CHILDREN'S CAMP - It is Tween Camp this week at Garner Creek Retreat Center in Dickson! Pastor Sabrina Jones and crew are there now!   They are having a blast!  
 

NYC 2015
Pastor Matt Taylor and a great group of students and sponsors left Tuesday morning for Nazarene Youth Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  Be in prayer for all the young people from across North America who will be attending this incredible and life-changing event.
 

SUMMER CATCH-UP IN GIVING?  Sunday, July 19 would be a great time to catch up on your tithes and offerings, or to make a special contribution to your church.  With regular expenses in the summer and lower income than the rest of the year, this is an annual need. PLEASE PRAY AND GIVE FAITHFULLY July 19, either on-line, by mail or in person! THANKS and GOD BLESS YOU IN ADVANCE!  

 
THE DISTINGUISHING MARKS
 
I have been thinking a lot lately about what will be the "distinguishing marks" of a biblically-faithful Holiness church in the years ahead.  As our society continues its rapid pace of moral and religious change, and more churches become accommodating to all things cultural, it is imperative we understand WHO WE ARE called to be, and lovingly but firmly hold to God's will for us.  As I shared briefly in last Sunday's message, these three characteristics are essential, for both the reasons listed below and to distinguish us in the years ahead.  To quote from Sunday's sermon:
 
How will we respond to the new realities in our city, our nation and our world?  We must return to the foundational principles Jesus sent His original Kingdom-influencers into the world with:
 
Transformational holiness: including faithfulness to biblical morality.  We have the audacity to believe in a Holy Spirit who indwells us, changing us from the inside out into the very character of Jesus, which will transform our thinking, behavior and speech.  It will affect our moral and sexual choices, and everything else about us.
 
Influential presence: including strategic preparation for opportunity.  We must build relationships with people not like us, and be people of holy influence upon those around us.  With no presence there is no influence.  We are called to STAY ENGAGED IN the world, but not BECOME LIKE THE WORLD.  We are called to befriend "tax collectors and sinners" and spend time with them, as well as the institutions of our culture.  
 
Resource management: including obedient investment of our money.  Merely paying overhead expenses and denominational assessments will not suffice in our new era of financial accountability. People will rightly demand that our management of their giving include helping needy people, both at home and around the world.  We will need to built partnerships both here and abroad to directly impact the lives of people and enable us to share the story of Jesus with them.  Transparency and integrity are essential.
 
I am committed personally, and I trust our church is corporately, to being, as Jesus instructed His original disciples in Matthew 10:16, as "shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."  May God help us to live up to this charge.  Amen!

Pastor Ulmet
 

 
JULY KING'S MEN MEETING
Our guests will be the Goossens for Saturday morning, July 18. They are a LINKS Missionary family for our district, with Mom, Dad, and three young ones serving in Papua New Guinea. Everyone is welcome. We meet at 8:00am in the Fellowship Hall - enter through Gym entrance.


BEHOLD THE LAMB CONCERT
On Sunday, July 26 at 5:30pm, our church will have the opportunity to host a one hour experience called BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD by Charles Heimermann.  Mr. Heimermann is a composer/conductor who lives here in Nashville, and his works have been performed in Russia, Poland, Italy and the United States.  The program will feature over 100 musicians, including Heimermann's own newly formed adult chorale and children's choir.  You won't want to miss this special evening of worship.  A love offering will be received - $10.00 suggested donation.

SINGLE ADULT MINISTRIES
The July edition of THE BRIDGE NEWSLETTER is available here.


TKO STORIES
Many have asked us about - and we want to share with you -  the incredible experiences of Team Kenya Outreach and our recent trip.  A special service is in the works for a Sunday in August.  In the meantime, we will be creating a blog and finding other creative ways to share the stories of the 22 team members, the amazing people we met and the beautiful land and animals of Africa.
Thank you to all who supported this partnership financially and with prayer!   We felt those prayers and saw God working before us and throughout the whole experience.  We want to be faithful to the relationships and partnerships that are developing in Kenya and share the stories.  We want to be faithful to those who supported us at home and share the stories.   Be on the lookout for stories and more information soon.

TITANS PARKING
Football season is just around the corner!!! Help us welcome fans  parking on our lots for home games: August 23, September 3, September 27, October 11, October 18, October 25, November 15, November 29, December 6, December 27.  If you are interested in being on one of the Titans Parking teams please contact Pastor Matthew Dunlap for more info. 

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.
 
 SAVE THE DATE FOR HOMECOMING SUNDAY!
On Sunday, August 9, all 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! 

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.