After study and congregational conversation, Vine Street's elders affirm efforts to respond to refugee and immigrant needs. The update is here, along with a reminder about our July 16 water drive for Nashville's homeless.
People and Prayers
Charlie Biter asks for our prayers. He will be receiving additional cancer scans soon in Texas. We hope for encouraging test results and a reasonable treatment plan to enable him to feel like himself for a long time to come.
Please keep Hildred Martin and her family in your prayers. Hildred’s brother died recently in Kentucky.
We’re grateful to God for another great week of m&m camp! The experience culminated last Sunday, with the children's musical, In the Image. Thank you, campers, counselors and directors!
Have a prayer request? Email us at thomas@vinestreet.org.
July 16 Water Offering to Benefit Homeless Neighbors
The days are getting shorter, now that summer has officially arrived, and hotter. Vine Street Christian Church will again receive a special offering of bottled water on Sunday, July 16. Our ministry partners at Open Table Nashville make sure our homeless neighbors have plenty to drink when it gets hot on the streets of Nashville. Please bring a pack or two of bottled water to worship on Sunday, July 16 to help with the effort. Thank you!
Thank You 2016-17 Leadership
The Official Board closed Wednesday evening its business for the 2016-17 church year. We are grateful for the leadership of the following people: Stephen Moseley, Julia Keith, Reggie Hill, Ted Parks, Carol Doidge, Pat Cole, Joe Keith, Kathy Zamata and Linda Crenshaw. Also, Jim Zamata, Jonathan Moreland, Randy Halstead, Lester McNatt and Lydia Grubb. Deacons ending their term are April Hefner and Sarahbeth Trull. Elders doing likewise include Kathy Zamata, Stephen Moseley, Camille Biter and Jack Wallace. Many, many additional folks throughout the congregation served on committees, task forces and special groups to help make the year uplifting and memorable. Thank you!
Your Pledged Support Appreciated
For all of you who pledged to support the 2017-2018 church year, and for those who considered yet chose not to pledge, the Stewardship Committee is most grateful for the efforts of both. Because I love to refer so often to things the Bible says, I am reminded “that each one of us should give as much as he has decided... for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9: 7, New Jerusalem Bible). —Lydia Grubb
In the News
• Monday Men, let’s share a beer, soda and good conversation July 3! This gathering happens the first Monday of each month. Contact Thomas Kleinert to be on the Monday Men mailing list.
• FYI: The church office will be closed July 3-4 for the Independence Day holiday.
• Vine Street at the Movies reels off another great flick at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, titled, Hunt for the Wilderpeople (rated PG-13). The often-sighted fish out of water meets a child-hating clam as an older couple living near the wilderness adopts a juvenile delinquent. Two of the three hate the idea. Join host Jim Carls in the Bride’s Room for this free event!
• General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada begins Saturday in Indianapolis, Indiana. The gathering of our denomination occurs every two years. This event features the election of a new General Minister and President. The nominee is Teresa Hord Owens. A Disciple since young adulthood, she is the dean of students at the University of Chicago Divinity School and pastor of First Christian Church of Downers Grove, Illinois. Thomas Kleinert and Greg Rumburg will be attending the Assembly, which has as its theme, “One” (John 17: 20-21). Learn more at ga.disciples.org.
• Join us next Sunday as we discuss a short story from the book Faith: Stories: Short Fiction on the Varieties and Vagaries of Faith, edited by C. Michael Curtis as part of our summer book series. Everyone gathers Sundays at 9 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
‘Epic Themes and More’
The Brass Band of Nashville will be in concert in our Sanctuary at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 6. Invite your friends—it’s free and open to all! Can you help to welcome these guests? We need at least four greeters; contact Katie McLaughlin to help (katie@vinestreet.org).
‘Just Eat It’ Documentary Isn’t Trash
The scale on which the United States wastes food is shocking, and youth group member Sarah Matthews knows it. That’s why she is working with the Society of St. Andrew to bring the award-winning 2014 documentary Just Eat It to Vine Street on Monday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. We’ll watch the 50-minute film, then share a panel discussion with several local folks who are actively involved in addressing food waste middle Tennessee. Sarah says, “I greatly value environmental education and awareness, so this is a great way for me to continue my efforts to spread the word about what we're doing wrong when it comes to the environment and wastefulness.” Bring your friends and neighbors—this is a free community event about a problem we can all help to change.
Elders Affirm GA-1723
Regarding our denomination’s upcoming General Assembly (July 8-12), Vine Street’s Board of Elders voted Monday, June 26, 2017, to affirm GA-1723, a sense of the General Assembly resolution titled, “On Becoming Immigrant Welcoming Congregations.” The full text of the resolution was shared with church participants at a congregational listening/learning session on June 21 and noted in Rev. Thomas Kleinert’s sermon June 18. The elders’ decision reflects prayerful consideration and feedback from the congregation, which confirmed a desire to help people in need within the limits of local, state and federal laws.
Further, the elders affirmed a “Resolution to Declare Vine Street Christian Church a Solidarity Congregation,” a document originating with the group keyed to expressing the sentiments of GA-1723 for Vine Street’s local context.
A copy of that resolution was inserted in today’s worship bulletin and is available at the church office. It is also printed below.
Resolution to Declare Vine Street Christian Church a Solidarity Congregation
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” —Matthew 25:35
With growing awareness of the vulnerability of many immigrants and refugees in our city and beyond, humbled and challenged by Christ’s solidarity with all human beings, and in response to Christ’s call to faithful living, we, the Board of Elders of Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) declare Vine Street a Solidarity Congregation. We commit ourselves to:
• the continual and public expression of our support for immigrants and refugees in our community;
• the consistent use of liturgy and prayer to deepen our spiritual connection with and support of immigrant and refugee communities;
• the theologically informed study of the issues in debates about immigration, deportation, and refugees;
• the encouragement of congregants to participate in rapid response efforts, including public witness and prayer vigils;
• the participation with other Nashville Sanctuary congregations and communities in supply drives, fundraising for legal fees, and helping families recover from the loss of a breadwinner to deportation or detention.
The Official Board was made aware of these decisions at Wednesday night’s Board meeting.