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Word from the Pastor:
On Church Business Meetings
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
—1 Timothy 6:18–19
This Sunday, we will hold our annual congregational meeting. I know some of you will be there, but others of you may be thinking about skipping out. I get it, I do. In some ways, yes, it is the annual church business meeting. The corporation will give a report. We’ll elect new officers. We’ll vote on the pastor’s annual package. We’ll do a number of businessy things.
However, I challenge you to come anyway. If you are a member but aren’t inclined to vote one way or another, come and listen. If you aren’t a member but a visitor or regular attendee, come. We’ll be doing business, but because God has been generous and blessed us in more ways than I can count, we’ll be doing more than business.
One goal that I have had since I began my tenure in August 2018 is for our mission-minded congregation to become what is sometimes referred to as a 50/50 church. The idea is simple. A 50/50 church is one that commits to give away or spend 50% of its income on mission, evangelism, and compassionate outreach. I’m not going to spoil the surprise, but you won’t believe how close we are to that goal. If you come to the congregational meeting, you can hear and see for yourself.
Also, we’ll be electing a new class of officers. This isn’t a formality. These are folks that God has sent us to help lead the church. They need your support. You need to see their faces. They are praying for you, and you can pray for them.
I can say more, but I really want to underline that I hope our meeting is more of a celebration than anything else. God has been powerfully at work in our midst, and though it looks like a business meeting, I’d love to see it become more of a party. We can rejoice at what God has done, and we can double down on the vision that God is setting out among us to become a people through whom much more is possible (John 14:12).
And here we intersect with Paul’s words of encouragement and exhortation to Timothy and the community at Ephesus. Paul is instructing Timothy to tell those who are wealthy that they are to be rich in different sorts of ways. God has given us all gifts (skills or money or caring hearts) that are meant to be shared. We are destined to grow in generosity as we grow in Christ.
That means everything. Even a business meeting. Even our time in coming and hearing what God has done and continues to do in our midst. Come. Let’s get down to the business of giving ourselves away. In the doing, we will discover the “life that is truly life.”
In Christ,
Pastor Sam
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Worship
January 29
4th Sunday after Epiphany
Scripture
Psalm 15
Micah 6:1–8
Matthew 5:1–12
Sermon
“Hungry and Thirsty”
Sam Weddington
Last Sunday’s Attendance
9:00: In person: 147;
Livestream: 28; Playback: 62
11:00: In person: 108;
Livestream: 20; Playback: 35
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Calendar
Sunday, January 29
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:20 a.m.
Congregational Meeting
Fellowship Hall
Sunday School (Children & Youth)
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
6:00 p.m.
King International Food Festival
Fellowship Hall
Monday, January 30
10:00 a.m.
Staff
Room 123
Tuesday, January 31
7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, February 1
6:15 p.m.
Handbell Choir
Room 212
7:15 p.m.
Sanctuary Choir
Room 202
Praise Band
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, February 2
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study
Room 123
5:30 p.m.
Scout Roundtable
Fellowship Hall
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Message of Thanksgiving from Your Stewardship Team
Today we stand just 5% away from the amount needed to reach the $715,380 pledge goal set by session to balance the operating budget for 2023. Thanks be to God for your commitment and belief in the mission of First Presbyterian! We trust this gap will be bridged in the coming months because we know God has continually blessed our faithfulness in staying true to our calling to serve our brothers and sisters, locally and around the world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
What a beautiful thing it is to be part of such a community as FPC and to serve together! Let’s continue to pray, with thanksgiving, for our church and its mission, and especially for God’s guidance, as we continue to grow in our understanding of what it means to be faithful stewards of our time, talent, and financial resources in response to Christ’s command to care for our neighbors and to share the Good News of his redeeming love. To God be the glory!
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Congregational Meeting Sunday
The annual meeting of the congregation will be held in the fellowship hall this Sunday at 10:20, following the 9:00 worship service. All are invited to attend, but only members may vote. We will be presented with a financial statement from the previous year, and we will vote on the new officers presented by the Nominating Committee. The corporation of the church will also convene. Children’s and students’ Sunday School classes will meet, but adult classes will not.
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Special Offering for Visions of Glory Sunday
(Editor's note: Last week's article gave an incorrect mailing address for checks. It has been corrected in this article. The editor apologizes for the error.)
In both services this Sunday, we will take up a special collection to feed children through Visions of Glory, a nondenominational church in Kenya committed to caring for their poor community. Our help in offsetting the costs of food staples will go a long way toward providing for many families who have gone without food. You can learn more about the ministry here.
You can give online here. If you prefer to write a check, mail it directly to FPC and write "Visions of Glory" on the memo line.
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International Worship and Food Festival Here Sunday
King University and FPC will hold an International Worship and Food Festival this Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in our fellowship hall. You are invited to sample dishes made by King’s international students. If you like, bring your favorite dish to share!
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Chili Cook-Off & Talent Show
Our Chili Cook-Off & Talent Show is coming up on Sunday, February 19. If you would like to perform on our stage, please contact one of our talent scouts, Lilly Osborne and Katie Arnold. The chili chefs among us know what to do: make it hot!
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Wednesday Programming Resumes Feb. 8
We will begin the spring semester of our Wednesday Night Fellowship programming on February 8. Dinner at 5:30 in the fellowship hall will be followed by activities for all ages. Please plan to join us!
We will meet February 15, during BTCS Winter Break, and March 15, during BTCS Spring Break, but not April 5, during Holy Week. Our spring semester will conclude April 26.
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Spring 2023 Youth Choir Begins Rehearsals Feb. 8
Are you a 3rd–8th grader who loves to lift up your voice in praise and worship? FPC Bristol Youth Choir is resuming for the Spring 2023 season, and we want all enthusiastic singers to participate. No singing or music reading experience is required! All you need is a desire to learn how to read music and lead worship through song. Participation is only a four–week commitment. Practices will be held on Wednesdays from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. in room 209, from February 8 through March 1. We will perform for the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services on Sunday, March 5. We will wear black pants and our FPC Youth Choir T-shirts on our performance day. If you have any questions, please text Melissa Galliher at (276) 219-7770.
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Register Now for Women’s Retreat
Join the women of First Presbyterian Church for our annual women’s retreat Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11, at Jubilee Retreat Center in Abingdon. We will share Bible-based learning and worship in a relaxed environment with time for individual reflection and prayer. We’ll get to know one another while enjoying good food and fellowship. We welcome women of all ages; invite your friends and family to join us!
Sarah Varnell, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Greeneville, TN, will be our speaker. She previously served as pastor at St. Paul UMC in Fountain City/Knoxville and as an associate pastor at Church Street UMC in downtown Knoxville. She has been on staff in various roles in churches since she was 19 years old.
Register online here or by using the QR code above, or complete a paper registration form available from the Welcome Center at church.
You can commute or stay overnight at the retreat center located at 822 East Main Street. The prices below include three meals and materials for group sessions. Secure your spot with a $25 deposit.
- Commuter: $75
- Double or Triple Occupancy: $110
- Single Occupancy: $125
Pay online here; choose “Women's Retreat 2023” in the Fund drop-down menu. Or write a check payable to FPC Bristol with “Women’s Retreat 2023” in the memo line.
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Our Skating Party
As you can see in these photos, around 100 people of all ages exercised fellowship Sunday evening at Bristol Skateway. Skaters and nonskaters alike had a wonderful time!
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Last month my friend Alice Sanders, organist at First Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, asked me to tune the harpsichord at her church. It is a beautiful Kingston harpsichord, and she makes good use of it. It made me think about how seldom we at FPC use the harpsichord at our disposal. While looking for another piece of music, I came across a copy of the “Allegro” movement of Thomas Augustine Arne’s Harpsichord Sonata No. 3 arranged for organ. I decided I could very easily “derange” it and play it as our opening voluntary on the harpsichord. The closing voluntary is also a work by Arne, his “Allegro” from Concerto No. 1 in C major, which I will play on the organ. Playing this piece makes me smile, because I remember playing it the Sunday my infant son, Scott, was baptized at our church in Florida, so many years ago.
Arne (1710–1778) was an English composer. He wrote the patriotic song “Rule Britannia”; a version of “God Save the King,” which became the British national anthem; and the song “A-Hunting We Will Go.” Arne was a leading British theatre composer of the 18th century, working at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. He was born to a Church of England father and a Roman Catholic mother in Covent Garden, and baptized at St Paul’s, Covent Garden. His Catholicism meant that he never composed music for the Church of England, unlike most other leading English composers of his time. This was long before his name became a staple of crossword puzzle makers. /Bob Greene
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Ricky Adams
Keller Alexander
Wayne Ausmus
Ralph Booher
Olivia Bowen
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Tom & Nancy Carter
Rachel & Ben Cherry & Dean Millard
Bill Coleman
Dabbs family
Jacob Daston
Russell Fogelman, Kelli Krajeck & Kendall
Lou Hebb
Charles Hoilman
David & Andrea Hyde
Allen & Sharilyn Jones
Gwen King
Nancy Lilly
Toni Mari
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Dot & Diana Mattison
Carl McGrady
Anthony Mitchell
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Delaney Porter
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Lynn Richards
Tom & Delma Slagle
Wendy Smith
Teachers & school administrators
Loretta Thomas
Scott VanNostrand
Jane Chambers Walz
Bill & Patsy Ward
Abigail Welch
Williams family
Marsha Wilson
Virginia Wilson
Stevie Wintz
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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. | |
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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 by going to our website and clicking on GIVE in the upper right corner. Or send your pledge, offering, or special gift by texting fpcbristol to 73256 or mailing your check directly to the church.
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701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org | | | | |
