Wednesday, April 2, 2014
THIS WEEKEND - WITH JESUS in a Cemetery - John 11:1-45
Saturday, April 5 - THE BRANCH - 5:10pm -
Pastor Brent Lawrence preaching
Sunday, April 6 - 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 Bob Milburn 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 SECOND SESSION IN 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, is on the second class of the series. Classes will repeat in May in case you are unable to attend at 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: This week, April 6, What We Believe and April 13, Getting Connected. The first class, Who We Are will repeat again in May. 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.
THIS IS THE LAST SUNDAY TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE WOMEN'S MINISTRIES SPRING EVENT! SEE ARTICLE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR TICKET!
Last week our church, through our 510 Foundation and a very generous donor, as well as the Cheryl's List ministry led by Eddie Hales, was able to purchase and deliver 15 new sets of mattresses and box springs for the victims of the fire at the CWA Homes complex on Fatherland Street. Here are some pictures of the delivery. The church in action! A great day indeed!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WIGGINS FAMILY!
Dustin and Melissa welcomed baby girl Kinsley to the world on Friday! She joins big sister Kylie.
THANKS to all who participated in the Church Workday past Saturday – a BIG thanks to 21 volunteers/staff who served! They replaced ceiling tiles, stripped wallpaper, painted, trimmed bushes and trees, mulched flower beds, and cleaned/repainted our parking lots. Since rain interrupted the outside work, several will return this Tuesday and Wednesday to finish up, weather permitting. Good job!
After a lengthy battle with cancer, Tamzy Lancaster peacefully went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 28. The daughter of Ray & Shirley Dey, she is survived also by two sisters, Julia Wheeler and Coronda Junier, and two brothers, Roy Dey and Carlton Dey. A wonderful lady who loved people and loved by everyone who knew her, she will be sadly missed by friends and family alike. A memorial service will be held in Heritage Chapel of First Church of the Nazarene on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 7:00pm, with visitation from 5:30-7:00pm.
Rev. Melvin Thompson, Sr., the father of Mel Thompson, Jr., passed away on Tuesday, April 1. Rev. Thompson is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy Thompson, sons, Mel Thompson and Alan Thompson, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene for over 35 years and after his retirement, continued to serve as interim pastor in several churches. He was greatly loved and respected by his family and all who knew him. A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 7:00pm at Gateway Community Church of the Nazarene, 584 Franklin Road in Franklin. Visitation begins at 3:00pm.
Pastor Sabrina Jones (and Sam) and Pastor Matt Taylor (and Charly) were part of the District Retreat last weekend for 20 pastors who are preparing for Ordination. It was a very effective weekend of assessment. In addition, Pastor Oldham was part of the presenting team and he and Pastor Ulmet spent the day Saturday interviewing the candidates for their credentials.
Congratulations to a couple of our college students on special achievements!
Tyler Whetstone, senior at Trevecca Nazarene University, was named one of three finalists for the Associated Press (AP) Media Editors Award for Best Newspaper Reporter. The editors picked from applications from across the state and recognized Tyler who is the editor of Trevecca's student newspaper TrevEchoes. He was named winner of the Best Newspaper Reporter award and also won a surprise award that went to the top five college journalists who the organization considered "best in show" based on all articles submitted to the contest.
He says: "All of this is on top of my newly accepted position as government beat reporter for the Jackson Sun in Jackson, Tennessee. Kristen (Burgett) and I will move to Jackson after we get hitched in May. Needless to say, I’m blessed beyond anything I deserve and I wasn’t expecting any of this to fall my way. Kristen and I are also eagerly awaiting the move to Jackson so we can get started on this career and married life.
Trevecca sophomore Christy Ulmet has been accepted by the CCCU Washington Journalism Center. Christy will spend the fall-2014 semester at the Center which "will cultivate professional news skills and encourage students to think through the implications of being a Christian working in the news media in a city that is home to the powerful and the powerless." Quoted from their website.
Christy says:
The center is a small part of a program that hosts 11 other semester opportunities, called BestSemester. Each program includes classes focused on your major, as well as an internship within the field. I will be taking three journalism classes, as well as an internship within a newspaper, tv station, or radio station. I could not be more excited for what is to come in my fall semester in DC!
GIVING REPORT POSITIVE! Our offering for Sunday, March 30 helped us to again meet our weekly giving projection for this month by a little over $2,700. We have now have exceeded our budgeted projection in four of the past five months (November-March) by approximately $10,000. Praise the Lord for His abundance and your faithful stewardship! We are trusting God to help us in these final two months of the church fiscal year to meet all obligations, and perhaps make up some of the $71,000 shortfall from June-October. If you have questions, please contact Pastors Ulmet or Oldham, or Debbie and Becky in the church finance office.
Greetings from Chicagoland where I am preparing on this "high and holy day" - OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON! - to cheer on my beloved White Sox in their opener versus the Minnesota Twins. I have always found that for three hours during a major league baseball game, the world is mostly as it should be, especially if my team is winning. It's relaxing. It's refreshing. It's renewing. The food is great (especially where I am privileged to be during games!). And I'm with friends with whom there is mutual respect. Does it get any better than that?
I have had some varied thoughts on the life and grace of Christ extended that I want to share today. They aren't necessarily connected, or are they?
>GRACE IS WORLD-WIDE! Two Sundays ago we were privileged at NFCN to have as "walk-in" guests, having found us on the internet, Dr. Marco Gastaldo and his wife, also a new medical school graduate, from Torino, Italy. Devoted Roman Catholics, they were seeking to visit a church on their vacation to America where "the gospel was preached." After being warmly greeted by Jeff Falvo who sat with them for the service, they were deeply moved, and told me afterwards "the gospel was preached here today." Jeff has become a "facebook friend" with them, and Karen and I have been invited to visit them when we visit Italy in a few years. Isn't grace great?
>GRACE HAS AN URGENCY! Sunday morning in preaching from John 9:4 where Jesus urges us to "work as long as it is day, for the night is coming, when no one can work," and reflecting back on the woman at the well from last week when Jesus "had to go through Samaria" - obviously to see her, I was reminded of how we must never deter from the course God has called us to as Christ's ambassadors here on earth. We may well miss the very opportunity He has engineered for us to advance His Kingdom!
I thought of last Friday night's NCAA tournament game between my beloved Louisville and the dreaded arch-rival Kentucky. The most painful loss I've experienced as a sports fan I might add! 65 seconds was the difference. You see, as so often happens in sports, one team outplays another team for, say, 38 minutes and 55 seconds. In a 40-minute game, one would assume that team should win, as the better team. But close games aren't decided in the first "38 and 55", they're often decided in the last 65 seconds, as this game was. Indeed sometimes a team that has never led until the buzzer gets the win! It's the old "thief on the cross" or "last hour laborer" concept from New Testament.
I take two lessons away from that: 1. As Christ's ambassadors, we are always "on duty" for the Kingdom - we must not miss the opportunities the Holy Spirit leads us into people's lives for. 2. Grace finds a way - even in the last hour, to extend to those seeking God! Amazing grace, isn't it?
>GRACE CONTINUES! Our mission statement at NFCN calls us to "be found faithful in our generation." The ongoing work of the Kingdom - never ends until the trumpet sounds! I was reminded of this powerfully on Sunday morning, as Mark Jarrett was in our Welcome Class with his wife, Marjorie and daughters Faith and Hope. In a moment of poignance, Mark said "it was in this VERY ROOM - in my early childhood, that we were brought in for a Catechism class preparing us to join the church as children. Now here I am again, with my family. Same room!" Wow. Puts everything in perspective, doesn't it!
Just some thoughts on baseball's opening day. May your world "be as it should be" even if for just a few hours today. God bless you and be with you
Pastor Ulmet
MOMS@510
Please join Moms@510 (for mothers of pre-school children) this Friday, April 4 at 10:00am. They will meet in Reed Building, Room 100 as they discuss the book, "power of a Praying Parent." Childcare is provided.
EASTER VIDEO BOOTH
Next Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, a video booth will be set up in the corner of the Woodland Street Mall to be accessible before or after the Branch and Celebration Worship services. Anyone may approach the booth and give a brief recorded testimony answering one of these two questions: "Where have you seen resurrection happening in your life, or in your friends, community, or the world?' Share an example or story in which Jesus was alive and real in the pat year." A host will be there to provide instruction. Consider sharing your voice this Easter as the video testimonies will be edited to be shown in our worship services on Easter weekend!
MEN OF VALOR PRISON MINISTRY
Please PRAY for the annual Men of Valor breakfast this Tuesday, April 8, at 7:00am at Brentwood Baptist Church. Our own Carl Carlson leads this significant ministry. Pray for the goals to be met.
KING'S MEN
This 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.
WOMEN'S MINISTRIES SPRING EVENT!
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. For more information about La-Tan, click here. 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.
ANN DOWNING - APRIL 13 AT 6:00PM
Ann Downing will be our special guest in concert on Sunday, April 13 at 6:00pm. Make plans now to be part of this great evening of music.
EASTER LILIES
If you would like to have an Easter lily placed in the Sanctuary on Ester Sunday, April 20 as a memorial to a loved one, please contact Tina Diehl. The cost is $13.95 per plant.
LENTEN LUNCH SERVICES
Again this year the Brush Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church has sponsored Community Lenten Lunch and Devotional Services each Wednesday at 11:30am. Our Emmaus Fellowship Pastor Bob Milburn will be providing the lunch fix'ns and the devotional for the service on Wednesday, April 16 during Holy Week.
EASTER WEEK AT NFCN
Maundy Thursday, April 17, 6:30pm - We will be rehearsing Jesus' final night with his disciples including the Last Supper and prayer in Gethsemane. We will celebrate communion together as part of the service.
Good Friday, April 18, 6:30pm - Join us as we journey through the last events leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is a time to connect in an and fresh way with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and its implications on our lives today.
Saturday, April 19
11:00am-1:00pm - Community Easter Egg Hunt
5:10pm - Resurrection Celebration with the Branch
Sunday, April 20
8:30am and 10:30am Resurrection Celebration Services
9:30-10:45am Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall
9:30-10:30am "Walk With Jesus - An Easter Event for Families" in the Press and Family Pictures in the Gym
COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT
Our Third Annual East Nashville Community Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April 19 from 11:00am-1:00pm in East Park. Please invite your friends and family. We would love for you to all plan to join us for this wonderful opportunity to reach out with a fun event that shares the victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please help us with this event as we EXTEND the LIFE of Christ. We need you! Contact Pastor Sabrina Jones if you are willing to assist.
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.
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.
NFCN LOGO WEAR
You have the opportunity to purchase NFCN logo wear. There are several styles of shirts on display i the Reed Lobby. Or click here to request 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.
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.
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.