In Our Sufferings We Can Lean on the Cross by Trusting in Christ's Love, Elizabeth Wang, 1993.
Word from the Pastor:
I Want to Know What Love Is
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
—1 John 3:16
When I was growing up, we didn’t have the benefit of cellphones, streaming, Spotify, mp3s, or computers. Nope. We had to get our music the old-fashioned way, from vinyl records, tapes, radio, or MTV. I didn’t get the benefit of MTV, as in Holiness Pentecostal circles it was associated with the works of the evil one. Anyone who has ever seen the movie Footloose can attest to this cultural phenomenon.
Of course, that didn’t stop me from getting my hands on the music trending in elementary school circles. It was the age of Miami Vice and cool white jackets à la Don Johnson; Top Gun and enormous aviator sunglasses; loud synthesizers; Rick Astley (of Rickroll fame); wide-shouldered, open polo jackets; mix tapes; and sappy songs of romantic struggle. It was the age of rock power ballads—the best of times, the worst of times, indeed!
I still remember evenings in front of the sound system, complete with oversized headphones strapped over my ears (couldn’t let the parents hear what I was listening to!), making bootleg recordings of the latest songs climbing the charts. I also remember the first time I heard the power ballad to end all power ballads, Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is.” When I heard it, my juvenile heart leapt with longing for the kind of love Lou Gramm was singing about. “This mountain, I must climb; Feels like a world upon my shoulders; Through the clouds, I see love shine; Keeps me warm as life grows colder.”
Of course, I didn’t have a clue what he was on about, nor could I even begin to fathom what true love, the kind of love that not only changes the course of a life, but the world, looks like. Truth be told, Lou Gramm and Foreigner didn’t either. True love, love that transforms and gives life, is born of loss. True love gives itself away only to find itself fuller than it was before. True love testifies that none of us belongs to ourselves, contrary to our contemporary prophets of self-indulgent love.
How do I know this, you might ask? I know it because John tells us clearly in 1 John 3:16 that we know love in the person of Jesus, who gave himself for us. It is on the cross that we see divine love, the love that brought the worlds into being, on display for all to see. This is love in all its glory. It gives all so that we might be found and delivered safely from the twin powers of sin and death. The love of Christ claims us and declares that we are priceless because we have been purchased at a cost beyond reckoning.
I think it is this realization, of the width, the length, the height, and the depth of the love of God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:18), that makes Holy Week truly holy. Strangely, what I had longed to know as a child had already been told and shown to me every time I gathered with the people of God; I just didn’t have eyes to see or ears to hear at the time. I needed to chase mirages in the wilderness for a while.
My prayer for each of us as we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is that we might catch a clearer glimpse of this love the Father has for us. If we do, we can’t help but be transformed.
In Christ,
Pastor Sam
|
Holy Week Schedule
We look forward to worshiping in person during Holy Week, observing our customary care for one another. The Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will not be streamed.
|
Special Offering for Food Relief
FPC works with partners around the world to provide assistance with food to areas suffering shortages. This Sunday, Easter, we will collect a special offering for International Food Relief in addition to the regular offering. Please drop your contribution into one of the bread pans.
|
|
Worship
April 17
Easter Sunday
Communion
Scripture
Psalm 21:1–7
Luke 24:1–12
1 Corinthians 15:19–26
Sermon
Life
Sam Weddington
Palm Sunday Attendance
9:00: In person: 141;
Livestream: 26; Playback: 61
11:00: In person: 130;
Livestream: 15; Playback: 54
|
Calendar
Thursday, April 14
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
8:30 a.m.
Meals on Wheels
Fellowship Hall
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study
Room 117
7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Worship
Sanctuary
Friday, April 15
7:00 p.m.
Good Friday Worship
Sanctuary
Saturday, April 16
4:00 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt
Lawn
5:30 p.m.
Church BBQ
Lawn
Sunday, April 17
7:30 a.m.
Easter Sunrise Service
East Hill Cemetery
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:10 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
Monday, April 18
Church offices closed
7:00 p.m.
Buildings & Grounds Committee
Room 123
Tuesday, April 19
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting
Room 123
7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee
Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, April 20
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
Handbell Practice
Room 212
7:00 p.m.
Praise Band Practice
Fellowship Hall
7:15 p.m.
Choir Practice
Room 202
Thursday, April 21
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study
Room 117
Saturday, April 23
9:00 a.m.
Officer & Staff Retreat
|
|
|
|
|
Easter Egg Hunt and BBQ Saturday
Bring your basket and get ready to have some fun! Our annual Easter egg hunt will be held this Saturday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m. Bring your appetite, too! Hunting is hungry work, so we’ll share a BBQ dinner at 5:30. Please RSVP for the BBQ. If your last name begins with A–L, please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with M–X, please bring a dessert. Whatever your last name, bring a chair! Questions? Email Lilly Osborne.
|
|
 |
Lost Something?
Have you lost something that you think might be found at church? Haven’t we all? Take a look around on Wednesday, April 20, when you come for midweek evening fellowship. We are going to display all the lost items we’ve found, to give you a chance to retrieve them before we dispose of them.
|
|
|
|
Invitation to Join FPC
April 24
The FPC Session of Elders will meet in the chapel April 24 at 10:15 to examine and receive new members. All those interested in becoming voting members of our congregation are invited to attend. For more information, ask any elder (see the Church Officers table in this newsletter) or email Dave Welch.
|
|
|
|
|
You Can Still Register for Orlando Mission Trip
It’s not too late to register for our June 23–30 mission trip to Orlando, Florida! Students, adults, and families can sign up here. So far, FPC folks ages 4 to 94 have registered for an incredible week! We will work with ministries and agencies in the Orlando area and 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. Scholarships are available. If you have concerns or questions, email Katie Arnold. |
|
|
|
Please Help with the
After–Prom Party
First Pres is once again partnering with others to host an After–Prom Party for Tennessee High School students. This safe, fun event for students to enjoy after the dance will take place at Just Jump on April 30 from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. All THS juniors, seniors, and their dates are invited. Juniors and seniors who do not attend prom are invited as well.
To pull off this event, we need adult volunteers! If you are a night owl and would like to help, please email Katie Arnold. If you’re a bird of a different feather but want to help, the After Prom team invites you to donate prizes or $10 gift cards for giveaways. We also invite our church family to hold this night in prayer! |
|
|
|
The Promise for Home Groups
Our curriculum, The Promise, is 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.
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. |
|
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.
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.
|
|
|
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:
-
Frances Reveley Owen: to the Memorial Fund from Carl & Reveley McGrady
|
|
Music Notes for Easter
In keeping with our tradition, the music for Easter Sunday at 11:00 a.m. will be enhanced by a local brass quartet. Some of these musicians (Zak Austin, Jason Bailey, Daniel Bendick, and David Champouillon) have played for our worship on Easter for the past 20 years or more, and we are delighted that they will be with us again on Easter. The choir music will be taken from Handel’s Messiah, which was written in 1742 and first performed in 1743 at a benefit concert for a children’s hospital. Since that first performance, Messiah has become one of the most performed and most loved musical compositions in history. It is important to note that Handel always considered himself a composer for the theater (opera). Listen to his dramatic text setting for our anthem, which is drawn from Revelation 5:12–13./Pat Flannagan
|
|
“Shout, ‘Hosanna! Jesus, He saves!’ Shout, ‘Hosanna! He rose from the grave!’ Come and lift Him up, Hosanna!” So goes the refrain from the children’s Easter Sunday anthem. Easter is the day we celebrate the life-affirming message that Jesus overcame death forever so that we might live forever as well. “Shout Hosanna” has been arranged for children by Daniel Semsen (pictured with his family), and our children will help us kick off the celebration by singing it for the prelude.
The Sanctuary Choir will celebrate as well by singing for the offertory anthem the final chorus of George Frideric Handel’s (1685–1759) oratorio Messiah. “Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain” takes its text from the Book of Revelation 5:12–13 (KJV): “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing….Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
|
|
The “Grand Choeur Dialogue” by Eugène Gigout (1844–1925) serves as the finale of his 6 Pièces d'orgue published in 1881. Its French Romantic style and sheer grandiosity command attention. Intended for a large organ with two antiphonal divisions (back and forth from one chorus to another), it will be performed in our sanctuary Sunday by the brass quartet in dialogue with the organ. The piece can be divided into three equal parts. The first part maintains the antiphonal nature with four-square regularity, while the second part develops more imitatively and canonically without the antiphonal effect. The final part brings back some of the regularity and antiphonal nature, but never quite establishes itself as a full recapitulation. Nevertheless, this postlude is a great way to cap off our Easter celebration!/Bob Greene
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Wayne Ausmus
Kevin & Kathryn Benton
Bill & Betty Bingham/Cyndi & JB Madison
Ralph Booher
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Egypt Mission Trip
Jane Ehrie
Tammy Fredrickson
DeeDee Galliher
Haiti
Lou Hebb
Porter Hillery
John & Karen & family
Kaduna State
Martin & Vonda Kent & family
Josh & Morgan King & family
Nancy Lilly
|
|
Diana Mattison
Dot Mattison
Kathy McGlothlin
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Lee & Robin North
Phyllis Phares
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Kreg Ramey
Fritz & Sara Reuning
Margaret Jane Rice
Malcolm Sprinkle
Rachael Simon SwamSidi & family
Teachers & school administrators
Scott VanNostrand
Bill & Patsy Ward
Michael Weller
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Macon, GA
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
