First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

Thank you all for submitting your favorite hymns back in February! During the "Faith Like a Child" sermon series, we are singing almost exclusively hymns from this list. We hope the familiar words and music transport you to sweet memories of growing up or feeling connected to God. CLICK HERE for the complete list of FPC's Favorite Hymns.

A Good Friday service will be held this year at Madison Street UM (319 Madison St.) on April 18 at 6:00 p.m. All from FPC have been invited to attend this reading of the passion story! 

At Faith Focus this Wednesday, the Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth Conservancy will visit us to talk about local creation care and faith. Please join us for dinner at 5:30 and program until 7 p.m. Childcare is available, and families are welcome. Thank you for supporting this ministry! 

We are excited for the youth to lead during 10 a.m. worship on May 4! Please encourage your youth to attend Youth Group on March 30, April 6, and April 27 where we will be preparing for the service. Our final practice will be on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m.

All the children will process in with palms and sing a special song together on Palm Sunday, April 13! Please try to attend Sunday School hour after worship on March 23, 30, and April 6 to practice. Talk to Emily Vaughn for more details. 

A few times a year, we carve out a special moment on Sunday to bless those who seek healing or wholeness. Our pastors will offer anointing with the sign of the cross and prayers for anyone who would like to come forward, either for themselves or a loved one, during worship on March 16.

The season of Lent will come to a close with Holy Week when we retell the crucifixion and resurrection story of our savior Jesus Christ. Special services that week: Palm Sunday (April 13 at 10 a.m.), Maundy Thursday (April 17 at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall with a light dinner), Easter Sunrise (April 20 at 6 a.m. in the Downtown Commons) and Easter Worship (10 a.m. in the sanctuary). Our friends at Madison Street Methodist Church have invited us to their Good Friday Service at 6 p.m. on the 18th. 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."  Matthew 18:1-5 (NRSV) During Lent this year, we will be embracing our lives as children of God. As we do so, we will pay close attention to the spirituality of everyone in our congregation, both children and adults. Jesus challenges adults in Matthew to become like little children. As adults, it is sometimes difficult (impossible?) to remember how we were as children, what our natural patterns and impulses were. Our hope and prayer for adults in this series is that we will take Jesus' invitation to heart and become fully present and fully alive to God's wonder-filled presence. For ...

Executive Presbyter Terry Newland is coming to Faith Focus on Feb. 19 to talk about the Presbytery's role in the denomination and its relationship to local churches such as FPC. Learn how Presbyterians govern themselves and make important decisions. Please join us for dinner followed by a presentation and discussion from 5:30 to 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. Childcare is provided. 

The Worship Committee invites you to sign up for helping to provide the weekly sanctuary flowers. The cost is $25 plus tax. We have several dates available in the upcoming months. For more information, please see Rhonda Banasiak.

YOU TURN MY TEARS TO DANCING by Hannah Cruse When I felt secure, I said to my God, "I never will be shaken." Finding beauty was so easy then, when you called, when you called my name. But these days I question everything, wailing, "Have I lost your favor?" Then you lift me for a moment, Lord, when you call, when you call my name. (Chorus) You turn my tears to dancing! You stir my heart to joy. You turn my tears to dancing! I can’t help but sing Your praise. In despair, I hold onto your Word; weeping lasts just through the night. In the morning, true rejoicing comes, when you call, when you call my name. (Bridge) When life feels bleak and painful,  we must search for all that's bright.  There's a lot of love to go around,  when God calls our name. IN THEE IS GLADNESS, 16th cent. text In you is gladness amid all sadness, Jesus, sunshine of my heart. By you are given the gifts of heaven, you the true Redeemer are. Our souls are waking, our bonds are breaking; w...

Come start your Lenten journey at our Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary on March 5. You are also invited to come early for dinner in Fellowship Hall at 5:30 and watch Pastor Greg burn the palms from last year in the garden. The ashes will be used to mark each person with the sign of the cross during the service. 

Find wisdom, song, and spiritual practice to nourish your life’s journey in sacred community with our ancestors and each other during this Faith Focus experience led by musician poet duo, Hannah Cruse and Joey Grisham. Join us for Faith Focus on Wednesday, February 5, from 5:30 to 7 with dinner and childcare!

A Psalm Singing Companion Written by Hannah Cruse, FPC Director of Music & Creative Arts The story of Psalm singing is inseparably intertwined with that of congregational singing. That is how strongly music of Christian worship is tied to Psalmody. In 1721, Cotton Mather, minister of Boston's original North Church, raised the issue of the purpose of Psalm singing in worship. He answered that singing the Psalms helps the worshiper commit Scripture to memory and to apply it to Christian living because "there is a natural aptitude in singing to compose and unite the thoughts, to engage and fix the attention." Singing together shapes our belief and then how we live out our belief. Singing together witnesses to the solidarity of the Church across time, space, and circumstance. We also understand from experience that singing together has the mystical power to heighten or reveal emotions that might be hard to communicate otherwise. And then of course, if you’re still unconvi...

Those in their 20's through 40's are invited to The Trek Discussion Group after worship each Sunday (unless otherwise notified). We meet around 11:15 am in Fellowship until noon to share our ups and downs, talk about faith questions, and encourage each other in our spiritual journeys. Childcare provided. We will choose two discussion questions to guide our conversation, bringing our highs and lows back to God. No need to prepare in advance. "HIGHS" What's one way you brought help or hope to someone this week? What's one way someone brought hope to you? How did God bring joy into your life this week? Where did you witness God working in the world this week? "LOWS" What were you afraid of this week, and what did you do about it? What did you pray about this week, and/or what do you need prayers for? How did God challenge you this week? What's one doubt or question you have about following Jesus?

Faith Focus is back for 2025! Christina O'Brien, owner of Yoga of Dickson, will speak about unity, connection, and relationship on Jan. 15. She has 20 years of experience in mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Please support her and soak up her wisdom this Wednesday. Dinner is at 5:30 with the program afterward until 7 pm. We offer childcare.

Ordination and Installation of Newly Elected Elders “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.” (1 Timothy 4:14) This Sunday has been set apart for the consecration of newly elected elders for a lifetime of leadership and service, and for a three-year, active term on Session. The Presbyterian process for choosing our leadership is a joint exercise of the whole congregation (through election) and the council of elders (through examination and approval). This Sunday marks the final stage in that process, in which the newly elected elders are ordained (for life) and installed for a three-year term on our Session (2025-2027). The new elders will affirm their commitment by answering the following constitutional questions: W-4.0404: Constitutional Questions   The moderator of the council of those to be ordained, installed, or commissioned shall ask them to face the body of members...