First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

"Empty Bowls" is a grass-roots movement growing around the country. Its mission: to feed the hungry, disadvantaged and homeless.  "Empty Bowls-Clarksville" supports Loaves & Fishes, Urban Ministries and The Food Initiative--three non-profit organizations working to feed Clarksville's hungry. We are thrilled to offer multiple opportunities this February for you to contribute. At the events, volunteers may donate bowls from home and enjoy   a fundraiser meal of soup and bread . After 10 years some of us have more bowls than cupboard space. Turn your old bowls into the church office and we will put them out with the new ones on Feb 22nd! The bowls serve as reminders of empty bowls in our community.   Purchase your  Tickets on Eventbrite.   Alternatively, p aper tickets can be purchased at the FPC office for $15 per person.  First Presbyterian Church will host a dinner on Tuesday, February 22,  4:30-7:00 pm. If that doesn't work for you, the...

Online Bulletin: 1/2/22 Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 31:27-34 ; John 1:10-18 Music Background & Texts: Spotlight Article Full Worship Services Online: Youtube Favorite Hymns & Songs: Playlist Liturgy Explanations: " Why We Worship This Way " Get Involved: Events This Week Prayers and Praises: The "Pink" Sheet Give to the Church: Make an Offering In the Event of Bad Weather: We encourage members to evaluate dangerous road conditions and decide whether or not to drive to worship. Should it be necessary to cancel any events scheduled for Sundays, we will send out notification through a voicemail/text message, and it will be posted on Facebook and on the church website. Also, on the days that the public school system closes for dangerous road conditions, the church will be closed for evening activities. As you know, the weather can change hour to hour, so please contact your group leader for class/group cancellations.

Please be in prayer this week for:   Melanie Cobb (Steve and Diane Miner's daughter), Diane Lee's daughter-in-law and premature newborn twin grandbabies, Bob Gandy, Vicki Duncan's mother and father, David Kanervo, Howard Bradley, Leo Adames, Tom Presler, the people of Dawson Springs and Mayfield, KY recovering from the tornadoes, and all those affected by Covid-19. Please continue to pray for: Don Atkins, Florence Bailey, Don Beck, Jay and Diane Bowland, Sara Brooks, Melanie Cobb, Bessie Costanza, Vickie Duncan, Abigail Henson, Ruby Jean McLeod, Lew Metts, and Arch Shuler, the FPC Bicentennial and Capital Campaigns, the FPC Christian Ed Program, Seasons Respite Care, as well as those in LaGonave, Haiti, Rwanda, and South Sudan.  We give prai se for: The marriage of Jesse and Mandi Colston! The children and teachers of FPC's Preschool and Learning Center as they begin their journey in the new year.

Sunday, January 2 9:00 a.m.   Women's Friendship Sunday School Class Men's Brotherhood Sunday School Class No Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m.  Morning Worship (with Communion) Elementary Children's Sunday School During the Sermon in the Parlor Middle School Confirmation Class/Sunday School During the Sermon in the Library 4:00 p.m. Youth Group ***Cancelled*** Monday, January 3 Winter Break for Learning Center, Preschool, & Seasons Tuesday, January 4 Winter Break 4:30 p.m. Yoga (in Fellowship Hall) Wednesday, January 5 Winter Break 10:00 a.m.  Bible Study with Pastor Greg Meet in the Library or Join on   Zoom  (Meeting ID: 231 246 359; Passcode: 007472) 6:00 p.m. Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Thursday, January 6 8:30 a.m. Yoga (in the AOC) Preschool Resumes 

This week, we will explore the underpinnings of our closing hymn, "Jesus, the Light of the World"!  FPC's rendition: African Americans have been adapting Western music and expounding on their own unique styles for hundreds of years now.  During the Restoration period (1660-1700) and beyond, enslaved Africans reinvented many of t he hymns by Western writers such as John Newton, Isaac Watts, and Charles Wesley. These arrangements incorporated elements of African musical tradition and spoke to the enslaved population specifically. Our closing hymn this Sunday,  "Jesus, the Light of the World" sustained alteration after alteration due to this reinterpretation process.   Most hymnals credit  George D. Elderkin (1845–1928) with the arrangement of "Jesus, the Light of the World." It was first published in Chicago as N o. 35 in the 1890 collection, "Gift of Finest Wheat."  Elderkin--actually not African-American--drew upon gospel song-writing tradit...

Room in the Inn provides safe shelter and meals for our neighbors struggling with homelessness during the coldest months of the year. It is a collaboration between FPC and other congregations in Clarksville-Montgomery County. During this time of COVID, FPC will be providing assistance to allow our neighbors to stay in motels rather than in our gym.  Volunteers can provide sack suppers and breakfasts.   Monetary donations are welcome  as well; please specify the funds are for Room in the Inn by  donating here .  Meals need to be ready to serve, but guests have refrigerators and microwaves. Suggestions: cereal or muffins for breakfast with a container of milk; soup or sandwich and chips for lunch; spaghetti, fried chicken, or tacos with a salad for dinner. Meals are delivered to the Old Firehouse Day Shelter on Golf Club Lane by 2pm every day.  Contact Ann Waddle if you have any questions!

Young adults (early 20's to mid-40's) are invited to serve together at Loaves and Fishes on Saturday, January 29, from 10 am to 12 pm . A few of the benefits of volunteering are... working with and getting to know others your age having conversations with lunch guests getting some light physical exercise feeding a lot of amazing people in their time of need feeling positive about your actions in the world Loaves & Fishes--a local food pantry and mission to the homeless--has received lots of food over the holidays and needs our help shelving items in the warehouse. Let's team up and get the job done!  Please confirm your availability with Hannah Cruse so we can put together a volunteer team. Thank you!

Online Bulletins: Christmas Eve ; 12/26/21 Sunday Scripture Readings: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 ; Luke 2:41-42 Music Background & Texts: Spotlight Article Advent Candle Lighting: Video Series Full Worship Services Online: Youtube Favorite Hymns & Songs: Playlist Liturgy Explanations: " Why We Worship This Way " Get Involved: Events This Week Prayers and Praises: The "Pink" Sheet Give to the Church: Make an Offering In the Event of Bad Weather: We encourage members to evaluate dangerous road conditions and decide whether or not to drive to worship. Should it be necessary to cancel any events scheduled for Sundays, we will send out notification through a voicemail/text message, and it will be posted on Facebook and on the church website. Also, on the days that the public school system closes for dangerous road conditions, the church will be closed for evening activities. As you know, the weather can change hour to hour, so please contact your group leader for class...