Windows

February 23, 2023

Sunday's Guest Preacher:

Rev. Egypt McKee

Come and meet this Sunday’s guest preacher, Rev. Egypt McKee, a dynamic speaker, mentor, and author. He founded EgyptSPEAKS (a 501c3 nonprofit corporation) and Out of Egypt Ministries, whose mission is to provide education, training, and mentoring programs that develop positive character in the lives of young people in middle schools, high schools, and universities.

He is currently a partner in and chief executive of a technology-energy company based in Irvine, California. Over the past 25 years, he has served in leadership roles as an associate and youth pastor, and he also has extensive experience in business leadership, both as an entrepreneur and in key positions with Deloitte & Touche and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Egypt keeps his skills sharpened through numerous educational venues, and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Western International University. When he isn’t working, he enjoys time with his family, skydiving, writing, filmmaking, and exercising. He has been married to Caryn for 34 years, and they have three adult children.

We'll Share a Truly Communal Communion Bread

As we have begun to evaluate our worship service experience post-Covid, one of the great questions has been, “How shall we conduct the Lord’s Supper?” The pandemic forced us to use individually wrapped communion elements, affectionately known as “rip and dips.” The prevailing and frequently communicated desire was to return to a more communal and congregational form of communion.

Several months ago, trying to balance hygiene with historical style, we began to use a slightly modified traditional intinction method by having one person be responsible for tearing, dipping, and serving the bread to each participant. Members who did not feel comfortable with this method could, and still can, receive individually wrapped elements.

Another question was, “How do we care for and serve folks with gluten sensitivities?” In response, we offered individually wrapped and gluten-free bread. This third option has turned out to be cumbersome and somewhat liturgically problematic.

Reminded that the Lord’s Supper is meant to be communal, we issued a challenge to find a way to use one gluten-free loaf of bread for everyone. After several thought-provoking discussions, our Kitchen Hostess, Sarah Gannaway, researched and baked several gluten-free options and tested them on family and friends. After narrowing the choices to a manageable few, Sarah invited the staff and the Worship Committee to try them. Each group tore, dunked, and tasted the bread as in the Lord’s Supper. A clear choice became evident, and this month the Worship Committee approved it for use in Communion, beginning March 5. While we will still provide individually wrapped elements for those who desire them, the table will now have a single, gluten-free loaf for all to partake of together during the Lord’s Supper./Dave Welch

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.

Remember Your Lenten Devotional

The 2023 Lenten devotionals are here! Pick yours up at the church. One booklet per family, please.

Wednesday Night Fellowship

Our Wednesday Night Fellowship programming continues next week. Please join us March 1 for dinner at 5:30 in the fellowship hall followed by activities for all ages.

Get Involved in a Home Group

Home Groups are meeting again! These gatherings of friends, neighbors, a family, or several families are for weekly Bible study and fellowship. Each week we provide an intergenerational Bible 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.

Have a Piece of Pie!

FPC is throwing a Pi Day party, and we want your help! The party will be held Wednesday, March 22, and Friday, March 24. You can help for part or all of either day. We estimate that we will have 150 to 200 kids each day. Classes and other activities for kids will begin at 8:30 and end around 3:00 each day, but we will need adults 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.

Heat and Light

Sunday’s Chili Cook-Off and Talent Show was an explosive night, full of heat and laughter! Seventeen different chilis were entered for tasting. Jeremy Fore’s tasty chili was the crowd favorite. Alice Graham took home the prize for utterly unique. For the second consecutive year, Chase Arndt‘s chili brought the heat!

The entertainment was creative, clever, and full of talent! Seventeen acts hit the stage! The Linkes showed their strength by breaking boards, karate style! Other acts included joke telling, rapping, singing, kazoos, Rubik’s cube–solving, and great music! The evening began with Bristol’s Own Dixieland Jazz Band, with our very own Jack Butterworth, and ended with the phenomenal Aaron Blake serenading us with “O Sole Mio.” We celebrated and enjoyed the beautiful gifts of our church family while savoring delicious food and fellowshiping together. It was a joy to have our church community gathered for a wonderful night!

Special thanks to Matt Richardson for MC’ing again this year! He always brings the energy and fun!/Lilly Osborne

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 Tom and Leigh King’s gift to the Visions of Glory fund in memory of Betty Bingham.

This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Lent. Our opening hymn, “The Glory of These Forty Days,” uses the tune “Erhalt uns, Herr,” which has its origin in Joseph Klug’s Geistliche Lieder (1543). Of all the many settings of this venerable tune by some of the greatest composers throughout the centuries, this recently published, spare, austere setting by James Biery (b. 1956) most intrigued me. His “Erhalt uns, Herr: Reflection” (our opening voluntary) is quiet, slow moving, and introspective. Its leitmotif features occasional octave leaps up into the highest registers of the organ. Biery is Minister of Music at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (Presbyterian) in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where he directs the choirs, plays the 66-rank Klais organ, and oversees the music program.

Marilyn Perkins Biery (b. 1959) is the composer of our closing voluntary, a quiet, gentle setting of the well-known hymn “On Eagle’s Wings” by Michael Joncas. We will sing its refrain again for the Congregational Response. Ms. Biery’s setting of this tune is more suggestive than explicit. I encourage you to delay your departure from worship this Sunday, and every Sunday, so you can actually listen to the often quieter closing voluntaries, especially in this season of Lent. Ms. Biery is an organist, conductor, composer, hymn writer, and keyboard acquisitions editor for Augsburg Fortress of Minneapolis. She has served as music director for several downtown Detroit churches, most recently at Fort Street Presbyterian Church. And, yes, she and James are married to each other!

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

To the Church Triumphant

Anthony Mitchell

February 21, 2023

In Our Prayers

Please also 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 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