To celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are receiving a special offering of diapers, hats, and gloves. The diaper offering will be distributed to little ones across Middle Tennessee through the Nashville Diaper Connection. The hats and gloves are for older children (grades 5-8), and they will be worn by students at West End Middle School. We will dedicate this special offering on Sunday, December 22, but we encourage early donations of hats and gloves so we can get them to students before the Christmas break. Thank you for your generous support!
Regional Church
In a recent letter to congregations in Tennessee, our Regional Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Christal Williams, wrote,
I want to take the time to thank you for your ministry, partnership and generous support to the Tennessee Disciples Mission Fund. … We need your support. Every dollar counts.
From January to October 2019, Vine Street has given $17,421 in general contributions to the Tennessee Disciples Mission Fund. 65 cents of each dollar support Regional Church staff and programs, and the remaining 35 cents support General Church ministries. In addition to these contributions through our operating budget, our congregation, during those ten months, also contributed $8,680 to special offerings like Week of Compassion and Reconciliation.
Today and next Sunday, we will receive the Christmas special offering. 100% of this offering supports the work of our Regional Church. Dr. Christal, her staff and various commissions lead and coordinate crucial ministries in search and call, leadership development, training and retreats for clergy and elders, camp and conference, and more.
Last year, Vine Street gave $1,510 to the Christmas offering. Thank you! This year, let’s see if we can push past $2,000, because, as Dr. Christal reminds us, “every dollar counts.”
Advent conversations
Every Sunday morning during Advent, at 9:00 a.m., you are invited to participate in conversations about individual Advent meditations. The Adult Education team extends a special invitation to the authors who are willing to discuss their work. Please contact Jim Zamata to find out more.
Christmas Eve
We invite members, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the birth of Christ with us! On December 24, we gather for worship at 4:30 p.m. and again at 11:00 p.m. The 4:30 service is intergenerational, interactive, rich in stories and songs, and designed with young children in mind. The 11:00 service is Vine Street’s take on the Lessons & Carols tradition; it includes communion and the symbolically rich passing of the flame from candle to candle. If you would like to be one of the readers in the 11:00 service, please add your name here.