Connections First The Monthly Magazine of Nashville First Baptist Church November 2017
Grow Frank and to the Point Dr. Frank R. Lewis, senior pastor Dear Church, Thank you for the wonderful gift of a month off for studyleave. One part of our congregation s Personnel Policy allows for a minister to take four weeks off every five years to allow the minister to find a re-set button in life. I hope you will continue this benefit for your ministers, as it helps them and the church in many ways. Pastor Josh Jones of Athens Church, Georgia, was interviewed on a Church Leadership Podcast last month about why every Senior Pastor needs to take a sabbatical. His outline read like my journal. Here s what he said: Let your sabbatical be self-driven. A sabbatical is a temporary investment in the future. As the size of your church changes, your leadership style needs to change. When your life is about giving to other people, you can get empty. There is an extra spiritual pressure that comes from leading a church. My month off was self-driven. I planned things that I wanted to do, things that I thought would help me most as I seek to be the spiritual leader of this great church. I found a conference or two to attend that spoke to areas of my life where I felt a need to grow. I tried my best to make this time away a temporary investment in the future. With a break from the weekly demands of preaching, I read about 15 different books on leadership, preaching, theology, the cultural and attendance decline of the church, along with a couple of historical biographies. I visited three different churches that are doing things we may need to be doing. I took a personal inventory. I dreamed a little each day about our future. Since the size of our church has changed significantly over the past 20 years, my leadership style needs to change. Churches that are more than 20 years old, or who are in the same location for more than 20 years, experience membership declines. This is a documented fact. Sometimes, the only way to make a leadership change is to get away and see things for what they are. The month away gave me a little time to do this. We see some areas in our church where growth is taking place and others where it is not. Those things that served you and me well in the past are not necessarily serving you and me well today. Change and courage make good partners in a church. May God give us just enough of both for the future! You can get empty. I don t think I was, but I could see the bottom of the tank. Our Deacon Chair David Clay enlisted two deacons each day to pray for me every day of my month away. The prayers were for personal refreshment and professional/pastoral direction. I cannot begin to tell you how precious those prayers on my behalf were to me. A sabbatical, even for four weeks, gives us, as your ministers, a chance to catch our breath. For this, I (we) are grateful. A sabbatical allows you to release the extra pressure that builds up over five years. The four weeks I was given gave me a chance to look at the pressures I ve felt this year, and for the past 19 years before them, and seek higher, nobler ground upon which to stand. I listened to my critics, becoming thankful for their voices, for some of what they had to say was true, and I needed to hear it. I found hope in the words of others, as I studied their experience. So, thank you for the time away, but even more, thank you for the chance to come back and be your Pastor. I ll be introducing some new initiatives in the days ahead that should help us move forward in a way that honors God, while meeting needs in the city He has called us to reach with the gospel. 2
Connect Meet Our 2018 Nashville First Deacons Ted Beard Thomas Clark Jason Jean Jason Rogers Alan Berry Stephen Finch James Kennon Jason Shull Louis Boyte David Fisher Rick Mathis Mark Smith Bob Bunn Ric Herrera Kelly Porch 3
Connect Counseling 101 by Tony Rankin, minister of pastoral care For years, America viewed counseling as something for crazy people or for those we couldn t understand. In all actuality, counseling is a proactive response to relational struggles, marital or family conflict, hurts and losses, family changes, abuse and trauma, addictions and habits, and ongoing stressors of work, family, and daily living. Families and the Church The spiritual community is not immune to issues that the world faces. Families come in all sizes and encompass many different types of circumstances a family is a single person or one or more adults with or without children. The church needs to address blended family issues, minister to families in crisis, be a refuge and a healing community for all types of family issues, and be a place for encouragement. The church is impacted by generational differences in parenting, increased use of pornography, more intense emotional effects from trauma and loss, and the changing values of our society. Individuals of all ages have been affected by choices and decisions, chance and events that were not desired or chosen, and consequences of the routines and horrific events of life. Research shows that parents need to learn to be strong yet flexible during times of stress, families need access to necessary services such as mental health, and persons need to feel loved, have a sense of belonging, and be able to get along with others. Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network A large body of social science research indicates that healthy, married-parent families are an optimal environment for promoting the well-being of children. National Council on Family Relations, the nation s largest organization of family scholars At the end of couple s therapy, 75% of couples receiving therapy are better off than similar couples who did not receive therapy. Friedlander, M The scientific basis of couples and family therapy research. Allyn and Bacon: Boston Pre-Marriage Counseling The staff of Nashville First Baptist encourages all of the couples it marries to attend four sessions of premarital counseling. Topics covered are love, family of origin, communication, roles and expectations, finances, interests and activities, emotions, sex, in-laws, religion, and re-marriage after divorce or death of spouse. What a wonderful gift to give to your children or grandchildren or friend before they get married. Looking for a Therapist or Support Group? Over the years, our Minister of Pastoral Care has developed a network of therapists across middle Tennessee that can provide quality counseling for a variety of issues. If you are looking for a therapist, confidentially contact me at 615. 664.6021 for more information. Self-Care Will Keep You from Hurting Yourself Any More What can I do to better take care of myself? Avoid isolation Stop making stacks Diminish intensity in your life Reassess your values Refuse to claim to be a perfectionist Keep a journal Take regular time off Get proper exercise and sleep Relax and simplify your day Don t be hooked on being right Join a small group Realize there is life after work Decrease the amount of medicating you do with food or Facebook Have fun and keep a sense of humor! 4
GROW Welcome to Our New Members! Christmas Poinsettias Claud and DiAnn, Nathan Perry Brian and Heather, Bailey Gill The Flower Service Group will place poinsettias in the Sanctuary and Chapel December 3 24, 2017. If you would like to place a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone, please complete an order form. Cost of each plant is $10. A listing of donations will be available with the December 10 Order of Worship. Order envelopes are available throughout the church. You may also purchase online or download a form at NashvilleFirst.org/poinsettias. The deadline for participation is Sunday, November 26. Contact: Laurie Hall Laurie.Hall@NashvilleFirst.org 615.664.6030 November Staff Birthdays 8 Myra Mathis 23 Kim Hester 27 Connie Powell November Staff Anniversaries 1 Bill York (2009) 8 years We Make It Easy to Give For your ease, whether in town or out of town, you can contribute to the Lord s Work through Nashville First Baptist Church: Give online with your smart phone NashvilleFirst.org. Schedule an electronic contribution as frequently as you like using bank draft. Mail a check, or place it in your Bible study or worship offering. Contribute cash in your own sealed envelope. First Connections 5
Connect Advent 2017 Service of Remembrance and Hope SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 6:00 7:00 P.M. SANCTUARY Each year as the holidays arrive, members of Nashville First Baptist Church pause to support those who are grieving the loss of a loved one in a moving time of worship that we call the Service of Remembrance and Hope. This service provides an opportunity for the individual experiencing a loss for the first time, as well as an opportunity for the person whose loss may have taken place years ago. No matter where you are in the journey of grief, you are welcome to join us for this special time of worship. During the Service of Remembrance and Hope, all participants are invited to light a candle when the name of their loved one is read aloud. No reservations are needed, candles are provided by the church, and we will gather names prior to the service that night. People who join us for this service often tell us that it is one of the most meaningful times of worship during their holiday season. We hope you will be present and invite anyone you may know who would like to remember a loved one along with the promises of hope found in the Scriptures. Contact: Amanda Poff, 615.664.6010 or Amanda.Poff@NashvilleFirst.org Christmas at First ~ The Hanging of the Green SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 6:00 P.M. a service of preparation for the Christmas season featuring our Children s, Youth, and Sanctuary Choirs and The Sanctuary Orchestra Keyboards at Christmas SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 6:00 P.M. a festive evening of music featuring 24 hands on six grand pianos joined by The Sanctuary Choir Carol-Candlelight Celebration SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 6:00 P.M. a service of celebration with The Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra Christmas Eve Communion SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 5:00 P.M. SANCTUARY; 8:00 P.M. CHAPEL a special time of worship featuring carols, candles, and communion 6 First Connections
Connect staff spotlight Michael Valentine He loves the rich history at Nashville First Baptist Church. Michael Valentine has sung in our choir since he joined the church in 2002, plays in the handbell choir, and is a frequent soloist. As a custodian here since 2010, Michael does a variety of things to keep our physical church home in good repair. His life is also varied, and a story he s worked to keep in good repair. Growing up in the small East Tennessee town of Dandridge, Michael began driving farm equipment when he was 7. I spent more time at my grandparents farm than my own home. In 1995, Michael was driving. Unbeknownst to him, this time, his life would change forever. There was a car accident, and both of Michael s legs were broken; he couldn t walk for two months. I had a lot of time to think, he says. I decided that since high school, I d done nothing with my life, and that was going to change. Although he d had a great love of music throughout his life, he hadn t sung much until his senior year in high school choir, But I enjoyed listening to great singers, he says. It helps you sing your best, if you listen to the best. Another who helped Michael sing his best was his high school choir teacher, Jeanie Wheeler. She was a big supporter and strongly influenced Michael s early musical interests. He says he was honored to sing at her funeral in 2013. In 1997, Michael applied and was accepted to his dream school Carson-Newman University, where he won academic and voice scholarships. He was chosen for the selective A Cappella Choir, and an abundance of solo work. He had seen so much success in his musical and spiritual life, but says he felt one area was still lacking. In 2003 he had weight loss surgery and lost 200 pounds in the first year. I felt like a new person. In 2009, following a call to the Hour of Power s music department at the iconic Crystal Cathedral, Michael found himself singing with the choir during his monthlong visit and even sang a solo for the evening service in September 2009. Exactly ten years to the day since his weight loss surgery, April 21, 2013, Michael was invited to sing for the internationally-televised Hour of Power. Just to sing in that space was incredible; there are no words. This was my crowning achievement, he says. He sang The Lord Is My Light with the Hazel Wright Organ, which contains more than 17,000 pipes. The occasion was made only more momentous, as his mom sat in the congregation that day. I was reminded that, just as Pastor Robert Schuller always said we can turn our scars into stars, and if you can dream it, you can do it, this was always my dream, and I knew I could do it. He has since sung numerous times for their congregation. Many times, the course of history is clear only through the rearview mirror. Michael says that imagery fits his life perfectly. Just as he pondered his future in a hospital bed all those years ago, all the roads since (including the road he drove when he had the car accident) had a purpose. Today, considering his inability to walk then, Michael says when he sings for the Lord now, he always puts his best foot forward. 7
108 SEVENTH AVE SOUTH NASHVILLE, TN 37203 First Events First Women Retreat: Living a Prioritized Life NOVEMBER 3 5 Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection begins NOVEMBER 12 On this Sunday, you may bring your gift to the altar as a part of our worship. The last Sunday to bring your boxes to church is Sunday, November 19. Thank you for sending the hope of Jesus around the globe in the form of a simple gift. Visit SamaritansPurse.org for additional information. First Women s Prayer Luncheon: Compassionate Jesus, Have Mercy on Us NOVEMBER 12 11:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. COST: $6 All women are invited to lunch and a meaningful time of prayer walking through Romans 9:14-16 hosted by Diana Chandler. For more information, contact Shannon Meadors at Shannon. Meadors@NashvilleFirst.org. Service of Remembrance and Hope SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 6:00 P.M. SANCTUARY FIRST ADULTS Alive Hospice Conference, Keith King, coordinator NOVEMBER 2 Shake It Up Day! (Game Day with Pot Luck Lunch) NOVEMBER 9 FIRST KIDS Parents Night Out NOVEMBER 10 AND DECEMBER 8 6:00 10:00 P.M. BABIES GRADE 6 $25 PER FAMILY While mom and dad are away, the children get to play! Payment and RSVP are due by noon the Thursday before each PNO. Register online at NashvilleFirst.org/pno. For more information, contact Mary Bunn at Mary.Bunn@NashvilleFirst.org. NBA Toy Store Each year the Nashville Baptist Associate hosts a Christmas Toy Store for families living in the 37206 area of Nashville. Families that are invited to shop also hear the good news of Jesus! Please place your new, unwrapped gifts and stocking stuffers in the collection bin located by the weekday entrance, or deliver to Shannon Meadors by Friday, December 1. If you would like to volunteer at the store the week of December 4 at Shelby Avenue Baptist Church, please contact JoAnn Howard at 615.259.3034. Visit NashvilleBaptistAssociation.org for additional information. The Nashville Christmas Parade Outreach SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 7:30 A.M. 11:00 A.M. Thousands will attend Nashville s Christmas Parade or watch it on TV, and Nashville First will once again proclaim the birth of Jesus! In addition to our nativity-themed float, we will serve our community from the corner of 7th and Broadway, offering hot chocolate, candy canes, clean restrooms, and free parking. For more information or to volunteer, contact Sarah Galloway at Sarah. Galloway@NashvilleFirst.org.