I have to say that it has been so good to reconnect with many of you in the past month! Between outdoor worship services and a great afternoon at Doe River, as well as meeting (in a socially distanced, responsible manner) in person, it has been so good to see your faces, exchange elbow bumps, and see the smile in your eyes above the mask over your mouth. I've also enjoyed the meetings with those I've only been able to connect with over the phone or through a windowpane. I am thankful that with these opportunities, we have experienced God's protective presence. My hope and prayer is that we will continue to be responsible and responsive to the community's need for connection.

With that in mind, I am so happy that we will begin our new Home Group ministry in September. You can read more about this ministry and how you can connect to it in this issue of Windows (see "Home Groups," below). The main point of this program is that it provides resources for the individuals, families, and small groups who feel comfortable gathering to reflect on the word of God, share fellowship, and pray. We even hope that those who can't do so in person would consider meeting virtually via Zoom. We would be happy to talk with you about how to get started.

We live in challenging times, especially when it comes to being the body of Christ, a body that is first and foremost a gathering of those who call Christ Jesus Lord, and want to grow together in fellowship, love, and service. As I recently asked in an academic article, can the church be the church when it is increasingly difficult to gather in person?

My hope is that, yes, we can be the church despite the difficulties. I also hope that the Home Group project will be part of the solution. In the end, however, what is important is that in all things we provoke one another to love and goodness through our gathering, whether that be in person or digitally. We can encourage one another via digital worship. We can also do so by calling up a brother or sister on the phone, listening, and praying together. Unlike the early church, we have every advantage in this struggle, and with God's help, we can live our Hebrews 10 in new and inventive ways that give glory to Christ Jesus!

Please consider joining the Home Group program. Use this resource, and continue to be a blessing.

In Christ,

Pastor Sam

1932 FPC Men's Bible Class

In 1976, church member Anne Strickland Harrison published A Long Communion, a book that tells the history of First Presbyterian Church from 1820 to 1976. It is an interesting read, tracing our journey from its beginning at the first gathering in downtown Bristol, then in Paperville (and who knows why that area of Bristol is called Paperville?). Books are free and at the church; just ask staff for a copy.

Those in our congregation who are interested in a history project have here a grand opportunity: pick up our story where it left off in 1976 and bring it into the 21st century! If you care to dive deeper into the past, we also need help answering questions such as, Where was our photo of the 1932 Men's Bible Class taken? We think it may have been in front of the E.W. King House on Anderson Street, but we don't know for sure. If you would like to find the answers to such questions or take on the larger project alone or in collaboration with others, please contact Beth Flannagan at [email protected].

We will bid farewell to Stephen Wagner during Student Fellowship this Sunday. All our middle school and high school students are invited to 110 Bird Road at 6:00 p.m. for swimming and games and pizza. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, and friends!

The end of August begins to show us what to expect in a transitional season much loved for the beauty to be found in falling free of insensible restraints. Fred Harkleroad (August 26-29) quite sensibly mows for us this Sunday, and his good work will carry us through to the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. Roger Sikorski (Sept. 2-5) will then take us up to Labor Day.

	Hans Zimmer

Sunday's prelude, "The Burning Bush," is an organ transcription of an excerpt from the soundtrack of the motion picture The Prince of Egypt. This 1998 DreamWorks Animation musical drama is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus. It follows the life of Moses from his time as a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Hans Zimmer (b. 1957) composed the musical score. Zimmer has composed music for more than 150 films, including The Lion King, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Interstellar, Gladiator, Crimson Tide, Inception, Dunkirk, and The Dark Knight trilogy. He has won four Grammy Awards, three Classical BRIT Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. "The Burning Bush" is the music for the scene where Moses encounters God. It aptly conveys the sense of wonder and awe that Moses experienced. I hope my organ transcription does justice to this moving music.

	John Bell

"Kelvingrove" (our postlude) is a Scottish traditional melody. John Bell (b. 1949) set his hymn "The Summons" to this tune after being accepted into the Iona Community in 1980. The first four stanzas are understood to be the voice of Christ calling his disciples. "Kelvingrove" is here set as a lilting air for organ by composer Matthew H. Corl (b. 1965). Corl received the Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College in 1987.