First Presbyterian Church | 701 Florida Avenue | Bristol, TN 37620 | www.fpcbristol.org

Worship

December 15

3rd Sunday in Advent

Lessons

Isaiah 35:1-10

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon

Jesus Adored and Feared

Gordon A. Turnbull

Special Music

Carols from the Appalachian Mountains

Sanctuary Choir & Benjamin Dawson String Quartet

Hymns

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Joy to the World!

Worship Count

December 8: 8:30: 155;

11:00: 134

In This Issue

1 Choir + 4 Stringed Instruments + 1 Piano

Christmas Pageant & Joy Offering Dinner Dec. 18

Come Caroling with Us This Sunday!

Have Tacky Sweater, Will Party

Get to Work, Guys!

Final Fall Meeting of Lorri Looney's DVD Bible Study

Stewardship Campaign Soldiers On

Our November Financial Summary

Alternative Giving: So to Honor Him

The Very Hungry Students

Students Scheduled to Ring Salvation Army Bell Saturday

Music Notes

Pray for One Another

Church Calendar

Windows

on First Presbyterian Church

December 12, 2013

1 Choir + 4 Stringed Instruments + 1 Piano

Kenton Coe

It all adds up a half hour of special music to open our 11:00 service this Sunday, December 15. The Sanctuary Choir's Christmas gift to the congregation will be Carols from the Appalachian Mountains by Kenton Coe, our internationally known neighbor in Johnson City. His set of six carols will be accompanied by a string quartet, consisting of Benjamin Dawson, Cameron Lugo, Taylor Moorefield, and Bethany Dawson, along with piano. Soloists will be Nancy Cook, Randy Cook, Samantha Salyers, Michelle Hall, Aaron Peña, Sheena Hunter, Beth Geno, Jordan Pennington, and George Huber. You can learn more about these carols in "Music Notes," below.

Christmas Pageant & Joy Offering Dinner Dec. 18

On Wednesday, December 18, our children will give us the gift of their annual Christmas Pageant, to be presented in the sanctuary at 5:30 p.m. If you have never attended one of our pageants, trust us: you do not want to miss the baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph, the angels, the star, the three singing kings, or the flock of shepherds. This delightful event will be followed by the ever-popular Christmas Joy Offering dinner, around 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall.

It is very important that you make dinner reservations with the church office, so that we will know how much food to buy and prepare and how many tables and chairs to set up. The cost of the dinner is $8 per adult, $4 per child, or $20 per family. We look forward to sharing this joyous occasion with you!

Come Caroling with Us This Sunday!

The weather may be chilly, but we will warm ourselves with song and hot soup! Please join us as we go a-caroling this Sunday, December 15, at 4:30 p.m. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall, depart to spread Christmas cheer, and return around 5:45 to a soup supper.

If you can provide a crockpot of soup, please contact Dave Welch at dwelch@fpcbristol.org or 423-764-7176. We look forward to an evening of spirited fellowship!

Have Tacky Sweater, Will Party

All FPC friends 18 to 20-something years of age are invited to a tacky Christmas sweater party this Sunday, December 15. The fun will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at the home of the Welches (113 Stonehenge Drive). We're going to perpetrate a crazy gift exchange, so everyone should bring a $10 present. And we will award a prize for best sweater! Join us for good food, fellowship, and fun! Contact Katie Arnold, if you have any questions.

FPC to Receive New Members Sunday

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

Get to Work, Guys!

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

Throw your work gloves in a bag and head out for the Men's Ministry's service retreat to Washington, D.C., which takes place this weekend, December 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). You can still reserve a spot with a $10 deposit. Scholarships are available.

In addition to your work gloves, you will need to pack a sleeping bag (or sheets and a blanket), a pillow, a towel, toiletries, ear plugs, work clothes, 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 or 423-764-7176.

Final Fall Meeting of Lorri Looney's DVD Bible Study

The final fall session of Lorri Looney's weekly DVD Bible study will be next Wednesday, December 18. Please join us at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor!

Stewardship Campaign Soldiers On

The Stewardship Committee would like to thank everyone who has made their pledge toward the budget of First Presbyterian for 2014. Many of you have communicated a renewed sense of gratitude for God's abundant grace through this stewardship season, and our church is blessed to have a significant number of new pledges this year as well as the continued support of longtime members, affirming your belief in and commitment to the work of the church.

BUT WE ARE NOT FINISHED!

For those of you who have not yet made your pledge commitment, we encourage you to do so now. Every pledge is vital to knowing the level of funding available to finalize the church budget and move ahead with our ministry efforts at the start of the New Year.

If you have questions about making a commitment, need a pledge form, or want to make your pledge by phone, please contact Betsy Galliher in the church office at 423-764-7176.

Our November Financial Summary

PCUSA seal small We here present the highlights of our year-to-date financial summary as of November 30, followed by a tabular summary, both prepared by Aaron Brooks, Finance Chair.

Highlights

Pledges/Offerings/Reimbursements through the first eleven months of the year were $9,885 less than we had expected.
Anticipated Budget Shortfall: Through November 2013, we anticipated having to utilize approximately $47,094 of our savings/reserves to meet current-year operating requirements. While we have utilized only $16,000 of these funds through November, we anticipate having to use the full amount by the end of the year.
Expenditures continue to track favorably to expectations, coming in through the end of November at $22,108 below budget.
Expense Notes: (1) Interest paid to date on our Eastman Credit Union capital loan was $37,510 and (2) utility expenses, year-to-date, were $49,425, which is $8,691 under budget and $7,688 less than the same time last year.
Capital Loan: The balance with Eastman Credit Union at November 30, 2013, was $1,022,601.

2013	November Actual YTD ($)	November Budget YTD ($)	Over/(Under) Budget ($)
Revenue
Total Pledges	538,560	557,925	(19,365)
Offerings	112,370	119,350	(6,980)
Other Gifts & Income	91,125	74,665	16,460
Anticipated Budget Shortfall*	16,000	43,170	(27,170)
	758,055	795,109	(37,054)
Expenses
Evangelism & Outreach	32,496	28,034	4,462
Worship	123,630	121,271	2,359
Christian Education	189,032	197,977	(8,945)
Administration	256,252	268,593	(12,341)
Building & Grounds	137,975	144,062	(6,087)
Fellowship & Misc.	28,941	30,497	(1,556)
	768,326	790,434	(22,108)

Net Position:	(10,271)	4,675

*Anticipated Budget Shortfall is an estimated amount of money that is expected to be drawn from our reserve funds in order to fulfill our ongoing budget. Our reserve funds are limited and comprise monies from prior years that were above and beyond what was required to meet those years' respective budgets.

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.

Forms containing information about the organizations or missions we support 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.

The Very Hungry Students

Middle school and high school students are invited to eat their way through a festive evening! Middle school students will dig into a progressive dinner tomorrow, Friday, December 13; high school students will enjoy their dinner this Saturday, December 14. Students will meet at the church at 6:00 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!

Students Scheduled to Ring Salvation Army Bell Saturday

salvation army kettle and bell

FPC middle and high school students will be ringing the Salvation Army Bell at the Exit 7 Walmart this 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 will meet at Walmart. The bell-ringing schedule is as follows:

10:00 a.m. Dan Kreiss with 6th- to 8th-grade guys

11:00 a.m. Tess Addington with 6th- to 8th grade ladies

12:00 p.m. Ali Gomola with 9- & 10th-grade ladies

1:00 p.m. Amy Benjamin with 11th- & 12th-grade ladies

2:00 p.m. Kyle Benjamin & Danny McBride with high school guys

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Sunday's music participants: The Sanctuary Choir and soloists, with the Benjamin Dawson String Quartet.

Benjamin Dawson

Sunday's music: For its gift of music in this Advent/Christmas season, the Sanctuary Choir will offer Carols from the Appalachian Mountains by Kenton Coe. Coe (b. 1931) is a native and resident of Johnson City, but he has an international reputation as a composer. His Carols was commissioned in 1987 by the Symphony of the Mountains (then the Kingsport Symphony) and revised in 2003. According to Coe: "[M]ost of the carol texts and music have English/Scottish origins and were brought over to this area by our pioneers. Many variations in the music and texts were developed through the years."

The first carol, "Brightest and Best," has a text by Reginald Heber, best known for "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," and is a reflection on the star and those led to the stable with gifts. The second, "The Winter Season of the Year" has its roots in a Burgundian carol and considers how even the animals worshipped at the stable. The third carol, "The Seven Blessings of Mary," has its roots in an English folk song; it seems to be an elaboration of the passage in Luke of the things that Mary "pondered in her heart," but with a freedom common to folk traditions. The fourth carol, "Never Was a Child So Lovely," again speaks of the wise men, but this Kentucky carol is very reverent. The fifth carol, "Hush My Babe," is a lullaby with words set to the Southern folk tune RESTORATION, most commonly associated with the text "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy." The final carol, "Hark! Hark! Glad Tidings Charm Our Ears," comes from the 1835 shape-note song collection The Southern Harmony. It moves into a setting of "Angels from the Realms of Glory," also to a folk melody, and concludes joyously with "O Come, All Ye Faithful."

Cherub Choir schedule: The Cherub Choir will continue to meet December 15 and 22 but will take a break December 29 and January 5. We will resume January 12.

Programs of note in our sanctuary: Today, Thursday, December 12, the choral ensembles of King University will present their annual Christmas program at 8:00 p.m. Our own Sanctuary Bells will accompany the choirs, along with harp and flute, on the opening processional. Admission is a can of food for and/or a monetary donation to the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry. 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.

Other programs of note: Attention Nutcracker fans! Our own Erin Ginn will return from New York City to 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 is in performances of Miracle on 34th Street, running through this Sunday, December 15, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Three Osbornes appear in this show - Daniel, Ginny, and Lilly! And the list of other community programs involving our church children, youth, and adults is endless at this time of year!

Christmas pageant: Come see baby Jesus, angels, singing kings, and a large contingent of shepherds in our children's annual telling of the Christmas story. The pageant will take place Wednesday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m. in our sanctuary. Our Youth Bell Choir will ring the prelude, Abigail and Katie Davis will play a flute and piano offertory, and Annie Osborne and Madison Ratliff will sing the traditional Alfred Burt carol, "Some Children See Him," while the angels process. Lasting about 45 minutes, the pageant will be followed by the Christmas Joy Offering Dinner. There is always a large crowd for this dinner, so reservations are greatly appreciated! Call the church office, or, if your child is in the pageant, turn in the tear-off reservation form on the bottom of the recently mailed pageant instructions.

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Mack Blevins

Frances Caldwell

Sue Cannon

Bill Darnell

DeeDee Galliher

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Ann Holler

Carolyn King

Mary Landrum

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Virginia Rutherford

Changsub Shim

Lenita Thibault

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 15 Jim Arnold, Lou Hebb, Laynie Richardson

December 16 Hugh Testerman

December 17 Philip Cavatoni, Harrison Gilley, Rosa Poteat

December 18 Shelley Corder, Jane Daniel, Julie King, Mary Rice, Grace Singleton

December 19 Blaine Hunigan, Greg Jordan, Lynn Richards

December 20 Trish Bane

December 21 Jack Butterworth, Jo Ann Hatcher, Dottie Havlik

Church Calendar

Sunday, December 15

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

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

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:20 a.m. New Members Meeting, Chapel

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. Christmas Caroling & Soup Supper, Fellowship Hall

5:30 p.m. Jubilate Youth Choir, Music Wing

6:00 p.m. Young Adult Party, Welches' Home

Monday, December 16

4:45 p.m. Administrative Committee, Room 117

7:00 p.m. Session Meeting, Room 123

Tuesday, December 17

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

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

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

7:00 p.m. Betsy Turnbull's Heart to Heart Bible Study, Room 123

Wednesday, December 18

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

5:15 p.m. Baby & Toddler Care, Nursery

5:30 p.m. Children's Christmas Pageant, Sanctuary

6:00 p.m. Christmas Joy Offering Dinner, Fellowship Hall

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

Thursday, December 19

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

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

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.