PCUSA seal small We will hold a congregational meeting this Sunday, December 8, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. At this meeting, the following slate of proposed officers will be nominated by the Officer Nominating Committee:

For the Session of Elders, Class of 2016

Kevin Buck

Tom Daniel

Dottie Havlik

Brian Miller

Paul Warhurst

For the Board of Deacons, Class of 2016

Andrew Beck

Jon McClain

Chad McCracken

Lensey Richardson

Donna Sikorski

For the Board of Trustees, Class of 2016

Karen Boone

This meeting will also include the election of officers for the corporation of First Presbyterian Church of Bristol, Tennessee Inc.

FPC to Receive New Members December 15

Those interested in joining First Presbyterian Church are warmly invited to meet with the FPC Session at 10:20 a.m., next Sunday, December 15, in the chapel. Everyone who wishes to become a member of our congregation is welcome.

Sunday Is Last Day to Order Poinsettias

poinsettia plant This Sunday is the second in Advent and the deadline for ordering poinsettias to add to the beauty of our sanctuary from December 15 through Christmas Eve. Each pot of red and green costs $15. If you would like us to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary in memory or honor of someone, you may do so by turning your order form, with your payment, in to the church office during the week or placing it in the offering plate on Sunday. Order forms are available in the church office and in your Sunday bulletin. You may pick up your plants anytime after the Christmas Eve service.

Heart to Heart Advent Service Tuesday Evening

Heart to Heart Women will gather together in the chapel for Advent worship on Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. Amber Warhurst will present the meditation, and dessert will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Child care will be available; please call the church office to let us know what your needs will be. All women of FPC and their friends are invited. We look forward to sharing this time with you!

Presbyterian Women Meet Tuesday Morning

Presbyterian Women will meet Tuesday, December 10, at 11:00 a.m., with Bible study at 11:30, followed by lunch. Please make lunch reservations with the church office, and remember to bring your canceled stamps. We look forward to seeing you!

Lynette Wallen's Bible Study to Hold Final Fall Meeting Next Week

Lynette Wallen's Heart to Heart Bible Study will have its final meeting for the fall on Wednesday, December 11, at 9:30 a.m., in the New Mothers' Room. Look for an announcement of plans for next semester after the new year.

No Wednesday Evening Program December 11

There will be no fellowship dinner or program next Wednesday, December 11. The following week, on December 18, we will share the gift of our Children's Christmas Pageant and our Joy Gift Dinner.

Men's Retreat Begins Next Friday

Our last Men's Retreat was a great time of fellowship and service.

The Men's Ministry is sponsoring a service retreat to Washington, D.C., for next weekend, Dec. 13-15. The FPC men will travel Friday evening, work at the Capital Area Food Bank on Saturday, take in the city that night, then worship at National Presbyterian Church Sunday morning and return that evening.

The cost of $60 covers travel, two nights' lodging in the Pilgrimage hostel, and some food (dinner on Saturday is not included). Reserve your spot with a $10 deposit. Scholarships are available.

You will need to pack a sleeping bag (or sheets and a blanket), a pillow, a towel, toiletries, ear plugs, work clothes and gloves, and comfortable shoes. Please let Dave Welch know if you are willing to drive your car; we will pay for the gas. If you have any questions, please contact Dave at dwelch@fpcristol.org.

Growing in Grace, Gifts, and Gratitude

Each family within our congregation is an important part of the life of First Presbyterian Church. Our offerings of time, talent, and money, added to other members' gifts, help to bless our church family and many in our community.

The Stewardship Committee encourages prayerful reflection on moments of grace in the life of our church and on how each of us can respond in gratitude through sacrificial giving. Our hope is for all of us to participate in the 2014 Operating Budget Stewardship Campaign.

2014 Operating Budget Stewardship Campaign Update (December 2)

Number of pledge commitments received to date: 137

Dollar amount of pledge commitments to date: $542,090

Operating budget income goal: $952,514

Percentage of goal reached: 56.91

Alternative Giving: So to Honor Him

First Presbyterian's Alternative Giving Program

to support local agencies and missions of our church

Our finest gifts we bring ...

pa-rum-pum-pum-pum ...

to lay before the King ...

The Evangelism & Outreach Committee invites you to "Shop the World" this Christmas season, giving gifts in the form of financial contributions to local and global causes that communicate and share the love of Christ near and far.

The process is simple:

Complete one form for each person being honored with your gift.
From the list on the form, select the organization or mission to receive your financial contribution.*
Attach your check, payable to First Presbyterian Church, to the form and submit the form to the church office.
If you prefer to have the church office send the recipient, on your behalf, an acknowledgment of your gift, be sure to submit the form by December 10 to allow time for delivery by Christmas.

Forms containing information about the organizations or missions are available in the narthex, outside the Fellowship Hall, and in the church office, as well as here on our website.

Your gift through the Alternative Giving Program will be the perfect fit every time, sharing the spirit of the season in ways that truly make a difference.

*Please note: Your tax-deductible gift is to First Presbyterian Church. FPC will combine your gift with others to the selected organization or mission without providing specific donor details. If you wish acknowledgment by the organization or mission receiving your gift, please consider making your donation directly to it.

Teddy Goes to Fairmount

teddy grahams box Help hungry students in our neighborhood school keep their energy up through the afternoon! We are now collecting Teddy Grahams for our Fairmount Elementary kids who can't afford to buy their own snacks. As always, please place your contributions in the little red schoolhouse in the Fellowship Hallway. Thank you!

Students Compete in Food Drive

For the past couple of weeks Student Ministries has been having fun with food, while competing to feed our area's hungry. Students have been challenged to bring in the heaviest weight in canned goods and collect the best canned Thanksgiving dinner. All collected food goes to the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry. This week, our students will compete to collect the longest length of food. Think cereal, pasta, and loaves of bread! Let's have fun while serving our community!

Student Fellowship: Behind the Scenes of Christmas

Why do people seem to get so crazy around the holidays? Whether they're fighting with their family or fighting for the best bargain, their emotions seem to run a little higher this time of year. And when emotions are involved, everything is more complicated.

Bottom Line: Don't let your feelings drive your faith.

Joseph was a young man with some big decisions. With a pregnant fianc�e and his reputation on the line, he had a ton of emotions and no clear answer. For Joseph to move forward with God, he had to move past his emotions. In his story we find that choosing God's direction over how we feel can be the most important decision we ever make. Sixth- through twelfth-graders will explore this idea during Sunday Night Student Fellowship at 6:00 p.m. in the Youth Wing.

Students Go a-Caroling

All students are invited to have fun and bring Christmas joy to our neighborhood Wednesday evening, December 11. Whether you enjoy singing, jamming on a tambourine, or humming through a kazoo, join Student Ministries for a pizza dinner at 5:30, followed by caroling. Carolers will return to the church by 7:30.

Students Ring Salvation Army Bell

salvation army kettle and bell FPC middle schoolers and high schoolers will be ringing the Salvation Army Bell at the Exit 7 Walmart on Saturday, December 14. Small groups are signed up to ring in one-hour increments from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students should check with their small group leader for schedule details.

Youth Groups to Dine Progressively

Middle school and high school students are invited to a progressive dinner! Middle school students will have their progressive dinner Friday, December 13; high school students will have their dinner Saturday, December 14. Students will meet at the church at 6:00 p.m. on the appropriate night. From there, they will be transported to different locations for the appetizers, main course, and dessert. At the dessert location, students will take part in a wild gift exchange. We plan to return to the church at 10:00 p.m.

What to bring:

* 6th & 9th graders: appetizer

* 7th & 10th graders: main course side dish

* 8th, 11th & 12th graders: dessert

* Everyone: 1 gift for the gift exchange ($10 limit)

* Everyone: 5 small gifts for volunteer stockings

Bring friends and get ready for a fun night!

She's Having a Baby!

It's going to be a boy, and we're giving that baby a shower! Please join us as we celebrate with Katie Arnold, this Saturday, December 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the church. We will serve appetizers and desserts and have a lot of fun. Katie and Brad are registered at Babies R Us and Target. If you need more information, please call Claire Pruner at 423-383-1808.

Children Work on Christmas Service Project Sunday Afternoon

The 3rd0inh-grade Sunday School class will work away at a Christmas service project this Sunday, December 8, from 3:00 to 5:00 in our classroom. We have adopted two nine-year-old Christmas Angels, a boy and a girl who live in our community. Our children are each contributing an item from the angels' wish lists and will wrap the gifts and prepare the packages Sunday afternoon.

Anyone who wishes to contribute may do so. The online sign-up form is here. If you need more information, please contact Allison Brooks or Shannan Miller.

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir and Sanctuary Bells.

Malcolm Archer

Sunday's music: The Sanctuary Choir anthem, "People, Look East," has a text by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), best known for writing "Morning Has Broken." Like that song, this one was written for an existing folk melody, in this case a French Christmas carol tune named BESAN�ON for the city of its origin. The arrangement has been made by Malcolm Archer (b. 1952), who has held a number of significant positions, including director of music at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The stanzas sequentially call upon people, the earth, the heavens, and the angels to look toward the coming Christ.

Retired hymnals: If you donated to the church one of the blue 1990 Presbyterian hymnals in memory or honor of a loved one and would like to take it home to keep, stop by room 123 today or Friday or Sunday after worship. This Sunday, December 8, is the last Sunday they will be available. The hymnals are sorted alphabetically by the donor's last name. Three hundred undesignated hymnals have already been donated to King University, and we will make sure that the rest find a suitable home.

Christmas pageant rehearsals: Don't forget! There will be only one more Christmas pageant rehearsal: Wednesday, December 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. It's not too late for any child from age 4 through grade 5 to participate!

Programs of note: The Symphony of the Mountains, along with world-famous tenor Carl Tanner, plus Voices of the Mountains and choirs of the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy, will present a program of Christmas music Saturday, December 7, at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 8, also at 3:00 p.m. The Saturday program will take place in the Toy F. Reid Auditorium at the Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport; Sunday's program will take place at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.

In our own sanctuary, the choral ensembles of King University will present their annual Christmas program on Thursday, December 12, at 8:00 p.m. In addition, the choirs of the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy will offer their program of Christmas music on Saturday, December 14, at 7:30 p.m. If you are a "Nutcracker" fan, you will want to see our own Erin Ginn, fresh from New York City, appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy with the Bristol Ballet on Saturday, December 14, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m.

Theatre Bristol has begun performances of "Miracle on 34th Street," which will continue through Sunday, December 15, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Three Osbornes appear in this show: Daniel, Ginny, and Lilly! We have band and choir students in the school systems of both Bristols. Check the newspaper or A! Magazine for the Arts for the dates and times of their various concerts.

Sanctuary Choir gift of music: The Sanctuary Choir will offer their gift of Christmas music during the 11:00 service on Sunday, December 15. This year's offering will be Carols from the Appalachian Mountains by Johnson City-based composer Kenton Coe. Accompanied by string quartet and piano, these carols will also feature soloists from among the choir.

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Mack Blevins

Frances Caldwell

Sue Cannon

Bill Darnell

DeeDee Galliher

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Carolyn King

Mary Landrum

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Changsub Shim

Bob Vann

Janet Wright

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

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

December 8 J.B. Madison

December 9 Rees Burt

December 10 Linda Darnell

December 11 Tina Witcher

December 14 Jim Mayden, Wendy Olson

Church Calendar

Sunday, December 8

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Cherub Choir, Room 209

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Congregational Meeting, Fellowship Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

3:00 p.m. 3rd-5th-Grade Christmas Project, Sunday School Classroom

5:15 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir, Music Wing

6:00 p.m. Student Ministries Fellowship, Youth Wing & Fellowship Hall

Monday, December 9

5:45 p.m. Sanctuary Handbells, Handbell Room

7:00 p.m. Building & Grounds Committee, Room 117

Tuesday, December 10

9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting, Room 123

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

11:00 a.m. Presbyterian Women's Circle, Room 123

11:30 a.m. Presbyterian Women's Bible Study, Room 123

12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Women's Luncheon, Parlor

1:00 p.m. Women's HeartsBurn Bible Study, Jackie Burt's Home

6:00 p.m. Venture Crew, Room 123

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

7:00 p.m. Heart to Heart Advent Worship, Chapel & Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, December 11

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

9:30 a.m. Lorri Looney's DVD Bible Study, Parlor

4:30 p.m. Children's Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Sanctuary

5:30 p.m. Student Ministries Christmas Caroling, Youth Wing & Neighborhood

7:15 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, Room 202

Thursday, December 12

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

8:30 a.m. Meals on Wheels, Fellowship Hall

12:00 p.m. Noon Bible Study, Room 117

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

Friday, December 13

Men's Service Retreat Begins

6:00 p.m. Middle School Progressive Christmas Dinner (meet at FPC)

Saturday, December 14

10:00 a.m. Student Ministries Rings Salvation Army Bell, Exit 7 Walmart

(till 3:00 p.m.)

6:00 p.m. High School Progressive Christmas Dinner (meet at FPC)

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