First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Room in the Inn provides safe shelter and meals for our neighbors struggling with homelessness during the coldest months of the year. It is a collaboration between FPC and other congregations in Clarksville-Montgomery County. During this time of COVID, FPC will be providing assistance to allow our neighbors to stay in motels rather than in our gym.  Volunteers can provide sack suppers and breakfasts.   Monetary donations are welcome  as well; please specify the funds are for Room in the Inn by  donating here .  Meals need to be ready to serve, but guests have refrigerators and microwaves. Suggestions: cereal or muffins for breakfast with a container of milk; soup or sandwich and chips for lunch; spaghetti, fried chicken, or tacos with a salad for dinner. Meals are delivered to the Old Firehouse Day Shelter on Golf Club Lane by 2pm every day.  Contact Ann Waddle if you have any questions!

Young adults (early 20's to mid-40's) are invited to serve together at Loaves and Fishes on Saturday, January 29, from 10 am to 12 pm . A few of the benefits of volunteering are... working with and getting to know others your age having conversations with lunch guests getting some light physical exercise feeding a lot of amazing people in their time of need feeling positive about your actions in the world Loaves & Fishes--a local food pantry and mission to the homeless--has received lots of food over the holidays and needs our help shelving items in the warehouse. Let's team up and get the job done!  Please confirm your availability with Hannah Cruse so we can put together a volunteer team. Thank you!

Online Bulletins: Christmas Eve ; 12/26/21 Sunday Scripture Readings: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 ; Luke 2:41-42 Music Background & Texts: Spotlight Article Advent Candle Lighting: Video Series Full Worship Services Online: Youtube Favorite Hymns & Songs: Playlist Liturgy Explanations: " Why We Worship This Way " Get Involved: Events This Week Prayers and Praises: The "Pink" Sheet Give to the Church: Make an Offering In the Event of Bad Weather: We encourage members to evaluate dangerous road conditions and decide whether or not to drive to worship. Should it be necessary to cancel any events scheduled for Sundays, we will send out notification through a voicemail/text message, and it will be posted on Facebook and on the church website. Also, on the days that the public school system closes for dangerous road conditions, the church will be closed for evening activities. As you know, the weather can change hour to hour, so please contact your group leader for class

Please welcome our guest musician for Christmas Eve, Jokobie Kindle ! He will be contributing prelude music and colorful lines to the hymns.  Jakobie Kindle is a recent Music Performance graduate from Austin Peay State University. He is an accomplished performer that hopes to continue his studies in Trumpet Performance at the graduate level. Jakobie is an inspiration to those around him with his hard work, tenacity, and dedication to his crafting in hopes to inspire more people that look like him to pursue their dreams in the field of music. He is constantly inspired and pushed by his teachers, peers, family, and partner. Christmas Eve Prelude Music: Angels Medley combining  "Angels from the Realms of Glory" with "Angels We Have Heard on High." Folk Carol Suite with four short movements on  "Noel Nouvelet" (French),  "Masters in this Hall" (English),  "Coventry Carol" (English), and  "O Du Frohliche/Echo Carol" (German). Caro

Friday, December 24 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Sunday, December 26 9:00 a.m.   Women's Friendship Sunday School Class Men's Brotherhood Sunday School Class 10:00 a.m.  Morning Worship Elementary Children's Sunday School During the Sermon in the Parlor Middle School Confirmation Class/Sunday School During the Sermon in the Library 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Shower Love (at Loaves and Fishes) Monday, December 27 Winter Break (Office Closed) Tuesday, December 28 Yoga ***Cancelled*** Wednesday, December 29 Winter Break Bible Study ***Cancelled*** Bell and Choir Rehearsals ***Cancelled*** Thursday, December 30 Winter Break Yoga ***Cancelled*** Friday, December 31 Winter Break Saturday, January 1 Happy New Year!

Please be in prayer this week for:   Bob Gandy, Vicki Duncan's mother and father, David Kanervo, Howard Bradley, Leo Adames, Tom Presler, and the people of Dawson Springs and Mayfield, KY recovering from the tornadoes Please continue to pray for: Don Atkins, Florence Bailey, Don Beck, Jay and Diane Bowland, Sara Brooks, Melanie Cobb, Bessie Costanza, Vickie Duncan, Abigail Henson, Ruby Jean McLeod, Lew Metts, and Arch Shuler, the FPC Bicentennial and Capital Campaigns, the FPC Christian Ed Program, Seasons Respite Care, as well as those in LaGonave, Haiti, Rwanda, and South Sudan.  We give prai se for: All those who broug ht food, packed it up, and delivered C h ristmas Baskets to people in need last Saturday. Th ank you for making this mission possi ble! See Pictures Here. The Children's Pageant ce lebration on Dec. 19. Congratulations to all the participants! See Pictures Here. The baptism of Avery Daniel! (Pic on right.)

Bill Graham,  Secretary of  CAMA, invites us at First Presbyterian to a celebratory service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. See details below. The theme is  Remembering a Legacy, A Time to Unite, to Reflect, to Heal. Day/Time: Monday, January 17, 2022 6:00 p.m.  Hosting Church: Christ the Healer Church, 1295 Paradise Hill Rd Clarksville, Tn 37040   Scripture:   “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved. For you are the one I praise”—Jeremiah 17:14.   Speaker:  Dr. Larry Robertson, Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church   Music: Coordinated by Rev. Velma Jo Williams

  The  Chapel Cinema Series  is an intimate screening of the finest international, independent, and documentary films, many premiering for the first time in Tennessee. We showcase movies that creatively address the most important religious, cultural, and social aspects of human life with passion and inspiration. For more info about upcoming features, click here.  Join us for a Double Feature on Thursday, January 27, starting at 7:00 p.m. RESERVE FREE TICKETS HERE. First Feature (56 mins.):  Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story (2019) explores the extraordinary life of Howard Thurman, a religious leader, born the grandson of slaves, who helped ignite sweeping social change in America. Trailer below. Second Feature (40 mins.):  In Long Shot (2017), Juan Catalan is arrested for a murder he didn't commit, and he builds his case around raw footage from the popular TV show "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Trailer below. RESERVE FREE TICKETS HERE !

  One and Done Choir is back for the New Year! Block off  Sunday, January 30  on your calendars. Don't miss this opportunity for low-stress singing, donuts, fellowship, and sharing your talents. We will learn an easy yet fun and rewarding piece starting at 9:00 in the sanctuary and will then perform it during worship. Contact Hannah Cruse  for more details (call the church office). And don't forget to share this post with your friends in the community--the more the merrier!

This event combines two irresistible things: tacos and games. All the FPC youth and young adults are invited to come play group games and feast on free tacos on Sunday evening, Jan. 16, from 4-6 pm. Located in the AOC building, 215 Foster St. Maybe you're wondering if you fit in with this crowd... So who are the YOUTH anyway? If you're in middle or high school, this is you. Who are YOUNG ADULTS? Generally, you are a young adult if you are in your 20's or 30's (but don't take this as a hard and fast rule).  Taco bar provided free of charge by FPC. Bring your favorite group games from home! We will provide Poetry for Neanderthals (really hilarious word game), UNO (a fast-paced card game), Pictionary (teams compete to draw and guess), Jenga (remove blocks without the tower falling), Clue (a mystery board game), and Fill in the Blanks (like Mad Libs for groups).  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Hannah Cruse, Dianne York, or Emily Vaughn for

The Service and Missions Committee is thrilled to announce that First Presbyterian has partnered with Mosaic Church to help provide affordable housing for single-parent families and senior citizens in the Clarksville area. This new mission is called "Going Local." The Going Local Initiative will primarily focus on rehabilitation of single-family housing and construction of multi-family housing. Our first project will be to rehab a house for a single parent family. First Presbyterian’s role will be to provide training opportunities on home ownership, steps in purchasing a house, etc. See pictures below from the meet and greet with Mosaic, First Presbyterian, and local government team members! Mayor Joe Pitts and Director of Community & Neighborhood Services announce the newly formed partnership of Mosaic Church and First Presbyterian Church. Mosaic Church Pastor Anthony Daley and FPC member Jennifer Ellis listen as our new partnership, “Going Local Initiative” is descri

 

Online Bulletin: 12/19/21 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-20 ;  John 19:1-7; 16-25 Advent Candle Lighting: Video Series Music Background & Texts: Music Spotlight Article Full Worship Services Online: Youtube Favorite Hymns & Songs: Playlist Liturgy Explanations: " Why We Worship This Way " Get Involved: Events This Week Prayers and Praises: The "Pink" Sheet Give to the Church: Make an Offering "Christmas Joy" Offering on Dec. 19 This offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need . Give online here or by putting your gift in the envelope provided with your bulletin during worship this Sunday.  Giving Envelopes There are extra giving envelopes located on the table in the Education Building. If you take a box, please write your name by the corresponding number of the box on the list.

Pianist Allister Banasiak has chosen an arrangement of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen for our prelude today. The adapted lyrics, written by the band Cloverton, recounts the Christmas narrative--from birth to the cross.  The original song refers to 2 Samuel 11-12, where King David lies with another man's wife--Bathsheba, who becomes pregnant--and then tries to hide his sin by having the husband killed. It's a gritty tale of real-life mistakes, consequences, and mercies. In Cohen's version, the roles have been reversed. Bathsheba is the main actor, while everything happens to a passive David. "David’s experiences, according to Cohen’s song, were marked by various kinds of 'hallelujahs'—some cold, some broken, some holy—a nontraditional way of understanding praise." [ Source ] Because of our sin, like David, we know that we deserve to die. But God loves us so much that He was willing to die for us. God sent his only son--in the form of a helpless ba

Please be in prayer this week for:   Bob Gandy, Vicki Duncan's mother and father, David Kanervo, Howard Bradley, Leo Adames, Tom Presler, and the people of Dawson Springs and Mayfield, KY recovering from the tornadoes Please continue to pray for: Don Atkins, Florence Bailey, Don Beck, Jay and Diane Bowland, Sara Brooks, Melanie Cobb, Bessie Costanza, Vickie Duncan, Abigail Henson, Ruby Jean McLeod, Lew Metts, and Arch Shuler, the FPC Bicentennial and Capital Campaigns, the FPC Christian Ed Program, Seasons Respite Care, as well as those in LaGonave, Haiti, Rwanda, and South Sudan.  We give praise for: A fabulous Festival of Lessons and Carols last Sunday! Thank you to all the volunteers and musicians who made this meaningful service and delicious dinner a success. If you missed it in person, watch the video here. All those who brought food, packed it up, and delivered Christmas Baskets to people in need last Saturday. Thank you for making this mission possible! Fun Christmas carol

Sunday, December 19 9:00 a.m.   Women's Friendship Sunday School Class Men's Brotherhood Sunday School Class 10:00 a.m.  Morning Worship (Children's Pageant and Baptism ) Elementary Children's Sunday School During the Sermon in the Parlor Middle School Confirmation Class/Sunday School During the Sermon in the Library Monday, December 20 Winter Break for Learning Center, Preschool, and Seasons Tuesday, December 21 Winter Break 4:30 p.m.  Yoga (in Fellowship Hall) Wednesday, December 22 Winter Break Bible Study ***Cancelled*** Bell and Choir Rehearsals ***Cancelled*** Thursday, December 23 Winter Break Yoga ***Cancelled*** Friday, December 24 Winter Break 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Saturday, December 25 Merry Christmas! 

  The  Chapel Cinema Series  is an intimate screening of the finest international, independent, and documentary films, many premiering for the first time in Tennessee.  We showcase movies that creatively address the most important religious, cultural, and social aspects of human life with passion and inspiration. Monthly - Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. RESERVE YOUR SEAT at the next screening on the Eventbrite Chapel Cinema page . SIGN UP to receive monthly movie announcements by email . (Click on the link and complete the online form.)  213 Main Street Historic Downtown Clarksville, across from the Downtown Commons Park in the lot adjacent to the Downtown Commons. Facing the church, the chapel is on your left. We will fly a highly visible "welcome" flag at the entrance and an usher will greet you. Reviews & Suggestions Have you attended one of our films?  Do you have a movie suggestion?  Leave us feedback by clicking on the Survey .  Rate the film you saw and let us know what y