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."

Two opportunities for adults interested in joining in membership with First Presbyterian Church Bristol are coming up in September. Both meetings will be held in the chapel.

We receive members in one of three ways:

If you are interested in these opportunities, or want more information, please contact Dave Welch at [email protected].

Are you interested in knowing more about the Presbyterian Church in general and FPC specifically? If so, come join a new short-term (six to eight weeks) Sunday morning adult class with several other interested folks. We'll talk about church history, worship traditions, service and fellowship opportunities, what and why we believe, and even where you may fit in, just to name a few questions we will be addressing. The class begins Sunday, September 16, in room 125 (right off the Fellowship Hallway). It will be taught by Dave Welch and promises to be engaging, informative, and dare he say it ... entertaining.

Speaking of Adult Learning, this month our Wednesday evening programs will feature Chuck Thompson and the Book of James. Join us for an incredible meal, followed by even more incredible teaching! Also, if you are not currently participating in any Adult Learning and would like to gather with other folks on Sunday morning, there is a new class for you. Matt Richardson and Andrew Beck will be facilitating a look at the Gospel of John, starting Sunday, September 16, in room 123 (past the kiosk across from the main office). No preparation is needed, just show up and join in the reading and lively discussion.

The Children's Ministries will hold a Parents' Night Out from 6:00 to 8:30 on Friday, September 14, in the Education Wing. This event is for newborns through sixth graders. Please let Lilly Osborne know the number and ages of the children to expect so that she can provide dinner and materials for all of them. To sign up, email Lilly at [email protected], call or text her at 423-383-5476, or use the Children's Ministries Facebook page.

"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.

 

 

FPC's most recent financial summary shows an encouraging trend for pledges and offerings. Here are the financial highlights through July 31, followed by a table of revenue and expenses.

 

2018	July Actual YTD ($)	July Budget YTD ($)	Annual Budget ($)
Revenue
Total Pledges	387,341	377,876	649,436
Offerings	61,349	47,833	82,000
Other Gifts , Income & Reimbursements	48,423	48,096	104,713
Total Income:	497,114	473,806	836,149
Expenses
Evangelism & Outreach	15,192	9,901	50,297
Worship & Music	39,070	45,561	76,105
Christian Education	138,362	143,840	244,040
Administration	88,731	100,575	231,280
Building & Grounds	81,239	89,461	151,962
Fellowship & Stewardship	12,422	17,800	32,520
Total Expense:	375,016	407,138	786,204
Surplus/Deficit(-)	122,098	66,668	49,945

 

Memorials and honoraria are published in the newsletter only after the family has been personally notified by our business office. Today we gratefully acknowledge gifts to the church in memory of:

LaVerne Frazier: to the Flower Fund from Barbara Thomas

Betty Mott (mother of Betsy Galliher): to the Capital Fund from Fred & Heidi Harkleroad

Lee Truman (father of Linda Welch): to the Capital Fund from Fred & Heidi Harkleroad

It's all about the numbers.

We are looking to field a team of 11 players.

Football?

No.

HANDBELLS!

Did you know it generally requires 11 players to play a standard 3-octave handbell arrangement? We are capable of playing much larger arrangements; the church actually owns 4 + ½ octaves of bells. That's 56 bells in all: the upper half of a piano and then some. All we need are the people to ring them.

It appears we have 6 ringers returning from last year. We need 5 more people to come practice 1 hour a week, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Monday. Are you 1 of the 5? There is no nominating committee that will call on you. You have to nominate yourself. Age is not important. You can be 8 or 80. But you must love music. If you can tell the difference between a line and a space, you can follow a simple handbell part.

Email me ( [email protected]), call me (423-341-0378), or stop me in the hall ("Hey, Bob!"). I'd love to talk with you about ringing with us this year. Our first rehearsal will be Monday, September 10, at 5:30 p.m. Make sure that 1 of the 5 new faces we see is yours. Thanks! / Bob Greene

Sunday's music: Our anthem, "The Presence," was composed by G. Alan Smith (b. 1946),

	G. Alan Smith

who has long been associated with the United Methodist Church. With two degrees from Southern Methodist University, Smith currently serves as senior music editor at Abingdon Press in Nashville. The text of the anthem refers to the scriptural invitation that Christ offered to his disciples (and to us) at the Last Supper.

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

Organist's footnotes: Last year, a young man approached me about taking organ lessons. He played saxophone in his high school band but had no formal training on the piano. When I asked him how he got interested in the organ, he said it was the blockbuster movie Interstellar, which features the pipe organ extensively in its soundtrack. I saw Interstellar when it was released in 2014, so I knew what he was talking about. Nevertheless, I wanted to dig deeper to better understand how a film could pique someone's interest in the pipe organ.

	Hans Zimmer

It didn't take me long to figure it out. Based on comments that people posted about this film, I came to the conclusion that this may be the first time that many people, especially young people, have experienced the power and majesty of a real, "live" pipe organ, even if they hear it reproduced though a Dolby Surround Sound system. Relatively few people attend church these days, and of those who do, fewer still attend services that have a decent pipe organ, or any organ at all, let alone a magnificent instrument played by a skilled professional. Even Hans Zimmer (b. 1957), the hugely successful composer of Interstellar's musical score, was apparently unaware of the organ's many capabilities. Zimmer learned much from working with organist Roger Sayer, whose expertise helped make the organ shine. (For more information on this subject, please pick up my handout, "Hans Zimmer - Making of INTERSTELLAR Soundtrack," available in the narthex.)

For those unfamiliar with the film, Interstellar is set in a dystopian future where earth is becoming uninhabitable. The film follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in space in search of a new home for humanity. At the heart of this far-flung epic is a touching love story between a father and his daughter, who become separated for much of their lives. This heart-wrenching theme of separation and isolation is made palpable through the music.

Zimmer's music can be described as minimalistic, meaning he purposefully limits his material, making subtle shifts in the patterns of the music. We need to allow the music to unfold at its pace, not ours. The father-daughter theme, "Day One," is the musical core of the film. I will play it on the piano during the serving of the Lord's Supper. "Organ Variation" (prelude) is spare and austere yet somehow emotionally moving in its own way. However, "No Time for Caution" (postlude) is anything but spare. It is music that heightens the tension of the dramatic action happening onscreen.

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