First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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July 29, 2018
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
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John 6:1-21
Bread that Persists
Rev. Brandon Berg
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
We didn’t make a point of recognizing it in our services on Sunday, but July 22 was Parent’s Day. I hadn’t heard of it before, but it came up in my UMC calendar.
It’s also Pi approximation day (22/7, as it’s written in Britain), but that’s probably just silly.
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A day for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children” is probably a bigger deal. It’s particularly funny to me because it’s awfully close to the day that Karoline and I became parents twelve years ago.
I suppose it’s cliché to say that was a day that changed our lives, but there it is. Our priorities have shifted. Our schedules have constantly rearranged. Our sense of awe has deepened. Our hearts have grown.
All because on July 28, 2006, we welcomed the first of three growing miracles into our home.
There are a lot of moments I’ve missed since then, and moments that I’ve forgotten or that I misremember now. There are some things I’ve done right and a bunch I’ve messed up. I hope I’m getting better at treasuring each moment and grabbing each opportunity before it slips away.
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This week, Noah is at Camp Bays Mountain for their final week of Summer programming. He is with some of my very favorite people learning one of my very favorite things, whitewater kayaking. I am intentionally giving him space (at least for the first half of the week) even though I’d love to be helping with kayak camp myself, because he is in his tween years and needs that space.
I guess that from the moment kids start crawling, a big part of parenting is learning to let go.
I’m beginning to run out of time to treasure, aren’t I?
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Life is busy, I suppose. There are a lot of demands on time and attention. I assume you’ve run into that problem, too. I hope you’ve handled it better than I have.
These moments and miracles are gifts from God. Enjoy them; play with them; treasure them. They are fleeting and perishable like everything else in creation, constantly transforming into something altogether new and amazing.
Find joy in them, because that is why God gives them to us, and that is one of the best things we can teach our children, too: how to find joy.
Peace,
Brandon
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Ballad Hospice House Bristol
September Hospice Lunches
So far we have:
September 3rd: pasta salad
September 4th: chicken salad
September 6th: barbeque by Common Ground
September 5th and 7th still need food volunteers
You don’t have to cook, store-bought or restaurant foods are fine!
contact Julie Blanton
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Give to Sunday’s Offering for the
Holston Home for Children
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This week’s Feed the Hungry offering will go to Holston United Methodist Home
for Children in Greeneville, TN. For the children and staff of Holston Home,
Fifth Sunday offerings throughout our Annual Conference give children a chance
to encounter acceptance and love and hope for their future.
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Saturday, July 28
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Your Church needs YOU!
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Martha’ Circle Potluck Dinner
Tuesday, July 31
6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Home of Peggy Wilson
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Last Sunday
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Rest from Your Labor
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Phil and the choir met to prepare for worship.
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Joe welcomed the church
and made announcements.
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A missions offering was received for
Local School Missions which provides assistance to families of children
within the Bristol school system
when there are needs.
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Blessings abound where’er he reigns; all prisoners leap and loose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
~ Isaac Watts
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People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.
~ Isaac Watts
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We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
~Peter Scholtes
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Sometimes, Lord, you’re just calling us to rest in you;
Remind us, Lord, to sabbath.
And sometimes, Lord, you’re surrounding us
with those who need rest;
Lord, make us sabbath-bringers.
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FUMC Youth Summer Fun Planned
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Tubing and a Picnic
Wednesday, August 1
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
(meet at the church)
Tankersley Hall
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The Youth Rocked
Tankersley Hall on July 18th’s
Rock Band Night
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REZ 2019 Coming to Pigeon Forge TN
January 25-26-27
It is time to start gearing up! Last year was phenomenal.
This year will be, also!
Registrations paid by August 30 are $50.00.
Thereafter, the price increases as the date of the event draws closer.
Our cabin sleeps only twelve, so don’t delay! See John Mack for more
information and/or to sign up.
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Worship in Children’s Church Last Week
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We made cards for Ms. Madeline Helton for her 90th birthday.
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Ms. Kathy taught us today about the parable of the mustard seed from Matt. 7:20-21.
We learned that small things matter. We made a bookmark and taped a mustard seed
in the middle to remind us.
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Ms. Kathy also taught us the parable about yeast from Matt 13:33. She put some
yeast and sugar into a little warm water. The yeast started growing. It grew bigger
and bigger while we completed our lesson.
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Ms. Kathy brought bread made without yeast for us to taste. She also brought bread
made with yeast. We ate it with butter for our snack. It was so good!
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We practiced the song, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock”
with the handbells.
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Good News from Camp Bays Mountain!
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GOOD NEWS! We have exceeded the $25,000 matching funds for the Pool Bath-House match challenge. Thank you to everyone who has given toward this match!
BETTER NEWS!! The matching grant has been increased to $40,000 and the deadline extended to Labor Day!
Please continue to make and/or seek donations to the pool bath-house – they will be matched up to $40,000.
The estimated total cost to complete the bath-house is $150,000–$175,000. The $40,000 matching funds being raised plus the funds already in the bath-house project account get us within $60,000-$80,000 of the total estimated cost.
The pool bath-house is a naming opportunity. If you or someone you know may have interest in sponsoring a camp facility and having your family name or the name of a loved one on a building at camp, contact Pastor Brandon. He will connect you with the individuals who direct that process.The pool bath-house will be located in a prominent position at camp and will be used by nearly everyone who comes to camp during the summer or for a retreat.
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What a Fun Time Was Had By All at the
July 8 Church Cook Out
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Calling All 5th and 6th Graders in
the Church and Neighborhood
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Coming Soon!
A Bible Study on Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
Watch the Newsletter and Bulletin for Further Details . . .
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N.O.W. (Night of Worship) Bristol
August 5, 2017 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
N.O.W. (Night of Worship) is an annual event started to share our Christian faith
with the public with live music and testimonies from the stage.
There will be food, games, giveaways, fun and fellowship.
The event has always been directed towards offering an evening’s relief to the
local homeless population, but open to the public as well.
There is no charge.
The event will be held at the Farmers Market on State Street in Bristol, TN,
from 3-9pm, Saturday, August 5th.
Come out, enjoy the evening with us and let those that are suffering know
that God loves us, ALL.
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Are you Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?
Have ye had yer Lucky Charms?
Would you save your large empty cereal boxes (of any variety)
and bring them to Karoline?
She needs them for her school classroom.
Thank you!
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Dinner for 8 Group Enjoys Lovely Evening
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Here is our “dinner for eight” group at GastHaus Edelweiss in Weber City last Saturday. We had a fantastic time and ate a wonderful German meal. Ingrid hosted us with her grand-daughter Miriam. We listened to stories of how she met her husband Eddie in Berlin and how they came to Southwestern Virginia. (Kathy Wagner also worked with Eddie at Eastman). Next we will be feasting on seafood at the “Captain’s Table “ in Hampton. John
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Annual Conference Gave $110,191 to Assist
Our Sudanese Brothers and Sisters in Exile
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During the 2018 session in June, the Annual Conference gave a missions offering of $110,191 to continue providing shelter and education for “Our South Sudanese Brothers and Sisters in Exile.” An additional offering of $61,335 was received for the Change for Children, a fund distributed annually to aid children’s ministries in Africa and Holston communities.
The annual Hands-on Mission Project concluded as Bishop Taylor blessed four trucks packed with 8,586 health kits collected by local churches, valued at $215,681, and bound for Africa. The food, health, home and school supplies will support children at the Ishe Anesu Project in Zimbabwe and United Methodist schools in Liberia.
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The First Ever Clinch Mountain District Conference
Sunday, September 23, 2018
3:00 p.m.
More information tba.
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HOLSTON CONFERENCE HANDBOOK/DIRECTORY
AND CALENDAR AVAILABLE
2018-2019 Holston Conference Handbook/Directories are now available.
Cost is $!5.00 each.
2019 Holston Conference Program Calendars are available.
Cost is $9.00 each.
Please contact Carol in the church office if you are interested
in obtaining one of these publications.
Order Deadline: Monday, September 10.
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How Can I Help Immigrant and
Refugee Families?
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For some of us, the events may be far removed, but there are ways for all of us to help bring families back together–or to at least share some compassion with those who are suffering from separation and despair.
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What is the UMC’s Official Position
on Immigrant and Refugee Policies?
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“We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all. We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children, and we call on local churches to be in ministry with immigrant families.” [2016 United Methodist Book of Discipline, Social Principles ¶162.H]
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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 July 26 – August 1, 2018
Thursday, July 26
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-The Upper Room
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, July 27
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, July 28
9:00am-Church Work Day (until noon)
Sunday, July 29
9:30am-The River Worship-TH
9:30am-Sunday School Hour
10:00am-Common Ground Service-Chapel
11:00am-Worship-Sanctuary
(Childcare is provided from 9:30am to 12:00pm.
Children may be picked up at any time.)
12:10pm-Choir Rehearsal
8:00pm-AA (Open Meeting with Special Guest Speaker)
Monday, July 30
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Tuesday, July 31
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
6:00pm-Martha Circle Potluck Dinner-Home of Peggy Wilson
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, August 1
4:00pm-Youth Event-Tubing, Picnic (until 8 pm) Meet at the church.
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 