First Presbyterian Church
First Edition
published bi-weekly for the members and friends of the church
February 19, 2014 • Volume 29, No. 04
My Dear Friends,
This past week I have been
reading Flannery O’Connor’s A
Prayer Journal. Flannery O’Connor
lived a very short but a very
profound life as a writer of
literature that always grew out of
her intensely held faith in God.
Flannery grew up in rural
Georgia as a Roman Catholic,
and referred to America’s South
Todd Jones
as a “Christ-haunted landscape.”
Pastor
Perhaps she was speaking of her
own life as well as the life of her home country. One day she
wrote in her journal, “Dear Lord please make me want You.
It would be the greatest bliss. Not just to want You when I
think about You but to want You all the time, to think about
You all the time, to have the want driving in me, to have it
like a cancer in me. It would kill me like a cancer and that
would be the Fulfillment.”
Such honesty before God is arresting, and it points to the
issue of desire, an issue with which we all must contend. “As
a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for Thee, O
God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” So said the
Psalmist in Psalm 42, expressing his own intense longing for
God. We, by and large, do not have the same intense longing
for God that possessed the Psalmist.We are filled with desire,
but most days we desire so many things other than God, all
of them less than God. But our struggle with our own desires
does not make them any less important or crucial to who we
are becoming. Simone Weil once said, “If we do go down
into ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we
desire.” We become what we most passionately desire, and for
many of us, this is a huge problem, because we so often desire
the wrong things. We want what we cannot have, or even
worse, find ourselves longing for what we should not have.
Instead of aiding us to grow, as healthy and right desires surely
do, we are undone by the very things that possess our souls.
This is the power of Flannery O’Connor’s prayer to God.
“Dear Lord make me to want You.” She doubtless believed
the Psalmist, who promised, “Take delight in the Lord; and
He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
Flannery O’Connor knew that if she could give her desires
over to God, she could find the “Fulfillment” for which she
longed. Thomas a Kempis knew this as well: “Let temporal
things serve thy use, but the eternal be the object of thy desire.”
We do well to take time to reflect upon our own deepest
desires and to be honest before God about them. I regularly
must confess to God that I want the wrong things and that I
am guilty of wanting too little of God. George MacDonald
was one of the great inspirations to C.S. Lewis in his quest to
find truth and to be “surprised by joy.” MacDonald once said,
“We find it hard to get what we want because we do not
want the best; God finds it hard to give because God would
give the best and we will not take it.” Of course, what God
most wants to give us is Christ. What God most wants to
bequeath to us is Himself.This is the great gift that comes to
us in worship and in prayer and praise. Only in worshiping
the Living God do we escape from the small, suffocating
world of self and find freedom and joy in the large,
mysterious, wonderful world of God. I think Flannery
O’Connor was onto something powerful and true. To pray
for our desires to be taken over and shaped by God is exactly
what we all need, and it is a prayer surely God wants to
answer. Saint Augustine wrote in his Confessions that
remarkable and luminescent sentence: “Thou hast made us
for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless, until they find
their rest in Thee.” He also said,“Love God, and do what you
please.” Augustine knew that love for God is the only path
that leads to lasting pleasure in this life. Jerome said,“For those
who love, nothing is hard: and no task is difficult if your desire
is great.” If we begin with the love of God, if we delight in
the Lord God, we will indeed be given the desires of our
heart. Do you want the right things? “Dear Lord make me to
want You.”
With Love and Prayers,
The Mission of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville
To know Christ, to make Him known and to exhibit His love
through worship, education and service.
Sympathy
The First Presbyterian Church family extends
prayers and sympathy to the following during
their time of loss.
Margie & Kirke Martin, on the death of Margie’s
father, Edward Arthur Fish, who died on January 23.
Diane & Brett Burrow, on the death of Diane’s mother,
Lynn Loftin Waldrop, who died on January 31. Sympathy
to Reed & Paige Burrow.
Garry & Wendy Latimer, on the death of Garry’s mother,
Virginia Latimer Parish, who died on February 8.
If any member of the church desires the Christian support
of a Stephen Minister, call Sandra Randleman at 298-9502.
Stephen Ministers are trained lay ministers of the church.
The Sacrament of Baptism
In the presence of family, the congregation of
First Presbyterian Church and God, the
following people claimed God’s covenant
promise through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Annie & Greenlee Flanagin presented their
daughter, Lillian Bentley Flanagin, for baptism on
February 2. Assisting Elder was Michael Baron.
Congratulations
The First Presbyterian Church family
congratulates Libba & Niel Alden on the birth of
their daughter, Juliet deVilliers Alden, who was
born on January 20. Congratulations to
grandmother, Diana Wilker, and greatgrandmother, Diana Thompson.
What Kind of Man Would Receive
the Care of a Stephen Minister?
• A man like Adam who was cut off from all that gave
meaning to life and needed someone to remind him of
God’s promise.
• A man like Noah who witnessed the destruction of
everything around him and needed someone to wait with
him for a new day.
• A man like Abraham who had to leave everything he
knew and loved behind him and needed someone to
journey with him to a new life.
• A man like Moses who faced great opposition and
needed a companion to support him and speak on his
behalf.
• A man like David who grieved the death of a wayward
child and needed a shepherd’s care.
• A man like Elijah who thought he was all alone and
needed a still small voice to encourage him.
• A man like Job who lost everything and needed
someone to silently endure his pain with him.
• A man like Peter who found himself in over his head
and needed the strong hand of a faithful friend.
• A man like Paul who knew the unending distress of a
thorn in the flesh and needed someone to rejoice when he
rejoiced and to weep when he wept.
• A man like JESUS who knew intense disappointment,
sorrow, grief, rejection and loneliness and
needed an angel of God to minister to him.
• A man like You
If you would like to know more about how
a Stephen Minister could care for you, please
see or call Sandra Randleman (298-9502).
Easter Memorials
A memorial fund has been
established for chancel and sanctuary
flowers during Easter. Please send
your contribution, along with the
name(s) of loved ones to be
memorialized, to Cindy Bozman in
the church office no later than
Friday, March 28.
Please note that names will not be
carried forward from previous Advent
or Easter Memorial publications.
Contact Cindy by March 28 in order for your loved ones’
names to be included this Easter.
SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 23, 2014
SUNDAY
MARCH 2, 2014
Sermon
“Holiness and Hospitality”
Sermon
“On Running into God”
Scripture Readings
Leviticus 19:1-4, 33-34
I Corinthians 3:10-11,
16-17
Scripture Readings
Exodus 24:12-18
Matthew 17:1-9
Todd Jones
Pastor
Todd Jones
Pastor
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Omni Hotel Tour/Lunch at Kitchen Notes
Wednesday, February 26, at 11:30 A.M.
We will visit this new addition to downtown
Nashville, having lunch at Kitchen Notes, which features
traditional Southern dishes served with a flair, ranging $9$15. We will have a guided tour of some of the rooms and
public areas after lunch. RSVP by Friday, February 21.
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce: Saturday, March 29
We will take the church bus, leaving the church at 3:00 P.M.
Make all reservations with Ginny Tindle (383-1815 or
[email protected]). See ad in this newsletter.
Upcoming speakers for Thursday Programs:
March 20: Alf and Carney Farris
April 17: William and Ebralie Mwizerwa
May 15: Jerry Breast
Annual Antique Appraisal
June 14, 2014
Home Partners
A Home Partner is a church
member who makes regular visits
on behalf of the church to members
who are in retirement homes or at
home and are unable to attend
church services regularly. The
purpose of this ministry is to extend the care of the church to
all our members. Home Partners are encouraged to:
• Make a personal visit at least once a month
• Engage in a caring conversation to assess any needs
that the person may have that could be addressed by
the church or pastors
• Gather prayer concerns
• Report any concerns or comments about the
home partner to Sandra Randleman, Associate Pastor
for Congregational Care and Missions
• Deliver a poinsettia at Christmas and a flower at
Easter (provided by the church)
Please contact Sandra ([email protected] or
298-9502) with questions, are interested in participating in
this ministry or know of someone who would enjoy receiving
a visit from a Home Partner.
Spread the Love with Peanut Butter
Donations February 10-28
Join our Early Preschool
children as they get in on the act
of stomping out hunger as they
gather together as much peanut
butter as their little hands can
carry. Whether it’s smooth and
creamy, or chock full of nuts or
maybe even contains just a hint
of chocolate mixed in, peanut butter packs a protein punch
that everybody just has to have once in a while. Look for
collection bins in the Children’s Ministry Welcome Desk
area. The recent cold weather means Nashville families have
higher utility bills to pay, and that means less available to buy
enough food to eat. We thank you for your generous support
of our food drives over the past month — you make a
SUPER difference in the lives of many.
programs to meet the needs of hungry children.
A typical BackPack includes two canned entrees, such as
chili and beans and franks, applesauce, two cereals, 100% fruit
juice, shelf-stable milk and a snack. FPC servants joined with
other volunteers from the community and went to work. It
was a fun, assembly-line process and everyone, no matter
their age, had a job to do. In less than two hours, we had
packaged 1,900 Ziploc bags of food! We wondered who
packaged the other 4,900 bags as the Food Bank distributes
approximately 6,800 backpacks PER WEEK! We learned a
lot about solving hunger issues from Lisa, the Second
Harvest staff person who answered our questions and
directed our service work.
When our work was complete, Lisa gave us a tour of the
food bank. Not only is it huge, but there are many other
programs running there to feed hungry people. We can’t wait
until our next Serving Together opportunity on Thursday,
March 27. Come and join us! Sign ups and information are
on the children’s Serving Together webpage.
A “Souper” Effort by
FPC Congregation
The Local Missions Committee
thanks all who brought food or
made a monetary donation to
benefit Second Harvest Food Bank
on Super Bowl Sunday, February 2.
Food collected in the Seattle
Seahawks boxes outweighed that of
the Denver Broncos boxes 250 lbs
(208 meals) to 161 lbs (134 meals)
— who knew the food drive would be such a good game
winner predictor?
Members also generously contributed just over $2,500 to
help Second Harvest purchase bulk quantities of food at a
discount. Nashville families are struggling this winter to balance
their family budgets stretched by the higher energy costs this
cold winter, and your donations will make an impact.
If you missed out on the “Souper” Bowl collection, check
out the article elsewhere in this issue about the Peanut
Butter collection by our early preschool families and help
them with your donation. Thank you all for your “Souper”
efforts to care for those in need.
Serving Together — Second Harvest
Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
On a recent Thursday evening, a group of FPC children
and their families headed to the Food Bank to serve in the
BackPack program. This program provides easy-to-prepare
food to nearly 7,000 at-risk children in Middle Tennessee
who don’t have access to resources on weekends and during
school breaks. Second Harvest manages 50 BackPack
Mission of Second Harvest: To feed hungry people
and work to solve hunger issues in our community.
Celebrating Progress: A New and Improved Campus
In the February 5 issue of the First Edition, we shared in much detail the church’s ambitious plan and the results we now
enjoy because of the Milestones & Cornerstones campaign.
In sum, we added 72,000 new square footage to our campus and remodeled Courtenay Hall, as well as retrofitting the
former administrative suite and Oak Hill School library for new ministry purposes in keeping with our strategic plan.
This photo of our wonderful campus highlights our new and improved facilities.
Enrichment Center
Don Wade Pool
Oak Hill School Library
The Gathering Place
Courtenay Hall
Nursery & Early Childhood
Administrative Offices
Children’s Ministry Wing
Dominican Republic
November 2014
Dates: November 1-7
Cost: $1,300 (est);
$800 deposit due
August 1; vaccinations recommended.
Brief Details: Medical personnel offer family practice
medicine, surgery, dental care or eye care in clinics or
in the field depending on team member expertise;
non-medical participants needed to assist in
processing patients.
Trip Leader: Dr. Jim Cato
Questions?
Contact Patricia Heim in the Missions Office (2989593 or [email protected]) if you are interested
in learning more or would like an application form for
a mission trip. Online registration for trips is available
from the Register/Give link on the church homepage
(www.fpcnashville.org).
Spring
Blood Drive
Sunday, March 9
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location:
Donation van will be parked
in front of Cheek House.
Schedule an appointment:
Sundays in Courtenay Hall or online
beginning February 9
Scholarship Assistance
is available to FPC members for all FPC-sponsored
trips by contacting Sandra (298-9502 or
[email protected]).
The need is constant… the gratification is instant…
Visit missions.fpcnashville.org
please give blood.
Coreen Ford, Shelia Odusote and Cindy Waller, Co-Chairs
First Graders Hear “You are a Child of God”
as They Explore the Sacrament of Baptism
During the month of January, our first graders experienced their Milestone: Exploring the Sacrament of Baptism.They met
with their parents and Pastor Todd in the Sanctuary to learn about our church’s traditions involving baptism and to touch the
baptismal waters. Do you know why the baptismal font has eight sides? Ask any first grader; they will tell you it is because
each side represents a day of creation and the day of re-creation: Jesus’ resurrection. The children had the honor of hearing
Ms. Roxie Gibson read to them her book Hey God! What is Baptism? and each child received a copy for their library.
Over the next three Sundays, the children and their Sunday School leaders heard water stories from scripture and explored
the symbols connected with baptism and their meaning. Each child created a memory book of the symbols to keep at home
to review over the coming years.
Hear about these lessons from two School leaders.
Simply put, one of the greatest
takeaways from this Milestone has
This has been a very special
been to watch the children become
time with the children as we
closer to God...by developing the
study the sacrament of baptism.
principle of knowing that they are
Each week, the children have
“a child of God.” Of course they
enjoyed working within the
hear this every Sunday from the
stations while learning more
teachers, but what do they think
about the many symbols that
it means?
are seen around the church and
I can tell you that having heard
in the sanctuary. The children
their answers, their prayers and
really enjoyed seeing the new,
questions about various subjects
but familiar face, of Miss Deb
being discussed — all are filled with
in our classroom and they all
sincerity and contain so much
listened intently as she
substance. Our curriculum, purposefully, yet gracefully teaches them that their hearts are
explained the sacrament of
filled with Jesus’ love and to trust that feeling.
baptism in a way that was easy
One thing that being a Christian is...is that we are always in process of growing our
to understand. As a teacher, I
understanding of God’s
enjoyed
relearning the things
word. I believe that all
that I myself learned growing
would be deeply pleased to
up in the Church and I truly
know that the First graders
enjoyed being a part of passing
are clearly on the right path.
on this knowledge to the future
If you want proof, just ask
of our Church.
them a thought-provoking
— Hobbs Yarborough
question and brace yourself
for their reply!
Whether a child has been
baptized in this congregation or
another community of faith or
they are looking forward to
their baptism, through our time
of Exploring the Sacrament of
Baptism each child has heard
the message that each of us
hears from God: “through the
waters of baptism I claim you
as a child of mine!”
— Lee Black
What Are They Saying About
Jesus’ Atonement?
Between January 26 and April 6, the Logos Sunday
School class will study the atoning work of Jesus, as
witnessed to in the New Testament. The class will consider
three primary images of that atonement: battlefield victory,
courtroom justice, and worship sacrifice. We’ll also explore
how each of those images is expressed in everyday
Christian living.
Join the Logos class on Sunday mornings between 10:00
and 10:40 A.M. in the Stanford Chapel. The class is led by
Associate Pastor Stuart Gordon.
The Power of Non-Anxious
Presence
Ready for a Bus Ride to Heaven?
Climb on board as some of Lewis’ most provocative and
fiercely funny characters take a day trip from Hell to
Paradise. Heaven awaits them... but will they like it?
FPC has seats reserved at $37.50 each on Saturday,
March 29, for a 4:00 P.M. show in the James Polk Theater at
the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
To purchase tickets, contact Ginny Tindle (383-1815 or
[email protected]).
Barefoot
Republic
Camp
February 28-March 1
Who: Old adults, young adults, college kids, juniors and
seniors in high school.
What: Overnight retreat for the 5:30 community led by
Mark Devries.
Why: To rest in God’s presence, build relationships with
your church community and gain perspective on the crazy
life you lead.
When: Leaving after work on Friday the 28 and returning
after lunch on Saturday, May.
Cost: $60 includes meals, lodging and transportation
Scholarships available. To register, contact Linda Morphis
([email protected]) or Millie Greiner
([email protected]).
Jim Frost of the AGAPE Center will be giving a talk on
“The Power of Non-Anxious Presence,” in the Session
Room on Tuesday March 4, at 6:30 P.M. The AGAPE
Center exists to serve the needs of families, children and
adults in Middle Tennessee with an unconditional agape
love through Professional Counseling and Psychological
Services, Adoption Services, Crisis Foster Care and
Maternity Counseling.
The Stephen Ministry is sponsoring this event and
welcomes all to join us for this one-hour session.
Please RSVP with Susan Kirby ([email protected]
or 298-9540).
June Ramsey Class to Study Camus
Victor Judge, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
and lecturer in literature and religion at Vanderbilt
University Divinity School, will be guest lecturer on Albert
Camus for five Sundays in March. Judge writes: “This year
marks the centenary of Camus’ birth, and to commemorate
his contributions to our literary heritage, we shall read
selected short stories and essays by asking the questions:
What problems of the human conscience has Camus
located in language? and What wisdom has Camus
bequeathed to us as participants in the collective drama of
the human condition?”
The class meets in the living room of the Cheek House
and begins at 9:45 A.M. Everyone is welcome.
Vacation Bible School
June 23-26, 2014.
Registration is online
and available now at the
church’s website.
NONPROFIT ORG
U S POSTAGE
PAID
NASHVILLE, TN
PERMIT NO. 27
4815 Franklin Pike ■ Nashville, TN 37220
Dated church material
Please deliver by February 22, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
4815 Franklin Pike
Nashville, Tennessee 37220
www.fpcnashville.org
facebook.com/fpcnashville
Pastors
Todd Jones
Pastor
Sam Cooper
Executive Pastor
Mark DeVries
Associate Pastor to Youth
& Their Families
Catherine Foster
Associate Pastor for
Young Adult Ministry
Stuart Gordon
Associate Pastor for Discipleship
Keith Gunter
Associate Pastor for New
Church Development
Sandra Randleman
Associate Pastor for
Congregational Care & Missions
Program Staff
Nicholas Bergin
Organist
Raphael Bundage
Director of Music
Karen Fitts
Nursery Coordinator
Youth Happenings
Register online or contact Millie Greiner.
Sunday School, February 23 & March 2:
Grades 7-12 will meet in The Gathering
Place at 9:40 A.M. and then split into grade
level classes.
Oklahoma Mission Trip: June 14-20 —
During our time there, we will assist in clean
up, demolition and build relationships with our
brothers and sisters in the Midwest. Also, we
will dive into scripture and teachings led by
the youth staff and strengthen our ministry as
we serve together. Register online or contact
Millie Greiner.
Great Escape: June 9-14 at Lee
University — During the week on campus,
rising 7th and 8th graders will enjoy outdoor
games and activities, fun and engaging
speakers, worship, great music and self
reflection before spending a day rafting the
Ocoee River on the way back to Nashville.
The Motley Krewe — This Sunday
School class meets at 10:00 A.M. in the youth
offices, just next door to The Gathering Place.
This is an all-youth Bible study class led by
Barbara Arrants. For the next few weeks we
will be studying Ephesians.
Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 A.M.
services in the sanctuary every Sunday
morning, 10:55 service in the Enrichment
Center and the 5:30 P.M. evening service
in The Gathering Place. Please join us at one
of these worship services each Sunday.
Youth Newsletter: If your family isn’t
receiving the monthly newletter, contact
Millie.
For more information, contact Millie Greiner
([email protected] or 298-9570).
sunday evening worship at fpc
The Gathering Place @ 5:3O p.m.
Brenda Geise
Older Adult Ministry
Coordinator
Letitia Green
Director of Recreation
Patricia Heim
Missions Coordinator
Susan Kirby
Worship Coordinator
Carol McClure
Director of Children & Youth Choirs
Deb O’Brien
Director of Children’s Ministry
Brandon Van Pernis
Director of Youth Ministries
Amelia Watson
Coordinator of Parish Ministry
Schools
Jennifer Hinote
Head of School, Oak Hill School
Brenda Lutz
Director, FPC Early Preschool
Administration
Cindy Bozman
Finance Manager
Lynn Elliott
Pastor’s Assistant
Zonia Nunley
Property Manager
Shannon Parsons
Communications Coordinator
Kim Rogers
Food Service