March 9, 2009

Congratulations to Steve and Leisha Stride on the birth of their son, Jake Saunders Stride, on March 6, 2009, at 5:01 AM at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, TN.

Jake weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 ¾ inches in length. He is the brother of Will and Seth. Anna and I visited with Jake and his mom and dad a little later on his birth day and he was warm and resting. We give thanks to the Lord for a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

John and Kristin Jordan presented their son, Cooper Davis Jordan, in dedication to the Lord on Sunday, March 8, 2009, in the 10:15 AM service in The Center. Cooper was joined at the altar by sister and brother, Caroline and Gant; grandmothers Marilyn Jordan and Libby Jones; step-grandfather, Danny Jones; step-mom and husband, Debby and Bill Poppert; aunt, Emily Hickman; cousins, Josie and Maggie Hickman; Kristen’s best friend, Jennifer Roddy and her family Whit, Anna Claire, Ron and Judy Ooten; Kristen’s friend, Brittany Smith; and like-family-friends, Kenny, Tiffany, Trey, Madi McNeese. John sang the dedication song for his son while I carried Cooper on a blessing journey to you. He slept the entire way. We bless the Lord who has entrusted Cooper to John and Kristen to love and to teach about Him, for Him.

Congratulations to Jonna Taylor and Victor Taylor on the birth of their daughter, Abigail Grace Taylor, born on March 9, 2009, at 10:14 AM at Centennial Women’s Hospital in Nashville, TN. Abby weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches in length. She is the sister of Hannah. I talked to Abby through the nursery window after her first bath and she was naked pink and sleeping. We give thanks to the Lord for a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

Senior Adults and Friends visited Second Harvest Food Bank on Friday, February 27, 2009, to sort food and pack boxes and to deliver the 350 pounds of food collected at HCN. They also delivered $420 which will purchase an additional 2,100 pounds of food. Workers included Jim and Brenda Agee, Doug and Dalene Barnett, Tommy and Mary Ann Boner, Joy Bradley, Glen and Pat Detwiler, Rebecca Dickens, Jeanette Flatt, Alene Gill, Pauline Harbin, Carrie Knox, Shirley Maschinski, and Ken Willis.

Trevecca Nazarene University Lady Trojan’s Basketball Team plays the women of Union University in the TranSouth Tournament Championship tonight (Monday) at 7:00 PM. Trevecca made it to the tournament final by beating Freed-Hardeman, holding the team to their lowest point total in eleven years. K.C. Van Atta led Trevecca with fourteen points. This is the fifth time Trevecca has made it to the tournament final, all without wins. However, it is the birthday of Coach Gary Van Atta. It could be the year.

Upwards Basketball concluded its 2009 season last week with a total of 140 children participating. As is always true, 65% of the children were from outside of our church. Basketball players from within the church were Isabella Agee, Mia Agee, Gavon Baker, Jackson Barfield, Holly Baughman, Logan Baskin, Emma Brown, Jacob Brown, Joel Daugherty, Preston Davis, Abby Elkins, Logan Evans, Emily Flint, Evan Flint, Ethan Foster, Jared Gardenour, James (J.D.) Hall, T.J. Hysell, Joel Jones, Luke Joselyn, Noah Joselyn, Teddy Joyce, Marileigh Mabry, Anthony Mannen, Michael Mathias, Trey McNeese, Maxwell Mullins, David Paddon, Jacob Paddon, Bryce Poole, Carter Poole, Erica Render, Grant Render, Kelli Rose, Shelby Rose, Bethany Ruff, Briley Ruff, Daniel Silvernail, Drew Silvernail, Jonathan Silvernail, Elizabeth Sweeten, Jordan Sweeten, Reid Swoner, Ben Thompson, Shelby Thompson, Austin Waller, Braxton Waller, and Travis Walter. Cheerleaders from within the church were Brooke Bradley, Morgan Evans, Lydia Foster, Alyssa Mannen, and Annalee Poole. Coaches within the church included Chip Jackson, Rob Matthias, Kenny McNeese, Ashley Mize, Buddy Mabry, Kendell Poole, Ray Render, Jody Sweeten, David Russell, and Rick Brown. Senior High Students who coached were Ben Mabry, Hunter Steinmetz, Lauren Lavery, and Whitney Gonyea. Referees included Marvin Heath, Kris Neely, and Mark Washing. Congratulations to everyone on a successful season! Thanks to Pastor Ronnie Thompson for coordinating each piece and date.

Senior Night Live ’09 happened at Mt. Juliet High School last Saturday evening. It was an evening (long) of skits, music, and the announcement of senior superlatives. HCN students who performed in the evening were Corley Bell, William Griffith, Andy McCormick, Alex Odom, and Taylor Haydel. HCN nominees for superlative categories were William Griffith, Levi Garrett, Alex Odom, Collin Earnhardt, Palmer Maphet, Matt Sedgewick, Corley Bell, Olivia Redding, Graham Scott, Peter Calkins, Lauren Lavery, Taylor Haydel, Jessica Durham, Dylan Merritt, and Meghan Lavery. HCN Award Recipients were Alex Odom (best hair), Collin Earnhardt (most athletic), Meghan Lavery (most athletic), Palmer Maphet (most school spirit), Peter Calkins (most eligible bachelor), Jessica Durham (most eligible bachelorette), William Griffith and Palmer Maphet (best “best friends”), William Griffith (most attractive), Matt Sedgewick (biggest heart), Andy McCormick (most talented), Graham Scott (most spiritual), Corley Bell (Miss Mt. Juliet). Congratulations to the superlatives recognized and those yet to be recognized in another time, another place.

We have told you for several weeks that Pastor Nicholas Kisua, our host pastor from MissionAfrica’08, will visit the USA this month and spend the weekend of March 21-22, 2009 with us. He meets with the ’08 team on Saturday evening and with the ’10 team on Sunday evening. The Finance Council has given me permission to ask for your participa-tion in a Second Poverty Dinner on Sunday, March 22, 2009, at 5:00 PM in The Center.

I want to ask the Early Christian Sunday School Class to prepare beans and bread again and have all donations be divided between the needs of our African brothers and sisters and the needs of our local community seeking assistance at our doors.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard