First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
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Peace Be Still by Yongsun Kim
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June 24, 2018
Mark 4:35-41
The Lord Is a Safe Place
Rev. Brandon Berg
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
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I need to take this moment and this space to address an immediate concern for communities who follow Jesus and for people who simply care about other people. The practices of our U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the policies developed recently in regard to undocumented persons in this country are deeply troubling. That they have culminated so far in a policy of separating parents from children attempting to cross onto U.S. soil is inhumane and cruel.
It is so unchristlike a practice that 640 United Methodists have signed a document formally charging Jeff Sessions, whose membership is located at Ashland Place United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama, with child abuse, immorality, racial discrimination, and “dissemination of doctrines contrary to the standards of doctrine of the United Methodist Church.”
Even more troubling is the fact that this policy is intended to act as a deterrent to frighten other persons from attempting to enter the United States without taking the decade or more and thousands of dollars’ investment to acquire appropriate documentation. The policy has no regard for the personhood of detainees, but objectifies them in a barbaric fashion akin to mounting enemy heads on stakes, or in the Roman fashion of lining public roadways with crucified insurgents.
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Our crucified, death-defying Messiah might have an opinion about that.
Certainly, the God who led the children of Israel into freedom from the oppression of Egypt has an opinion about that:
Don’t obstruct the legal rights of an immigrant or orphan.… Remember how you were a slave in Egypt but how the Lord your God saved you from that. That’s why I’m commanding you to do this thing (Deuteronomy 24:17-18 CEB).
There has been, for some years now, a widespread understanding that many persons fleeing Central and Southern American countries were seeking gainful employment and sending funds back to families at home. For them, often, the process of obtaining documentation is simply economically infeasible. Today, however, the situation on our southern border has become even more dire. Many families are fleeing unprecedented violence from gangs and cartels, and need to remove their children from the likelihood that they will be sucked into those gangs long before our torpid immigration system feigns interest in processing an unwieldy documentation request.
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God has an opinion about inhumane immigration policies and practices. You probably do, too.
640 United Methodists are doing something about it. It might even make a difference.
Prayer just might make a difference.
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Make sure, though, that your prayers have feet. Pray, and while you pray, listen. The Holy Spirit certainly has something for you to do.
It’s time to step up, friends. It’s time to be a prophetic witness. It’s time to bring peace to our land.
Peace,
Brandon
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We welcome back Brandon Berg and his family to Pastor
First UMC for the next church year.
He was officially appointed back to First at the
Holston Annual Conference held at Lake Junaluska.
Join with us as we begin another year of ministry and missions.
Together we can do much.
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Dr. Gorrell will have a fuller report later, but I’d simply like to offer us a word following this year’s Holston Annual Conference.
The skinny: Christ’s Church is still alive.
Less skinny: The United Methodist Church is still intact.
A bit more filled out: The Holston Annual Conference is still doing vibrant ministry at home and around the world.
The ConneXion will not be retained by the Annual Conference. Other resolutions were pretty much put off for another time. In training for a long race, the week before is often a taper week, a time for easing off of distance and speed and intensity. You might think of this year’s annual conference as a taper year before the called General Conference in February 2019.
By a number of measures, this was a good Annual Conference. We’ll tell you more about it later.
Peace,
Brandon
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This week’s Feed the Hungry offering is for
Camp Scholarships.
This fund helps children have life-changing experiences at camp.
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Congratulations to Erika Rake on her May 19 graduation from National Business College!
Erika received her diploma in phlebotomy and ECG.
Please join us during one of two receptions on Sunday, June 24 to honor Erika.
The first reception will immediately follow the River service for the River attendees, and
a second reception will immediately follow the 10:45 Traditional Service.
You may want to honor Erika with a card or a remembrance.
(Mike Teague/Rebecca McGrady/John Mack)
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It takes a lot of work to keep the church
and church grounds attractive.
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Work on the fence is nearly completed.
Thank you to all the special people who keep our building and grounds clean and in
good repair, and a special thanks to everyone who participated in
Church Work Day on June 9.
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Last Sunday was the Fourth Sunday After Pentecost.
We also celebrated Fathers Day.
Rev. Mike Teague brought the sermon,
The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Mustard Seed.
Donna Camper assisted Mike with the service.
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Sue Dietz welcomed our pastor
Brandon Berg and his family back for another year!
We are thankful for our pastor,
and we look forward to the coming
year as we worship and serve
our Lord together.
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Extol the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain.
Surely the Lord our God is Holy!
~Psalm 99:7
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Mr. Mike gave mustard seed to the children.
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Grace alone which God supplies, strength unknown he will provide.
Christ in us our Cornerstone; we will go forth in grace alone.
~Jerry Carraway
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
disregarding its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
~Hebrews 12:1-2
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The Church Gratefully Acknowledges
a Gift to the Choir Fund
in Memory of
Leona Wyatt
given by
The Shaw-Anchor Sunday
School Class
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Last Week in Children’s Sunday School
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Last week’s lesson came from Matthew 7:12.
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.
This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
This teaching is known as The Golden Rule.
We talked about being kind to others.
Ms. Penny showed us a Golden Rule.
We made cards for Father’s Day.
Ms. Penny brought in a stamp and ink pad so
we could put “Happy Father’s Day” anywhere on our card!
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Wednesday, June 27
Tankersley Hall
6:30 p.m.
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
For more information contact
John, Brandon, Andy, Rebekah, or Erica.
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Anyone up for an Overnight ??? Help us plan it.
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The June 13 hike was rained out to a games fun night.
We ate hot dogs and played “Wet Head”,
a game where a hat with a water reserve soaks you
if you pull the wrong pin.
Hide and seek followed, with Erica and Kaley really hiding well.
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Our Kids Need Your Support
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Help shape a child/teen by giving them a week to remember
at Camp Bay’s Mountain.
You can designate a donation to send an active church member’s child/teen
(grades 1-12) to one week at UMC Camp Bay’s Mountain this summer.
Your donation can help give a kid the experience of a lifetime!
Total cost per child/teen: $300-$500. Contributions of any size appreciated!
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Register Your Child/Teen for Summer Camp
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Send Your Pictures and Announcements
to Publish in the Newsletter
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Send your photos and announcements for the Newsletter
For each publication, information is needed by noon on Wednesday.
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Your Church Event and Planning Calendar
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Week of June 21 – June 27, 2018
Thursday, June 21
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-The Upper Room
6:30pm-Girl Scouts-TH
8:00pm-AA
Friday, June 22
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, June 23
Sunday, June 24
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
12:30pm-NA Area Meeting (until 5:30pm)-TH
2:00 pm-Game Day (until 6 pm)-Library
8:00pm-AA
Monday, June 25
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Tuesday, June 26
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00am-Meals on Wheels (until 11 am)-TH
7:00pm-Martha Circle
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, June 27
6:30pm-Youth Activity-Game Night
To make changes or additions to the calendar contact Alan Gorrell 423-652-7377
or Sandy Gorrell 423-652-1987.
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First United Methodist Church
Rev. Brandon Berg, Pastor (276.237.6498)
322 Vance Dr., Bristol, TN 37620
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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 of Bristol 