Room in the Inn returned to HCN on Saturday evening, hosted by the Bread Breakers Sunday School Class including the following families: Cutright, Vines (Jason), Groover, Helms, Morris (Steve), Barfield, Beach, Brown (Julie), Chaney, Davis (Carl), Garrett, Hollingsworth, Jones (Rodney), Stonecipher, Taylor (David), Whitehead. Jon Mowry drove the church van which transported the men needing shelter. I am thankful today for every person who prepared meals, chaperoned, and cared for people who live on the edge of survival. I am thankful for a church that built its facilities to make room for an inn.
Long Story Short returned to HCN on Sunday evening. Father/daughter Sam and Anna-Laura Green provided the opening rap music. Diane Cater narrated and directed and acted when needed. Shelley Flint, Jeff Cater, and Stephan Scappaticci provided central characters from Eve and Adam to the synopsis of Revelation. Rondy Smith put the puzzle together, assisted by Ashley Mize and Beth Seaman. Ted Brown, Jody Scott, and Betty Willis put the staging together. What a wonderful evening of redemptive entertainment. I remember the first year I saw Long Story Short and how hard I had to work to let my guard down and not be offended. Last night, I listened from a different place and enjoyed the stories and the hilarity. It was a marvelous telling and re-telling.
HCN has three female student athletes who play on their college basketball teams: Heather Miller, Becca Sharpe, and K.C. Van Atta. Heather plays for Vol State in Gallatin, TN. Becca plays for Bryan College in Dayton, TN. K.C. plays for Trevecca University in Nashville, TN. I have some press to share on all three.
Heather Miller’s Lady Pioneers have come back from a seven year slump to be ranked 18th in the nation in the NJCAA. They are also ranked 4th in team offense and 15th in team field goal percentage. The team is undefeated at 7-0.
Becca Sharpe leads the Lady Lions in assists, 3 pointers, and free throws. She is 70% for the season in 3 pointers. In the NAIA-II Top 20 Team Rankings, Becca is 3rd in assists and llth in 3 point percentage. She has reached double digits in assists in the last two games.
K.C. Van Atta was named the TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, November 9, 2008. K.C. scored a career high 30 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and hit a school single-game record 8 three pointers in a come from behind win. The Lady Trojans are ranked fourth in the nation in the NAIA-I and are currently 8-0.
Congratulations to Chris Taylor on his election to the Board of the Chamber of Commerce in Mount Juliet. Chris is the Fixed Operations Manager of the newly relocated Two Rivers Ford in Mt. Juliet. Chris is also a member of the HCN Church Board.
Allow me to talk to you about several “life of the church” issues. Let me begin by speaking to the provision of Christmas for others. For several years, the church has placed bins in The Center Lobby to collect goods for various agencies and needs. Needs are so great this year that several age groups and Sunday School Classes are already out-front collecting. So, you will not see the collection bins. However, families abound who have children who could use help for Christmas. Could I make a suggestion? If you would like to help, purchase a gift card from an area store and put it into the offering plates when they are passed on Sunday mornings. Counters will collect the cards and pass them to the pastoral staff who will pass them to families in need. Could I make another suggestion? A gift card to Walmart allows a family to purchase food, clothing, presents, or even gas for a vehicle ((I have no stock in or family who works for Walmart).
Second, I need to talk to you about Advent 2008. Advent is the season of anticipation. For four Sundays previous to Christmas Day, the church watches for the coming of the Christ child. There are Advent wreaths with candles lighted in each morning service, culminating in the lighting of the Christ candle in the Christmas Eve Service. There is Advent preaching and congregational singing. There are musicals and dramas and socials pointing us to December 25. I wanted to give you some of the details:
This Sunday, November 30, 2008, is the first of the four Advent Sundays. The morning is different but wonderful (you’ll see) and you will not want to miss it or you will have to be told about what happened. The evening begins at 6:00 PM and is a time of Preparing Ourselves and Our Spaces for Christmas. Families with last names beginning A-L should bring a pot of soup, dessert, and drink. Families with last names beginning M-Z should bring a large salad, dessert, and drink. Bring your food to The Center, share devotions, help dress the facilities for Christmas, and then we will eat.
The second Sunday of Advent is December 7, 2008. The Adult Christmas Musical is presented by the choir and band at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM in The Center. There is no Sunday School this morning. The evening service begins at 6:00 PM with the Children’s Musical and followed by finger foods and drinks.
The third Sunday of Advent is December 14, 2008. The morning services feature Advent preaching and music. The evening service features a Teen Drama in The Center with pasta and pizza to follow.
The fourth Sunday of Advent is December 21, 2008. Again, the morning features Advent preaching and music. The evening service features three HCN vocalists in a concert of Christmas music. Soup and salads follow in The Center.
A Christmas Eve Service is new this year and comes by persistent and kind requests. The service begins at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary and includes congregational singing, communion, and the lighting of candles.
Christmas Day is Thursday, December 25, 2008. It is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior and King.
I need to tell you I am thankful for you this Thanksgiving season. I consider many of you to be good and kind friends who I look forward to seeing and greeting and being with each Sunday. I am thankful for my faith and I hope my reputation is good with you. Your’s is good with me.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 17, 2008
Congratulations to the Hermitage Children Quizzers who participated in the multi- zone quiz hosted by our church on Saturday: Briley Ruff, Brielle Fox, Daniel Silvernail, Bryson Fox, Bethany Ruff, Jonathan Silvernail, Drew Silvernail, and Sara Waller. Briley, Brielle, and Daniel quizzed at the red level. Briley earned a gold star ribbon. Brielle and Daniel earned gold all-star ribbons. Bryson, Bethany, Jonathan, Drew, and Sara quizzed at the blue level. Drew and Sara earned gold star ribbons. Bryson, Bethany, and Jonathan earned gold all star ribbons.
Hermitage Church participated in a Mission Day on Sunday that is still buzzing in my head. Jon and Kathy Mowry, missionaries of eleven years to Soviet bloc countries and now at home in Tennessee and Hermitage Church, shared twelve stories to illustrate the mighty works of God in an atheistic culture. Their narratives captured our attention and made us want to participate in the continuation of the story. Phil Jordan, chairperson of the Finance Council, informed me this morning that to date, 97 families have pledged to give $76,832 over the next twelve months to World Missions. While I am excited about the totals, I believe there will be many more families who will join in the pledging over the next two weeks in November. Find pledge cards available at Welcome Centers.
Spencer Baggott addressed second service via Skype from the nation of Senegal in Africa. Spencer and April move from a year of language school to their assignment in Rwanda in several months. They are members of our church. Every month, their tithe check is mailed to HCN and deposited in the offering plates with our giving.
Congregational music was exceptionally moving in message yesterday. In first service, we sang “Jesus Saves” and “I Love to Tell the Story.” In second service, we sang “All Over the World,” “I Will Go,” and “Mighty to Save.” Kathy Mowry said if she had sung one more verse, she might have left her teaching assignment at Trevecca and returned to the field. That is the kind of person I want talking to me about missions. I want to recognize the behind the scenes people who made the difference yesterday. Donna Shankle leads the Mission Council at HCN and their planning for the morning produced the goods. Miriam McMillan pulled the stats together for the bulletin insert and Patrick McMillan designed it. Ken Jewett communicated with Spencer regarding avail-ability and timing and then prepared the systems. Robert Sullivan received the requests for help with power point from the Mowrys and made it happen. Jody Scott prepared the card stock pledge cards and printed them. Phil Jordan collected the cards and totaled them and recorded our pledges. Thanks, team.
Our Thanksgiving Dinner was a week earlier than usual. Thanks to the turkey and ham cookers who provided the meat: Carol Waller, Lisa Anderson, Brenda Agee, Bill Lowe, Janis Barrett, Barbara Parrish, Donna Wood, Miriam McMillan, Kristi Mabry, Marilyn Keener, Joy Bradley, Kim Kile, Bobby Meadows, Alex Whitehead, Ruth Pilkinton, Julie Foster, and Pam McNeese. We ran out of turkey and ham last year and the seventeen of you made sure it did not happen again. Thanks to everyone else for providing the salads, vegetables, desserts and drinks. The food was sensational and plenteous. My wife bragged all the way home about how tasty everything was. There were raves this morning in staff meeting for the sweet potatoes cut into slender slices. Thanks to the Genesis Sunday School Class for set-up, service, and clean-up, and to Lisa Anderson who is always watching over our social events.
Long Story Short returns to The Center this Sunday, November 23, 2008, at 6:00 PM. It is an hour long drama encapsulating the sixty-six books of the Bible presented by four characters: Diane Cater, Jeff Cater, Shelley Flint, and Stephan Scappaticci. I cannot over emphasize how very appealing it is. It is so funny and fast-paced and inspirational. It is a perfect opportunity to invite someone to attend church with you who thinks church is tired and boring. It is a hook with which the Holy Spirit may grab someone and turn around their life. The place should be packed.
If you are considering participating in the 2010 Mission Africa Trip, the first informa-tional gathering is scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 2009, at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Put this date on your calendar. That meeting will be less than eighteen months from the beginning of a journey across the world.
I moved a chair off my back deck to an observation point for my back yard burn pile. I have torched all of the tree limbs I had collected for a year and I am waiting for a first burning of leaves on Thursday. The smell of yard fires transports me decades back into my childhood to the yard of a four room house in the Long Creek community of Meck-lenburg County, NC. When I look through the glass panes in my back door, the chair in the yard invites me, draws me to a place of remember. I hope there is something good stored somewhere in your memory that makes your life richer just in the recall. I hope that blessing for you.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Hermitage Church participated in a Mission Day on Sunday that is still buzzing in my head. Jon and Kathy Mowry, missionaries of eleven years to Soviet bloc countries and now at home in Tennessee and Hermitage Church, shared twelve stories to illustrate the mighty works of God in an atheistic culture. Their narratives captured our attention and made us want to participate in the continuation of the story. Phil Jordan, chairperson of the Finance Council, informed me this morning that to date, 97 families have pledged to give $76,832 over the next twelve months to World Missions. While I am excited about the totals, I believe there will be many more families who will join in the pledging over the next two weeks in November. Find pledge cards available at Welcome Centers.
Spencer Baggott addressed second service via Skype from the nation of Senegal in Africa. Spencer and April move from a year of language school to their assignment in Rwanda in several months. They are members of our church. Every month, their tithe check is mailed to HCN and deposited in the offering plates with our giving.
Congregational music was exceptionally moving in message yesterday. In first service, we sang “Jesus Saves” and “I Love to Tell the Story.” In second service, we sang “All Over the World,” “I Will Go,” and “Mighty to Save.” Kathy Mowry said if she had sung one more verse, she might have left her teaching assignment at Trevecca and returned to the field. That is the kind of person I want talking to me about missions. I want to recognize the behind the scenes people who made the difference yesterday. Donna Shankle leads the Mission Council at HCN and their planning for the morning produced the goods. Miriam McMillan pulled the stats together for the bulletin insert and Patrick McMillan designed it. Ken Jewett communicated with Spencer regarding avail-ability and timing and then prepared the systems. Robert Sullivan received the requests for help with power point from the Mowrys and made it happen. Jody Scott prepared the card stock pledge cards and printed them. Phil Jordan collected the cards and totaled them and recorded our pledges. Thanks, team.
Our Thanksgiving Dinner was a week earlier than usual. Thanks to the turkey and ham cookers who provided the meat: Carol Waller, Lisa Anderson, Brenda Agee, Bill Lowe, Janis Barrett, Barbara Parrish, Donna Wood, Miriam McMillan, Kristi Mabry, Marilyn Keener, Joy Bradley, Kim Kile, Bobby Meadows, Alex Whitehead, Ruth Pilkinton, Julie Foster, and Pam McNeese. We ran out of turkey and ham last year and the seventeen of you made sure it did not happen again. Thanks to everyone else for providing the salads, vegetables, desserts and drinks. The food was sensational and plenteous. My wife bragged all the way home about how tasty everything was. There were raves this morning in staff meeting for the sweet potatoes cut into slender slices. Thanks to the Genesis Sunday School Class for set-up, service, and clean-up, and to Lisa Anderson who is always watching over our social events.
Long Story Short returns to The Center this Sunday, November 23, 2008, at 6:00 PM. It is an hour long drama encapsulating the sixty-six books of the Bible presented by four characters: Diane Cater, Jeff Cater, Shelley Flint, and Stephan Scappaticci. I cannot over emphasize how very appealing it is. It is so funny and fast-paced and inspirational. It is a perfect opportunity to invite someone to attend church with you who thinks church is tired and boring. It is a hook with which the Holy Spirit may grab someone and turn around their life. The place should be packed.
If you are considering participating in the 2010 Mission Africa Trip, the first informa-tional gathering is scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 2009, at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Put this date on your calendar. That meeting will be less than eighteen months from the beginning of a journey across the world.
I moved a chair off my back deck to an observation point for my back yard burn pile. I have torched all of the tree limbs I had collected for a year and I am waiting for a first burning of leaves on Thursday. The smell of yard fires transports me decades back into my childhood to the yard of a four room house in the Long Creek community of Meck-lenburg County, NC. When I look through the glass panes in my back door, the chair in the yard invites me, draws me to a place of remember. I hope there is something good stored somewhere in your memory that makes your life richer just in the recall. I hope that blessing for you.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Monday, November 10, 2008
November 10, 2008
Ray and Heather Anderson presented their daughters, Sarah and Becca, in dedication to the Lord Jesus on Sunday, November 9, 2008, in the 10:15 AM service in The Center. Sarah and Becca were joined at the altar by their maternal and paternal grandparents. Children’s Pastor Carol Waller carried Sarah and I carried Becca on their blessing journey. The girls were not only calm but friendly. Sarah waved at people. We thank the Lord for the blessing he has given to the Andersons in Sarah and Becca and pray that their lives will be lived as blessings in return.
Pastor Ronnie Thompson concluded the second season of Flag Football at HCN with a Thursday night, under-the-lights game. There were 82 participants this season with 18 of the players coming from HCN. HCN team members were Jacob Brown, Joel Daugherty, Preston Davis, Matthew Helm, TJ Hysell, Luke Joselyn, Maxwell Mullins, Bryce Poole, Carter Poole, Grant Render, Madeleine Rouse, Bethany Ruff, and Jordan Sweeten. Cheerleaders were Sarah Helm, Erica Render, Maggie Stroupe, Sadie Stroupe, and Elizabeth Sweeten. Coaches included Ray Render, Jody Sweeten, Doug Praskatch, Greg Ruff, Richard Hysell, Sherri Render, Stacey Sweeten, and Bonnie Stroupe. Steve Kelley and Rob Mathias served as referees. Robert Sullivan provided, set-up, and picked up the lights for the Awards Night. We congratulate every player, coach, referee, and volunteer for a successful season, for skills learned, for friendships formed.
Five HCN students are members of the Mt. Juliet Men and Women’s Swim Team: Lauren Lavery, Anna-Laura Green, Cassie Hunt, Alexandra Odom, and Taylor Wallace. Based on their meets throughout the year, Lauren has qualified for regionals and Taylor has qualified for state finals. Congratulations to these athletes.
In the last two years, the Church of the Nazarene has adopted the following mission statement: “to make Christlike disciples of the nations;” and defined the following core values: Christian, Holy, and Missional. Not that it matters, but I approve and applaud both. Missional is a twenty-first century word not yet included in most dictionaries. It speaks to attitude and lifestyle. It is so much more than dropping money into a plate. I think it means seeing the world with the eyes and heart of Jesus. This Sunday, November 16, 2008, you will have the opportunity to consider what it means for you to live missional. Jon and Kathy Mowry, veteran missionaries to Russia and members of our congregation, will help us. They have stories to tell from life experience. We need to listen and ask God how we can respond. Spencer and April Baggott are members of HCN and missionaries on a fresh assignment to Rwanda. We hope to speak to them by Skype. Pray that God’s will be done in both worship services and that at the end, our sight and heart condition will be more like Jesus.
Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner arrives one week early this year. We eat together this Sunday, November 16, 2008, at 5:00 PM in The Center. At this writing, we still need cooks to purchase and prepare two more hams and two more turkeys. Call the church office at 847-3335 to volunteer. The rest of us need to bring dishes of one vegetable, one salad, one dessert, and one large drink. Appetites are big for Thanksgiving so bring plenty. The evening includes no entertainment, just great food and fellowship. We like to eat and we like to be together.
The Church Board appointed a Task Force in October to meet and propose an operating budget for the church for the 2009 calendar year. That Task Force met on Monday, November 3, 2008, at 7:00 PM and was composed of Phil Jordan, Brad Houser, David Hunt, Jerry Keener, Scott Steinmetz, and me. Copies of the proposal were mailed to every board member on Tuesday morning. The whole board met yesterday afternoon in the regular monthly board meeting and unanimously approved the budget. I wanted you to know that the budget includes a freeze on all salaries of pastoral staff and support staff and a continued freeze on any spending beyond salaries, mortgages, utilities, and missions. I personally recommended the freeze on salaries. It in no way reflects appreciation for the service given by staff. It represents an almost 4% reduction in total spending and the financial realities of our nation and our world. Please know as you continue to responsibly give to the church, that those who make decisions about finances will responsibly control how the monies are spent. Kendell Poole expressed his appreciation at the end of the board meeting for the excellence of the Finance Council and the confidence he has in each person for this serious time. I agree.
Congratulations to Dr. Larry Leonard, currently pastor of Highland Park Church of the Nazarene in Lakeland, Florida, on his appointment by General Superintendent Nina Gunter to serve as the Superintendent of the Tennessee District effective January 1, 2009. Dr. Leonard replaces Dr. Bob Broadbooks, recently elected by the General Board to serve as the USA/Canada Mission Director.
I am thankful to God for His presence and guidance in our worship services on Sunday. A young mother who regularly attends second service woke up on Sunday morning realizing she had volunteer responsibilities during that service. She knew she really needed to be a part of worship. So, reluctantly, she decided to come to first service. By the end of the service, she wound up standing in the front center row for communion filled with the knowledge that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She told me that story today and I thought you would want to know.
I look forward to Sunday.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Pastor Ronnie Thompson concluded the second season of Flag Football at HCN with a Thursday night, under-the-lights game. There were 82 participants this season with 18 of the players coming from HCN. HCN team members were Jacob Brown, Joel Daugherty, Preston Davis, Matthew Helm, TJ Hysell, Luke Joselyn, Maxwell Mullins, Bryce Poole, Carter Poole, Grant Render, Madeleine Rouse, Bethany Ruff, and Jordan Sweeten. Cheerleaders were Sarah Helm, Erica Render, Maggie Stroupe, Sadie Stroupe, and Elizabeth Sweeten. Coaches included Ray Render, Jody Sweeten, Doug Praskatch, Greg Ruff, Richard Hysell, Sherri Render, Stacey Sweeten, and Bonnie Stroupe. Steve Kelley and Rob Mathias served as referees. Robert Sullivan provided, set-up, and picked up the lights for the Awards Night. We congratulate every player, coach, referee, and volunteer for a successful season, for skills learned, for friendships formed.
Five HCN students are members of the Mt. Juliet Men and Women’s Swim Team: Lauren Lavery, Anna-Laura Green, Cassie Hunt, Alexandra Odom, and Taylor Wallace. Based on their meets throughout the year, Lauren has qualified for regionals and Taylor has qualified for state finals. Congratulations to these athletes.
In the last two years, the Church of the Nazarene has adopted the following mission statement: “to make Christlike disciples of the nations;” and defined the following core values: Christian, Holy, and Missional. Not that it matters, but I approve and applaud both. Missional is a twenty-first century word not yet included in most dictionaries. It speaks to attitude and lifestyle. It is so much more than dropping money into a plate. I think it means seeing the world with the eyes and heart of Jesus. This Sunday, November 16, 2008, you will have the opportunity to consider what it means for you to live missional. Jon and Kathy Mowry, veteran missionaries to Russia and members of our congregation, will help us. They have stories to tell from life experience. We need to listen and ask God how we can respond. Spencer and April Baggott are members of HCN and missionaries on a fresh assignment to Rwanda. We hope to speak to them by Skype. Pray that God’s will be done in both worship services and that at the end, our sight and heart condition will be more like Jesus.
Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner arrives one week early this year. We eat together this Sunday, November 16, 2008, at 5:00 PM in The Center. At this writing, we still need cooks to purchase and prepare two more hams and two more turkeys. Call the church office at 847-3335 to volunteer. The rest of us need to bring dishes of one vegetable, one salad, one dessert, and one large drink. Appetites are big for Thanksgiving so bring plenty. The evening includes no entertainment, just great food and fellowship. We like to eat and we like to be together.
The Church Board appointed a Task Force in October to meet and propose an operating budget for the church for the 2009 calendar year. That Task Force met on Monday, November 3, 2008, at 7:00 PM and was composed of Phil Jordan, Brad Houser, David Hunt, Jerry Keener, Scott Steinmetz, and me. Copies of the proposal were mailed to every board member on Tuesday morning. The whole board met yesterday afternoon in the regular monthly board meeting and unanimously approved the budget. I wanted you to know that the budget includes a freeze on all salaries of pastoral staff and support staff and a continued freeze on any spending beyond salaries, mortgages, utilities, and missions. I personally recommended the freeze on salaries. It in no way reflects appreciation for the service given by staff. It represents an almost 4% reduction in total spending and the financial realities of our nation and our world. Please know as you continue to responsibly give to the church, that those who make decisions about finances will responsibly control how the monies are spent. Kendell Poole expressed his appreciation at the end of the board meeting for the excellence of the Finance Council and the confidence he has in each person for this serious time. I agree.
Congratulations to Dr. Larry Leonard, currently pastor of Highland Park Church of the Nazarene in Lakeland, Florida, on his appointment by General Superintendent Nina Gunter to serve as the Superintendent of the Tennessee District effective January 1, 2009. Dr. Leonard replaces Dr. Bob Broadbooks, recently elected by the General Board to serve as the USA/Canada Mission Director.
I am thankful to God for His presence and guidance in our worship services on Sunday. A young mother who regularly attends second service woke up on Sunday morning realizing she had volunteer responsibilities during that service. She knew she really needed to be a part of worship. So, reluctantly, she decided to come to first service. By the end of the service, she wound up standing in the front center row for communion filled with the knowledge that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She told me that story today and I thought you would want to know.
I look forward to Sunday.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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