First United Methodist Church of Bristol, Tennessee

Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule

Welcome to In-Person Worship Again….

If you are uncomfortable with worshiping in person or unable to join us for whatever reason, please tune in as we live-stream the service on Facebook.

> Wear a cloth mask that covers your mouth and nose continuously.

> Maintain at least six feet of space between yourself and anyone outside of your immediate household.

> Minimize your use of the lavatory and sanitize the spaces you use

LOCATION Adjustment:

UPDATE: Sound System revamp is in motion. We are waiting on parts to come in to begin the installation.

Due to the sound problems in the sanctuary, Administrative Council has moved the Sunday service to Tankersley Hall until the sanctuary sound equipment is updated.

NEW PROJECT at FIRST
A substantial memorial has been given by Peggy Callison for Russ Basham. This has been designated for the planned audio/visual upgrade in the sanctuary. 

In-person worship at 11:00a.m. Sundays in the Tankersley Hall (temporarily) can also be viewed on the church Facebook page.
If you have not connected to FUMC via Facebook, please go do that. You can also connect to Rev. Berg on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. He will try to share uplifting and empowering things on those media.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 15, 2022

Acts 11:1-18, John 13:31-35

“Could I Stand in God’s Way?”

Rev. Brandon Berg

Last Sunday at First UMC

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Mother’s Day

May 8, 2022

Prelude O Spirit of the Living God by Ralph Vaughn Williams; Phil Haga, pianist

Opening Hymn UMH 88 Maker, in Whom We Live

Responsive Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

Gospel Reading: John 10:22-30

Like a Shepherd

Hymn of Benediction UMH 381 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Postlude God of Grace by John Hughes; Phil Haga, pianist

Many Hands Make Light Work, So Please Lend Us Yours!

Opportunities to help FUMC clear space and raise funds:

Yard Sale: Let’s organize a Yard Sale and turn all those donated items into much-needed funds for our church and ministries. We’re looking at a weekend in June or July and we’ll need volunteers to access, price and photograph goods; move tables and items to set up beforehand; work the register and help people shop and check out during the event. If you can help with any of this, or want to be involved in the planning process, contact us using the form below.

Harvest Fete: It’s time to plan the Fall Harvest Fete! It was a successful, fun event when we had it pre-covid, so let’s come back better than ever! We’re needing people to begin planning on a Task Force, so if you can help with Kids Activities, Vendor Coordination, Jumble Sale Organization, Art Auction, Bake Sale, Advertising, Food Truck/Snack Sales, or Volunteer Coordination, then please fill out the form below.

It’s been a long winter, as they say, but we have wonderful news!

We’re delighted to announce 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 will be in concert again, May 14, 3:00 & 7:00 pm, at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts! Proceeds benefit Isaiah 117 House, a marvelous ministry that serves kids awaiting foster care placement.

Need convincing? Have a sneak peek:

Book your groups TODAY–and together, we will celebrate what God is doing for precious foster children in East TN & beyond!

Tickets: www.milavox.org
$25 individual, $20 groups of 10 or more. See you soon!

Ordway Cemetery Singing Fundraiser 

Ray Johnson and the Johnson Family singers 

Hamburgers & Hotdogs Dinner 

When:       Saturday, May 14 

Time:         5:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

Where:    Addilynn Memorial UMC 

3225 Avoca Road 

Bristol, TN 37620

HANDS ON MISSION-LIBERIA

Helen Roberts-Evans Director, Department of General Education and Ministry, Liberia Conference of the UMC.  The local church should write one check for total kits to their district office (EX: 10 kits x $5 = $50).  Please do not put money in the container! We will be collecting Hands on Mission buckets and kits once again this year.  Collection date will be June 1st-2nd at Fairview UMC in Maryville.  The local pick up will be

Clinch Mountain: School Kits — Goal 400 Pack all items in a 2-gallon Zip-Loc bag.

• 1 12” ruler
• 1 small calculator
• 1 10-12 pk. pens (blue or black)
• 1 coloring book
• 1 10-12 pk. pencils
• 1 pack erasers
• 1 100-150 sheet pk. notebook paper (wide-ruled)
• 1 small dictionary (new or used)
• 1 box crayons or markers (24 ct.)
• 3 spiral notebooks (70 ct.)
• 1 pair flip flops (adult M-L size)
• 1 poncho (adult).

Mission School Kit Drop-Off – Tuesday and Wednesday – May 24 & 25 – 9am – 4:30pm

Reynolds Memorial UMC Bristol, VA

Need Mission Kit Receiving Team Help!

We need help Tuesday and Wednesday, May 24^th and 25^th, 9am – 4:30 pm.   

Please email or call the District Office cmdist@holston.org ~or~ (276) 628-4421

BRING ANY EXTRA INGREDIENTS 

We have 55 Dictionaries here at the Clinch Mountain District Office if anyone needs some.  $1.00 to purchase.  Please call or email the District Office.  

Camp News

May 2022

Male Camp Counselors needed!!
We have a great group of young adults already secured to work at camp this summer. We are still looking for two young adult males to finish our crew. We need these counselors to love Jesus, love working with children, and love the outdoors. They must be 18 years or older when camp starts (June 5th). The weekly salary starts at $325. We pay for all training certifications along with housing and food while they are at camp. They can apply online at www.CampBaysMountain.com

Registration is open!

We have reached almost 50% of our registration goal! Help us to get to 400 campers this summer. Spots are filling up, so if you want to make sure your camper is at camp this summer register today! Register online at www.CampBaysMountain.com

Amazon Wish List
Are you wondering how you can help Camp Bays Mountain? Well purchasing something off our Amazon Wish List would help us tremendously. Please have the items shipped to the camp at 500 Hood Rd Kingsport, TN 37660. 

From the Pastor’s Pen
May 12, 2022

During a recent visit to my primary care provider, I expressed concern about a pain I’ve been having behind my right big toe. It hurts sometimes when I run, and consistently when I put pressure on it like kneeling back on my heels. Of course, the doctor asked me how long this pain has been present. Well, I said, since before the pandemic, I suppose, so over two years.

Friends, runners are stupid about injuries. To admit we have an injury and to be treated for it usually means rest, that is, Not Running At All.

Frankly, there is pain associated with running that’s normal and good and should be worked through; but there’s also pain that should be addressed and treated. Knowing the difference is vitally important.

I was in a conversation about this week’s gospel text on Tuesday afternoon, and a question arose around how incessantly self-giving our love of each other should be. Is there a point at which our self-giving makes us the object of abuse? If there is, then our exercise of love of our neighbor is violating our love of ourselves. It’s the kind of pain that we should stop and treat. It’s the kind of pain that says to us, Get out of this situation.

If the pain is breaking us and not building us up, it’s the wrong kind of pain. It’s not God testing us. It’s a sinful person or situation taking advantage of us or maybe even intentionally hurting us.

Stop. Rest. Let God’s Spirit care for you. Let yourself heal. Exercise again when you’re ready, but don’t let the injury replicate.

My doctor had my foot x-rayed. If you’ve seen me running around town still, it’s not because I’m being stupid and not treating some injury; it’s because the test came back clear. Well, relatively clear. I have some arthritis in my right foot.

You can laugh at that. It’s fine. I am now arthritis years old. Fine. It’s not a fracture and it’s not something that’s going to stop me. It’s a pain to live with and work through and be mindful of. I’ve had the other kind of pain. I know what to do.

In this case, I stay in the work.

I hope you’re mindful of what pain is telling you. It’s God’s gift to you for your self-care. Pay attention.

Peace,
Brandon

Morning Prayer

Rev. Berg streams morning prayer live on Facebook on weekday mornings in the 8:00 am hour.
Share your prayer requests with him or join him online.

The Love Beyond Borders campaign aims to raise funds for the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. The initiative has emerged from First United Methodist Church, Boise, ID and seeks to engage The United Methodist Church in supporting COVAX alongside UNICEF, the key vaccine delivery partner.

All funds raised will be sent to UNICEF for this project. More information about Love Beyond Borders is here.

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Calendar of Events

May 12-18, 2022

First United Methodist Church
Rev. Brandon Berg, Pastor (276.237.6498) 
322 Vance Dr., Bristol, TN 37620
www.fumcbristol.org

Our Vision – Building A Community Where Anyone Can Become A Deeply Committed Christian