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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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Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him, For God is our refuge.
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January 28, 2018
Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
Mark 1: 21-28
A New Teaching with Authority!
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This week’s Feed the Hungry offering is for Local School Missions.
This fund helps families in need within the Bristol school system.
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist seventy years ago. Maybe you’re more familiar with simply his last name, or the title people often employed for him, Mahatma, Sanskrit for “high-souled” or “venerable.”
Gandhi embodied a deep concern for the injustices done to the poorest people in India by British rule. He was faced with a military and political machine that was unmatched in its day, and that was marked by a disdain for cultures and ethnic groups that were anything other than British. He fashioned himself into a community organizer and used the tools he had at his disposal to confront the colonial establishment.
It would be irresponsible of me to claim to understand the bigotry and elitism that Gandhi experienced. I’m white, middle-class, middle-aged, straight, male, and a natural child of the American empire. Oppression is not part of my experience. But rather than reveling in my power, I want to choose to set it aside to hear the voice of those without power.
After all, Jesus set aside glory to hear and see and touch and smell and taste the experience of a people who were also powerless.
If I’m going to claim to follow Jesus, I’d better start there.
Jesus was born into a culture that had centuries of experience with oppression. The people who followed him hoped he would bring about the overthrow of Rome, or at least the independence of Judea. Instead, he gave them tools to introduce a new kind of rule, a relational ethic more concerned with caring for each other than with establishing secular power; and more to the point as we consider Mahatma Gandhi, he gave them hints at undermining imperial power by nonviolent means.
If a soldier strikes you, turn your face so the next blow will be with the part of his hand that’s reserved for intimacy.
If he forces you to march, remember he can only legally do that for a mile. Volunteer to do another, and you’ll take his power away completely.
If he takes your coat, give him the rest of your clothes, too. That’ll shame him into never making the demand again.
Responses like those have a shelf life, of course. Successful powers adjust to changing situations in their populace in the same way that they adjust to changing situations on the battlefield. Nonviolent resistance of any type can only be repeated so many times.
What Jesus teaches us today, as we hear those proverbs in the Sermon on the Mount, is to employ creative resistance. That was a skill Gandhi employed to great effect, and that King and Mandela took on in their own struggles against deeply embedded racist regimes.
And what I personally hear today, as that aging, straight, white man, is that I really need to pay more attention to the voices of people like Gandhi and King and Mandela; to the voices the #metoo and #blacklivesmatter movements, and to all the voices that are, in so many ways, different from mine.
Then, one day, nonviolence will no longer be necessary, because violence will be no more. Protest will no longer be necessary, because we will listen to each other. Nation will no longer lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more.
In the meantime, I’m going to listen, to magnify the voices that are unheard, and to make space for relationship, to love my neighbor.
That seems like a pretty good way to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi. I hope you’ll join me.
Peace,
Brandon
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Harold Jenkins
April 3, 1935 – January 20, 2018
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The Church extends our deepest love and condolences to Brenda Hobbs, Vangeline Chafin and their extended families in the loss of their beloved brother, Harold Jenkins.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Groff Funeral Home in Sandusky, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to contribute to Harold’s memory may do so to Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870.
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Jean Porter, former member of First United Methodist Church, Bristol who recently resided in Maryland, went to be with our Lord on
Sunday, January 21, 2018.
Linda Moore, Jean’s daughter, is planning a Celebration of Life service in her remembrance, to be held at FUMC Bristol on
Sunday, February 18, at 3:00 p.m.
with Rev. Bill Fowler and Rev. Brandon Berg presiding.
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We gratefully acknowledge a gift in remembrance of
Harold Jenkins,
Brother of Brenda Hobbs and Vangeline Chafin,
by Larry and Kathy Wagner
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Nehemiah, the Renewal Expert
He built walls! He gave the exiles homes! He brought the law back!
We are offering two sessions of this four-week study so that you may join the study at the time most convenient for you:
Sunday evenings at 7:00
Wednesday mornings at 11:00
I’m looking forward to exploring the world and experience of Nehemiah with you! Come ready to dig in!
Sunday, January 28, Session 3
Wednesday, January 31, Session 2
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YOUTH SCHEDULE
Biblical Exploration Every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 31
6:30 p.m.
Awareness of others, disabilities, and of our blessings
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Last Sunday . . .
Mark 1: 14-20; Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; 1 Samuel 3: 1-10
What Opened Your Ears?
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Karoline Berg teaches the children’s sermon . . .
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. . . and in the absence of our beloved Pastor Berg, who was with our teens at Resurrection,
and of our esteemed Dr. Gorrell, who was prepared to fill the pulpit but became ill,
Karoline Berg, who joined the church last Sunday, stepped up to deliver a heart-stirring sermon during our morning worship.
Ah, the beauty of a Proverbs 31 woman!
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When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
~John H. Sammis, 1887
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In Children’s Church Last Week . . .
We studied Jesus and the children. Jsus welcomed the children because they had pure hearts.
He always had time for them!
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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Jesus then blessed the children ( Matthew 19:14-15).
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A new baby doll was introduced.
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A demonstration of the proper way to hold a baby.
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A Thank You Letter from Beth Rhinehardt, Librarian, Anderson Elementary School
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Dear Friends at First United Methodist Church,
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 “Wild West: Saddle Up And Read” book coupon and the sparkle in their eyes when they selected their book.
We are truly thankful and blessed to have your organization as part of our community. We appreciate your generosity, support, and desire to assist us as we motivate students to discover the joy of reading.
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Coming April 30 – May 2, 2018
MainStay Suites, Pigeon Forge, TN
A retreat for adults (50+) who desire to explore and enhance their
relationship with Christ.
We have this hope as an anchor for the Soul, firm and secure. It enters the inter sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19 NIV
Sponsored by Holston Conference United Methodist Church Foundation.
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Wait! Wait! Don’t tell me!
YOU’VE GOT JUNQUE !!
HEY, GUESS WHAT ?? WE DO TOO !!
GIVE IT TO US !! WE KNOW WHAT TO DO !!
DOING SPRING CLEANING ? WHO COULD GUESS ?
WE’LL HELP YOU CLEAR OUT ALL THE MESS !!
BIG CHURCH YARD SALE
MAY 18-19. BRING US YOUR STUFF. (PLEASE)
(contact Suzanne Rollins, Women’s Ministries, for more information)
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FLOWER CALENDAR
Do you enjoy the fresh floral arrangements
that grace our altar each Lord’s Day?
The church maintains a weekly flower calendar where you may select a Sunday to provide beautiful flowers in honor of or in remembrance of someone special in your life.
Arrangements are $50.00 each.
If you are interested in providing flowers at any time during the 2018 calendar year, please contact Kathy Wagner soon to reserve your special date.
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Branch House Family Center
The Family Justice Center of Sullivan County
What Will They Do?
Branch House Family Center’s mission is to advocate for and empower survivors of abuse and exploitation through unified community engagement, education, and collaboration.
Who Will They Help?
The victims and survivors of intimate partner violence, child abuse sexual assault and exploitation, elder abuse, and human trafficking.
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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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Week of January 25-31, 2018
Thurs, Jan 25: 6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-The Upper Room
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
6:30pm-Girl Scouts
8:00pm-AA
Fri, Jan 26: 5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Sat, Jan 27: 9:00am-Simmer Down Catering (until 2 pm)-Kitchen/TH
Sun, Jan 28: 9:30am-Sunday School Hour
9:30am-The River Worship 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)
12:15pm-Choir Rehearsal
7:00pm-Nehemiah Study-Library
8:00pm-AA
Mon, Jan 29: 6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-Hispanic Congregation PVUMC
7:00pm-NA
Tues, Jan 30: 8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wed, Jan 31: 11:00am-Nehemiah Study-Library
6:30pm-Youth Activity-Youth Room
To make changes or additions to the calendar
contact Alan Gorrell 423-652-7377
orSandy 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 