FUMC Bristol Newsletter May 11th-May17th, 2017
 
 
Vital Congregation Sermon Series
Mother Nature is an incredible teacher. All around us, life lessons unfold in the majesty, mystery and intricacy of creation.  The more we study nature, the rhythm and natural order about it is evident.  Like the beauty of autumn migration in birds and the distinct
V-formation in which they fly.
What can the church learn from carefully positing our wingtips and syncing our wings in flight?What does it mean to catch the wind from others to save energy?
And for that matter, who determines the leader in flight?
Is it one designee, or do they switch off in effort to support the team?
Vital Congregations understand the value of Gifted, Empowered and Equipped Lay Leadership and work to make it so! Scripture reinforces the need for Leadership and team-work to accomplish the mission of the church. Mother Nature simply mirrors what
God, the Creator set in motion.

Come and see! 
Vital Congregation Series
Drivers of Vital Churches
(Using Scripture, Denominational Statistics and Personal Interviews
to tell the story)
May 14   Gifted, Empowered and Equipped Lay Leadership (Mother’s Day)

May 21   Engaged Disciples in Mission and Outreach

May 28   Small Group Ministries and their Absolute Necessity for Future Sustainability (It’s about belonging and community!)
June 4:  Strong Children’s and Youth Ministry Programs  (Holy Communion)

June 11:   “Weird Church” and Next Steps (Weird Church by Beth Ann Estock and Paul Nixon)
June 18:    Welcoming and New Pastor and Parsonage Family in a Vital Church Fashion!  (New pastor and family arrive late June, early July)
Father’s Day

                  Official pastoral departure and start dates upcoming!
Goodbye and Hello
On June 11, we say goodbye to Michelle at a family covered dish lunch following the 11 o’clock service. Please plan to join us as we wish Michelle and Gary a fond farewell. In the next weeks we will be accepting contributions to a love offering. If you wish to contribute, please mark your check or offering as “Love Offering.”
On July 2, we welcome our new minister to the pulpit. A celebration will be announced in a few weeks.
Many Thanks to Those Who Participated in Workday last Saturday!
Here’s what was accomplished:
 *Applied new safety tape on stage steps and sanctuary step
*Cleared Tankersley steps of obstructions
*Repaired exit signs in Tankersley Hall
*Replaced bulbs in outdoor lights at Tankersley back doors
*Cataloged circuit boxes; removed paper labels
*Plugged openings in circuit boxes
*Weeded bushes on Ed Wing side of church
Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” National Food Drive
 
Look what was in my mailbox yesterday-
the familiar blue grocery bag left by my postal employee in support of the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.
Please fill your blue bag (or any grocery sack or box) with non-perishable food items, then leave by your mailbox this Saturday.
 All donated food will be taken to local food pantries and shelters for use in our community.
And consider helping at the
Bristol Emergency Food Pantry
from 12pm to 5:30pm this Saturday, May 13th
 to unload truckloads of food and stock shelves.
Thank you for supporting this vital annual community project!
For more information click on the link below to email me,
or call 423-914-9820.
Happy 91st Birthday 
Mr. Paul Lee
Here we are in Paul’s home opening his birthday card from the church with all your signatures.
When you make it to 91, you deserve a card and a whole lot more!
    Paul always begins our visits with how blessed he has been with life and health.  No glasses and no hearing aids and still living in and maintaining his own home
(which has lots of character, by the way!)
 You’ll find Paul nearly every Sunday on the left back pew, sitting with the Basham’s and Madeline Helton UNLESS  he drives out-of-town to see friends (which he is known to do from time-to-time)  A former Food Pantry Volunteer every 1st Monday of the month, Paul continues his long-time service as a driver for Meals on Wheels  every 4th Tuesday.  Additionally,  Paul drives to Rogersville every Wednesday
to help a dear friend with groceries and such.

Way to keep going, Paul!   Your church and pastor love you!
News from United Methodist Women
Several of our members recently attended
UMW District Day Apart at Camp Ahistadi.
Twanna Teague, Sue Bryngelson, Donna Camper, Suzanne Rollins, and Peggy Wilson
The 2017 District Hands on Mission Project is
Bristol Recovery Road for Women,
a program that helps women in transition from incarceration back into society.
Donna Camper speaks about Recovery Road for Women
Sunday’s Feed The Hungry Offering
Our “Feed the Hungry” offering this week is for Family Promise of Bristol. This program provides an opportunity for us to show God’s grace and Christ’s love to children with homeless families in the Bristol area.
Bristol Welcomes Candi Blair as New Executive Director of Family Promise
In April, Candi Blair began managing Family Promise, which provides temporary housing and job placement assistance for homeless families in our community. Family Promise has worked with area churches since its beginning in 2012 to support families until they become self-sustaining.
Letter from Beth Rhinehardt,
Anderson Elementary School Librarian
On behalf of the students and staff at Anderson Elementary School, I am writing to express our most sincere thanks to you for your recent generous donation to our Scholastic Book Fair “All For Books” Program. This donation provided an opportunity for many of our students to select a book from the Book Fair who were not financially able to purchase a book. I wish you could have seen the smiles on their faces when they heard their name called on the intercom that they had won a “Feelin’ Groovy” book coupon and the sparkle in their eyes when they selected their book at the Book Fair.
June 12-15, 5 pm-8 pm
First United Methodist Church
and
Addilynn Memorial United Methodist Church
   
                                  Children’s Ministry
The lesson was on “feed my sheep.” The kids made mints from the recipe from Suzanne’s grandmother, and gave them out to the congregation. They were so excited and said, “We fed the adults today.”
FUMC Teens will be traveling to Black Mountain for
the 2017 Christian Leadership Conference
 at YMCA Blue Ridge
Friday-Saturday-Sunday
May 19-21
84 Blue Ridge Circle Black Mountain, NC 28711
info@yblueridge.org
828-669-8422
 Behold!
2017 Annual Conference
Lake Junaluska, NC
June 11-14
Tabletop Games
Everyone had a lot of fun at Tabletop Games. Don’t miss the upcoming June event!!
 Like what you see in your church newsletter?  Why not
PASS IT ON?
to a friend, neighbor or co-worker! 
Share some good news today!
 Calendar & Events Schedule 
   Week of May 11 – May 17

Thurs, May 11:   6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-Yoga Studio

                    6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room

                    8:00pm-AA
 
 Fri, May 12:     10:00am-Reading Buddies-TH
                     5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Room
                6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Room 
                     8:00am-NA
               
 Sat, May 13:     10:30am-SPR  
                     8:00pm-NA
                        
 Sun, May 14:     9:30am-Sunday School Hour
9:30am-The River Service, TH
10:00am-Common Ground Service, Chapel
11:00am-Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
(childcare is provided from 9:30am to 12:00pm; children may be picked up at any time)
8:00pm-AA
Mon, May 15:   6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Room
                   7:00pm-Hispanic Congregation PVUMC
                   8:00pm-NA
                       
Tues, May 16:    8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
                    8:00pm-AA
               
Wed, May 17:    6:30pm-Youth Activity
                    7:00pm-Chancel Choir
                   
 To make changes or additions to the calendar
          contact Alan Gorrell 423-652-7377 
        or Sandy Gorrell 423-652-1987.
Our Vision-
Building A Community Where Anyone
Can Become
A Deeply Committed Christian

First United Methodist Church

 322 Vance Dr., Bristol, TN 37620

       www.fumcbristol.org
First United Methodist Church of Bristol Tennessee, 322 Vance Drive, Bristol, TN 37620