First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Our offering on Christmas Eve this year will be given evenly to two very important community outreach ministries, the Missions & Service Committee and Loaves & Fishes. We hope that everyone attending will come prepared to give generously in the spirit of Christmas to support those in our community who need help during the coming year. Thank you!

La Gonave Haiti Partners is an incredible mission, providing salaries, materials, and medication to 11 communities on the island of La Gonave. Efforts like mobile clinics, schools, clean water, and farm animals in rural areas fuel hope and resilience. This year's fund goal is $75,000. If you would like to contribute to this work, PLEASE DONATE HERE . Thank you so much for being a partner! 

The Liberty Elementary Behavior Celebration is next Wednesday, December 18 from 9:00-3:30. They have reached out to FPC for help with refreshments any time during those hours. If you would like to help, please email the office at fpcclarksville@gmail.com and we will let Melinda Riggins at the school know. Thanks!

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. 

We will be traveling with a small group of FPC folks from March 7 to March 16 to visit several Presbyterian churches and the hospital that we support in Remera, Rwanda. More info is coming. Please talk to Jennifer Ellis if you have interest or 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 ...

Seasons is going through a licensing process and will re-open as soon as possible! We are hiring but could use volunteers. If you'd like to help in any way with our 15 amazing clients, please contact Ann Waddle. The program runs Monday through Thursday, 8:30 to 2:30.

The Angel Tree this year will be located in the hallway on the 3rd floor of the Education Building. Please select an angel from the tree, shop for a new, wished for item and return gift(s) to the Friendship Classroom by Dec. 8. Gifts should be new, unwrapped and have the angel tag affixed to them for identification purposes. For more information, please contact Millie Armstrong & Jennifer Griffey. Thank you, volunteers!

Habitat for Humanity 0% interest home loan applications will be available January 27–February 10, 2025. Please share with anyone you know who might qualify. They must demonstrate need for adequate housing, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. Full details at the link.  https://www.habitatmctn.org/apply/

Join us Saturday, December 14 at 10am in the Fellowship Hall to assemble food boxes. The whole family, including children, can join in this mission project for our neighbors. After packing the boxes, we will deliver them to families from Norman Smith Elementary School. Please let Sara Little know if you are able to deliver any extra boxes in addition to the ones you packed. This year, we will be providing 50 boxes total. If you would like to contribute additional food, please bring your donations to the Fellowship Hall by December 11. We need: peanut butter, tuna, crackers, canned corn and green beans. You may also give monetary donations for food. Thank you!

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!

On Sunday, November 24 at 2:00, the Worship Committee would like to invite the congregation to come and help decorate the outside of the church and the sanctuary for Advent. We can always use assistance, especially if you enjoy climbing ladders! Rain date for outside decoration will be Monday, November 25. Thank you! 

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.

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! 

DWELL Young Adult Ministries has registered with Lasagna Love to cook and deliver lasagnas to local families. Anyone can request a lasagna through this service if they are going through a time of need. Our aim on August 7 is to cook as many lasagnas as we can in preparation for making contactless deliveries. If you can make a lasagna individually at home before then, please let Hannah Cruse know! We have several families waiting for a meal.

We are seeking elders who would like to take Home Communion to our shut-ins. These members of our church greatly appreciate the visit and the opportunity to participate in this sacrament. We participate in Home Communion quarterly (February, May, August, and November) and send out teams of two. Volunteers do not have to be current active elders and will be trained on what to do before participating. If enough sign up, the commitment would only be once or twice a year. Please contact Rhonda Banasiak if interested.

Opening in the next two weeks...our Little Free Pantry! We hope to provide perishable food (fresh fruits and veggies,  non-refrigerated ), paper supplies, and toiletries for people in our community. The crew at Seasons will help maintain the pantry weekly. Please contact Ann Waddle if you have perishable items that will need to be immediately stocked. Drop off item donations at the Chapel or the AOC Seasons' room on Mondays or Wednesdays, 10 am to 2 pm. We appreciate your support!

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...