Windows
November 18, 2021
Word from the Pastor:
Abounding in Thanksgiving

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
—Colossians 2:6-7

With Thanksgiving preparations well under way, I’m sure many of you are scrambling to get everything ready. I’m still not sure what we’ll be eating when my brother and his family come to town! When it comes to our life in Christ, the day-to-day of walking faithfully can feel as ramshackle as our Thanksgiving preparations.

Here Paul helps us. Paul reminds us that we can abound in thanksgiving when we realize that we are “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” This is really important. Yes, our best-laid plans for our lives can fall apart and make us feel like we’re doing our best to keep the seams together. However, the power, the strength to stay together isn’t a matter of our effort or resourcefulness. Instead, that power flows from our receiving the Lord Jesus deeply into our lives. Once rooted in Him, we are able to abound with life-giving joy.

The key to this, however, is to “continue your lives in him.” Not to reduce it too simply, but there is a recipe when it comes to living our lives in the Lord Jesus. Reading Scripture, praying, and gathering with God’s people to grow together are part of the mix. Again, there is more we can do to continue in Christ, but these are good starts. In the end, it’s about who we’re trusting, to whom we turn when things get tough.

I pray that each of you will have a joyous Thanksgiving, abounding in the joy of seeing and fellowshipping with loved ones. However, as you gather around your tables, don’t forget the source of that thanksgiving. We belong to the Lord. Thanks be to God!

In Christ,
Pastor Sam
Advent Devotionals Available
The season of Advent begins November 28, and our 2021 Advent Devotional, composed by FPC members, is ready! You can pick up a copy (one per family) in the narthex or the fellowship hallway or download a copy here or from our Facebook page. Call the church office to have a devotional mailed to you.
Worship
November 21
Christ the King Sunday
 
Scripture
Psalm 63:3–8
Joel 2:12–16
Matthew 25:1–13
 
Sermon
Parable of the Ready Ones
Sam Weddington
 
Last Sunday’s Attendance
9:00: In person: 124;
Livestream: 34; Playback: 91
11:00: In person: 86;
Livestream: 12; Playback: 50
4:00 p.m. Memorial Service: 29
Calendar
Sunday, November 21
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
 
10:10 a.m.
Sunday School
 
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
 
3:00 p.m.
Christmas Play Rehearsal
Fellowship Hall
 
4:00 p.m.
Evangelism & Outreach Committee
Room 123
 
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
 
Monday, November 22
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting
Room 123
 
7:00 p.m.
Session of Elders
Room 123
 
Tuesday, November 23
6:15 p.m.
Handbell Practice
Sanctuary

7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
 
7:15 p.m.
Choir Practice
Room 202
 
Wednesday, November 24
No Meal or Programming
 
Thursday, November 25
Church offices closed for Thanksgiving
5-Cents-A-Meal:
Thanksgiving Offering Sunday

In both services this Sunday we will collect our annual 5-cents-a-meal Thanksgiving offering to benefit Bristol Faith in Action. This interdenominational agency reaches into the community to share the gospel and help our neighbors dealing with adversity—many more now, as the pandemic wears on. BFIA helps with utilities, rent, prescriptions, and commodities such as diapers and food, and provides referrals for financial counseling, education placement, job placement, alcohol and drug abuse programs, and for people in violent or abusive situations. Services are available to most residents in the two Bristols, Blountville, Bluff City, and part of Piney Flats. Please be generous.
Join Us for Bluegrass Dec. 5
The Goose is loose! Rev. Grace Kim and the Wild Goose community she pastors in Floyd County will be with us on the second Sunday of Advent, December 5, to lead music in worship at 9:00 and also play a few pieces during the 11:00 service. Grace will preach at both services. There will be a third service with more extensive musical offerings at 5:00 in the fellowship hall. We will take up a love offering. The Wild Goose community plays and preserves more of the old timey, mountain-style music that served as the precursor to modern bluegrass music. All are invited.


Thanksgiving Break Next Week
In anticipation of Thanksgiving next Thursday, we will not gather for our fellowship meal or programs Wednesday night. The choir will practice Tuesday, November 23, at 7:15 p.m. Handbells will practice on Wednesday as scheduled. Praise Band will not practice next week.
Christmas Play in Rehearsals
Rehearsals for the children’s Christmas play are being held on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. If your child would like to take part, please contact Lilly Osborne or Sujean Bradley.
Playing with Our Food
After our Wednesday night supper on December 1, we’ll stay in the fellowship hall and play with food. You guessed it: we’ll be decorating gingerbread houses. Join us for this intergenerational treat for the spirit!
Drop and Shop Dec. 4
We will have a Drop and Shop from 9:00 to noon on Saturday, December 4. Drop your kids off at the church, and finish your shopping, wrapping, cooking, and maybe even cleaning. Just a little holiday cheer from Children’s Ministries!
Save the Date!
The women of the church are invited to an Advent gathering on Tuesday, December 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m., in the fellowship hall.


FPC Youth Serve with Sharing Christ
Our final service date with Sharing Christ this year will be Saturday, December 4. Our youth will serve at the downtown mission, and the rest of us will round up the food. If you would like to volunteer to provide off-the-shelf items or bake a chicken-pasta casserole, please email Beth Flannagan or Becca Tate for up-to-date info on what is needed.


Updated COVID Protocols in Effect
Our updated COVID-19 policy encourages masks for those not fully vaccinated and for those at higher risk of COVID-19 complications, and vaccinations for those who have not yet received theirs. The entire updated policy is here.
Returning Pledges

If you have not yet made your 2022 pledge, you can do so now by picking up a pledge card at the church or downloading a copy here. You can drop off the completed card at the church office or mail it in, or email your pledge directly to our business manager, Betsy Galliher.


Give Safely

We encourage you to use text, mail, or our website to safely continue your faithful support of our ministries during the pandemic. You can give online by going to our website and clicking on “Give” in the upper right corner. You can send your pledge, offering, or special gift by texting fpcbristol to 73256, or mail your checks directly to the church.


How to Join Us Online

You can watch the livestream of our worship services and other activities at FPC Bristol on YouTube. Click on the link and hit “Subscribe” to receive notifications of new videos. To connect to our various Facebook sites, go to Facebook and type in FPC Bristol. Several accounts will show up. “Like” the page or ask to join a group.
Gifts to the Church

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

  • Carl Galliher: to the Memorial Fund from Rush & Lea Powers
  • Alice Moore: to the Music Projects Fund from Gwen King
  • Tony Raccioppo: to the Memorial Fund from Cora Lee Raccioppo
  • Bill Wade: to the Music Projects Fund from Gwen King
Organist's Footnotes

Healey Willan (1880–1968) is regarded as the “Dean of Canadian Composers.” He wrote more than 800 pieces of music: second only to J.S. Bach. Willan was born in England, but at age 23 he moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he remained for the rest of his life. He taught at the University of Toronto, and for many years was the organist and choirmaster at St. Mary Magdalene Church. In 1953 he was one of the composers invited to write an anthem for the coronation service of Queen Elizabeth II, and was the first non-English composer to be so honored. A quick wit, he described himself as “English by birth; Canadian by adoption; Irish by extraction; Scotch by absorption.”

Willan’s works for organ display a propensity for warmth and grandeur, qualities which are amply displayed by both our prelude and our postlude. Some call it “English cathedral style.” I call it wonderful!

Christ the King Sunday is the final Sunday of the liturgical (church) year. Sunday also marks the culmination of our sermon series on the parables of Jesus. The closing hymn, “What Is the World Like,” touches upon several of the parables we have studied over the past few weeks: The Mustard Seed (Oct. 31), The Prodigal Son (Sept. 26), The Good Samaritan (Oct. 17), and The Ten Bridesmaids (Nov. 21). This hymn asks a question: “What is the world like when God’s will is done?” And it provides an answer: “Born through our voices, our hands, and our hearts, this is a NEW WORLD where God’s will is done.” Amen!
Pray for One Another
We want to pray for and celebrate with you! Send your prayer requests and glad tidings to [email protected].


Condolences
Our love and sympathy are with Blake Collins and his family in the death of his grandfather, Warner Lee Collins Jr., on November 2; and with Ben Frizzell and his family in the death of his sister, Patty Ann Frizzell Brooks, also on November 2.
In Our Prayers
Please also pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
Anna Arbo & family
Mendy Bechtold
Bill & Betty Bingham
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Bullock family
Becky Busler
Chandler family
Collins family
Janette Cross
Ariel Damasceno
K.D. Forsha
Garrett Foster & family
Frizzell family
DeeDee Galliher
John Graham Sr.
Emma Grubbs & Gina Roberson
Haiti
Lou Hebb
Eddie Hill
Porter Hillery
Davan & Kristi Johnson
Joiner/Schiesz family
Jim & Joan Keith
Marty & Kara Keys
Morgan & Josh King & family
Nancy Lilly
Diana Mattison
Dot Mattison
Roger McCracken
Kathy McGlothlin
Montana Indian Ministries
Abigail Myers
National & international leadership
Breanna Necessary
Palestine & Israel
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Don Pridemore
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Michelle S.
Susan Solomon
Malcolm Sprinkle
Teachers & school administrators
Margaret Wade
Bill & Patsy Ward
Michael Weller
Deadline & Subscriptions
Monday is the deadline for contributions to Windows. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter by sending your name and preferred email address to the editor.
701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org