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Thank You!
God continues to bless our church in mighty ways. Even the simple act of dedicating our pledges in worship was a blessing of great significance in our life together at First Presbyterian. As we each brought our pledges to the basket (or to the “cyberbasket” if you pledged online!) we could almost sense the power of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, as our individual gifts, when united with all the others, seemed multiplied to help meet the local and global needs FPC is called to address in the name of Jesus.
During his prayer of dedication on Sunday, Pastor Bruce Plummer gave thanks to God for saving us, calling us, and using us to reach a nation and world that is struggling. He acknowledged that it is a mighty task to go and to give because the world we live in is complicated and expensive. Yet, at the same time, he prayed that it is a privilege beyond measure because, as believers, we look forward to eternity with God forever.
What a privilege it is to serve together as followers of Jesus in the family of First Presbyterian. Let us live 2023 with great expectation for how God is calling us as the body of Christ, knowing that together, through our individual offerings of time, talents, and treasures, we are glorifying our heavenly Father as we reach out to meet God’s children’s needs by sharing His saving love and eternal hope.
Pastor Sam said ahead of the dedication that this act of commitment is a marker in our lives of what God has done for us and promised to do through us. United by Christ, let us remember God’s faithfulness each day and pray without ceasing that our church will continue to be a beacon of hope in Bristol and everywhere God takes us. Pray that our staff and church officers lead us as Christ leads them and that together we will witness the many miracles that God has in store for His people in the year ahead.
Blessings and thanksgiving to you for your part in this journey of faith and service. To God be the glory forever!
In Christ,
The FPC Stewardship Committee
Barb Duncan, Chase Mitchell, Matt Peltier, Karen Pennington, Jerry Poteat, Annette Tudor, and John Vann
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Stewardship Pledges Coming In
As of October 31, we have received $509,460 toward our 2023 stewardship campaign goal of $715,380. While we are $205,920 short of the amount needed to fully fund our ministries in the coming year, we are thankful for the many FPC members—and visitors—who have pledged so far.
If you have not yet sent in your pledge, you can still submit the card you received in the mail (or can find at church) or access online giving through the QR code below.
| You can read all about it here. If you have any questions about stewardship or why we pledge or any aspect of our church’s life, please reach out to any member of the stewardship committee or any church officer or staff member. | |
Now Accepting Officer Nominations
Nominations are being accepted for the offices of Elder, Deacon, and Trustee of FPC Bristol. Five elders and deacons and one trustee will be elected for three-year terms that begin in January.
The Nominating Committee invites you to prayerfully consider who you feel is being called to serve in these important roles. Whom do you recognize in our church family as having the gifts, energy, and spiritual maturity to fulfill the assigned duties? Perhaps you yourself feel called and would like to be considered. If so, please feel free to nominate yourself!
The Nominating Committee will be accepting nominations through November 23. Options for submitting nominations:
- You can email your recommendations (or questions) directly to the committee.
- Nomination forms that provide a definition for each position are available online here and here.
- Hard-copy forms are available in the church office, outside the worship spaces, and in the pew racks. Completed forms can be submitted to the church office, placed in the Connect visitor-card boxes, or attached to an email to the committee.
Thank you for your prayers and your assistance in identifying whom God is calling to serve our church in these ways.
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Yes, We Fall Back Again This Year
Until such time, if any, as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz would say, that Congress decides to make either Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time permanent, we must continue to adjust our inward and outward clocks an hour in one direction or the other twice a year. Before closing your eyes Saturday night, remember to set your clocks back one hour. We fall back to Standard Time this Sunday, November 6, at 2:00 a.m.
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Worship
November 6
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Communion
Scripture
Psalm 147:1–6
Isaiah 58
John 15:5
Sermon
“Being Bricks in the Wall”
Sam Weddington
Last Sunday’s Attendance
9:00: In person: 128;
Streaming: 21; Playback: 78
11:00: In person: 103;
Streaming: 14; Playback: 42
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Calendar
Sunday, November 6
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:10 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Fellowship Hall
3:00 p.m.
Children’s Play Rehearsal
Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
King Worship Night
Monday, November 7
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting
Room 123
Tuesday, November 8
7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee
Zoom
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, November 9
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
Handbell Practice
Room 212
7:15 p.m.
Sanctuary Choir Practice
Room 202
Praise Band Practice
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, November 10
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 123
4:30 p.m.
Human Resources Committee
Room 123
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Special Offering for Abuse Alternatives
We will collect a special offering for the benefit of Abuse Alternatives in both services this Sunday, November 6. This collection will go toward supporting women and children in our area who have endured domestic violence. For more than 35 years, Abuse Alternatives has operated a 24/7 crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, and information and referral services, and conducted crisis intervention, court advocacy, and safety planning for residents of Washington County, VA; Bristol, TN/VA; and Upper Sullivan County, TN. All services are free to recipients. Since the agency’s inception, it has served more than 2,500 children and more than 15,000 adults. The agency is located at 104 Memorial Drive, Bristol, TN. Its hotline is 423-764-2287 (or 800-987-6499).
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Check Out These New Adult Classes Sunday
Our two new adult classes debut this Sunday. Both classes will meet weekly from 10:20 to 10:50.
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New Members Class. This is for folks interested in joining our fellowship or just learning more about the Presbyterian Church (USA), and FPC in particular. The class will include videos, conversation, questions and answers, and the occasional field trip. To learn more, contact Dave Welch or join us in the chapel. | |
The Epistle to the Colossians. Pastor Sam Weddington will lead this line-by-line reading and discussion of Paul’s letter. The class will meet in room 125, the corner classroom across from the men's restroom. | |
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Join Us for the Hanging of the Greens Nov. 27
The annual Hanging of the Greens is scheduled for Sunday, November 27, and we need your help! Our team is looking for some new friends to join us in decorating the church for the Advent and Christmas seasons. A delicious lunch will be provided to thank you—and bribe you to maybe even help us take it all down in January! We’ll work after both services on the 27th, so you can come when you can that morning.
If you are interested in helping, we would LOVE to have you! It’s a fun tradition, and the soup is worth the couple of hours it takes to get everything up and decorated. I promise! Come! Really! It’s a neat way to get the holidays started! To join us or learn more, call or text Katie Sword at 423-914-2181./Katie Sword
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Wednesday Fellowship Suppers
The best meal of the week is Wednesday night in the FPC Fellowship Hall! Family-style dinner begins at 5:30, and programs for children, youth, and adults follow at 6:15. To offset the cost of the meal, we suggest an offering of $5 per adult, $3 per child, but no more than $15 per family. Family is anyone who comes with you in your car! Please join us!
Late Worship Continues in Fellowship Hall
It looks as though we need another two weeks to finish repairs to our sanctuary, as we deal with unforeseen, systemic damage to the plaster. Our traditional 11:00 a.m. worship service will continue to be held in the fellowship hall until repairs are complete.
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Our Updated Ministry Road Map
Look into the many opportunities for education, spiritual nurture, and fellowship with the congregation of First Presbyterian Church! We have prepared a road map to help you find those that interest you most. The points on our compass are Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, College Ministry, and Adult Ministry. At the center of it all is our life together in Jesus Christ.
Christmas Play Rehearsals Begin
Rehearsals for our children’s Christmas play, The Innkeeper, begin Sunday afternoon, and will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 in the fellowship hall. The play will be presented Sunday, December 18, at 3:00. To learn more, contact Sujean Bradley, Melissa Galliher, or Lilly Osborne.
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Life Together for Home Groups
Our latest Home Group curriculum, Life Together, is about how we can be new persons and communities centered in Jesus Christ. Access the curriculum on our website or watch for it to drop on our Home Groups Facebook site.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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David Akard Jr.: to the Local Missions Fund from an anonymous donor
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Betty Bingham: to the Music Projects Fund from an anonymous donor
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Garrett Foster: to the General Legacy Giving Ministry Fund from an anonymous donor
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Bill Graham: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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Ron Grubbs: to the Minister’s Discretionary Education Fund from an anonymous donor
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JoAnn Hatcher: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Scott & Connie Bullock, from Marty & Lee Caldwell Coffman, from Sid & Joyce Oakley, from Tom & Katie Steele, from John & Ann Tickle, from an anonymous donor
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Eddie Hill: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Ina Marbury: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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Harriett Massengill: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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Bob Millard: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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Alice Moore: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Martha North: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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Jan Patrick: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Ernie Pennington: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Frances Rowell: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Virginia Rutherford: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor
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Allen Vance: to the Memorial Fund from Bill & Ann Woods
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Bill Wade: to the Library Fund from an anonymous donor
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Laura Ann Warner: to the Memorial Fund from an anonymous donor
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French composer Claude Debussy (1862–1918) composed his Suite bergamasque in 1890, at the age of 28, but significantly revised it just before its 1905 publication. The popularity of the third movement, “Clair de lune” (our Opening Voluntary), has made it one of his most famous works for piano. He was initially unwilling to use these relatively early piano compositions because they were not in his mature style, but in 1905 he accepted the offer of a publisher who thought they would be successful, given the fame Debussy had gained in the intervening 15 years. While it is not known how much of the suite was written in 1890 and how much was written in 1905, it is clear that the composer changed the names of at least two of the pieces, including “Clair de lune,” which was originally titled “Promenade sentimentale.” I actually prefer the original title, as it may help us to hear this music with fresh ears.
Debussy composed Children’s Corner between 1906 and 1908. He dedicated the suite to his daughter, Claude-Emma (known as Chou-Chou), who was born October 30, 1905, in Paris. She is described as a lively and friendly child who was adored by her father. She was three years old when he dedicated the suite to her in 1908. The dedication reads: “A ma chère petite Chou-chou, avec les tendres excuses de son Père pour ce qui va suivre. C. D.” (“To my dear little Chou-chou, with tender apologies from her father for what follows.”) The first movement, “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum” (our Closing Voluntary), is a satirical piece poking fun at piano exercise methods. It is meant to be played somewhat slowly at the beginning, as if by a beginning piano student, but to become virtuosic by the end. Debussy told his publisher that the movement should be played “very early in the morning.”
Our music during Communion this Sunday is “Peace Prelude” by Annette Sims. This handbell piece appeared years ago on the last page (“Handbell Zebra”) of a music publication. I arranged it for four ringers. A lady on the West Coast saw the video I posted on the FPC YouTube channel of me playing all four parts (via split screen) and emailed me asking for a copy of the music because it is out of print./Bob Greene
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In Our Prayers
Please also pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
Keller Alexander
Wayne Ausmus
Olivia Bowen
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Kim Bright
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Tom & Nancy Carter
Rachel Cherry
Cole family
Bill Coleman
Coleman & Gray families
Russell Fogelman, Kelli Krajeck & Kendall
Lou Hebb
Charles Hoilman
Hurricane victims
Justin & Merifer
Nancy Lilly
Toni Mari
Diana Mattison
Dot Mattison
Dean Millard
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Seymour Ray
Lynn Richards
Anna Rogers
Kathy Samuel & family
Tom & Delma Slagle
Wendy Smith
Steve
Teachers & school administrators
Al Thomas
Scott VanNostrand
Bill & Patsy Ward
Michael Weller
Marsha Wilson
Virginia Wilson
Stevie Wintz
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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November Birthday Prayer Fellowship
To protect your personal data, we now publish an undated list of the month’s birthdays.
Becky Adams
Andy Arnold
Ann Arnold
Nick Booher
Jean Burnette
Lee Byington
Glennda Cleland
Louisa Cordon
Melissa Galliher
Sarah Galliher
Sarah Gannaway
Samuel Hankins
Sam Jennings
Selma Jennings
George Linke
Cass Madison
Taylor McInnis
Carolyn Moore
Charlotte Osborne
Grayson Phipps
Andrew Porter
Kenzie Porter
Rebecca Porter
Dawn Regan
Drew Rice
Meg Rice
Greg Roberts
Lilly Rollins
Cindy Samuel
Joyce Samuel
Brad Smith
Owen Smith
Sam Story
Sophia Streetman
Mimi Tilley
Karen Vann
Charles Webb
Sam Weddington
Billie Whisnant
Dave Whitesides
Doug Williams
Elliot Williams
Erin Yates
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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.
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701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org | | | | | |
