In addition to this website livestream, -worship services are livestreamed and archived via these commercial sites:
Facebook Live and Church YoTube Channel
Archive of 2023 Worship Services
Order Easter Lilies at the church or through this SURVEY.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Each Saturday, at the church:
Youth Club: 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Jr/Sr High; college age)
Young Adults (ages 18-30) meet from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Lenten Bible Study
March 29 (5 pm)
See info sheet.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE (Download Full Listing)
April 8 (1 pm) : Annual Easter Egg Hunt; 1 pm
Upcoming Youth Event:
May 20th - Jayell Ranch Adventure Park
Lee Ann Kudson hosts a Bible Study each Wednesday in March for the season of Lent. Join us for a shared meal at 5 PM followed by the Bible Study. Everyone is invited to attend, no matter your faith background or church affiliation. There is no cost for the meal or the Bible Study. More information is HERE.
Please use the scrollbar at right to read through this article.
Lent is a time for spiritual preparation through repentance and growth in faith for .
It is the time of the church year when the passion and death of the Savior come into focus.
It begins with a special day of repentance, Ash Wednesday, and ends in the depth of sorrow and tragedy on Good Friday.
The name of the season, LENT, does not reflect the mood or message of the season….it is an old Anglo-Saxon word “Lencten or Lenchthen” meaning the lengthening of the days as spring appears.
Lent is a period of forty days:
The last six days are known as Holy Week which are to be days of strict abstinence.
Holy week began in Jerusalem during the fourth century.
Services were held on the appropriate day at the places where special events took place during the last week of Jesus’ life: the Upper Room, Gethesemane, Pilate’s Court……
When Holy Week was observed in the west we substituted the stations of the cross for actual places in Jerusalem.
In the fourth century, the days of Holy Week were designated:
Palm Sunday – entry into Jerusalem
Monday – the cleansing of the temple
Tuesday – the Discourse on the Mount of Olives
Wednesday – Judas agreement
Maundy Thursday – upper Room meeting
Good Friday – Calvary
\Saturday –in the tomb
These six days grew into thirty-six days, as a tithe of the 365 days of the year….by approximately 731AD, the time of Charlemagne, four days were added to the thirty-six to make the present season of forty days. The four extra days consisted of Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent.
This number forty is a holy and meaningful number:
--Jesus was tempted for forty days in the wilderness,
- -Moses fasted forty days on Sinai,
- -Elijah fasted forty days on the way to the mountain of God,
- -and the Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness.
Sundays were never a part of Lent. We speak of the Sundays “IN” Lent, not “OF” Lent. The Sundays are known by their Latin names which come from the first Latin word of Introit…..however….the Lenten emphasis spilled over into the Sunday ervices in terms of the use of the penitential color, violet.
Just a bit more information……Lent is to be a special time of prayer. So did you know….the traditional symbol for Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In Lent, Christians made dough of flour, salt, and water. They shaped the dough in the form of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. The bread was called “little arms”….. “bracellae” later called “Brezel” or “Pretzel”. Pretzels were a Lenten food and thus only eaten during the period as a reminder to pray more often.
So….we began with Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent.
At this service of worship tonight, worshippers had the opportunity to come forward for the blessing of ashes. The pastor marked the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross (or for those who did not wish your forehead to be marked the hand is an alternative) which traditionally is retained until it is washed off the next morning. This symbolism echoes the ancient Near East tradition of throwing ash over one's head signifying repentance before God. Instruction was offered while applying the ashes. Here is an example:
"Remember that you are dust,aAnd unto dust you shall return."
(Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.)
This wording comes from Genesis 3:19.
The ashes were been prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative.
Please see below for recordings of the recent series of lessons taken from Revelation.
Age-appropriate topics.
Beth Furrer, our pianist/accompianist for our worship services and special events, has been selected to fill a new position here at First Pres Huntsville. Beth will be our Director of Music, and in addition to the work she's been doing, she'll be in charge of arranging for all of the many occasions here at the church where musical activities will be part of the program. You can learn more about Beth 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.
The info sheet includes all session listings with scripture references.
Ends Wednesday, March 28
March 28 Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
Questions? Concerns? Please contact Youth Director Jason Falasco (e-mail)
Mike Doublas
(Class of 2023)
John Seals
Jim Morrow
"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.
I hope that when people see or think of me, they are reminded of God’s love for them.
I'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.
"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.”
Mr. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Music from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. While at Tech, he studied saxophone with Phil Barham, conducting with Joseph Hermann, and music education with Dr. Judith Sullivan.
Mr. Hunt has been the band director at Burchfield Elementary School in Oneida, Tennessee, since 2009. He received building level and district level Teacher of the Year for Scott County Schools in 2016, and he was awarded tenure in 2018. He was named the VFW Teacher of the Year for Scott County in 2017.
The Burchfield Band Program consists of a 5th-grade beginning band, a 6th-grade intermediate band, a 7th-8th-grade advanced band, a jazz band, a pep band, and an audition group for regional honor bands. While at Burchfield, Mr. Hunt’s students have earned multiple solo and ensemble medals, chairs at the ETSBOA and TSSBDA Jr. band clinics, and “Superior” concert festival ratings.
As a performer, Mr. Hunt is a member of Wildwood Flutes, the Oak Ridge Community Band, and the Greater Knoxville Recorder Society. He has guest-conducted with the Scott High School, Oneida High School, and Cumberland Gap High School band programs. He has served as a band clinician for the TSSBDA Junior Band Clinic and the Concert Festival Pre-Assessment Clinic for McCreary and Williamsburg (KY).
Mr. Hunt is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Tennessee Music Education Association, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and Tennessee Secondary School Band Directors Association. He is currently the President of TSSBDA. Mr. Hunt is married to Brandan Hunt, and they have a daughter, Haley.
"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 at First Presbyterian Huntsville!
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.
If you bank with the First National Bank of Oneida, you may arrange for automatic deductions through their "Bill Pay" program.
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 the next column, 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 Foundation as well as a year-end gift summary for tax reporting.
FAQs Everything you might wonder about online giving to your church.
Thank you for your gifts!
Vanco (Give+ Church) is the agency that handles donations for churches working through the Presbyterian Foundation.
1. How It Works: The "how to do it" tutorial!
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Weekday Office Hours
Tuesdays and Saturdays: 8 am - 3 pm
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.
• Prsbytery of East Tennessee NEWS
Online or Mailed Donations
Your gifts to this church are most appreciated.
Full details as to how the online program operates, including a link to the secure site where you may contribute to the work of our church is HERE.
If you prefer, gifts are welcomed via mail to our post office box:
First Presbyterian Church
C/O Lori Phillips Jones
PO Box 39
Huntsville TN 37756
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First Presbyterian Church of Huntsville Tennessee is about 55 miles from Knoxville and 10 miles from Oneida.
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