NewsNovember 12, 2017

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1211:30 a.m. Korean UMC Medical Team, Community Center1:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers rehearsal, 2263:30 p.m. Wesley Ringers rehearsal, 2264:30 p.m. Covenant Bible Study, 2034:30 p.m. Open Door Singers rehearsal, choir room5:30 p.m. United Methodist Youth, Community CenterMONDAY, NOVEMBER 135:30 p.m. Youth girls basketball practice, Community Center6:00 p.m. Finance Committee, 2026:30 p.m. Aging Matters, 124TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 141:00 p.m. UMW Sarah and Ruth Circles, Iris Room6:00 p.m. Ministry Council, Parker HallWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1510:00 a.m. Companions in Christ, Iris Room3:30 p.m. Senior Adult Council, 1244:00 p.m. Praying through Scripture, 1205:15 p.m. Midweek at Belmont meal, Community Center5:30 p.m. Columbarium Committee, 2016:00 p.m. Executive Committee, 2026:00 p.m. Great Questions, 1226:00 p.m. Reading Scripture: Attending to God’s Word, 1246:00 p.m. Youth discussion group, 3rd floor6:00 p.m. Yoga, Parker Hall6:15 p.m. Youth boys basketball practice, Recreation Room6:15 p.m. Children’s choirs, Faith Finders Hall7:15 p.m. Sanctuary choir practice, choir room7:30 p.m. Church family budget discussion, Parker HallTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 168:00 a.m. Women’s Centering Prayer Group, 124FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1710:00 a.m. Parent and Child Music Group, 2135:00 p.m. Room in the Inn, Community CenterSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1911:45 a.m. Senior adult Thanksgiving lunch, Parker Hall12:30 p.m. Administrative Board, Community Center1:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers rehearsal, 2263:30 p.m. Wesley Ringers rehearsal, 2264:00 p.m. Church family budget discussion, Parker Hall4:30 p.m. Covenant Bible Study, 2034:30 p.m. Open Door Singers rehearsal, choir room5:30 p.m. United Methodist Youth, Community Center

This week at Belmont UMC

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Joys and Concerns

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective. We respect our diversity of opin-ion and expressions of faith. Therefore, as God loves us, so let us love and serve in the name of Christ.

A personal investment

Program for November 15: Reading Scripture: Attending to God’s Word in room 124; Great Questions in room 122 Menu: Adults, youth, and children: Thanksgiving-themed menu.

Belmont UMC has been a foundational part of my life since August 1987, when I was 22 years old. Having recently moved to Nashville to start medical school, I knew almost no one. The first Sunday I was in town, I looked for a United Methodist church near my apartment. I distinctly remem-ber the warmth of the people that very first Sunday, the beauty of the worship space, the music (oh, the music!), and the overwhelming feeling of being home from the moment I walked into the sanctuary. Bel-mont UMC became my church that first Sunday and over these past 30 years, it has been in-extricably woven into the fab-ric of my family’s life through our wedding, the births of our children, losses, joys, sorrows, highs, and lows. My wife, Amy, and I con-sider our giving to the church as our personal investment in the kingdom of God. For us, giving is a part of our spiritual

discipline. Supporting the church financially was instilled in both of us growing up and so we natu-rally fell into a pattern of tithing as soon as we married. What’s in-teresting though is that the disci-pline of giving enriches our fam-ily well beyond the practice. Like the music that bounces through our sanctuary every Sunday and creates a blessing in return for the singers and musicians at the same time that it blesses those in the congregation, giving to Belmont bathes our family in blessings as we grow from the ministries that our offerings sup-port. Learning how our shared gifts support ministries here at Belmont, in our community, and

MemorialsJUDY KOHLER

Donors:Martha & Tillman Harris

ALFRED ELMORE(Jean Fox’s brother)

Donor:Graham Inquirers Class

PATTIE HUDSONDonors:

Mila & Bill TruanGraham Inquirers Class

Sanctuary ChoirDOROTHY BEAIRD

(Wayne Beaird’s mother)Donor:

Shirley Dodson

Continued on page 4

A personal investmentContinued from page 1

by Bill Cooper

throughout the world, reminds us of how important it is to give and how our gifts, combined with others, make a real and lasting difference. To be honest, I think one reason we give is because Belmont UMC has been there when we needed it most, including that very first Sunday. The opportunity to share our gifts so that some day a lonely 22 year old who walks in the church’s doors can reap even a small portion of the immense bounty of blessings that we’ve expe-rienced at Belmont arises from our gratitude to God, Belmont, and each Saint who has ministered to our fam-ily here.

Follow uson social media!

Belmont UMC is on Facebook, Twit-ter, and Instagram. You’ll see photos and videos there that you won’t see anywhere else. On Facebook, find us at BelmontUMC.Nashville, and on Twitter and Instagram, find us at Bel-montUMC.

Administrative Board to meet next

SundayThe administrative board will meet next Sunday, November 19, in the Community Center at 12:30 p.m. For lunch, board members are invited to join senior adults

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Upcoming Worship ServicesTwenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost November 19, 2017Paul Purdue and Susan Groseclose preaching 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. wor-ship services.Sandy Sakarapanee preaching 10:30 a.m. worship in the Community Center.

8:15 a.m. - Communion in the chapel9:15 a.m. - Sunday school 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the sanctuary10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Community Center (in Karen, English, and Thai)

Scripture lessons: Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; Psalm 76; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30 Sunday school classes collecting the of-fering for November: Simplicity, Cov-enant, Seekers

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Poinsettia and wreath sales begin today

October was a busy month for our youth program. Between our unit over “How to Raise Your Parents” and our annual No Doze, the youth have been particularly active in their commu-nity. As a means of strengthening relationships with one’s par-ents, youth have discussed the most effective communication styles, how to promote positive interaction, and the necessity of mutual effort and investment into a relationship. This se-ries has been particularly impactful as it provides guidance for strengthening one of the most important relationships in the life of a youth. The highlight of the month was most definitely the annual No Doze. Over 70 youth, chaperones, and partners in ministry wondered throughout the city into early morn-ing having fun and building lasting memories. First, the vans pulled into the Nashville Shores parking lot in order to let the youth harness up and fly above the trees. Zip-lining in the rain was a memory that the youth will not soon forget. Next, the youth group tested their strength— intellectually, that is. The group broke off into teams in order to solve riddles, puzzles, and find clues in order to escape from Extreme Escape Games. Battling off mad scientists squirting water guns made for quite an adventure. Buckling up, the group headed for Let It Shine in order to run, jump, play, and hide in the gymnastic facil-ity. As the hour struck midnight, the night was far from over. The youth headed back to the church, feasted on snacks, and binge-watched Stranger Things. The event came to a close with the 6:00 a.m. Cracker Barrel breakfast.

Nashville Korean UMC to provide medical services for GTF

“Many Hands. Many Stories. One Church.” Belmont UMC’s ministries are the result of many hands coming together to share in God’s work. Each of us brings stories of God’s work in our lives and world. We trust that each of you have re-ceived your pledge card and are praying about your giving to God’s work through Belmont UMC. Finance chair, John Pearce, and Administrative Board chair, Nancy Northington, and Pastor Paul invite you to a church family budget discussion as we share together where our church has been and where we believe God is calling us to go financially. Join us in Parker Hall on either Wednes-day, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. or on Sun-day, November 19, at 4:00 p.m.

Change in deadline for November 26 newsletter

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the November 26 issue of the Belmont News newsletter will be published early. Items for the November 26 issue (as well as the November 19 issue) will be due by noon tomorrow, Monday, November 13. Send your articles, announcements, or calendar items for the newsletter to Angie Slade. Articles must be 150 words or less, in paragraph form and must include title/headline. Pho-tographs must be high-resolution. Please indicate whether you want a byline.

On Sunday, December 3, Belmont UMC will celebrate Hanging of the Greens. Twenty-two wreaths will be placed on the exterior doors in memory or honor of loved ones. Also on Sun-day, December 3, the sanctuary and chapel will be decorated with poinset-tias given in memory or honor of loved ones. The poinsettias will be delivered to our homebound members after the 10:30am worship service. The deadline to place your order for a wreath ($20 each) or poinsettia ($10 each) is Sun-day, November 26, or you may contact Anne in the church office at 615-383-0832.

Recently, members of the Harbison Fellowship and Jessie Rustin Sunday school classes voted to merge into one class. This new class, named the Harbi-son-Jessie Rustin Fellowship, consists of some of our eldest Belmonters, two of whom were born and reared at Bel-mont UMC. The class welcomes visi-tors and/or potential members to join them as they discuss topics presented by outstanding guest teachers.

Pick up a Christmas stocking for a Grundy County child today

Once again Belmonters have the opportunity to provide filled Christmas stockings for young Grundy County children in the Beersheba Springs community. Most of these children will not have another opportunity to experience the joy of this special season. If you, your children, or your grandchildren would like to fill one or several of these stockings, they are available in the Iris Room today. The deadline for returning the filled stockings is Sunday, December 3. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Today, after worship, Nashville Korean UMC’s medical team will visit the Golden Triangle Fellowship (GTF) congregation to provide medical services in the Community Center. The team has helped underserved communities in and around the Nashville area with medical services for many years. The GTF members will get a medical exam, blood pressure/sugar check, and EKG test. It is a joy to see two congregations that began their ministries at Belmont UMC getting connected and helping each other.

Two into one

Save the date for the Feast of Lights!

Save the date, and plan to attend the 65th annual Feast of Lights and Les-sons and Carols Service on Sunday, December 10, at 6:00pm. Belmont UMC’s choirs will offer songs of praise united with congregational singing and orchestral accompaniment. Join us for a time of prayerful thankfulness and joyful welcome.

October a busy monthfor Belmont UMC youth

Church family budget discussion

Senior adult Thanksgiving lunchOn November 19, join Belmont UMC’s senior adults in cele-brating Thanksgiving with a traditional meal, songs, and shar-ing of holiday memories. This event will take place in Parker Hall following the 10:30 a.m. worship service. The cost for the meal is $15 and reservations must be made by calling Anne at 615-383-0832. no later than noon on Wednesday, November 15.

by Allie Rutland

Administrative board to meet next SundayContinued from page 1for a special Thanksgiving holiday luncheon in Parker Hall at 11:30 a.m. The cost for the meal is $15; reservations for this special meal must be made by calling Anne at 615-383-0832 no later than noon on Wednesday, November 15. Also, please mark your calendars for charge conference on Monday, December 11, at 7:00pm in the Community Center.