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.
Pentecost is this Sunday! On June 5, dig your best red out of the closet and let’s celebrate the Holy Spirit spreading God’s good news through the world like wildfire.
Sunday of Pentecost
June 5, 2022
John 14:8-17
“I Will Pour out My Spirit upon All Flesh”
Rev. Brandon Berg
Last Sunday at First UMC
Ascension Sunday
May 29, 2022
Prelude O Jesus, I Have Promised by Arthur Mann; Phil Haga, pianist
Opening Hymn UMH 557 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
Responsive Reading: Revelation 22:12-14
Gospel Reading: John 17:20-26
Is It in You?
Hymn of Benediction UMH 569 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations
Postlude Come, Thou Almighty King by Roger Davis; 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.
Camp News
April 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
June 2, 2022
Several of the oldest stories of our faith have echoes in other ancient faith traditions: the Creation, the Flood, Job. It’s a fun and enlightening game to compare them. We might even build the confidence of our faith if we can celebrate that other histories see the action of the Divine in similar ways to ours.
But then there are some stories we don’t have versions of. A favorite that has stood the test of time is Prometheus stealing fire from Zeus to give it to humans. Hesiod remembers it like this:
But the noble son of Iapetus outwitted him and stole the far-seen gleam of unwearying fire in a hollow fennel stalk. And Zeus who thunders on high was stung in spirit, and his dear heart was angered when he saw amongst men the far-seen ray of fire.
It’s not that fire isn’t important in our tradition. Fire is the means by which a lot of sacrifice occurred for the healing of God’s people. Fire was the nighttime guide of the people of the Exodus through the wilderness. Fire that failed to consume a bush was how Moses recognized the Divine, and was how God showed up on Sinai to bring the Covenant to the people.
Fire is what the Spirit looked like alighting on the disciples at Pentecost.
So it has become a tradition to wear red to signify the work of God’s Spirit bringing the good news to all the nations. It’s a lot better than setting our hair on fire, I suppose.
But I want to encourage us to take on a different sort of meditation over the next couple days, or even over the course of the Season of Pentecost (that’s all the way through Christ the King Sunday on November 11 this year, by the way): whenever you set fire to something, contemplate the work of God’s Spirit. How does a candle remind you of the pillar of fire in the wilderness? How does a light bulb remind you of God’s enlightening covenant? How do your phone or computer bring the babble of many different languages and ways of thinking into language that is meaningful to you?
This Sunday, we’re celebrating a great big thing God did among the disciples, but sometimes our most revelatory moments are in the little things. Take some time and pay attention to those. See where the power of God’s Spirit is reflected all around you. The cool thing about the Spirit sending fire to the disciples is that, unlike the story of Prometheus and Zeus, God is entirely willing - excited, even - to share divine power with us.
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.
A Note From Our Lay Leader
Go Big Red…
This Sunday you are encouraged to wear red. Please come and celebrate a time of wonder and understanding. I always think it must have been a time of singing and dancing and tears of joy as many different peoples understood for the first time the message Jesus had given the world. I’m not sure if this is what we teach, but I think of a stadium filled with cheering fans (no losing side there!). I think of reds and yellows and flames that do no harm but bring understanding. It was a time God spoke to each person so he could understand.
For this time it is a message of good news so badly needed in this torn up world.
So support the Team and go big red!
Sue
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(First United Methodist of Bristol, Clinch Mountain District)
Calendar of Events
June 2-8, 2022
Sundays
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
6:08 p.m. Bristol Hub Youth at Reynolds Memorial UMC
7:00 p.m. AA Meetings
Tuesdays 7:00pm
7:00 p.m. AA Meetings
Wednesdays
6:00 p.m. The River: a Service of Contemplative Evening Prayer
Thursdays 7:00pm
7:00 p.m. AA Meetings
June 5-8
Holston Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center
June 5
Pentecost
June 12
Last Sunday for Rev. Berg
June 19
Father’s Day
Dr. Alan Gorrell preaching
4:00 Board of Trustees
June 26
Mia Foote preaching
July 3
First Sunday for Rev. Casey Irwin
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
First United Methodist Church of Bristol 