First Presbyterian Church News (Clarksville, TN)

  Prayers Please be in prayer this week for:   Charlotte Jolly,  Libby and Ralph Stewart, Wade Rudolph, Hunter Daniel, Nicole Williamson (Greg and Denice Williamson's daughter-in-law), Jennifer Wallace (Learning Center teacher), Rayna & Joey Williamson, Kim Smith (Kitty Boaz's daughter), Melanie Cobb (Steve and Diane Miner's daughter), Leo Adames, Dick Pryor, and all those affected by Covid-19. Please continue to pray for: Don Atkins, Florence Bailey, Don Beck, Jay Bowland, Bessie Costanza, Lew Metts, the FPC Christian Ed Program, as well as those in LaGonave, Haiti, Rwanda, and South Sudan.  Condolences to Rebecca Spencer (Season’s Director) and her family as they mourn the sudden loss of Rebecca’s younger sister, a mother of three, this week. The family and friends of Eloise Vaughn, who passed away at the age of 96. Eloise was the bookkeeper at FPC for many years. Obituary here. Praises We give praise for: The blessings of creativity, music, and friendship from our S

  Events This Week Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 4 9:00 a.m.   Women's Friendship Sunday School Class Men's Brotherhood Sunday School Class  10:00 a.m.  Morning Worship and Communion Recognition of Workers  Children's Church Middle School Confirmation Class 5:00 p.m. Service Committee Meeting (in Fellowship Hall) Monday, September 5 ***NO MEETINGS OR CLASSES*** Happy Labor Day! Tuesday, September 6 5:00 p.m. Yoga ***CANCELED*** 7:00 p.m. Free   Nashville Symphony Concert (at Downtown Commons) Wednesday, September 7 10:30 a.m.  Bible Study with Pastor Greg Meet in the Library or Join on  Zoom  (Meeting ID: 231 246 359; Passcode: 007472) Thursday, September 9 8:30 a.m.  Yoga (in AOC)

Beginning on Sunday, September 11, Dwell Ministries will meet weekly from 11:15 to 12:00 for discussions centered around “practicing our faith.”  If you yearn for deeper spiritual discernment, connection with a faith community, and ways to take action in your life, these group discussions are for you.   All young adults (~20’s-40’s) are invited!  We plan to meet in the Friendship Room on the 3rd floor of FPC. If enough people attend on a regular basis, we will provide complimentary coffee and snacks. Please contact Hannah Cruse if you have any questions, or comment below. 

FPC  Youth Group meets every other Sunday evening during the school season.  On September 18 , our youth will team up with Trinity Episcopal Youth for activities following the joint picnic in the Downtown Commons! More details to come. Feel free to contact Emily Vaughn or Dianne York with questions.  And don’t forget... Each time you attend youth group, you earn NaCoMe bucks!  More info coming soon on our Fall Retreat to NaCoMe. 

In what you give us, Lord, to do Together or alone In old routines or ventures new May we not cease to look to you: The cross you hung upon, All you endeavored, done. - Fred Pratt Green On Labor Day Sunday this year, we would like to recognize workers.  Work is part of everyone’s life, whether inside or outside the church. There are times when our work in the world and our worship in the sanctuary feel unrelated, disconnected. But God blesses the work of our minds and bodies when done in faith. Rather  than leave our work on the church steps, we  can bring it—along with its joys and struggles—to God.  We have asked a handful of congregants to speak about their work during worship in lieu of Children’s Moment. They will respond to questions like… Where do you see God in your work? Where do you struggle with faith in your work? How can we pray for you and your work? Doug Young will monitor the interview-style discussion.  Would you like to share about or request prayers for your work? Le

Diane Bowland Randall & Kathy Kelley  Robert Ehly  Vicki & Lew Wallace  Anita Hart  Missy Keen  Ruby Jean McLeod  Hershel & Lynda Basham  Liz Thomas  Hershel & Lynda Basham  Randall & Kathy Kelley  Bold font indicates those who have passed away; regular font indicates those who have requested the memorial. Memorials received after August 30 will be on the Newsletter dated October 2.

We give praise for the blessings of creativity, music, and friendship from our Songwriting Workshop last weekend!  We had 9 participants plus our leaders, Kenny and Claire Hilliard—Nashville Christian singer/songwriters. After fellowshipping and analyzing pieces of music together, we broke into 3 working groups. Each group decided their song topic, wrote lyrics, and created tunes for their lyrics. We had a great balance of poets, instrumentalists, and singers in the bunch.  One of the three groups presented their song, “We Are Blessed”, during worship on August 28. You may listen below at the 12:50 mark in the video. Enjoy pictures from the weekend as well! The other two groups hope to present their songs later on in the year.  Thank you all who participated and who made the workshop possible! What an incredible opportunity to bond and express who we are and Whom we love! 

Choose from among you those who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom… (Acts 6:3) Our church has a talented, intelligent, creative, dedicated group of leaders.  I have been deeply gratified and humbled by the opportunity to serve alongside the elders, committee chairs, and staff who serve our congregation.  As pastor, it is always a great joy to meet with the Nominating Committee to offer advice as they discern the leading of the Holy Spirit and do their crucial work on behalf of the congregation.  The Committee will begin meeting in early September to choose 6 persons to nominate to the congregation for election as Ruling Elders at our Annual Congregational Meeting on October 30.   The nominations include 4 elders for a three-year term, 1 elder to complete the remaining two years of an unexpired term, and 1 youth elder for a one-year term.  Our Elder Nominating Committee  for 2022-2023 will be  chaired by Elder Ken Giles  (Session, Class of 2022). Members of the committee also includ