From Dave Welch

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). That was the thought an Elder recently shared as the devotion to begin a Session meeting. You will remember that Jeremiah was the prophet called by God who served during a critical period in Jewish history. The Assyrian Empire, which had dominated Israel (Northern Kingdom, ten of the twelve tribes) and the rest of the Near East for nearly 150 years, was collapsing. The Babylonian Kingdom, which was to be the next superpower, was on the move and threatening the remnant, Judah (Southern Kingdom, two of the twelve tribes), with destruction. Judah's King Josiah, himself, was very young, but he is recognized as one of the few kings who encouraged faithful and covenantal relationship with God.

Jeremiah shares these words, both written and spoken to a people who see destruction all around them, the falling of the wall that protected Jerusalem, and eventually even the destruction of their Holy Temple. All that they believe in, all that they hope for, all that they long for is literally and figuratively crashing down around them. Many of those to whom Jeremiah writes have already fled the country and are living now in Egypt, waiting to see what will happen. Jeremiah shares with them God's word, filled with hope and expectation! Jeremiah reminds them of God's faithfulness towards them, God's sustaining power for them, and God's continuing love of them.

Jeremiah invites God's people to remember, to reflect on God's love and powerful care for them. He does this by inviting them to claim the truth of their history with God; to remember the Exodus, remember the pillar of fire, and remember the faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jeremiah invites them look back through time and see God with them. As they do so, God's people are strengthened, but more importantly, they are encouraged for their future together with God.

As l wrote last week, I am excited and encouraged by what God is doing in us and through us, seeing the confirmation of God's love as I look back. Jeremiah's words also invite me to stop focusing on myself, my needs, my wants, my fears and instead shift my focus onto what I should be paying attention to, God and God's word.

If you walk down the hallway at the church, you will notice the Confirmation Classes' faith-inspired artwork hanging there. You will see one that has borrowed a famous hymn verse, "On Christ the solid rock I stand ..." (please sing along in your own mind), "all other ground is sinking sand, ... all other ground is sinking sand." I will be singing this primarily to myself but also on your behalf this week and the next and the next, every time I walk through these wonderful, grace-filled halls. "On Christ the solid rock I stand, ... all other ground is sinking sand, ... all other ground is sinking sand."

From the Stewardship Committee

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

This has been our stewardship vision verse all year. Let's ponder the idea of "God's varied grace" for a moment. He knows what we need, far better than we know. His power is greater than any other power. All we need to do is recognize our weaknesses and lean on Christ, no matter what, whether the weakness is in me as an individual or in our corporate congregation. This is confirmed in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV):

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore, let us boast all the more gladly of our weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us. Lean in ...

In worship this Sunday, you'll get a first look at our new FPC logo and learn about our new website. Everyone who attends will receive a gift! We will begin using our new logo in next week's newsletter, after its debut before the congregations gathered in the Fellowship Hall and the sanctuary on August 27. To celebrate, T-shirts and polo shirts embroidered with the new logo may be purchased by ordering after worship services. Come learn about our new communications tools!

Our own Abby Welch, daughter of Linda and Dave Welch, is raising money to teach English as a Second Language in Cape Town, South Africa, and you can help! Abby invites the congregation (and friends!) to a fundraiser dinner at the church at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 7. If you would like to attend or contribute, please call or text 423-956-0274. 

The reception planned to honor Shannan Miller has been postponed to September 24, after the 8:30 service. We need volunteers to bake cookies, and we are extending our collection of a cash gift for Shannan. Scottie Bales and Anne Southerland will collect your monetary donations until Wednesday, September 20. You may give your contribution to either Scottie or Anne when you see her at church, or email [email protected] or [email protected] to make other arrangements. Do not give your donation to the church; this is a gift directly from us, so it cannot be tax deductible. Above all, come say goodbye to Shannan, who is leaving us after 17 years as a vital presence in our early worship service.

This year marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's famous posting of the 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. Join us next Wednesday, August 30, as Dr. Martin Dotterweich leads the second of six Adult Learning programs that will examine the background and significance of that event, take a close look at the document itself, and consider the ways in which it started a Reformation. Next week's program will consider debate and reform before Luther.

A specialist in the Reformation in Scotland and the history of the Bible in English, Martin Dotterweich is Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at King University. He attended Wheaton College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a PhD. Martin and his wife, Heather, have been members of FPC since arriving in Bristol in 2004. They have two children, Kathleen and Peter.

Don't miss our fellowship dinner of homecoming casserole, salad, bread, and dessert, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Adult Learning Program will follow at 6:20, the Middle School Gathering and Wednesday Night Kids will meet separately at 6:00. High School Small Groups will meet at 7:00.

As you head for home, linger in the Fellowship Hallway to choose books from the wonderful array given to us. We have commentaries, devotionals, fiction, and nonfiction, all free to a good home! 

It's time again to collect snacks for the students at Fairmount Elementary! About 80% of the children get help with lunch, but their families can't afford to buy snacks to get them through the afternoon slump. That's where we come in. We collect the snacks from our generous church family, and the Christian Hands Ministry folks make sure they get to the school. We'll start this school year with boxes of vanilla wafers. Please bring them to the Little Red House in the Fellowship Hallway to help our friends at Fairmount get through the long fall afternoons. Thank you!

JB Madison will symbolically wrap up the season of vacations when he mows the church lawn for the last Sunday in August, and Roger Sikorski will celebrate the season of new undertakings when he does the same for the first Sunday in September. Some of us enjoy transitions and the changing of the seasons so much that we might rush them just a tad.

We welcome men and women, adults and teens to sign up for our mowing team at any time of the year. Families too: younger children can move fallen branches and debris to the curb, and a parent or elder sibling can mow. It's easy, it doesn't take much time, and you won't mow more than three times a year. If you're unfamiliar with Scag mowers, Team Captain Randy Cook will be happy to give you a lesson on our Tiger Cat. If you can mow even once during the growing season, please email Randy at [email protected] or call his cell at 423-956-1541. Thank you! 

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday's music: Today's anthem is a text by the well-known English hymn writer Philip Doddridge (1702-1751). Doddridge was offered University training for ordination in the Church of England, but declined it. Instead, he entered Mr. Jennings's nonconformist seminary at Kibworth. He spent most of his career in Northampton as minister and teacher, and it's said that he prepared more than 200 pupils with daily readings in Hebrew and Greek, algebra, trigonometry, Watts's Logic, and an outline of philosophy. Several hymns by Doddridge have attained popularity: "Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve," "Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?," "Hark, the glad sound, the Savior comes," "Ye servants of the Lord." The composer/arranger of the anthem is Douglas Smith, who received his BB from Carson Newman College in 1961, his MME from the University of North Texas in 1964, and his DMA from the University of Michigan in 1968. He has taught at Everett High School, Maryville, Tennessee (1961-1963), the University of North Texas (1965-1967), Dallas Baptist University (1969-1975), and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (from 1975 to the present). This tune was originally published in an 1820 hymnal, Kentucky Harmony.

Organist's footnotes: One of my favorite hymns is "Built on a Rock the Church Doth Stand" (Prelude). I decided to write a chorale prelude based on its Danish hymn tune, KIRKEN DEN ER ET GAMMELT HUS. In the music reflecting the text of the opening stanza, "Built on a Rock the church doth stand, Even when steeples are falling," one hears a series of descending lines. In the second half of the piece the organ builds up its sound with increasingly louder registrations. Yet even all this subsides to a whisper by the end, just as Christ said, "There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2).

"Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" (Offertory) is based on the tune DETROIT, originally found in Supplement to Kentucky Harmony, 1820. (Today's choral anthem is based on this same tune.) Rosamond E. Herklots wrote the text that inspired my arrangement of this hymn. You can read her text by opening your pew hymnal to No. 444. Stanza one has enormous, ethereal chords held by the hands on the softest string stops, while fragments of the melody are played in a high register on the pedals. Stanza two contrasts with foreboding sonorities in the reeds. Stanza three contains brilliant arches of sound under which the pedals fold firm on the cantus firmus. Stanza four makes a sturdy final statement, to complement this sturdy shape-note hymn.

"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy" (Postlude) is based on the tune RESTORATION by William Walker from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, published in 1835. I treat this rustic tune by playing it a tempo in the right hand, half tempo in the left hand, and quarter tempo in the pedal. The manuals wait patiently for the pedal to catch up before proceeding. The final two variations use strong, rhythmic chords to accompany the tune in the manuals and the pedals.

Adam and Meg on their wedding day.

The Reverends Adam and Meg Flannagan Fischer serve congregations on Long Island. They have an infant son, Huck. Adam loves to create things, with words or yarn or food or wood or paper or any random supplies. This passion is put to use at church and home. Meg loves to spend time outside. Although they have led worship and other programs together, it is a rare opportunity these days. They look forward to being in worship together and with FPC Bristol.

An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.

 

In Our Prayers

Sunday, August 27

8:30 a.m.        Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.        Sunday School

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

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

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

Monday, August 28

7:00 p.m.       Board of Deacons, Room 123

Tuesday, August 29

9:00 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, August 30

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

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

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

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering

6:20 p.m.       Adult Learning Program, Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir

Thursday, August 31

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

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

7:15 p.m.       8:30 Worship Team, Fellowship Hall