First Presbyterian Church
Huntsville, Tennessee
185 Woodland Place (Directions);
P.O. Box 39
Huntsville TN 37756
Phone (423) 663-3456
Please keep the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) in your prayers.
MISSION STATEMENT
We seek to reflect the gospel of Jesus Christ through service and love.
Welcome to all who worship with us! If you are interested in becoming a member of this congregation, pleas contacte the pastor or an elder.
All are welcome!
Sunday, September 24 at First Presbyterian Church
Sunday School: 9:45 am
Sunday School for all ages
Service for the Lord's Day:
Worship: 11 am
(in-Sanctuary and online)
Download the Order of Service
In addition to this website livestream, worship services are livestreamed and archived via these commercial sites:
Facebook Live
News & Upcoming Events
Weekday Prayer Time at the Church
Each Thursday the church is open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM for prayer time.
Please keep our Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) in your prayers.
Saturday Gatherings
Each Saturday Youth Club (Jr. High/High School) meets from 5PM to 7PM at the church.
The young adults (ages18-30) meet from 7 PM to 8 PM.
More information about these groups is HERE.
Updates to Our Music Program
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Children's Music & Ministry (grades K-5)
Plans for this group include singing and perhaps participating in some of the ministries that our church shares among the membership and the community. Upcoming ehearsal times: October 8 and 15, after worship until 1:15 pm.
Let's Play Handbells!(Middle School - adults)
This group rehearses after worship twice a month and no musicl training or experience is required for participation. Upcoming rehearsals: Today (9/24); October 1 and 22; after worship for 30-45 minutes.
Adult Choir (Youth and Adults)
Each Wednesday, 7 pm. No prior experience or musical training is required.
Good to Know . . .
Health Policy
Please know that session is working diligently to provide you with a safe space to worship and enjoy the service. We encourage masks to be worn during church. We also suggest that if you are not feeling well or are uncomfortable, please stay at home and worship with us online. Contact Ruling Elder Philip Jones through the church office with any concerns you may have.
Children are welcomed here!
The First Pres Huntsville church family is happy to welcome every member of each family worshipping with us here in the Sanctuary. We offer nursery care for thildren 5 and younger. Children older, but not yet ready to sit with parents through the entire church service will be welcomed at the back of the Sanctuary where a supervised quiet activity table will be available. The children there will sense the pattern of worship in the Sanctuary while engaged in activties geared to their maturity level.
Saturday Gatherings
Youth Club
Jr. High and High School Age
Each Saturday, 5-7 pm at the church.
The videos from our adventures are available on the church Facebook page.
A message from Youth Director Jason Falasco:
Questions? Concerns? Please contact Youth Director Jason Falasco (e-mail)
Young Adult Fellowship
Ages 18 - 30
Each Saturday, 7-8 pm at the church.
This gathering gives our our young adults an opportunity to socialize—meet with friends, welcome new friends, and discuss issues and topics of importance to them.
This group is just getting started; it's not too late to share in planning activities and goals for the group. Please contact Jason Falasco at through the church office if you have any questions.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
The Session
Officers of the Session
Liz Fancher,
Clerk of Session
Don Stansberry III
Treasurer
Lori Phillips Jones,
Recording Treasurer
Class of 2023
Mark Blakely,
Worship
Mike Douglas,
Property
Phillip Jones,
Church Family
Class of 2024
Lee Ann Knudson,
CE
Tracey Stansberry,
Personnel
Alice Golade,
Finance
Class of 2025
Carter Owens,
Congregational Care
Angela Morrow,
Property
VeRhonda Hembree,
Missions
Our Staff Members
When reading the biographies below you may need to use the scroll bar, found on the right side of each panel.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Falasco
Interim Pastor
"All a church does in programs and missions springs from Sunday Worship."
The Reverend Dr. Dennis Falasco has worked in pastoral ministry for over 45 years. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, he has had pastorates in New Jersey, Tennessee, California, Arkansas, and Idaho. He has been married to Becky for 46 years. She has been an integral part of his ministry with her education in Music. As Head of Staff, Dennis’ concept of ministry is to lead churches by developing teams for evaluating a broad range of membership opportunities and lay leadership skills. His primary focus is on Worship. He claims all a church does in programs and missions springs from Sunday Worship. His duties as interim include, but are not limited to, worship planning, facilitating all session and committee meetings as well as communication for the church to the community, and helping with the transition for the next installed pastor.
Beth Furrer
Director of Music; Pianist/Accompianist
"Music is my worship that allows me to praise without words."
Beth has been ivolved in church music ministry for almost four decades. After her long-time church pianist retired at her home church of Calvary Baptist in Bucyrus, Ohio, Beth took over the ministry at the age of 12. She also enjoyed accompanying the children’s and youth choirs, as well. This calling began a journey in the music ministry that has spanned several years and several denominations.
Beth was a pianist and choir accompanist at First United Methodist Church of Oneida for almost 20 years and led the children’s and youth choirs for several years while directing the GANG (God’s Awesome New Generation) program. She also cherished the time of singing with and accompanying her mother at her church, Helenwood Baptist.
Having the privilege of attending Wayside Christian School through seventh grade, Beth loved sacred music and being involved in choir and drama programs within the school and church. After moving to Tennessee in 1986, Beth quickly got involved in music by playing in church and accompanying her high school choir at Scott High, where she graduated in 1991. Beth began teaching piano with private lessons that same year. In 1992, Oneida Special School District hired Beth as a teaching assistant for the expanding elementary music program. While in the OSSD, she worked as a teaching assistant for Kindergarten and Kinderstart, led middle and high school choir for several years, and played accompaniment for the other directors of the program. She also taught general music in middle school and then took over the entire elementary program as a paraprofessional for the last several years before the program ended in 2010. Beth began playing for Mass on Saturdays at St. Jude Catholic Church in Helenwood, Tennessee, in 2017 and still does. Although not a Catholic, Beth loves her St. Jude family and believes no church should ever be without music during worship. Music speaks to the heart of all, no matter what denomination.
Beth has been blessed to be a part of the First Presbyterian Church of Huntsville since 2018 and considers it worship with family. The music ministry of any church should create an atmosphere of worship and praise, and Beth’s prayer is that her music offerings and leadership reflect that spirit of worship and praise needed to unite our congregation in full worship to our Lord and Savior.
Beth lives in Oneida, TN, with her husband of 30 years, Rick. She has two adult children, Hannah Nelson (and husband, Ryan of Maynardville, TN, with her grandchildren, Felicity and Lincoln) and Nathaniel Furrer of Oneida. Beth continues to provide piano instruction from her home in Oneida and plans to provide music for worship as long as she can keep the promise made to her mother as a child, who wanted her to always “play for Jesus.”
Hannah Nelson
Choir Director
I am looking forward to the beautiful music that I know this church will be making in all of our groups:adult choir, youth choir, and handbells.
My name is Hannah Nelson, and I am the Choir Director here at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, TN.
In 2019, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance from Lincoln Memorial University. I have also been teaching private piano lessons since 2012 and am always looking for new opportunities to make music with others.
I currently live in Maynardville, TN with my husband Ryan, daughter Felicity, son Lincoln, and our dog Sam. We are all very happy to be a small part of this amazing congregation, and I am personally looking forward to the beautiful music that I know this church will be making in all of our groups: adult choir, youth choir, and handbells. God bless you all, and thank you for having me here!
Michelle Massengale
Administrative Assistant, Custodian
I hope that when people see or think of me, they are reminded of God’s love for them.
II'm Michelle Massengale, and I am the administrative assistant and custodian. I enjoy serving the church and congregation in these capacities. It is a little different than my “day job.” I have been a public-school teacher for 23 years and counting. I completed my doctorate in 2014. I am married to J.C. Massengale. Our family consists of two sons (Zack and Zander), a daughter (Mariah), my niece, who is like my daughter (McKenzie), and our family pets. My family and I enjoy all types of sports, from basketball to NASCAR.
My husband and I love being outdoors. I like playing card games and board games. Reading is a favorite pastime as well. The songs “I Am Blessed” and “Walking on Sunshine” are two of my favorites. At some point, I would like to be a movie critic because I love to watch movies. My all-time favorite is “Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman and Angela Lansbury.
Most of all, I am thankful for the blessings God has given me. I hope that when people see or think of me, they are reminded of God’s love for them.
Jason Falasco
Youth Director
"I'm excited to lend my efforts in building a youth program at First Presbyterian Huntsville! "
Jason began his Christian journey right here in Knoxville, TN in ’81 at Second Presbyterian where his dad took the position as youth minister and associate pastor. In ’87 his family moved to San Diego, CA where Jason participated in the youth program going on various mission trips to Mexico to help with their Vacation Bible School and community outreach. After graduating high school from El Dorado High School in El Dorado, AR in ’98, Jason eventually made his way to Idaho Falls, ID and helped with First Presbyterians youth program while coaching gymnastics at Idaho Falls Gymnastics Training Center.
In ’09 Jason decided to attend The Art Institute to pursue his passion of film and photography. Since then, he has had a wonderful career working on various film sets and photographing marketing material for several companies.
Once again, Jason calls Tennessee home and is excited to lend his efforts in building a youth program!
How to Support Our Ministries
1. By Mail
If you prefer, you may mail donations to the church P.O. box. The address is First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 39, Huntsville TN 37756.
2. Automatic Deductions through First National Bank of Oneida
l If you bank with the First National Bank of Oneida, you may arrange for automatic deductions through their "Bill Pay" program.
3. Online, via the Presbyterian Foundation, using the Vanco app
Details are in the next column!
Online Giving
For the convenience of those who prefer to use a secure online donation platform, First Presbyterian Church - Huntsville, TN has now established an online giving program in partnership with the Presbyterian Foundation.
Using the information provided in on the Vanco site , you can give to the church in a secure manner and your gift will be immediately available to the church for use in its General Fund which will support all of our ongoing ministries. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement email from the Presbyterian Foundation as well as a year-end gift summary for tax reporting.
FAQs Everything you might wonder about online giving to your church.
Contacts and Visits
Resources and Information
Weekday Office Hours
Tuesdays and Saturdays: 8 am - 3 pm
There are occasions when the pastor must be out of the office during normal office hours; please call ahead for an appointment if possible.
Prayer Requests
You may phone the church office [(423) 663-3456] and leave a message if no one is in the office to take your call, or contact by e-mail.
Presbytery of East Tennessee NEWS