Windows
March 3, 2022
Word from the Pastor:
Friendship

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:26–29

In some ways, I’m happy today because my good friend Porter Hillery, a member of our church’s Friendship Class (our class for adults with unique gifts), had his surgery a few weeks ago. I saw him in the hospital, and he seemed to be on the mend. My prayer is that the surgery will give him several more good years of life. After the hardship of losing his brother Harry to COVID last year (Harry was another saint of God with unique gifts, who blessed me by allowing me to officiate at his funeral), enduring the isolation the pandemic brought, and processing bad health news for the past few months, Porter deserves to feel better and enjoy life.

But I’ll be honest: I’m sad. I’m sad because I feel that I’ve lost my brother in Christ. After his surgery, he was transferred to an adult-care group home in Greeneville, so that he could have access to staff who could care for his needs. I still haven’t been able to track down exactly where he has been moved, and I don’t know when I will have the opportunity to see him again. I also know that I’m not alone in my sadness. The other members of the Friendship Class miss Porter, and I know his teachers, Deborah Whitaker, Jo-Lynn Evans, and Dot and Diana Mattison, miss him as well.

So, to process my sadness, I want to tell you about my friend. For those who never met him, Porter was about as tall as I am, he had grey hair and a beard, and every time I saw him, he was sporting a pair of bib overalls. Porter was always the first person in the room to smile, and the first to want to pray. Every time he saw me, he would ask, “Preacher, why don’t you pray about me?” And so we did. Every time. Whether on the street, in the classroom, or on Wednesday night, when I saw him, I knew we were going to stop what we were doing and pray (along with his brother Harry, when he was there).

The most important thing that I want you to know about my friend Porter is that when I saw Porter, I saw Jesus. Better yet, when I saw Porter, I saw a person who loved God and tried to extend the love he had received back to you. I’m unsure what others perceived when they saw Porter. For some, his intellectual challenges were his most readily apparent characteristic, or the fact that he had special care needs. But to me Porter was and is a magnificent child of God.

Porter was also my regular reminder to stop taking myself so seriously. As you all know, I sometimes like to fancy myself a “Paul guy,” or someone who takes theology and the Bible really seriously. I love to lay out the intricacies of Scripture and the nuances of an obscure passage that potentially bring fresh light. I really value my book collection.

Porter, as is true for all the members of the Friendship Class, reminded me that in Christ, my ability to perform and fulfill a function doesn’t matter. What they want from me is my presence, what little love I might have to offer, and the simple plainness of friendship. Porter, Harry, Mike, Chris, Scott, Violet, Flora Mae, Patty, and Jan are all in agreement: being a Christ follower is about something more profound than we typically value in church and professional circles. What they know is that naming Jesus Lord and one another siblings in Christ is primarily about a relationship. It’s personal, it’s intimate, and it’s depleted by abstraction and being task oriented all the time.

Still, I can’t seem to divorce myself from finding what I’m trying to say in a book somewhere. Consider this observation on the 1 Corinthians passage at the head of this article, written by Dr. Amos Yong in his groundbreaking work The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God (p. 103):

“[T]he cross of Christ which reveals God’s power in weakness and God’s wisdom in foolishness allows us to see disability in general and intellectual disability in particular reflected in and through the face, person, and work of Christ and thus as reflective of the image of God. Intellectual disability … is thus also redeemed, not because it is excised or exorcised, but because it is now understood to be at the heart of God’s scale of values. Thus people with intellectual disabilities are redeemed not by being cured of Down syndrome or other congenital conditions but by being just as they are, like Zacchaeus and the Ethiopian eunuch.”

Let me translate: what we see as weakness, or deficiency, or disability all share in the power and the triumph of the cross of Christ, when seen from God’s perspective. As such, they are a full, if not a fuller, expression of the image of God perfectly displayed in the Son. God has taken what is often ignored, disregarded, and seemingly weak, and in His compassion and generosity, lifted the discarded high so that we might all come to know and embrace our utter dependency on Him.

I miss my brother Porter, and I hope that I will get to see him soon. However, having stood next to him, and even embraced him, I know that I have stood on holy ground. May God give us all the grace to see this opportunity in one another, regardless of the circumstance.

In Christ,
Pastor Sam
Worship
March 6
1st Sunday in Lent
Communion
 
Scripture
Psalm 118:1–4
Genesis 12:10–20
1 Peter 1:13–16
 
Sermon
What Are You Doing?
Dave Welch
 
Last Sunday’s Attendance
9:00: In person: 133;
Livestream: 39; Playback: 159
11:00: In person: 83;
Livestream: 25; Playback: 70
Calendar
Sunday, March 6
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
 
10:10 a.m.
Sunday School
 
10:15 a.m.
New Members Class
Chapel
 
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
 
4:00 p.m.
Lenten Prayer Practices for All
Fellowship Hall
 
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
 
Monday, March 7
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting
Room 123
 
Tuesday, March 8
7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 3
Scout Hall
 
Wednesday, March 9
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
 
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
 
Handbell Practice
Sanctuary
 
7:00 p.m.
Praise Band Practice
Fellowship Hall
 
7:15 p.m.
Choir Practice
Room 202
 
Thursday, March 10
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study
Parlor
 
8:30 a.m.
Meals on Wheels
Fellowship Hall
 
4:30 p.m.
Human Resources Committee
Room 123
Please Pray for
Our Mission to Egypt
We are sending a small group to Egypt to explore possibilities to serve in that country, and we ask you to pray for the group and its mission. Pastor Sam and his team will leave on the morning of Thursday, March 3, and return in a week. Please pray for traveling mercies, and that our exploratory trip will result in mission connections in Egypt.
Lenten Devotionals Available
Our Lenten guide this year is Making the Road: Walking through Lent. This six-week set of daily reflections and prayers is based on the Spanish poet Antonio Machado’s poem, “Walker.” Machado writes: “Walker, there is no road, the road is made by walking.” We will post a PDF on our Facebook page each week and print copies to be picked up at church or mailed out with Windows. You can download or read a devotion at any time here.
Intergenerational Summer Mission Trip to Orlando
Student Ministries is hosting a summer mission opportunity in Orlando, Florida, for students, adults, and families. We would love to see an intergenerational team serving together this summer in Orlando! The trip will take place June 25–July 2. We will work with Serve Orlando to serve different ministries and agencies in the area, and we’ll also 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. Join the informational Zoom meeting Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m. to get all the details. For more information, contact Katie Arnold.
Family Lenten Prayer Journey Begins Sunday
We are pleased to announce a new program of prayer for families, A Lenten Journey: Prayer Practices for All. Bring your family to the fellowship hall this Sunday, March 6, at 4:00 p.m., and we will walk through prayer stations (experiences) with you. We have planned creative and hands-on activities to draw us closer to Godtogether!


New Members Class
Our New Members Class meets on Sundays at 10:15 in the chapel. All newish members are welcome! We enjoy fellowship and talk about the history of the Presbyterian Church, specifically FPC; the PCUSA's national and local organization; and the ways you can plug in and serve. Dave Welch has the answers to your questions.


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.

The Promise for
Home Groups
Our new semester of Home Groups has begun! In our new curriculum, The Promise, we are talking 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.

FPC Serves
Sharing Christ Saturday
FPC adult and 7th–12th grade student volunteers will feed our neighbors at Sharing Christ mission downtown this Saturday, March 5. We are grateful to the FPC youth who will be an important part of the team at the mission! Students will gather at Sharing Christ ministries at 4:15. While there, they will make and pack lunches and serve dinner to our neighbors. Our church and our community are grateful to everyone who helps to make this ministry a reality.
Program of Music Especially for Lent

Alice Brooks Sanders (top left) and Clara Elisabeth Sanders will present a program of music for piano, organ, and voice at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport on Friday, March 11, at 7:30 pm. They will also present a shorter program of music for piano and voice in the sanctuary of State Street United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 10, at 10:00 a.m. for the Bristol Music Club. Both programs are open to all and admission is free. Alice and Clara have chosen selections that speak to issues of social justice and will highlight those issues in their written and spoken program notes. It is their hope that this program, offered during the season of Lent, will inspire us all to consider these issues in a spirit of reflection, lamentation, and repentance.
Alice serves as organist and pianist at FPC Kingsport. She previously taught piano privately and at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith and served as organist and choir director at churches in Texas, Rhode Island, and Oklahoma. She has degrees in piano from Baylor University and the University of Oklahoma. Her daughter Clara (bottom left) lives with her three children in Minneapolis, where she works for the Land Stewardship Council and plays the organ at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. Clara earned a BMus in piano and a BA in cross-cultural studies at Houghton College, an MDiv from Duke Divinity School, and an MSW from the University of North Carolina. She is in discernment for ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.
Hot Cook-Off,

We took the responsibility of tasting all that chili very seriously.

Boffo Show!
The Chili Cook-Off and Talent Show made for an explosive night, full of heat and laughter! Enthusiastic FPC cooks submitted 20 different kinds of chili to our tasters. The Arnold family took home the Golden Ladle for Best in Show, Jerry Swam Sidi won for Unique, and Chase Arndt created the chili that Made Pastor Sam Sweat.

A melting pot of talents of all ages delivered the evening’s entertainment. Joke telling, music, skits, dance, gymnastics, improv, yo-yo tricks, scripture recitingit was all creative and clever. We celebrated and enjoyed the beautiful gifts from our church family, while savoring fellowship and delicious food together. It was a joy to have our church community gathered for a wonderful, laugh-filled night!
Interested in a Local Overeaters Anonymous Group?
Some members of our community are interested in organizing a local meeting of Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program that helps people work through food addiction issues of all kinds. If you are interested in hearing more, please contact Pastor Sam, and he will connect you with others interested in starting a group. Email Sam, or call the church office at (423) 764-7176.


Keep Kids Safe
We now lock the doors of the education wing to help keep our children safe. Parents must sign their kids in when they drop them off and sign them out when they pick them up. There are sign-in sheets at the nursery and for Kids’ Kirk and Sunday School. Parents can gain access at any time by using one of the key cards hanging by Lilly Osborne’s office door.

Please do not distract students and teachers by hovering in the hallways during class time. Clear hallways also help us know where children are when in our care.
Munching Along on Fairmount Snacks
We continue our theme snacks for small hands by collecting goldfish crackers for the next two weeks. After that, our final two-week snack drive will be for little pretzels. As ever, please put your donated snacks in one of the collection boxes (in the narthex and the fellowship hallway). We will take them to Fairmount. Thank you!

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 gifts:
 
In memory of:
  • Frances Rowell: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Her friends at Baird, from Thaddeus R Bowers IV, from Randy & Deborah Casstevens, from Jeff & Lucy Crawford, from Dotty Royston
 
In honor of:
  • John Graham: to the Brazil Mission Fund from an anonymous donor
Organist's Footnotes
Ms Lynar B7 (the seventh of the manuscripts known as the Lübbenauer Orgeltabulaturen) contains five anonymous choral preludes or variations of psalms and one of the choral “Erhalt uns Herr.” They were probably composed by a contemporary or a student of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.

“Erhalt uns Herr bei deinem Wort” (Sunday’s prelude) is not a psalm but a hymn written by Martin Luther on a melody by Johann Walther. It also can be (and probably was) sung to the melody of Psalm 134, which is the likely reason it was included in the collection of psalm variations in Ms Lynar B7. The composition is one continuous piece yet consists of three variations on the choral melody, and all three have the choral melody in the upper voice. It is an elegantly written piece, and the first variation especially is cleverly constructed with motifs from the choral melody appearing in all the other voices. The rhythmic intensity increases through the composition, culminating in some fast runs in the bass voice.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was still in his early twenties and new to his first real job in Arnstadt when he composed Prelude and Fugue in E minor (Sunday’s postlude). The position as a highly paid organist had fallen into his lap in 1703, after his brilliant performance when testing the new organ. A couple of years later his organ playing was given as one of the reasons for letting him go. The criticism was that he was playing too many strange notes and variations in his chorale preludes. The church council believed that this confused the congregation. 


J.S. Bach as a young man.
Pray for One Another
We want to pray for and celebrate with you! Send your prayer requests and glad tidings to praycelebrate@fpcbristol.org.

In Our Prayers
Please also pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
Anna Arbo & family
Wayne Ausmus
Kevin Benton
Bill & Betty Bingham
Rebecca Bloomfield
Ralph Booher
Sujean Bradley
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Becky Busler
Bill Coleman
Egypt Mission Trip
Randi Edwards
K.D. Forsha
Tammy Fredrickson
DeeDee Galliher
Emma Grubbs & Gina Roberson
Haiti
Lou Hebb
Eddie Hill
Porter Hillery
Davan & Kristi Johnson
Kaduna State
Jim & Joan Keith
Marty & Kara Keys
Nancy Lilly
Diana Mattison
Dot Mattison
Roger McCracken
Kathy McGlothlin
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Breanna Necessary
Lee & Robin North
Evan & Britt Patrick
Pastor Bruce Plummer
June Prado
Alison Quickel
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Kreg Ramey
Roberta
Mike Ruger
Michelle S.
Malcolm Sprinkle
Teachers & school administrators
Scott VanNostrand
Bill & Patsy Ward
Michael Weller
Carlena Williams
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