1001 Magnolia St., LaFayette, Ga., has resigned, having served for 61 years at Trion Heights Baptist, South Summerville Baptist, Mikado Baptist (Macon, Ga.), Lille Baptist (Lille, France) and Ridgeview.
• Diane Stocker, interim associate pastor for almost six years at Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike, has ended her tenure at the church.
Vacation Bible school
• Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 66 Westbrook Road, Ringgold, Ga.; 6:15-8 p.m. July 14-18; ages 4 years through fifth grade; theme: "VBS Athens: Paul's Dangerous Journey"; 706-935-3031 or www.mtpisgahbaptist.com.
• East Brainerd Baptist Church, 1047 Graysville Road; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; ages 3-fifth grade; 892-4253.
• One Accord Community Church, 343 Sweetland Drive; July 14-18; preschool-adults; theme: "Colossal Coaster World"; bus service available; 875-8377 or oneaccordcommunitychurch.org.
• New Salem Baptist Church, 9806 Dallas Hollow Road, Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; 6-9 p.m. July 14-19; ages 3-adults; theme: "Colossal Coaster World"; registration, 842-3078 or email newsalembaptistchurch@comcast.net.
• Greater Community Church of Chattanooga, 1817 E. Third St.; 6-8:30 p.m. July 16-19; 364-3043.
• Rock Spring United Methodist Church, 3477 Peavine Road, Rock Spring, Ga.; 5:15-8 p.m. Aug. 1-2 and 4-8 p.m. Aug. 3; meals included; ages preschool-fifth grade; theme: "SonWest Roundup"; 919-491-6600 or email jennineighbors@hotmail.com.
- Compiled by staff writer Clint Cooper