First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Celebrating Mothers
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019
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The Good Shepherd by Deborah Nell
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John 10:22-30
Forsaking Wolfishness
Rev. Brandon Berg
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I had another involved conversation about coffee the other day. Most conversations about coffee delve into the topics of desperation and addiction (I don’t sleep enough, which makes me desperate for the bean, and the desperation leads to dependence on it.) This particular conversation revolved around the type of coffee I was ingesting at the time. It was a cold brew, which I described as very easy to put together:
1/2 oz coarse ground coffee
1 1/2 c cold water
stir to combine
refrigerate overnight
filter well
enjoy
Most mornings start with something even easier, though: a double shot of espresso. It’s quick and low in acid and is exactly the right size. There’s no waiting for a drip machine involved. There’s no waste or burnt stuff, and cleanup is more straightforward.
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It might serve me well, though, to slow down and enjoy something that requires more patience. Maybe a nice cup of hot tea. That would be very British, wouldn’t it?
I don’t do myself many favors being constantly rushed everywhere I go, or being constantly tired from late evenings and early mornings. It might be that what I need is to pause, pack some fragrant black tea into a diffuser, pour some nearly-boiling water over it, and wait.
Just wait.
Maybe I should watch the water darken and pay attention to my blood pressure. Maybe I should breathe a little more slowly.
Pause. Wait.
That’s probably a good practice for a lot of what I do.
Pause. Wait.
My hyper caffeinated immediate reactions aren’t necessarily the best I can offer.
I thought I might share that reflection with you today. Maybe it resonates with you, too.
Pause. Wait.
Peace,
Brandon
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Light and Lively Concert at First UMC Bristol
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Friday, May 10
7:30 pm
With Joy Smith-Briggs, Organist
and Tim Landis, Soloist
Invite friends, neighbors and relatives
Admission is by donation.
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Clinch Mountain Mission Project
School Kits for Liberia
District Goal – 400 Kits
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Turn in kits by
Sunday May 26th
After we turn in our kits to Pleasant View UMC they join many other kits for a long journey:
The shipping container for Liberia is loaded with school kits and heads to either Savannah or Charleston. A cargo ship transports it to Liberia, typically arriving
in late August.
Then Helen Roberts-Evans, the UMC missionary in Liberia, will oversee storage and dispersion of
supplies to 85+ schools.
Some schools are so remote that the kits must be hand-carried since there are not always roads all the
way to the schools.
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Meet
Helen Roberts-Evans
UMC Missionary to Liberia
Helen was born in Liberia and her return in 2008
as a missionary was a lifelong dream.
Click on the link below to read more about Helen and her
work with the children of Liberia.
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Saturday morning, May 11th, place donated food items in a plastic bag beside your mailbox.
The Bristol Emergency Food Pantry will need volunteers Saturday, May 11th and possibly Monday, May 13th to unload food trucks and process donations.
Call Jim White, Food Pantry Director, to schedule a time to help.
423-571-4449
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Two Special Offerings This Month
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On Sunday, May 19, our Feed the Hungry Offering will go to “Change for Children”.
This offering funds grants for Holston-related children’s ministries for
children in poverty (50 percent) and for children in Africa (50 percent.)
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On Sunday, May 26, our Feed the Hungry Offering will go to the Holston
Conference-wide Opioid Addiction Response.
Please give generously to these life-changing ministries.
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Monthly Church Finance Report
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April 30 Balance: (-)12,001.00
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The Church office is now open three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday,
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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In Worship Last Sunday
John 20:1-19
Do You Love Me?
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Hear Jesus asking you today:
with all you are and all you do,
beloved, do you love me?
Go, friends, and embrace everyone you meet
and, in fact, all creation you encounter.
knowing that in doing so,
you love the one who is
Creator, Redeemer, and Advocate.
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In Observance of Memorial Day
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On Monday, May 27 the nation will observe Memorial Day to honor all men and women who gave their lives in war for our country.
To each of you who have served in the armed forces, thank you. We know you served on behalf of all of us.
Being away from home, family and friends for extended periods, not knowing if you would return whole, if at all, must have weighed heavily in your thoughts. In times such as these, faith in God is essential.
If you served in the military, is there a hymn that you held in memory during that time that gave you comfort and hope? If so, would you share it with us? Just click on the link below to send me the title.
Blessings, Carol
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Dear FUMC Friends,
Thanks so much for the Easter basket filled with eggs containing chocolate. John has enjoyed everything in it including the little egg still sitting on the window sill waving its arms. Above all, thanks for thinking of him.
Frances Coppedge
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Fellowship Class will meet on Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 p.m. in the Church Library.
Bring a snack to share.
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Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Tankersley Hall
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Volunteer Sound Tech
Needed
Experience helpful,
but not required.
See Andrew or Rebekah McGrady
for more information.
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Jeff Preptit
LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY – DUNCAN SCHOOL OF LAW
05.17.19
DOCTORATE OF JURISPRUDENCE
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Congratulations, Jeff!
Jeff’s contact information:
2118 McClung Ave., Knoxville, TN
423.383.3577
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Your Church Meals on Wheels Team Needs
Your Help to Continue its Ministry
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The budget of Meals on Wheels is nearly depleted.
Meals on Wheels is not included in the church budget; rather,
it operates entirely out of contributions made directly into this ministry.
Help us continue to feed members of our community.
Make a donation to Meals on Wheels today. When you
write your check to the church, put ‘Meals on Wheels’ on the memo line.
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After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter,
”Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you,”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. John 21:15 NLT
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Spring Yard Sale – May 31 and June 1
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Your donated items may be stored at the church until the sale . . .
put them on the right side of the stage in Tankersley Hall.
Plan to help with set-up Monday-Thursday during
the week prior to the sale and/or clean-up after.
to our sale.
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FUMC Worship and Picnic at Sugar Hollow State Park
Sunday, June 2
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Holston Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska
June 9-12
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Pre-Conference Briefing May 19, 3:00 p.m., Lebanon Memorial UMC
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Camp Bays Mountain Summer Camp
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Travel to the Holy Land
Tour the Holy Land, Greece, and Rome.
$300 per person deposit upon registration
Final payment deadline May 30, 2019
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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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May 9 – 15, 2019
Thursday, May 9
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean – The Upper Room
6:30pm-Mankind Project-Youth Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, May 10
10:00am-Reading Buddies Luncheon-TH
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
7:30pm-Light and Lively Concert with Joy Briggs and Tim Landis-Sanctuary
Saturday, May 11
Sunday, May 12
9:30am-The River-Tankersley Hall
9:30am-Sunday School
10:00am-Common Ground Worship-Chapel
11:00am-Traditional Worship-Sanctuary
12:15pm-Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room
8:00pm-AA
Monday, May 13
1:00pm-Ministerial Group-TH
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
Tuesday, May 14
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, May 15
5:30pm-Fellowship Class-Library
6:30pm-Youth Activity-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 