Monday, May 31, 2010
May 31, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010, was not only Mother’s Day but it was a catch-up day for all that we missed during the floods of the previous weekends. Catch-up included Baby Day and recognition of College and University Graduates. Michael Waller prepared our Annual Video for Baby Day and we were able to watch it in first and second service. The parents and babies on that video were presented with engraved New Testaments in the second service with blessing prayers. The video included Avonlea Segars, Lucia Greathouse, Emilee Koon, Zoie Butler, Becca Anderson, Savannah Szyperski, Caroline Walker, Abigail Taylor, Katie Grace Walvoord, Austin Reigard, Liam Bolling, Leyton Plummer, Cason Ebel, Levi Keener, Mason Beach, Malcolm Mullins, Jake Stride, Tristan Mullins, Cooper Jordan, Lucas Waller, and Keegan Lutz.
2010 Graduates of Colleges and Universities were also recognized in the second service with additions from my list last week: associate degree: Jenny Carter; bachelor degrees: David Tigabu, Eddie Witkowski, Lindsay Miller, Frank Bolyard, Jeremy Michael, Heather Michael, Julie Groover; master degrees: Cassidy Nelson, Stephan Scappaticci, Rebekah Means, Jessica Tarter Page, Jon Page; doctorate degrees: Brooke Foxworthy, Donny Jackson. Cards with gift certificates were presented to each one.
Beautiful, blooming flowers were given to each woman, eighteen years of age and older for Mother’s Day. We prayed at the close of service for each lady. I received an email this morning from one of them. This is some of what she wrote. “For the past few years I have dreaded going to church on Mother’s Day. One reason was my mother lives far away and I miss celebrating with her. The bigger reason was I felt out of place not being a mother, especially since I longed to be one for many years. For the most part, I have put closure to the idea as God has prepared my heart. Thank you for ending the service praying for ALL women. Someone had to tell me to stand up. I was thankful to God for continuing to heal the void in my heart. I am aware of those who would love to be a mother and those who cannot. I will no longer dread going to church on Mother’s Day.” Thanks for the email that speaks for more than we know. Thanks to Wendell Poole who provides our flower connection with a Mennonite farmer in the area.
Lawana Nelson was presented in second service with her husband, Ken Jones, and her daughter, Lauren Lavery. Lawana leaves Thursday, May 13, 2010, for a four month tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Tennessee Air National Guard. We prayed for Lawana’s safety and for her family with outstretched hands.
The “In Ten Years” video is a classic reminder to the HCN family that a generation depends on our intention and prayers. In second service, I interviewed Preston Hunt who is the concluding speaker on the seven year old production. In the fall, Preston will be a junior at Trevecca Nazarene University. He was elected this spring to serve as the Vice President of Student Services in the ASB. I hope you saw the faces of the students we are leading and teaching and nurturing in faith in Christ Jesus. For the most part, they remain with us on their faith journey.
You also had the privilege to witness Hunter Steinmetz as he discovered a letter he had written to Coach Mark Richt of the University of Georgia had paid dividends. Hunter is in the tenth grade at MJHS and planning to return to Africa this summer. He was a part of the group in 2008 also. Hunter has worked hard labor for months to raise the funds. He wrote letters to selected individuals asking if they would consider contributing to the support of his trip. Week before last, Coach Richt had his secretary to call me and ask for the church’s address. On Saturday, a note arrived with a check made out to the church for Hunter’s trip in the amount of $2,500. It is a personal check from the resources of the Coach and his wife. Hunter and his family found out the good news at the close of the service in front of the congregation and his reaction was priceless: sobs of joy. Could we be more glad?
Teams of servants from HCN have worked in the surrounding neighborhoods over the last week to help get life back to normal for those most affected by the floods. An army of young mothers originating in the Moms2Moms Group have fed the Waterford subdivision for multiple days. They met in the HCN kitchen on Friday, Saturday, and this morning (Monday) to prepare sack lunches and then to distribute the food. This morning, they prepared close to one thousand sack lunches and then fed the Waterford community, DCA remodeling workers, the Old Hickory Community Center workers. Do you know what an assembly line of young moms sounds like when they have a mission?
Eight HCN men invested one/two days at Camp Garner Creek on Thursday and Friday of last week. They stripped insulation and interior walls from the chapel and cut siding to replace lower walls. Two of the men had never stepped foot on the campus previously. They were Glen Detwiler, Ken Willis, Tommy Boner, Jerry Woods, Ken Elkins, Dean Pilkinton, Don Rollins, and Charles Jewell.
Twenty Senior High Students took on one house devastated by the flood. They unhooked and removed appliances and toilets; pulled up tile; removed drywall; packed dishes; etc. They were Ben Griffith, Austin Woodfin, Jasmine Stiles-Barnes, Robert Luther, Robby Amity, Brandon Shepard, Morgan Harold, Christi Fite, Katie Scott, Jessica Long, Cassie Hunt, Trevor Hunt, Grant McCoy, Reed McCoy, Braden Maphet, Eric Owens, Philip Caulkins, Timmy Porter, Taylor Steinmetz, Hunter Steinmetz.
Annual Elections take place this Sunday, May 16, 2010, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at HCN. Members of the church who are fifteen years of age and older elect five new members to serve a three year rotation on the Church Board of Directors; one Sunday School Superintendent; one NMI (Mission) President; one NYI (Youth) President; and delegates to District Assembly and Conventions. District Assembly and Conventions are in Memphis this July 7-9, 2010.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010
Fourteen inches of rain fell at the Nashville International Airport over a twenty-four hour period, spanning Saturday-Sunday, May 1-2, 2010, and broke the recorded historical record for rainfall in our area. The result is that two of the three interstates (I-24 and I-40) which converge in Nashville were closed for portions of Sunday. Portions of Lebanon Road and Saundersville Road were closed. Neigborhoods off Andrew Jackson Parkway were underwater up to window tops. As of this writing, I do not know of anyone from HCN whose home is flooded, however, multiple reports of flooded businesses are reported (Rob Mathias, Ronnie Marsh). Rob and Tiffany Mathias lost a car. Opryland parking areas are underwater. Multiple buildings at Trevecca have water covering the floor. Camp Garner Creek at Dickson has a bridge washed out, a newly remodeled building destroyed by falling trees, multiple facilities with water. It is a momentous flood. I have emails from HCN families offering to share their meals, their homes. I have an email saying “let me know what is needed.” As we discover needs, we will attempt to connect them with offers for help.
I drove to the church at 7:40 AM on Sunday already knowing that Tulip Grove Road was impassable. I drove in the center of the two lanes on Andrew Jackson and sent wake east and west. I parked on the back of the gravel lot at church and without wisdom, walked through the newly created creek flowing from our trash container to the large trees. I found the most narrow place to cross which was also the deepest place. I had water up to my knees which meant that my socks and shoes and pants were wet through. Early Christians had dutifully gathered for Sunday School with thirty plus people in first service. I think there were more than twelve people in the choir. By second service, the rain was heavier and people arriving informed me that more and more neighborhood roads were being closed. So, we prayed and sang and listened to the scripture read with brief commentary and we went on our way with a blessing spoken. Chef Jill Satterlee came to me and told me that she had prepared spaghetti for whoever wanted to stay and eat lunch and while I was not one, I have heard the Parlor was full of those who accepted her invitation. Many of you attempted to get to church and were blocked at numerous, overflowing passages. My friend, Richard Rouse, wrote on his facebook page that he had been snowed in once and rained in twice in his life. I think it was my first rain-in.
Baby Day was scheduled for last Sunday morning and will need to be included at the start of services this Sunday morning, May 9, 2010. Recognition of 2010 graduates of Colleges and Universities was also scheduled for last Sunday morning. While graduates will be recognized in the services on May 9, 2010, I want to print the names of those currently known to us. Bachelor degrees will be granted to David Tigabu, Eddie Witkowski, Jenny Carter, Frank Bolyard, Jeremy Michael, Heather Michael. Masters degrees will be granted to Cassidy Nelson, Stephan Scappaticci, Rebekah Means, Lindsay Miller. Doctorate degrees will be granted to Donny Jackson and Brooke Foxworthy.
I asked in last week’s letter for information on Country Music Marathon Runners from HCN. I know more. Kids ran a marathon of 25 miles (one mile at a time after school each day for weeks before the event), and then ran their 26th mile on Friday night before the marathon. HCN runners in the Kids Marathon were Adam Jones (best time ever at 6 minutes 52 seconds), Shelby Rose, Hannah Jackson, Madeleine Rouse (second year). Also, additional Half-Marathon runners were Richard Rouse, Mark Washing (2:46), Carolyn Washing (2:03), Suzanne Karr. I continue to express my admiration for the training and endurance.
When the rain was not letting up last Saturday afternoon and Mt. Juliet Prom Attendees needed a place for photo-ops, a large crew came to the HCN Center Lobby. There was lots of styling and profiling. I am not sure but I think forty of our kids did a group date. I am kind of kidding and kind of not. Anna-Laura Green was elected a Prom Princess which is similar to Snow White and Cinderella. When you have a three year old granddaughter, you know about these things. Congratulations to Anna-Laura.
Rondy Smith and I spent last Thursday and Friday at Camp Garner Creek in Dickson as members of the Boards of Ministry in Ministerial Studies and Credentials. We participated in the interviews of one hundred plus district licensed ministers and ordination candidates. Shane Tarter, Eddie Witkowski, Tes Tigabu, Daniel Smith, and Jake Resor were interviewed for renewal of licenses and for grant of licenses. Ken Jewett was interviewed for transfer of ordination credentials from the Wesleyan Church to the Church of the Nazarene. Ken’s decision to transfer is an enormous decision as he and Robin were both raised and nurtured from birth in the Wesleyan Church. The process is long and laborious but remains the one responsibility I have on the district level which I believe makes a difference in the kingdom of God.
It is the first of May and HCN continues to work to complete the payment of financial mission obligations. It would be hard for me to overestimate how important it is that we pay these apportionments. Non-payment eventually affects our ability to keep pastoral staff members and impacts the quality of ministry in our community and church. Meeting our goals require that everyone share in giving and that some of us are moved to give above and beyond our tithes and pledges. This is my fifteenth year to pastor this congregation and I have never seen our spending tighter while our ability to pay our mission budgets are more difficult. I continue to ask for your prayers and participation.
If you are behind in your giving; need to catch up a pledge; or feel moved to give extra, now would be a great time. You do not need to tell me. Just do it.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. We will honor all women eighteen years of age and older, with children and without children. Please plan to bring the women in your house to church with you.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard