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Windows
September 7, 2023
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Fall Focus:
New Mission Statement
By now I hope you have heard that the officers of the church—the Elders, Deacons, and Trustees—have spent much time praying, reflecting, planning, and action-thinking about who we are as the body of Christ gathered at First Presbyterian Church of Bristol. This work has involved both a reworking of our mission statement to better define who we are and a renewed emphasis on our worship, discipleship, and mission: As a community being made whole by God, we love, serve, and grow through Jesus.
As you read through this new mission statement, words or phrases may stand out or connect with you. Other words or ideas may bother you, or you may want clarification to understand them better. The good news is that fall’s Home Group and sermon series will allow for this by intentionally focusing on the statement, piece by piece. Each week we will look at one part of it from several perspectives. We will study the Bible verses that underlie and support each part, and think about what the phrasing is calling for from us as individuals and as a community.
Each Sunday, those verses will be used as the sermon focus to further develop in us a response to God. This Sunday, September 10, Justin Miller, FPC’s Pastoral Resident, will provide the background and the outline of our study as he focuses on Isaiah 60 and Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. While most of our worship services will be led by one of FPC’s pastors or staff members, on several Sundays guest preachers will speak, offering different voices for you to hear.
The Home Group material is available on our website and through the church’s social media accounts. The material is designed to be used in many settings: personal devotion, small group discussion, family meal time, and even in a classroom. We are limited only by our own creativity.
Please plug in! Join a Home Group! Access the curriculum on our website or watch for it to drop on our Home Groups Facebook site. If you need help finding or starting a Home Group, please email Dave Welch. /Dave Welch
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September Mission: Appalachian Adult & Teen Challenge
When he spoke from our pulpit August 20, Brad Rose, Program Director for Adult & Teen Challenge of the Appalachian Regional Training Center, told us about the work the organization is doing for those recovering from addiction, and described the financial realities and constraints the center faces. Adult & Teen Challenge has been a light when all else seemed lost. This Christian drug rehab program has meant so much to some in our congregation that our Mission & Outreach Committee chose it as FPC’s mission focus for September. Throughout the month, you can give through our website for this special offering. On the last Sunday of the month we will take up a physical offering.
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Wednesday: One God, One Community
Taking as its key idea that there is one God who longs for a relationship with all humanity, our Home Groups lesson next Wednesday night will look at our life as a community and the concept of the catholic, universal church. The scripture readings for this lesson are Psalm 22:27–31, Acts 17:22–34, and Ephesians 4:1–6. Our fellowship meal will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall, and the adult program and activities for youth and children will follow.
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Worship
September 10
15th Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture
Psalm 36:5–9
Isaiah 60:1–7
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
Sermon
“The Mission”
Justin Miller
Last Sunday’s Attendance
9:00: In person: 124
11:00: In person: 74
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Calendar
Sunday, September 10
9:00 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Fellowship Hall
10:20 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship
Fellowship Hall
Monday, September 11
10:00 a.m.
Staff
Room 123
6:00 p.m.
Scout District Committee
Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m.
Worship Committee
Room 123
Tuesday, September 12
7:00 p.m.
Troop 3
Scout Hall
Wednesday, September 13
5:30 p.m.
Fellowship Supper
Fellowship Hall
6:15 p.m.
Adult Enrichment
Student Small Groups
Wednesday Night Kids
Handbell Choir
7:15 p.m.
Sanctuary Choir
Room 202
Youth Choir
Room 209
Praise Band
Fellowship Hall
Thursday, September 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 123
Saturday, September 16
7:30 a.m.
Bristol Area Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
Fellowship Hall
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Students: Come to the Unleashed Conference Sept. 10
Middle school, high school, and college students from our community will gather for an evening of dinner, games, a speaker, and worship this Sunday, September 10. Head to the Unleashed Conference with FPC’s Student Ministry! We will meet at FPC at 4:00 p.m. and board vans to Poplar Ridge Christian Church in Piney Flats. You must register to reserve a seat in a van, otherwise we may not have enough transportation. We plan to return to FPC around 8:30 p.m.
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Bob Greene in Recital
Our own Bob Greene will give two performances of music by blind organists in September. The first and shorter recital will be on Thursday, September 14, at 10:00 a.m. at State Street United Methodist Church, 650 Valley Drive, Bristol, VA. The second, full recital will be on Sunday, September 17, at 3:00 p.m. in our sanctuary. These performances are free and open to all.
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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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Bob Foster (brother of Cora Lee Raccioppo): to the Memorial Fund from Cora Lee Raccioppo
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Eddie Hill: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Cora Lee Raccioppo
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Tony Raccioppo: to the Memorial Fund from Cora Lee Raccioppo
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A recently discovered painting believed to be
a portrait of composer J.S. Bach as a young man.
It has been a while since I have played music by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). I will remedy that Sunday. Thumbing through my odd assortment of Bach organ books, I came across something I somehow hadn’t noticed before, Vol. 9 of the Peters Edition. This particular copy originally belonged to Virginia Intermont College. Inside I found a delightful setting of “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,” BWV 739 (our opening voluntary). It is a whimsical setting of our closing hymn, “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright.” The beautiful, optimistic words are excellently matched by the music, in which the organ rejoices in the higher regions from start to finish. It does so to such an extent that it is hard to spot the original melody, which first appears in long notes in the upper part and then in the pedal.
Paper analysis has shown that the piece must have been notated between 1703 and 1709. The score is the oldest surviving manuscript by Bach. It is easy to make the mental leap from this manuscript to Bach’s famous trip to Northern Germany in 1705 to hear the renowned organist Dietrich Buxtehude. Maybe he wanted to show this piece to the great master, or maybe it is a composition expressing the inspiration found by the young Bach in Lübeck. Whatever his intentions, Bach was proud of this chorale fantasy and always kept a neat copy of it.
The “Fantasia” or “Pièce d’Orgue” (“Organ Piece”) in G major, BWV 572 (our closing voluntary), is believed to be another of Bach’s earlier works, most likely composed in the early years of his tenure at Weimar (1708–1717). The piece is in three clearly defined sections: a very dynamic and cheerful opening section transitions to the main contrapuntal central section, which features five voices. The piece concludes with a seemingly endless series of ascending arpeggios before, after long last, it finally resolves.
Our opening hymn, “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word,” is beautifully reflected in the offertory, a gentle setting of the chorale tune “Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier,” BWV 731.
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Condolences
Our love and sympathy are with Aaron Brooks and his family in the death of Aaron’s brother, Cameron Brooks, September 1 in Knoxville.
Congratulations
We rejoice with Nancy Allerton in the birth of her grandson, Max, to her daughter, Kelsey Allerton, August 27 in Bristol.
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In Our Prayers
We have several unnamed or private requests. Please pray for the members of our community
who wish to remain anonymous.
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Patsy Adams
Ricky Adams
Kelsey Allerton
Ginger Alvarado
Fitz Anderson
Family of Wayne Ausmus
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Family of Cameron Brooks
Laura Ann Buckles
Family of Nancy Carter
Rachel & Ben Cherry & Dean Millard
Barbara Daniel
Kathleen Dotterweich
Frances Emerson
Russell Fogelman, Kelli Krajeck & Kendall
Debbie Garritson
John Graham Sr.
Lou Hebb
Jessica & Michael Hicks
Betsy Tate Kegley
Mardia Long
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Dot Mattison
Deborah Mitchell
Montana Indian Ministries
National & international leadership
Lee North
Pastor Bruce Plummer
Don Pridemore
Cora Lee Raccioppo
Dick Ray
Harold Rutherford
Patricia Tait
Teachers & school administrators
Loretta Thomas
Michael & Cassie Thornton
Those suffering with addiction
Julia Torbert
Debbie Turner
Ty Wagner
Nancy Walker
Bill & Patsy Ward
Sam Weddington
Amy Williams
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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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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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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. Text fpcbristol to 73256 to send your pledge, offering, or special gift to the church. Messages and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 73256 for help. Text STOP to 73256 to cancel. If you prefer, you may mail your contribution to the church.
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701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org | | | | |
