First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Transfiguration Sunday
March 3, 2019
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Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)
I Can See Clearly Now
Rev. Brandon Berg
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This coming week will bring us once again to the fasting season of Lent. It can be a season we write off as insignificant or allow other, more immediate priorities to overshadow it, but we do so to our own detriment. Journeying with Jesus to Jerusalem and the cross shapes our understanding of Jesus’s sacrifice and molds our faith in ways that transform us long after the season itself has passed.
So I urge you to let Lent transform you this year. Journey through the story again. Take the time to fast in a way that is meaningful to you. Take the time to deepen your faith in a way that knocks you off balance a little, because off-balance is a state in which we can be most effectively inspired.
Personally, I find myself considerably off-balanced after the tumult of General Conference. I think I may deeply need the Lenten season to quiet the anger and frustration I’m feeling and turn lament into something catalytic, something that moves like the seasons of Lent and Easter and Pentecost: from ashes to flame.
Perhaps that is exactly the image we need following General Conference. Perhaps the Spirit of God, that bright flame, will rebirth us on the wings of a new bird, not only alighting like flame upon us but taking us with her to light the world and finally consume the ashen, shed-skin waste that our world seems so bent upon worshiping.
Perhaps the new creature emerging from General Conference is a dove of Spirit flame.
I need your help dreaming, friends. I need your help focusing on God’s future, not on my frustration and anger. I need the transformation of Lent this year, more than ever before, and I need you to journey with me. Only as we come together will we live into the promise of God’s Church, the joy of the reconciling Family of God that brings all God’s children together through all history and all creation.
I need you. The Church of Jesus Christ needs you.
Let the Kin-dom of God begin.
Peace,
Brandon
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This video is about Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church (from The Call).
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Help for Haiti Special Offering March 3
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What a Privilege to Be Invested in the Lives of these Children!
The March 3 Feed the Hungry Offering will be used to buy clothing and shoes for our
nine Haitian children.
This year, instead of buying clothing and shoes for individual children, we have
elected to collect and provide funds to Melila and Leferne, who are familiar
with the children’s sizes and preferences.
Our goal is to raise $900.00 prior to Leferne Preptit’s travel to Haiti this week.
In the memo line of your check write, “Help for Haiti Special Offering.”
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In Worship Last Sunday
Luke 6:27-38
Loving People Who Are Hard to Love
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crocuses blooming on the church berm
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In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
~Natalie Sleeth, 1986
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Love your enemies! Do good to them.
Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.
Then your reward in heaven will be great, and you will
truly be acting as children as the Most High,
for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
You must be compassionate, just as your father is compassionate.
~Luke 6:35-36
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For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
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For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above,
offering upon every shore her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
~Folliot Pierpoint, 1864
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Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken;
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord, bind us together with love.
~Bob Gillman
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In Children’s Worship Last Week . . .
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The story of Joseph reminds us that loving someone means forgiving them.
We are asked to practice reconciliation, which means getting back together with those who have hurt us and working things out.
We played hot potato to help us remember that we should
quickly let go of the things that hurt us.
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The children gave Ms. Misty flowers and a framed picture of the group.
We love you, Ms. Misty!
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Clinch Mountain Mission Project
School Kits for Liberia
District Goal – 400 Kits
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Pick up a Ziplock bag with instructions in the narthex or Tankersley Hall.
Fill the bag and return to the collection bin in the narthex.
Turn-in date to be announced.
Thank you for supporting the Hands-on mission projects!
Thanks to Jennifer Daniel and the John S. Battle English Department for donating 20 dictionaries!
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- 1 – Twelve-inch ruler
- 1 – Coloring book
- 1 – Small solar-powered calculator
- 1 – Small dictionary
- 1 – Ten or 12 pack pens (blue or black)
- 1 – Ten or 12 pack pencils
- 1 – Pack erasers
- 1 – Box 24-count crayons
- 3 – Spiral notebooks (70 sheet count)
- 1 – Pair flip flops (adult size)
- 1 – Poncho (adult size)
- 1 – Pack 100 to 150 sheets notebook paper (wide-ruled)
Instructions:
- Remove price tags from all items.
- Place all items in the plastic bag.
- USE ONLY THE QUANTITIES AND SIZES LISTED. If you cannot find a 10-12 package of pens or pencils, it is okay to open the package, count out 10 or 12, and rubber-band them together.
- NO SUBSTITUTIONS or additional items are allowed due to Customs regulations. This includes notes, cards, photos, religious tracks, or anything else not on the list.
- A $5.00 donation for shipping is to accompany each kit.
- A container will be provided in the church narthex to collect kits.
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Cafe’ Central
River’s Way
Central Christian Church
Good Morning Everyone!
Cafe Central is filled up for this Thursday with 18 people! We could use some additional customers on Friday when Tennessee High students prepare and serve the lunches. The menu is Ranch Burger Sliders, Garden Salad, Homemade Dessert. The cost is $5 and that includes coffee or tea and the dessert! To sign up go to www.bit.ly/bristolcafe. This is a great way to support workforce skill development with students and adults of differing abilities in our community!
Tom Hanlon
Executive Director,
River’s Way, Inc.
423-612-1242 c
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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.
at Memorial UMC
24 Tate Avenue
Lebanon, VA
Staff/Pastor/Parish Relations Training and
Safe Sanctuary Training
Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Location TBD
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Join Us for An Ash Wednesday Worship Service
7:00 p.m. in the First UMC Sanctuary
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Youth, Tweens, and Fellowship Class will not meet this week as we
instead join together for an evening of worship.
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Lenten Lunches
an Offering of the United Methodist Churches of Bristol
The Wednesdays of Lent 2019
You are Welcome to Join Us
for Worship and Mid-Day Food & Fellowship
Worship: 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. / Lunch: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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March 6
South Bristol UMC
1809 Southside Ave., Bristol, TN
Message by: Nate Roark
March 13
First UMC Bristol
322 Vance Drive
Bristol, TN
Message by: Alan Gorrell
March 20
Weaver UMC
132 Peoples Road
Bristol, TN
Message by: Mike Wood
March 27
St. Luke UMC
105 North Street
Bristol, VA
Message by: Ed Harlow
April 3
Trinity UMC
320 Carter Street
Bristol, VA
Message by: Earl Maine
April 10
John Wesley UMC
311 Lee Street
Bristol, VA
Message by: Clara Bristol
April 17
Addilynn Memorial UMC
3225 Avoca Road
Bristol, TN
Message by: Joyce Moore
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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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UMW Annual District Day Apart
Saturday, March 23
Lebanon UMC
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Registration 9:30 a.m.
Service 10:00 a.m.
Lunch immediately following
Deadline for Registration is March 16.
Our guest speaker will be Brooke Atchley from Elk Garden
School Community Ministries, our 2019 District Hands-on Mission.
Our Communion Celebrant will be Barbara Doyle
All women are invited to join us for worship, music, fellowship and good food.
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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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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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Holston Habitat is building with a Bristol family in 2019. We are inviting 8 to 10
churches to participate in our 2019 Bristol Faith Build.
We will host an informational meeting on Thursday, March 21 at 5:30pm
at Central Presbyterian Church in Bristol, VA.
That evening, volunteers from several churches will meet each other,
Richard & Susan (the family building with us on this project), and Tom Bowers,
the site supervisor. We’ll also share this project’s construction calendar and how volunteers can easily register online. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mandy Penz at 423-239-7689, ext. 801 or volunteer@holstonhabitat.org.
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Seeking Volunteers
A member of the community for 45 years, the Bristol Crisis Center is seeking
volunteers passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others.
We are seeking volunteers to help us empower others by:
• Answering our 24-hour Crisis Intervention Hotline
• Serving on an Advisory Council
• Serving on the Board of Directors
• Performing General Office Duties
• Calling persons in our Just Checking program to provide daily contact to
persons who are home bound.
• Assisting with Fundraising Efforts
• Assisting with our Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence programs
• Assisting with Social Media
Training is provided to all volunteers. If you are looking to make a difference in our community, please contact Dreama Hawkins at 276-466-2218.
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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 28 – March 6, 2019
Thursday, February 28
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, March 1
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, March 2
Sunday, March 3
9:30am-The River Contemplative Worship Service-TH
9:30am-Sunday School Hour
10:00am-Common Ground Service-Chapel
11:00am-Traditional Worship Service-Sanctuary
12:15pm-Choir Rehearsal
3:00pm-Clinch Mountain District General Conference Debriefing-Memorial UMC, Lebanon, VA
8:00pm-AA
Monday, March 4
1:00pm-Food Pantry Volunteers
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
Tuesday, March 5
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, March 6
12:00pm-Lenten Worship Service and Lunch-South Bristol UMC
7:00pm-Ash Wednesday Service-Sanctuary
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 