First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Doug Young will present at Faith Focus on Oct. 30. His topic is called "Have Faith in Your Experience." Have dinner with us at 5:30 and enjoy the program until 7:00; children's activities included!

The Annual Congregational Meeting will take place on October 27 at the end of worship (11am) in the Sanctuary. The one item of business this year is to elect elders to serve on Session for the next three years. The slate chosen for nomination for the class of 2027 is as follows: Sherrie Giles Aiden Goodwin (Youth Elder) Todd Harvey Mary Johnson Nicholas Nieves Note: Todd Harvey is currently serving on Session to fill the unexpired term left vacant by the death of Elder Liz Thomas. If elected, he would serve a full, 3-year term. The election of elders is one of the primary responsibilities of membership. Please pray for God's direction of the meeting and make every effort to attend. Also, please join us in thanking our Elder Nominating Committee for 2024, chaired by Todd Harvey and Chair Elect Patty Orr. Patty served as acting chair this year after the death of Todd's mother. At large members included Sam Mills, Craig Schryver, Jane Wallace, Charene Watson, Issac Wright and Jame...

Faith & Fellowship Group will meet at 1 pm at the Basham's home this Sunday, October 27th for snacks and Bible study. Please RSVP. We hope you will join! 

Bring any artistic project you are working on to Open Studio from 2 to 4 on November 9. Located at 215 Foster St, this is an opportunity to fellowship, create, and get feedback on your work.

You may have noticed that we've been singing more psalms in worship lately. T he Psalms, the Bible's songbook, encompasses the full range of human emotion and helps us deal with the paradoxes of Christian life. In singing psalms, we offer all of ourselves, including our difficulties, to God in the company of Christ's body. The ancient tradition of psalm singing resets our straying inner soundtrack to God's tune. Singing roots Scripture into the body such that phrases bubble to memory's surface during times of struggle or joy. God's tune begins to dwell within us. Please heartily join in singing the Psalms when they are included in worship as we continue to rediscover this transformative practice. 

The Littles would like to invite young adults and families to lunch after Sunday School/The Trek next Sunday, Oct. 27 at their home around noon. They will serve brisket, hot dogs, beans, and sides. You can bring a dish but certainly don't feel obligated. Kids are welcome. RSVP is appreciated but not necessary. Please try to come if you are available! So grateful to the Littles for hosting! 

Aren't you curious to find out what Pastor Greg experienced and learned this summer during his sabbatical? Hear all about it at Faith Focus this Wednesday, October 23. Eat dinner with us at 5:30 and stay for the program from 6 to 7 pm! Children's activities provided.

Sanctuary on Main is hosting our ArtsConnect "Open Mic Night" every 2nd Saturday from 7 to 9 pm. The cafe will be open for you to purchase drinks, sandwiches, and baked goods. See you on November 9!

On All Saints Day, November 3, we will celebrate our very own roll call of the saints during worship. To submit the names of personal faith heroes for inclusion in our public prayers and Nov. 3 bulletin, please email or call the church office by October 28. A link to the full list of names from years past will be in that week's newsletter. 

DWELL's annual Friendsgiving party is approaching! Young adults are invited to an evening of food, karaoke, and games on Sunday, November 24 from 4 to 7 pm. Please RSVP to Hannah Cruse so we can arrange a potluck. Located in Fellowship Hall at 213 Main St. 

You are cordially invited to a very special Thanksgiving Lunch after worship on November 10. Come celebrate with FPC friends and family to give thanks to God for the bounty that we have received this year. The Fellowship Committee is going all out and Chef Ryan McCord, star of Food Network's "Halloween Baking Championship 2023," will be creating special Thanksgiving desserts!

A special exhibit is coming your way for November Art Walk: "Catching the Light: Seven Voices, Seven Visions"! The FPC Chapel will feature art by Kathy De Priest, Vicki Davenport, Susan Bryant, Carol Anne Nadeau, Julie Bisgaard, Victoria Keith, and Barb Cobb Edwards. Walk through from 5 to 8 pm on Thursday, Nov. 7. 

Faith & Food: A Conversation About Stewarding Our Land This one-day conference will encourage church leaders to consider the role of the land their churches are on, especially in the context of feeding our hungry neighbors. Held on Saturday, November 23rd from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Includes worship, a panel discussion, lunch, and volunteer-led conversations. Located at 3900 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37205.  REGISTER HERE.

The October Card Shower is for Ella Hay and Joan Jenkins. Join the Congregational Care Committee in sending them cards of warm wishes!

We are in need of folks to monitor rooms and do other specific tasks for the Halloween Hunt on October 26. Volunteers can expect to gather for training around 5 pm and leave no later than 8 pm. We greatly appreciate your time and energy given to this event in the past and hope for another successful opportunity to reach the community this year! Please email Hannah Cruse, thank you! 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. -1 John 4:18–19 We live in anxious and fearful times, but the Scriptures are clear that God wants us to live abundant lives, without fear.  From the command in Joshua 1:9 to take courage (Jimmy Terry's favorite verse), to the assurance of the 23rd Psalm (I will fear no evil; also Psalm 27:1, 34:4-8, 46:1-3, 56:3-4, etc.), and the many commands throughout the Bible to "Fear Not!"--we can find the courage we need to face these uncertain times in the assurance we have of God's love. Our Stewardship theme this year is "Fear Not!" Join us on Sunday mornings for tales of the FPC fearless!  October 20   Proverbs 16:1-6, Matthew 6:25-34, "Fear Not! (Temporal Realm)" October 27   Proverbs 1:2-7, Romans 8:12-17, "Fear Not! (Spiritual Realm)" November 3   Nehemiah 6:...