A memorable Sunday School Teacher's Appreciation Dinner was enjoyed by several dozen of our teachers last Wednesday evening in Fellowship Hall.  Discipleship Committee Chairman Jan Forman and his team put together an incredible event.  And thanks to dinner committee - Janet Killingsworth, Beth McKenzie and Darolyn Praskach.   Dr. Marla Streit gave an inspiring message.  We appreciate all who serve in our Sunday School!
 
Several men and their sons from the New Life Sunday School Class and friends went to the Sounds game together last Saturday and had a great evening!   

Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Hunter Cummings, son of Sheila Falvo and grandson of Carlyle and Geri Apple.  He has been called and accepted the pastorate at Lilburn, Georgia Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene, moving from Mount Vernon, Ohio.  This is the church Rev. Derek Mitchell formerly pastored and where Art and Nannette Foster are involved in ministry. 

PRAISE THE LORD and THANK YOU for your faithful giving in May.  We received just over $200,000 in May, just a bit short of our need $219,382.  We are trusting the Lord to help us make that up in June. Again, this year's budget is very tight so pray and give with us each week and each month.  

PASTOR ULMET'S BLOG
 
CONTINUING THE KENYA ADVENTURE...
 
We celebrate the first official merged Assembly of Mississippi and Tennessee, in the new "MidSouth" District  and enter into Family Camp (or campmeeting!) this week, all at Camp Garner Creek!  These are busy days quickly leading 22 of us towards our departure for Kenya and the Team Kenya Partnership trip for 2015.
 
A few updates from our Partnership that are amazing to ponder:
 

• Official approval has been given by our Kenyan partners for the "Theology of Relationships" training manual written by Stephanie Smith and your Pastor.  I began work on this many months ago, with the shared dream of basing our response to gender-based violence in Kenya upon the scriptural teaching of the equality of male and female, rather than other good but less-authoritative foundations. Stephanie, PhD candidate at Vanderbilt and part of our Branch congregation, gave great assistance in writing and will help teach; and Karen Ulmet completes the Pastor's Training team leading all of the interactivities during the training seminars, as we call them.   Both pastors and spouses will be coming, from six Kenyan Districts, to two-day training either in Nairobi or Kisumu.  Power-points with movie clips embedded as well as printed manuals will be used.  Please pray for us in this endeavor. 
• If you didn't hear the news earlier, our Hope Farm  in Kenya, managed by our own David Lee, produced over 400 pre-sold watermelons this year, among other crops.  Nearly 100 women work regularly at our farm, and many Nazarenes from our church in Lodwar.    The Sustainable Agriculture team of David Lee, David Smith, Victor Bush and Brent Lawrence look forward to working with them!

 Our team departs June 21 from Atlanta.  We will spend a special day in London, guided by a Nazarene pastor from there, and then arrive in Nairobi June 23.  YOUR PRAYERS ARE APPRECIATED MORE THAN YOU KNOW!  God is certainly up to something, as this partnership came from simple seeds planted in February, 2014, to now our first official trip almost here!  It's an adventure.  We're excited.
 
Pastor Ulmet
 
 

TRANSPORTATION FOR  WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE - OUR CHOIR IS LEADING WORSHIP
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 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 FAMILY CAMP IN THE MAY DISTRICT NEWSLETTER. 

BUILDING BRIDGES WITH MUSLIMS 
A special training session will be offered on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:00pm in Wise Chapel. Taught by our resident missionary experts!  All are welcome.

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.

SUMMER ART CLASSES! 
NazArts Academy is excited to introduce Summer Art Classes! All ages can sign up to take classes this summer with team teachers Gary Wood and Claire Burgett.  Class schedules:
Tuesdays, June 9 thru July 28 with two time options:
Lunchtime Art (bring a bag lunch….we will provide the drink)
11:30am to 12:30pm
 
Suppertime Art (bring a bag supper/snack…we will provide the drink)
6:00pm to 7:00pm
 
Class Cost:
One-time fee of $80 for 8 classes…..Supply fee is TBA
Gary and Claire are taking suggestions for the type of art you would like to experience this summer, whether it is Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Silk Screening, etc. Contact Sandy Blackman to sign up and register your preference or for more information.

 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - JUNE 15-19
Don't miss VBS this year!  Monday-Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm for Ages 3 thru 5th Grade. 


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;
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 (1^st – 3^rd Graders) June 29-July 2 and Tween (4^th & 5^th 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.