First United Methodist Church of Bristol, Tennessee

Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule

Welcome to In-Person Worship Again….

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

The CDC has designated our local area as *ORANGE (HIGH)* for COVID-19 transmission this week, so:

> Masks are STRONGLY encouraged for gathering in person – please respect the safety concerns of others. Masks will be available if you forget to bring your own.

> Please sit with members of your household at a reasonable distance from others

> Sanitize the spaces you use

> If you are unwell, we hope you will stay home and join our fellowship virtually.

Church Office Hours:

Sundays 2-6 PM

Tuesdays 4-7 PM

Wednesdays 4-8 PM

Pastor Casey’s position as a teacher has resumed – please leave a voicemail, text, or email anytime and she will contact you on breaks or after school as needed.

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In-person worship is at 11:00a.m. Sundays in the Sanctuary AND can 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. Irwin on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram.

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Last Sunday at First UMC

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From the Pastor’s Pen

August 11, 2022

Thank you to everyone who was able to “onboard” your Pastor on Sunday. For those unable to attend, each congregation receiving a new pastor has been asked to share in a meal and facilitated conversation as the pastor starts their appointment. 

For example, our group this Sunday shared responses to the several questions including:

• What do you want to know about your pastor?
• What are your hopes and dreams for your church?
• What is most important from the leadership of your new pastor?

Here are the responses.

I pray we can find ways to share in this vision and ministry together. I answered some of the questions with the group, but I’ll continue to address and review questions and dreams from the whole church. Most importantly, I pray God’s best for this season at First UMC and for all of the people connected to what we do.

Blessings,
Pastor Casey

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Help for Haiti Updates

Haiti is still devastated from disasters and political unrest. Help for Haiti currently houses children who would otherwise live in tent city, and pays their school tuition. The expenses continue to rise, but we trust that by God’s grace this ministry is making a difference one life at a time.

At the end of June, Leferne took a trip to fix up the home for the children being cared for.

Help for Haiti Children’s Shelter expenses for the month of September 2022, 

Food, Water, Milk, Soap for laundry, transportation, barber, and other items such as cleaning supplies, toothpaste, toiletries, utility, barber, and candles $1,300.00

salary for employees $850.00

school transportation $75.00

school snacks/lunch $300.00

internet service $41.00

$6,865.00 for school tuition – The three students that had scholarship last year did not get it this year.

Technology and sport fees for 8 students for academic year 2022-2023.  

Grand total is $9,431.00 

May God bless you all! Yours, Leferne Preptit

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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

In a world with so much going on, my trigger finger is not really worthy of mention.  However, the surgeon is going to take care of it hopefully before you read this.  Easy, peasy surgery that shouldn’t keep me down at all.  But it’s amazing what havoc one trigger finger can cause when it doesn’t work with the others!  I had to wait until it was released this morning to type this article!  

Sometimes we are like a trigger finger.  We will wait until we are “released” from our job, we are “released” by our age or “released” by a bad weather report. I’m so good at excuses.  Below is a list of jobs that would help with Sunday morning worship.  Can you find one and volunteer to do it?  The more who volunteer the less each needs to do to make our time with God and each other meaningful.

Let Casey, Alan Gorrell or Sue Dietz know where you would like to join the family at First Bristol.

Sue 

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Serve with Sunday Worship

What is God calling you to do? What ministries bring you joy?

First UMC is adding volunteers to serve once a month on a rotation for:

• Liturgist– read the Sunday Announcements, Responsive Reading, or other speaking opportunities
  
• Sunday Greeters– Welcome people to the building, and to the worship space. Weekly or monthly rotation as needed.
  
• Sunday Ushers– Assist people before and after worship with seating and questions. Gather and bring forward the offerings to God. Weekly or monthly rotation as needed.
  
• Videographer– It’s easier than it sounds! If you’re not familiar with Facebook Live, Pastor Casey or another leader will have the account open for you– just click “Go Live” and rotate the tripod if we need a different camera angle

• Attendance Cards– Set out and collect the cards or pew pads each week, and record who attends. Tracking online attendees is an added plus if you know how!
  
• Administrative Tasks– Choose one or several areas to serve– proofread the bulletin, check the church voicemail, run DVD and newsletter copies weekly for shut ins, address church mailers.
  
• Gardening and Weeding– You choose your schedule to maintain a beautiful and inviting environment at our building.

Reply here via email or check with Pastor Casey for more opportunities to use your gifts in God’s Kingdom.

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Meet the Pastor!

Pastor Casey would like to get to know you and your family. We have sign-ups available– through this Google Form or in-person on Sundays– to meet for coffee, a meal, a visit at your home or at the Pastor’s Office. We hope everyone connected to the church will choose a time and get to know our new Pastor.

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Calendar of Events

August 11-17, 2022

First United Methodist Church
Rev. Casey Irwin, Pastor
322 Vance Dr., Bristol, TN 37620
www.fumcbristol.org 423-652-2811

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