First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany
February 17, 2019
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Luke 6:17-26
A Matter of Perspective
Rev. Brandon Berg
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I take myself too seriously sometimes.
Very little good tends to come out of the times I take myself too seriously, the times I stress about so many things I can’t change, the times I try so hard to keep things in order.
If you peek in at my desk, you’ll find just how successful I am at keeping things in order.
Sometimes I just need to let go. Sometimes I need to be reminded how important it is to just enjoy things.
Some of you have phones that have app(lication)s on them, and some of those apps are games. Maybe you play them to unwind. Maybe you play them to pass time. Maybe you play them because you have a friend who has encouraged you to play with them.
I have two games on my phone. I recently installed Words with Friends because Karoline encouraged me to. I don’t particularly enjoy it. I also have Sudoku, which I play to calm my mind. Some of you will understand how that works, and some of you find games like Sudoku, which is a number puzzle, endlessly frustrating.
Those are the only games on my phone.
But there are other apps on my phone that have features that are gamified. Waze, my navigation app, tracks my mileage and allows me to mark things like road hazards and traffic stops, and awards me with points that put me in a ranking with other users of the app. Swarm awards me points for checking in to places I visit, and occasionally points to discounts at those places for app users. Merriam-Webster feeds me a Word of the Day to try to use in conversation.
App developers are smart. They know an app is more likely to be used if it feels more like play and less like work. They know that people seek out play.
Play is important. Play is fundamental to enjoying the beautiful gift of life that God has given to us.
And I forget that sometimes. I get carried away with getting things done and pushing to goals and I neglect the beauty and wonder that surrounds me and begs for me to play with it.
And I’m afraid that what I’m teaching my children is the importance of stress and rush and goal-focused activity, and I’m neglecting teaching them how wonderful and joyful life is.
We are surrounded by a cacophony of busyness and worry and stress, and those are not gifts from God. What God gives us is beauty and joy and play.
And I, for one, need to take myself far less seriously and invest more time in play.
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 mission needs.
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Operation Envelope Final Report
Thank you to all who participated in this fund raiser for the
General Budget. You helped raise a total of
$4,581
We are still experiencing a shortfall and will keep you
apprised of the church’s needs.
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In Worship Last Sunday
Here Am I: Send Me!
Luke 5:1-11
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Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
~Reginald Heber, 1826
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Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying “Christian, follow me!”
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Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and love thee best of all.
~Cecil Alexander, 1852
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In dreams and prayer,
in song and silence,
Jesus’ voice reaches us everywhere;
Here am I; send me!
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In Children’s Worship Last Week . . .
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Ms. Suzanne taught our lesson from Luke.
Some of Jesus’ disciples had been fishermen.
Jesus told them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people!”
How do you catch people? You invite them.
Once you catch them, what do you do then?
You invite them to come to church. You invite them to learn about Jesus.
You invite them to be His disciples. You invite them to learn more.
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Youth Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Blackbird
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Wednesday, February 20, 6:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, February 20
5:30 p.m., Library
We are reading A Crazy, Holy Grace:
The Healing Power of Pain and Memory by Frederick Buechner
Please Join Us!
Bring a snack to share.
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These Are Our Delegates to
UMC General Conference
They Need Our Prayers
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On February 23-26, 864 delegates from around the world will gather to discuss our denomination’s stance on homosexuality.
Twelve delegates, plus four alternates, from the Holston Conference will be sent to represent our 872 churches and over 160,000 members. This is a heavy task, burden and honor, but we want our delegates to know they are not facing this alone. We invite you to help lighten this load by praying for each of them by name.
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Top Row: Emily Ballard, Wil Cantrell, Mark Flynn, Randy Frye
Middle Row: Kim Goddard, Becky Hall, Del Holley, Sandra Johnson
Bottom Row: Bob Lockaby, John Tate, Carol Wilson, Karen Wright
Alternates
Not Pictured: John Eldrige, Dennie Humphreys, Joyce Moore, Paul Seay
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Clinch Mountain District News
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Clinch Mountain District Special General Conference Debriefing
Sunday, March 3 at 3:00 p.m. (3/3@3)
at Memorial UMC
24 Tate Avenue
Lebanon, VA
Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Training and
Safe Sanctuary Training
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Location TBD
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Timeline: Methodism in Black and White
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Missionary Vivienne Gray served with her husband, Ulysses, in Liberia, 1948 to 1988.
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John Wesley UMC Hosting 30th Annual
Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast
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Saturday, February 16
10:00 a.m.
Holiday Inn Convention Center
Exit 7, Bristol, VA
Guest Speaker: Rev. Adolphus Young,
Pastor of Harris Anderson A.M.E. Zion Church, Bristol, VA
Tickets may be purchased from Alice Pace, Dr. Rev. Kariuki or at the door the morning of the event. Prices are as follows: Adults $17.00, children under 12 years $5.00. For more information, call Alice Pace 423.968.4729.
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THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY
IS REQUESTED AT THE MARRIAGE OF
Nathalie
PREPTIT
and
Adam
KENDALL SCHORSTEN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY TWENTY-THIRD
TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN
RUBY NASHVILLE
NASHVILLE, TN
AT FOUR-THIRTY IN THE EVENING
reception to follow
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Rev. Dr. Justo L. Gonzalez
Association for Hispanic Theological Education
Monday, March 11, 2019
9:15 a.m. “Back to the Future”
Memorial Chapel, King University
7:00 p.m. “Remembering the Future, Hoping for a Past”
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Bristol, VA
Dr. Gonzalez will be speaking as part of King College’s 2018-2019
Remembrance and Hope Lecture Series.
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March 6 Ash Wednesday
South Bristol UMC
March 13
First UMC
March 20
Weaver UMC
March 27
St. Luke UMC
April 3
Trinity UMC
April 10
John Wesley UMC
April 17
Addilynn UMC
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Dates of Spring Yard Sale Set:
May 31 and June 1
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Items may be stored at the church until time for the sale.
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SHEPHERDS NEEDED
contact Alan Gorrell
A Sample Binder on the table in the
foyer contains information
about this ministry.
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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
call Carol at 423.652.2811 M-Th, 9-2.
For each publication, information is
needed by noon on Wednesday.
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Your Church Event and Planning Calendar
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February 14-20, 2019
Thursday, February 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day!
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, February 15
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, February 16
9:00am-Holston Quilters Guild-TH
Sunday, February 17
9:30am-The River Contemporary Worship Service-TH
9:30am-Sunday School Hour
10:00am-Common Ground Service-Chapel
11:00am-Traditional Worship Service-Sanctuary
12:15pm-Choir Rehearsal
8:00pm-AA
Monday, February 18
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
Tuesday, February 19
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, February 20
5:30pm-Fellowship Group-Library
6:30pm-BeTween 5th and 6th Grade-Upper Room
6:30pm-M.A.F.I.A.Youth-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 