 | |
Spurgeon Hope Ministry Needs Us
Doing research the other day, I came across this declaration of John Calvin’s (in his Institutes of the Christian Religion): “Gregory the Great was the last good pope.” I traveled down the rabbit hole, researching more about the sixth-century pontiff. It turns out that I have a book of writings on Christian mysticism that includes works from Gregory the Great. I started reading, and this quote jumped out at me:
“Thus the Truth (Jesus) itself … engaged in prayer on the mountain and worked miracles in the towns. He Thus showed the way to be followed … strive after the highest things by contemplation [and] by … compassion share in the needs of the weak.”—Gregory the Great, Pastoral Care, c.590
In this text, Gregory wrestles with the idea of works and contemplation or prayer, trying to figure out, “Is one more important?” Giving examples from throughout Scripture, he comes to terms with a balance: seeking God in contemplation or prayer but not neglecting the needs of our neighbors.
To address a variety of needs that come up, we have started to focus on special offerings each month here at First Pres. This is a radical call to generosity by the leadership of our church. We are called not only to pray for our neighbors and mission partners but also, as Gregory reminds us, to take action and care for them, especially when they are in need.
An overwhelming need for our brothers and sisters in Kaduna State, Nigeria, is food security. Farming is the means of livelihood for most Christians in Kaduna State. An increase in violence against Christians from 2021 to 2022 and fears of being killed forced most people in this community to give up farming. On top of this, there has been political unrest and cash scarcity throughout Kaduna State. This has put an incredible burden on the Christian community for which Spurgeon Hope Ministry cares.
Therefore, our special offering for the month of March is for Spurgeon Hope Ministry, to assist the work being done to care for those in Kaduna State. We will take up this offering in both services Sunday, March 19. We have also set up a special fund for online giving. Click here and choose "Spurgeon Hope Ministry" in the Fund drop-down menu.
Grace and peace,
Justin Miller
|  |  | |  |
|
Worship
March 5
2nd Sunday in Lent
Communion
Scripture
Psalm 69:1–8
John 15:18–25
Sermon
“Over Our Heads”
Sam Weddington
Attendance
Ash Wednesday
In person: 135;
Livestream: 4; Playback: 52
Sunday
9:00: In person: 152;
Livestream: 30; Playback: 85
11:00: In person: 86;
Livestream: 28; Playback: 83
| |
Calendar
Sunday, March 5
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:20 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
Fellowship Hall
Monday, March 6
10:00 a.m.
Staff
Room 123
Tuesday, March 7
7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, March 8
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
Handbell Choir
Room 212
7:15 p.m.
Sanctuary Choir
Room 202
Youth Choir
Room 209
Praise Band
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, March 9
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
8:30 p.m.
Meals on Wheels
Fellowship Hall
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study
Room 123
4:30 p.m.
Human Resources Committee
Room 123
| |
|
February Collection a Success
We wanted to give everyone an update on the mission collection we took up in February. As a result of your generosity, we raised $13,385. This amount, combined with other funding, will likely allow us to purchase one van for mission and outreach work. We have a candidate in process. It needs some repair, but it is in good condition. We will keep you updated as we move forward. Thank you for your contributions to this effort!
| |
| | |
Please Welcome New Members | |
Audrey and Chase Arndt and family |
|
|
|
Making our way back into the world after the worst of the pandemic, the session has met with several individuals and families to welcome them into the fellowship at FPC. On Sunday, March 19, the whole church will welcome all of them officially in our worship services. We invite you to congratulate them when you see them in church, at the grocery store, or anywhere in Bristol and beyond.
Today we introduce three new families. We’ll introduce more new members next week. Please welcome:
Chase and Audrey Arndt. Chase serves at the Director of Student Life at King University, while Audrey, who is a stay-at-home mother, is socially indoctrinating their two young sons, Oliver (5) and Hal (3), into American culture. Their other interests include travel, community building, missions (they have served in Africa with Fred Foy and Cecily Strang), and anything outdoors.
Mark and Catherine Bell. Mark is the men’s soccer coach at King University, and Catherine is a professor at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. (Fortunately for us and Mark, she works remotely). Mark and Catherine are very involved in mission work in Zambia, Africa. Their interests include hiking, biking, and small group ministry.
Steven and Christy Doll. Steven and Christy have relocated here during retirement, making Bristol and FPC their home. Along with helping in the Senior High Youth Ministry, they are interested in missions of the church and in women’s ministry, in particular.
| |
 | |
Sign Up Today for Serve Orlando
Join us for a summer adventure in Orlando, Florida! We will leave from the church on Saturday, June 17, and drive down for a week of missions, beach, and fun. We will serve with a variety of ministries in the area, and we’ll have the option of a day at Universal Studios Florida Theme Park. We will stay in a dormitory at Forest Lake Academy, which will also provide our meals. We will return home Saturday, June 24.
We invite rising seventh grade to college students, families with rising first graders and up, and adults of all ages. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Start inviting your friends!
The cost of $400 per person includes transportation, camping, lodging in Orlando, meals (excluding travel meals), mission supplies, and a T-shirt. A day at the Universal park is an additional $115 per person. A deposit of $100 per person is due April 1. The total balance is due by June 17. Scholarships and family pricing are available.
Ready to go? Register here and pay the $100 per person deposit. You can pay online here. Choose “2023 Serve Orlando Mission Trip” in the Fund drop-down menu. Contact Katie Arnold for more information.
| |
|
We’ll Share New Communion Bread Sunday
This Sunday we will celebrate communion with a truly communal bread. We will provide individually wrapped elements for those who desire them, but the table will now have a single, gluten-free loaf that all can partake of during the Lord’s Supper.
Remember Your Lenten Devotional
Devotionals for use in personal and family reflection as we prepare for Easter are available at the church. Remember to pick yours up on Sunday. One booklet per household, please.
| |
Join Us for Wednesday Night Fellowship
Our next Wednesday Night Fellowship will be March 8. Please join us for dinner at 5:30 in the fellowship hall and stay for educational activities for all ages.
| |
|
Men’s Fellowship Breakfast Reforms!
To be honest, a misleading headline is about all the mischief the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast ever gets up to, but we want you to know that we are re-forming. Every third Saturday of the month, beginning March 18, we will meet in the fellowship hall at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and Bible study. We welcome all males from sixth grade to age 100! If you want a ride or more information, please contact the church office at 423-764-7176.
Get Involved in a Home Group
Are you participating in a Home Group? It’s a gathering of friends, neighbors, family members, or several families for weekly Bible study and fellowship. Each week we provide an intergenerational study to each group and also post it on the church website under Ministries: Home Groups.
If you would like to participate in a Home Group, facilitate a group, or start your own, please sign up here, and we will get you plugged in. You can join the conversation and stay up-to-date by joining the FPC Bristol Home Group Facebook group and signing up for Home Group texts from Remind. This Facebook group connects Home Groups, sends out information, gives feedback, and celebrates all that is happening within our Home Groups. Join the Home Groups Facebook group here. For more information, email Dave Welch.
| |
|
There’s Plenty of Pi!
FPC is throwing a Pi Day party, and we want your help! The party will be held Wednesday, March 22, and Friday, March 24. We estimate that we will have 150 to 200 kids each day. Their classes and other activities will begin at 8:30 and end around 3:00, but we will need adult volunteers a bit longer before and after to prepare for the day and put things back in order. Alison Meredith has prepared an informative document that contains a video explaining precisely what the Pi Day party is and all the different ways you can help, as well as a link to the sign-up form. If you can help, please sign up for part or all of either day.
| |
|
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:
-
Richard Bingham (brother of Bill Bingham): to the Technology Fund from Peggy Hill
-
Mattie Connolly (mother of Larry Connolly): to the Technology Fund from Peggy Hill
-
Mary Ruth Gray (mother of Vickie Coleman): to the Technology Fund from Peggy Hill
-
Joyce Rodgers (sister of Doug Williams): to the Technology Fund from Peggy Hill
In honor of:
-
Sam Weddington: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
-
Dave Welch: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
| |
|
Our opening Hymn 478, “Save Me, O God; I Sink in Floods,” is a paraphrase of Psalm 69, our Old Testament scripture for Sunday. This paraphrase is set to the sturdy, Early American tune SALVATION, which dates back to Kentucky Harmony (1816). Peter Pindar Stearns (1931–2016) has given us an arrangement that retains the rough-hewn character of the shape-note hymn while exploring distinctively 20th century tonalities. In addition to his life as a prolific composer, Stearns enjoyed a long career as professor and administrator at the Mannes Music School in New York City; as music editor for Carl Fischer Inc. and Coburn Press Music Publishers; as organist and choral director at several churches; and as organ builder under Charles B. Fisk and Robert Noehren.
Our closing communion Hymn 495, “Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee,” could not be more different from our opening hymn. Both the text, attributed to Thomas Aquinas, and the plainsong tune (ADORO TE DEVOTE) date from the 13th century. It still plays well to modern ears. During the distribution of the elements, I will play “Variations on ADORO TE DEVOTE” by Dale Wood (1934–2003). For the closing voluntary I will play yet another arrangement of ADORO TE DEVOTE, this one by Canadian composer Healey Willan (1880–1968).
| |
|
In Our Prayers
Please also pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
Ricky Adams
Keller Alexander
Wayne Ausmus
Zach Baker
Olivia Bowen
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Tom & Nancy Carter
Rachel & Ben Cherry & Dean Millard
Bill Coleman
Barbara Daniel
Jacob Daston
Taylor Eastes
Russell Fogelman, Kelli Krajeck & Kendall
Griffin family
Lou Hebb
Amanda Henderson
Charles Hoilman
Bill Huber
David & Andrea Hyde
Gwen King
Jones family
Nancy Lilly
Mardi Long
Toni Mari
Dot & Diana Mattison
Carl McGrady
Mitchell family
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Amelia Rose Plummer
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Delaney Porter
Bill Prince
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Lynn Richards
Greg Roberts
Tom & Delma Slagle
Tenna Smith
Wendy Smith
Teachers & school administrators
Loretta Thomas
Those suffering with addiction
Scott VanNostrand
Bill & Patsy Ward
Abigail Welch
Wilson family
Marsha Wilson
Stevie Wintz
| | |
|
March Birthday Prayer Fellowship
To protect your personal data, we now publish this list without dates.
AnnaLee Adams
Tony Adams
Blakesley Bassett
John Bechtold
Christian Bolick
Adam Borsch
Louise Bowdoin
Michael Bryant
Tammy Connolly
Dawn Eubanks
Don Evans
Weston Foster
Isabel Gross
Will Hankins
Jenny Harkleroad
David Hyde
Jack Hyder
Elijah King
Brie Kite
Charlotte Linke
Alison Looney
Brooklyn Madison
Ann McAllister
Reveley McGrady
Bennett McInnis
Bob O'Dell
Lilly Osborne
Amy Pannell
Cooper Peltier
Candy Phelps
Darlene Pollard
Angelica Poteat
Jay Regan
Brenda Rogers
Brandi Smith
Finn Sproles
Nathaniel Sproles
Charlie Taylor
Elise Taylor
Bill Ward
Abby Welch
Roby Witcher
| |
The session continues to encourage masks for those at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 or not fully vaccinated. The session encourages everyone to consult their medical professional about vaccinations and boosters. | |
|
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.
Livestream our worship services and other activities at FPC Bristol on YouTube. Click on the link and hit Subscribe to receive notifications of new videos. Find us on Facebook at FPC Bristol. Several accounts will show up. “Like” the page or ask to join a group.
We encourage you to use text, mail, or our website to safely continue your faithful support of our ministries. Give online on our website by clicking on GIVE NOW. Or send your pledge, offering, or special gift by texting fpcbristol to 73256 or mailing your check to the church.
| |
701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org | | | | |
