First United Methodist Church of Bristol, Tennessee
Your Weekly e-Newsletter and Events Schedule
Welcome to First UMC! We are so blessed by your part in our faith community.
Sunday worship is at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary AND can be viewed on the church YouTube page or through the link on the church Facebook page.
Church Office Hours:
Tuesdays 1-3 PM
Fridays 1-3 PM
Connect to Pastor Casey email, Facebook, and Instagram.
Email Prayer Chain
If you are interested in being a part of the email prayer chain, please email Pastor Casey. The messages will be distributed through our email lists on Realm.
Worship This Week
February 18, 2024
Scriptures: Matthew 6:28-34 Luke 4:1-8
Sermon: The Jesus Way … Rev. Ray Amos
Serving in Feb.
Liturgist
2/4 Dawn Shores
2/11 Sue Dietz
2/18 Alan Gorrell
2/25 Leferne Preptit
Serving in Mar.
Liturgist
3/3-
3/10-
3/17- Phil Haga
3/24-
3/31-
*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
Chancel Choir News
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Everyone is invited to be a part of the choir. We share simple, high quality songs so that the trained and untrained singers all have a way to share their gifts.
Choir is increasing how frequently we sing in worship. Join us for rehearsals Sundays after church.
Choir rehearsals have resumed.
Next presentation: February 25
Not convinced you can sing with us? Check out this brief clip of our finale from September 24!
From the Pastor’s Pen
February 15, 2024
As we enter the season of Lent, we are celebrating Ash Wednesday as a Parish. We are starting the 40 days of denial, confession, and self-examination. We are looking ahead to the joys of Easter. And with all of these combined emotions and expressions, it’s hard to know what to do next. I’ve included below this week’s message from our Bishop, that reminds us every part of this season is about the love of God.
Remember, our visioning meeting to step forward as a church is this Sunday at 1:30. If you cannot attend, send in your ideas. We are dreaming big and discerning what God has for us at First UMC.
Blessings,
Pastor Casey
Dear Friends,
This year we experience a calendar rarity as the U.S. Valentine’s Day and Western Christianity’s Ash Wednesday fall on the same day. (The last three times this happened were in 2018, 1945 and 1934). Though these two special observances are quite different in focus, they have a commonality. Both point toward love.
The legends and history around the origin of Valentine’s Day are manifold and the subject for another time. In short, contemporary societies across the globe associate this international holiday with romantic love.
On the other hand, Ash Wednesday emphasizes God’s love as it launches Lent, the six- and one-half weeks season of the Christian year that highlights Jesus’ life and ministry. Ash Wednesday and Lent have been observed in the Western Christian Church for centuries. This season highlighting human mortality, penance, and Jesus’ suffering culminates in the greatest expression of love the world has ever known: our Savior’s death on the cross. Three days later, on Easter Sunday, we observe Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead, the world-changing first century event that broke the power of sin and death.
In addition to reminding us of God’s amazing love for humanity, Ash Wednesday and Lent provide us with avenues to respond to Jesus’ actions on our behalf. Some people give up a favorite food during Lent, like chocolate or desserts. Others add actions to their lives such as serving at a food pantry or doing a daily good deed. The point in Lenten observances is not to earn God’s favor or to demonstrate how “holy” we are. Rather, Lenten practices are a way to express our gratitude for Jesus’ love in our lives.
The fourth verse of a great Issac Watts hymn beautifully states the why of observing Lent. “Were the whole realm of nature mine; That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing so divine; Demands my soul my life my all.” https://hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/298
February 14 is a day when we celebrate love. This year, with Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine’s Day, for Christians the emphasis expands to God’s love. How will you respond to God’s love this Lenten season?
As always, it is a privilege to serve as your bishop. Blessings,
Debra Wallace-Padgett
Resident Bishop
Holston and North Alabama Conferences
Prayer: God of us all, thank you for your amazing love expressed powerfully through your Son, Jesus Christ. Throughout this Lenten season, we long to experience your love for us anew. In response, we recommit our “soul, life and all” to serving you and others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hi folks, we have a depleted benevolence fund and a couple requests for assistance. If you’re able to give towards helping people in crisis in the name of Jesus, follow the link below and choose “mission projects” fund or designate your check/envelope to benevolence.
https://onrealm.org/fumcbristol/give/now
Gift cards are also a great way to give towards this ministry!
Thank you to everyone who has gifted a memorial in honor of Trinka Felty. Her family has decided the best way to honor her memory is to use Memorial Funds for music ministries at First, specifically the choir and organ. Thank you for your gifts in the name of God.
Parish News!
Vision & Action Meeting
What is God is guiding us towards at First UMC? Now is your time to step forward and see who will join you in the vision.
On Sunday, February 18, at 1:30 p.m., the Council is hosting our first visioning and development meeting of 2024. Anyone can be a part of this brainstorming session, where we not only generate ministry ideas to reach our neighbors in Jesus’ name, but also leave with concrete plans to implement the first steps. If you cannot attend, send your ideas with a friend or email: pastor@fumcbristol.org. God has given us a vision, we need to seek out the tasks we are called to. Who will join us in discerning our way forward?
The All-Parish Visioning Committee has been postponed. We now have a consultant provided by the district, who will guide us through a structured plan and support our process going forward. More details to come!
Virginia Avenue Food Pantry distribution is Wednesdays 2-4 PM
Next distribution is February 21
Donations are appreciated and can be brought to Virginia Avenue on MWF mornings or left in the donation bins at the sanctuary doors. The Food Pantry accepts donations of: monetary, canned goods, or hygiene and personal care items
United Women in Faith
Tuesday, March 12 at 5:00 PM in the Library
Bring your dinner or a snack to share and join us as we fellowship, pray, and study together.
Yard Sale News!
We may be months away from October, but spring cleaning is just around the corner. Any items you are donating for the fall yard sale can be brought to the former Dorcas Room in the Education Wing. We accept anything in usable condition for resale to support missions in our community.
Church Improvement Day
Join us Saturday, February 10 starting at 10:00 a.m. for a Church Improvement Day, working on interior projects. Projects include replacing ceiling tiles, clearing education wing rooms.
Camp Bays Mountain Summer Adventures
Summer seems ages away, but summer camp registration in the Holston Conference has already begun. If you would like to support our young people in their faith-filled week of summer adventure, please designate your gift to Camping.
Clinch Mountain District News
Ever wonder what’s happening with our district ministries and events?
Sign up for the district e-newsletter by following this link : http://eepurl.com/hiPafv
Altar Flowers
Share the beauty of God’s creation as a gift to God and our congregation.
Select your date, and list your name and any details about the flowers. Examples – “in loving memory of _____”, “in celebration of _____”— or it can simply be a gift to the glory of God.
- Cost $56 for a professional arrangement.
- Label your check or envelope as designated to the altar flower fund, with the date you signed up for.
- Deadline for sign up and payment is the Sunday before.
- You may take the flowers after Sunday service or we will distribute them as we are able.
Contact Sue Bryngelson or the church office with any questions.
Giving to Ministries at First UMC
What can I give towards?
- General Fund- monthly expenses for upkeep and ministries
- Designated Gifts- towards a specific project or ministry
- Missions Giving- to a specific mission or a general gift to be split among our mission partners
How often should I give?
- Everyone manages their funds differently. Some give weekly when they attend worship. Other families give monthly when their income is deposited. Still others give at varying times to match a need or a project.
Our only request is that you prayerfully consider how God has called you to support the church and ministries with your fund. We challenge you to be good and faithful stewards of what is entrusted to you.
How can I give?
- In person
- Offering envelope booklets are available for you to take home. Each include 53 undated envelopes for weekly giving, or spread them out over time if you give on a different schedule. Please pick up yours from the rear of the sanctuary.
- Offering envelopes have returned to the pews as well. If you forget yours, please take one for identifying your giving.
- Digitally
- ACH – contact us directly for a confidential form. This type of giving will automatically withdraw the amount your choose directly from your bank account
- With online giving you can contribute from your checking account, or give with a debit or credit card.
- Website: onrealm.org/fumcbristol/-/form/give/now
- Text: from your cell phone, text FIRSTUMCBRISTOL to 73256. This will open up a link for you to choose how you give.
Send Your Pictures, News, and Announcements to Publish in the Newsletter
For each publication, information is needed by noon on Wednesday.
Calendar of Events
Sundays
9:30 a.m. First UMC Worship
10:30 a.m. Common Ground Fellowship Worship (Chapel)
10:45 a.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal
6:00 p.m. Addilyn Memorial UMC Bible Study
7:00 p.m. AA Meeting
Tuesdays
10:00 a.m. First UMC Bible Study
7:00 p.m. AA Meetings
Thursdays
7:00 p.m. AA Meetings
Wednesdays
6:30 p.m. Virginia Avenue UMC Bible Study
1st & 3rd Saturday
4:00 p.m. Man-Hu Ministries Shabbat Worship (Fellowship Hall)
Upcoming Events
Sunday, February 18
1:30 p.m. Vision & Action Meeting
4:00 p.m. Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, February 21 12:00 p.m.
Lent Luncheon Worship at Addilynn UMC
2-4 p.m. Virginia Avenue Food Pantry
Wednesday, February 28 12:00 p.m.
Lent Luncheon Worship at John Wesley UMC
Wednesday, March 6 12:00 p.m.
Lent Luncheon Worship at State Street UMC
Tuesday, March 12
5:00 p.m. United Women in Faith at First UMC Library
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
First United Methodist Church of Bristol 