Windows

December 22, 2023

Minister's Discretionary Fund

During the month of December, our special offering collected goes towards the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. Contributions to this fund have a huge impact assisting the local community as well as other special projects that may arise. Over the last few years, this fund has assisted with projects such as air purifier distribution and the Kentucky flood relief supplies. This is perhaps the most broad reaching fund that FPC is able to utilize. Whenever needs arise in the community or church that may not fall into an existing support fund category, the Minister’s Discretionary Fund can help fill in the gaps. Your contributions have a lasting impact throughout the entire year to come. If you feel led to contribute to this fund, we encourage you to give online to the “Christmas Offering for MDF” in the dropdown menu on our GIVE page. If you prefer to give by check, please note “Christmas Offering for MDF” on the memo line. We will not pass a special offering plate during Sunday services this month however, the entire offering collected during the Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service will go towards this special offering.

Remember to Return Your Pledge

We are slowly bridging the gap in our funding for our ministries in 2024. We have now received $537,512 in pledges for next year and need $247,488 more to reach our goal of $785,000. If you have not yet sent in your pledge, you can still submit the card you received in the mail (also available at the church) or access online giving through the QR code. If you have any questions about stewardship, reach out to any member of the committee. The members of the Stewardship Committee are Bruce Gannaway and Pete Holler.

Save the Date! FPC's Women's Retreat begins February 9th and 10th at King University. Come share in fellowship as we learn, worship and eat together. Registration opens in January!

All student ministry alumni are invited to gather for some holiday fun, catching up and playing games. The gathering will be held at Katie Arnold's home (716 Spruce Street) at 7pm on Thursday, Dec. 28. Bring a $10 gift for the gift exchange game. Whether you can stay for the whole time or just pop in, we would love to see you!

One Worship, Sunday School Suspended



We will have one service at 11:00 am in the sanctuary on the morning Christmas Eve. Join us as we worship as one body! Kids Kirk and Nursery will be offered. One Worship will take place December 24 and 31 and Sunday school will not be held on these days.

The Crismon Tree at First Presbyterian Church

In July of 1973, a group of about 35 women of First Presbyterian Church began making decorations for a Crismon tree. Mrs. Frances Spencer, a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, created the Crismon tree in 1957 after studying church history and religious symbols. “Crismon” is a combination of the words “Christ” and “monogram.” After six months of hard work and planning, the church held an inaugural tree-lighting ceremony that was attended by more than 400 members. Each one of the 550 white lights on the tree represented one family in our church. Through the years, our church’s Crismons began to grow shabby, and some time in the 1990s a small group of women volunteered to make new ones. Virginia Rutherford remembers that Mrs. Spencer had copyrighted her Crismon designs by then and the church had to purchase them in kits. Among the dozen women putting these kits together were Karen Boone, Dyan Buck, Barbara Daniel, Heidi Harlkeroad, Virginia Rutherford, Dottie Stone and Linda Welch. Our Crismon tree skirt was made in 1995 by a group of women led by Jane Whitlow. If you look closely at the cross-stitched Crismons, you will find that some of them have been signed with the initials of the women who made them. These include Alice Cooley, Carole Gilfillin, Eloise Hagy, Heidi Harkleroad, Carol Herring, Carolyn King, Frances Rowell, Virginia Rutherford, Faye VanNostrand, and Jane Whitlow. The tree skirt was put together by Margaret Wade, who sewed the cross-stitched squares on to wedge-shaped pieces of fabric. She then joined these sections together and outlined the seams with gold and white cord that she hand-stitched onto the finished skirt.

First Presbyterian Church officers and staff appreciate all gifts made to the church throughout the year. If you plan to make a year-end gift to FPC, please be sure to follow IRS guidelines. Online gifts must be posted no later than December 31, 2023. Cash and checks must be received or postmarked no later than December 31, 2023 (yes, that is a Sunday).  The church office will be closed on December 31, but gifts can be placed in the offering plate during worship that day. If you are planning to make a year-end gift to the church and are required take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a taxable retirement plan, please consider talking to your financial advisor about a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Gifts may be designated to church general operations to help fulfill our annual operating budget or to one of our current mission partnerships. One option is to designate gifts to one of the Legacy Funds: the General Legacy Fund (which provides the broadest impact for years to come) or one of several Designated Legacy Funds specific to various program areas in the church, such as Worship/Music, Christian Education, Missions, or Facilities. You can learn more about stewardship and Legacy Giving Ministry atfpcbristol.org/stewardship. If you have questions, please call Betsy Galliher, Church Business Administrator, in the church office or email her atbgalliher@fpcbristol.org.

Pick up your Advent Devotional 

The season of Advent has started and Advent Devotionals are available now. 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 honor of:

• Sam Weddington: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
• Dave Welch: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
• Church Staff: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
• Music Department: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from George Huber & Frances Emerson
• Margaret Wade: to the Library Fund from Dot Mattison
• Peggy Peters: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Dot Mattison
• John & Karen Vann: to the Brazil Fund from Dot Mattison
• Charles Webb: to the Music Projects Fund from Dot Mattison
• Sam Weddington & family: to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund from Dot Mattison

Organist's Footnotes

It is not possible within this small space to comment on all the music for our Christmas Eve (morning and evening) services. However, one constant will be the music of Jonathan Willcocks (b. 1953), which the Sanctuary Choir will sing. Willcocks was born in Worcester, the son of conductor and composer Sir David Willcocks. He was a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, and an Open Music Scholar at Clifton College. He graduated with an Honors degree in Music from the University of Cambridge in 1974, where he held a choral scholarship at Trinity College. As a composer, Jonathan’s music includes major choral works, music for children’s choir, many shorter pieces (including anthems and secular choral music), orchestral and instrumental works. The choir will sing Willcocks’ arrangements of well-known Christmas carols, including “On This Day Earth Shall Ring”, “On Christmas Night”, and “What Child Is This?”. But I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention our other special music. This includes violinist Michael Long and vocalist Mary Ellis Rice teaming up to present two new arrangements, “Child of Promise, Child of Light” and “From Heaven Above”. The FPC Handbell Choir will combine with the children to present a new handbell arrangement of “From Heaven Above”. A small bluegrass ensemble will lead the Congregation in singing “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Silent Night”. And Metropolitan Opera tenor Aaron Blake will sing Adolphe Adams’ classic, “O Holy Night”. - Bob Greene

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



Congratulations to Bart & Amber McMillin in the birth of their daughter, Hunter Jane McMillin on December 19, 2023.

Condolences

Condolences to Nancy Allerton and family in the death of her mother, Claire M. Farina on December 7, 2023 in Peabody MA.

Condolences to Laura Ong and family in the death of Laura’s grandmother, LaVerne Willian on November 25 in Southern Kentucky.

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