First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Please join the Congregational Care Committee in sending cards of warm wishes this month to Billy & Marilyn Shepherd, Bonnie & Judy Mackens. Addresses can be found in our online directory ( download here ) or by calling the office.

Join us for Open Studio every 2nd and 4th Saturday from 2 to 4 pm at Makers' Corner (215 Foster St.). This is a time set aside for people to work on projects begun in classes or at home. Bring any project you are working on, knitting, painting, etc. and work in fellowship with others.

Come down to the "Flower Power" exhibit in the Chapel during Art Walk this Thursday, April 4 from 5 to 8 pm! We will feature the creative imaginings of Carmen Rein.  Carmen Rein, Carmen Rein Arts I am a non-traditional artist who approaches art from a unique, joyful, and eclectic perspective. I do this through various acrylic paintings, mixed-media, assemblage, collages, wire-wrapped jewelry, and resin art. I am best known for my (acrylic) paintings of flowers, birds, and abstracts, which I render in bright and unexpected colors. The manifestation of my resolve to tell stories from my perspective through my artistic expressions of choice is what comes to mind. I open myself up to the expression of thoughts, dreams, and anything my hands can touch -- with no regard for fitting into the artist’s molds of societal expectations. What I am most proud of is the sense of accomplishment I feel when people respond to my art with a smile, a teardrop, a giggle, or relate in a way that s...

The Faith Focus presentation on Wednesday, April 3 will be “Human Flourishing: Communing with God in Creation” by priest and paramedic Clifford Syner. Dinner starts at 5:00 in Fellowship Hall. Programming for adults and children is provided through 6:30. Cliff,  priest at Church of the Resurrection in Clarksville,  has been working in healthcare for over 20 years, initially as a special Operations Flight Medic and then as a Physician Assistant in the Army. He has served in public health initiatives in multiple third-world countries and helped to develop infrastructure that lowered the infant mortality rate in eastern Afghanistan. In 2014, Cliff began working in Functional Medicine. He quickly began seeing the connections between physical and spiritual health and attended seminary to explore God's desire to see us flourish within creation. After seminary, his family moved back to Clarksville. They have recently started a non-profit functional medicine clinic. Cliff has bee...

Easter Lilies Given in Memory of: William Banyas by Pixie McCord Mills Zachary Davis by Gail & Bob Hudson CW4 Michael Harris by Sheryl & Richard Parker Buddy & Shiela Foust, Scott W. Hedstrom, Heidi Kathleen Hedstrom & Mitcheal K. Ostlund by the Foust, Hedstrom & Neuman families Mildred S. Glenn, Evelyn G. Hunter, & Harper N. Ausenbaugh by Millie Armstrong Karen Goggin & Liz Thomas by Mark, Rhonda, & Allister Banasiak Tom Graves by Charlotte Graves Aubrey Harvey and Cindy C. Harvey by the Harvey family Nell Harris by Vicki Hildreth & family Loretta Mattade by Pixie McCord Mills, Lori Jordan & Ryan McCord Ruby Jean McLeod by Roger & Elynor Busler Jerry Mealer by the Mealer & Goodwin families Edgar & Sara Frances Mills by Sam Mills & Martha M. Richardson James Pedigo by Vickie Duncan     Easter Lilies Given in Honor of: Nicholas, Christopher & Mae, and William & Vanessa Cox by Paul Cox John & Irene Polacsek, Rob...

Join us for a time of laughter, fun, and games at the home of Paul Cox on April 8 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Bring your favorite game! If you have questions, please contact the church office.

You are cordially invited to a poetry reading and book signing event with Joey Grisham on Monday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m. at 213 Main St. in Clarksville. A reception will follow. Joey is the author of the 2023 poetry collection "Phantoms," professor at APSU, co-host of Literary Roundtable, and member of our congregation. 

See a double feature at Cinema Night on Thursday, April 25, 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel ! First up is "Bill Bailey and the Four Pillars of Income" (1945, 18 mins)--a story of land economy and one man from Clarksville-- then "Common Ground" (2023, 87 mins)--a regenerative agriculture documentary sponsored by Interfaith Power and Light for Faith Climate Action Week 2024. Please REGISTER FOR FREE HERE.

On Easter Sunday, March 31, we will collect a special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing. Offerings will go to ministries like the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. To give, visit pcusa.org/oghs or drop a check in the plate (add OGHS to the memo). Thank you! 

Don Beck Charles D. Keene   Nell Harris Vicki & Lew Wallace   Mary Thomas Cecil, David, Gene, & Don Morgan   Memorials sent after March 17 will be in the newsletter dated April 21.  Bold font indicates those who have passed away; regular font indicates those who have requested the memorial.  

FPC is now home base for the Cumberland Winds! We are honored and excited to offer them rehearsal and performance space. Their first concert at the church will be the Jazz Project on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Come enjoy the free music!

This Makers' Corner workshop on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will introduce participants to the creative possibilities available with the combination of black and white photographs and hand-applied color. Taught by Susan Bryant for $85 per person. Supplies provided. https://subsplash.com/srhq/lb/ev/+yr4pqfz

The Critique Class on April 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Makers' Corner is a discussion group for all levels of photographers who are looking for honest and informed feedback about their work. Taught by Susan Bryant for $35 per person: https://subsplash.com/srhq/lb/ev/+nkcr27s

Greg Glover and Joey Grisham will lead a discussion about earth and ecology in "A Children's Bible" by Lydia Millet and "Farming: A Hand Book" poem by Wendell Berry at the next Literary Roundtable. Come to Hudubam Booktraders (110 Franklin St.) at 6:30 on April 18. Some copies are available to borrow outside the church office.

 New Sermon Series (April 7 – April 28) “A Brief Statement of Faith” In 1983, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was born when the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church in the United States joined together. Important to this reunion was the drafting of a brief statement of  faith that would articulate the commonalities of all Presbyterians. This confession was  adopted by the church in 1991 and placed in our Book of Confessions. As one of the  newest confessions, it is only two pages in length, totaling 80 different lines that explain  our faith. We will dive into each line to help answer that age-old question,  “Presbyterians, what do you believe?” April 7 – “Love and Trust” Lines 1-6; Proverbs 3: 1-12; 1 John 4: 7-21 April 14 – “Outcasts and Salvation” Lines 7-26; Matthew 25: 31-46; John 3: 16-21 April 21 – “Justice and Mercy” Lines 27-51; Micah 6: 1-8; Amos 5: 18-24 April 28 – “Courage and Life” Lines 52-80;...

 

Picture of middle school students in La Gonave learning music by writing musical notes on scored paper! For those who don't know, we partner with La Gonave Haiti Partners to help fund projects like building schools and paying teachers' salaries.  

  A special dinner, hosted by Charene Watson, will be held on Friday April 12, at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate our new members! It is for new members, staff, and current Session members. Please RSVP by contacting Charene Watson or the church office at fpcclarksville@gmail.com.

On Wednesday March 21 at Faith Focus, school psychologist and certified life coach Stephani Cook will present "Positive Psychology and Faith: Discovering the Key to Happiness." Join us in Fellowship Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for dinner, the presentation, and discussion. Childcare and children's activities provided. 

The FPC Youth Group is requesting help to fill Easter Eggs for our annual Easter Egg hunt on March 30th. Bags of 25 or 50 eggs to fill are available in Dianne York’s office. Please return filled eggs by Monday, March 25.  Bags of candy, stickers, or treats are also welcome.

On Easter Sunday, March 31, you are invited to participate in decorating the Easter cross outside of the sanctuary doors. Bring your own flowers and newly leafed branches or use some extras we will have on hand. It's a great family activity and place to take Easter photos!

Our church beautifies the sanctuary every Easter with an array of lilies. If you would like to help us to defray this cost, we encourage you to give a special gift in memory or honor of a loved one. When you give, please let the church know your loved one’s name by emailing  fpcclarksville@gmail. com  or calling the church office   by March 26 . The names of those in memoriam or in honor of, along with the donor’s name (unless anonymous), will be listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin. If giving by check, please write “Lilies” in the memo line.

Oboist Hannah Cruse and harpist Liana Alpino will present an enchanting concert of Debussy music at FPC on April 21 at 1:00 pm. Bring whatever you need to get comfy (a pillow, blanket) and be lulled into a springtime dream. Pieces arranged by Bert Lucarelli and Susan Jolles as heard on the 1988 album. Sponsored by Clarksville Arts and Heritage Council. Hannah Cruse , residing in Charlotte, TN, is an accomplished musician with a profound dedication to sacred music. Holding a Master's degree in Sacred Music and a Bachelor's in Music, both from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, Hannah's expertise spans piano, organ, and oboe performance as well as choir direction. Currently serving as the Director of Music and Creative Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville, she adeptly provides the music programming and coordinates various worship opportunities. As an oboist, she was a finalist in the International Double Reed Society Young Artist Competition, concerto co...

  Join us for Open Studio on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to 4 pm at Makers' Corner (215 Foster St.). This is a time set aside for people to work on projects begun in classes or at home. Bring any project you are working on, knitting, painting, etc. and work in fellowship with others.

Faith and Fellowship will meet on Sunday, March 24, 2:00-4:00 at the Basham’s home. Let Lynda or Hershel know if you'd like to come!  

On March 31, we will have an Easter Sunrise Service in the Downtown Commons at 6:30 a.m. and Easter Worship Service in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. Come celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!

The FPC Youth Group is requesting candy donations to fill Easter eggs as well as pre-filled eggs for our annual Easter Egg hunt on March 30th. Please drop them off in the office or contact Emily Vaughn. Thank you!

This week at Faith Focus, APSU librarian and FPC member Jenny Harris will present “Faith in a Digital Age” about fostering community that is not only aware of digital challenges but also equipped to address them with love, wisdom, and action. Join us on Wednesday in Fellowship Hall for dinner and the program from 5:00 to 6:30.