Windows

A ministry of our youth that makes a big difference in our community is coming up this Sunday, February 3. By no coincidence, their annual Souper Bowl of Caring takes place on Super Bowl Sunday. FPC students will collect money in large pots at the conclusion of each service and give it all to the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry. Please join us to support our young people and this much-needed ministry in our city. See you Sunday!

Our fiscal year-end financial summary for 2012 is as follows:

Highlights

• Pledges: For 2012, we closed the year with total pledges coming in under budget by $17,264. Fortunately, nonpledged and visitor contributions were $24,157 over budgeted expectations. Other gifts and income also surpassed expectations, primarily due to insurance claim reimbursements of $36,669 from 2011 storm damage claims.
• Prior Year's Transfer: Going into 2012, we anticipated having to utilize $46,400 from the prior year's surplus funds to balance the budget. Once all our income and expense items were reconciled, the required prior year's surplus transfer was only $860!
• Evangelism & Outreach: Although coming in right under our budgeted expenditures for 2012, we did meet all of our commitments to global and local outreach ministries. In fact, we exceeded both areas by 106% and 102%, respectively.
• Worship, Christian Education & Administration: Combined, we finished the year $32,855 below budget. Much of the cost savings was realized in the area of Christian Education, as we did not recognize a full year's staffing requirement in Children & Youth programming.
• Administration: Interest expense on our building loan came in just under expectations at $45,661. (Comparatively, we spent $84,660 in interest expense last year.)
• Building & Grounds: In 2012, we exceeded our budget expenditures for building maintenance by $29,000. All of this excess was covered by the $34,000 in insurance claims reimbursements that we received.-Aaron Brooks, Finance Chair 

There will be a special Session meeting to receive new members this Sunday, February 3, at 10:15 a.m., in the chapel. All who wish to join FPC are encouraged to attend.

What are you more excited about, the Super Bowl game or the super commercials? All 6th- through 12th-graders are invited to watch it all at FPC this Sunday while enjoying great friends, food, games, and prizes!

Bring friends and come party with us! Come for a little while or stay for the whole game! The fun will begin February 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Youth Wing.

During the 11:00 service this Sunday, Kids' Kirk will begin a series about the traits that we need Jesus' help with if we are to cultivate them in our lives. In the first lesson, children will learn from the story of Ruth and Boaz that kindness comes from the heart and from wanting to treat others the way they would like to be treated. Jesus shows us kindness and, ultimately, as we become more like him, that our kindness should reflect his. Our lesson on kindness will be introduced by the children's classic, The Grouchy Ladybug, by Eric Carle.

Bible Basics, a new Sunday School class for young adult couples, begins this Sunday, February 3, in the conference room (across from the copier room in the office hallway). Thomas and Jennifer Covington will lead the class, which is open to anyone interested in understanding how the Bible fits together, what its purpose is, and what it means for us today. Participants will become familiar with the themes of individual books and with the authorship and organization of the entire Bible. Class members will be encouraged to apply what they learn each week to their daily lives. We also intend to have regular fellowship activities in addition to the Sunday morning meetings. If you are looking for a place to be fed and grow in fellowship, come give us a look!

We continue to learn from the past as Dave Welch leads our Wednesday evening adult program. We are studying the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament-Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes-to discern parallels to our own lives in echoes of our own questions. The Israelites faced similar questions and grappled with them rationally from the perspective of experience and community wisdom. They may have more to say to us today than modern Christians are used to hearing. Please join us on Wednesday evenings, from 6:15 to 7:00.

Fellowship Dinner

Appropriately enough, Wednesday's Fellowship Dinner will feature Middle Eastern food. Please join us at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall, then stay for the program.

Wednesday Night Kids

At 6:00, we will continue our study of the Parable of the Leaven (yeast) from Matthew 13:33. We will learn more about the purpose of yeast and how a little bit can make a big difference. Emphasis this week will be on applying the parable to our everyday lives. Come join us as we learn about some of the parables that Jesus shared with his disciples, both then and now.

Date: Saturday, February 9

Time: 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

Place: 134 Trammel Road

Plan on joining us for this annual book review session and soup smorgasbord. We promise you great food and fellowship as we gather at Jennifer Kennedy's home for this popular event. Four women will share their thoughts on books that can encourage and challenge us in our lives of faith. We'll feed our bodies along with our minds as we enjoy delicious soups and salads.

Please call the church office (423-764-7176) or email Jane Prater at jprater@fpcbristol.org to let us know you can attend. Don't forget to invite a friend!

In case of inclement weather, this event will be cancelled or moved to the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church. Check our Facebook page or call Betsy Turnbull at 423-878-9523, if you're unsure of the plans!

Need Child Care?

We are happy to provide child care for this event! Please call the church office or email Jane as above to let us know how many children to expect and what ages they are. Please pack a lunch for your children.

Joan Spitz

Please join us March 1-3 at Blowing Rock Conference Center in Blowing Rock, NC, as we enjoy a weekend of sharing and exploring led by Christian speaker Joan Spitz.

This year we will explore "The Power of Encouragement," as Joan inspires us to know God more fully. Since the beginning of time, God has sent encouragement to His people in the midst of their lives. In times of uncertainty, we can learn from Old and New Testament patterns and recognize God's assurance in our lives today.

Have you ever wanted a stronger faith in God? Have you observed other people and wondered how they got to that level of strength? Have you felt like asking God, "I'm a Christian, but where is this power for living I'm supposed to have?"

If so, you will not want to miss Joan's teaching. She will remind us that the Kingdom of God is not just a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor. 4:20). Lasting joy in our daily lives can be a reality. Hard times will still come our way, but the peace and presence of Christ will be our steady strength.

The price of the retreat includes two nights' lodging and five meals. A deposit of $25 should accompany your registration form. Single rooms are $165, double are $128, and triple are $110. Handicapped-accessible rooms are available on request, and scholarship assistance is available. Registration forms and more information can be found in the retreat brochures.