Vine No 8

Volume XVIII

May 1, 2009

Number 8

[ Declaring the Love of Jesus & Sharing His Good News Through our Faith In Motion from the Heart of the City ] A Bimonthly Newsletter Children’s Ministry Prep Day recap

Read about the good things that happened on April 18 and find out what important actions you need to take next as a children’s volunteer Page 2

McKendree Church - 523 Church St. - Nashville, TN 37219 PB&J Party recap

Community Gathering

Kevin Sparkman describes the impact of one of the biggest events McK hosts and shares his highlights of last Sunday evening

Don’t forget that Sunday May 10 we will be gathering with friends & family at Watkins Park!

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Bethlehem Center benefit concert

McKendree will be hosting a benefit concert featuring The Nashville Praise Symphony - read more details on Page 4!

Rev. Stephen Handy will be preaching at both services on Sunday, May 3 Page 4

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McKendree United Methodist Church 523 Church Street Nashville, TN 37219 615.271.2600 Fax 271.2607

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED



Stephen Handy visits McKendree

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nashville, TN Permit No. 2855

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PREPARATION DAY - recap by Laurie Cooper McKendree Children’s Ministry Statement of Faith: Paul told Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” As facilitators of the children’s and youth ministry at McKendree United Methodist Church, we therefore commit to ensure that each child who enters our church is shown the love and compassion of Jesus and offered the opportunity to accept His gift of eternal life in a safe and affirming environment. A huge THANK YOU to all involved with the tremendously successful Children’s Ministry Preparation Day held at McKendree on Saturday, April 18. Twenty-six individuals involved with our children’s programming attended and received training in our safety policy and bus driver safety in addition to helping with renovations in our THRIVE area. We are grateful to Jo and Gary Vincent, Roberta and Joe Daws, Emily and Carter Baker, and Polly and Gene Thompson for underwriting all costs for this important day of ministry and training in the life of our church.

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Beginning on May 1 all individuals, employed or volunteer, who work with our children or will be having contact with our children, will be asked to read the McKendree Children’s Safety Policy and will be encouraged to view the video of our training day. Included with the Safety Policy will be two forms that will need to be completed and returned. One form will be the volunteer agreement to allow the church to conduct a criminal background check and the other form an affirmation of our statement of faith (shown above).

It is of the utmost importance that we continue to be obedient to the Lord’s instruction to love, protect, and instruct each child that He sends to us. How exciting! Please pick up a copy of the Safety Policy the next time you are at church. These forms are in the church office and also at the back entrance on the table where the parking stamp is kept. Turn your forms back in to the church office as soon as possible. We will begin following up with our children’s workers during the second week of May to obtain all forms.

the McKendree Vine

the Vine - May 1, ‘09

Hip hop on the...GYM FLOOR! A rainy GMA Sunday couldn’t wash out the excitement or hold back hundreds of music fans from flooding McKendree to see the third annual Peanut Butter & Jelly Party by Kevin Sparkman The buzz surrounding a silly named event called The Peanut Butter & Jelly Party/Hip hop on the Rooftop reached an all-time high with the third annual version that occurred last Sunday, April 19 at McKendree UMC’s Christian Life Center. Even with the silly moniker, the event’s creators Syntax Records of Lemon Grove, CA take the PB&J Party and Christian hip hop very seriously. “I have intentionally not been inviting people to the event this year” says Syntax co-founder Steve Trudeau in response to my question about crowd control on the approx. 350 standing-room capacity rooftop. “I just don’t want to have to turn people away.” This year the event has reached more of a national audience than ever with MySpace Music jumping on board for the second year as a sponsor. Leading up to the event, MySpace users across the globe were greeted with a PB&J banner every time they logged on to the site. (according to alexa.com, MySpace is consistently one of the Top-10 most visited websites in the world) Other notable national sponsors this year included Rockstar Energy Drink (2nd year providing over 1,500 drinks), Gospel Music Association (2nd year sanctioning the event), Microsoft Corporation (donated a Zune mp3 player to one audience member along with free music download cards for everyone in attendance), and Christian apparel company Not Of This World. In addition to the sponsorship exposure, CrossRockTV.com

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broadcasted the event live on their website crtvlive.com. When speaking with CRTV producers after the event they mentioned that it was one of their smoothest live broadcasts they have featured. Another improvement from the previous two year history of the PB&J Party was the audio and visual production. Maxx Productions of Franklin, TN donated all of the tour-quality sound, lighting, and technical aspects of the event including setup and tear-down crew. This was an unbelievable blessing and really provided for a professional atmosphere through and through. I believe the Lord was looking out for McKendree this night. I was extremely worried about not being able to control the crowd number on the rooftop and He provided the solution with an all-afternoon downpour that forced us into the gymnasium. All together, I think this event drew over 500 people into our CLC facility, a crowd that for the first time in three years, stayed for the entire show. The rooftop simply would not be able to handle a crowd this size, but our gym handled it beautifully - praise God!

music related event. I am in agreement with Steve and brother/ Syntax co-founder Tim Trudeau who have modeled this event around the vehicle of hip hop music and legitimizing it with household names like MySpace and Microsoft to bring people in to experience Jesus - even if that’s not what they were expecting. There were two specific highlights surrounding this event for me personally: 1) I was touched by Syntax artist Kaboose’s personal testimony given at the New Wine service that morning, and 2) all of the Syntax artists/employees that came to church Sunday morning could not stop telling me how blessed they were by this church! Again, praise God! Oh, and 3) yummy peanut butter & jelly sandwiches! :-)

I am so thankful that we were able to host this concert again at McKendree. Even though it is technically a Christian music industry event, Syntax and this church has been very intentional at marketing the PB&J Party to music fans in the Middle TN area that can easily make it to the event. The goal is to expose the message of Christ to people who normally wouldn’t come to a church for a

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the Vine - May 1, ‘09

Upcoming Special Events: Community Gathering - Watkins Park Sunday, May 10 from 4-8p

Benefit concert for Bethlehem Center Saturday, May 16 - 5:00p The Center for Non-Profit Management completed a report on Bethlehem Centers of Nashville and its viability in the current economic environment. The study found that BCN’s programs are in demand, that management and board have sound policies and are generating good, quality information needed for critical decision making but need immediate financial support. The report also recommends developing a Contingency Plan. The BCN Board accepted the report and is in the process of developing/implementing a plan. Bethlehem Centers is still a viable ministry and continues to minister to clients Changing Lives and Building Futures in our community.

Come and enjoy BBQ and fellowship with McKendree family and our friends and neighbors in our community around us! Please bring a small side item and/or dessert if you are able. * If you would like to make a donation to support this event, please contact Jordan Callaway at the church office: 615.271.2600, [email protected]

Stephen Handy to speak at McKendree Rev. Stephen Handy will be speaking at both the 9a & 11a services at McKendree UMC on Sunday, May 3, 2009. Rev. Handy will officially join McKendree as Senior Pastor on Sunday, June 28, 2009. If you have not had the chance to meet Stephen, this would be a great opportunity to meet him and hear his heart for the Lord this Sunday.

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The study also finds that “cost cutting is not an option.” “What little bit of fat there might have been in the BCN budget has already been cut and further cuts will be at the program level.” It recommends that Bethlehem Centers take “immediate action” to seek funding to meet urgent needs. Bethlehem Centers has ministered in the Nashville community for 115 years and needs your support now. Church - do not miss this opportunity to bless the Bethlehem Centers with your support! The NASHVILLE PRAISE SYMPHONY will lead us in an evening of music and worship as we unite to support one of Nashville’s most vital ministries. Tours and a light reception will be held at the Bethlehem Center immediately following the benefit concert event. Our church bus will provide shuttle to/from the Bethlehem Center facility.

the McKendree Vine

the Vine - May 1, ‘09

May Birthdays

Weekly Bible Readings Apr 27 - May 3: Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48 May 4 - 10: Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18 May 11 - 17: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 May 18-24: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 May 25-31: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Rom. 8:22-27; John 15:26-7, 16:4b-15

Prayer Concerns Tim Kinnane (Vanderbilt 3457) Mary Ellis (home) Bob Barr (home) Memorials McKendree has received gifts in memory of Betty Dawson from Elizabeth Wood and T.M. and Sarah Voss Pulliam.

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1 - Jim Barr, Josh Kriner, Ray Prince 3 - Harriet Vivion 4 - Steve Kohl, Amie Post 7 - Johnnie Manire 8 - Dwight Sperry 9 - Grace Hardin 10 - Rick Hodges 11 - Ruby Mai Farrar, Derrick Walker 15 - Justin Elliott, Dan Keenan Mary-Helen Marigza 16 - Beth Allen 17 - Steve Barlar 18 - Martha Ann Gregory 23 - Angel Loupe 24 - Floyd Elliott, Genell Price 28 - Paul Muncy 29 - Trent Kirby

Sunshine Group Events Coming up soon on May 5th, we will go to Red Boiling Springs and have lunch at The Thomas House. Built in 1890, this is one of the town’s oldest and most beautiful landmarks. We will meet at the Expo Design Center parking lot on Powell Avenue and will leave at 9:30a. The cost of the trip (including lunch) will be $13, plus fuel expense. Plans for June 2nd are to go to Ashland City for a river cruise on the Blue Heron. This is a 24-passenger pontoon boat that travels the Cumberland River viewing wild birds and scenic wildlife. The boat trip is at 10:00 a.m. and leaves from the Riverview Restaurant. We’ll eat at the restaurant following the boat trip. We will take the church bus from the Expo Design Center parking lot at 9:30 that morning. Please contact Mary Alice Miles (292-3814) if you are interested in going. 5

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Thank you... Lacey and I want to thank all of our family here at McKendree church! We have been overwhelmed and humbled by everyone’s kindness and support over the past several weeks. From the baby shower, to coming home from the hospital, we have been nothing but grateful for the church community of which God has blessed us. We are most thankful for your prayers and are so pleased to be a part of a church that places such a great emphasis on prayer. God is so good to hear and answer our prayers! It excites us to see this community growing and ministering to more people. We continually experience the benefits of living in Christian community and are anxious to share this with everyone that we can. We love you all! The Callaways

Weekly Events & Activities * all events at 523 Church St./Worship Center unless otherwise noted

Wednesday

Sunday

6:00p Program/Bible study

8:30a Prayer Team (McKendree Room)

7:00p Community Groups Bible study (Library Cafe)

9:00a New Wine @ McKendree

Thursday

9:30a THIRST/Youth ministry

11:00a Jubilate choir rehearsal (Choir room)

10:00a Adult Bible Study

Noon Kairos Bible Study (bring a brown bag lunch)

11:00a Worship Service (communion every 1st Sun. ea. month)

4:00p Transient meal (Fellowship Hall)

Monday

Saturday

9:30a Ladies’ home Bible study

9:00a Saturday Morning fitness ministry

(The St. Paul, Hillsboro Rd., Nashville)

(CLC, 520 Commerce St.)

Tuesday

5:00p Mosaic Downtown Fellowship

9:30a Art Group (Rm 304)

(every 2nd Sat. ea. month)

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5:30p Dinner (Fellowship Hall, covered dish every 1st Wed.)

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