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

In This Issue
Worship
Deadlines & Subscriptions
Congregational Meeting about New Senior Pastor
Changes at FPC
Requesting Support for Our Confirmands
Elizabeth Patrick's Upcoming Sermons
In the Pulpit
Learn How to Make a Life Plan Next Wednesday
Wednesday Morning Group Studies He Is Risen!
All About Shrubs
Our Prayers for Ethiopia Have Been Answered
Will Graham Celebration Coming to the Tri-Cities
Will Graham Celebration Events
Please Donate Pretzels for Pupils
Music Notes
Pray for One Another
Gifts to the Church
Elders and Deacons of FPC
Church Calendar
Worship
April 8
2nd Sunday of Easter
Communion
Lessons
Proverbs 2:1-11
Luke 24:13-35
Sermon
He Walks with Me and Talks with Me
Elizabeth Patrick
Hymns
This Is the Glory
Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread
Anthem
O Sons and Daughters of the King
Holy Week Attendance
Maundy Thursday: 53
Good Friday: 85
Easter Sunrise Service: 57
Easter ONE Worship: 372
Deadlines & Subscriptions
Deadline for contributions to Windows is the Monday of the week of publication. The newsletter is emailed a minute after midnight on Thursday morning.

To have Windows delivered to your digital in-box, contact the editor at the address below, giving your name and the email address you want to use for this purpose.

Windows is a publication of First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, TN. Please direct questions and suggestions to the editor, Kathy Acuff, kacuff@fpcbristol.org

Windows

on First Presbyterian Church

April 5, 2018
Congregational Meeting about New Senior Pastor
Responding to the Pastor Nominating Committee, the Session of First Presbyterian Church calls for a congregational meeting in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. to hear the committee's report. The purpose of this meeting will be for the congregation to approve and accept the candidate being brought forth to be installed as the new Senior Pastor and Head of Staff, as well as the terms of call for this position. The candidate has already been examined and accepted by the Holston Presbytery Committee on Ministry. All members of FPC are strongly urged to attend.
Changes at FPC
George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." He summarizes well the Greek philosophical understanding that nothing is permanent except change itself, and we, the church, are moving forward through God's leading, which means change. What is that change you might ask? You are already experiencing it. There is change/progress in our worship services through music, liturgy, and word. There is change in our programming, adult learning, youth and children's ministries.
There is change, an ebb and flow, to our staffing as well. As a result of this change and in response to Session vision, the front office will now be managed by a cadre of volunteers. While this saves the church money, more importantly to me, it invites more folks into significant ministry opportunities, and that reflects the focused effort of the Stewardship Committee to invite members to use their talents more broadly in ministry. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10).
So, if you call the church office, you may be speaking to a member who is volunteering their time in mission: answering the phone, putting together the weekly bulletin, folding flyers, stuffing envelopes, and the like, or you may get a recorded message from the answering system.
Please bear with us as we move forward in change, as we progress toward becoming more flexible and more responsive as Christ's Body gathered here at 701 Florida Avenue. In the meantime, feel free to contact Dave Welch ( dwelch@fpcbristol.org, 423-764-7176) whenever you need or like. You may have to leave a message ...
Requesting Support for Our Confirmands
Students Ministries invites, yea, urges the congregation to write letters of spiritual encouragement to  the young people who will be confirmed in our church this spring.
2018 Confirmands
Davis Akard
Bailey Bechtold
John Blankenship
Zora Gross
Rachel Kent
Lily Rosser
Beckham Schiesz
On Sunday, May 13, these students will proclaim their faith before our church family and become members of First Presbyterian Church. As we prepare for this special day, we are asking their friends and family and members of FPC to send in cards and letters of spiritual encouragement for our confirmands. 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 of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds them and that will continue to love, guide, and encourage them as they continue to run the race (Hebrews 12:1-2).
If you would like to participate, please send your message of encouragement by May 11. You may email your message to Katie Arnold, Director of Student Ministries, at karnold@fpcbristol.org, or mail or deliver your cards and letters to:
First Presbyterian Church
Attn.: Katie Arnold
701 Florida Avenue
Bristol, TN 37620
Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this important and exciting time in the lives of our students! Please feel free to contact Katie if you have any questions.
Elizabeth Patrick's Upcoming Sermons
Where can we encounter the Risen Christ today?
A Two-Part Sermon Series
Luke 24 and Matthew 25
Rev. Elizabeth Patrick
April 8 and 15

April 8: Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
April 15: Children's Choir Sings
In the Pulpit
The Reverend Elizabeth Patrick
is an ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a graduate of Erskine College, Duke Law School, and Princeton Seminary. She served as solo pastor of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in Sandy Springs, South Carolina, before moving to Bristol in 2008 to marry Dr. Bill Linderman, Professor of Mathematics at King University. Since then, she has served as pulpit supply at a number of churches in the Tri-Cities and beyond. Elizabeth is active in our congregation but says she spends most of her time building Lego creations and otherwise caring for sons Henry and Ben.
Learn How to Make a Life Plan Next Wednesday
We make plans for our businesses, our education, and even our vacations, but what about our life? We spend so much time planning for other things but very little for ourselves, causing our priorities to be determined by external forces. Learn how to create a life plan! Join us next Wednesday, April 11, at 6:15 p.m. for "Creating a Life Plan," presented by FPC member Davan Johnson, an insurance and risk management specialist. Everyone is welcome first to the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy submarine sandwiches and dessert. The Middle School Gathering and Wednesday Night Kids will meet separately at 6:00. High School Small Groups will meet at 7:00.
Wednesday Morning Group Studies He Is Risen!
The Heart to Heart Wednesday Morning Bible Study will meet each week of April then take a break. With guest leader Dottie Havlik, the group is studying a book rather than a DVD this month. He Is Risen! is a collection of readings from the gospels about Jesus's activities after His resurrection, including Pentecost, when His promise of sending the Comforter was fulfilled. No purchase of a book or other material is necessary for this study. All women of the church are welcome to join the group at 9:30 in the Coffee Klatch Room for fellowship, prayer, and immersion in the Word.
All About Shrubs
You may have noticed that the big shrubs on our campus are being cut back substantially. This is necessary because they have grown so large that they are now a safety and security issue. They provide places to hide for people who might threaten staff or congregants coming in or out of the buildings, or who may be hiding for other reasons, none of them good. This is a particular concern at night. We have been advised by two insurance companies and the Bristol Tennessee Police Department to have them cut back significantly. This work has to be done in early spring, otherwise the plants may not recover. But fear not, they will fill out and look beautiful again. The Building & Grounds Committee appreciates your understanding. / Randy Cook
Our Prayers for Ethiopia Have Been Answered
Abiy Ahmed
We have been praying for our brothers and sisters in Dembi Dollo because of recent political unrest and violence throughout the country. The situation now looks more hopeful. The following is a very brief excerpt from an article published in the March 28 edition of Al Jazeera about Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister-elect, who will replace Hailemariam Desalegn:
"Born in Oromia's Agaro city in a mixed Christian and Muslim family, Abiy joined OPDO in the late 1980s.
"The prime minister-elect speaks three Ethiopian languages and holds a doctorate in peace and security from Addis Ababa University. He briefly served as science and technology minister in Hailemariam's cabinet.
"Abiy has widespread support among Oromia's youth, who have been active in the violent protests which started in the region in November 2015 and spread to the Amhara region in August 2016."
The entire article is here.
I think many will view this as a positive step politically. I believe that God is answering our prayers! Let's continue to support our brothers and sisters in Dembi Dollo with prayers for God's justice, mercy, and peace for all people throughout the country. / Peggy Hill
Will Graham Celebration Coming to the Tri-Cities
A major Will Graham evangelistic celebration has been scheduled for April 27 - 29 at Freedom Hall in Johnson City. Will Graham is the son of Franklin Graham and the grandson of Dr. Billy Graham, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is sponsoring this event. FPC's Evangelism & Outreach Committee wants to encourage each member of our congregation to prayerfully consider how you may want to get involved in this unique and wonderful evangelism and outreach effort, which was prayerfully planned over the past two years. Above all, we hope that as many members as possible will attend this Christian evangelistic event that is devoted to leading the unchurched in our community to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to connecting them with a church in their local community.
One way that FPC Bristol members can still get involved is by serving as an usher. Minimum age is 16. Enrollment forms are available online at www.tcrcelebration.org or at the Celebration office, located at 207 N. Boone Street, Suite 600, Johnson City. All usher volunteers must participate in one of the following training sessions scheduled for next week:
  • Tuesday, April 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, Johnson City
  • Thursday, April 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Indian Springs Baptist Church, Hill Road Campus, Kingsport
For more information, see the Celebration website at www.tcrcelebration.org, email tcrcelebration@billygraham.org, or call the Celebration office at 423-461-0057.
Will Graham Celebration Events
Four big events have been planned for the Will Graham Celebration, and all will be held in Freedom Hall Civic Center, located at 1320 Pactolas Road in Johnson City. Admission to each event is free. No ticket is required.
  • Adults & Families: 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 27
  • KidzFest: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28
  • Youth Night (Adults and families welcome): 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 28
  • Adults & Families: 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 29
Two other preparatory events for participants in the process will take place before the Celebration:
  • Final Prayer Gathering: Sunday, April 22. For all participants, University Parkway Baptist, Johnson City, 7:00 p.m.
  • Counselor Rehearsal: Thursday, April 26. For those selected to serve as counselors, Freedom Hall, Johnson City, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Please Donate Pretzels for Pupils
We are collecting small pretzels or pretzel sticks for the students of our neighborhood school. The families of most of the children at Fairmount Elementary cannot afford to send snacks to school with them. That's why we collect donated snacks from our generous church family and our Christian Hands Ministry folks make sure they get to the school. Please bring your offerings of small pretzels to the Little Red House in the Fellowship Hallway to help the youngsters at Fairmount stay alert through the long afternoons. Thank you!
Music Notes
Sunday's music participants: Pat Flannagan, Bob Greene, Sanctuary Choir, Adult Handbells.
Sunday's music: Our anthem, "O Sons and Daughters of the King," was arranged for voices and handbells by John Ferguson. Ferguson wrote: "... intended for the second Sunday in Easter, this ancient text and tune work well anytime in Eastertide. On the
John Ferguson
second Sunday, stanzas 1 and 4-8 tell the story of doubting Thomas, the Gospel lesson for the day." Ferguson (b. 1941) is an American organist, teacher, and composer and probably best known for his many choral compositions. He has also published alternate accompaniments and festival arrangements for organ, brass, and percussion of hymns and Lutheran liturgy, and has appeared on several recordings. He has more than 100 titles to his credit and has received national acclaim. Ferguson's name is often associated with hymnody and the words "hymn festival." He frequently is invited to design and lead such events, both in local congregations and at gatherings of organists, choral conductors, and church musicians. His festivals are ecumenical experiences drawing upon the treasures of Christian song from many centuries, traditions, and styles. He worked as both professor of music at Kent State University and organist-choirmaster at Kent United Church of Christ until 1978. Ferguson later worked as the director of music at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1983 he became the Elliot & Klara Stockdahl Johnson professor of organ and church music at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and later became the conductor of the St. Olaf Cantorei.
Organist's footnotes: The hymn "Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium, saguinisque pretiosi" ("Speak my tongue of the glorious mystery of the precious body and blood [of Christ]") is attributed to the famous thirteenth-century Dominican philosopher Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). Aquinas's hymn, with its exceptionally beautiful melody, was composed for vespers on the feast of Corpus Christi (usually occurring in June) to honor, according to Catholic belief, the sacred nature of the body and blood of Christ, the Holy Sacrament, as it is called. Soloist George Huber will sing this hymn during communion, accompanied by the Sanctuary Handbell Choir.
Sunday's organ service, composed by Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703), comes from a set of three versets based on this same hymn. The first piece will be heard last for the postlude, the second piece as the prelude, and the third piece (if we have time) for the latter part of communion. The title of each piece describes what is heard. The postlude translates as "Pange lingua [the hymn tune] en taille [in the tenor] à 4 [in four voices]." The prelude, "Fugue à 5," refers to a fugue in five voices. The name of the communion piece, "Récit du Chant de l'Hymne précédent," means that the preceding hymn tune is played on the récit (swell) division of the organ.
Pray for One Another

An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.
 
In Our Prayers
DeeDee Galliher
Ron Grubbs
Don Moneyhun
Joan Sams (mother of Scott Sams)
Chuck Thompson
 
Birthday Prayer Fellowship
April 8           Ginny Sword
April 9           Alie Bassett, Savannah Burt
April 11         Libby Crutchfield, Virginia McRee
April 13         Vivian Hill, George McClellan, Spencer Pruner
April 14         Wes Buckles, Wade Witcher
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 gifts made to the church in memory of the following individuals:
Addison & Eleanor Sue Looney: to the Music Projects Fund from Chuck & Barb Thompson
Eleanor Sue Looney: to the Memorial Fund from John & Karen Vann
Betty Millard: to the Capital Fund/MEP from Sue Barr; to the Minister's Discretionary Fund from Chuck & Barb Thompson
Sam Samuel: to the Minister's Discretionary Fund from Chuck & Barb Thompson, Helen Morgan, John & Karen Vann
Elders and Deacons of FPC
PCUSA seal small
Church Officers
ELDERS
Class of 2018
Class of 2019
Class of 2020
Aaron Brooks
Anna Booher
Nancy Allerton
Randy Cook
Lee Galliher
Rebecca Beck
Debbie McMillin
Pete Holler
David Hyde
Stuart Parker
Han Ong
Jordan Pennington
Chuck Thompson
Pete Stigers
Jerry Poteat
DEACONS
Class of 2018
Class of 2019
Class of 2020
Adam Abel
Sujean Bradley
Blake Bassett
Nancy Butterworth
George Linke
Rhonda Comer
David Ginn
Greg Roberts
Brenda Lawson
Rett Stocstill
Nate Sproles
Barbara Thompson
Ann Woods
Bill Whisnant
 

Church Calendar
Sunday, April 8
8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m.       Sunday School
11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary
4:30 p.m.       Finance Comm., Room 117
6:00 p.m.       Middle School Fellowship, Youth Wing
6:00 p.m.       High School Fellowship, Youth Wing
Monday, April 9
5:30 p.m.       Adult Handbells
7:00 p.m.       Building & Grounds Comm., Room 117
7:00 p.m.       Worship Comm., Room 123
Tuesday, April 10
9:30 a.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 117
10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room
6:00 p.m.       Venture Crew 3, Room 165
7:00 p.m.       Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing
Wednesday, April 11
9:30 a.m.       Heart to Heart Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Room
4:30 p.m.       Christian Hands Ministry, Room 123
5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care
5:30 p.m.       Fellowship Dinner, Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids
6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering
6:00 p.m.       Pastor Nominating Comm., Room 117
6:15 p.m.       Adult Learning, Fellowship Hall
7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups
7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir
7:30 p.m.       8:30 Worship Team, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, April 12
7:00 a.m.       Men's Bible Study, Parlor
8:30 a.m.       Meals on Wheels, Fellowship Hall
12:00 p.m.     Noon Bible Study, Room 117