Copy
The weekly newsletter of Nashville First Church of the Nazarene.

Ministry NewsMilestones & Landmarks – Reflections on Last Weekend – Grace Stories Coming Up

Tuesday March 25, 2014
THIS WEEKEND - WITH JESUS ALONG THE ROAD
Saturday, March 29 - THE BRANCH - 5:10pm - 
Pastor Brent Lawrence preaching
Sunday, March 23 - CELEBRATION WORSHIP - 9:00am -     Pastor Kevin M. Ulmet preaching


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

SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP - 6:00pm
Pastor Scott Oldham preaching in our continuing Sunday night series.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit has been upon us in our services.  We are grateful for that.  Don't miss this weekend's Worship opportunities!

THE QUEST!
The Quest will be meeting this Sunday evening, March 23, @ 6:00pm in Greathouse, room 207. 

WELCOME CLASS BEGINS NEW SERIES THIS SUNDAY!
The Welcome Class, that is for all who have begun to attend Nashville First Church of the Nazarene in recent days and those who may have been here awhile, will begin the series of three classes again Sunday, March 30.  Classes will repeat in May in case you are unable to attend all three this time - you may attend in any order and over a period of months to work with your schedule.   All classes begin at 10:30am in room 204 of the Greathouse Building and a light breakfast will be provided.  Our topics are:  March 30, Who We Are, April 6, What We Believe and April 13, Getting Connected.  The Welcome Class is also the first step for those wishing to join the membership of NFCN and the Church of the Nazarene. For questions or to reserve your space contact Adrianne Brewer
What a great service this past Sunday evening!  Our Teens participated in Worship in large number, and Pastor Matt Taylor preaching an outstanding message.  We closed the service praying over our teens and their adult workers.  It was a special night!
 
Did you know that 26 people are enrolled and attending Financial Peace University classes on Sunday evenings? This is one of our largest groups ever.  We are excited that so many are getting control of their finances.
 
Sunday night, our pre-school kids served God by serving the pastors and staff of NFCN.  They left this note in our staff kitchen:

Dear Pastors & Staff -
This morning in our preschool lesson, we learned that Mary used perfume to wash Jesus' feet.  It was a love gift, a sweet aroma.  Last night we put into practice what we are learning!  We wanted to give a gift to God.
We came into this kitchen and cleaned everything we could reach!
Thank you for letting us give this offering.  May it be a blessing to you all.
Your friends,
Preschool 3, 4, 5s

Thank you, our kitchen smells so nice and clean!
 


ELEMENTARY BIBLE QUIZZING
Our NFCN Kids Quiz Tam placed third at the District Level Quiz Meet last Saturday, March 22 in Clarksville.  Congratulations to Macey Wade, Daniel Parker and Julianne Twining for their excellent accomplishments this year!


Have you purchased your NFCN logo wear yet?  Several attractive styles of shirts are available in the main foyer. The whole purpose is to advertise our church AND start conversations!  Imagine if all of our people wore these shirts just one day per week and everywhere they went they asked the Holy Spirit to open doors of conversation. What an opportunity for outreach.  You can order yours THIS WEEKEND!
 
GIVING UPDATE - We have now received $179,532 during the four Sundays of March towards our budgeted need of $217,749.  We are trusting God for the remaining $38,117 to be received next Sunday to reach our March goal!  All tithes and offerings received in services or on-line this week through next Monday are included.  Thank you for your faithfulness!



Continued from last week - MANAGING DIMINISHING EXPECTATIONS
 
Last week I shared with you on the subject of The Law of Diminishing Expectations.  That lowering our expectations of others and circumstances will help us live more fulfilling and positive lives in Christ, and give us great cause for rejoicing when people or institutions actually DO exceed our lowered expectations!  I would remind you that lowering your expectations of others is actually an expression of the GRACE OF GOD towards others.  Think about that.
 
Today's subject: How do we MANAGE those diminished expectations?  Dealing with our expectations of people and institutions beyond our control requires strategic management.  Let me give you some examples:
 
With your children - we should teach our children when they are young and in their teen years the principles of healthy and safe living in a biblical perspective.  Then they become adults, and we realize we can't "tell them what to do" anymore.  What now? I would suggest that we manage our expectations by praising good decisions in our adult children on a sliding scale.  We taught our children, for example, that abstinence from alcohol is the best and safest approach to life.  It's how we live.  If an adult child chooses to live that out, praise that wholeheartedly.  If, on the other hand, they choose to only occasionally drink, praise them for not drinking more.  If they choose to never drink and drive or never get drunk, praise them for those decisions of responsible action.  Etc. Etc.  If we praise them for the good decisions they are making rather than constantly criticizing them for not living up to the highest standard, we will have much more influence in their lives and better relationships with them.
 
The same for biblically-based sexual behavior.  Or for responsible handling of money. Or for their educational achievement.  Praising them for the good choices they are making will likely influence them to make more of those, all the while knowing we love them.
 
With your church - we would all run things differently "if it were up to me", right?  We would choose different music, or different styles of preaching, or different approaches to children's or youth ministry, etc.  But we are a community, led by pastors and elected leaders, and everyone's expectations cannot be fully met.  SO - do we criticize leadership or complain to others about those areas we don't like, running down morale and spirit of the whole church?  Or do we praise the worship pastor  when a song we love is sung? Or thank the children's pastor or youth pastor for a particularly good job in their ministry?  Or tell a Board member "that was a good decision you all made?"  Don't you just "feel" the difference in those approaches?  The first approach divides and depresses.  The second approach encourages and unites.  
 
With our social media communication - ​if we are using our social media services to bash ideas and people we don't like, or to call other groups names, or to make political statements that alienate others, we probably aren't having much positive influence for the Kingdom of God!  Think about it!  I just heard of someone last week who was so disillusioned by a mean-spirited political speech a professing Christian from their church had put out on facebook and many of the church members chiming in in response that the person has decided to not even attend church anymore.  What if instead we used social media to refer positively about someone's witness or influence for Christ?  Or to praise God for His blessings upon them?  Or that so many things are still right about our country and even our world?  How would that influence others?
 
Friends, people and institutions including the church will never live up to all of your expectations.  So diminish your expectations of others, while holding yourself to high standards, and manage your expectations by praising others when they "get it right."  You will love longer, happier, and more Christlike - and may even make a difference in this World for the Kingdom!
 
Pastor Ulmet

This Saturday, March 29 is the Church Work Day!  Calling all volunteers!  We need workers of all ages, genders, and skill levels to address ongoing needs of our facilities and grounds in our bi-annual work day.  We have inside and outside projects!  Please contact David Wigart to let us know you are coming, to make a project suggest or to get more information. 
 

SOFTBALL IS HERE!
Nashville First Church of the Nazarene has two teams playing Spring softball at Cedar Hill Park in Madison, TN.   Come on out to Cedar Hill and support our teams!  For more information please contact Matthew Dunlap or on the schedule is on the church website.

KING'S MEN
Next month's meeting will be April 12, a week earlier than normal. Our guest speakers are Daniel & Margarita Pesado from Spain.  Contact Ron Simmons for more information about this group. 

SAVE THE DATE!  
Saturday April 12 is Part 2 of our women’s event "Your Story - God's Glory".  We will be gathering for brunch to hear dynamic speaker La-Tan Roland Murphy. Tickets are $5 and you may purchase them this Sunday at the table near the Connection Center or click here for more information.  You don't want to miss this!

FORE HIM GOLF CLUB
The Fore Him Golf Club will be meeting for the first time on Saturday, April 12 at Country Hills Golf Course in Hendersonville, TN at 2:00pm.  For more information or to sign yourself or your entire foursome up please contact Matthew Dunlap or on our website.


THIS WEEKEND: SINGLE ADULT MINISTRIES
Single Adult Ministries is excited to announce our first all Tennessee Singles Conference for 2014.  Join us Friday evening, March 28, 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday, March 29 from 9:00am-4:00pm at Trevecca Community Church for "Grace and Faith in the Single Life Experience."  This will be a time of fellowship, connection, worship, encouragement, laughter and learning.  The conference features nine speakers and three music performances.  This conference has something for everyone:  single, single again, single parent and senior singles.  It is for all singles, all ages and all stages.  You can register here or contact Tammy or Jay Daughterly here or by calling 615 871-4264 for more information.  Registrations received by March 21 will be guaranteed three meals.  On-site registration will not include meals. 

NEW SPRING BIBLE STUDY FOR WOMEN
We are excited to announce that the next women's Bible study has begun but it is not too late for you to join in.  Come this Wednesday night, TOMORROW NIGHT!  March 26.  The study runs 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.  Contact Pastor Sabrina Jones with questions.  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

ROOM AT THE INN FINAL DATE FOR THIS SEASON!
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 date for this season is THIS THURSDAY, March 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 UPDATE 
We now offer three different avenues for giving electronically to the church: the nfcn.org website, your smartphone, or the kiosk in the Reed lobby (look for the banner near the Information Desk marking its location).  Through our nfcn.org website, click on the GIVE tab in the upper right corner and choose the Give On-line tab.  From your smartphone, download the SecureGive app and follow the instructions to set up an account.  At the kiosk, set up an account, swipe your debt or credit card, and choose to give a donation or make a payment for an event.   From anywhere -- home, office, pew, or lobby - it's quick, convenient, and secure.  Contact the church finance office if you have questions. 

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. 

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.  

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.


"THE REAL LIFE" - NFCN's television show on Cable Channel 19 in Davidson County (including all Comcast and TDS customers, and soon to include AT&T) has been given additional times by the organization that oversees Public Access television - NECAT. The times are:
Monday - 12:00pm
Tuesday - 6:30pm
Wednesday - 7:00pm
Friday - 10:30am
Saturday - 10:00am
Sunday - 4:30pm






March 28 & 29 - Tennessee Singles' Conference
March 29 - Church Volunteer Work Day
April 12 - Women's Ministries Spring Luncheon with Latan Murphy

April 12 - Fore Him Golf Club begins
April 13 - Palm Sunday
April 17 - Maundy Thursday,
service at 6:30pm
April 18 - Good Friday, service at 6:30pm
April 19 - Community Easter Egg Hunt
April 20 - Easter
- two services at 8:30 and 10:30
May 17 - Health and Happy Fest
MAY 19-30 - Haiti Work and Witness Trip
May 27- June 1 - Tennessee District Family Camp Meeting
June 2-6 - High School Camp
June 9-13 - Vacation Bible School
June 9-13 - Middle School Camp
June 16-20 - Tween Camp
June 30-July 3 - Early Elementary Camp






 
 



Copyright © 2014 Nashville First Church of the Nazarene, All rights reserved.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp