The following new members of FPC were received by the Session last Sunday. We look forward to welcoming them formally into our congregation on Sunday, March 25.

Philip and Courtney Cavatoni traveled to Bristol from Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago. Philip is an executive with Alpha Natural Resources who enjoys sports, classic cars, fishing, and golf. Courtney likes to read, travel, and play the violin. Their son, Charles, is in fourth grade and their daughter, Sarah-Courtney, is in second grade, both at Sullins Academy.

Jim and Kelley Mayden came to FPC from First Baptist, Elizabethton. Jim stays busy in retirement with golf, cooking, travel, reading, and gardening. Kelley shares his enthusiasm for travel, and adds to that an interest in aromatherapy, exercise, teaching, and writing. She works as an oncology nurse practitioner for Southwest Virginia Cancer Center.

Chad and Amy McCracken transferred to FPC from Central United Methodist, Radford, VA. Chad is a prosthetist on the staff of Victory Orthotics & Prosthetics in Bristol, and Amy is a stay-at-home mom. Both volunteered as nursery workers at their former church, where Amy also coordinated the Mothers of Preschoolers group. Chad served on the financial board and helped with AV. Their elder daughter, Riley, is in fourth grade at Holston View Elementary School, and their son, Vance, and younger daughter, Nora, are both preschoolers at Creative Learning Center.

Whitley Morris transferred her membership from Grace Presbyterian, Washington, D.C. She is a graduate student who enjoys travel, exercise, tennis, and cooking, when she isn't hitting the books. Her husband, Parke, already a member of FPC, is an attorney who tries to find time for tennis, hiking, and international travel.

Kathryn Parker now joins her husband, Stuart, in membership in FPC. They were both active members of our mowing squad last year; while he continues, she now has an infant to care for. Their first child, Samuel, was born January 27. Kathryn teaches at Tennessee High School, where she also coaches soccer. When she has a spare moment, she likes to hike.

Changsub and Young Shim transferred their membership from Savannah Korean Baptist Church, Savannah, GA. Changsub is a professor at King College. Their younger son, Samuel, relocated to Bristol with them, while their elder son, Joe, and daughter, Esther, are attending the University of Georgia. Sammy is in seventh grade at Vance Middle School.

Peggy Hill and Trudy McFerrin's wonderful program on our recent Ethiopia mission trip was so well received that we have prevailed upon Trudy to present a follow-up this Wednesday, March 21, after our weekly fellowship dinner. Make plans now to share a good meal, good fellowship, and good news!

Fellowship Dinner

Menu

Soup Beans

Cornbread

Kraut Sausage

Dessert

Volunteers

Morning: Julie King

Server/Cleanup: Jon & Claire Pruner/Lee Galliher

Our first Sharing Christ volunteer opportunity in 2012 is coming up soon: Saturday, March 31. We are looking for volunteers to make bag lunches, do food prep, serve dinner, and clean up. We will make chicken casserole, marinated coleslaw, green beans, and dessert for 135 to 150 people. We will begin at 4:30 p.m. and work until we've finished cleaning up, around 7:00 p.m.

This year, FPC takes on the extra responsibility of providing enough sandwich bread and snack cakes for at least 70 bag lunches on each of our service dates. We will also provide the bread or rolls for that Saturday's evening meal. If you would like to donate bread products or volunteer your time, please email Tammy Connolly at lconn4691@btes.tv or call her at 423-968-3831 (home) or 276-628-7213 (work).

FPC's next two Sharing Christ service dates are September 15 and November 24 (Thanksgiving weekend). The Sharing Christ Mission is located at Sixth and State Streets, Bristol, TN. Local organizations participating in the mission take turns providing a hot, nutritious, free meal each Saturday evening to any in need, as well as the opportunity to worship on Sunday morning.

If you would like to grace Easter services in our Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall with an Easter lily in honor or memory of a loved one, it is time to place your order. You can find an order form in your Sunday bulletin and in the church office. Lilies are $15 each.

Please return the order form to the church office with your payment by Monday, April 1. Thank you for adding to the beauty of the season!

Spring is almost here, and it's time to enjoy the bright colors of flowers in the church courtyard. Please consider donating or planting annuals in the courtyard in April. We're looking for red, white, and purple around the cross and any array of colors along the outer edge of the lawn. For more information, contact Tom Daniel at 423-764-7677.

Tiger Cat wranglers welcome!

The following mowing schedule will take us up to Easter:

                   March 21-24:     Matt Richardson

                   March 28-31:     Randy Cook

                   April 4-7:             Joe Hagerty & John Vann

We're still looking for people to help us wrangle the new Tiger Cat. For more information, contact Randy Cook at npolecook@aol.com or 423-956-1541.

Our participation in the Fairmount Elementary School snack program continues to make a difference in the lives of children whose parents cannot afford to buy them an afternoon snack. Members of our congregation are now being asked to help the Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee stock up on vanilla wafers for these students.

Please bring your donated boxes of vanilla wafers to the Little Red House in the Fellowship Hallway. The committee will take them to the school, and the teachers will divide them into snack portions as needed.

Your loving contribution gives a boost in both energy and dignity to children from low-income families by allowing them to enjoy snacks with their classmates. Say a prayer of blessing as you send them on their way!