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Worship | |
November 11
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lessons
Psalm 103
Mark 12:38−44
Sermon
Abundant Life
Gordon Turnbull
Hymns
I Will Celebrate
10,000 Reasons
Take My Life
To My Precious Lord
Anthems
This Little Light of Mine
Savior's Singers Children's Choir
I Was Glad
Sanctuary Choir
By the Numbers
Nov. 4: 8:30: 195; 11:00: 135 |
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Windows
on First Presbyterian Church
November 8, 2012 |
Combined Worship This Sunday
Stewardship Sunday: Dedication of Pledges |
This Sunday, November 11, we will dedicate our stewardship pledges during a combined worship service at 10:30 a.m. This single service will take the place of the usual 8:30 and 11:00 services. There will be no Cherub Choir rehearsal, and Sunday School will begin earlier than usual, at 9:30.
The stories you are sharing about how you have chosen to use the stewardship gift you received a few weeks ago have demonstrated the love and creativity of our church family. Please take a moment to share yours, if you have not done so already, by emailing it to AbundantMinistryFPC@gmail.com, dropping a note in the collection plate, or delivering it to the church office as soon as possible. We will display stories we've received soon.
During the combined service, Kids' Kirk will meet in room 32 for a lesson about "Jesus in the Desert." The emphasis of this lesson is on the Bible. Jesus used the Scriptures to help him turn away from temptations and do what God wanted him to do. Children will be reminded that the Bible is a special book that helps us learn what God wants us to do. |
The Fourth Dimension of Stewardship |
Over the past year, our Stewardship Committee has invited leaders in our church to speak in worship about different dimensions of stewardship. Last Sunday, Karen Vann offered a few final remarks about our attitudes toward treasure.
I am here today to think about the final piece of our yearlong stewardship message, treasure.
I have been pondering Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6: 19−21 where Jesus talks about treasures on earth and treasures in heaven. I have begun to see that there is a clear division between treasures that have only immediate/temporary value and those that have deeper/long-term value. I have also begun to see that Jesus talks about money all the time in scripture and for good reason. Money has great power in our lives.
Money in itself is not a bad thing. We live in a society that requires money from us in exchange for food, electricity, and homes. The problem for us comes when we shift our focus from money as a commodity for the essentials of our life to something that we think gives us value.
If I think money gives me significance, worth, and security, then owning things and making money is all important. I am not going to want to talk about or want to be asked the hard questions of how I use my money. My heart becomes focused on what I have today and what I have in comparison with others.
If, however, I let Jesus' sacrificial life for me shape my understanding and realize that I am so valued and loved by Jesus that I am the treasure, I can then look at you and say Jesus died for you too, and you have value. My focus is shaped by Jesus' love and is upward and outward.
I want to offer a couple of examples to illustrate the difference. Gollum in the books The Lord of the Rings comes under the power of a magical ring he calls "Precious." Early in the story, the ring finds its way into Frodo's hands. Frodo quickly learns that the ring brings out the worst in people and understands that the ring must be destroyed. Throughout the rest of the story, Frodo journeys to take the ring to be destroyed, while Gollum's all-consuming focus is to own Precious again. He follows it to the ends of the earth, which eventually leads him to his death.
What was Gollum's ultimate focus? Owning the ring.
Did the ring add value to Gollum's life? No.
Where was Gollum's heart? Inward.
~~ A TREASURE ON EARTH ~~
On the other hand, George Mueller was a devote Christian who lived at the turn of the nineteenth century in Bristol, England. At Mueller's time, prison was an acceptable place for orphaned children. Mueller had compassion for these homeless children and over his career cared for more than 10,000 in the orphanages he established in ministry. To provide for these children, Mueller "literally prayed in millions of dollars (in today's currency) and never asked anyone directly for money. One of the greatest effects of Mueller's ministry was to inspire others, so that 50 years after Mr. Mueller began his work, at least 100,000 orphans were cared for in England alone."
Did Mueller's ministry require money? Yes.
Where was Mueller's ultimate focus?
The well being and long-term care of innocent children.
Where was Mueller's heart?
Upward to God and outward to the homeless children.
~~ A TREASURE IN HEAVEN ~~
I am challenged by scripture's deeper meaning of treasure and desire to be taught by it, especially in our world today. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." At the end of the day, I would like to think that I have exchanged my abundant temple, time, talent, and treasure for those causes or possessions that have upward and outward value. My prayer today is that what I invest in will have a ripple effect for showing God's love. I pray that for you, too. |
Presbyterian Women Meet Tuesday |
 The Presbyterian Women will meet Tuesday, November 13, at the church. The business meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m., and Bible study with Gordon Turnbull will follow at 11:30. Lunch will be in the parlor after the Bible study, around noon. Please make your lunch reservations with the church office, 423-746-7176. And be sure to bring Teddy Grahams for the Fairmount Elementary School children. We look forward to seeing you!
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New Wednesday Program Series
From Nazareth to Bethlehem by DVD |
Enjoy an intergenerational Wednesday night series called The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem. Sixth-graders through adults are invited to take a fascinating look at the birth of Christ as we journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. As we walk along this road, by means of scripture, historical information, and archaeological data, and take a personal look at some of the stories surrounding the birth, the most amazing moment in history will become more real and heartfelt for us. Please join us Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., from November 7 through December 12 (skipping Thanksgiving week), in the Fellowship Hall.
Wednesday Night Kids
Discussion continues about the sixth day of creation, when God populated the earth with animals and then added people to his creation. We will be hosting a special speaker this week, Dr. D. G. Bodenhorst, a veterinarian with Jones Animal Hospital. Dr. Bodenhorst will share about God's creation of animals in special ways, each according to a special design. We hope she will bring some special animal friends to visit with us, too. We will continue work on the Creation Tower that is growing in height! Age 4 through fifth grade are welcome to join us as we celebrate our wonderfully creative God. |
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The FPC Household Task Team fielded several small teams of volunteers to clear away leaves and clean gutters on Leaf Day, November 3. They went out where requested with rakes, blowers, and ladders, and had a beautiful day for it. The photos speak for themselves.
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Special Session Meeting to Receive New Members |
There will be a called Session meeting to receive new members next Sunday, November 18, at 10:15 a.m., in the chapel. Everyone who wishes to join FPC is invited to attend. |
Children's Ministries News
Volunteers Needed for Kids' Kirk |
 Our Children's Ministries is looking for volunteers to help provide Kids' Kirk for the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service during the Christmas season. If you are available to help on any or all of the following dates, please contact Ann Abel: December 15, 23, and 30, and January 6. Our children are excited about Christmas. This is an opportunity to share in the excitement as we celebrate the birth of a Savior.
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Serve 2012 Retreat This Weekend |
 This weekend, November 9−11, the FPC High School Ministry will be in Pulaski, VA, where we think they will Do Big Things! Students will stay at a farm and enjoy fun and fellowship on Friday evening. They will spend most of Saturday helping with relief work for damage from the 2011 tornado. Students will help move residents into their new homes, take part in building a house, and prepare a nearly completed house to be moved into. On Saturday and Sunday evening, they will relax on the farm, playing games and spending some time in worship.
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Sunday Night Youth Series: Blessed |
 Think about the last time you heard the word blessed. What came to mind? For many of us and many of our students the word conjures up images of the coolest clothes, the newest gadgets, and a worry-free life. But when we look at what God has to say about being blessed, we realize that we probably have things pretty mixed up. Because if being blessed is more about our relationships and what we do with them than about the stuff we have, we may have some reevaluating to do in order to redefine what it means to be blessed, and to realize that we might just be more blessed than we originally thought.
All youth of the church and their friends are invited to our Student Ministries Fellowship on Sundays at 6:00 p.m., in the Youth Wing, to question, share, and reflect on what it means to be blessed. Katie Arnold, Director of Student Ministries |
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Snacks for Fairmount School |
 During November and December, the Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee will be collecting boxes of pretzels for the children of Fairmount Elementary School who cannot bring their own snacks to class. Either small pretzels or little pretzel sticks will do; just put them in 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.
Kay Ward, the community outreach liaison at Fairmount, has discovered that there are at least two children in each of 23 classrooms whose parents cannot give them snacks. That adds up to a need for 46 snack portions every day, a total of 230 snacks per week, or 920 snacks each month.
Your loving contribution will give dignity to children from low-income families by allowing them to enjoy snacks with their classmates, and tide them over until the end of the school day. Say a prayer of blessing as you send them on their way! |
From Steve & Vicki Fey Music Notes | |
Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir; Savior's Singers Children's Choir; Children's Handbells; Jennifer Covington, Abbey Kitts, Dan Kreiss, Shannan Miller, Mark Mervis, Fred Foy Strang.
Note: Cherub Choir will not rehearse this Sunday. The altered schedule for the combined service begins with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and Kids' Kirk will be offered for the younger children during worship.
Sunday's music: There is a wealth of special music for our combined worship celebrating the culmination of our stewardship season. The Children's Handbell Choir will call us to worship with a bell peal, and then the 8:30 Praise Team will lead us in two songs. The first, "I Will Celebrate," was composed by singer Rita Baloche, who makes her home in Lindale, Texas. Swedish singer Jonas Myrin and English singer Matt Redman collaborated on the second song, "Bless the Lord, O My Soul."
As part of the Prayer of Confession, led by the Savior's Singers Children's Choir, we will sing "Holy Lamb of God," a setting of the liturgical text with a haunting and simple melody composed by Yusuf Khill, an Arab Christian composer, who wrote this for use at the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. We have been singing this response at the 11:00 service since World Communion Sunday. The response to the Assurance of Pardon will be the gospel "Glory to God" that has proved popular with our congregation.
 | | Ken Berg |
The Savior's Singers will offer an arrangement of the spiritual "This Little Light of Mine" made by Ken Berg, who serves as director of the Birmingham (Alabama) Boys Choir as well as the music director for a Baptist church. The hymn in response to the sermon will be "Take My Life," whose text is by poet Frances Ridley Havergal; she spent her brief life in poor health but rejoiced in her faith, and created a body of devotional poetry. For the offering, the Sanctuary Choir will present the anthem "I Was Glad" of English composer C. H. H. Parry; this setting of Psalm 122:1−3, 6−7 has become a part of the standard choral literature. In response to the presentation of pledges, we will sing a popular Korean praise song, "To My Precious Lord," which is drawn from Luke 7:36−50. To conclude our worship, we will sing "We Will Walk with God" (Sizohamba naye), introduced to the congregation on World Communion Sunday by the Jubilate Youth Choir.
Arts Series: The first program of our 2012−2013 Arts Series will take place Sunday, November 25, at 3:00 p.m., and will feature violinist George Figueroa. George is no stranger to Bristol, having performed with the Paramount Chamber Players for the past two seasons. George's program will feature a variety of music for violin and piano, including music of Handel, Piazzolla, Monti, and John Williams. Donations to the Arts Series are still being received. All donations are greatly appreciated. Make checks out to the church and indicate "Arts Series" on the memo line. |
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In Our Prayers
Cathy Andersen
Jim Bowdoin
Sue Cannon
Dorothy Dollar
Bill Goforth
Mary Nell Harris
Sharon Hatcher
Vivian Hill
Carolyn King
Mary Landrum
Ruth Musser
Mary Rice
Bob Vann
Deborah Whitaker
Jim Wiseman
An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.
Congratulations
We rejoice with Randall and Wendy Olson in the arrival of grandson Cooper Miles Olson, born October 29 in Knoxville to Brandon and Charla Olson of Morristown. We celebrate with Lyndsey and Derick Ratliff in the birth of a daughter, Baylor McKensey Ratliff, November 6. Proud grandparents are Hugh and Lynne Testerman.
Birthday Prayer Fellowship
November 12 Foster Covington, Charlie Moore
November 13 Samuel Hankins
November 15 John Crewey, Conor Haaser, Sam Jennings, Billie Whisnant
November 16 Joyce Samuel
November 17 Thomas Covington, Jordan Fey, Sarah Galliher, Wayne Sheffey |
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Sunday, November 11
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Combined Worship, Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir
6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Fellowship (Middle School Only)
Monday, November 12
5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Handbells
7:00 p.m. Building & Grounds Committee
7:00 p.m. Worship Committee
Tuesday, November 13
9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Group
11:00 a.m. Presbyterian Women Business Meeting
11:30 a.m. Presbyterian Women Bible Study
12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Women Luncheon
6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 3, Scout Wing
7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing
Wednesday, November 14
9:30 a.m. Heart to Heart Bible Study, New Mothers' Room
9:30 a.m. Heart to Heart DVD Bible Study, Parlor
4:15 p.m. Children's Handbells
4:45 p.m. Youth Handbells
4:45 p.m. Savior's Singers Children's Choir
5:15 p.m. Baby & Toddler Nursery
5:30 p.m. Fellowship Dinner
6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Kids
6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Small Groups
6:15 p.m. Adult Learning
7:15 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
Thursday, November 15
7:00 a.m. Men's Bible Study
12:00 p.m. Thursday Noon Bible Study, Bristol Grind House
8:15 p.m. Praise Team, Fellowship Hall |
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