What an incredible day on Sunday. We moved the BRANCH service outside and God blessed us with dry skies until just after we finished. An estimated 500 were in attendance for the picnic and BMX show/service that followed. Pastor Andrea Garcia summarized the morning this way:
What an awesome Sunday we had sharing and fellowshipping with our community! Thank you so much for your support and love as we served food, played some fun music, enjoyed a great BMX show, and LOVED on people. May God continue to use moments like those for His glory! Give Pastor Matt Taylor and Pastor Matt Dunlap some extra love this week for their leadership towards this event. They poured a lot out this week...
We also thank all of the dozens of volunteers who made Sunday possible.
This past Saturday was the annual Health and Happy Fest. Even with rain showers most of the day, many hundreds of people enjoyed music, food, vendors and health options as well as an INSIDE BMX show! As the picture will show (if you haven't received it call Jan Darnell to get picture of bike flipping and almost hitting the top crossbeam) it was a bit close to be inside with these professionals! Pastors Nahomie and Maromy Samuel and team brought us another great day. This event is growing every year and is fast becoming an East Nashville highlight.
The Victory Sunday School Class celebrated Sunday morning in honor of Nita Johnson's 90th birthday!
Pastor Matt Taylor reports that Youth Ministry Intern Hannah Christianson is serving the Church of the Nazarene in Lewiston, Idaho as their ministry Intern this summer. We congratulate Hannah and encourage your prayers for her.
FINANCIAL UPDATE - we are on a very tight and necessary budget in this new fiscal year. Every month the needed income is REALLY needed! Our budget for May, a 5-weekend month, is just over $219,000. So far we have received app. $123,000, so we need around $96,000 over the next two weeks. Please pray with us for God's amazing provision for His Church!
TOGETHER - MORE THAN A SERMON SERIES! IT'S A WAY OF LIFE!
As we close our Easter to Pentecost series this Sunday, "TOGETHER: Living in Christian Community" - it would be good to review where we've been over these weeks. Here are the concepts we've preached and taught over the past few weeks:
Missional Compassion, Loving Others, Breaking Down Barriers, Overcoming Evil. After each of these titles was the word TOGETHER.
As Jesus prayed in his High Priestly Prayer of John 17, especially verses 21 and 23, we are to experience and exhibit true oneness of relationship, with Christ at the center. We are to live life together, share experiences together, laugh and cry together and yes - all of the above-mentioned issues we face together!
Here's the incredible news: as we experience and live out this unity, it not only witnesses to others and influences people towards the Kingdom - it makes OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR CHURCH LIFE, OUR FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES SO MUCH BETTER! Indeed, as Jesus prayed in John 17:13, He desires that we be "filled with His joy!" Living in this intimacy of relationship with Christ and others makes our own life that much more joyous. Never forget that!
God has blessed NFCN across the years with a lot of love. Let it flow. Continually. Let it extend and embrace others. And may we always do all we do- TOGETHER!
Pastor Ulmet
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER APPRECIATION
Next Sunday, May 31, is SS Teacher Appreciation Day at Nashville First. Take time during the coming week on during the SS hour Sunday morning to let your teacher(s) know how grateful you are for their service to our church! They will also be honored at a special dinner on Wednesday night, May 27.
MIDSOUTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY/CONVENTIONS MAY 31-JUNE 2
The MidSouth District Assembly will be held May 31 - June 1 at Camp Garner Creek Retreat Center beginning at 7:00pm on Sunday, May 31. Monday, June 1 the business session will begin at 8:30am and close at 7:00pm with the Ordination service.
TRANSPORTATION FOR SERVICE(S)
You are invited to ride the church bus on Monday, June 1 for the Ordination Service or Wednesday, June 3 for Campmeeting with Dr. Charles Johnson. Services are at 7:00pm. The bus will depart Trevecca Towers at 5:30pm or leave the Nashville First office parking lot at 5:45pm both nights.
MIDSOUTH NMI CONVENTION
Nazarene Missions International is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. The NMI Convention will begin Tuesday, June 2 at 9:00am and close with the 7:00pm service with Dr. Vern Ward at Camp Garner Creek Retreat Center.
MIDSOUTH FAMILY CAMP
Family Camp is Wednesday, June 3 - Sunday, June 7 at camp Garner Creek. Preaching evangelists are Rev. Billy Huddleston and Dr. Charles Johnson with Rev. Brian Arner as song evangelists. Campmeeting services are twice daily. Make plans to be part of one of the services!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MIDSOUTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY, NMI CONVENTION AND FAMILY CAMP IN THE MAY DISTRICT NEWSLETTER.
SENIOR ADULT DINNER
Mark your calendars for the next Senior Adult Dinner on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Allison Speer will be the special guest.
SINGLE ADULT MINISTRIES
Please click HERE to read the latest edition of the SAM Newsletter, The Bridge. Also, save the date for Sunday, June 21 for the next potluck lunch at NFCN!
SUMMER SCHEDULE
Each year during late spring/early summer, we relax our local church worship/activity calendar in order to participate in district/special events, observe holidays. and allow our workers to "catch their breath" and be renewed in preparation for late summer/fall emphases. Please be aware of the following schedule changes; bulletin/nFocus/website reminders will be provided:
Sunday Evening Worship will not meet May 10-July 5
Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal will take a break starting May 27 and return July 8
Wednesday Night Adult Discipleship Electives conclude May 20 and return July 8
Wednesday Worship & Prayer Hour will be off June 3, 17, & July 1 (meets June 10,24, July 8)
(Worship ministries,children, youth, and college schedules will be communicated to all involved.)
Mark your calendars accordingly and let the church office know if you have questions.
NCM CHILD SPONSORSHIP
June 14 is Child Sponsorship Sunday through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a needy child through this ministry. Materials will be made available on a table in the foyer area. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Sabrina Jones.
NFCN KIDS MINISTRIES
Would you consider becoming involved in our NFCN Kids Ministries by participating in a once-a-month rotation? We would love to have you join our team of dynamic volunteers! Please contact Pastor Sabrina Jones if you would be interested.
SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN
Don’t miss Children’s Summer Camp! Early Elementary (1st – 3rd Graders) June 29-July 2 and Tween (4th & 5th Graders) July 6-10. Registration forms are available at the Elementary Welcome Desk. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Sabrina Jones .
URBAN MINISTRIES VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER
TUESDAY, JUNE 9 at 6:30pm - This will be a special time for Urban Ministry volunteers from the last year to thank them for their willingness to serve God and their neighbors in sheltering, serving at Emmaus Fellowship meals, doing laundry and in so many other ways. A special night of music, reflection on our serving together, testimonies from some of those we serve and a fellowship meal will show our appreciation to all of our Urban Ministry volunteers. Please contact Pastor Bob Milburn for more information.
SAVE THE DATE FOR HOMECOMING SUNDAY!
On Sunday, August 9, current and former members/ worshippers are invited to gather in for Homecoming 2015. Our special guests this year are Dr. Lee and Alice Woolery. Lee served as youth pastor and associate pastor here before becoming a senior pastor and later district superintendent. Lots of food, good memories and fun in store; make it a red letter date!
NFCN HAS HOT COFFEE!!!
Friends, no need to stop on your way to church to get a cup of coffee. Come to the Woodland Café coffee kiosk in the Reed Building foyer and get a hot cup of coffee (hot tea coming soon) before or after the church service you attend. You will be greeted by a smiling face and warm cup of coffee with ALL the fixings. You can also volunteer to serve at the café. Contact Matthew Dunlap to volunteer. Theresa O’John is our leader and would love to have some smiling faces join the team. Enjoy some coffee and conversation each and every Sunday at the Woodland Café!
THE MAIN EVENT CONFERENCE FOR MEN
The MAIN EVENT is a two day conference for men hosted by Lifeway on June 19-20. You can learn more by visiting the website HERE The conference will take place at Municipal Auditorium down the road from church. If you would like to attend the conference the cost is $70 and that includes the 2 days at the conference, lunch, and dinner. Please communicate with Matthew Dunlap, for more information or to sign up.
GIVE TO OUR YOUTH WHEN YOU SHOP AT KROGER and AMAZON!
If you live in Tennessee and shop at Kroger, you can donate to our Youth Group every time you shop by scanning your Kroger Plus card at check out! It doesn't cost you anything; all you have to do is register your Kroger Plus Card and choose First Church of the Nazarene (NPO #35793) as your charity of choice. You can also donate to First Church when you purchase through Amazon.com at no cost to you. Click here and log-in with your existing account or create a new account; Amazon will remember your selection with every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com and give a donation of .5% of the price of eligible purchases.
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