Windows

June 15 & 22, 2023

Special Offering for Young Life

FPC’s mission focus for June is Young Life, a world-class ministry for adolescents. Young Life staff and volunteers enter their world and focus on what matters to them: fun, adventure, friendship, and a sense of significance, earning the privilege of talking to them about Jesus Christ.

At Young Life camp, kids are treated to premier facilities where they get away from the pressures of everyday life, have fun with their friends and Young Life leaders, and hear the message of God’s love in terms they can understand. Our Bristol kids have the opportunity to attend Windy Gap Young Life Camp in Weaverville, NC. In the fall, it offers one weekend camp for middle school students and a second for high school students. In the summer, it offers a weeklong camping adventure for high schoolers only. The cost for high school students to attend both the summer camp and the fall camp is around $1,000, and each student is responsible for the cost. We would love to see as many students as possible enjoy what could be a lifechanging experience.

We believe that money must not stand in the way of their ability to hear the gospel. Our goal is to never leave a kid behind because they cannot afford to go to camp. We are therefore collecting throughout June for the purpose of enabling students to attend Young Life camp. You will find a special Young Life fund in the drop-down menu here. We will take up a special offering in the collection plates during worship on June 25. 

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 gift in memory of:

• Nancy Lilly (Sam Weddington’s grandmother): to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Karen Pennington

Organist's Footnotes

June 18: Our summer survey of music composed by blind organists continues with the German organist, harpsichordist, and music teacher Helmut Walcha (1907–1991; b. Leipzig). Walcha was blinded at the age of 19 after receiving a vaccination for smallpox. Despite his disability, he entered the Leipzig Conservatory and became an assistant at the Thomaskirche, the same church where Johann Sebastian Bach had worked.

After accepting a position at the Friedenskirche in Frankfurt am Main In 1929, Walcha remained in Frankfurt for the rest of his life. From 1933 to 1938 he taught at the Hoch Conservatory. In 1938 he was appointed professor of organ at the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt and organist of the Dreikönigskirche in 1946. Walcha taught many significant American organists of the 20th century who traveled to Germany as Fulbright Scholars, all of whom became major teachers and performers after their studies abroad. Walcha is known for his recordings of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, which he played entirely from memory.

Walcha’s compositions for the organ include four volumes of original chorale preludes. I will be playing two pieces from the first volume. For the opening voluntary we will hear his plaintive setting of “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten” (“If thou but suffer God to guide thee”). Contrast that with the exuberant closing voluntary, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” (“A mighty fortress is our God”).

June 25: The fourth Sunday in our series on blind organists continues with the great French organist Louis Vierne (1870–1937), who was born nearly blinded by congenital cataracts. At the age of six, he underwent an iridectomy in both eyes and was then able to distinguish shapes and people and read large letters. Impressed by César Franck’s organ playing in 1881, he went on to study harmony privately with him. He also attended classes at the Paris Conservatoire, where he was admitted as a full-time student in 1890. In 1900 Vierne won the competition for the position of titular organist at Notre-Dame de Paris. He held the post until his death in 1937. Although it was one of the most prestigious organ posts in France, the organ of Notre-Dame was in a state of disrepair throughout much of Vierne’s tenure at the instrument. He eventually undertook a transcontinental concert tour of North America to raise money for its restoration. The tour was very successful, although the trip physically drained him. On June 2, 1937, while giving his 1,750th organ recital at Notre-Dame, he died at the console.

Vierne’s output for organ includes six organ symphonies, 24 Fantasy Pieces (which includes his famous “Carillon de Westminster,” which I will play for the closing voluntary), and 24 Pieces in Free Style (which includes the peaceful “Berceuse,” which I will play for the opening voluntary).

We want to pray for and celebrate with you! Send us your prayer requests and glad tidings.



To the Church Triumphant

Mark Carl McGrady

June 3, 2023

Condolences

Our love and sympathy are with Peggy and John Peters in the death of Peggy’s brother, Peter Doriot.

Congratulations

We rejoice with Mandy and Ryan White, daughter and son-in-law of Nancy and Jack Butterworth, in the birth of a daughter, Julia. God bless this beautiful family!

In Our Prayers

We have several unnamed or private requests. Please pray for the members of our community

who wish to remain anonymous.

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 here; choose a fund from the drop-down menu. 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