First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

The next Game Night for all ages is at Paul Cox's home on Monday, January 13. Bring your favorite game or just show up at 7:00!

Join us after worship around 11:15 am on January 12 for Second Sunday Lunch in Fellowship Hall. These monthly meals are always a great time to meet new people or catch up with old friends! Childcare ends after worship so that families can eat together. 

Faith and Fellowship Group will meet on Sunday, December 29, from 1-3 pm at the Basham home. Please contact Lynda if you are interested in joining! We have a meal at 1:00 followed by Bible Study at 2:00. 

POINSETTIAS GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF: George & Margaret Ackley, Howard & Irene Hiett and Guy & Katherine Watson  by Larry & Charene Watson & Family   William Banyas  by Pixie McCord-Mills   Hershel Basham  by Sarah & Don Morgan and Hershel III & Lynda Basham   Buddy & Shiela Foust; Heidi Hedstrom, Scott Hedstrom, & Mitcheal Ostlund  by Kris and Charlie Foust   Liz Thomas & Karen Goggin  by Mark, Rhonda, & Allister Banasiak   Tom Graves  by Charlotte Graves & family   Cindy Crutcher Harvey & Aubrey & Charlyne Harvey by the Harvey family   Jack Hudson, Edith Bishop Hudson, W.D. “Pete” Hudson, Violet Hutton Hudson, Gerald Raymond, & Betty Pierson Raymond  by Sally Raymond   John Long Marks, John R. & Sadie Long, & Jordan Stokes Brown  by Susan Long Marks & Ben Marks   Loretta Mattade  by Pixie McCord-Mills, Lori McCord Jordan ...

Join us for Faith Focus this Wednesday where we will work together to complete an Advent mission. Like most of God's unfolding story, the humble birth of our Lord was a big mystery to almost everyone at the time. We will be taken back to the time of Jesus to solve the mysteries of His birth, escape room style. All ages are invited to participate after dinner at 5:30.

  Ivy Prall Charlotte Graves Beth Glover Candy Schryver Deborah McNiel Dale Childers Janice Ledbetter Evan Duncan Tim Arrington Charlie Keene Issac Wright Les Barnett Gene Black Kodi Kimmell Jane Wallace Calen Kimmell Dorothy Havens David Lindsay Mary Kaylyn Posey-Primasing Benjamin Giles Sasha Dye Janice Traxler James McNiel Laura Towell Sabrina Pryor Morgan Adames Melanie Cobb Maggie McGrady-Sumonka

In realizing that the holidays can be difficult for some, the church is once again providing literature that we hope will help guide you through the season. We have subjects ranging from grieving during the holidays to holiday depression. These pieces of literature are located on the table outside the church office. Feel free to take what you need free of charge. Please reach out to us if you need support. 

Please join the Congregational Care Committee in sending cards of warm wishes this month to Bessie Costanza and Tim & Suella Arrington. You may find their addresses in the online directory or by calling the office.

We invite you to stay after our Service of Lessons and Carols during 10 am worship on December 8 for Second Sunday Lunch with the whole congregation in Fellowship Hall! Instead of bringing a dish for the lunch this year, you may bring requested items from the Food Basket list, including canned goods and peanut butter, for this Christmas mission!

Our very own Mary Johnson will grace us as the presenter again on December 4 to talk about mental health and faith. Please join us for dinner at 5:30 and the program until 7:00 p.m. Children's activities are provided.

Save the date for our next Women's Retreat! We will not have a weekend retreat next year but a one-day retreat at the church with childcare available upon request. Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 25th from 9 am to 2 pm. More information to come. Contact Rhonda Banasiak with any questions.

We thank the Fellowship Committee, who really outdid themselves with an amazing Thanksgiving meal on Consecration Sunday, November 10.  We also want to thank Will Arrington and the Stewardship Committee (Ben Haynes, Lesa Goder, Sara Little, and Karla Posey) for their faithful, excellent work in presenting the opportunity to our congregation to give thankfully, joyfully, and generously.  Here is the initial report from the estimate of giving cards.  We received 79 estimates of giving totaling $379,086.00 (Last year on Consecration Sunday the number was 62 totaling $288,000.00.) By the end of the campaign last year, the amount pledged was $475,696.28 of which there is still about $147,000.00 outstanding. This is not unusual, as many people complete their giving in larger lump sums at the end of the year.) The number of people who pledged the previous year but have not yet turned in a card this year is small compared to previous years. We have sent a letter to everyone ...

We are excited to offer Chair Yoga every Friday at 10 am in the Chapel starting on Jan. 3. All ages and ability levels will find this free class accessible and restorative. Wear comfy clothes and come as you are! 

Faith & Fellowship Group will meet from 1 to 3 pm at the Basham's home on Sunday, November 24 for snacks and Bible study. Please RSVP. We hope you will join! 

Appropriate for this time of year when we reflect on life and death, Jennifer Ellis will present "Living Fully with the End in Mind" from her perspective as a hospice physician. Please join us at Faith Focus on Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7 pm for dinner and discussion (children's activities included).

The Faith Focus Steering Committee is gearing up to write and submit a new project proposal for the Vital Worship Grant that we previously received from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The project proposal will build on the existing Wednesday program in exciting, meaningful ways. We want your input! Be a part of the imagination process on Wed, Nov. 20 from 5:30 to 7 pm! Dinner and children's activities provided. 

The Middle TN Presbytery's Leadership Visioning Team has been tasked with creating a vision and structure to guide us into the future that reflects our diverse congregations, members, and communities. The process will begin with a listening session at the next Presbytery meeting on Thurs, Nov. 14 (8:30 am meeting start, 11:00 listening session) at First Pres. in Dickson in the Fellowship/Parish Hall. The team wants to hear your stories of the past in order to inform the present and future. Congregation members, elders, staff: all of your voices, hopes, dreams, and even frustrations are important information, so please participate if you can!

The November card shower is for Gary & Justine Ostlund and Lew Wallace. Please join the Congregational Care Committee in sending them cards of warm wishes.

On Saturday, December 7th , Spiritfest 2024 will be held in downtown Clarksville  from 2:00 to 4:30 pm.  Come to the corner of Third St. and Main St. for holiday festivities!   At the Downtown Commons ( 215 Legion Street ), there will be live music, Santa Claus, kids' activities, and food trucks.  At 4:30 , Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden will light the Christmas Tree. Warm up inside Trinity’s Parish Hall (317 Franklin St.) with cookies and Hot Chocolate.  Visit the First Presbyterian Chapel (213 Main St.) for an opportunity to dress up and be a part of the live nativity. Dress up clothes and animals including a camel, donkey, and goats provided! Inside the First Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, there will be art, non-profit booths, music, and coffee.  Following Spiritfest around 5 pm, the Clarksville Lighted Christmas Parade will make its way through Downtown Clarksville.  Don't miss this spectacular afternoon to kick off the Christmas season!...

At Faith Focus this Wednesday, Bill Moser from our congregation will share about the plane crash and hospitalization he experienced and how we need to be prepared to “go” at any moment. Please eat dinner with us and benefit from this program from 5:30 to 7 pm. Children’s activities are provided.