First United Methodist Church
Bristol, Tennessee
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Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 19, 2019
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John 13:31-35
A New Commandment
Rev. Brandon Berg
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It’s transition time again for our families with school-age children. Specifically, for the Berg household, it’s transition time into a season of constant transition. We have one week committed to Annual Conference, two weeks when we’ll have children at Camp Bays Mountain, one week when we’ll have the girls at Camp Linden (Girl Scouts), and some time in the midst of all that when we’ll visit friends and family in Michigan.
When all that’s done, it’ll be time to transition into school starting again.
Is this chaos really what we signed up for?
Oh, Rebekah is also transitioning into the next level of gymnastics, Sarah is transitioning into Innovation Academy, and Noah is transitioning from clarinet to percussion with a little help from some local drummer you probably know.
If I wanted to, I suppose I could keep looking around and create a really lengthy list of all the things that keep changing around us. I’d veer dangerously into complaining territory, then. You don’t want that, do you?
I shouldn’t gripe. Transition is a fundamental element of creation. Nothing I can do will stop that. The only constant in creation is the Creator, and I’m fairly convinced that the Divine adapts and changes just as creation does; or at least our observations of God through the kaleidoscope of our limited perspective are shifting with dizzying incessancy.
The only way we can imagine God unchanging, I’m convinced, is to close the eyes of our imagination altogether and insist on whatever image we last grasped.
Change is okay. Transition is good. If it weren’t so, I’m pretty sure God wouldn’t have put the cosmos in motion in the first place.
God intends change. God intends transition. God intends transformation.
I think that’s just part of God’s creative, imaginative personality.
Transition is going to happen. What’s left to us is to find a way to embrace it, to keep from being anxious about it, but instead (how does it go?) in all things to give thanks.
Some wise person once said, “a change is gonna do you good.”
And it was good. And it will keep being good.
Peace,
Brandon
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This week our Feed the Hungry Offering will go to “Change for Children”.
This offering funds grants for children’s ministries for
children in poverty (50 percent) and for children in Africa (50 percent.)
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Clinch Mountain Mission Project
School Kits for Liberia
due by Sunday May 26
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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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Next Week’s Special Offering
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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 this life-changing ministry.
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Monthly Church Finance Report
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April 30 Balance: (-)12,001.00
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In Worship Last Sunday
John 10:22-30
Forsaking Wolfishness
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Now we have come before the throne of God,
to worship day and night within God’s temple,
The One who is seated on the throne has sheltered us,
We will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike us,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be our shepherd,
who will guide us to spring of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
~from Revelation 7:15-17
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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.
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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The Fellowship Group has completed its book study.
The next study will kick off in August with a picnic.
If you did not participate in the last study, it was wonderfully
thought provoking.
Plan to come in August when the new study begins and be
enriched during a time of revelation, reflection and grace.
“Where two or three are gathered . . .”
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Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Tankersley Hall
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Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for the Cootie Brown’s gift card. It will come in handy on moving day. Even more important, thank you for all your kind words and good wishes. We have been so happy being part of First Church the past 14 years. You will all be missed.
John and Kathy
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Beginning to Try to Say Good-bye
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On Wednesday evening, members of the Church gathered
to express their love and appreciation for John and Kathy.
They will be greatly missed at First UMC, but we wish them
many moments of joy with their children and grandchildren in Ohio.
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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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Spring Yard Sale – May 31 and June 1
It is Almost Here!
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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.
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FUMC Worship and Picnic at Sugar Hollow State Park
Sunday, June 2. 9:30 a.m.
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Come and stay a while! Swim, Hike, Relax.
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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 16 – 22, 2019
Thursday, May 16
6:00pm-Yoga with Jean – The Upper Room
8:00pm-AA
Friday, May 17
5:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
6:30pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
7:00pm-NA
Saturday, May 18
9:00am-Holston Quilters Guild (until noon)-Tankersley Hall
Sunday, May 19
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
3:00pm-Pre-Conference Briefing-Lebanon Memorial UMC
4:00pm-Trustees Meeting-TBA
5:00pm-Finance Committee Meeting-TBA
6:00pm-Administrative Council-TBA
8:00pm-AA
Monday, May 20
6:00pm-Belly Dancing Class-Yoga Studio
Tuesday, May 21
8:00am-Men’s Prayer Group-TH
8:00pm-AA
Wednesday, May 22
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 