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Worship | |
March 24
Palm Sunday
Lessons
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Luke 19:28-40
Sermon
A Day for Praise
Gordon A. Turnbull
Hymns
All Glory, Laud,
and Honor
Beneath the Cross
of Jesus
Anthems
Hosanna to the Son
of David!
Cherub Choir & Savior's Singers Children's Choir
Lift Up Your Heads,
O Ye Gates
Ride On! Ride On
in Majesty!
Sanctuary Choir
Last Sunday
by the Numbers
8:30: 124; 11:00: 113 |
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Windows
on First Presbyterian Church
March 21, 2013 |
Holy Week Worship Schedule |
We welcome Jesus as Messiah on Palm Sunday then follow him through the darkening days of Holy Week, till at last in the light of Easter morning we hail him as Redeemer. We warmly invite you to join us as we observe these holy days in worship.
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Palm Sunday, March 24 (see Worship section at left for details) | |
Maundy Thursday, March 28: | |
7:00 p.m. |
Worship service in the sanctuary; music by Youth Bells and Jubilate Youth Choir | |
Good Friday, March 29: | |
7:00 p.m. |
Worship service in the sanctuary; music by Sanctuary Bells and Sanctuary Choir | |
Easter Sunday Morning, March 31: | |
7:00 |
Sunrise service in the courtyard; music by Vicki Fey, Mark Mervis, and Fred Foy Strang | |
8:00 |
Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall | |
8:30 |
Worship in the Fellowship Hall; music by the Praise Team | |
9:45 |
Sunday School | |
11:00 |
Worship in the sanctuary; music by the Sanctuary Choir, ETSU Brass Ensemble,
and Brad Baker, timpani |
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2013 Operating Budget Approved and Available |
 At its February stated meeting, the Session approved a balanced 2013 operating budget for the ministry of First Presbyterian Church. Total expenses approved for 2013 are $892,702, a decrease of about $25,000 or 2.8% from last year's budget.
Our church began 2013 with the budget still in process. A gap of $99,000 existed between budget requests and pledges. Our Session, through its Stewardship and Finance Committees, approached the congregation with this information and invited deeper and broader commitment to our ministry. Members responded generously, with additional pledges of more than $40,000. Reductions in proposed expenditures bridged the difference, allowing the Session to consider and approve a balanced budget for the year's ministry.
Characteristics of this revised budget:
- Each program area of the church's ministry was reviewed thoroughly.
- No staffing, whether program, pastoral, or support, was eliminated or reduced.
- Professional expense allocations were reduced 50% for employees of Session.
- Reduction of support for local mission, global mission, and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by an amount of approximately $25,000 (from $86,235 in 2012 to $61,024 in 2013).
This last item, the reduction in our budget for Evangelism & Outreach, is a painful cut, occasioned by the discretionary aspect of this area of our budget. In approving this budget, the Session authorized the quarterly review of our income and expenses throughout 2013, with an eye to restoring, if possible, the full amount of our desired benevolent commitments. A strong response of generous giving will allow us, we hope, to restore this area of our ministry to its customary strength.
Please join me in thanking God for each person's faithful and generous response to this opportunity to serve our Lord. I am grateful as well for the strong leadership of our Stewardship Committee, our Finance Committee, and our Session.
We seek to exhibit openness and trust regarding all the financial aspects of the church. While we maintain confidentiality regarding individuals' transactions, all collective financial information is available for members' review upon request. Copies of the 2013 Operating Budget will be available for pickup at the church beginning Sunday, March 24.
May God bless our church with faithfulness in our ministry, fruitfulness in our spiritual lives, and joy in our service.
Gordon Turnbull
Pastor/Head of Staff
and Moderator of Session |
Another Way to Celebrate Easter |
 The offering on Easter morning, March 31, will go to One Great Hour of Sharing. Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love with our neighbors in need around the world. Your generous gifts to this special offering help provide relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and assist in empowering the poor and oppressed.
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Deadline for Lily Orders Is Monday |
 There is still time to order Easter lilies in honor or memory of a loved one and to add to the beauty of our Easter worship. The cost is $15 per plant. Order forms can be found in your Sunday bulletin and in the church office. Please print your information on your order form and return it to the church office with your payment by this Monday, March 25. We appreciate everything you do to add to the beauty of our life together!
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Families Will Worship Together on Easter |
 To allow families and our church community to worship together as we celebrate the gift of the resurrection, children will not leave for Kids' Kirk during worship services on Easter morning. Please help your child locate a worship bag, which will include activities as well as things to look and listen for during our worship together. Let us come together as we worship our risen Lord.
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Helping Children Understand the Gift of the Cross |
 On Palm Sunday, March 24, students ages 4 through fifth grade will receive age-appropriate booklets to help them understand more about the importance of Easter. The booklets are designed to aid adults in helping students come to a deeper understanding of the gift of Jesus on the cross. During Sunday School, classes will work through several pages together, then students will take the booklets home. Parents are encouraged to use the booklets as a basis for discussion of the signs, symbols, and importance of this holy season.
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Student Fellowship Fun Planned for Spring Break |
For Student Fellowship this Sunday, March 24, we will kick off Spring Break with some fun and games and an Easter celebration. We will meet from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. as usual. Now check out the activities below, and be sure to note the deadline to sign up for the trip to Dollywood!
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Spring Break Activities for Middle School and High School Students | |
Monday, March 25 |
Games and movies at the Arnolds' home, 1308 Hillside Avenue, Bristol, TN, 7:00-10:00 p.m. | |
Wednesday, March 27 |
Dollywood ($56 + food costs) Sign up with Katie Arnold by March 25. | |
Thursday, March 28 |
Hiking at Grayson Highlands State Park. Meet at the church at noon. Eat before you come. Wear warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes, and bring a snack and water. |
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No Wednesday Programs Next Week |
Because next week is Holy Week as well as spring break for Bristol Tennessee City Schools, our regular Wednesday evening program schedule has been suspended for March 27. We plan to resume our regular programming the following week on April 3. |
DVD Bible Study Group to Take Spring Break |
 Lorri Looney's Wednesday morning DVD Bible study group has begun their last study for the semester. They will take a spring break on March 27 and finish their last session on April 17. They will take the summer off and probably begin a new study after Labor Day. Look for an announcement of their plans for fall in late summer.
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Seeking Volunteers for Evangelism and Outreach |
FPC is seeking volunteers from the congregation to serve on the Evangelism & Outreach Committee. The committee supports and oversees continuing evangelism and outreach initiatives of First Presbyterian Church and cooperates with others to develop new initiatives that reflect Christ's outreach to His children in need, locally and globally. The E&O Committee normally meets monthly. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Peggy Hill at hillp@btes.tv or 423-652-1732. |
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 Aaron Brooks is scheduled to air the Scag Tiger Cat on a day in the March 27-30 range. Karen White-Smith and Eric Cline are up next, April 3-6. If you'd like a turn in the seat of power, contact Randy Cook at 423-956-1541 or npolecook@aol.com.
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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!
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From Steve & Vicki Fey Music Notes | |
Palm Sunday music participants: Sanctuary Choir; Cherub Choir with Savior's Singers Children's Choir. For music participants during the rest of Holy Week, please see the article at the top of the newsletter.
Sunday's music: At the 11:00 service, the Savior's Singers and Cherub choirs will join to sing "Hosanna to the Son of David!" This musical setting of the Palm Sunday story is by Michael Bedford (b. 1949), who has served as a musician to an Episcopal parish in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 1973. Welsh composer William Mathias (1943-1992) gained worldwide fame with a choral anthem based on Psalm 67 and written for the wedding of Charles and Diana. The Sanctuary Choir this week is singing his setting of Psalm 24:7-10 (KJV), "Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates." This scripture passage is often associated with both the Advent season and Palm Sunday, as it asks, "Who is the king of glory?" In a driving rhythmic style, different sections of the choir ask the question, to be answered by all voices, "The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory."
In addition, the choir will sing as an anthem the hymn, "Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!" This hymn text, written in 1827 by Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868), captures the paradox of Palm Sunday, which is both joyous and foreboding. It wasn't until 1939 that a tune was composed specifically for these words. Canadian composer Graham George (1912-1993) tells this story of his experience after a rehearsal using a less satisfying tune: "At breakfast the following morning I was enjoying my toast and marmalade when the first two lines of this tune sang themselves unbidden into my mind. This seemed too good to miss, so I went to my study, allowed the half-tune to complete itself ... and there it was."
Lenten meditations: The final of the noon Lenten organ meditations offered by Central Presbyterian Church is a reschedule from two weeks ago. Jim Spirup will play Wednesday, March 27, in their sanctuary. There is no charge, but donations will be appreciated.
 | | Janet and Alan Fey |
Arts Series: The next program in our Arts Series, Spirit of the Wood, features percussionist Alan Fey and his wife, soprano Janet Fey, in several pieces written or arranged for marimba and soprano. The date is Sunday, April 7, at 3:00 p.m. Suggested ticket donation is $10 for adults and $5 for students ages 6 through adult. Child care for children ages 3 and younger will be provided in the church nursery. |
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In Our Prayers
Mack Blevins
Becky Busler
Mack Calcote
Sue Cannon
Dorothy Dollar
Mary Nell Harris
Sharon Hatcher
Hawley Heglar
Carolyn King
Mary Landrum
Ruth Musser
Nancy Preston
Mary Rice
An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.
Birthday Prayer Fellowship
March 24 Alison Looney, Roby Witcher
March 25 Isaac Beasey
March 27 Cory Wallen
March 28 Betty Barger, Jay Regan, Bill Ward
March 29 Thad Bowers
March 30 Ann Barton, Don Evans, Ann McAllister, Ruth Musser |
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Sunday, March 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
4:00 p.m. Evangelism & Outreach Committee, Room 117
5:00 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir
6:00 p.m. Student Fellowship
Monday, March 25
5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Handbells
7:00 p.m. Session, Room 123
Tuesday, March 26
9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room
6:00 p.m. Venture Crew 3, Room 123
6:00 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 3, Scout Wing
7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing
Wednesday, March 27
9:30 a.m. Heart to Heart Bible Study, New Mothers' Room
7:15 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
Thursday, March 28
7:00 a.m. Men's Bible Study, Parlor
12:00 p.m. Noon Bible Study, Bristol Grind House
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship, Sanctuary
8:15 p.m. Praise Team, Fellowship Hall
Friday, March 29
7:00 p.m. Good Friday Worship, Sanctuary
Saturday, March 30
9:30 a.m. Choir Rehearsal with Brass for Easter, Sanctuary |
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