Life can be rich and full. But it can be messy, too. The beauty and messiness of stories in the news and in our lives has led me to start a new series which we begin this Sunday: “The Messiness of Sin and Forgiveness: A Look at These Ancient Words and Wounds in the Hope of Discovering Fresh Understanding of God’s Grace.” The title could be more succinct and polished, but it mirrors our wish for our own lives to appear less messy and more polished. For some of us this word “sin” seems archaic and old-fashioned and the experience of forgiving and forgiveness elusive.

Some of us may remember from our childhood the TV show Get Smart. Maxwell Smart was a secret agent with the same skill as Inspector Clouseau. His sidekick was Agent 99. He was always taking his shoe off to talk into the heel. He had a phone in there. And in every episode, he failed, but he would cover his failure with these words: Missed it by that much. That’s what he would say: “Missed it by that much.” (Click here for 9 sec excerpt of Get Smart.) I think there is a little Maxwell Smart in all of us. We miss it sometimes. One way the tradition speaks of sin is to say we “miss the mark.” I don’t know what the old word “sin” makes you think of. We will look at it in this series along with the challenging work of forgiving and forgiveness.

We begin this Sunday with a story about a woman (Luke 7:36-50). We don’t know her name. This woman, she washes Jesus’ feet with oil and her tears. She does this crazy thing, and we don’t know her name. She is in good company, for stories of holy, nameless women fill our Biblical narrative, and other names are chosen for them. We like to choose names for those we don’t know. Sinner. Other. Radical. Different. But in this case, in all cases, the names Christ chooses for us aren’t the same as the ones we choose for one another. Beloved. Holy. Forgiven. Redeemed. Names are important, you know. 

Here’s our upcoming worship schedule:
June 30 @ 11 a.m. at Nueva Vida - We move our worship time, series, and location for a joint bilingual worship service with Glencliff and Nueva Vida churches
July 7 @ 10 a.m. at EBPC -  Nate and Lindsey lead the service, providing an occasion for those favorite hymns and music associated with the 4th of July.  John Hilley away on vacation. 
July 14 @ 10 a.m. - The Messiness of Sin and Forgiveness Series, Week 3. John Hilley preaching.
July 21 @ 10 a.m. - We are fortunate to have with us The Rev. Kendra Ketter Chavis as our guest preacher.
July 28 @ 10 a.m. - The Messiness of Sin and Forgiveness Series, Week 4, John Hilley, preaching. 

 

Click here to access our media file of past sermon and music audio files. 

Mark your Calendar for our Joint Service
with Nueva Vida!
It is a week away!
June 30 @ 11 a.m.

Last year, Iglesia Presbiteriana Nueva Vida brought 80 people from their church to EBPC for a joint worship - sharing our common love of God and all God provides. This year, we are invited to join Nueva Vida and the congregation of Glencliff at their church in a bilingual service.

Here is how it will work: Our 10 a.m. worship service will move to 11 a.m. to Nueva Vida. Please make plans to go directly at Nueva Vida at 11 a.m. rather than EBPC on June 30. We will not have a 10 a.m. service at EBPC. During the 11 a.m. service at Nueva Vida, our Children's Minister, Lindsey, will provide the Time with the Children, Pastor John will preach, and we will all celebrate communion together. A fellowship gathering with lunch will follow and participants are encouraged to bring food to share.

Let's show the members of Nueva Vida the same joy and love they showed us last year as we build a community together.

Directions from EBPC to Glencliff Presbyterian Church (416 E. Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37211) where Nueva Vida worships: click here. 

CONNECT WITH EBPC today!
 

Have an idea for getting a small group together?  Want to join one of these start-up groups?  Check out our new “Connect-Up” Board in the Gathering Place.  You can initiate and coordinate a group by completing a form and placing it on the board or join an activity or group by adding a post-it-note with your info. Since last week, we have already had one group started. Let's add some more!

Remember, it’s not about the quantity of people, longevity of the group or frequency of gatherings.  Instead, it’s about connecting to each other and our EBPC community, building meaningful relationships and learning, serving and playing together.  If you don’t see something you are interested in, then create it!  Questions?  Contact Liz Beatty (Connections Ministry Coordinator).

Current Connect-Up Threads:

• Downton Abbey-The Movie Outing-September 2019.  If interested in getting together with a group from EBPC to see the movie, contact Liz Beatty.
• “Inspired” by-Rachel Held Evans Summer Book Discussion, led by Lindsey Hinds-Brown
• Guatemala Mission Trips 2020- Rev/Dr. Mike Magee is the point person on two trips being planned to Guatemala with the Middle Tennessee Presbytery in March and July 2020.
• Nashville Run For Resilience-Ostomy 5K - Manny Cuevas invites everyone to join him for this event on October 12th in Shelby Park. Click here more information. 
• Pool Time in Nolensville: Whitney Philbrick is getting families with young kids together Mondays and Thursdays in June from 10-Noon at the Nolensville Pool after swim practice. Contact Whitney by email or at 914-489-0109. 
• Prospective Members Dinner:  Kira and John Hilley invite anyone interested in learning more about EBPC to join them at their home for a casual dinner on Friday, July 12th from 6-8pm. Contact Kira Hilley if you are interested.