It was Pentecost Sunday, June, 7, 1987, when a group of faithful disciples walked down Franklin Road from Brentwood to an open field where a tent was set up for worship. It was the first gathering of a congregation that was to be called Christ United Methodist Church. The congregation gathered for worship every Sunday evening throughout the summer until the frost came. Then they began worshiping at the Baptist Children’s Home and later at Brentwood High School until they were ready to move into a new church building at 508 Franklin Road.

That was twenty-five years ago. It’s hard to believe how much this congregation has grown in faith, in ministry and in numbers since that first Sunday in 1987. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to celebrate! God has done great things through this congregation, and God has many more plans for our future together.

On Sunday, May 20, we will be celebrating our past, present and future as a congregation. We will have a “Twenty-fifth Anniversary Party” at 9:45 on that Sunday. We’ll gather in the Fellowship Hall for food and fun, so plan to bring a brunch dish to share. We might even have a birthday cake to share. All of our former pastors have been invited to come and celebrate with us, and we’ll have a chance to hear some of their stories and memories.

In worship on that day our current District Superintendent, Dr. John Collett, will be preaching and will help us to confirm a group of young people who have been studying, praying and serving together all year in our confirmation class. Rumor has it that we might even welcome our 1000th member on that day! I hope you plan to be there and be part of this great moment in our history as a congregation.

Now, here’s another piece of the story—my own personal piece. It was the summer of 1988, and I had just finished my sophomore year of college. In the winter of that year I had felt God calling me into ministry—or at least as far as seminary. I talked with my parents about it, and my father encouraged me to talk with Rev. Buddy Benedict, whom my dad had known for many years. When I called Buddy, he told me he was part of a “new church start,” and he invited me to meet with him at his office. He gave me the address, and when I arrived I found myself at a construction site. It was an open field, and Buddy’s office was a “portable” on site. The address was 508 Franklin Road.

I had no idea that twenty-five years later I would be part of this congregation, that I would be one of the pastors called to serve in this very church. I had no idea the loving, generous, open and faith-filled congregation you would become. How amazing God is! In what beautiful ways does God weave our stories together! As we prepare to celebrate all that God has done in and through Christ UMC, I have to express my gratitude and wonder at being given the privilege of serving alongside you. Thanks be to God for Christ UMC! Now let’s get ready to party on May 20!

Well, I just have to say that I so enjoyed the Spiritual Gifts Retreat at St. Mary’s in Monteagle. I have thought about going for many years, but always put it off or just plain failed to get it together to sign up in time. I’m so glad I followed through this year. I was a little anxious about what it would be like, whom I’d be with and how much I’d have to share. Everyone who went was kind, open to sharing, and very respectful of not pressuring anyone into opening up more than they might have been comfortable doing.

It was a beautiful setting and the staff at St. Mary’s were great…as well as the food! We followed a focused curriculum, yet had time to get to know each other and ourselves a little bit better. It was good to learn how others see our spiritual gifts and either confirm what we thought or see the possibility of other gifts we weren’t sure we might have or not have. I felt “at home” and loved among the group, just as I do here at Christ UMC. We are blessed with a caring church and dedicated members.

So if you’ve been thinking of attending the Spiritual Gifts Retreat, then don’t put it off like me for several years – - – just sign up for next year! It is well worth the time. I learned from my 91-year-old roommate…”We all need just a little bit more steam to make it through,” and the love and encouragement I received, and hopefully gave, helped me to strengthen my faith and feel God’s love!

~Charlotte Owen

Every once in a while, I like to use the space in this newsletter (or in this blog, if you’re reading this on the website) to paint a picture of “one day in the life of Christ UMC.” I pick a day and take a snapshot of all the ministries going on in and through this congregation, and it helps portray who we are as a congregation and how we are being God’s people in the world. So, with that said, let me tell you about Saturday, March 10, 2012.

On Saturday morning I arrived at the church at 8:30 am to meet with the Stephen Ministry training class. Did you know that there are six people who are training to become new Stephen Ministers in our congregation? They have been here nearly every Saturday morning since mid-January, and they are learning skills in listening, confidentiality and caring in order to provide companionship to those who are hurting in our congregation and beyond.

As I walked into the building, I saw the church bus parked under the awning. It was loaded up with confirmands who were headed to Murfreesboro for a day with our bishop, Bishop Chamness. This confirmation class has been meeting twice a month in Sunday School, and they’ve been meeting one-on-one with their mentors since September. They’ve gone on “field trips” to experience other faith traditions, and they’ve participated in several ministries with the poor and marginalized in our city. They are learning about Scripture, about the history of the church, about the Christian faith and United Methodist beliefs, about mission and service, among many other things. They are disciples-in-the-making! Then again, aren’t we all?

When my training class with the Stephen Ministers was over, I headed down the hallway past the kitchen and saw the Prison Ministry Team meeting together. This team of dedicated folks meets regularly to plan, to evaluate and to support the various aspects of our ministry in the prison. They provide the behind-the-scenes support that allows all of us to live out Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25: “I was in prison and you visited me.”

As I arrived in the parking lot and was getting into my car, Paul Bonner pulled into the parking space next to me. He was just
arriving to prepare for the youth’s 30-hour Famine. If you were in worship on Sunday, you heard about the faithful group of youth who spent 30 hours at the church, going without food, without showers and without shoes. They wanted to raise money and awareness to fight world hunger, and as we learned on Sunday, they raised nearly $3,500!

Driving away from the church on Saturday afternoon, I marveled at the many and varied ministries that go on here every day. That one snapshot of ministry on Saturday morning revealed to me that we are living out our calling. Just think about it: We are about relationships with Christ (the confirmation class), with one another (Stephen Ministry) and with God’s hurting world (prison ministry and the 30-hour Famine). Of course, confirmation is also about relationships with one another and with the world. Stephen Ministry deepens one’s relationship with Christ, as does prison ministry. And the youth ministry includes relationships with one another and Christ. So, it’s all overlapping!

It’s hard to keep track of all the work God is doing in and through this congregation. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

This week marks the beginning of Lent. It seems like we have just taken down the Advent banners and removed the wreaths from our hearths, but here we are on the doorstep of another, very different holy season. On Wednesday evening we gather for worship, communion and the imposition of ashes. On Sunday we will hear the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, and we’ll turn with him toward Jerusalem as he makes his journey to the cross.

Lent is a unique and often difficult season to walk through. It’s a season that invites us into self-examination and repentance. We are led to take a long, hard look at ourselves and to name those things that keep us from loving and trusting God. Given the events that have happened in our community and in our world over the past few weeks, we are deeply and painfully aware of our own brokenness and our need for God’s mercy and grace. This is part of our Lenten journey.

As we go through this six-week season, we will continue on Sunday mornings hearing from the Gospel of Mark. The lectionary calendar actually moves into the Gospel of John, but our worship team here decided to stick with Mark and to let him continue telling us about Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem. Through Mark’s gospel, we will be asking ourselves, “What do we need to turn away from in order to turn toward God?” Each Sunday we’ll hear a story that invites us to ask that question in different ways.

In addition to worship on Sunday, there will be lots of opportunities for reflection, prayer and growth during Lent. I’ll be teaching a special six-week Sunday School class down in room 109. We’ll be looking at the last 24 hours of Jesus’ earthly life, based on a study by Adam Hamilton. For those of you not currently involved in a Sunday School class, this might be a good way to explore this season and what it means for you.

The Spiritual Formation Committee is putting together a book table with suggested readings during this season. They’ll also have devotional guides for us based on the writings of Henri Nouwen as he reflected on the story of the Prodigal Son.

Lent invites us to find more time in our lives for prayer, silence and reflection. Sometimes, it’s hard to find that space in our lives, so on Wednesday nights the Sanctuary will be open after dinner for you to come and pray. Of course, throughout the week the Sanctuary and the Prayer Room (across from the kitchen) are always open for you. Personally, I like the Quiet Room just outside the Sanctuary. You can see the cross and the altar, but you’re also enclosed in a quiet space apart from the world.

Often, we think of Lent as a time to “give something up,” and that may be just what God is calling you to do. If you find that your hurrying keeps you from God, then you might want to give up driving over the speed limit. If you find yourself preoccupied with food or videogames, you might want to give up snacks or Angry Birds. But whatever practice you choose, it should be about you and your relationship with God. This is a time to open ourselves fully to the loving gaze of God and ask, “How is it with my soul? What is getting between God and me?”

Let’s walk through this season together. Call me if you want to talk or pray together. Come to worship on Wednesday and on Sundays. Pick out a book. Read Nouwen’s devotional guide every day. Start a new prayer practice. Let us keep a holy Lent. Together.

Where do I start and where do I end sharing about the Christ UMC Women’s Retreat?

One of my favorite things about the retreat is that it was made possible by the love and care of so many people in our church. We work together, offer our gifts, and voilà! a retreat is successful and we walk away refreshed from being together and sharing together. This year our theme focused on resting in who we are. Sherry Cothran Woolsey, Senior Pastor of West Nashville UMC, led us in worship and song. We spent time in small groups to discuss the barriers that keep us from resting with God, and how to rest in who we are. Our afternoon breakout sessions were focused on relaxing through writing, gardening, designing, creating, stretching, and sharing. The day was full of women discovering new talents, new friendships and new connections.

Thank you to the 104 ladies that gave their Saturday to meet together. Thank you to the five men and a pirate willing to be part of Carol Sullivan’s Catering Team for lunch. Thank you to Brenda and Butch Malone going beyond the call to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s for registration, promotional, financial and multi-media areas. Jan Phelps helped again in developing the day and communicating our theme. Kristi Brown pulled all the small group leaders together to show participants weekly ways to connect to others at Christ UMC. The breakout leaders gave of their time and talents to offer an enjoyable afternoon. Others made soup and baked cupcakes for lunch.

Refreshment was experienced in so many different ways.

Thank you, Marne’ Price