Mar. 20, 2024

Bristol Federated Church

A Community of Faith Where You Matter

March 20, 2024

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.”

“We embrace God’s infinite love and grace in affirmation that each one of God’s children is made in God’s image and has equal worth, accepting all and including ALL of every race, gender, color, age, gender identity, sexual orientation/or expression, marital status, ethnicity, religious background, national origin and physical or mental status.”

Link for any online Bristol Federated Church Event

“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!””
John12:12-13a

Just before Jesus crossed through the gates into the city of Jerusalem, the peasant people who lived outside the city triumphantly greeted him with great “Hosannas” and declared him “King of Israel.” But this would not be the case once he entered into the city where he would be seen as a trouble maker and threat. Still, Jesus boldly entered and went straight to the center, the temple where he would confront the powers that be by turning over the tables of the money changers and scattering the animals being sold for sacrifice. He knew his actions would ultimately lead to his death.
The story of Holy Week is a difficult one, filled with intrigue, denial, murder but also miracle.

May God Bless us as we hear this story again.
Pastor Chris

Congregational Conversation

This Sunday, we will continue our conversation in worship as part of the Pastoral Search and Call Process. Please come prepared to share a story of an important event or events in the life history of Bristol Federated Church.

Maundy Thursday
Service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae
March 28th at 6:00pm in the Education Wing
Please Join Us.

Our entire evening will be as one worship including the serving of a simple potluck meal, the sharing of the Last Supper, the readings of Tenebrae and the silent vigil and departure.

Please bring some soup, salad or bread to share.

Easter Lilies!

The leadership team would like to decorate the sanctuary for Easter with beautiful Easter lilies in honor and remembrance of our loved ones. For the next two Sundays, we will be taking up a collection to give all a chance to donate for the lilies in remembrance of all of our loved ones. Thank you.

Lenten Bible Study

Please join Mary Van Tol for a Lenten study beginning on Thursday, February 8 for 6 weeks. 7:00 PM-8:00 PM via Zoom.

"Finding Jesus in the Psalms, A Lenten Journey" by Barb Roose guides the reader through a meaningful encounter with the Psalms through the season of Lent. Combining an interpretation of the psalms with real life stories, the study moves through the familiar words of Psalm 23 toward the painful cries of Psalm 22 uttered by Jesus on the cross. The study includes reflections on the life of King David and the original context of the writings, along with connections between the psalms and the life and death of Jesus the Messiah. Click PREVIEW for a short video preview.

The book is available from Cokesbury in both paperback and digital format. Click HERE to purchase.

I hope to see you Thursday evenings!

Mary

MEET THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Bill Sayre

Bill serves on the leadership team and the Pastor/parish relations committee. Many of you may remember Bill singing in the choir over many years. He is a very kind, generous, man whose smile says a lot. He enjoys his grandchildren and often shows up at church events like Messy Church and Children’s Sunday with one of them. He has been through some tough times as of late and is getting back to attending meetings and being involved in church activities.

Thank you Bill for all you do!

Easter Messy Church is April 6!

If you would like to volunteer or donate an item,
please click HERE!

See you April 6th!

Lectionary Readings for this Week

March 24th:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Mark 11:1-11

Calendar

Lenten Bible Study - Thursdays, 7:00-8:00pm by Zoom

Red Cross Blood Drive - March 21st

Palm Sunday - March 24th (2nd Congregational Conversation)

Maundy Thursday - March 28th, 6:00pm, Pot Luck Dinner, Service of Tenebrae

Good Friday - March 29th at the Baptist Church, 6:30pm

Easter Service - March 31st: 9:15am breakfast, (early coffee 9am.) Sign up sheets for attendance and food donations are on the coffee hour table.

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ONGOING EVENTS:

Sundays, 4:00PM- AA Meeting here at BFC

Click HERE for full calendar.

Weekly Giving

The Leadership Team would like you to know our Giving each week;

Offering $ 857.85
Online 305.00
Total $1,162.85
Thank you for your generosity!

Children’s Sunday Walk-a-Mile Coin Offering for the John Graham Homeless Shelter in Vergennes: $106.50

Sunday Worship

You can find the recordings of recent sermons on our website at www.bristolfederated.com and click on “The Sermon Archives” in the top right hand corner of your screen.

You can visit the Donate page on our website at any time to give electronically using a credit/debit card or bank account.

The Zoom link for our Sunday Worship Service can be found by going to our website. If you will be accessing worship using a phone:
Dial: 1(929)205-6099
Meeting ID: 940 7036 0317
Passcode: 559314

Click here to go to our website at Bristolfederated.com