Come learn about our Christian education classes this Sunday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our Sunday School celebration is for all ages. Children's Ministries will describe the changes to Kids' Kirk, hand out notebooks to the children who completed the previous year, and run quickly through the Old Testament. This year, Kids' Kirk is available to ages up to fourth grade, and the children will come back into the service on communion Sundays. Children's Ministries will also present Bibles to our second-grade students, and if there is time, give a short-short lesson. Student Ministries will kick off the 2018 confirmation class by giving Bibles to new confirmands.

1. by baptism and profession of faith,
2. by reaffirmation of faith (for those who have been baptized but are not currently active in another congregation), and
3. by transfer of church membership.

Test your knowledge of English handbell terminology and lore, and even discover how these bells were involved in English pub life. Who knows? You might decide to give these unique instruments a try and make some beautiful music! You'll find 10 questions and answers here.

If you score 50% or higher on this quiz, you definitely should consider ringing with us every Monday evening from 5:30 to 6:30! Our first rehearsal is this Monday, September 10, in the handbell room upstairs. Even if you miss every question, don't let that stop you. We can teach you everything you need to know. Please contact me at [email protected] and let me know you're interested. We're fun-loving people, and we may even ring at the early service this year! / Bob Greene

Please join us Wednesday, September 12, at 5:30 for a supper of fried chicken, a vegetable, salad, and dessert in the Fellowship Hall. At 6:20, Chuck Thompson will lead adults in the second of three sessions on the Book of James. High School Small Groups, Middle School Gathering, and Wednesday Night Kids will meet at 6:00. Please join us!

The Wednesday Women's Bible Study begins its study of Philippians next week with the aid of John MacArthur's Christ, the Source of Joy and Strength. This week's meeting was organizational, so there's time to join in without missing anything! All women are invited to the September 12 meeting, when the study begins in earnest. Anyone who wants to participate may 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 meeting is an informal time to discuss God's Word, pray, and enjoy one another's company. Drop by the Coffee Klatch Room any Wednesday morning to see whether this small group fits your needs.

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."

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).

When I was just a little boy, Daddy told me, "Son, put this money in the offering." He handed me a couple of coins, usually quarters, one for the Sunday School offering and the other for the church offering. When the basket or plate was passed, I put the coin into the offering and felt like I was participating in something big. I felt like I was joining with others in the church to contribute to something that none of us could do alone, but together, with the Holy Spirit, we could make big things happen.

I felt joy when I handed that coin over to the offering. It wasn't as though I was giving up anything, rather I was adding to a collective effort, a team goal that would produce good results. Those coins were given to me from my parents, and I had no claim to them as my own. Placing them in the collection place was an effortless action, even joyful, since I was also pleasing my parents and didn't feel that I was giving anything up.

A few years later, I was old enough to make a little money from my paper route. That was a big step because I was earning those dollars by my own effort and discipline. That was my money because I had earned it. When it came time to place some of my money in the offering plate, I was conflicted. I felt that I had ownership of that money, it was mine, I worked hard for it pedaling a single-speed Huffy with balloon tires and baskets filled with newspapers every single day. I had to climb hills, ward off neighborhood dogs, catch customers who were trying to dodge my efforts to collect for their subscription, and everything else it took to run a business as a 14-year-old. That was my money, and by golly, I wasn't going to just give it away.

Eventually, my patient parents and a grace-filled deacon at church led me to an understanding that the money from my paper route was a blessing in the same manner that the earlier coins from my father were blessings. It was not about the money: a handful of quarters or a stack of wrinkled dollars. The blessing was in the knowledge, in the understanding that everything comes from the Father in the same manner that the talents came from the master in Matthew 25. I was blessed to have been trusted as a steward of some of the master's material worth.

Here's the thing. If I hold on to the misguided notion that I have earned whatever talents and skills that have come my way through experience and educational efforts, that I own my time and deserve to use it for my own pleasure, that I have earned the money and treasures in my keeping and can spend it as I please, then I have denied myself the peace and joy that comes from being a part of God's grace and joy. All things come from God. It's all His. I have no claim to them as my own. His gift to us is to trust us with a few worldly resources in the form of time, talent, and treasure. Our love for Him is shown by our diligence as good stewards of these Godly gifts.

We, the members of First Presbyterian Church Bristol, have historically stepped up to help others in our congregation, in our neighborhood, in our world missions, by giving generously of our precious time, abundant talents, and valued treasures. We join together to contribute joyfully to something that none of us could do alone, but together, with the Holy Spirit, we make big things happen. Please take note of the benevolences supported by First Presbyterian Church on this partial list and give thanks that you, too, are a trusted steward of his gifts; a good and faithful servant./ Jerry Poteat

The following benevolences are supported by pledges and offerings to FPC Bristol.

 

 

Sunday's music: Our anthem, "Blessed Are All They Who Fear Him," is taken from the oratorio Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 -1847). The entire oratorio was

	Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in 1847

performed here at FPC in 2008. It musically sets the story of Elijah the Prophet as told in 1 and 2 Kings. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was a descendant of prominent Jews in Germany, but his father converted to Christianity and Felix was baptized. At that point, the family was dead to their Jewish family and the name was hyphenated (Mendelssohn-Bartholdy) to distinguish them from their ancestors. The selection being sung Sunday is a textual addition by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy that was inserted after the story of the Widow and her son. / Pat Flannagan

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

Organist's footnotes: When I was a child of six or seven years old, I remember sitting in church (First Presbyterian Church, Utica, New York) listening to the organist play. I can remember thinking how unimaginative and boring the music sounded. I actually felt sorry for the organist who had to play such music all the time. I thought, "The last thing I want to be when I grow up is a church organist!" I would love to know what music I was listening to at the time. Was I simply not mature enough to appreciate it? Or was the repertoire really as lackluster as it sounded?

	Aaron David Miller

I think if composer Aaron David Miller had been born a generation earlier, I just might have had a very different impression of the organ. Miller (b. 1972) composes creative music that is definitely not boring. He has the ability to take well-known hymn tunes and transform them with his refreshingly innovative settings. I hope you will agree as you hear all three service pieces. The last thing I want to be as a church organist is boring!

Miller began his studies in organ performance under the guidance of Carlene Neihart in Kansas City and continued in Chicago with David Schrader. At that time, he attended the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where he studied composition with Bruce Horst. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1995 from the Eastman School of Music, studying organ performance with David Craighead, Russell Saunders, David Higgs, and Michael Farris and composition with Samuel Adler and Joseph Schwantner. Miller completed his graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music, earning his Master of Music degree in 1997 and his Doctor of Musical Arts in 1999. He studied composition and organ performance with McNeil Robinson. He currently serves as the Director of Music and Organist at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minn., where he lives with his wife, Nina, and their son, Zachary. / Bob Greene

Sunday, September 9

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

10:00 a.m.     Sunday School Rally, Fellowship Hall

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

12:00 p.m.     Session Receives New Members, Chapel

5:30 p.m.       Stewardship Comm., Room 123

6:30 p.m.       Student Ministries Kickoff, 

Fellowship Hall

Monday, September 10

5:30 p.m.       Handbell Choir, Room 212

7:00 p.m.       Building & Grounds Comm., Room 117

7:00 p.m.       Worship Comm., Room 123

Tuesday, September 11

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

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

6:00 p.m.       Venture Crew 3, Room 165

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

Wednesday, September 12

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

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 Program

7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups

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

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

Thursday, September 13

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

8:30 a.m.       Meals on Wheels, Fellowship Hall

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

4:30 p.m.       Human Resources Comm., Room 117

Friday, September 14

6:00 p.m.       Parents' Night Out, Education Wing

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