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First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly E-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Extol the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain,
Surely the Lord our God is holy!
~Psalm 99:9
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Sunday, October 29
Self-Destructive Behavior
Rev. Brandon Berg
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Last Sunday . . .
Message: What Belongs to Caesar
Matthew 22: 15-22
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Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
His reply amazed them, and they went away.
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Celebrating A Time
for Young Disciples
and Young at Heart
Hugs are a great way to show someone you care about them.
Sometimes a fist
bump will do!
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We will glorify the Kings of kings,
We will glorify the Lamb,
We will glorify the Lord of lords,
Who Is the great ‘I Am’.
He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth,
He is Lord of all who live,
He is Lord above the universe,
All praise to Him we give.
~Twila Paris
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Too long we have celebrated Caesar.
This day, Lord, we are yours.
Choose this day whom you will serve!
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
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This week’s
Feed the Hungry
offering is for
Holston Home for Children.
Holston Home is guided by beliefs passed down throughout
the history of its ministry:
* God loves children and their families so much that He sent His Son to die so
that they could have abundant and eternal life.
* Every child should be taught about Jesus.
* All things are possible in Christ.
* Every child should have a warm and
secure place to live.
* Lasting change occurs through
caring relationships.
* It is the birthright of every child
to have a family.
* The best place for a child to be raised
is within a caring family.
* Children and youth should always
have something to look forward to.
* Kids and families deserve
our very best.
* Every child deserves the opportunity to
reach their God-given potential.
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
The time is upon us for commemorating the saints who have gone before. In a week and a half, we will celebrate All Saints Sunday in our worship together, but All Saints Day and All Souls Day precede that Sunday on November 1 and 2, respectively.
And to precede that is the day children around the [developed] world anticipate: All Hallows Eve or Halloween.
Halloween isn’t quite what it was three decades ago, when two days prior to the holiday were spent scrambling for boxes, flexible ventilation ducts, duct tape, and silver spray paint; or tracking down dad’s coveralls and manufacturing a proton pack that looked exactly like what Dr. Venkman wore.
I suppose it’s also not cutting eyeholes out of a sheet or manufacturing a papier mâché witch’s mask. Those days were pretty well gone when I grew up.
So were the days when Jack-o-lanterns were lit to frighten the spirits of those recently departed from haunting their survivors, or when whole communities would join in a danse macabre to remind each other how fleeting life is.
Things change.
For that matter, there’s a strong argument to be made that the Church pilfered the celebration of All Hallows Eve from the Celtic Summer-ending festival of Samhain.
Christianity has a tendency to reshape the traditions we encounter into something closer to our own liking; to find the places where God is speaking in practices that originate outside of Abrahamic traditions.
And, you know, I’m pretty okay with that.
If Jacob Bar-Salibi is right and we had to rework the birthday of the sun god in midwinter to celebrate God bringing new life into a world marked by death, that’s fine by me.
It’s okay that we grab some bacchanalian elements to celebrate Christ’s victory over death.
There is, after all, nothing new under the sun.
I think that this year, as we prepare for and celebrate the Feast of All Saints, we should give thanks for the traditions and the faith handed to us from wherever it comes; and I think we should celebrate the way we are transforming it and understanding it as meaningful to us.
I think God is still speaking to us. There may be nothing new under the sun, but I think that the God who made the sun still has some surprises in store.
Peace,
Brandon
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All Saints Day Is November 5
Next Sunday, we will commemorate
All Saints Day with a reading of the
names of those saints in our community who have died in the past year and a lighting of candles to show the light of Christ they let shine though them.
We would love to share their images
with each other, as well, so if you have a favorite picture of a community member
who has joined the great cloud of witnesses,
please bring it to the church or email it by Thursday to
Thank you for helping create a meaningful and beautiful
celebration of the power of God’s Spirit through our saints.
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Mission of the Month
Bristol Recovery Road for Women
Thanks to Donna Camper for making a terrific bulletin board for us, and for explaining to our folks about the much-needed service that Recovery Road provides.
Monetary donations and supplies are needed so that Recovery Road can continue to help women in our community.
Most Needed Items: toilet paper, Kleenex, detergent, trash bags, Clorox, deodorant, Ziploc bags, toothbrushes, cleaning supplies.
If you can help please place your donated items in the labeled bin in the narthex.
For more information contact Donna Camper
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Meals on Wheels
Needs Your Help!
Brenda Hobbs is asking for
a donation of
Just place a baked casserole in the church freezer, labeled Meals on Wheels.
Don’t have a recipe? Call Brenda at 423-968-4391
Thank You for your generosity!!
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One of FUMC’s small groups gathered for a lovely brunch.
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October Is Pastor Appreciation Month.
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A Few Important Notes . . .
SPR is pleased to announce that Phil Haga
will be taking over the helm as Music Director on November 12. We are so happy to welcome
Phil back. Betty Curtis will continue as accompanist.
Also, we want to thank Tawana Teague and Betty Curtis for their work from June to November.
The leadership has been so appreciated and
kept the choir going.
Starting November 12 choir practices will be held on Sunday after the 11 o’clock service, following a slight break. We hope this may enable
some in the congregation to consider joining us.
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In Children’s Church last Sunday . . .
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The lesson was about the friendship between David and Jonathan. The children made friendship bracelets…….one to keep and one to give to a friend.
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FUMC TEENS
Biblical Exploration
Sunday, October 29
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
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Service Project
Wednesday, November 1
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Following Jesus’ Word . . . do for the least of them
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Youth Enjoying a Recent Evening of Rock Band
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RESURRECTION 2018
January 19-20-21
Cost through October is $75.00.
Price increases by $10 every month.
Sign up now, pay and save.
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Won’t you join us?
Sunday, October 29
2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
in Tankersley Hall
for an
afternoon of fun,
fellowship and games.
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Saturday, October 28 – King University’s “Coats for Kids” Day. Donated children’s coats may be dropped off at King University at either the Administration Building or Maclellan Hall on the main campus in Bristol.
Saturday, October 28, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Apples for Addilynn Fall Festival, Addilynn UMC
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Emory & Henry College is hosting
Rachel Held Evans, blogger and author,
next week. On Monday October 30, at 7:30 PM, she will be presenting a lecture entitled “Faith and Doubt: Is that a Thing?” On Tuesday, October 31, at 2:00 PM, she will meet with area pastors to discuss “Making Space for Difficult Conversation.” Both events will focus on helping young people ask difficult questions in the context of Christianity and the church.
Both events are open to the public.
Everyone is invited. Admission is Free.
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Tuesday, October 31
4-7pm, YMCA
To participate, drive your decorated car filled with candy to the YMCA.
Be there by 3:30 to set up.
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Thursday, November 2, 4 pm-7 pm Good Samaritan Ministries Open House
100 N. Roan St., Johnson City
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Sunday, November 5, 3:00 p.m., Emory and Henry College Concert and
Chamber Choirs in Concert at State Street United Methodist Church
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Everyone is invited to participate
in the creation of your church’s newsletter.
For each publication, information
is needed by noon on Wednesday.
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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!
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October Calendar & Events Schedule
Week of October 26 – November 1
Thurs, Oct 26: 6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-The Upper Room
6:30pm-Girl Scouts-TH
6:30-Project for Mankind-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Fri, Oct 27: 5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Sat, Oct 28: 9:00am-Simmer Down Catering until 2 pm-TH 7:00pm-NA
Sun, Oct 29: 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)
2:00pm-6:00pm-Game Day-TH
8:00pm-AA
Mon, Oct 30: 6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-Hispanic Congregation PVUMC
7:00pm-NA
Tues, Oct 31: 8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wed, Nov 1: 6:30pm-Youth Event
7:00pm-Choir Rehearsal
To make changes or additions to the calendar
contact Alan Gorrell 423-652-7377
or Sandy Gorrell 423-652-1987.
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Our Vision-
Building A Community Where Anyone
Can Become
A Deeply Committed Christian
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First United Methodist Church
Rev. Brandon Berg, Pastor (276.237.6498)
322 Vance Dr., Bristol, TN 37620
www.fumcbristol.org
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First United Methodist Church of Bristol 