The 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) generated significant interest for its actions in two distinct areas: 1) same-sex marriage and 2) divestment of PCUSA funds from three corporations whose products it believes contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

In August our Session approved a letter to the congregation communicating its position on same-sex marriage: affirming the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and limiting its consent for wedding ceremonies to those that fit this definition.

This Sunday, November 23, Session members will meet in the chapel from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. with anyone interested in discussing these issues and the Session's response. Printed materials on these G.A. actions are available upon request through the church office.

How to Nominate Elders and Deacons

PCUSA seal small

Our nominating process for next year's officers has begun, and we welcome your suggestions of those members whom you see as particularly gifted for serving as elders or deacons.

Session of Elders

The governing body of First Presbyterian Church is the Session, nominated and elected by the congregation. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of this church as well as of the church at large, including ecumenical relationships.

The Book of Order offers the following guidance on this office: "Congregations should elect [as elders] persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they 'lord it over' the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life."

The Session of First Presbyterian Church is normally composed of fifteen elders who serve on a three-year rotation. Annette Tudor is the current Clerk of Session; Gordon Turnbull serves as Moderator. The following members now serve as elders of First Presbyterian Church:

Class of 2014

Chris Blankenship

Jackie Burt

Peggy Hill

Jennifer Kennedy

Class of 2015

Tom Carter

Tom Faucette

Blaine Hunigan

Parker Sword

Annette Tudor

Class of 2016

Kevin Buck

Tom Daniel

Dottie Havlik

Brian Miller

Paul Warhurst

Deacons

The Diaconate, or Board of Deacons, is another body of officers ministering in the church. It is the first duty of deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress, both within and beyond the community of faith.

The Book of Order offers the following guidance on this office: "The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.

The Board of Deacons of First Presbyterian Church is composed of fifteen members who serve on a three-year rotation:

Class of 2014

Toni Corder

Sandi Nelson

Stuart Parker

Tina Witcher

Ann Woods

Class of 2015

Sujean Bradley

Sue Faucette

Will Hankins

J.B. Madison

Pete Stigers

Class of 2016

Andrew Beck

Jon McClain

Chad McCracken

Lensey Richardson

Donna Sikorski

Suggestion forms for nominations are available throughout the church, or you may email your suggestion to the attention of the Officer Nominating Committee at gturnbull@fpcbristol.org.

No Program and Only One Rehearsal Next Wednesday

With the exception of the Praise Team rehearsal, all programs, meetings, and rehearsals will be suspended for November 26, the evening before Thanksgiving. The Sanctuary Choir will rehearse Tuesday, November 25 (see calendar). We will resume our regular schedule December 3, when the first Wednesday evening program in Advent will be a very special event!

Full Slate of Short-Term Mission Trips Ahead

Our recent Wednesday evening mission programs from the Evangelism & Outreach Committee invited us to consider our call to God's mission. One means of responding is through the short-term mission opportunities our church has planned through the next year. Please consider this list of trips and pray about how God is calling you to support them, whether by participating as a mission traveler or through the spiritual and practical support of a sending team. Please indicate your interest or seek more information by contacting the leaders listed for each trip.

Brazil Mission Trip. May 29-June 7, 2015. Priority to rising and graduated high school seniors. Deepening our partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Felipe Camar�o, Natal, and our ministry through the Bethel School. Contact: John Vann (vannjm@gmail.com; 423-968-7802) or Katie Arnold (karnold@fpcbristol.org; 423-764-7176). Deadline for application: December 15!

Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans. Summer 2015. One-week trip, dates to be determined. Travel to New Orleans and share in the home-building efforts still going on years after Hurricane Katrina. Contact: Pete Stigers (director@helphabitat.org; 678-478-0821).

Urban Promise, Camden, NJ. Summer 2015. One-week trip, dates to be determined. East Coast urban ministry to children and youth through an established program with diverse services. Contact: Dan Kreiss (dskreiss@king.edu; 423-534-7648).

Ethiopia Mission Trip. Dates to be determined between November 2015 and May 2016; Approximately 12 to 14 days. Travel to Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia, encourage the students and staff of Berhane Yesus Elementary School, and support our mission partners in the Western Wollega Bethel Synod. Contact: Peggy Hill (peggyhill145@gmail.com; 423-652-1732).

Yes! You Can Help with Family Promise of Bristol

Our next rotation with Family Promise of Bristol rolls out Sunday, December 14, and runs through Saturday, December 20. This is an especially busy and exciting time of the year for all of us, and now we have the opportunity to share some of our love and enthusiasm with the three families in this program.

Trying to raise a family in such circumstances is hard for us to imagine at any time, but during the holidays it seems unimaginable. If you find that you cannot come out and help with this rotation, these families will greatly appreciate your prayers.

Here is a reminder of our volunteering needs:

Food

Breakfast items and supplies should be brought to the church and left in the little kitchen by Sunday, December 14.

Dinner should be brought in hot and ready each evening at 5:30. This is usually done by a family or a team. If you can help with breakfast or dinner, or if you want more information, email Scottie Bales at scottie@rtherapeutics.com.

Dinner Hosts

Dinner hosts come to the church by 5:30 to welcome our guests, eat with them, and stay until the evening hosts arrive at 8:30. Some people find it easy to fix dinner and stay to host. If you're interested in being a dinner host, email Nancy Allerton at nja0510@gmail.com.

Overnight Hosts

Overnight hosts arrive at the church by 8:30 p.m., spend the night, and help with continental breakfast the next morning. Guests leave the church around 7:00 a.m., except on Saturday, when they leave a little later. For more information or to volunteer as an overnight host, contact Dan Gross at dan.c.gross@gmail.com.

Laundry

First, if anyone would like to donate some disposable baby wipes, the babies are always in need of those! On the morning of Sunday, December 21, there will be piles and piles of sheets, towels, and comforters that must be washed with bleach and returned to the Family Promise Closet.

Thank you so much for your love and hospitality to these families! If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Scottie Bales at Scottie@rtherapeutics.com or text or call her at 423-360-5357.

The Parents Had Fun, Too

It was Parents' Night Out at FPC last Friday, November 14. While moms and dads had time to themselves, their children were busy making ornaments and having fun. But don't take our word for it; check out the pictures below!

Order Storybooks for EPIC Study Series

Coming in January! Continuing our tradition of learning together in fellowship, we will begin the new year with a new churchwide study series called EPIC: Through the Bible with Jesus. Sermon texts will be taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible. You will find order forms for free copies of this book in Sunday's bulletin.

Celebrate Advent with Heart!

Heart to Heart Women's Ministries will hold its annual Advent event Tuesday, December 9. The women of the church are invited to bring a friend and gather for worship in the chapel at 7:00 p.m. Elizabeth Patrick will provide the message, "Sleepwalking." Dessert will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Please call the church office or e-mail jprater@fpcbristol.org to let us know you can come. Child care will be available at the church; please email or call to let us know how many to expect!

It's Time to Order Poinsettias

The color is falling from the trees and fading from our gardens, so it is now up to us to splash a little color around by ordering pots of poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary in Advent. If you would like us to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary in memory or in honor of someone, you may do so by turning in your order form, with payment, to the church office during business hours or by placing it in the offering plate on Sundays through the end of November. Order forms are available in the church office and in Sunday bulletins. Poinsettias are $15 each. You may pick up your plants anytime after the Christmas Eve service. The deadline for orders is Monday, December 1.

Stewardship Flows On

Two Sundays have passed since we dedicated our pledges in a special worship celebration, and our congregation is fulfilling that promise faithfully. To date, we have received 124 pledge commitments for a total of $532,386 for our ministries in the coming year.

If you have not yet pledged for 2015, please remember to submit your pledge soon. Pledge cards with addressed envelopes can be found on tables throughout the church. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of how you, too, can support our ministries.

Electronic Giving Is Available on Our Website

Last year, electronic giving to FPC became possible through our website, www.fpcbristol.org. It is both a convenient way to make pledge payments or other donations and also a practical help in tracking your stewardship commitments.

Note: You cannot make a pledge commitment online; you do that in the usual way. But you can make pledge payments online.

What Is Electronic Giving?

The term electronic giving encompasses a wide range of secure, automatic payment methods that can be used to make regular church offerings and other contributions without writing checks, carrying cash, or preparing envelopes. Electronic giving works the same way as the automatic payment methods used by many people to make mortgage or utility payments and to receive payroll earnings or Social Security income.

Why Give Electronically?

It is convenient. Many people do not have checks or don't carry cash. With online giving, your contributions are transmitted electronically and deposited directly into the church bank account.

It keeps you on track with stewardship commitments. When you schedule automated offerings, you don't have the worry of falling behind on pledge payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do automatic contributions work?

A. You choose your payment method, start date, frequency, and contribution amount. Monthly donations can be made on the 6th or 20th; weekly donations are made on Monday. One-time donations are also an option. Your donations will be processed and deposited in the church bank account on the date or dates you schedule.

Q. When will my contribution be processed?

A. Your contribution will be processed each month on the date(s) you authorize.

Q. What if I need to cancel or place my donation on a temporary hold?

A. You can edit, suspend, or cancel a scheduled transaction in your online giving account. Please notify the church business administrator, Betsy Galliher, if you encounter any problems.

Q. What can I use to show that I made a donation?

A. The itemized list of electronic transactions that appears on your bank or credit card statement can be used as proof of your donations. You can also view and print your online donation history (see below). FPC mails contribution reports in July and October as well as year-end Charitable Contributions Reports for tax purposes.

Q. How do I get started?

A. To get started, go to www.fpcbristol.org and click on the Online Giving button at the top right of the page. You will then see the first screen of Vanco's secure online giving service. You will first create an online profile (use the button in the lower right quadrant). This is a one-time task. Please review the information you enter, then be sure to save your profile. It will enable you to change or stop a recurring donation at any time, and it will allow you to view and print your online donation history.

After you have saved your profile, you will see the Online Donation screen. Follow the prompts to schedule your transactions. You will be asked for a payment method in the Account drop-down menu on the Donation Information screen. You will be able to choose from direct debit from your checking or savings account and payment by means of a credit or a debit card.

Another Useful Tool: Offering Envelopes

Offering envelopes can be a useful tool when giving your pledge, particularly for those who make cash contributions. If you would like to order a set of envelopes, please contact Sara Reuning at sreuning@fpcbristol.org.

Wash That Need Right Out of Their Hair

During the month of November, FPC is responding to a request from Good News Jail & Prison Ministries for Suave shampoo. Our donations will fill a real need and be part of this ministry's outreach to those who are incarcerated locally.

Please donate only Suave brand and only regular size (not family size). The shampoo may be any fragrance. Most dollar stores and big box stores carry Suave shampoo for $1 or less. If you would like to help, please bring your donation to the church and place it in the collection bin in the music stairwell. Thank you!

Little Pretzels, Big Boost

We are collecting little pretzels to give a big boost to hungry Fairmount students. The small sticks and the small curved pretzels fit best into snack-sized portions for those of our Fairmount Elementary neighbors who can't afford snacks to see them through the afternoon. As always, please place your contributions in the little red schoolhouse in the Fellowship Hallway. Thank you!

Students Leave No Leaves Unraked

FPC students turned out in force for Leaf Day on November 8. The blew those leaves away and had a blast themselves. Everyone appreciated their hard work and bright spirit!

Students: Give a Day of Service to Appalachia Service Project

Students are invited to a day of service Saturday, November 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will have the opportunity to assist in several building projects around Bristol. You will need an ASP release form, which can be found on the church website. Students should pack a lunch and wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Bring work gloves if you have them. We are also asking students to bring $15 to be put toward building supplies. A celebratory pizza party will conclude the day. Join us for this great day of service!

Early Bird Deadline for Brazil Mission Trip Is November 30

A mission trip to Brazil for FPC's eleventh and twelfth grade students is scheduled for May 29 through June 7. We are now accepting applications. Information packets can be picked up from Katie Arnold or in the church office. The early bird registration deadline is November 30, and deposits are due December 15.

Students: Get a Job!

All students in seventh through twelfth grades are invited to the Youth Wing and Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m. this Sunday, November 23, for dinner, games, worship, learning, and fellowship. We will discuss part three, "Get a Job," of our new discussion series, Build.

Fifty-two days. It's not a long time. Less than two months. Less than half a season of your favorite TV series. Less than two units in your chemistry class. That's how long it took Nehemiah to build a wall around his entire city, and not with cranes but with bricks and human hands. It's really amazing. But Nehemiah didn't do it alone. There are lists in the Bible of different people, different families, who pitched in. Some of them used their specific talents. Others just jumped in where they were needed. And in doing so, they became a picture of what the Church was meant to be: people of various talents and abilities working toward one goal, unique but unified. We have the opportunity to do the same, to work as one body toward one goal. As we do so, we may just discover that we are becoming the people we were meant to be all along.

Finding Joy in Giving

On November 16, Children's Ministries sponsored an afternoon of shoebox filling for children and their families. Our older students pitched in with a will. Together, they packed items they had collected into festively decorated shoeboxes for other children who need a little Christmas. It was all in the name of Operation Christmas Child, and love. See the photos below!

From Steve & Vicki Fey

Music Notes

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir, Jubilate Youth Choir (both services).

Carl Daw

Sunday's music: As we come to the end of the liturgical year with the celebration of Christ the King Sunday, the Sanctuary Choir anthem celebrates "One who reigns though sacrificed," Jesus Christ. The text of the anthem, "True Anointed One," is by Carl Daw (b. 1944) who has fifteen hymn texts in Glory to God but, more important, wrote the blurbs found at the bottom of each hymn. This text reflects on the wonder of one who is both Lamb and Shepherd. Daw was raised in Baptist parsonages in Tennessee, spent several years as an English professor, is an ordained Episcopal priest, and has had an extensive career as a hymn text writer, lecturer, and administrator with the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. The musical setting is by David Ashley White (b. 1944), who has had a long, successful career as a composer and faculty member of the University of Houston's School of Music. His music reflects the power and challenging nature of the One who is both God and human, servant and king.

At both services, the Jubilate Youth Choir will sing "Children of the Light," with words and music by Kirby Shaw (b. 1941). Shaw was educated on the West Coast, where he has spent most of his career, and has an extensive catalogue of published compositions. This song reflects in both music and words the confidence that we are precious in God's sight.

Christmas pageant reminder: If your child missed the first Christmas pageant rehearsal, he or she can still join the fun! As there will be no Wednesday activities Thanksgiving week (November 26), the next pageant rehearsal will be December 3 at 4:30, followed by dinner and gingerbread houses for the kids and programs for the adults and youth. All four-year-olds through fifth graders (sixth graders may also participate, if they want) are invited to be part of this wonderful tradition.

Montreat update: Online early bird registration opened this past weekend! We will mail brochures and registration forms soon to those children and youth who will be rising fourth to twelfth graders next summer. We would like to take advantage of the early registration fee, which is lower than in 2012. We have our house reserved for the week of June 21, and the Osbornes will once again serve as chief cooks! The house we rent sleeps 19 people, and I think we will come pretty close to filling it next summer! For those adults not wanting to be in the midst of the chaos, the Montreat College dorms are available for housing, and you can choose which week you attend.

Pray for One Another

In Our Prayers

Becky Busler

Jane Crewey

Barbara Daniel

Dorothy Dollar

Laura Francis

Fred Frazier

DeeDee Galliher

Dorothy Giesler

Juanita Goforth

Ron Grubbs

Will Hankins

Mary Nell Harris

Sharon Hatcher

Rebekah Heacock

Hawley Heglar

Opal Johnson

Carolyn King

Ruth Musser

Nancy Preston

Mary Rice

Brenda Rogers

Virginia Rutherford

Katy Sikorski

Faye VanNostrand

Ann Woods

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

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

November 23 R.J. Sikorski

November 24 Ron Grubbs, Brad Smith

November 25 Louisa Patton, Selma Jennings

November 27 Jean Eller, Cindy Samuel

November 29 Carolyn Moore, Sam Story

Church Calendar

Sunday, November 23

8:30 a.m. Worship, Fellowship Hall

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

9:45 a.m. Sunday School, Education Wing

10:00 a.m. Session Discussion on General Assembly, Chapel

11:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

12:15 p.m. Men's Ministry Committee, Conference Room

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

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

Monday, November 24

5:30 p.m. Sanctuary Handbells, Handbell Room

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

Tuesday, November 25

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

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

1:00 p.m. HeartsBurn Bible Study, Burt Home

6:00 p.m. Venture Crew 3, Room 123

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

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

Wednesday, November 26

7:30 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, November 27

Church office closed for Thanksgiving holiday

Friday, November 28

Church office closed for Thanksgiving holiday

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