Friday, March 7, 2014

THIS WEEKEND ASHES TO FIRE SERIES BEGINS!
March 8-9: WITH JESUS IN THE DESERT (Matthew 4)

Saturday - THE BRANCH - 5:10pm - Pastor Brent Lawrence preaching
Sunday - CELEBRATION WORSHIP - 9:00am - Pastor Kevin Ulmet returns to the pulpit
BELIEVER BAPTISMS will be celebrated!

This is the week we move our clocks forward one hour for Daylight Savings.  Remember to set your clock on Saturday and you'll arrive on time for Sunday's services!

WELCOME CLASS CONTINUES THIS SUNDAY
Pastor Kevin Ulmet invites all who have begun to attend Nashville First Church of the Nazarene in recent days and those who may have been here awhile to a special three week Welcome Class.  Classes will repeat each month in case you are unable to attend all three this month.  All classes begin at 10:30am in room 204 of the Greathouse Building and a light breakfast will be provided.  Our topics are:  March 9 What We Believe and March 16, Getting Connected.  The first class of the series,  Who We Are will be repeated in April.    Please reserve your space by contacting Adrianne Brewer. 

EMMAUS will be meeting at 5:30pm.  Contact Pastor Bob Milburn to get involved with this service and ministry. 

SUNDAY EVENING - 6:00pm - Pastor Ulmet preaches from Matthew 4 and Romans 5:  GREATER THAN...!  Continuing from our theme Sunday morning and expanding into the connected scriptures!

THE QUEST!
Feeling spiritually sluggish? Hungry for healing? Thirsting for wholeness?  If you realize you can’t go with God while staying where you are and you’re willing to leave your comfort zone and return to 510 on a cold Sunday night, you may be ready for the Quest—but the only way you’ll know is to get up and go! Discover the Quest: a unique participative experience rediscovering an ancient Christian path to relational healing and spiritual wholeness. The journey takes place each Sunday night @ 6:00pm in Greathouse, room 207. 

ASHES TO FIRE 2014 DEVOTIONAL
We have now sold out of our Ashes to Fire Devotional Journals.  Information about purchasing digital copies in various formats is available here.  Nazarene Publishing House also has paperback copies available to order for $9.99 and may be ordered by clicking here. 


We are rejoicing in the faithfulness of God through His people in the month of February.  As reported in last weekend's bulletins, the February financial need was fully met!  Praise the Lord!  March is now upon us, with another budget goal to meet.  Let's continue to give obediently and joyfully!
 
We are also rejoicing in the strong attendance for Spiritual Renewal services this year, given the invasion of inclement winter weather.  We had such challenging messages from Dr. David Sharpes, the District Superintendent of Upstate New York Churches of the Nazarene.  Rev. Kim McLean led us in worship with such anointing and giftedness in the evening services with her unique country music blend and style.  These will be services long remembered.  We ended strong with 350 attending the Ash Wednesday service - a truly unforgettable moment with God! 

The month of February has been a blurring whirlwind of spiritual activity, and I admit some exhaustion is part of the price of such a month, but I am rejoicing tonight in the powerful experiences we've shared together.
 
The month began with Faith Promise Weekend 2014.  Dr. Jim Copple was used of the Holy Spirit to bring both deep conviction to our hearts and to expand our faith and optimism for the future advancement of God's Kingdom with his challenging messages.  I will never forget that Sunday morning message.  Indeed, with the help of our denominational headquarters I have had a video link copy of that message sent to every large Nazarene church pastor in the USA and Canada.  We now have a large team preparing to go to Kenya in 2015 as part of the Kenya Partnership we are officially a part of, thanks to the unanimous approval of our Church Board.  Additionally, well over $150,000 has now been promised by faith to Missions Giving for 2014.  
 
We never could have imagined the tragedy that would take the lives of Jon and Marion Setzer, and the resulting situation Laura Parker and her four sons now face in their future.  Our church family surrounded Laura's family, we grieved together in weekend services and in the Memorial Service, and thousands of dollars have been given to help sustain them during this time of transition.  Christ's body has truly been His Church during this time.
 
Wonderfull Weekend was a very effective time in our church's history, helping us to connect with hundreds of people new to our church and seeing dozens of commitments to Christ.  We are baptizing some of them this Sunday!  It was also an intense time of training and experience in influencing people towards the Kingdom.  To God be the Glory!

We hosted the Tennessee District's Improve Your Serve training event last Saturday at NFCN - with dozens of people helping us host well over 300 people in our facility for the day.  It was an effective day of learning, and special thanks goes to Pastor Bruce Oldham and his team for the success of this event.
 
The month ended with Spiritual Renewal Week ​beginning.  Yes, it has been a LOT of activity.  Yes, many of us are rather tired physically and mentally.  But consider the things the Spirit has been saying to us through all of this. And rejoice in His faithfulness to His People through it all.  God is up to something.  We are joining Him in what He's doing.  There's no better way to live than that.  It's a privilege to be your Pastor.
 
Pastor Ulmet

 

A special Sunday edition of FPU begins this Sunday, March 9 at 6:00pm with special emphasis on recent/soon-to-be college grads, new career professionals, and young families but open to all. If interested, register today here or contact Pastor Bruce Oldham.

SON OF GOD IS NOW IN THEATERS
From the producers of the record-breaking miniseries The Bible, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, comes Son of God, the first major motion picture on the complete life of Jesus Christ in nearly 50 years.  The film features powerful performances, dazzling visual effects and a rich orchestral score from Hans Zimmer.  For more information about the film and to view the trailer, click here.

SENIOR ADULT DINNER - MARCH 13
Mark your calendars and make plans to come Thursday night, March 13 for the Senior Adult Dinner.   The gospel singing Goodnews Quartet will be our guests.  As always, the church will provide the fried chicken and coffee - please bring a side dish to share.  For more information, contact Pastor Jack Galloway.

KING'S MEN
The next meeting of the missionary chapter, King's Men, is Saturday, March 15.  Contact Ron Simmons for more information about this group. 
Next month's meeting will be April 12, a week earlier than normal. 

SPECIAL MEMORIAL SERVICE
There will be a Memorial Service for Wayne Monk in the Koininia Class Sunday, March 16 in the first portion of the Sunday School hour.  Wayne passed away in December and his class would like to take this time to remember him.  The class meets in the gym and all are welcome to join them for this special moment. 

NEW SPRING BIBLE STUDY FOR WOMEN
We are excited to announce that the next women's Bible study will begin on March 19 and go through May 7 in Reed Room 100.  The study for this session is by Angela Thomas and is called  Stronger:  Finding Hope in Fragile Places.  This study provides tools to help women:
 
•Stop facing today in weakness and be strengthened by God's promises to every Christ follower
•Tackle everyday struggles empowered with a biblical understanding of God's riches and His love
•Overcome spiritual immaturity through Christ-centered teaching that produces growth and change
•Break life-long patterns of defeat and despair, refocused on the glorious hope promised to us in Christ
•Remove paralyzing inner anxiousness and truly live in the peace that surpasses all understanding
Contact Pastor Sabrina Jones with questions.

MEMORIAL GIFTS
If you would like to honor Jon and Marion Setzer's memory, and would like to assist financially in the major financial needs of their daughter, Laura Parker and family, including her four sons, as they face a new and unplanned future, you may do so.  You may give your tax-deductible gift by submitting your gift to First Church of the Nazarene, marked "Setzer Memorial" on the check or envelope.  We will then distribute these funds to future financial needs in the family as they arise.  

We have extended providing meals for the Parker family for one more month.  Please go to www.takethemameal.com to help the family in this way.  You will need to use the last name Parker and the password "parker" to sign-up and see detailed information. 

ROOM AT THE INN: We thank all those who have accepted a role in our hospitality ministry to those experiencing homelessness this winter.  We are still in need of volunteers to assist us in this much needed endeavor.  The final dates for this season are March 13 & 27.  For more information and questions contact Emmaus Fellowship Pastor Bob Milburn.

KENYA PARTNERSHIP
Anyone interested in contributing to the Kenya Partnership Gender-Based Violence Response Advance Team trip can do so by marking their gifts "Kenya Partnership Advance Team."  We estimate the total cost at approximately $15,000. You may give to this at any service or On-line - but please clearly mark your gift.

GIVING KIOSK IS COMING! 
In the next few weeks you will notice a giving kiosk near the Connection Center in the lobby.  We are implementing a new option for giving at the church. We will soon be taking time in the service to inform our congregants using this new technology as well as the down loadable app from the app store on your smart phone.  This  giving kiosk will give our people the opportunity to give with a debit or credit card.  It can also be used to make payments for mission trips, ski trips, teen camp, kids camp, and other activities and ministry opportunities at the church.

The app, SecureGive, for Android or iOS users,  is now available for download to use for giving at the church.  On your smart phone go to your app store and download the Secure Give app and now you can give directly from your phone.  This can also be used for special gifts, like the Setzer memorial or Faith Promise giving.  

HAITIAN MISSION TRIP
Applications for the Medical Mission trip to Haiti this May are still being received.  We hope to construct the clinic in a local community that we are partnering with for long term medical development.  Pick up an application at the Connection Center this weekend or contact Pastor Brent Lawrence. 

2014 HEALTH AND HAPPY FEST
In preparation for our exciting 2014 Health and Happy Fest, we are now receiving unused gifts and other items for a huge Silent Auction.  All articles will be sold during the event on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 with 100% of the funds going to support the mission trips and the Haiti medical clinic construction.  Items can be dropped off at the church office Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm.  The deadline for receiving items is April 4.  Please contact Bob Turpin for more information. 

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
CHURCH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Church office receptionist volunteers are a vital support for the church and its mission.  The staff would greatly appreciate volunteers willing to work either a morning shift (9:00am-noon) or an afternoon shift (12:00-3:00pm).  Your commitment can be once a week, once a month or when you are available.  This is a wonderful opportunity to work with our great support staff and make a contribution to the smooth operation of the office.  Duties include greeting visitors, answering the phone, and other small tasks.  This is not a "ladies-only" opportunity; gentlemen are welcome.  Please contact Debbie Hines in the church office for information. 

MIDDLE TENNESSEE WOMEN'S RETREAT
The Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat is open to women of all ages and denominations.  Ann Downing Ministries serves as the host of the retreat and the theme this year is Living in the Freedom of Being Real.  This year's retreat is April 25-27 and you may find more information about MTWR 2014 by clicking here.  Get a group of friends together and enjoy a weekend with other women from around the country.