December 28, 2009

Congratulations to Nick Lewis who graduated from Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday, December 19, 2009, with a history major, business education minor. Nick is employed at Segal Middle School in the Murfreesboro City Schools. He is the son of Lisa Anderson and the grandson of Dot Waffird.

The Christmas Eve Service at HCN now seems weeks ago but remains a wonderful memory. I stood in the Sanctuary foyer and watched people come through the doors in groups of tens and twenties and wondered if we could ever seat everyone. I love events which pack us into the Sanctuary and stir our memories. Preston Hunt expressed his nostalgia to me and made me love him more. Is it possible to have sung “Joy to the World” with more authority than when we opened the series of carol hymns? Thanks to Willard Brinkman, Michael Waller, and David Flint for providing expert instrumentation. Thanks to Sam Green for leading the congregational singing. Thanks to Catherine Segars for the “Breath of Heaven.” Thanks to Billie Ragland and Shirley Maschinski for preparing the communion elements and then cleaning up afterwards. Thanks to Shane Tarter, Daniel Smith, and Jake Resor for transporting chairs for extra seating to the foyer. Thanks to Aaron and Caleb Foster who remained after service to pick-up, straighten up what the rest of us had left. Rondy Smith made it her personal responsibility to see that the candles were assembled with drip guards before distribution. Lifting our candles to heaven may be one of the most dangerous and wonderful things we do at Christmas.

The One morning worship service in The Center on Sunday at 10:00 AM escorted us to the other end of the campus. I so appreciate all of the first service people who made the transition. Dr. Greathouse and Judy Greathouse were two of the first to arrive. It is the only service of the year when there are no nurseries, no arranged childcare, no other activities functioning in any area of the facilities. I commend the children and the families who made it work. Thanks to Rondy Smith, Ken Jewett, Shane Tarter, and Carol Waller for sharing the preaching role with me yesterday. Bill Stricklin has already sent an email to brag on all of them. I liked standing in the lobby of The Center after service and getting to talk with people like Jerry and Mae Beavers. First service people normally watch me hurry off to second service. We got to talk about the joy of being grandparents.

The Genesis Sunday School Class hosted Room-in-the-Inn at HCN on Saturday night. Ten homeless men from downtown Nashville were provided a safe, dry place to sleep; delicious food to eat; a safe place to shower and wash clothes; a place to sit and talk with people who cared. Hosts and hostesses included Tiffany Mathias; John, Erika, Jared, Anthony, and Alyssa Mannen; Stephan, Susan, Jameson, and Isabella Scappaticci; Bob and Rhonda Ward; Kathy Orrick; Paul Stonecipher; J.D. and Angela Hisey; Dianne and Ricky McNeese; David and Yori Taylor; Yori's son and his fiancé', Khena Kara and Kelli Beecher; Carol Clem; Bobby, Rondy, Daniel and Kyle Smith; David, Shelley, Emily and Evan Flint; Bill and Melva Strickland; Dan and Cathy Preston; Tes and Feli Tigabu; Barry, Alex and Kaina Whitehead; Alex's father, Philippe Gehin; Dan Scott; John Alderman; Jill Satterlee; Webb Trojan; Marvin Heath; Lawana Jones. Thanks for representing all of the rest of us as you cared for others in the name of Jesus.

These are the last days of 2009. A new year arrives this week. Allow me to mention three things buzzing in my head regarding completing and beginning:

• If you need to catch up end of the year giving to the church, it is not too late to do so. You can either bring a check by the church or mail it to the church with a December 31, 2009, date written on the check. Several months ago, I wrote a note in one of these letters expressing my confidence in an investment in this local body. I want to reaffirm that confidence. This church is effectively reaching a generation of young people for Christ. We do not just talk about it. We put our money where our mouth is. Giving or not giving dictates a lot of what happens around the church. Pay attention.

• I am convinced that six young people need to go on the trip to Africa in 2010. The cost is high. I need six sponsors who would commit to giving $2,500 so that a teen could raise the remainder of the funds for their trip. It is a life-changing opportunity. If you feel the slightest bit interested, please call me at 847-3335 and let me talk with you.

• The Wesleyan Covenant Service is an annual service of confession, worship, and commitment that we observe at HCN in the first Sunday of the new year. The service contains preaching, congregational singing, significant vocal offerings. People leave the service asking if we can meet again before a year is up to account for what was just started. We return to regular schedules this Sunday, January 3, 2010, at 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary and at 10:15 AM in The Center. All Sunday School Classes also return to the schedule.

Somewhere in the midst of all of your good intentions for 2010, I hope God is speaking and I hope you are listening. He greatly desires to live and operate at the center of your life. What needs to change in you? What priorities need to shift? What relationships need attention? I am praying for you, my brothers and my sisters. And I am depending on your prayers for me. It is the only way to survive.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard

December 21, 2009

Michael Follis, Matt Follis, and Morgan Follis were baptized on Sunday, December 20, 2009, at 5:00 PM in HCN’s Sanctuary. Michael is a student at Trevecca Nazarene University. Matt is a student at Middle Tennessee State University. Morgan is a student at Lakeview Elementary School. When Michael decided some weeks ago to declare his faith in baptism, he asked his brother, Matt, to join him and their sister, Morgan, decided she would join them. The entire family of the Corinthian jailer was baptized together. It is appropriate that two brothers and a sister would be baptized together.

The Live Wire and Building One presentation on Sunday, December 20, 2009, at 6:00 PM in The Center was classy, tasteful, Hebraic, Gregorian, black and white. It was more different than anything else they have ever done. I kept waiting for something else to break out and the character of the service was maintained from beginning to end. I applaud you, Students. I wish I had names of students and I do not. I do have the names of the Adult Leaders: Diane Cater (director), Christine Helm, Jillian Forcum, Beth Fox, Michael Waller, David Flint, Donny Jackson, Hayley Hill.

The Christmas Eve Service is scheduled for Thursday, December 24, 2009, at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary. The service includes scripture, lots of congregational singing (led by Sam Green), communion in the pews, the lighting of the Christ candle, the passing of the light. See you there. Arrive early.

The Sunday after Christmas is Sunday, December 27, 2009, with one service at 10:00 AM in The Center. Please notice this is ONE service and the time is 10:00 AM and the place is The Center. The service is planned to keep the interest of all ages and will include all of the pastoral staff members including Sam Green.

Last night concluded the Advent Fellowship Services in the evening. Your willingness to participate with food amazes me. Thank you to everyone who helped with set-up, clean-up, service. Thank you to Women’s Ministries President, Lisa Anderson, who coordinates it all.

You are greatly loved and appreciated. Thank you for every card and kindness extended to me and my family, every staff member and their family, to every person in need. We are distributing gift cards and cash this morning. Merry Christmas.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard

December 14, 2009

“A Night of Alleluias” provided incredible vocals and instrumentation from the HCN Choir and Band to share on Sunday, December 13, 2009 in back-to-back services at 9:00 and 10:30 AM. Dr. Sam Green had planned to be present to direct the production but instead found himself a patient in Centennial Medial Center. So, Tammy Tarter stepped into the director’s role and did a tremendous job. Thanks to the HCN Band of Randy Layne, Ricky Gore, Michael Waller, Donny Jackson, Paul Bolling, David Flint, and Graham Scott who made it all sound easy. Thanks to the following HCN Choir members: Herb McMillan, Ryan Means, Bobby Smith, Ken Stegall, Tom Stephens, Joy Bradley, Marvin Heath, Gary Helm, John Jordan, Ken Koon, Art Kurtz, Paul Vann, Renita Amity, Lisa Anderson, Jo Apple, Dorinda Biggs, Joyce Clevenger, Jessica Dozier, Kristi Dozier, Christi Fite, JoAnn Jackson, Melinda Knott, Pam McNeese, Miriam McMillan, Beverly Sharpe, Tammy Tarter, Carrie Wagner, Deborah Walter, Dalene Barnett, Janeene Davis, Julie Foster, Beth Fox, Marilyn Keener, Sandra Kurtz, Anna Plummer, and Betty Willis.

I failed to tell you that Sam and Keli watched both presentations via Skype set up by Ken Jewett. Dr. Tim Green, Dean of the School of Religion at Trevecca Nazarene University, wrote the narration for “A Night of Alleluias” and was present to narrate each service.

What talented, gifted people God has gathered at HCN and how fortunate we are to share in the offering returned to him.

Four beautiful, young, talented ladies provided an evening of Christmas vocals on Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. They are Dorinda Biggs, Beth Fox, Suzanne Karr, and Catherine Segars. Their styles and tastes are poles apart but their voices are exquisite. They even let us join in on four songs in the middle. I personally appreciate the effort and commitment required of each to prepare for the evening and to Randy Layne, Paul Bolling, Graham Scott, and Ben Tyler for providing live instrumentation. Thanks to all of the people who cooked a pot of soup or brought a salad. The good food eaten before service made the good music better.

Pastor Ken Jewett has attempted to secure a regular place of service for our youth at the Nashville Rescue Mission for over one year. The time may have come. For several weeks, Livewire Students who are available have assisted in serving Friday lunch. They are Josh Cater, Caleb Foster, Bethany Ruff, Emily Paddon, Jacob Paddon, and Jameson Scappaticci. LiveWire, College, and Mom2Moms also collected seventy-seven boxes for Operation Christmas Child that go to children around the world in spreading the gospel.

Congratulations to Jamie Durham who graduates from Western Kentucky University on Saturday, December 19, 2009, with a BS in Marketing. Her grandmother, Rebecca Dickens, says it seems like only yesterday that Jamie was in Mommy Dot’s class.

Schedules return to normal this Sunday with Sunday School fully operational and morning worship services at 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary and 10:15 AM in The Center. The evening includes a baptismal service at 5:00 PM in the Sanctuary; pizza and pasta in The Center at 5:30 PM and the LiveWire and Building One Christmas Program at 6:00 PM in The Center. Families are asked to bring pizza OR pasta, a dessert, a large drink.

I finished something on Sunday night that has taken me four years and three months to complete. I submitted the last paper for a graduate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. As a life-long learner, I have taken some kind of undergraduate or graduate course since 1970. When I started this degree, I thought that previous graduate work I have done most of my life would transfer. None did. Like me, it was too old. So, I started over. I took two weeks of vacation each year to be on campus in Pasadena and did the rest in cohort groups. Some weeks, the pressure seemed overwhelming. That is when three or four people who pray for me would rev up the asking. God always provided. I am looking forward to some unfilled space in my life for at least six months. Learning is richer at 57 years old. I hope I am delaying dementia.

I look forward to being with you on Sunday.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard

December 7, 2009

HCN’s Children’s Ministries presented their annual Christmas program and musical last evening including children from infancy through grade four. Leave it to Carol Waller to get everyone’s face in even if it means a picture. The video montage of infants included Liam Bolling, Lucia Greathouse, Cooper Jordan, Emilee Koon, Malcolm Mullins, Leyton Plummer, Austin Reigard, Jake Stride, and Caroline Walker. Toddler Bell Ringers included Becca Anderson, Mason Beach, Emberlynn Biggs, Tate Collins, Brandon Helm, Keegan Lutz, Bennett Segars, Lucas Waller, and Nicolas York. Nativity Scene Characters included Mercedes Greathouse (Mary); Kyler Kelley (Joseph); Ava Collins (Star); Anna Cutright and Avree Hampton (Angels); Beth Price, Seth Stride, Cole Petroff (Shepherds); Caeden Bolling, Tyler Koon, Harper Kate Miles, Kennedy Plummer, Jaden Ries, Carson Slocum (Nativity Animals). Pre-kindergarten Bell Ringers included Dallas Whitehead, Hutson Miles, Alex Sullivan, Owen Agee, Brenae Fox, Breelyn Ruff, Katie Brown, Sarah Anderson, Afton Segars, Gabriella Rouse. Kindergarten Singers included Alexi Baltz, Matthew Baughman, Rebecca Eiseman, Elizabeth Foster, Ashlynn Lounsbury, Jordan Marlowe, Madison McNeese, Regan Perkins, Hunter Pilarski, Annalee Poole, Abigail Reigard, Christian Rios, Konner Russell, Madison Slocum, Elizabeth Stinson, Isabella Stinson, Will Stride, Brandon Vines. You were wonderful.

“The Best Christmas Present Ever” included cast members: Madeleine Rouse, Reid Swoner, Amelia Agee, Caroline Brasfield, Summerlyn Hysell, Briley Ruff, Grant Reigard, Eva Harris, Lydia Foster, Destiny Jones, Sara Waller, Ian Rouse, Landon Collins, Stephen Swoner, Gant Brasfield; and choir members: Jackson Barfield, Brooke Bradley, Brooklyn Fox, Alyssa Mannen, David Paddon, Erica Render, Elizabeth Sweeten, Carson Whitehead, Selah Coppedge, Ethan Foster, Tristan Lee, Trey McNeese, Maxwell Mullins, Jonathan Pilarski, Carter Poole, Camille Reigard, Katie Grace Russell, Isabella Agee, Holly Barfield, Sarah Helm, Grant Render, Isabella Scappaticci, Daniel Silvernail, Becca Waller, Joel Daughterty, Brielle Fox, Joel Jones, Anthony Mannen, Michael Mathias, Julia Mowry, Adam Shelton, Jacob Brown. Congratulations!

Thank you to Beth Rouse, Christy Barfield, Kristin Jordan, and Tammy Jones for directing the drama and music for the musical. Thanks to Jo Apple for accompanying the children in preschool. Thanks to April Swoner, Brandy Wood, Brian Biggs, Robert Sullivan, Jody Scott, and Betty Willis for caring for details, sound, lighting, staging.

Thanks to the following adults who cooked and served breakfast at the Saturday Christmas festivities: Carrie Knox, Alene Gill, Billie Ragland, Joy Bradley, Pauline Harbin, and Shirley Maschinski.

Encore Theatre’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” completed its three week run on Sunday, December 6, 2009. These were the HCN people who were involved in this very successful production: Diane Cater (director); Shirley Maschinski (assistant director); Donna Shankle (co-producer); Jo Apple (pianist and Mrs. Clausing); Sara Waller (Gladys Herdman); Evan Flint (Ollie Herdman); Teddy Joyce (Elmer Hopkins); Holly Barfield (Doris); Emily Flint (Beverly); Emily Mowry (Angel Choir). Congratulations.

The Mt. Juliet High School Band and Chorus presented their annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 4, 2009, with WOW reviews from those in attendance. HCN Band Members were Dalton Stephens, Ben Mabry, Nick Elder. HCN Choir members were Connor McCoy, Brent Washing, Whitney Gonyea, Clarrisa Davis, Kelsey Kile, Reed McCoy. Dalton Winfree played in the Jazz Band.

This coming Sunday is December 13, 2009. It has a different schedule than other December Sundays. The only Sunday School Class meeting on this day is Early Christians who meet at 8:00 AM. There are two morning worship services, both meeting in The Center. First service meets at 9:00 AM as normal. Second service meets at 10:30 AM (fifteen minutes later than usual). This is due to the length of the service and time needed to empty and fill the facilities, parking areas. The HCN Choir and Band present “Night of Alleluias” in each service. It is an encore performance from several years back when some of you may remember our choir joined multiple other Nazarene church choirs for a performance in the Ryman Auditorium. It is a powerful service of worship and praise with a magnificent narration written by Dr. Tim Green, brother of our Sam Green. Tim will narrate in both services. If Sam feels well enough, he greatly desires to direct the choir and band. At this writing, he is in the hospital recovering from an elevated temperature. We will do what is best for Sam.

I write a very similar paragraph every Christmas and Easter, but these words are true. If you will take the time to invite unchurched family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors, to one of these two services, they are likely to come with you. It is an opportunity for them to meet your church in a non-threatening way and to allow the Lord to do his work his way in his time. But it takes a phone call or a conversation from you to get the ball rolling. This Sunday. December 13, 2009. 9:00 OR 10:30 AM. Great choir. Great band. Great opportunity.

Diva is actually a good word. It means celebrated female singer, used to describe a woman of outstanding talent. Negatively, it can mean prima dona. So, if you and I decide that we are speaking in a good way, I have an official announcement to make. There are four divas from HCN who are providing Christmas music this Sunday evening in The Center at 6:00 PM. They are Dorinda Biggs, Beth Fox, Suzanne Karr, and Catherine Segars. I love to hear each one sing. You will also. Could we try a difficult thing with this? Our Advent Fellowship for this evening is the Soup and Salad and Dessert menu. Because it has worked so great in the last couple of weeks, could we plan to begin moving through the serving lines at 5:30 PM and begin the concert at 6:00 PM? That keeps us from eating so late and keeps the children satisfied. Families, bring a pot of soup OR a large salad to share plus a dessert and a large drink. Again, please notice that we will begin to eat at 5:30 PM.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard