Windows February 21, 2013

Becky and Tony Adams came to us from Avoca Christian Church. Both are experienced in leading small groups and helping with children's activities on Sunday mornings. Becky supervises business and finance for Bristol Tennessee City Schools, and Tony is an educator and a coach in the same system. Becky enjoys reading and Tony enjoys sports.

Mary Caroline and Andy Mumpower bring twin infant sons into our fold. Andy is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and plays golf in his spare time. Mary Caroline is an interior designer who enjoys art and exercise. Working from home gives her plenty of both, for it includes caring for the little Mumpowers, William Andrew McNeil and Myers Stuart Clifton. Andy is a former member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Bristol, VA, where he sang in the choir.

Lilly and Ray Osborne and their family have been involved in our congregational life for some time. Lilly runs, skis, hikes, and plays the piano. When Ray isn't preparing lesson plans or teaching at Virginia High School, he likes to fish, hunt, and spend time at the lake. Both are dedicated to making their garden and their children flourish. Son Michael Long attends the University of Georgia, and Annie, Daniel, Ginny, and Charlotte are homeschooled. Ray came to us from Fellowship Chapel in Bristol, VA, and Lilly from Blountville Presbyterian Church.

FPC Arts Series to Present Local Choral Music

King College Choir

In the second program of our 2012-2013 Arts Series, the Sanctuary Choir will join with the King College Symphonic Choir and Collegium Musicum to present a wonderful program of choral music, all written by local composers. The combined chorus will be under the direction of Dr. Pat Flannagan of King College and Steve and Vicki Fey. The concert will take place on Sunday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m., in our sanctuary. Suggested donations are $10 for adults and $5 for students (age 6 through college).

Our Arts Series strives to share with the community events that enrich and inspire the life of the people of Bristol, to share our unique and marvelous facilities, and to encourage the artistically gifted of our region and beyond. For more information contact the church at (423) 764-7176.

Wednesday Series Continues

Lemon and Salt: Savoring Life's Lessons

Come to our Adult Learning program next week and learn how a twist of lemon can enhance the flavor of your life. Chuck Thompson continues his series, Fruit from the Lemon Tree, February 27, from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. He describes it as "a collection of lessons from the therapy room." This series concludes March 6.

Fellowship Dinner

Ruthie Blair will serve a salad bar and soup or chili next Wednesday evening. Please join us at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall, then stay for the programs.

Wednesday Night Kids

Next week we welcome back Chef Emerald and Apprentice Chowdown to help us introduce the Parable of the Salt from Matthew 5:13. We will learn the importance of salt during Jesus' time on earth, which will lead to a greater understanding of what it means to be a good influence in the world. Children age 4 through fifth grade are welcome to join in the fun as we continue our study of the parables of Jesus.

Lenten Worship Series

"Keeping On the Path"

The season of Lent invites us to recall Jesus' singular obedience to God's will in his calling to be the Christ. In reading through the gospel account, we walk with Jesus through the experiences that lead him to his crucifixion. Each step of the way, Jesus overcomes the temptation to misuse his gifts, to redefine his mission, to ignore God's will, and to avoid his costly sacrifice.

In our lives of faith, we face the same kinds of temptation. In thinking together this season about Jesus' faithfulness, we may discover power and insight for our own faithful journeys on the path toward God's will for us. Join us each Sunday in worship as we make our Lenten journey toward Easter by "Keeping on the Path."

Sunday's Kids' Kirk

Would You Like Them in a Tree?

In Kids' Kirk this Sunday, February 24, children will learn that Jesus helps us to be persistent. We will hear the story of Zacchaeus and his search for a way to see Jesus. Because of that effort, he was called by name, and his life was changed. This lesson on persistence will be introduced with the well-loved story, Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss.

Children's Ministries Offers Special Care on Sunday Mornings

our safe church logo Did you know that on Sunday mornings, as a part of our children's ministries, First Presbyterian Church offers care for children with special needs? In the Education Wing, we provide a safe and caring place with trained special education staff, while parents worship. If you or someone you know would like more information, please contact Ann Abel at the church office, (423) 764-7176, or aabel@fpcbristol.org.

Pins and Pizza for Kids This Sunday Afternoon

Third- through fifth-graders are invited to join us for bowling this Sunday, February 24. Plan to meet at the church at 3:30 p.m. We will have enough adults to transport everyone to Interstate Bowl, where we will try to knock down those pins before we return to the church for pizza. The cost is $5. Look for more information in your mailbox, or contact Ann Abel at (423) 764-7176 or aabel@fpcbristol.org. Plan to pick your children up from room 11 in the Education Wing at 6:30 p.m.

This Sunday: Middle School Mania Strikes Again!

All 6th- through 8th-graders are invited to join us for Middle School Mania this Sunday, February 24. It will be a night of crazy games, hanging with great friends, and food! The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m.

High School Groups Will Not Meet This Sunday

Because of the ski retreat, the high school Student Fellowship groups will not meet on the evening of Sunday, February 24. We will resume our meetings March 3.

Called to Serve with the Care Shepherds?

We are excited that the Care Shepherd ministry is resuming this month, under the direction of the Board of Deacons, and we would like to share the opportunity to serve in this meaningful ministry of congregational care.

The goal of the Care Shepherd ministry is to show Christian love and care to those of our church family who are in need. Opportunities exist to provide meals to those just home from the hospital, or to send a card or make a phone call to someone in a special care facility, or to provide comfort in other situations. Volunteers serve one month at a time on a Care Shepherd team that coordinates the needs of the congregation for that month. We already have a team in place for February but are humbly seeking volunteers to serve in the remaining months of 2013.

If you are willing to serve as a volunteer on a Care Shepherd team, please contact Lorri Looney at jeffandlorri@msn.com or call the church office at (423) 764-7176. Please indicate whether you prefer to serve for a particular month or are open to serve at any time during the year. Thank you for your interest and support.

March Is Rev-Up-the-Mower Month, and We Mean Both Kinds

As February wanes, we are revving up our volunteers as well as our Tiger Scag mower. Several of our human mowers are unable to continue their service, so we ask you to give prayerful consideration to taking their spots on the team. Volunteers commit to mowing our church lawns once every five or six weeks, a task that takes three or four hours.

The mowing season begins on March 20 and runs through the end of October. The Scag mower has been serviced and is ready to rock and roll! Please email Randy Cook at npolecook@aol.com or call him at (423) 956-1541 to volunteer. He will train new volunteers on the safe operation of the mower. Even if you can mow only once or twice during the season, we can use you!

Food Pantry Needs Part-Time Stocking Manager

Bristol Emergency Food Pantry is looking for a part-time employee to order and deliver food from the supplier to the Pantry and to keep the shelves stocked. Applicants must have a pickup truck or van and listing (in addition to lifting!) ability. Call Jim White at (423) 764-3843 or (423) 571-4449, if you are interested in applying.

Wanted: Vanilla Wafers for Fairmount Students

Everyone needs a lift in the afternoon, but not everyone can afford an afternoon snack. For that reason, the Neighborhood Initiatives Steering Committee is collecting vanilla wafers for children at Fairmount Elementary School who would otherwise go without when snack time comes. The committee is asking us to bring in boxes of vanilla wafers and 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. Thank you for your caring heart and crunchy cookies!

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir.

Alice Parker

Sunday's music: Composer and arranger Alice Parker (b. 1925) led a program of her arrangements and compositions in our 2006-07 Arts Series, and also led a hymn festival at an 11:00 worship service. She has devoted much of her life's work to encouraging congregational song. Early in her career Parker made a mark working with her teacher, the noted choral conductor Robert Shaw; together they were part of a reexamination and renewed interest in American folk songs and hymns. The Sanctuary Choir anthem, "Sing to the Lord," is one of many arrangements she composed for Shaw of hymn texts and tunes popular in the early nineteenth century. It draws its text from two hymns of Isaac Watts. The first, reflecting God's wrath, was inspired by a violent thunderstorm that Watts experienced. The concluding stanzas, reflecting on all creatures in both heaven and earth singing to God in praise, are drawn from Revelation. The melody first appeared in a songbook published in Pittsburg in 1813 and was created for this text. Parker captures the rugged beauty of the text and melody in an arrangement that speaks of God's power in all aspects of our lives.

Program of note: The Paramount Chamber Players present Words and Worlds of Music this weekend. The first half of the program will feature music of American composer Aaron Copland and local composer Kenton Coe. On the Saturday program only will also be music of Astor Piazzola, performed by saxophonist Kevin Mann, winner of last year's Paramount Chamber Players award, presented by the Bristol Music Club. The concert opens this Thursday night, February 21, at ETSU, and can be heard Friday night, February 22, at First Presbyterian Kingsport, and Saturday night, February 23, here in our sanctuary. All three performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The final performance of the weekend will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 24, as part of the Spencer-Miller concert series at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon. Suggested ticket donations are $12 adults and $10 students and seniors.

Lenten meditations: The second of the noon Lenten organ meditations offered by Central Presbyterian Church will take place Wednesday, February 27, in their sanctuary, and will feature Central's organist, Joy Briggs. There is no charge, but donations will be appreciated.

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Cathy Andersen

Mack Blevins

Becky Busler

Mack Calcote

Sue Cannon

Dorothy Dollar

Mary Nell Harris

Ed Hatcher

Sharon Hatcher

Opal Johnson

Carolyn King

Mary Landrum

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Chuck Thompson

Deborah Whitaker

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

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

February 24 Rebekah Blair, Sara Reuning, Chris Shaw

February 25 Barbara Bailey, Caitlin Bolick, John Connor, Carla Shumate

February 26 Amy McCracken

February 27 Jan Patrick, Chris Phipps, Jodi Ramey, Colt Stocstill

February 28 Linda Archer, Aidan Haaser

March 1 Christian Bolick, Jack Hyder, Linda Ratcliff

Church Calendar

Sunday, February 24

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Cherub Choir

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

3:30 p.m. Pizza & Pins for Grades 3-5, Room 11, Ed. Bldg.

5:00 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir

6:00 p.m. Middle School Mania, Youth Wing

Monday, February 25

5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Handbells

7:00 p.m. Session, Room 123

Tuesday, February 26

9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting

10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room

6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 3, Scout Wing

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing

Wednesday, February 27

9:30 a.m. Heart to Heart DVD Bible Study, Parlor

9:30 a.m. Heart to Heart Bible Study, New Mothers' Room

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 Care

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, February 28

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

12:00 p.m. Noon Bible Study, Bristol Grind House

8:15 p.m. Praise Team, Fellowship Hall

Windows is a publication of First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, TN. Please direct questions and suggestions to the editor, Kathy Acuff, kacuff@fpcbristol.org.