What a week! Along with making donations to Week of Compassion for Hurricane Harvey victims, we're saying our prayers for them, too. Looking for news about the property sale? Click here for the update. And here's the rest of what's happening in the life of your church....
WEEK OF COMPASSION IS THERE
We have seen the photos, read and listened to the stories and have offered prayers for people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. Maybe, too, we’ve revisited the emotions we experienced after Nashville’s 2010 flood.
You can continue to make a difference by making a donation to Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. We are receiving today during our Sunday offering checks earmarked for Week of Compassion/Hurricane Harvey. Donations may also be made at WeekofCompassion.org. And stay tuned: We expect more opportunities to help with clean-up efforts in the coming weeks.
‘ONE’ THEME IN FOCUS
The new season of adult Christian education continues next Sunday with a Bible study lead by Jim Zamata and utilizing lessons provided by faculty from Disciples-related seminaries, Divinity Houses and other Disciples educators. Each were offered as part of last summer’s General Assembly theme “One,” inspired by John 17.
BOARDROOM BIBLE STUDY COMING TO ORDER
Charlie Biter invites the men of Vine Street to share in a Bible study. He says, “ars ago with Dan Mosele, nd later Dan Kuhn, we did a men's Bible study once a wee,
enjoyed by all. Now Thomas Kleinert has agreed to resurrect this tradition.” It all begins on Wednesday, ept. 13. The group will meet at 7:30 a.m. in the conference room at Charlie’s office in Green Hills, 40 Burton Hills Blvd., suite 420. Coffee and tea will be provided, and the study will end at 8:30 a.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Charlie (cbiter@rentsup.com).
IN THE NEWS
• The church office will be closed Monday, Sept. 4 for the Labor Day holiday.
• Resting from their labors, Monday Men will meet, per usual, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at M.L. Rose 4408 Charlotte Ave. This social group gathers the first Monday of the month. Contact Thomas Kleinert to be on the email reminder list.
• Serenity Circle, a group for ladies of the church, will meet Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Kathy Zamata can keep you apprised of activities; contact her at k.zamata @comcast.net.
NEW SEASON FOR CHILDREN’S CHOIR
A new season of Children’s Choir will begin on Sunday, Sept. 10! We will rehearse every Sunday from 11:15 a.m. - noon in the choir room. We will be working on preparing a Christmas musical to share with the congregation on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 17. Children’s Choir is open to all children in grades 1-7. We look forward to seeing returning members and welcoming new members! Questions? Contact Katie McLaughlin (katie@vinestreet.org).
A NOTE OF THANKS
This note comes with grateful hearts for your care, concern, and generous support for the work we do with some of Nashville’s most vulnerable citizens. Your financial gift allows us to continue working to help these friends get into housing and apply for the proper tools to make them productive citizens. We are grateful to share community with you.
Sincerely, Your Open Table Nashville Family
MY FATHER'S HOUSE
Vine Street at the Movies will feature Alexander Payne’s 2013 film Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the Bride’s Room. The critically-praise film is rated R for some language. In Nebraska we find a grizzled, not-quite-a-good-husband, not-quite-a-good-father determined to travel to Nebraska to collect the prize from a sweepstakes he is convinced he has won. It's a beautifully filmed road trip movie, its quest less important than the serio-comical characters and family dynamics that are part of the scenery. With six Oscar nominations and a Best Actor nod for Bruce Dern at Cannes, this is a movie that will stay with you. Director Payne is well-known known for his previous works such as Election, Sideways and The Descendants. This free event is hosted by Jim Carls.
VOLUNTEER, OFFER WELCOME
Insight Counseling Centers is seeking Volunteer Intake Practitioners (VIPs). When people in need call us, they need a caring person to listen, reassure, and help. That’s why we need you. You can be the person who meets them first, makes their initial interaction with us a welcoming one and, most importantly, helps them receive the care they need. This is a volunteer shift of two to four hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Read more about the opportunity here or contact Abbie Culbertson (615/383-2115 x110; abbie@insightcenters.org).
FELLOWSHIP OF TWELVE BEGINS QUEST
This month a new group met for the first time. These pioneers entered what is new territory for our congregation: a year-long, intentional group experience of leadership development. Their name, The Fellowship of Twelve, has strong biblical echoes (which is intended) as well as some Tolkien-esque overtones (which isn’t intended, but is fun and promising).
The group, chosen by the Elders and representing both current and potential church leaders, will journey together through a series of learning modules designed to help them grow both personally and as a group, deepen their understanding of congregational life and leadership, and immerse themselves in spiritual practices as well as budgets and meeting agendas.
The learning modules were developed with input from the staff and the Elders; they include Disciples History & Identity; Worship & Public Speaking; Great Meetings; Prayer; Vine Street History & Identity; Web & Tech; Bible 1 and 2; Personalities; Governance & Ethos; and Dollars & Sense. The group will engage with these topics in Sunday afternoon sessions and retreats, both at church and in other locations.
There is a great need for spiritually and emotionally mature leaders in all areas of our life, and what we are setting out to accomplish is much bigger than knowledge transfer to equip individuals for particular tasks. The Fellowship of Twelve is meant to be transformational, from the personal and group level to the congregational level and beyond. We do this because we believe people matter and small steps taken faithfully will change the world.
We ask you to keep this group in your prayers as they venture out together: Alice Cannon, Joyce Crowell, Melanie Gao, Jackie Halstead, Johanna Keith, Thomas Kleinert, Bob Lyons, Malinda Moseley, Kennedy Shuler, Helen Trabue, and Kara Reed.
This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet it is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: Small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
—Thomas Kleinert