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
March 31, 2024
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Mark 16:1-8
Sermon: And Now, We Have Hope
Rev. Casey Irwin
Serving in March
Liturgist
3/3- Dawn Shores
3/10-
3/17- Phil Haga
3/24- Alan Gorrell
3/31- Dawn Shores
Serving in April
Liturgist
4/7 Breakfast Church
4/14
4/21
4/28
*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.
Other opportunities to serve:
We have added refreshments back to Sunday mornings! If you are able to contribute snacks or juice one week, sign-up with Sue Dietz as we establish a rotation. All items need to be at the sanctuary by 9:10 on Sundays.
We are looking for people to serve in pairs as Greeters for Sunday morning worship. Welcome our congregation and visitors with a smile, a bulletin, and an umbrella when needed. Contact Pastor Casey to get on the schedule!
Last Sunday at First UMC
Chancel Choir News
Choir is increasing how frequently we sing in worship. Join us for rehearsals Sundays after church. Anyone and everyone can make a joyful noise unto the Lord as we share simple, high quality songs of faith.
Choir rehearsals are after worship on Sundays
Next presentation: March 31
Not convinced you can sing with us? Check out this brief clip of our finale from September 24!
From the Pastor’s Pen
March 28, 2024
A GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER from umcdiscipleship.org
O Holy God,
the hosannas have died away,
the palm branches have turned brittle.
Now, today, there is only this –
each of us,
all of us,
sitting in the darkness,
the hymns of lament in the air,
the mumblings of our own feeble confession,
on this Friday
which we tremble to call Good.
What is good about Good Friday?
What is good about the innocent one nailed to a cross?
What is good about the darkness of war that persists today?
What is good about our devastation of the planet?
… about people living in poverty?
… about the fog of addiction, depression, disease, and despair?
What is good about the crushing weight of hunger, racism, scapegoating, apathy?
No, there is nothing good and desirable in these things.
Yet you, O God, are Good.
When suffering reigns, yours is the first heart to break.
When despair lurks about, we remember that you were there first,
peering into the abyss and crying out, incredibly:
“Father, forgive them.”
When we feel forsaken, we remember that in your last moments,
you cared for your mother and your beloved disciple,
binding them to one another as a new family.
When we feel overcome by guilt, we remember that you spoke grace to a thief:
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Your love for us is just that boundless,
and ever-present,
and Good.
Thank you.
What else can we say here, in the dimness,
in the darkness,
but thank you.
Amen.
Written by MaryAnn McKibben Dana, pastor of Idylwood Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, VA. Posted on LiturgyLink, http://www.liturgylink.net/2012/04/04/good-friday-prayer-the-hosannas-have-died-away/.
We are so blessed at First to have talented artists to bring the final hours of Holy Week to life. If you haven’t had a chance to walk the Stations of the Cross in person, check out the video below and meditate your way through Jesus’s last hours.
https://fb.watch/r4jyklApuo/?mibextid=w8EBqM
At the end of all this, remember, hope is coming on Sunday! Happy almost Easter!
Blessings,
Pastor Casey
Thank you to everyone who supported the Lenten Luncheon here at First on March 20. We had a great worship service and a wonderful lunch. Both were well received by our fellow UMC attendees. You are a blessing to us all!
A Lenten prayer from Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett:
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.
We are saddened to share that Richard McCallum passed away late on Sunday, March 24. Beverly and their children and grandchildren are in our prayers, even as we celebrate that Richard is home with our Lord.
The Celebration of Life will be at First UMC on Thursday, April 4.
Visitation starts at 11 AM. The Service will begin at 12 PM.
A luncheon hosted by First will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
If you would like to be a part of providing food or serving the meal, please contact us at pastor@fumcbristol.org or reach out to Sue Bryngelson directly.
Sign up to bring a breakfast dish to share!
Invite a friend to join!
And since it’s Holy Humor Sunday email us your favorite Bible jokes to read, or come prepared to tell them during our open mic time.
Parish News!
Parish Council Meeting has been rescheduled for April 2 at 6:30 pm at Addilynn UMC. Anyone can come be a part of this newly forming committee, that will meet quarterly as we plan and develop our shared ministry in our Bristol TN United Parish.
Vision & Action Meeting
We had a great first meeting with some immediate steps to try. As we head towards Easter, one of the highest attended Sundays of the year, what else is God inviting us to do? Join us for round 3 of Vision & Action Meetings on Sunday, April 21st at 1:30 pm in the Sanctuary.
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?
Virginia Avenue Food Pantry distribution is Wednesdays 2-4 PM
Next distribution is April 3
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
Next meeting is Tuesday, April 9 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.
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
5:30 p.m. Fresh Start Family Yoga
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
Thursday, March 28
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday worship at Aldersgate UMC
Friday, March 29
7:00 p.m. Good Friday worship at Addilynn UMC
Sunday, March 31
9:30 a.m. Easter Worship at First UMC
Tuesday, April 2
6:30 p.m. Parish Council Meeting at Addilynn UMC
Sunday, April 7
9:30 a.m. Breakfast Church Worship and Holy Humor Sunday
Tuesday, April 9
5:00 p.m. United Women in Faith Meeting
Sunday, April 21
1:00 p.m. Church Council Meeting 2:30 p.m. Vision & Action Meeting at First
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 