First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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August 19, 2018
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
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John 6:51-58
Bread that Lives
Rev. Brandon Berg
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From the Pastor’s Pen . . .
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About ten years ago, I attended a race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. On recommendation from someone far more experienced than I, I invested in a good pair of earplugs. Early in the morning, I traveled with a group from Limestone UMC and helped them, from dawn to dusk, run a concession booth in the pit at BMS.
What I saw was the more professional side of Nascar. I got a glimpse of what it took to keep those overpowered, underweight cars rolling around the track. I saw just how beat up they got over the course of the race. I helped sell a lot of ice to those crews to keep the engines cool.
What I have now that I didn’t before that day is an appreciation for the effort invested in running race cars.
It’s still not my cup of tea.
I suppose that, for me, what’s disinteresting is that the cars are just going in circles. There’s no change of environment except for the constant shift as cars move up and down the line. It all looks and sounds the same for the duration of the race.
That’s also why I find running on tracks tedious.
It’s also why I find Paul’s circuitous language tedious.
I appreciate Paul’s gift of working around a subject, defining it by its outline without actually naming or exploring it directly; but I sure wish he would just dive in and get it over with.
I appreciate what can be accomplished on a track, and I’ll run to Tennessee High School and back to do specific speed work once a week or so; but it sure isn’t my favorite thing.
I appreciate the complexity of maintaining a precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics, and I appreciate the talents of drivers and crews; but I’d personally rather see electric cars race cross country.
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There are a lot of things I don’t understand or that aren’t really in my wheelhouse, but I’m trying to have an appreciation. Maybe that’s a place different people can meet, a way to initiate relationships. Maybe a good first step is just to appreciate where someone is and what it took to get them there.
I know it means a lot to me when someone makes that kind of effort on my behalf.
So I just offer that as food for thought on this Bristol Race weekend. Try starting with appreciation. See where that takes you, because it probably won’t just take you around in circles.
Peace,
Brandon
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Our “Feed the Hungry” offering this week is for Local Missions.
This mission helps members of our church family and other immediate local missions needs.
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FIRST PRAY
Several FUMC members met
for the First Pray of School
at Anderson
Elementary School on
Sunday evening, August 5.
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.
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How can you as an individual and we as a congregation help
Healing Hands Health Center
to thrive and continue to grow?
- Refer Patients: spread the word to your uninsured neighbors who need medical or dental care.
- Volunteer: Office workers, landscapers, physicians, dentists, nurses, prayer warriors, and more are always needed.
- Donations: As a non-profit Christian ministry financial support is a necessity to keep the doors open.
The work that Healing Hands does would not be possible without faith, prayers,
and advocacy from those who believe in its mission.
Want to take a tour of the clinic or discuss volunteering?
Contact Helen Scott, Executive Director
423-652-0260
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Request for Donations from
Bristol Faith in Action
BFIA’s food pantry is in need of
non-perishable food items.
There will be a bin in the narthex for food donations through the end of September
if you wish to contribute.
Thank you!
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Last Sunday
John 6:35, 41-51
Bread that We Know
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Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.
Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
~Charles Wesley, 1747
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If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be worshiped.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, in the Lord’s word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
~Psalm 130: 3-6
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Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his glory and grace.
~Helen Lemmel, 1922
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I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode,
the church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious blood.
For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend,
to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.
~Timothy Dwight, 1801
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Today, Lord, we see you in each others’ face
and hear your voice in our neighbor’s voice:
We know you, Bread of Life;
Increase our awareness of your immanence.
Go, friends, and help the world know
the Bread that we know
that transforms lives still today.
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The Church Gratefully Acknowledges
These Gifts in Honor of
Loetta Cornett
To the Choir Fund by Roy and Martha Ann Watson
To the Memorial Fund by Ernestine Blanton
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Wednesday, August 22 is Game Night
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tankersley Hall
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Pictures from August 8
Youth Labyrinth Prayer Walk
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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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Before class, Mr. Mike took us to the door, where we could see the
deer across the street.
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Ms. Suzanne taught us about Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42.
We talked about how important it is for us to listen and learn
when we are in big church.
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We made finger puppets and acted out the lesson of Mary and Martha.
We made bees.
Mr. Mike took attendance.
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Ms. Suzanne brought us a snack that was new to us. It is a cross between a plum and
an apricot, called a pluot. It was sweet and good.
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Five Week Book Study
Begins Wednesday, September 12
and Sunday, September 16
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Alzheimer’s/Dementia: Ministry with the Forgotten by Bishop Kenneth Carder
will be offered in two sessions:
one on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and
the other on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.
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Great News about Matching Funds
from Camp Bays Mountain!
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The matching grant has been increased to $40,000
and the deadline extended to Labor Day!
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Coming Soon
A Bible Study for 5th and 6th Graders
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Start Date tba
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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 16 – August 22, 2018
Thursday, August 16
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Girl Scouts-TH
8:00pm-AA
Friday, August 17
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, August 18
9:00am-Holston Quilters Guild
Sunday, August 19
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
3:00pm-Committee on Lay Leadership-Library
8:00pm-AA
Monday, August 20
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Tuesday, August 21
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, August 22
6:00pm- Worship Committee-Library
6:30pm-Youth Game Night-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 