First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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August 12, 2018
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
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John 6:35, 41-51
Bread that We Know
Rev. Brandon Berg
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
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Last Saturday, Karoline and I took the kids to The Camp at Buffalo Mountain, which is transforming now from a Christian camp into an event venue. The Camp was hosting an open house, and we wanted to take the opportunity to see what the Cox family has been able to accomplish, as well as to say what may be one last goodbye to the place where so much of our relationship and our spirits were formed.
We wandered around for a while, had hot dogs and chips, talked with old friends, and finally landed at the Nancy Collins Pavilion, where a band was playing bluegrass to a small crowd. The kids ran off into the games field where there were balls and badminton gear and some other toys.
It had been raining off and on all day, but while we talked with our friends and watched the kids running around like crazy people, suddenly the sky opened up.
It was near the time of day, in that steep valley, when the sun is an hour away from hiding behind the eastern bend of the mountain, and is casting long shadows up the road toward Allison Lodge. Fifty feet above us, the sunlight was plentiful and bright, but far above those rays were brewing storm clouds that had finally gotten too heavy to hold together any more.
The kids, naturally, stayed out in the deluge. We watched them play and soak themselves.
Then we looked up.
The sun that shone above us was reflecting off every heavy raindrop that fell. A rain that heavy typically turns the sky gray like a thick fog. The bright sunshine ensured that didn’t happen, though.
The sky was raining diamonds.
There was nothing particularly unusual about any single thing happening that evening. Kids were playing. Rain was falling. Sun was shining. The day was growing late. But together, those single events created a joyous, dazzling sight none of us will soon forget.
Then, just to drive the point home, to our left, less than a hundred feet away, a tiny rainbow alighted upon a sapling tree.
We heard that promise that day. In the midst of chaos, God’s promise is present. In the midst of the mundane, God’s presence is immanent. Out of the ordinary, God creates the extraordinary.
I’m glad for that reminder.
Peace,
Brandon
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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.
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Several FUMC members met for the First Pray of School at
Anderson Elementary School on Sunday evening, August 5.
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While we were praying at Anderson, United Methodist church members were gathered
at every school throughout Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee to pray for
our students, teachers and everyone involved in the care of our children as the
school year begins.
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Healing Hands Health Center was founded in 1997. Now, over 20 years and
10,000 patients later it has grown into a full-service clinic providing
services to our uninsured neighbors.
Medical care, dental care, eye exams, chiropractic care, and counseling are
among the offerings of this vital hometown clinic.
Next week see how you as an individual and we as a congregation can help
Healing Hands to continue to provide health care to our local community.
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You Can Receive e-Publications
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on Your Computer
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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN PREPARE
FOR NEW DISTRICTS IN 2019
ALCOA, Tenn. (April 7, 2018) — The 872 congregations of Holston Conference have been living into a new organization of nine districts with new names since January 2018. However, the United Methodist Women (UMW) of Holston Conference decided to hold off on reorganizing from 12 districts to nine until January 2019 . . .
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The Call‘s online newsletter is emailed each week to readers who sign up for free subscriptions. Each edition includes Holston Conference news as well as information
from the denomination.
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Unaccompanied minor migrants enjoy four days at a United Methodist summer camp. They point out their home towns and trace the journey they took to arrive at U.S. border on a large wall map. Photo courtesy of California-Pacific Conference.
For four days in June, United Methodist Camp Colby is a respite for children and teens who traveled a long, dark and dangerous journey.
These children, some as young as 8, are known as unaccompanied migrants and they arrive on the border of California alone and afraid . . .
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United Methodist Now is a biweekly e-newsletter for church members to highlight examples of Christian living, share inspirational messages, and focus on what it
means to be part of our connection.
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Request for Donations from
Bristol Faith in Action
BFIA’s food pantry stock is
very low at this time.
While they have had plenty of donations of cleaning supplies and personal care items, they are in need of non-perishable food items.
There will be a bin in the narthex for food donations through the month of September if you wish to contribute.
Thank you!
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Last Sunday
John 6:24-35
Bread that Gives Life
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The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation by water and the Word.
from heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation, yet one e’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.
~Samuel J. Stone, 1866
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Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you,
Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
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Jesus to Calv’ry did go,
His love for mankind to show.
What He did there, brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you,
Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
~Kurt Kaiser
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Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.
~Johann J. Schutz, 1675
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Youth Event
Wednesday, August 15
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tankersley Hall
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Youth Conference
REZ 2019 Coming to
Pigeon Forge TN
January 25-26-27
Registrations paid by
August 30 are $50.00.
Our cabin sleeps twelve.
See John Mack to sign up.
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Worship in Children’s Church Last Week
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We signed cards to mail to friends.
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Ms. Kathy taught us about the man in the Bible who had a withered hand.
After she tied a bandage on our ‘writing’ hand, Ms. Kathy gave us a task to do with our remaining hand – like putting on a sock, zipping a jacket, or folding paper and putting it into an envelope. Jobs that are easy to do with two hands were hard or impossible
to do with one hand.
Jesus healed the man who had a withered hand on the Sabbath Day. The Pharisees
said it was wrong to heal someone on the Sabbath Day, but Jesus knew it was
a good thing to help someone who needs help on any day. Mark 3:1-6
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Ms. Kathy taught us a new game.
The person in the center of the circle is the Pharisee.
The Pharisee closes his or her eyes while the people in the circle pass around a toy. When the Pharisee says, “Stop!,” he or she looks around the circle
and guesses which person is holding the toy.
If the Pharisee guesses correctly, the person holding the toy
becomes the next Pharisee in the center of the circle.
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Ms. Kathy let us make our own snack!
We spread peanut butter on a tortilla, added chocolate or cinnamon chips
(or both), topped it with honey, and rolled it up!
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Good News about Matching Funds
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!
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Coming Soon!
Calling All 5th and 6th Graders in
the Church and Neighborhood
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A Bible Study on Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
Watch the Newsletter and Bulletin for Further Details . . .
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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 August 9 – August 15, 2018
Thursday, August 9
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-The Upper Room
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, August 10
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, August 11
Sunday, August 12
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
5:00pm-Finance Committee Meeting-Library
6:00pm-Administrative Council-TH
8:00pm-AA
Monday, August 13
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Tuesday, August 14
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, August 15
6:30pm-Youth Event-TH
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 