Melissa Galliher Is Our First Children’s Music Minister
We are delighted to announce that FPC has hired our first-ever Children’s Music Minister! Please join us in welcoming to our staff Melissa Galliher, whose mission is to guide our children through music to glorify the Lord Jesus. Melissa says: “I am so excited and honored to become part of the staff at First Presbyterian Church. Worshiping our Heavenly Father through His gift of music has consistently been a way I have experienced the awesomeness of God’s presence. I believe that a children’s music ministry can plant resilient seeds of faith. This ministry is invaluable for teaching God’s truth and fostering the love of Jesus Christ. Each of us is uniquely talented. I want to share with our children how music can be an amazing way to experience and share God’s abundant love. Thank you for this incredible opportunity!”
|
Sleepers, Awake! DST Returns
Before we wake, let’s dream for a moment of music that moved through centuries, and from one pandemic to another, to reach our slumbering ears. In the year 1598, when the bubonic plague struck, twice, in Unna, Germany, the pastor, poet, and hymnodist Philipp Nicolai was serving the town’s Lutheran church. One of his responses to the sickness and death all around him was to write a collection of meditations to comfort his congregation. A Mirror of the Joys of Everlasting Life included two original hymns, one of which was “Wachet auf,” “Wake, Awake.” In Leipzig 133 years later, Nicolai’s long-lived hymn so inspired J. S. Bach that he braided it into the second chorale of his great cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 140). We know this chorale as “Sleepers, Awake!”
“Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us,
the shout of rampart-guards surrounds us:
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
In the absence of watchmen, mechanical alarms, musical or not, now jolt us awake. Whatever form our timekeepers take, we will remember to set them ahead one hour as we head to bed Saturday night. We don’t need to march through the centuries, just get ourselves to church on time. Daylight Saving Time will have sprung ahead already.
|
New to the Narthex
Our church has been led by 16 pastors over the 164 years since its organization in 1858. We are fortunate to have photographs of all 15 of our former head pastors, back to our genesis. We thank the Worship Committee for undertaking the task of collecting and framing these historic portraits. This work is now hanging in the narthex; take a look!
|
Women’s Bible Study Begins March 17
We are so excited to announce a weekly Bible study for women of all ages. Beginning on Thursday, March 17, we will meet weekly from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in room 117 at the church. Dottie Havlik and Peggy Hill will be our facilitators. All are welcome. Child care will be available if you call the church office by Tuesday so that adequate staffing can be arranged. Come and enjoy good fellowship as we grow in God’s Word together!
|
|
Worship
March 13
2nd Sunday in Lent
Scripture
Jeremiah 31:10–12
Genesis 15
1 Peter 1:17–21
Sermon
Blessings and Consequences
Sam Weddington
Attendance
Ash Wednesday: 95
Sunday: 9:00: 136; 11:00: 80
(Online count n/a)
|
Calendar
Sunday, March 13
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:10 a.m.
Sunday School
10:15 a.m.
New Members Class
Chapel
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
7:00 p.m.
King Worship Night
College Room
Monday, March 14
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting
Room 123
7:00 p.m.
Worship Committee
Room 123
Tuesday, March 15
7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee
Zoom
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, March 16
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
Handbell Practice
Sanctuary
7:00 p.m.
Praise Band Practice
Fellowship Hall
7:15 p.m.
Choir Practice
Room 202
Thursday, March 17
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study
Room 117
|
Lenten Devotionals Available
Our Lenten guide, Making the Road: Walking through Lent, is a set of daily reflections and prayers based on Antonio Machado’s poem, “Walker.” He writes: “Walker, there is no road, the road is made by walking.” You can pick up copies at the church, and we post a PDF on our Facebook page each week. |
|
|
Lenten Prayer Stations in Place
We had a wonderful time at the Family Lenten Journey last Sunday learning about four specific prayers: thanksgiving, lament, intercession, and confession. We made a prayer cube to help us pray during Lent. The stations remain in place, so that individuals and families can go to each on their own time as the season progresses. The Prayer of Thanksgiving station is outside the fellowship hall. Write something that you are thankful for on a Post-it note and add it to the bulletin board. The Prayer of Lament station is in the fellowship hall. Cast all your anxieties on Jesus. Write out your deepest concern and lay it at the foot of the cross. Look at the cross and decide on a word to take with you, such as hope, faith, joy. The Prayer of Intercession station is on the mission wall. As you walk down the hallway, look at the missionaries we support and pray for them. The Prayer of Confession station is in the chapel. Enjoy a mint as you think about the sweetness of forgiveness! The Children’s Ministries hopes these stations will provide a meaningful time of prayer and reflection for you and your family. /Lilly Osborne
|
|
Music during Lent
Lent is a 40-day season that Christians throughout the world observe to commemorate the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert prior to his earthly ministry. From Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday, many Christians honor Jesus’ fasting by “giving up” certain things in an attempt to emulate the sacrifices that Christ made. For others, Lent is a time of penitential prayer in preparation for Easter.
To assist our congregation in looking toward the Resurrection, the Sanctuary Choir will sing a setting of “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) each Sunday during Lent. Some of the anthems are in English and some in Latin but the text is the same:
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.
Composers throughout history have set this reflective text. Our choir will sing some settings that are quite new and some that are old. There are several things to consider with the text: 1) the focus is on the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for us by taking the place of the Hebraic sacrificial lamb; 2) the text is written in three phrases, symbolic of the Trinity; 3) each of the phrases is sung three times, again, symbolic of the Trinity.
On Palm Sunday, the choir will bring you an African-American spiritual and follow it on Maundy Thursday with variations on an important Protestant hymn from the 16th century. The anthem for Good Friday will acknowledge the darkness of the world before the light returns on Easter Sunday. As is traditional in our church, we will have brass players at 11:00 on Easter Sunday, and you will hear music from Handel’s Messiah. Travel with us on this journey as we recognize that Easter is not possible without the suffering that Christ endured beforehand. /Pat Flannagan
|
|
New Dates for Summer Mission Trip
Student Ministries is hosting a summer mission opportunity in Orlando, Florida, for students, adults, and families. We would love to see an intergenerational team serving together in Orlando this summer! The trip is now scheduled to take place June 23–30. With Serve Orlando, we will work with different ministries and agencies in the area. Our group will also enjoy a day at Universal Parks and an afternoon at the beach. Rising 1st graders through rising 6th graders must be accompanied by an adult. Rising 7th graders through rising 12th graders may come solo or bring family and friends. Join the informational Zoom meeting tonight, Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m. to get all the details. For more information, contact Katie Arnold.
|
|
The Promise for Home Groups
Our new semester of Home Groups has begun! In our new curriculum, The Promise, we are talking about God’s promises to Abraham, fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. You can access the curriculum on our website here. You can also watch for it to drop on social media on our Facebook site dedicated to Home Groups.
New Members Class
Our New Members Class meets on Sundays at 10:15 in the chapel. All newish members are welcome! We enjoy fellowship and talk about the history of the Presbyterian Church, specifically FPC; the PCUSA's national and local organization; and the ways you can plug in and serve. Dave Welch has the answers.
|
|
Munchtime at Fairmount
We are collecting goldfish crackers for Fairmount schoolchildren this week. Next up is our final two-week snack drive, for little pretzels. As ever, please put your donated snacks in one of the collection boxes (in the narthex and the fellowship hallway). We will take them to the school. Thank you!
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. |
|
Keep Kids Safe
We now lock the doors of the education wing to help keep our children safe. Parents must sign their kids in when they drop them off and sign them out when they pick them up. There are sign-in sheets at the nursery and for Kids’ Kirk and Sunday School. Parents can gain access at any time by using one of the key cards hanging by Lilly Osborne’s office door. Please do not distract students and teachers by hovering in the hallways during class time.
Our COVID Protocols
The session strongly encourages masks for those not fully vaccinated, or at higher risk of COVID-19 complications. The session encourages everyone to consult their medical professional about vaccinations and boosters.
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. |
|
|
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:
-
Dr. Jerry Cherry (father of Ben Cherry): to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from John & Karen Vann
-
Mary T. Dubose: to the Memorial Fund from Frank Winston
-
Garrett Foster (son of John & Karen Vann): to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from Kaye Crutchfield, from Lee & Robin North, from John & Karen Vann; to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Barb Duncan
-
Ron Grubbs: to the Minister’s Discretionary Education Fund from Kaye Crutchfield, from Lee & Robin North
-
Bob & Betty Millard: to the Memorial Fund from Kaye Crutchfield
-
Alice Moore: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Kaye Crutchfield
-
Martha North: to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from John & Karen Vann; to the Memorial Fund from Kaye Crutchfield
-
Jan Patrick: to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from John & Karen Vann
-
Frances Rowell: to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from John & Karen Vann; to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Dulcie Bowers, from Kaye Crutchfield, from Gay Hillman, from Amelia Jarrard, from Barbara Kurre, from Richard & Beverly McCallum, from Jane Nickels, from Joyce & Sid Oakley, from Peggy Peters, from Frank Winston
-
Chuck Thompson: to the Brazil Mission Fund from Kaye Crutchfield
-
Bill Wade: to the Church Library Fund from Kaye Crutchfield
In honor of:
-
Katie Arnold & Student Ministries: to the Student Ministries Fund from Lee & Robin North
-
FPC Staff: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Frances Emerson & George Huber
-
Sandra Grubbs: to the Minister’s Discretionary Education Fund from Lee & Robin North
-
Lilly Osborne & Children’s Ministries: to the Children’s Ministries Fund from Lee & Robin North
-
Donna & Roger Sikorski: to the Memorial /Honorarium Fund from Lee & Robin North
-
Sam Weddington: to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from John & Karen Vann
-
Sam Weddington & Grace Kim: to the Memorial/Honorarium Fund from Lee & Robin North
-
Dave Welch: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Frances Emerson & George Huber
-
Linda & Dave Welch: to the Memorial/Honorarium Fund from Lee & Robin North
|
|
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) was an English composer strongly influenced by Tudor music and English folk song. Vaughan Williams was born to a well-to-do family with strong moral views and a progressive social life. His paternal forebears were of mixed English and Welsh descent. His great-uncle was none other than Charles Darwin. When the young Vaughan Williams asked his mother about Darwin’s controversial book On the Origin of Species, she answered, “The Bible says that God made the world in six days. Great Uncle Charles thinks it took longer: but we need not worry about it, for it is equally wonderful either way.”
Although the organ was not his preferred instrument, the only post he ever held for an annual salary was as a church organist and choirmaster. In 1903–1904 Vaughan Williams started collecting folk songs. He went into the English countryside noting down and transcribing songs traditionally sung in various locations. The two pieces we will hear Sunday come from a set of three preludes founded on Welsh hymn tunes, published in 1920 by Stainer & Bell. Our prelude, “Rhosymedre” (“Lovely”) sways and lilts gracefully. Our postlude, “Bryn Calfaria” (“Mount Calvary”) is much more vigorous and dramatic.
|
|
|
|
We want to pray for and celebrate with you! Send your prayer requests and glad tidings to [email protected].
In Our Prayers
Please also pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
|
|
|
Anna Arbo & family
Wayne Ausmus
Kevin Benton
Bill & Betty Bingham
Rebecca Bloomfield
Ralph Booher
Sujean Bradley
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Bill Coleman
Egypt Mission Trip
Randi Edwards
K.D. Forsha
Tammy Fredrickson
DeeDee Galliher
Emma Grubbs & Gina Roberson
Haiti
Lou Hebb
Eddie Hill
Porter Hillery
Davan & Kristi Johnson
Kaduna State
Jim & Joan Keith
Marty & Kara Keys
|
|
Nancy Lilly
Diana Mattison
Dot Mattison
Roger McCracken
Kathy McGlothlin
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Breanna Necessary
Lee & Robin North
Evan & Britt Patrick
Pastor Bruce Plummer
June Prado
Alison Quickel
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Kreg Ramey
Roberta
Mike Ruger
Michelle S.
Malcolm Sprinkle
Teachers & school administrators
Scott VanNostrand
Bill & Patsy Ward
Michael Weller
Carlena Williams
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
