First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Clarksville is a city blessed with a vibrant tapestry of churches, organizations and individuals who embody the principles of kindness and generosity. Yet, even amidst such abundance, there are members of our community who struggle to make ends meet, who go to bed hungry, and who face the harsh realities of poverty every day. The mission of Loaves and Fishes is not simply to provide meals to the hungry but to awaken the hearts and spirits of the entire community. Our Clarksville community is encouraged, strengthened, and energized by our practical demonstration of service to those in need.  HOW CAN YOU HELP?  1) Businesses who want to make a different in the community:  Donate to L&F which directly benefits the community where you work and live.  Organize a ‘Give Back’ day where a portion of your profits are set aside for L&F.  Organize a Food Drive with your Team.  Volunteer at L&F to Team Build and change perspective.  Match Contributions...

Margaret Adames Ellie Arrington Carter Briggs Anna Brown David Brown Matt Dye Jennifer Ellis Christina Glover Jared Griffey Clara Grigsby Barbara Grigsby Linda Guinn Faye Hand Margaret Hennis Nancy Hicks Bill Hutton Judy Lowe Bob Lueck Janie McGregor Daniel Nolan Liam Nolan Lelah Neuman Dick Pryor Sue Pryor Tina Sitter Barbara Street Stephen Wallace Denise Williamson Niesha Wolfe

Our June 9 Second Sunday Lunch is an “Indoor Picnic." Bring your favorite dessert to share with the group. The church will provide the burgers, dogs, and sides.

Join the Congregational Care Committee in sending cards of warm wishes this month to Sue & Dick Pryor and Jane Coate. Addresses can be found at fpcclarksville.org/member-directory (obtain password from the office).

All kids K-5 are invited to Reading Camp July 15-18 from 9am-12pm. For more information (including cost) or to register, email reports.alc@gmail.com . The deadline to register is June 28 Registration forms may be picked up at the church office. 

All children going into kindergarten are invited to Kindergarten Readiness Camp July 22-25 from 9am-12pm. Last call! Register by emailing reports.alc@gmail.com.

Parents of kids ages 2-kindergarten, take advantage of Parents Day Out!  June 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, & 20  9am-12pm July 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, & 25  9am-12pm For more information (including cost) or to register, email preschoolatfpc@gmail.com . Sign up soon! Space is limited.

At our Session meetings each month, different committees report to the Session about what they accomplished the previous year and some goals for the upcoming year. We also share our areas of greatest need. Each month, we are going to highlight those committees so that the congregation will know what our committees are up to!  Missions and Service Committee Activities this committee participates in: Minute for Missions to inform the congregation on how our resources are being used for God’s work. Food Baskets at Christmas time: Names are received from Liberty Elementary and the Crisis Hotline. Support of Haiti: We help with teacher’s salaries and support Cindy Correll who helps coordinate the Haiti Mission. Support of Rwanda: We help provide meals for hospital patients. FUEL: We provide 20 bags every week to children at Liberty Elementary who have food challenges outside of school so they can have snacks on the weekends. Project Transformation: We help monet...

You are invited to One and Done Choir this summer! Dates are June 9, July 14, and August 11. Come to the sanctuary at 9 am to learn a fun, easy piece with the support of our regular choir members. Then sing the piece together during worship. No long-term commitments to choir. No high-pressure rehearsal or performance. This opportunity is great for beginners or ex-choir members who have wanted to participate in choir but couldn't commit or felt intimidated. Contact Hannah Cruse with any questions or concerns!

If you would like to provide flowers for worship, the Worship Committee still has available slots in 2025. Please contact Rhonda Banasiak or Lesa Goder to secure a spot. 

Come see works by Jana Gilbert, specialist in printmaking, at Art Walk on Thursday, June 6 from 5 to 8 pm!  Jana Gilbert is an accomplished artist specializing in printmaking and letterpress, with a career spanning over 12 years. With a BA in Visual and an MA in Marketing Communications, Jana seamlessly merges creativity with strategic insight in her captivating works. Based in Tennessee, her art has been showcased in galleries in Nashville, Clarksville, and Virginia earning local recognition for its craftsmanship and narrative depth. Through intricate letterpress techniques and relief carvings, Jana's pieces invite viewers to explore the interplay of texture, typography, and emotion. With a commitment to pushing artistic boundaries, she continues to use printmaking as a medium to provoke thought and inspire dialogue within her community and beyond. Artist statement: For the past 12 years, I've immersed myself in the world of printmaking and graphic design, specializing in rel...

Pentecost is the Sunday 7 weeks or 50 days after Easter and is the day that the fire of the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles who had gathered together. Join us this Sunday, May 19, at 10 am worship by wearing the color RED to symbolize the work of the Holy Spirit!

A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Give online here or during the offertory on May 19. 

Psychiatrist Dr. Leslie Reed Brietenmoser will talk about the “Subtle Influence of Christian Values: Working with Diversity” this Wednesday, the last program of our one-year grant project! Faith Focus goes from 5 to 6:30 in fellowship hall with dinner and children’s activities. 

The Friendship Sunday School Class is open to all women. The class has been meeting for well over 100 years now! We study the Bible and support each other by listening to one another's personal stories and concerns. We meet from 9:00-9:45 each Sunday in the education building. Please consider joining us!

The Brotherhood Sunday School Class is open to all men. The class has been meeting for well over 100 years now! We discuss the Bible and many other things like current events with Dr. David Kanervo documentary-style films on the life of Christ. We support each other by listening to one another's personal stories and concerns. We meet from 9:00-9:45 each Sunday in the education building on the 2nd floor in the last classroom on the right. Please consider joining us!

Volunteer for Vacation Bible School this summer! Dates are June 24 through 27 from 9 am to 12 pm. A ll materials, plans, and resources will be provided. Stations will include music, games, snacks, crafts/activities related to Bible stories. Training will occur prior to VBS for leaders and helpers. We think you will find that helping children bring their faith to life through imagination is very rewarding! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAQj_rOwUOK1jEdcEurAXNTd5-KZcAbBYafqPbRtpmmy9ZTg/viewform

Come make a splash with First Presbyterian Church from June 24 through 27 at Vacation Bible School themed "Water, Water, Everywhere!" Children will have the opportunity each day to bring faith to life through activities, stories, music and games.  Pre-K through Fifth Grade students are invited to sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAQj_rOwUOK1jEdcEurAXNTd5-KZcAbBYafqPbRtpmmy9ZTg/formResponse

Liberty Elementary School thanks FPC for everything that our members have done for their students and staff! Another Behavior Celebration with inflatables, snacks, and more is coming up on  Friday, May 17, 9:00-3:30. Volunteers are needed, even if only for part of the day. Please let us know at  fpcclarksville@gmail.com if you can participate! 

Wherever there is violence or despair, people of faith are called to act for justice. The  Israeli - Palestinian  Conflict may feel too far away, yet distance cannot diminish our responsibility to act. The  Israeli - Palestinian  Conflict may feel too big, yet complexity cannot be a reason to lose hope. In times of distress, we must turn to our God who defends everyone in need "so that no one on earth can terrify others again" (Psalm 10:17-18).  An important first step towards peace and reconciliation is true understanding. The Social Justice Committee invites you into a 90-minute opportunity with Q&A to clear away your confusion and overwhelm by learning the history of the  Israeli - Palestinian  Conflict. Your teacher is university-lecturer and author Michael McRay who holds a Master's in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. With over 20 years of visits to  Israel  and  Palestine , Michael...

The Green Team will be working in the Teaching Garden on Wednesday, May 15 at 4:00 p.m. If you'd like to get involved with any of our projects, let Hannah Cruse know.

  Please join the Congregational Care Committee in sending notes of warm wishes this month to Chip Connell and Bessie Costanza.

Faith Focus this week will feature Rabbi Joshua Kullock and "The Jewish Recipe for a Meaningful Life"--a unique opportunity to learn the core values of Judaism. Dinner and childcare provided. Come to Fellowship Hall from 5 to 6:30.

Join Pastor Rhonda during Greg's Sabbatical for a special Bible Study that will run May 22 - August 14. Based on 15 New Testament Words of Life by Nijay K. Gupta. Topics include righteousness, Gospel, forgiveness, life, the cross, faith, grace, and more.  Each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Library or on Google Meet.

At our Session meetings each month, different committees report to the Session about what they accomplished the previous year and some goals for the upcoming year. We also share our areas of greatest need. Each month, we are going to highlight those committees so that the congregation will know what our committees are up to!  Professional Staff Committee Goal:  to make sure our church has an excellent staff and to provide support to them in any way possible. This committee oversees yearly job performance reviews for our staff and discusses salaries and pay for our employees. Property Committee Mission Statement:  to provide for the care and maintenance of the church’s buildings including the sanctuary, education building, and the AOC. In 2023, the committee had the louvers in the steeple measured and manufactured.  Routine maintenance was done, Ring cameras were installed at the AOC, and an outside light was added at the elevator/handicap entrance.  They also ha...

Cumberland Winds Fife & Drum will provide the opening act for o pen mic night on May 9 at 6 pm in the chapel. Yvonne Kendall, lead flutist for the group, will be providing a performance/demonstration of all different kinds of period flutes along with fife and drum music.  It's sure to be a lively and entertaining performance that you won't want to miss.