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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Serving in September

Liturgist

9/11 Alan Gorrell

9/18 Sue Dietz

9/25 Jennifer Daniel

Greeters and Ushers – Tom Felty (all of September)

Videographer – Blake Irwin

*Please make arrangements to trade with someone if you will be unable to serve in this way. Any emergency changes can be handled by those present at worship.

Last Sunday at First UMC

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**UPDATED ** Missional Hub Cooperative Ministry Training

We have opportunity, through a longstanding connection with South Bristol UMC and Addilyn Memorial UMC, to move forward with intentional partnering in ministry. As we discern our shared ministry work, Rev. Susan Arnold has offered to facilitate our process of developing our Hub in 5 Sunday afternoon training sessions. 

We have changed the format to do 2 modules per week, in an effort to take up fewer of our available Sundays. The new schedule is module 2 and 3 on September 18 from 2-5 p.m., and module 4 and 5 on September 25 from 2-5 p.m.  We have several church meetings and work coming up in September and October, so please see these as an opportunity, not an obligation. We hope you will consider at least one of the dates to join us. Our hope is to learn quickly how we can build sustainable ministry in Bristol, TN in the name of Jesus.

Short Overview of Training Sessions:

• September 4: Module 1: Pre-Training Questionnaires and Introduction to Cooperative
  Ministry Partnerships.  Biblical Foundation Partnerships.  Biblical Foundations and Group Discussion #1
• September 18, Module 2: Historical Foundations, Module 3: Theological Foundations
• September 25, Module 4: Interdisciplinary Foundations, Module 5: Next Steps: Moving
  Toward Cooperative Ministry Partnerships
  Post-Workshop Questionnaires, and Covenant

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From the Pastor’s Pen

September 8, 2022

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up – Deuteronomy 6:6-7

This Sunday is Grandparents’ Day, a time to celebrate the legacies of the generations. Some of us are grandparents, some of us have grandparents still living, yet Grandparents’ Day is more than that. Historically, Marian McQuade, the founder of National Grandparents Day, set out to connect any relationship of older and younger. She encouraged youth to connect with their relations and “adopt” a grandparent. Her hope was to connect their lives and legacies with the next generations. 

Why is this so pivotal for us in the church? We are a community that operates the same way. We raise our own families, sure, but we connect with any family in our midst. Young and old overlap. While we have few children at First, we do have generations interconnected that have raised each other’s children and been the adopted parents and grandparents. We have legacies that we have received and given. We have discipled each generation in the ways of God.

On August 3, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Congressional bill into law, declaring Grandparents Day as a recurring national celebration. The whole nation celebrates what we already know— it takes generations to tend to the legacy of the church and the community of faith and the hope for the future.

Blessings,
Pastor Casey

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Church Yard Sale Updates

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South Bristol UMC is hosting a Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study open to any women in the area. Beginning September 6 at 9:30 AM

 Our study will be Beth Moore’s “James, Mercy Triumphs”.  Books will be available at the first gathering. Price TBD. Contact Nancy Pierce at South Bristol with any questions. 

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Bristol Faith in Action

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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

Sue is on vacation! Prayers for her safe travels and a restorative break 🙂

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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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Calendar of Events

September 8-14, 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