First Presbyterian Church First Edition published bi-weekly for the members and friends of the church

April 1, 2015 • Volume 30, No. 06 My Dear Friends, The very heart and soul of Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. “The Christian faith turns on the Bible speaks of resurrection. It is entirely unnatural. idea of resurrection. Every We do not go on living beyond the grave because this is writer of the New Testament how we are made. Rather, we go to the the grave as dead speaks out of the singular as doornails and then are given our life back again by conviction that God raised the God, just as our life was given to us in the first place, crucified Jesus from death to because that is the way God made it. All the major life. And the Church’s belief in Christian creeds affirm belief in resurrection of the body. the resurrection is that Jesus’ In other words, they affirm the belief that what God in Todd Jones resurrection is “the first fruits spite of everything prizes enough to bring back to life is Pastor of those who have fallen not just some disembodied echo of a human being but a asleep” (I Corinthians 15:20). This was Paul’s way of new and revised version of all the things which made saying that Jesus’ resurrection from the grave contained him the particular human being that he was and which the promise of ours as well. Resurrection is no denial of he needs something like a body to express: his death, nor is it a statement that though our bodies may personality, the way he looked, the sound of his voice, his die, our spirits will live eternally. Rather, it was none peculiar capacity for creating and loving, in some sense other than the crucified body of Jesus that was raised by his face.” God “sometime before the dawn” on the very first Easter. This is why I am a Christian. I know how sad and Resurrection is the Christian conviction that God will devastating death in fact is. And I know that one day, like redeem, reconcile and raise us up from the certain death everyone else I have ever loved and lost, I shall surely die. that awaits every last one of us. The power of Christian But I also believe that God raised Jesus from the grave faith through the years is found in the answer that it and that the Risen Christ sits at the right hand of God provides for death and sin, which are real, and always at the Father. So I too can say with Paul, “Therefore, my work in the world. Again, Paul put it like this: “Death is beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin, and not in vain.” Death has no permanent hold upon us, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who we can live every day in the light of our own promised gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” resurrections. This is Easter hope, and I commend it to (I Corinthians 15:55-57). The doctrine of the incarnation you, not just for a season, but for a lifetime! that we celebrate at Christmas is that God took on human flesh in order to redeem it. God would not have With Love and Prayers, done this if God did not believe so deeply in the human family and love it so passionately. Easter faith proclaims that when this flesh, or these bodies die, God will raise them up, just as God raised Jesus from the tomb. Frederick Buechner writes of the difference between the Greek belief in immortality of the soul and the 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. Mark & Susan DeVries on the death of Mark’s mother, Dorothy DeVries, who died on March 12. Sympathy to Adam & Sara DeVries, Debbie & Trey Wince, Leigh DeVries, Parish & Nealy DeVries and Liam Wince. Mark & Dana Pollard on the death of Mark’s father, Odell Pollard, who died on March 12. Sympathy to Sammy Grace Pollard. John Quaye on the death of his cousin, Fedelia Adokaile Mensah, who died on March 13.

If any member of the church desires the Christian support of a Stephen Minister, contact Sandra Randleman (615-298-9502).

The Sacrament of Baptism In the presence of family, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church and God, the following person claimed God’s covenant promise throu gh the Sacrament of Baptism. Kim & Sean Cooley presented their son, Wyatt Andrew Cooley, for baptism on March 15. Assisting Elder was Overton Thompson.

Congratulations The First Presbyterian Church family congratulates the following people during their new births. Farrar & Matthew Looney welcome a son, Charles Todd Looney, who was born on November 17. JT & Catherine Martin welcome a son, James Timothy Martin, Jr., who was born on March 2. EASTER SUNDAY SUNDAY APRIL 5, 2015 APRIL 12, 2015 Susan & Lance Sobel welcome a daughter, Eleanor Katherine Sobel, who was born on March 3. Sermon Sermon Congratulations to grandparent, Kathy Jones. “Forever is a Long, “On the Road Again” Long Time” Scripture Readings Holy Communion Scripture Readings Luke 24:13-35 Holy Communion will be observed on Sunday, Psalm 23 Matthew 28:1-10 Adam DeVries April 12, at the 8:30 & 11:00 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. Associate Pastor worship services. Prepare your hearts to celebrate Todd Jones this sign of Christ’s love. Pastor School Facility Management Upcoming Events

The Session of First Presbyterian Church, in Wednesday, April 8, 9:00 A.M. — conjunction with Oak Hill School, has made the Day trip to Corvette Museum, decision to partner with School Facility Bowling Green. RSVP by April 6. Management to outsource our maintenance and Thursday, April 16, 12:00 P.M. cleaning staff for the church and the school. This is — Luncheon/Program in Courtenay Hall. Rescheduled program as a decision that was a long time in the making and we “Celebrate Our Own Wayland Holyfield.” Soup/Salad, Dessert emerged in large measure because of the significant ($6). RSVP by April 13. growth of our physical plant and the expertise that School Facility Management brings to the care and Sunday, April 19, 12:00 P.M. — Sunday Lunch at the Egg & I. maintenance of schools and churches in the RSVP by April 17. Nashville area. For the last twelve years, the church June 9-11, Memphis Trip — $289 dbl.; $368 sgl. RSVP by May 1. and Oak Hill School have each employed their own maintenance and cleaning staffs, and as Sam November 2-6, Natchez Trop — $850 dbl.; $1044 sgl. Cooper, the Board and administration at Oak Hill Contact Brenda Geise for more information (615-298-9515). Get School considered how best to steward our large iteneraries on the church website or from the Hospitality Center. facility, this decision was made. The Board Chair at Oak Hill School, Jim Robers, and Mike Baron, a Make all reservations with Rachel Gresham (615-383-1815 or member of both the Session of First Presbyterian [email protected]). Church and the Board of Oak Hill School, played key roles in helping us make this decision. School Facility Management is based in offices at Franklin Road Academy, and they list among their clients Father Ryan High School, Montgomery Bell Academy and the Catholic Diocese of Nashville. They bring a level of expertise to property maintenance and care that will put us in a better position to take the best care of our large plant. They have divisions that provide carpentry services, HVAC expertise, electrical and long-term stewardship to our buildings. The experience of outsourcing our lawn and grounds care to a firm two years ago led us to the point where we knew that this decision made sense for both First Presbyterian Church and Oak Hill School. We are deeply grateful for the property staff that has served our congregation so well, and we will do all that we can to assist them to find positions, if not with School Facility Management, then somewhere else where their gifts and abilities can be employed. This change will take place as of July 1, and all of our affected employees at both First Presbyterian Church and Oak Hill School have been informed of the impending change. We are making this decision with the expectation that it represents the wisest and best stewardship of the considerable resources with which we have been blessed at First Presbyterian Church. Along with Oak Hill School, we are responsible to take the best possible care of our outstanding physical facilities. Celebrating Our Own Wayland Holyfield Congregational Care Connections Wayland Holyfield, member of FPC for 38 years and A simple click on our parish news page award-winning songwriter whose songs have been recorded will lead you to information concerning and performed all over the world will be our honored guest current prayer requests, recent deaths and on Thursday, April 16, at noon in Courtenay Hall. Mr. information for expressing sympathy to family Holyfield has received 37 Performance Society awards and members, hospitalizations, births and other has written over 40 top 10 hits and 14 #1 songs. Artists congregational care news. who have recorded his songs include , , Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Patti Page, , and Waylon Jennings, among Sports Clinics, OHDC Provides many others. Full Day of Learning Fun Wayland and Nancy have been married for 39 years and Our Sports Clinic will take place between the hours of have three grown children, Greg, Mark and Lee. Come hear 9:00 A.M. and noon. After noon, the sports campers will join his story and his wonderful music as well. Soup, salad, bread the regular day camp groups so they can enjoy typical and dessert ($6). RSVP by April 13 (383-1815 or OHDC fun, like swimming, games and summer activities, [email protected]). until regular dismissal at 3:00 P.M. 2015 Spring Inquirers’ Class Ages: Rising 2nd grade to 6th Soccer Camp: June 1-12 • Would you like to know about the Dates: Presbyterian faith? Basketball Camp: June 15-26 • Would you like to know more about Times: 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. First Presbyterian Church, Nashville? Cost: $475 per session • Are you considering church membership? Deposit required ($105 per session) • Would you like to learn about how to become involved in the life of First Early Care: 7:30 - 8:45 A.M. ($100 per session) Presbyterian Church, Nashville? Aftercare: 3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. ($120 per session) An Inquirers’ Class will be held on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3 and 10, during the Sunday School hour Calvin’s Spectacles: The Legacy (9:45-10:45 A.M.) in the Session Room (MW-203 on the 2nd floor of the Ministry Wing). If you are interested in of Calvinism for Our World uniting with First Presbyterian Church as members or just Is that a fair picture? It’s certainly a wish to learn more about the history and mission of First common one. This April on Wednesday Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church, you are evenings, you have the chance to learn invited to attend. Registration is not necessary. For more about the legacy for the modern world information, please call the church office (615-383-1815) or of John Calvin, the most influential Sandra Randleman at (615-298-9502). person in Presbyterian history. Our guide will be Dr. Clifford Anderson, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School Register for Musikgarten Classes (M.Div.) and Princeton Theological Musikgarten Seminary (Ph.D.). Cliff serves Vanderbilt Dr. Clifford Anderson summer classes for University as Director of Scholarly Communications. babies and toddlers On the five Wednesdays of April, Cliff will lead us on an begin May 11. exploration of Calvinism as a worldview, Calvinism and Monday and religion, Calvinism and politics, Calvinism and science, and Wednesday Calvinism and the arts, all borrowing lenses from John morning classes are Calvin. After this course, you’ll never look at John Calvin or available. For more information or to register, visit Calvinism the same way again. (music.fpcnashville.org/new-musikgarten/), or contact Susan Spring Wednesdays include dinner, served from 5:00 – Kirby (615-298-9540 or [email protected]). 6:00 P.M. and class until 7:00 P.M. Contact Ginny Barber or visit the church website to let us know you’ll need a meal. Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, a gift of treasure… Nor Ice Nor Snow... With your help, Room In The Inn just concluded its Please join us also in extending a special thank you to 30th Winter Shelter season on March 31. Specifically, our property staff who carefully prepared the beds and set members of First Presbyterian Church provided the tables in the Cannon Center each week; to our food transportation, shelter and meals for 21 nights this season. service staff who ensured wonderful, warm meals were Those 21 weeks meant that 294 men were brought to our always ready; and finally to four very special men, Scott campus during the months of November 2014 – March Boyd, Byron Middendorf, Hal Sauer, and Mike Sowers, who 2015. They were offered hospitality, fellowship, served one week every month as the site coordinator to grace and kindness on some very ensure that everything was in place for the night. Hal Sauer brutally cold nights. additionally came every week to the Cannon Center on What happens each night is Thursday mornings to ensure laundry was outside for that not necessarily glamorous, but it week’s volunteer and tidy up the space for our afternoon is grace-filled because of the Scout and Young Life group to use. love, compassion and tenderness shown by members and staff of this congregation. In the worst a gift of hospitality… of the elements, in the coldest of seasons, guests are shown hospitality, All of you who participated are unsung heroes who patience, friendship and treated as a don’t do it for the recognition, but you most certainly valued child of God. deserve it. Your gift of time and treasure are indeed gifts Here is but a small sample of what your time and from the heart, and we are so grateful to be in ministry to financial support meant to our guests: the homeless with each and every one of you. Grace, peace and gratitude, a gift of time … FPC Adult Missions Committee

• 882 meals were served to our guests (dinner, breakfast and a take-away lunch); • church members drove over 400 miles in our bus to/from the FPC campus to the Room In The Inn campus to pick up and return the men; • 42 people gave up a night’s sleep in their own beds to serve as overnight hosts; • 14 sets of sheets/pillowcases were washed each week and returned ready to offer the soothing scent of fresh linens as our guests drifted off to sleep; • members of the Presbyterian Women Jo King Circle packed 294 bags of non-perishable snacks/lunch items; • clean, new t-shirts/underwear and socks were offered each week to those in need; • warm winter hoodies/hats/gloves/scarves/hand warmers were donated by FPC members and families Are you interested in what’s happening at of Oak Hill School; FPC? Follow us on Facebook to find out! • hand-made cards and notes of encouragement were donated by children of our Early Pre-School and Sunday School classes; and • numerous men enjoyed a hot shower and washed their clothes for the week in the adjacent bathhouse at the Cannon Center. First Grade Milestone Yields Prayers for Babies of our Congregation In January, our first graders spent four weeks exploring the Sacrament of Baptism. They studied scriptures, learned about the symbols of baptism and took time to remember or look forward to their baptisms. They met with Pastor Todd to explore the baptismal font and learned it has eight sides to help us remember creation and recreation. They were reminded they are children of God, loved by God and this congregation who have promised to be their guides on their faith journey.

In response to their study, the first graders were asked to roll beeswax candles and make diaper bag tags for the children who will be baptized in our congregation this year. They were also asked to write a prayer for a baby on his/her baptism day. These prayers show the hopes and experiences that our first graders shared with babies they haven’t even met. Thank you, first graders, for welcoming into our congregation new children of God.

Retreat Connects Fourth Graders with Peers and Faith Foundations! On February 7, our fourth graders met together to “get connected.” Our fourth grade year begins the confirmation journey and this group spent their morning connecting to each other and connecting to their faith through worship and a time of baptism remembrance. Parents joined the fourth graders and their leaders for lunch and a time of celebration to mark another milestone in their faith journey!

In the fourth grade year, we are studying the Old Testament as we begin the three-year journey to confirmation. We had great participation at the retreat with 26 fourth graders! We had some light-hearted fun connecting with one another, enjoying some treats and performing skits. On a more serious note, each child took time to write a faith statement in their journal, everyone learned more about baptism and we all journeyed through the 12 milestones from baptism to confirmation. This is a wonderful group, and we feel blessed to share in their journey! — Martha & Ben Elrod Get Your Body Moving! It’s Time for Vacation Bible School! This year during Vacation Bible School, the children will put their bodies in motion while learning Bible stories through drama, music and wondering. Children will put their love in action as they hear about four serving agencies and how they meet the needs of those they serve. After learning about the need, our children will put their faith in action as they create for others and serve those in need. Some of our m ission projects include gifts for FPC’s Habitat for Humanity family, cards and goodies for the Manna Freezer at FPC, gifts for our international partner churches, and joining with Oak Hill Day Camp to prepare backpacks of school supplies for OHDC’s Outreach campers. Your child or grandchild will want to be part of the excitement. Don’t miss Vacation Bible School 2015 G-Force: Putting God’s Love Into Action. Children who will be 4½ in June through children entering grade three in the fall should register at the church website. And check out our awesome video on the website from young people who are on the move! Vacation Bible School will be held June 22-25.

of Valor, the celebrated prison ministry aimed at Abundant Giving transformational work with prisoners who are being released, This past year, through the in order to guide and support them through their return to generosity of the members of life outside of prison. They are building a new campus to First Presbyterian Church in facilitate the successful reentry of men who have been 2014, the Session was able to incarcerated. An additional $5,000 is being given to support vote at our February meeting programming for the children of prisoners involved with an additional $100,000 in Men of Valor. Many of our members have served on the mission support, divided equally Board and been mentors for MOV. We are also giving $2,000 between local and international to finish out furnishings for New Creation Church, our new ministry efforts. This brings to church plant in Hendersonville. This past Sunday, they $1,378,000 our total mission dedicated their new facility. giving as a church in 2014, the Internationally, we are partnering with the Outreach most FPC has ever given in a Foundation of the Presbyterian Church to fund a large stone year for ministry and mission beyond our walls. As our church in Kenya through the Presbyterian Church of East Mission Council pondered how to distribute these additional Africa. We will also be adding to a school being built by funds, they decided to invest in mission partners with whom Haiti Outreach Ministries, also through The Outreach we have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship. Foundation of the Presbyterian Church, called Barye Fe The gifts were distributed locally by allocating $20,000 to Secondary School. Preston Taylor Ministries for the purchase of housing for It is a great blessing to add these mission gifts to the great their new internship program for this mentoring/tutoring work done through your gifts to FPC. We seek to be a ministry among children living in and near Preston Taylor people whose lives are marked by Gratitude, Hospitality and Homes. Many of our members have worked alongside Chan Generosity, and your gifts make this a wonderful reality. Sheppard in this wonderful work. $23,000 was given to Men Praise God, from whom all blessing flow! NONPROFIT ORG First Presbyterian Church U S POSTAGE 4815 Franklin Pike P A I D Nashville, Tennessee 37220 NASHVILLE, TN www.fpcnashville.org facebook.com/fpcnashville PERMIT NO. 27

■ Pastors 4815 Franklin Pike Nashville, TN 37220 Todd Jones Dated church material Pastor Please deliver by April 4, 2015 Sam Cooper Executive Pastor Adam DeVries Associate Pastor to Youth & Their Families Mark DeVries Associate Pastor for New Ministries Stuart Gordon Associate Pastor for Discipleship Keith Gunter Associate Pastor for New Church Development Sandra Randleman Associate Pastor for Congregational Care & Missions Program Staff Raphael Bundage Director of Music Brenda Geise Older Adult Ministry Coordinator Letitia Green Youth Happenings Director of Recreation Patricia Heim April 5: No Sunday School, Easter Sunday. Missions Coordinator Susan Kirby March 29, Sunday School: Grades 7-12 will Worship Coordinator meet in The Gathering Place at 9:40 A.M., then Michelle Mangum meet for Sunday School as grade level groups. Director of Communications Deb O’Brien Summer Missions and Trips — Sign up Director of Children’s Ministry today (youth.fpcnashville.org)! Administration • West Virginia Mission Trip: June 7-12 for Ginny Barber rising 9th-12th grades. Administrative Assistant • The Great Escape: June 14-19 for rising 7th Cindy Bozman Finance Manager and 8th grades. Lynn Elliott • Mystery Mission Trip: June 21-27 for Executive Assistant graduating seniors. Karen Fitts • Barefoot Republic Camp: July 6-11 for Nursery Coordinator Zonia Nunley junior high youth. Property Manager The Senior Banquet will be Monday, April Kim Rogers 20. Watch for more information! Food Service Schools Youth Sunday will be May 3, and our 12th Jennifer Hinote grade class will lead worship for the 8:30 and Please let us know if you have changes to your contact Head of School, Oak Hill School 11:00 A.M. morning services. information. Email changes to ([email protected] Brenda Lutz Director, FPC Early Preschool or 615-298-9570).

sunday evening worship at fpc The Gathering Place @ 5:3O p.m.