This past Sunday was our annual connection with the southern gospel shaped-note music culture!  Each summer the historic Stamps-Baxter School of Music meets in Nashville.  For many years, gospel legend and now "Dr." Ben Speer, a long-time member of NFCN and part of the most awarded and legendary family in gospel music history, has led this school.  Trevecca Nazarene University conferred upon Ben the honorary doctor's degree in May at Commencement.  For several summers now the School comes one Sunday to NFCN with a large choir, and they lead us in worship.  What a time we had Sunday morning!  The Holy Spirit anointed the whole service, highlighted with Ben singing "Til The Storm Passes Over."  It was a morning to remember.
 
The Branch service was also uniquely anointed Sunday, followed by a shared lunch together in Woodland Street Mall.  What beautiful fellowship was enjoyed and shared by all.  Thank God for His blessing upon this growing part of our congregation!

 


















Sunday evening our "Rising 5th Graders" led us in Worship, reciting scripture, leading in music, etc. This was followed by a biblical and insightful message from Pastor Sabrina Jones from Romans.  As often is the case recently, it was an especially good day at NFCN!
 
FINANCIAL UPDATE - THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU for your faithfulness thus far in July.  We need $30,309 through the end of the month to fulfill July's need, and $39,483 to be caught up year-to-date. We continue to trust the God of Provision for His Church.  

FAITH PROMISE GIVING - SPECIAL REPORT
Through our TKO Partnership, we were made aware of a need for bedding for the upcoming Africa Regional Conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.  They are anticipating over 500 people to attend the conference in August and need sheets, blankets, pillows and pillowcases to house the participants.  We sent the Church of the Nazarene Africa East Field Office $2500 from funds collected in Faith Promise for the Kenya Partnership.  This helps our Kenyan brothers and sisters and eases the burden on the regional office.  To give a report about our partnership and the recent trip to Kenya, we are planning special services on Sunday, August 16 that you do not want to miss. 

From Pastor Jimmy Blackman:
This past Saturday, July 18, Pastor Bob Milburn and I accompanied Rev. Lisa Smith to the Tennessee Prison for Women where she ministers regularly. While there we assisted Lisa as she led the worship service. As Bob and I led the congregation of 50+ ladies in singing, they sang freely and strongly in praise to our gracious God. Lisa brought a powerful message about the God who looks beyond our circumstances and faults to see our need. A number of the ladies responded by coming forward to pray, and one young lady prayed to receive Christ. Bob and I were blessed and privileged to be a part of the service that day. Thanks to Lisa for her faithfulness in visiting the women’s prison and in proclaiming words of hope to those who need to hear. As the Lord brings them to mind, please pray for the ladies at the prison, that God would move in powerful ways in their lives and in the lives of their families.


From Pastor Sabrina Jones:
Sarah Johnson has served faithfully in our preschool department as the Children’s Ministry Associate for the past year. Her final Sunday in that capacity will be August 2^th. Please join us for a reception at Kid Central on August 2, as we honor Sarah and her service among our children. Sarah and her family plan to continue to faithfully attend Nashville First Church, but in this season, with five young children, they are sensing a need to be faithful to their convictions surrounding parenting and family life, so they are making choices that afford them more time to maintain that as their primary focus.



 WHY THE BRANCH?
 
NFCN is uniquely positioned now as never before to fulfill the Vision God has given us: To RECEIVE the life of Christ, to SHARE His life together, and to EXTEND His live to others, with PASSION.  For this we should ALL be grateful!
 
Some wonder - why do we need different kinds of services?  Why can't we all just worship together like we "used to?"  Isn't having multiple services just dividing the church?  
 
We are living in times never before seen in American history.  With each passing generation, less and less percentage of Americans - yes, including southern Americans - attend church.  The churches that are leading the way in reaching lost people, discipling the believer and seeing truly transformational ministry are those churches that find creative ways to reach and teach people in a variety of settings.  
 
Sometimes that means multi-site locations, something that may be coming on our long-term radar. Sometimes that means developing communities of worship still part of a larger whole congregation that worship in different styles and atmospheres, but still share the same vision and commitment to truth.  These churches continually re-invent themselves in the leadership of the Holy Spirit to continue to be relevant, but remain faithful to scripture and doctrine, and the Mission of the Church.  NFCN is becoming one of those churches to the glory of God!  
 
Far from "dividing," these exciting and creative ministry expressions advance the Kingdom, reach more people, and add new opportunities to see transformed lives!  To "stay the same" and "never change" and "keep doing what we've always done and expect different results" is actually what divides, as people consistently grow disillusioned and  leave, the church declines, and becomes as the majority of churches are today in America: stagnant, declining and slowly dying.
 
In the recent history of NFCN, our church slowly lost in attendance, giving and ministry outreach over many years, a trend we are focused on stopping and reversing, with God's help, and indeed believe we have started to see a new trend.  Through such innovative things as The Branch, many people remained at NFCN that would have gone elsewhere without such an option, and others have come in new, with new people virtually every Sunday!  These are people that want to be part of a united, vision-driven church, but also desire to worship in different ways.  The fellowship around tables at lunch Sunday underscored this over and over!
 
Further, we have recommitted ourselves to keeping the Celebration Service at 9am a more traditional service, with a focus on choir, orchestra and many of the familiar methods of Worship, but also with new life and vitality.  It is a "blended" approach to worship, and is meeting the needs of the great majority of those in attendance.  We believe there is also a great future for Celebration Worship.  What a "Blended worship" style requires is people who are not selfishly demanding their own personal taste or style dominate, but rather come to focus on worshiping the Risen Christ, and open their hearts and minds to what the Spirit is doing!  Most of our people are doing this, and when we do, the Spirit truly meets with us, as He has often in recent weeks.  
 
There is no "more or less" spirituality at 9 o'clock or 11 o'clock; no "more or less" focus on scripture or doctrine, no "more or less" content or truth.  Both are viable expressions of Worship, raised up and blessed by the Holy Spirit.  We are finally doing what great churches have been doing for a generation or more: offering options!  It's time to recognize the validity of this, and welcome and pray for those in "the other service." We are ONE CHURCH in various expressions, and we ought to rejoice every day in that reality.
 
There are of course always some that struggle with this.  It's perfectly normal.  I would challenge us to first of all pray for each other, as we always ought to do.  Second, be an agent of unity in Christ's Church, in conversation and practice.  Third, visit and join in worship occasionally with "the other service" than the one you normally go to, and see for yourself!  Meet the people, hear their stories, and rejoice in what God is doing.  
 
BOTH styles of worship and many others are legitimate expressions of our praise to Him.  We had altars well-used in BOTH services this past Sunday, to the glory of God!  He's working in and among us! The future is bright.  God's up to something.  Let's join Him!  Praise the Lord.
 
Pastor Ulmet


 

AUGUST 9, 2015 IS HOMECOMING SUNDAY
On Sunday, August 9, all current and former members/ worshipers 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.  We will also welcome home Art and Nanette Foster who will be singing! (Pictured with daughter Caroline.) A potluck meal is planned so there will be lots of food, good memories and fun in store; make it a red letter date!

BAPTISMS, AUGUST 9 - HOMECOMING SUNDAY
If you are a new believer or have never been baptized, we will be having a baptism service on Sunday, August 9 in our combined Homecoming Celebration Service.  Contact any of our pastoral staff to be included, or contact Adrianne Brewer (phone:  615.250-1411). 


Abi Thomas has served us faithfully for several years during our Wednesday evening Elementary Ministry in Knowledge of the Word. Abi & Kyle Thomas are expecting their first child, a son, and we are hosting a baby shower for her next Wednesday night, July 29, at 6:00pm in the Elementary Worship Room. After a season of maternity leave, Abi plans to return to assist us on Wednesday evenings. Please help us thank Abi and celebrate her new baby by joining us for a brief moment during the baby shower.
 
5TH GRADE PROMOTION PARTY & SLEEPOVER
Fifth Graders and their families are invited to attend the annual   5^th Grade Promotion Party & Sleepover at Pastor Sabrina’s house with their Sunday School teachers on July 31 at 6:00pm. Children may be picked-up at the church at 9:00am on Saturday, August 1.

PROMOTION SUNDAY
Promotion Sunday is August 9^th for all age-level ministries! We will have OPEN HOUSE in NFCN Kids Ministries so that parents can meet their child’s new Sunday School teacher. Please come, enjoy some refreshments, and make these valuable connections.

 


CHRISTMAS MUSICAL!
Elementary Christmas Musical Kick-Off Party is happening at 5:30pm on Sunday, August 9. Get out your red & green sweaters and Christmas attire, and get in the spirit of Christmas! Auditions will be held September 13 & 20.
 
NFCN KIDS END OF SUMMER FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Plan to join us for our NFCN KIDS END OF SUMMER FAMILY FUN NIGHT, August 5 from 6:00-7:30pm, in the Fellowship Hall, Gym, and Outdoors. Come enjoy a waterslide, inflatable preschool playground, slushies, hotdogs, chips, drinks, and lots of fun activities for the family. Kids should wear their swimsuits & flip-flops, and bring a towel. Parents, please dress comfortably. All regular NFCN Kids Ministry activities will be suspended so that we can all enjoy this fun evening together.

BUILDING DEBT-FREE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
We will be celebrating this milestone in our church's history at 10:00am on Sunday, September 20 in an exciting combined service.  Make plans to be here!

TEAM KENYA OUTREACH
Twenty two people represented NFCN across the country of Kenya in areas of service including pastor training, education, counseling/therapy, medicine and sustainable agriculture.    Special service are in the works for Sunday, August 16 to share the incredible experience of the Team Kenya Outreach trip.  To view the video "Why Kenya?" click HERE.

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

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. 

 
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.