First Presbyterian Church First Edition published bi-weekly for the members and friends of the church March 18, 2015 • Volume 30, No. 05 My Dear Friends, I was fascinated to read the results reported by Lifeway of a telephone survey taken last August of a random sample of over 1,100 Amer icans concerning the whole topic of prayer. It will not surprise you to learn that most Americans believe in prayer and practice Todd Jones it to widely varying degrees. In Pastor fact, 83% of Americans report that they believe that they have experienced answered prayer at some point in their lives. The survey revealed that 31% of Americans pray several times a day, while an additional 48% pray at least once a day. Most prayers that we offer are personal in nature, and why not? If we believe that God is a personal God, then it seems natural that people would employ prayers to seek help or wisdom or strength from God in the living of their days. Findings showed that 82% pray for family and friends, 74% pray for their own personal difficulties. They found that 42% reported praying for “my own sins,” while 54% prayed in response to “good things that have happened in their lives.” One response that heartened me was the fact that 37% say that they have prayed for their enemies, while 41% have prayed for people who have mistreated them. Nothing is any more distinctive of Jesus’ teachings than to “pray for those who persecute you” and to “love your enemies.” These are among the most demanding ethical imperatives of Jesus, and who could possibly ever fulfill them without divine assistance? Some of the most crucial and transforming prayers I have ever prayed are those aimed at forgiving and at letting go of bitterness and resentment. Some of the findings were downright disappointing. While Paul said that we are to pray for civil authorities, only 12% of Americans reported that they ever prayed for government leaders. While many of us would say we are patriotic, this finding would suggest that our professed patriotism is rather shallow. By contrast, more people (13%) pray for a favorite sports team than for those who hold public office! The survey also revealed that 20% of Americans pray for people of other faiths or people with no faith at all, a result that suggests that our commitments to evangelism and to mission work are also rather shallow. Ed Setzer, who leads Lifeway, said, “Most people pray when they need the red phone for help, but their prayer life isn’t a habit rooted in a relationship with God.” I wonder if he is right, and more pointedly, if he is, does your prayer life reveal that you are like “most people”? Prayer is a great gift, one that grows deeper and more powerful as you make more and more use of it. Prayer is God’s open invitation to talk and to listen. It is God’s hospitable welcome of relationship and what the Heidelberg Catechism calls “the chief part of the gratitude which God requires of us.” This is why Jesus once told a parable of importune women “to show them that they should always pray and not lose heart.” It is why Ephesians says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). None of us probably feel entirely satisfied with the state of our prayer life. The real point is are we growing closer to God and more alive to the life of the Spirit? With Love and Prayers, The Mission of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville To know Christ, to make Him known and to exhibit His love through worship, education and service. Sympathy The First Presbyterian Church family extends prayers and sympathy to the following during their time of loss. Melba & Bill Blevins on the death of Melba’s brother, William (Buddy) Russell, Jr., who died on February 2. Sympathy to Brad & Kim Blevins, Jill Blevins Keogh & Clay Blevins. Mary Beth & Jim Christian and David Hobbs on the death of Mary Beth and David’s mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Thompson Hobbs, who died on February 10. Sympathy to Clay Christian. Mike & Annette Crout on the death of Mike’s uncle, William R. Crout, who died on February 12. Darryl & Anne Edmonds on the death of Darryl’s father, Clarence Edmonds, who died on February 21. Sympathy to Elizabeth & Ryan Walker and Addison & Emily Edmonds. Drew Peacock on the death of his mother-in-law, Martha Kirkpatrick, who died on February 26. Sympathy to Laura & Scott Anderson, Sarah, Tori Faith, Wesley & Tyler Anderson. Harrison & Li McClary on the death of Harrison’s mother, Mary Ann Harrison McClary, who died on February 27. Sympathy to Ashleigh McClary. Sympathy to the friends and family of Kay Adelaide Ogilvie Williams, who died on March 2. Vikki & Charlie Johnson, Jr. on the death of Charlie’s father, Charles Maurice Johnson, who died on March 6. Sympathy to Taylor Johnson, Keats & Philip Leach and Collins Grace Leach. Catherine & J.T. Martin on the death of Catherine’s father, Kermit B. Kaiser, Jr., who died on March 10. Sympathy to Kaiser, Mary Catherine & James Timothy, Jr. If any member of the church desires the Christian support of a Stephen Minister, contact Sandra Randleman (615-298-9502). The Sacrament of Baptism In the presence of family, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church and God, the following person claimed God’s covenant promise through the Sacrament of Baptism. Anne & Josh Buckley presented their son, Bennett Marion Buckley, for baptism on March 1. Assisting Elders were Nancy & Bob Walkenhorst. LENT 2015: Psalm 23 The Good Shepherd Passion/Palm Sunday Sunday, March 29 • 8:30, 11:00 A.M. & 5:30 P.M. The children’s choirs will wave palm branches in the opening procession. Maundy Thursday Thursday, April 2 Dinner* is at 5:30 P.M. (Courtenay Hall). Communion Worship Service at 6:30 P.M. (Sanctuary). Nursery care** is available during worship. Good Friday Friday, April 3 Good Friday Service is at Noon (Chapel). Service of Tenebrae is at 7:00 P.M. Easter Day Sunday, April 5 • 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 A.M. & 5:30 P.M. (No Sunday School) Nursery care** is available during worship. Sunrise Service at 6:30 A.M. (Sullivan Gardens) No Nursery Care Easter Breakfast at 7:00 A.M. (Courtenay Hall) *Reservations required. Call 615-383-1815. **Nursery care is available for children 3 and under. SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2015 PALM SUNDAY MARCH 29, 2015 Sermon “Abiding with the Shepherd” Sermon “In the Presence of My Enemies” Scripture Readings Psalm 23 John 15:1-17 Scripture Readings Psalm 27 Mark 11:1-11 Todd Jones Pastor Todd Jones Pastor First grade is a year of transition in Sunday School. The location of the classroom is new for the children as they move out of the Children’s Ministry Wing and meet in Oak Hill School classrooms. The curriculum from the Presbyterian Publishers invites the first graders to use a Bible and practice finding their Bible passage. Many of our first graders are using the Bible they received as a three year old, reading the story in addition to looking at the pictures in this Read and Learn Bible. For the first time, these children can serve one of our Serving Together agencies — they served three times at Room In The Inn on our church campus on Wednesday nights. Special friendships have formed in this first grade class, and children look forward to seeing each other as they gather on Sunday. Meet the teachers of the First Grade Class: These leaders have helped these children form community! They make Sunday School learning fun with art projects, fun ways to remember the Bible story and rituals that have meaning for the children. This class has several veteran leaders sharing their love of God with the children. Laura Anderson Catharine Davis Mary Earthman Jori Graeff Claire Moody Brent Moody Rick Reisner Richmond Ross Sarah Ross Alice Wall 2015 Spring Inquirers’ Class • Would you like to know about the Presbyterian faith? • Would you like to know more about First Presbyterian Church, Nashville? • Are you considering church membership? • Would you like to learn about how to become involved in the life of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville? An Inquirers’ Class will be held on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3 and 10, during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:45 A.M.) in the Session Room (MW-203 on the 2nd floor of the Ministry Wing). If you are interested in uniting with First Presbyterian Church as members or just wish to learn more about the history and mission of First Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church, you are invited to attend. Registration is not necessary. For more information, please call the church office (615-383-1815) or Sandra Randleman at 615-298-9502). Sports Clinics, OHDC Provides Full Day of Learning Fun Our Sports Clinic will take place between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and noon. After noon, the sports campers will join the regular day camp groups so they can enjoy typical OHDC fun like swimming, games and summer activities until regular dismissal at 3:00 P.M. Ages: Rising 2nd grade to 6th Dates: Soccer Camp: June 1-12 Basketball Camp: June 15-26 about the legacy for the modern world of John Calvin, the most influential person in Presbyterian history. Our guide will be Dr. Clifford Anderson, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School (M.Div.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). Cliff serves Vanderbilt University as Director of Scholarly Communications. Dr. Clifford Anderson On the five Wednesdays of April, Cliff will lead us on an exploration of Calvinism as a worldview, Calvinism and religion, Calvinism and politics, Calvinism and science, and Calvinism and the arts, all borrowing lenses from John Calvin. After this course, you’ll never look at John Calvin or Calvinism the same way again. Spring Wednesdays include dinner, served from 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. and class until 7:00 P.M. Contact Ginny Barber or visit the church website to let us know you’ll need a meal. Vacation Bible School 2015 Join us June 23-25, 2015, at G-Force VBS from 8:45noon. Children ages 4½ in June through those entering grade 3 in the fall of 2015 will move with God, putting God’s love into action. Through Bible study, including God’s call to Moses and the healing stories of Jesus and the story of Jesus’ Resurrection, children will learn how God calls us to move, act, care, follow and share. Science experiments will show children how God’s world is always in motion. Music, velocity memory verses and fellowship will be part of the VBS morning. Register now (childrens.fpcnashville.org/vbs/vbs-registration/). Times: 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Cost: $475 per session Mission Camp Finds a New Date on the Calendar! Early Care: 7:30 - 8:45 A.M. ($100 per session) Aftercare: 3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. ($120 per session) Mission Camp, an opportunity to serve those in need in the local Nashville area for children entering grades 4-6 in the fall of 2015, will be held July 20-23 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., with oreintation on July 19 for campers and their parents. Join us as we are God’s hands throughout Nashville. Each Mission camper will serve at one agency all week, building relationships as they serve and learning about the causes of hunger, homelessness, illiteracy, poverty and the issues of the aging. This is a fun week of fellowship with other FPC tweens as we discover each other’s gifts for serving God. Registration is limited, so register now on our website. Deposit required ($105 per session) Calvin’s Spectacles: The Legacy of Calvinism for Our World John Calvin is often imagined, if he is imagined at all, as the implacable snoop who enforced a prudish morality on the citizens of Geneva, a steely spinner of harsh theological doctrines about a depraved humanity and a fierce God predestining people to heaven or hell. (Peter Steinfells, New York Times July 3, 2009) Is that a fair picture? It’s certainly a common one. This April on Wednesday evenings, you have the chance to learn Congregational Care Connections Available to You Scholarship Assistance is available to FPC members for all FPC-sponsored trips by contacting Sandra (615-298-9502 or [email protected]). China/Taiwan August 2015 Dates: August 10-23 Cost: $4,500 (est); $1,500 deposit due April 1. Brief Details: Relational and cultural visits to learn more about Christian ministry in the Chinese and Taiwanese context. PC(USA) Missionary John McCall and Outreach Foundation China Mission Specialist Peter Lim will serve as our in-country leaders. Dominican Republic November 2015 Dates: October 31 – November 6 Cost: $1,300 (est); $800 deposit due June 1; vaccinations recommended. Brief Details: Medical personnel offer family practice medicine, surgery, dental care or eye care in clinics or in the field depending on team member expertise; non-medical participants needed to assist in processing patients or work on clinic construction. Trip Leaders: Dr. Jim Cato, Dr. Betsy Triggs and Rev. Dr. Todd Jones. Contact Patricia Heim in Missions Office to sign up for any adult mission trip (615-298-9593 or [email protected]). The parish news now includes an opportunity for you to learn more about how you can pray for your fellow church members. In each edition of the parish news, you will see an image of hands holding a small cross with the instructions, “Congregational Care Connections. Please click image for more information.” A click will lead you to a page with information concerning current prayer requests, recent deaths and information for expressing sympathy to family members, hospitalizations, births and other congregational care news. We hope this information will help you feel more connected with your church community and better able to reach out to others to share the compassion and love of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your ministry to your fellow church members. “If one member suffers, all suffer together with him or her; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with him or her” I Corinthians 12:26. New Creation Church Anticipates More Easter Egg Hunters, Needs More Eggs New Creation Church, the church planted by FPC and growing in Hendersonville, is hosting its second community Easter egg hunt. The church is in need of plastic eggs filled with candy or trinkets and asks individuals, Sunday School classes and other FPC groups to help meet the increased demand for eggs. Last year, the church had approximately 100 baskettoting, egg-searching kids experiencing a tradition of the season. Children and adults had a blast! New Creation is grateful that success breeds success and finds itself franticly trying to buy and stuff eggs at the last minute. Last year, organizers did not anticipate so many kids and did not have enough eggs for the children who were there. New Creation Program Director Lauren Powell anticipates a need over 3,000 eggs this year! If you are willing to supply filled plastic eggs, please bring them to the Hospitality Desk by March 29. Community of Belonging First Presbyterian has been engaged in a process of implementing a new vision that has seven specific strategic initiatives for the future of our church. Our goals and metrics are how we assimilate, grow and engage our membership including new members, visitors, participants, extended families and our community in ministry. Our Vision: First Presbyterian Church is a church family where all generations exhibit Christ’s love through lives marked by gratitude, hospitality and generosity. One of the seven initiatives is to “create personal connections and relationships by fostering, facilitating, creating, growing, expanding and communicating small, community groups for all generations.” This will be our way of developing and building communities of belonging. Communities of Belonging are groups that bring people together in significant relationship. We want to build a strong, connected community. Community is about the experience of belonging. The word “belong” has two meanings. First, to belong is to be related to or a part of something. It is membership, the experience of being at home in the broadest sense of that term. It is the opposite of thinking that wherever I am, I would be better off somewhere else. The second meaning of the word “belong” has to do with being an owner. Something belongs to me. What I consider mine I will build and nurture, the wider and deeper sense of emotional ownership. It means fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. This is exactly what Jesus envisioned when he created the Church. The Church today may be the last opportunity of building a beloved community of belonging. Many of us grew up in a small town or where citizenship and accountability were admired and the church played a vital role in forming and developing lives. The need to create a structure of belonging grows out of the isolated nature of our lives, our institutions and our communities. The absence of belonging is so widespread that we might say we are living in an age of isolation. Ours has been referred to as the “age of anxiety.” Ironically, we talk today of how small our world has become (globalization). We have instant sharing of information, quick technology, workplaces that operate around the globe. Yet these do not necessarily create a sense of belonging. Our isolation occurs because Western culture with its individualistic narrative fragments us. Media, often, is about fear and retribution instead of possibilities and faith. We are bombarded daily by negative issues while missing the opportunity to grow and relate to others. Community offers the promise of belonging and calls us to acknowledge our interdependence. Hospitality is the welcoming of strangers and generosity is our offer with no expectation of return. The power of building communities of belonging including: • Focus on Gifts – Community is built by focusing on people’s gifts rather than their deficiencies. • Associated Life – Groups of people voluntarily coming together to do some good. We must be careful not to professionalize care. This should be grassroots. • Power in Our Hands – Faith in citizens to develop and solve problems for themselves. Communities are built from the assets and gifts of their citizens, not from the needs or deficiencies. FPC currently has 180 groups that touch people’s lives. This doesn’t include our four separate worship services, which are communities on their own. We want to grow organically, based upon people gifts and talents. This is not something one can force, but we want to afford people the opportunity to find that community of belonging. The essential insight is that people will be accountable and committed to what they have a hand in creating. We have seen evidence of this in the sheer organic growth of Bible study outside of worship and Sunday mornings. FPC is blessed with strong leadership and growth in a nation in where there is a decline of church membership and participation. Our church has grown every year over the past 12 years. We are a Mission Driven Church. We have tripled our financial support to missions to over $1.2 million annually and our mission participation continues to expand. In our Stewardship Campaign you were asked to pledge not only money but time and talent. A key part of that transformation we seek involves: 1. Small Groups that create new relationships. 2. Conversations that develop richer context. 3. Strong Associated Life around common purpose. This will require our focus of resources and member involvement as we build stronger relationships. This is a key to our church’s future and can involve everyone in this important initiative. Bill Kirby Co-Chair, Long Range Planning Scout Troop Notches Two More Military Academy Appointments Congratulations to the Jo King Circle! First Presbyterian’s Boy Scout Troop 217 recently celebrated with its latest two military academy appointees, as Eagle Scouts Tripp Waller and Quin Cochran shared the news that they have received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. Waller is also awaiting word about an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Just since 2000, five Troop 217 Eagle Scouts have received appointments. The others are Giles Evans (West Point), Paul Caruso (Air Force Academy) and Michael Heim (West Point). All of the five except Cochran are First Presbyterian members (Cochran attends Westminster Presbyterian). Troop 217 visited FPC for 11:00 A.M. worship on February 8, the very day of the birth of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. Troop 217 has been sponsored by FPC for 59 years, since 1956. The Troop’s newest Scoutmaster is David Henry, who took over in 2013. Henry is a teacher at J.T. Moore Middle School. He also owns (so Nashville!) a recording studio and plays cello and other instruments in sessions around town, including on the Grand Ole Opry. The Jo King Circle has been honored as the 2014 Volunteer Group of the Year by the Hospital Hospitality House. The circle has received this award two consecutive years. Hospital Hospitality is a local mission supported by the circle that prepares at least 100 non-perishable sack lunches for their guests. The sack lunches are prepared at each meeting. Myra Ishee and Jean Wallace are the co-circle leaders. The Columbarium of First Presbyterian Church Churchyard cemeteries were a tradition in Europe and America, and can still be found near many historic places of worship as well as near many country churches. There is comfort and peace in knowing you will be laid to rest at the church in which you have worshiped, witnessed baptisms and perhaps participated in marriages. Our church reached out to meet a perceived need of its members when it established the Columbarium in 1991. The word columbarium is derived from the Latin word calumba meaning “dove,” the symbol of God’s Spirit. The concept has been in existence for centuries but came to life at our church on Easter Sunday 1992. We have a total of 648 spaces, with 567 spaces that are either occupied or reserved by our church members and their families. There are 81 spaces that are still available. Hopefully, you will give prayerful consideration to reserving spaces for you and your family. For information concerning the Columbarium, you may contact Cindy Bozman (615-298-9507 or [email protected]). 10:55 Worship Service Ends March 22; Gratitude to 10:55 Leaders In October of 2013, the church launched a new worship service, the 10:55, in hopes of providing an attractive alternative for members who did not attend the sanctuary or the 5:30 services. While the 10:55 has provided a niche for a faithful group, it has not drawn sufficient numbers of worshipers to warrant the continued labor and expense. Because of that, the last 10:55 will meet on March 22. Members of the original planning team poured much love and labor into launching the 10:55 and deserve our gratitude: Betsy Funk, Alli Simpson, Darryl Thompson, Nathan Brandon, Tom Wright, Harold Harr, Erika Shapiro and Nelson Andrews. Musicians Eric Near and Kevin Swears have offered themselves faithfully in creating a musical identity for the service, and David Goold and Decker Chaney have provided able technical skill. The Long Range Planning Committee considers the 10:55 a worthy effort that will inform us as we move forward. That group already is discussing lessons learned that might enrich our worship in the sanctuary, as well as keeping an open mind to other experiments in alternative worship services. If you have comments or suggestions about the 10:55 or future efforts, please contact Stuart Gordon or Austin McMullen of the Long Range Planning Committee. First Friends’ Upcoming Trips June 9-11, Memphis November 2-6, Natchez Please visit Bookmarks, your FPC bookstore, on March 22 at 9:30 A.M. for a book signing by author M.K. Key, Ph.D. Get itineraries on the church website or from the Hospitality Center. Welcome, New Members, to First Presbyterian Church! Elyse Bartleson joined First Presbyterian Church by profession of faith. Patricia Golden joined First Presbyterian Church by transfer from Snellville United Methodist Church in Snellville, GA. Rachel Davis joined First Presbyterian Church by transfer from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, SC. She is married to W. Lipscomb Davis, IV. Sherri Marshall joined First Presbyterian Church by transfer from Living Hope in Cookeville, TN. She is married to Mark. They have a son, Elliot. Shelly Gary joined First Presbyterian Church by profession of faith. Anne Elizabeth McIntosh and her son, Andrew Sutphin, joined First Presbyterian Church by transfer from First Baptist Church. Inquirers’ Class Donna Platt joined First Presbyterian Church by transfer from Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN. Ryan Walker joined First Presbyterian Church by reaffirmation of faith. He is married to Elizabeth Walker. They have two children, Annie & Graham Walker. Worth Scott joined First Presbyterian Church by profession of faith. He is married to Patricia Scott. They have a son, Worthen Graham Scott, Jr. Lauren & Tyler Wilson joined First Presbyterian Church. Lauren by transfer from First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove, IL. Tyler by profession of faith. Candace & Iain Shriver joined First Presbyterian Church. Candace by transfer from Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA, and Iain by transfer from Messiah Lutheran in Madison, AL. NONPROFIT ORG U S POSTAGE PAID NASHVILLE, TN PERMIT NO. 27 4815 Franklin Pike ■ Nashville, TN 37220 Dated church material Please deliver by March 21, 2015 First Presbyterian Church 4815 Franklin Pike Nashville, Tennessee 37220 www.fpcnashville.org facebook.com/fpcnashville Pastors Todd Jones Pastor Sam Cooper Executive Pastor Adam DeVries Associate Pastor to Youth & Their Families Mark DeVries Associate Pastor for New Ministries Stuart Gordon Associate Pastor for Discipleship Keith Gunter Associate Pastor for New Church Development Sandra Randleman Associate Pastor for Congregational Care & Missions Program Staff Raphael Bundage Director of Music Brenda Geise Older Adult Ministry Coordinator Letitia Green Director of Recreation Youth Happenings March 22, Sunday School: Grades 7-12 will meet in The Gathering Place at 9:40 A.M., then meet for Sunday School as JH and HS groups. March 29, Sunday School: Grades 7-12 will meet in The Gathering Place at 9:40 A.M., then meet for Sunday School as grade level groups. All 7th Graders are invited to attend the joint boys and girls 10:24 meeting on Sunday, March 29, 3:30-5:00 P.M. at the Dashiffs’ home (425 Royal Oaks Drive/37205) for games, snacks and fun! Let us know that you are coming. Contact ([email protected] or 615-298-9570). Please let us know if you have changes to your contact information. Email changes to ([email protected] or 615-298-9570). Patricia Heim Missions Coordinator Susan Kirby Worship Coordinator Michelle Mangum Director of Communications Deb O’Brien Director of Children’s Ministry Administration Ginny Barber Administrative Assistant Cindy Bozman Finance Manager Lynn Elliott Executive Assistant Karen Fitts Nursery Coordinator Zonia Nunley Property Manager Kim Rogers Food Service Schools Jennifer Hinote Head of School, Oak Hill School Brenda Lutz Director, FPC Early Preschool sunday evening worship at fpc The Gathering Place @ 5:3O p.m.
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