Our worship Sunday observes the season of Lent, the seven weeks of the church year preceding Easter. Recalling Jesus' 40-day temptation in the wilderness, Lent invites us through introspection and penitence to consider the costliness of Christ's sacrifice for our sin. Lenten worship is hence more subdued, signified by the purple liturgical color as well as by the temporary absence of flowers and "alleluias."

Chuck Thompson, his wife Barb, and their three children, CJ, Sarah, and Erin, came to Bristol and First Presbyterian Church 28 years ago. Chuck is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. He is also the Director of Counseling, an Associate Professor of Psychology, and an Adjunct Professor of Religion at King University. Chuck has written four applied theology books, a novel based on the Epistle of James, seven mystery novels set in Bristol, and two Appalachian fantasy series. 

Please join us next Wednesday, February 21, as Con Sauls talks about prayer in our Adult Learning segment; the program begins at 6:15 p.m. But first come to the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. and enjoy fellowship over "breakfast for dinner." The Middle School Gathering and Wednesday Night Kids will meet separately at 6:00. High School Small Groups will meet at 7:00. 

If you've worshiped with us in the 11:00 sanctuary service over the past month, you may be aware that we are experiencing intermittent problems with several of the microphones, including the pulpit's, wireless, and hearing-assisted headphones. A local sound engineer has determined that the mixing board, the heart and head of the entire sound system, is beginning to fail. It was purchased used and has served us for more than 12 years, which is beyond the normal life expectancy. Because of the design of the analog-type system, the engineer does not feel it is worth the cost to repair. (Just as with a car with 200,000 miles on it, we may repair one problem, but another will soon develop.) He suggests that we replace the entire unit with what is now the industry standard: a digital (computer based) rather than analog (circuit board based) model. The staff and the Session are exploring options and will keep the congregation informed.

Sunday's music: Throughout the season of Lent, the choral anthem each week will be a

	Viktor Kalinnikov

setting of "Agnus Dei," which recognizes that Christ is the Lamb of God, the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Sunday's setting was composed by Viktor Kalinnikov (1870-1927). This is a choral setting of the final section of text in the Christian mass and is based on the words of John the Baptist in 1 John:29, "Behold the son of God who takes away the sins of the world." Kalinnikov was a Russian choral composer, conductor, and pedagogue. He was the younger brother of the better-known symphonic composer Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901). Viktor studied at the seminary in Oryol, then at the Moscow Philharmonic School, taking oboe and music theory. From 1899 to 1901 he headed the orchestra of the Moscow Art Theatre. Viktor attended and then taught at the Moscow Synodal School of Russian Orthodox Church music, where he composed 24 sacred choral settings for the Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy. From 1922 to 1926 he taught at the Moscow Conservatory.

Organist's footnotes: Lent is a time for reflection and introspection. We focus our attention on the Passion narrative, the great story of Christ's suffering and death on the Cross. So for the several Sundays of Lent, I will be concluding our time of worship together with quiet, reflective postludes. Please remain seated to listen to these short pieces.

Specifically, I will be exploring several of Johannes Brahms' (1833-1897) Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122. These miniature masterpieces for the organ were the last works Brahms composed, in May and June of 1896. They are based on old German hymns that Brahms knew from his childhood. Although the texts of the chorale preludes are not sung, the tunes were familiar enough to the informed listener to bring the intended associations to mind and give the pieces profound spiritual significance. The texts speak of reconcilement with death, resignation, and even joyful longing for the world to come.

Johann Sebastian Bach's (1685-1750) Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 537 (our prelude) is, to my ear, the perfect piece to get us into a Lenten frame of mind. The opening notes of the Fantasia seem to be lamenting some tragic loss or other. This sense of desolation is reinforced by the deep droning of the organ notes in the pedal. The lament does not lessen on the introduction of the second theme, as now the notes continue their descent in pairs. It is hard to imagine a greater contrast with the Fugue that follows. We are plunged into the energetic first theme of the Fugue. This is

	James Biery

reaffirmed by the second theme, as the notes are crammed together more and more by the increasing chromatics, with generous help from the pedals.

"Erhalt uns, Herr" (our offertory) is the name of the tune of our opening hymn, "The Glory of These Forty Days." James Biery's (b. 1956) arrangement intersperses isolated phrases of this tune, played on a reed stop, with descending chromatic harmonies. Like the marking of time by sand falling through an hourglass, this piece moves slowly forward, invoking the sense of waiting inherent in this season of Lent.

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

Sunday, February 18

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.       Sunday School

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

4:00 p.m.       Evangelism & Outreach Comm., Room 117

5:00 p.m.       Middle School Student Fellowship, Youth Wing

6:30 p.m.       High School Student Fellowship, Youth Wing

Monday, February 19

5:30 p.m.       Adult Handbells

Tuesday, February 20

9:30 a.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 117

10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room

7:00 p.m.       Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing

Wednesday, February 21

6:00 a.m.       10th Grade Girls Bible Study, Blackbird Bakery

9:30 a.m.       Women's DVD Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Room

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Rooms 34-36

5:30 p.m.       Fellowship Dinner, Fellowship Hall

6:00 p.m.       Pastor Nominating Comm., Room 117

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering

6:15 p.m.       Adult Learning Program, 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, February 22

6:00 a.m.       9th Grade Girls Bible Study, Blackbird Bakery

7:00 a.m.       Men's Bible Study, Parlor

12:00 p.m.     Noon Bible Study, Room 117

Friday, February 23

Heart to Heart Women's Retreat Begins, Blowing Rock