Trinity United Methodist Church-Bristol

09/26/2026

Our sermon text for September 27 comes from Philippians 2 and includes a powerful reminder of how our Lord Jesus approached his task of reconciling us to God:

"Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross."
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Fall is here and it means things get busy around church. We collaborate with four other churches and have found that our worship, missions, outreach, and small group studies have all been enriched through that. Won't you take the plunge with us?

- Worship is at Trinity 10:00 each Sunday. All are welcome!
- Return in the evening for a meal and Bible study at 6:00pm.
- November 7 and 8 we help sponsor an exciting new basketball ministy. Bristol's own Derrick Hord will be returning home to help kick things off. Be on the lookout for more information soon
- Hard to believe, but November 29 is the first Sunday in the Advent season. Celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus at Trinity with other Christians.

08/01/2026

Our summer break is almost over and HUB Church is back! On August 2 at 4pm we'll mark the start of the school year with a bash at Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome and it is sure to be a fun event. Next Sunday, August 9, we resume our regular HUB church services at Trinity Bristol. We meet at 5pm for dinner and fellowship; food is provided and a great time is guaranteed. Then at 6pm we'll break out into small groups for Bible study and discussion. There are groups for every age. The adult group will begin a study on the Old Testament book of Esther.

The Bristol Virginia HUB is made up of five United Methodist churches who have learned the value of cooperation: Beech Grove, John Wesley, Hunt, Trinity, and Reynolds. Each one has its own Sunday morning worship, but we come together on Sunday evenings and for special occasions. United we have been able to do more for Christ than we could ever do separately. Come experience it and grow closer to our Lord and to one another.

06/27/2026

Today we joined with our fellow Bristol churches to reminisce and bid farewell to our dear brother, Rev. Robert Kariuki, as he begins his new appointment in Gate City VA. This mighty man of God has served Trinity since 2020. He has faithfully preached the gospel of Christ, ministered to the sick, pointed the lost to Jesus, comforted the grieving, fed the hungry, visited the prisoner, all while being a wonderful husband and father. His heart for the people of Kenya (his homeland) led to the Ripples of Faith ministry that conducts ongoing mission work in that country. Hundreds of children have been given education and safe living arrangements because of it. Women in dire poverty have been economically empowered. God's word has been preached to people hungry for it. Although his time with us is ending we will continue to partner with him in that labor.

Now we're happy to welcome Rev. Caroline Hawthorne, already a familiar and much-loved presence, as our new pastor. If you have drifted away from church we would love to welcome you back. If you have never professed Jesus as lord and savior Trinity Bristol is the ideal place for you to do that. We worship in a traditional style and sing from the 1989 UMC hymnal. We, like Methodism's founder John Wesley, are people of "one book": the Holy Bible. We affirm our faith using the historic Christian creeds. We recognize immersion, sprinkling, and pouring as normative means of baptism, and we never re-baptize someone who has already received it. We collaborate with four other churches to carry out local and international ministries, and as a connectional hub we're directly touching almost 2000 lives.

As the wind of spiritual renewal sweeps across this land we would love to have you worship and serve with us here. Our worship is at 10:00 on Sunday morning and we are located at 180 Carter St. in beautiful Bristol, Virginia.

05/16/2026

Summer's almost here, and it's shaping up to be a great time for Trinity and our sister churches. Here are some announcements:
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- May 17, 10am: Morning worship at Trinity. Pastor Caroline Hawthorne will bring a message on the Ascension of our Lord Jesus and why it matters for the church today

- May 17, 5pm: We honor our high school and college graduates at HUB church. Enjoy a delicious meal followed by small group Bible studies for all ages.

- May 19, 12pm: Acts Bible study at Reynolds led by Pastor John Graves

-May 24, 10am: Morning worship. Since it's Memorial Day weekend HUB church won't meet tonight. Make it a priority to honor those who gave so much for our freedom.

- May 26, 6pm: Robert’s Run Spaghetti fundraiser & sendoff

- May 31, 10am: a celebration of Pentecost Sunday. Come, Holy Spirit!

- May 31, 5pm: As HUB church takes a summer break we’re launching a new adult summer Bible study series in its stead. Grow and learn with us! Feel free to bring a brown bag dinner and feast as we study God's word.

- May 31 – June 3: Holston Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska.

- June 6, 10am: Kenya Car Show at Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church

- June 7, 5pm: Kenya Missionary Commissioning Service at Trinity. A delicious meal will be served.

- June 9-23: Kenya Mission Trip. Pray for safe travels for our team, and a mighty work of God among the amazing people of Kenya.

- June 21-26: HUB Vacation Bible School, held at Beech Grove United Methodist Church

We would love to have YOU worship with us, grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, and serve others as Jesus did. At Trinity you'll find a loving, welcoming, peaceful, traditional setting to do exactly that. Come check us out and walk away blessed!

04/04/2026

Easter is a new start for all of us who journey together in grace as the Body of Christ, for it is the good news that binds us together and empowers us to continue on the path set before us. Worship with us on Easter Sunday, April 5th, at 10:00 and embrace the rebirth given freely to all through our Lord Jesus!

03/07/2026

We are so blessed to have Robert Kariuki as our pastor and to support the incredible mission project in his home country of Kenya. The needs of the Embu children are great, but God is immeasurably greater than any human need or limitation. The 110 miles from Bristol to Lake Junaluska will not be easy: mountains, curvy back roads, vicious dogs, careless drivers, steep drop-offs, curious neighbors, bugs, thirst, and exhaustion. But when Jesus said "love your neighbor" he did not add "when you feel like it." If you can support this very worthwhile effort we would be truly grateful. At the bottom of the WCYB news story is a link that will take you to a page where you can make a donation.

Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
--John 3:16-17

https://wcyb.com/news/local/bristol-va-pastor-set-to-run-110-miles-seeking-1-per-mile-for-adoption-center-in-africa?fbclid=IwY2xjawQZbPxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeNqtv0p0FOQrDc28jy-NpaW-ouoy6-aQLAv-L9fGrtlIIXNWbOm9Pq4NhqOE_aem_CWvAqJseaOVRuitE4RUU3w

A bristol pastor is preparing for a long run — all for a good cause.he’s hoping to raise money for a project that will help children overseas.news five’s natale

02/14/2026

We look forward to observing Ash Wednesday with our sister churches. We'll meet Feb. 18 at Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church at 5pm for a pancake dinner, and then worship together as we begin the season of repentance called Lent. If we choose, we can receive the cross-shaped mark of ashes identifying us as believers.

Yes, we were made from dust and to dust we will return, but when Jesus returns he will do something unimaginable. God formed Adam from the dust of the ground, breathed into him and gave him life. The Son of God will do the same thing to us, giving us eternal life and a perfect relationship with him in his new creation. This promise is for you too if you "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead". (Romans 10:9).

Come worship with us on Ash Wednesday. Lay aside all that holds you back from being one with Christ and his beloved church. Confess and believe!

Ash Wednesday began in the 11th century as a day of repentance and marks the start of Lent, symbolizing human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God.

02/07/2026

12/20/2025

Do you want to get back in church and renew your commitment to the Lord? Start by joining your Bristol VA United Methodist Churches for a candlelight communion service. We will meet at 5pm on Wednesday 12/24/25 at Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church for a very special time of worship. Folks from Trinity, Hunt, John Wesley, and Beech Grove will be there too. All are invited to take part as we celebrate the coming of the Christ's light into the world!

12/13/2025

The dream goes on... come and experience it with your friends in the Bristol VA United Methodist churches!