|
Compassion Sunday
Right now, up to 783 million people in the world are facing hunger.
Children especially are suffering. In the face of such injustice, I know you want to do something.
But maybe you’re wondering how you can make a difference. Maybe you’re asking…what’s the best way to tackle something as vast as hunger and global poverty? And what can I really do about it?
This Sunday we are participating in Compassion Sunday — a day set apart to respond to the needs of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International is an organization dedicated to helping children escape poverty by connecting them with sponsors around the world. There will be a table where you you’ll find photos of boys and girls from Ethiopia who would love to have someone like you to come along side to serve, honor and protect them.
When you sponsor a child, you’ll help them see themselves as precious and valuable in the eyes of God — which is one of the most potent weapons against poverty. And when it’s paired with nutritious food to combat hunger, tutoring, regular medical checkups and vocational training ... the result is a tangible and sustainable impact.
That’s why children in Compassion’s program are more likely to stay in school, break the cycle of poverty in their families, become leaders in their communities and build tomorrow’s Church. You can fight injustice by releasing a child from poverty in Jesus’ name through sponsorship. Will you?
| |
Bristol Regional Hospital Change
Friends, Due to a recent policy change at the hospital, the staff at FPC are no longer able to call the hospital each morning and determine if any members are there under care. Yet it is vital that we know. Here’s how you can help the Congregational Care Team and the Pastors to be current with congregational needs. Please call or email the staff with known community/congregational needs, especially the names of those known to you who are in the hospital. The staff will then follow up personally and confidentially with them. You may call the church office during business hours M-Th 9am-5pm. The church phone number is (423-764-7176). Or you may email the information using one or more of these addresses: info@fpcbristol.og, sbales@fpcbristol.org, or dwelch@fpcbristol.org. Thank you for expanding our team efforts!
|
|
Just How Interesting Are You?
What’s the big deal about fellowship? God created us to belong to one another! It’s how we’re wired to grow to become more like Him. In an effort to connect our church in meaningful ways, the Community Fellowship Team will be issuing a survey on April 21st regarding your personal interests in hopes of making deeper connections within our church. There will be paper copies and an online survey open for two weeks. The paper copies will remain available after those weeks and can be filled out and added later. However, the results from this initial survey will show where there is overlap within our congregation so we can begin thinking how to move forward with developing potential fall groups. Interest Survey Link!
| |  |
|
Worship
April 28
5th Sunday after Easter, 48th Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture
John 21:15-19 & 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Liturgy: Psalm 95:1-7
Sermon
"Caring for the Sheep"
Rev. Dr. Samuel Weddington
Last Sunday's Attendance
9:00: In person: 165
11:00: In person: 115
9:00: Online: 106
11:00: Online: 98
| |
Calendar
Sunday, April 28
9:00 a.m.
Early Worship, Fellowship Hall
9:30 a.m.
Handbell Rehearsal, Room 212
10:20 a.m.
Sunday School, Various locations
11:00 a.m.
Late Worship, Sanctuary
5:00 p.m.
The Rock Slinger and His Greatest Hit
6:00 p.m.
Student Fellowship, Fellowship Hall
Monday, April 29
10:00 a.m.
Staff Meeting, Room 123
Tuesday, April 30
7:00 p.m.
Troop 3, Scout Hall
Wednesday, May 1
6:00 p.m.
CMT Meeting Room 123
7:15 p.m.
Adult Choir Practice, Room 202
7:15 p.m.
Praise Team Practice, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, May 2
7:00 a.m.
Men’s Bible Study, Parlor
1:00 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study, Room 123
4:30 p.m.
CFT Meeting, Room 117
5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
8:00 a.m.
Bristol Music Club Scholarship Auditions, Sanctuary
| |
|
Stewardship Campaign 2024
Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:19
Belated thanks to you! Today we stand just 6% away from the amount needed to reach the $785,000 pledge goal set by session to balance the operating budget for 2024. Thanks be to God for your commitment and belief in the mission of First Presbyterian! We hoped for new pledges and increased pledges. This year we received both! We trust this gap will be bridged in the coming months because we know God has continually blessed our faithfulness in staying true to our calling to serve our brothers and sisters, locally and around the world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
What a beautiful thing it is to be part of such a community as First Presbyterian Church and to serve together! Let’s continue to pray, with thanksgiving, for our church and its mission, and especially for God’s guidance, as we continue to grow in our understanding of what it means to be faithful stewards of our time, talent, and financial resources in response to Christ’s command to care for our neighbors and to share the Good News of his redeeming love. To God be the glory!
With thanks: Aaron Brooks, Bruce Gannaway, Karen Pennington, and Jerry Poteat
| |
|
Greetings Everyone, We would like to invite you to become part of Team Zambia by donating items that we can bring along with us to Zambia, Africa when we lead our next mission trip there in this beautiful part of Sub-Saharan Africa from May 15-29, 2024. Our partners there through the Phoebe Foundation Africa are requesting gently used or new soccer shorts & shirts for children and adults (Mostly Small & Medium, with some Large sizes), deflated soccer balls and Bibles to distribute.
We would also love your prayers for the 3 counseling conferences that we will lead, the soccer ministries, as well as the feeding programs, home visits and church services that we will be attending. Thanks so much for joining us to help meet the needs of our friends in this majestic part of God’s Kingdom.
May God Bless You Abundantly!
Sincerely, Catherine & Mark Bell
| |
Everyone is invited to come out to the fellowship hall on Sunday, April 28 at 5:00pm to see the children of FPC perform their spring musical “The Rock Slinger and His Greatest Hit”! Ms. Sujean and Ms. Melissa and the children have worked so hard to bring the story of David and Goliath to life! It is sure to put a smile on your face! It is also a great reminder that we can trust God because He is mightier than any giant we will face. Join us and show your love and support! | |
 | |
We look forward to celebrating our seniors on May 12 in our senior led worship services. One of the ways we are honoring and celebrating our seniors is by collecting Legacy Letters to give to them on this Sunday.
Legacy Letters are written by family and friends and describe ways in which the senior has impacted the writer’s life. Letters can share old memories, stories, lessons learned, or significant moments. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage the senior in their faith and future plans as well as to acknowledge the beautiful gifts God has given them. Our hope is that the Legacy Letters will give family and friends an opportunity to share the incredible impact the seniors have had on those around them. The letters will be a beautiful collection of love and truth that the seniors can read as they begin a new journey after high school and serve as a reminder of the incredible community they have cheering them on in their journey!
All letters need to be collected and turned in by May 10. Please send to:
First Presbyterian Church
Attn.: Katie Arnold
701 Florida Ave.
Bristol, TN 37620
or karnold@fpcbristol.org
Class of 2024
Sam Beasey
Micah Bechtold
Sarah Galliher
Campbell Kent
Cheyenne Little
Sam Meredith
Noah Ong
James Phipps
Joan Weddington
| |
 | |
We are collecting letters for our Confirmands and would love for you to be part of their great cloud of witnesses!
Since September 2022, these confirmation students have participated in weekly classes that have taught, informed, encouraged and challenged their faith. Watching them grow over the past two years and take ownership of their faith has been a joy and an inspiration!
On Sunday, May 5, 2024, the confirmation students will have the opportunity to proclaim their faith to our church family and become members of First Presbyterian Church. As we prepare for this special day, we are asking friends and family to send in cards and letters of spiritual encouragement to our confirmands. Letters are not limited to, but could include a story or memory, something about your own faith or ways your life has been impacted by knowing this student. We invited you to speak love and truth that will spur them on in their faith. The kind words you share will not only encourage them as they prepare to be confirmed but also be kept for years as a reminder that they are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that will love, guide, and encourage them as they continue to run the race. (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Confirmation Class of 2024
Josh Galliher
Joel Galliher
Mollee McClain
Moses Ong
Charlotte Osborne
Marissa Smith
Penn Story
If you would like to participate, please mail, email or deliver all cards and letters by May 1st to:
First Presbyterian Church
Attn.: Katie Arnold
701 Florida Avenue
Bristol, TN 37620
or email karnold@fpcbristol.org
Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this important and exciting time in the lives of our students! Contact Katie Arnold with any questions.
| |
 |  | On this 5th Sunday of Easter I am playing music by a college classmate of mine with whom I reconnected here in the Tri-Cities. David See (b. 1957) has enjoyed a varied career as collaborative pianist, orchestral pianist, organist, choral singer, teacher and composer. He is now retired with his wife Lynn, dividing their time between New York City and Bologna, Italy. When in New York he works part time as a collaborative pianist on the staff of the New School and as substitute organist (most recently at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration and Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church). While David and Lynn lived in Johnson City from 1989-2005 he was a freelance pianist/keyboardist, taught at Suzuki Talent Education of Appalachia and for several years was principal pianist with Symphony of the Mountains. He holds a B.M. degree in Music Composition from Oberlin Conservatory. David writes, “My long and affectionate relationship with church music and musicians has produced a growing series of hymn-based compositions on organ, piano and other instruments. Some of these settings are ordinary and conventional, others more adventurous. “Savior Like a Shepherd” (Offertory) was originally written for my piano student Ashlee Jenks Cardwell of Johnson City. “Be Thou My Vision” (Opening Voluntary) was originally for clarinetist Kathryn Johnson of Murfreesboro. “And Can It Be” (Closing Voluntary) is a wonderfully extraverted and cheerful tune by Charles Wesley and it is perfectly fine as it is, of course, but I wanted to take it to another level on the organ and hear it scream raucously.” -Bob Greene
| |
|
In Our Prayers
We have several unnamed or private requests. Please pray for the members of our community who wish to remain anonymous.
Lou Hebb
Bud & Marg Branscomb
Rachel & Ben Cherry and Dean Millard
Ricky Adams
Mardia Long
John Graham, Sr
Harold Rutherford
Barbara Daniel
Frances Emerson
Fitz Anderson
Ginger & George Alvarado
Debbie Garritson
Bill Coleman
Billie Peterson
Nelson Pyle
Phyllis Phares
Loretta Thomas
Dale Bechtold
Sarah Ferguson
Martha Mueller
Jon Eakes
Betsy Tate Kegley
Lillian Rhoades
Lois Smith
Jack Wooley
Mark Byington
Lisa Cronin
Ron Fox
George Price
Betty Linke
Nick and Christy Booher, Baby Charlie
Tracy Clark
Chris Slone
Penn Story
Sophia Alcantara
Grieving
Family of Bill Woods
Family of Peggy Rutherford
Family of Dot Mattison
Family of Dick Ray
Family of Patsy Adams
Region/Nation/Special
Schools, Colleges, & Universities
Ukraine
Israel, hostages, and victims in Gaza
Those suffering with addiction
Mission & Ministry
Young People in Detention Center
Marthina Chapel/Phil Blevins
Ethiopian brothers and sisters/Dembi Dollo
Onesimus Ministry/Addis Ababa
Christians in Nigeria/ECWA
Pastor Nehemiah and family
Felipe Camarão & Cidade Nova Churches
Joao & Roseangela
Gil & Adailza
Rui & Ariel Damasceno
Lawrence and Courtney Sharrett
Kate Hill
Goddards
Chris & Phoebe Chanda in Zambia
Paul Htay in Myanmar
BCCR/Gray House & Harmony & Hope House/Steven & Ann Davis
Montana Indian Ministries/Bruce Plummer
Serve Orlando
Younglife
Scout Troop 3
Sunday school teachers, leaders, mentors @ FPC
| | |
|
May Birthday
Prayer Fellowship
To protect your personal data, we now announce birthdays without dates.
Jane Keeter
Maxwell Mumpower
Allison Brooks
Amy Scott
Andrew Smith
Audrey Arndt
Bill Bingham
Blake Bassett
Branch Sword
Brenda Lawson
Brittany Rutherford
Bruce Gannaway
Davan Johnson
Dave Welch
David Johnson
David Tudor
Debbie Garritson
Don Pridemore
Evie Quickel
Ford Sikorski
Hal Arndt
Henry Strickland
Hugh Rice
Jerry Poteat
Jim Ratliff
Jimmy Phipps
John Vann
Josie Arndt
Karen Boone
Kendall Sampson
Kristen Tallman
Lenita Thibault
Linda Welch
Martin Dotterweich
Mary Caroline Mumpower
Matt Peltier
Mendy Bechtold
Misti Shaw
Morgan King
Myers Mumpower
Nancy Allerton
Phil Bailey
Rob Meredith
Robert Bruce Gannaway
Sandra Grubbs
Sherry Ratliff
Susan Zeiler
Sylvia Kingsley
Trevor Dowdell
William Mumpower
| | |
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 | | | | |
