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First United Methodist Church

Bristol, Tennessee

Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule

October 3- 9, 2019

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World Communion Sunday

October 6, 2019

Egor Panfilov: “Waters of the Babylonian Rivers”

Luke 17:5-10

By the Waters of Babylon

Rev. Brandon Berg

From the Pastor’s Pen

I had a change of perspective last week. It might not be life-changing or foundation-shaking, but it was a shift, at least for a little while.

I have routines I like to follow. They make me comfortable. It disturbs and aggravates me when they are upset.

Of course, I should offer a disclaimer when I say that. Ministry, to a great degree, is a series of interruptions and upsets, and I accept and embrace that quality of my vocation. People will get sick and need visiting and they’ll stop by my office and call me at odd hours and need intervention and all sorts of things like that. Those don’t bug me. The aggravating interruptions are the ones that are unrelated to the work of ministry, broad as it is.

So maybe my sense of routine is a bit vague, but there is enough predictability in what I do that I could define some sort of boundaries.

Sometimes, though, what I need is a reminder that the ministry is bigger than what I welcome into my routine. Sometimes I need something to throw my perspective into a broader focus.

Last Tuesday, a friend who collects frequent flyer miles gifted me with a round trip to preside over a funeral in Pennsylvania of another good friend’s mother. The view out the window of the first flight was enough to jolt me out of my routine expectations.

The view out the window of the first flight was enough to jolt me out of my routine expectations.

I hope you have occasional moments like that, when something jolts you into a wider awareness of creation, maybe of the cosmos, maybe of the nature of the Divine. Maybe it doesn’t need to be as spectacular as soaring tens of thousands of feet above the ground. Maybe the slow glide of a snail on a leaf could do the trick. Maybe just a word spoken in gentleness and grace. Maybe just an overwhelming sense of peace that comes from nowhere.

I hope something jolts you out of your reverie this week and makes you thankful for the astounding beauty of God’s creation, makes you remember that God’s imagination is a whole lot bigger than our routines.

Peace,

Brandon

Feed the Hungry Offering

Our Feed the Hungry offering this week is for Bristol Faith in Action.

BFIA is a cooperative outreach ministry of the churches of Bristol and the local community, formed to serve any persons whose circumstances leave them with significant physical, social, emotional or spiritual needs.

Bristol Faith In Action

Bristol Faith in Action is an

extension of member churches in the Bristol, Blountville, Bluff City, and Piney Flats areas.They use a Christ-centered approach to help people in financial crisis.

Currently BFIA has a critical need for non-perishable food, personal care and cleaning items. Please support them with these or monetary donations.

www.BristolFIA.org

276-466-8292

Worship Last Sunday

Message by Rev. Brandon Berg

Luke 16 :19-31 Rich Man Parable #2: Good Stewardship of People

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son,

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Give thanks.

We welcome Roxanne Bareika and Nathaniel “Rick”Van Horn, Jr. into the membership of First United Methodist Church. Roxanne and Rick are joining us through transfer of membership. We welcome them with love and open arms into this fellowship and look forward to many opportunities to worship Christ and celebrate life together.

As Autumn draws near, our Committee on Lay Leadership is prayerfully discerning the best teams to guide FUMC through 2020 and beyond.

If you have felt God tugging at your soul to take on or continue specific ministries within our church and community, please talk to a member of the Committee ASAP:

Brandon Berg, Rebekah McGrady, Alan Hale, Nate Hubbard,

Suzanne Rollins, Sue Dietz, Trinka Felty, Alan Gorrell

Administrative Council Meeting

Sunday, October 20

2:00 p.m.

The Fete Was Amazing!

A big thank you to all who worked at, contributed to, planned and attended the Fete. The total earned isn’t in yet, but what a great time we did have working together!

The Finance Committee.

Stay tuned next week – we will share all the details and pictures!