Windows

November 24, 2023

Vamos ao Brasil!

First Presbyterian Church has periodically traveled to the city of Natal in northeast Brazil over more than twenty years to visit our partner churches in the poor neighborhoods of Felipe Camarão and Cidade Nova, as well as the Bethel School that serves more than 130 children grades Pre- K through 3rd in the Felipe Camarão community. Our mission each visit is to encourage and support the pastors, school staff, and congregations, along with students and their families, during a week's worth of activities and opportunities for meaningful worship and interaction. Our next trip is tentatively scheduled for May 24 – June 3, 2024 and is open to all adults, high school juniors or seniors (with accompanying parent/responsible adult), and college students.

Nominations for deacon, elder and a trustee for 2024 ends November 26. This year we are nominating 5 deacons, 5 elders and 1 trustee. You can nominate qualified people using the paper nomination forms at the entrances of the worship spaces or email the name and why you think they are qualified to be a deacon, elder or trustee to nominations@fpcbristol.org or vote using this form.

Join us for our last Wednesday night meal of the semester! Following the meal, we will have our annual decorating of Gingerbread houses. Stay for a delightful gingerbread house decorating event at 6:15 p.m. on November 29th! We will have a fun and festive time as we prepare for the advent season.

A Christmastime evening of songs and stories with Noah Whitt and Ryan Long. We will be singing, playing and generally having a good time so come join us December 2 at CityChurch Bristol! Tickets are $0. We will be taking donations for the artists the night of the event. Both Ryan and Noah are raising funds for their new music projects and would love your support. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at CityChurch Bristol. Show starts at 7:00 p.m. Please reserve your tickets online here.

Rehearsals for this year’s Christmas play have begun! The play will be on Sunday, December 17 and is for children ages 4 to fifth grade. There is still time to participate! Rehearsals are Sundays November 19, December 3, 10, and Saturday December 16. Come be a part of this fun and meaningful annual event!

Women's Advent Worship

Join us for a special gathering that takes place during the Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is an opportunity for women to come together to celebrate the coming of Christ, reflect on the meaning of Advent, and prepare their hearts for the holiday season. Join us at 7 pm, Tuesday December 5th for a time of reflection, stillness, praise and togetherness during the hectic Advent season!

Hanging of the Greens

Advent is almost here and it’s time to mark your calendars for the annual Hanging of the Greens at the church. Sunday, December 3rd! "Hanging of the Greens" refers to the practice of adding evergreen plants (live or artificial) to the congregation's worship space. More details to come. Lunch is provided and it’s such a nice way to get the season going together. Contact Katie Sword, 423-914-2181. Texting is best.

As we each seek to follow Jesus in the FPC church family, may we prayerfully consider how God is calling us to serve and financially support the work of the church toward reaching the $785,000 goal in faithful response to the love of God found in Jesus Christ. Join us in the campaign this month to reach that goal, and let’s look together to the joy of Stewardship Sunday, November 23, 2023 when we will gather in worship, remember what the Lord has done for us, and dedicate ourselves to the work the Lord has places before us. What a joy it is to live and serve together! To God be the glory!

Let’s Get Connected! In Our New Online Church Directory



There is still time! Everyone who is a member or attends worship services on a regular basis is invited and encouraged to participate. Our data source for the directory will be Realm®, the church management software platform our church already uses for our membership database and giving records. (All giving information is completely secure and is not available to anyone other than the giver and FPC’s Business Administrator.) Those with online capabilities will access the directory from a computer and/or smart phone after setting up a personal Realm account. Those without online access can chose to have their information updated/included for them and will be provided with a paper copy of the directory. Whether you are a technical genius, have never touched a computer or smart phone, or are somewhere in between – we want you to join us in the directory. ONLY members of the FPC community who chose to participate will have access to the online directory. By electing to be in the directory, your name will be visible to everyone with directory access. If you decide to add a photo to your profile, the photo will be visible as well. As you set up your personal Realm account, you can choose to limit visibility of other personal information such as address, phone number(s), email address(es).

READY? - CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

Pick up your Advent Devotional

The season of Advent begins Sunday, November 26, but the Advent Devotionals will be available this Sunday, November 19. Prepare for the coming of Christ with a daily Scripture verse, a story and a prayer from Daily Guideposts for Advent. You can pick up a copy (one per family) in the narthex or the fellowship hallway. Call the church office to have a devotional mailed to you.

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:

Wayne Ausmus: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor

Nancy Carter: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from an anonymous donor

Vickie Coleman: to the Children’s Ministry Fund from an anonymous donor

Viola Havlik, mother of Robert Havlik: to the Family Promise Fund from an

anonymous donor

Antonio Madison: mother of J.B. Madison: to the Memorial Fund from an

anonymous donor

Dave Whitesides: to the FPC Troop 3 Fund from an anonymous donor

Organist's Footnotes

On this Christ the King Sunday, both the Opening and Closing Voluntaries are based on today’s hymns. John Hebden Schaffner (1945–1995) was born in Louisville, Kentucky and educated at Kentucky Southern College and the University of Kentucky. Schaffner was a self-taught pianist and organist who intentionally composed music in the style of composers living centuries earlier. His meditative setting on “King’s Weston: At the Name of Jesus” (our opening voluntary) is subtitled “Organ Motet for Christ the King”. Hearkening back to the Renaissance, Schaffner takes the first phrase of the King’s Weston tune and uses it to create a short, polyphonic fugue. Then he moves seamlessly on to the second phrase and develops that, and so on, until all the phrases of the tune have been played. The result is music that is straight forward, yet complex; ancient, yet modern. Dr. Albert L. Travis (b. 1940) is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Organ at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. His setting of “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (our closing voluntary) is a classic toccata guaranteed to give the organist a good workout! Dr. Travis served on the faculty of the School of Church Music from 1977 to 2008. From 1978 to 2022 he was organist of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where he played the Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn organ. The Casavant organ has 191 ranks, the largest installation by the Canadian organ company. -Bob Greene

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



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.

Wednesday of the week of publication 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 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 varies frequency. Text HELP to 73256 for help. Text STOP to 73256 to cancel. If you prefer, you may mail your contribution to the church.

701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | 423-764-7176 | fpcbristol.org