Congratulations to Tammy Tarter on her selection as Teacher of the Year at Stratton Elementary School in the Metro School System. Tammy was selected as Teacher of the Year ten years ago at Southside Elementary School in the Wilson County School System. You see Tammy each Sunday as she leads the choir in Pastor Sam Green’s absence. It is not hard to believe that Tammy could win the award every year.
This is the huge week for Sam Green. After months of chemotherapy and isolation, Sam receives the bone marrow transplant this Thursday, February 25, 2010, at 10:00 AM at Centennial Medical Center. The transplant includes four million stems cells previously collected from his brother, Steve, who is a perfect match for Sam. Sam will remain hospitalized for two to three weeks following the transplant and then will recover in a one hundred day window. Pray that all of the particular processes which are necessary for Sam’s good health will occur in proper order and proper longevity. Pray for Keli who is staying 24/7 with Sam. Keli’s parents are here living with Anna-Laura, Sophia, and Isabella to keep their lives focused.
One more time, thanks to every person who has stepped forward in HCN’s music ministry to keep worship at its best. Thanks to Tammy Tarter, Donny Jackson, Paul Vann, John Jordan, Beth Fox, Dorinda Biggs, Michael Waller, Willard Brinkman, Randy Layne, Ricky Gore, Paul Bolling, Graham Scott, David Flint, Jay Barfield, Kevin Terry.
Thanks to every choir member who sings week-after-week and makes such a difference for the rest of us as you share your vocal gifts.
Thanks to Suzanne Karr Herring and her husband, Rich Herring, for providing the beautiful “The Old Rugged Cross” for offertories in both services on Sunday, February 21, 2010. Suzanne is a professional vocalist and Rich is a professional guitarist and it showed. We need them back soon.
In the midst of all of the Trevecca students who attend HCN as their home church, there are two Belmont students who attend HCN as their home-away-from-home church. Kevin Terry is a Nazarene kid from Texas who plays the cello in the second service band. That cello sounds so sweet most Sundays that there is at least one place where I am listening to nothing else but the cello. Kevin leaves the Belmont campus every Sunday morning and he and Mandy Strader, another Belmont student make their way to HCN. They did not do that one Sunday and quit when they realized the time it would require. Week-after-week, they drive that drive. Kevin and Mandy are also campus leaders in the Christian Artists Fellowship at Belmont. Both of them have been invited to Russia this summer to play with the Russian Gospel Music Association and then to minister in churches and orphanages in Russia. Each needs to raise $2,500 by April 1, 2010. If you would like to encourage, thank, help Kevin and Mandy, you can send a check for them made out to Artists in Christian Testimony International, Box 1649, Brentwood, TN, 37027-1649. Kevin Terry’s account is #357. Mandy Strader’s account is #358. Kevin said to thank you for your assistance.
Pastor Rondy Smith coordinated a Newcomers Luncheon following second service last Sunday (it was a re-schedule for a snow date). The luncheon was well-attended and provided a excellent opportunity for pastoral staff to meet new people and for new people to meet each other. Attendees were Steve, Deborah, and Travis Walter; Darin and Sue Dobbins; Todd Hildebrand; Jeremy and Heather Michael; Jared and Lynsey Miller; Bill, Mya, and Will Fleming; Susan Pilgreen; Diane Brimm; Beth, Lucas, and Kaitlyn Hogue.
The stories of how they found and stayed at the church are inspiring. They want to meet you. Stroll a little broader in your mingling on Sunday mornings and see if you can find one of these folks. I like them a lot.
HCN facilities and properties could use a lot of TLC from people who know how to clean, paint, repair, mow, rake, etc. We have not scheduled a work day in several years and the time has come. Rather than designate one day, we have discovered that designating several weeks and providing a list of things to do from which you sign up works best. Aaron Foster, chair of our Building, Grounds, and Equipment Council, and our housekeeping team are constructing a list which will be available at Welcome Centers in the Sanctuary Foyer and Center Lobby this Sunday. Would you like a family project to help your church?
I look forward to Sunday. I like being with you.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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