Belle Meade United Methodist Church January 8, 2014The Spire

Inside This Edition: 1. Upcomingchurch-wideevents2. YouthandChildren'sMinistrynews3. PrayerList4. NewsaboutThe Spire5. OpportunitiestoServe

If you use email, please consider subscribing to thisnewsletterandotherupdateselectronically. Then, letusknowifyounolongerwishtoreceiveahardcopyinthemail.Emailannamargaret@bellemeadeumc.orgorvisithttp://www.bellemeadeumc.org/#/newsletter-events/the-spire-newsletter

Iliketohike.I'mnotsurewhy,butIquithikingforalmost5years.Funnyhowwedenyourselvestheverythingsthat can enhance our lives, and engage ourselves intheverythingsthatdiminishourlives.Alas,thehumancondition.Gofigure.

Obviously,hikingisgoodphysicalexercise.It'sagreatcardioworkout,andyoucanburnover500caloriesanhour.That'salotmorethanwalkingorweighttraining,andit'salotlessboring.

Notsoobviously,hikingisgoodspiritualexercise.Yes,IprayinthesolitudeofhikingwithwordsthatIthinkorwordsthatIsay.Butfarmoreoften,Iusethesolitudefortheprayerofsilence.Myminddoesn'ttendtowanderwhenIhike–andthat'ssayingsomethingforsomeonewithamonkeybrain(thoughtsthatscatterlikemonkeysswinging through the trees).With the rootsand rocksonthetrail,Ihavetoconcentrate.Istayinthepresentmoment.Mysensescomealive.IfocusonwhatIcansee,hear,smell,andtouch.

Andevery time,Godshowsup…outof thesilence, inthepresentmoment.Andthat'swhyIhike.

Iwenthikingafewdaysago.Isawasinglegreenleafgrowingoutofthedeadleaves.Ithadajaggededge,andwastwo-toned,witha lightershadeofgreenout-linedbyadarkergreen.Didn'tseeanotheronetheen-tirefivemiles.Night-timetemperatureshadbeeninthe20’s.Iwonderedhowthiswaspossible–newlifetaking

abowonthestageofafrozenworld.Butthenagain,I'vereadsomewhereallthingsarepossiblewithGod.

Andthentherewasasmall,scrawnycedartreegrowingbythesideofthetrail.Someonehungasinglegreenor-namentontopofthattree.AChristmastree.Inthemid-dleoftheforest.I'dliketomeetthepersonwhotoppedoffthattree.TheymusthaveareverenceforChristmas,andagreatsenseofhumor.TheHolymixedwithlaugh-ter–thatprettymuchsumsuptheAlmightyforme.AsIapproachedthetrailhead,achipmunkranacrossthetrailnot10feetinfrontofme.ACooper'shawkcameoutofnowhere,andpouncedonthechipmunkwithitstalonsbared.Ijumped,thehawkwasstartled,andthechipmunkescaped. Itwasamomentofsalvationandredemption.ButthenIthoughtaboutthehawkthatjustmissed ameal.Ah, the ambiguity of life, once again,mirroringtheambiguityofGod.

It'sthetimeforresolutions.Howaboutrefreshingyourspirituallifethisyear?I'mstartingaweeklyhikinggroupsoon.It'sformenandwomen.Youdon'tneedtobeingreatshape,butdon'thikeifyouhaven'thadanyexer-cise lately.Wewillkeepamoderatepace.Wewilldoabout2.5milesinsilence(moreorless).Whenwefin-ish,wewilldrinkalotofwaterandreflectonourexperi-ence.Beonthelookoutformoredetails.

Seeyouat theHousecomeSunday–andmaybeonthetrailsinafewweeks.

A C h i p m u n k S t o r y

R e v . T o m G i l d e m e i s t e r

Hello! Please come if you can (yes the guys too!) to the Belle Meade UMW General Meeting and Lun-cheon to be held in the Fellowship Hall on December 8th at 11:30AM. Magdalene Ministries and Thistle Farms will speak and provide an opportunity to shop and purchase their products in the Fellowship Hall. If you can come, please let us know by registering on the signup sheet at the reception desk or by emailing Dana Pirtle at dcpirtle@comcast.net or text her at 504-8680.

Welcoming MinistryWecontinuetogetgreatfeedbackaboutourwelcomingministryforfirst-timevisitorsandwewanttocontinuethisvitalministry.Wearelookingformorepeopletojointhisministryrotation.Canyoubakeanddeliveradozencookiesonceeverythreemonths?Ifyouarewillingbepartofthissuccessfulministryofhospitalityandlove,pleasecontactKristinClark-Banksatkristin@bellemeadeumc.org.Thankssomuch!

Warmth in Winter: Sign up Now for this Youth Event!Oneofthegoalsfortheyouthministryin2014istobemore involved in the wonderful youth events that ourTennesseeConferencedoes.Withthatinmind,wearenow registering for the Warmth in Winter ConferenceJanuary31-February2,2014 inMurfreesboro.Wewillbe attending the large group worship sessions, semi-nars,andmoreevents.Wewill stayatanearbyhotelandeatmealsout. This trip isopen to8thgradeandolder.RegistrationwillclosetheeveningofJanuary26.Thecostperstudentis$75,whichincludestheconfer-encefees,housingandsomemeals.Studentswillneedtobringfundsforadditionalmeals.Youcanlearnmoreabouttheeventingeneralatwww.warmthinwinter.com.

ForspecificBelleMeadeYouthquestions,pleasecontactJasonatjason@bellemeadeumc.orgor615.476.6746.Note: All middle school students: Mark your calendarnowfor theEdgeMiddleSchoolRetreat,whichwillbeApril4-6,2014inRome,Georgia.Detailscomingsoononthisexcitingopportunityformiddleschoolers!

A Day at the SymphonyFebruary7theNashvilleSymphonywillholdadaytimeconcertwithfreepastriesandcoffee.TheconcertisRavel&SaintSaens-GiancarloGuerrero,conductor,&ConradTao,piano.Ravel'sPianoConcertwilltransformtheSchermerhornintoalivelyParisiancabarellewithsomeofthecomposer'sloveliestmusic.Next,thesoundofanorganconcertwillfilltheconcerthallinSaintSaen'sOrganSymphony.Wewillleaveonthechurchbusat9:30AMforthe10:30AMconcert.Theconcertshouldlastaboutanhourandlunchdowntownwillfollow.Groundfloorconcertticketsare$28(payabletothechurch).Signupintheadministrationlobby.

BLOOD DRIVEThisSunday,January12

9:00am–1:00pmLocatedintheFellowshipHall

Toscheduleyourappointmentlogontohttp://www.redcrossblood.organdentersponsorcode:BellemeadeUMCPhotoIDneededContactJohnWilliams(615)423-2250john.williams@vanderbilt.edu

Children's Ministry News

Wanted: Volunteers to Help with Children's ChurchAllagesarewelcometoparticipateinthisawesomeministry,spendingtimewithourpreciouslittleonesduringworshipinaspecialtimejustforkidstolearnaboutGodandworship.Volunteerswillworkonarotatingschedule.ContactReginaRigneyatregina@bellemeadeumc.orgorbycallingthechurchoffice.

Children's Ministry OutreachThechildren'sministryisstillcollectingsmall,softtoysforBarthVer-nonUMC.Donationsmaybebroughttochildren'sactivitiesordroppedoffatReginaRigney'sofficeintheadministrationbuilding.

January JOY Program: "In the Growing Places"NextThursday,January16at11:15,RitaJ.Maggartwillshareherpho-tography inaprogramentitled "In theGrowingPlaces."Accomplishedguitaristandsinger/songwriterAngelPontierwillaccompanyavideopre-sentationofimagesandwritingsfromRita'sbookIn the Growing Places withoriginalmusic.Rita'simagesinviteyoutoenterdeeplyintonature'sformandbeautywhereshesays,"Youwillseemorethanwhattheimagelookslike,youwillseewhattheimagehastosay."AngelPontierisaprofessionalsinger,songwriter,guitaristandproducer.Various labelshave recordedmanyofhergospelandChristiansongsandshe iscurrentlyworkingonasecondCDoforiginalmusic.Angelperformsatchurchservicesandwomen’sretreats,aswellasconcertsandsongwriternightsinNashville,TN.SheisoneofonlyafewwomeninNashvilletoownandengineera24-trackrecordingstudio,named“East-sideSound”.

Ritaisanartist,photographerandauthor-illustratorofherbooks.Herbackgroundinoilpaintingandfloraldesignallowhertobeaphotographerwithapainter’seyeinherfineartbotanicalphotography.Shehaswonawardsat theInternationalDigitalArtsShowandtheCentralSouthArtExhibitandshowsherworkingalleriesandprivatehomes.Ritahasrecentlybeenfeaturedwithanartistspot-lightandhonoredinthePhotographer's2013CompetitionintheNashville Arts Magazine.HerbooksincludeIn the Growing PlacesandaseriesofthreegiftbookscalledMama Says... whicharelocally

availableatParnassusandLogosBookStore.

Clockwise from left:Candlesareraisedat theChrist-masEveserviceduring"SilentNight;"Youngadultsen-joyabowlingnightbeforeservingwithRoomintheInn;BelleMeade dancers enhance the carol servicewithinterpretivedancechoreographedbyReginaRigney.

Tuesdays6:30-8:00pm:Journey101Journey101,aneight-weekstudy,helpsustolivealifeofgreatercontentment.Throughastudyof the textJourney to Freedom we learn to understand ourselves at a deeplevelandexperienceanewconnectiontoGod.Thissmallgrouphasalimitedenrollment.PleasecontactMarkAcker(mark@bellemeadeumc.org)formoreinformation.

Wednesdaysat6:15pm:Pastor’sBibleStudy:AStudyoftheBookofJob:ShakingYourFistintheFaceoftheDivineorIsItOKtoBeAngryWithGod?6:15-7:00pmIfyouareinterestedinparticipatinginthisstudyledbyRev.TomGildemeister,pleasejoinusinthechurchlounge.

Wednesdaysat6pm:AStudyofHenriNouwen’s Life of the BelovedWewill takeajourneyintothespiritual life,bringingfreshperspectivetoNouwen’sclassicwordsaboutlivingspiritu-ally in a secular world: “All I want to say to you is, ‘YouaretheBeloved.’”ContactGabeHorton(gabriel.j.horton@gmail.com)forinformation.

Wednesdays at 6 pm: Men's Bible Study:A Study of theBookofJohn.IfyouareinterestedinparticipatinginthisstudyledbyBruceKauffman,pleasejoinusintheLogosSundaySchoolClassroomRoom218.

Wednesdays6:00-7:00pm:Companions inChrist:Explor-ingtheWayThisseven-week introduction toChristianspiritual lifeex-plores practices such as prayer, journaling, listening andmeditatingonscripture.DiscoverhowtoconnecttoGodinadeepandmeaningfulwaythroughthisstudyledbyRev.KristinClark-Banks. Contact kristin@bellemeadeumc.orgformoreinformation.

Thursdays12:15-1:15pm:Women’sBookClubBe inspiredby readingabouthowa lifewaschangedbythesimpleactofprayingforastrangereachday.JoinusforaconversationaroundRiverJordan’sbook,Praying for Strangers.ContactRev.KristinClark-Banksatkristin@bel-lemeadeumc.orgor352-6210formoreinformation.

Fridaysat10am:Women’sBibleStudy:StudyofPsalm119:“ThyWordIsaLampuntoMyFeet”IntroductorysessionJan.10at10:00aminRoom218.Pleasejoinusforatwo-monthstudyledbyTraceyMcAli-ster.Toreserveaworkbook,orifyouhavequestions,pleasecontactHarrietJordan,LeighJohnson,orBettyMcAlister.Detailedinformationsheetsmaybefoundontheentrancedesk.

January 2014 Adult Sunday School

Topics

BridgetheGap1/5–1/19-ProgramsbyBrady

Banks1/26-ProgrambyMarkAcker

Ephesians4:15-TheCrucifiedLifebyA.W.TozerledbyWarrenJohnson

Fidelis–1/5–“WheredoyoufindJesus?”

ledbyWayneUnderhill1/12–TheBookofProverbsledby

classmembers

1/19&1/26-ProgramsbyArtEcherd

Foundations–FollowingJesus:thelifeandministryofJesusChrist

Logos–1/5-The12daysofChristmas1/12–Epiphany1/19&1/26–12Extraordinary

WomenbyJohnMacArthur

Oxford–ProgramsbyPastorTomGildemeister

Shepherds–JourneysofPaulledbyJ.DavidMiller

Trinity–TheBookofJudgesledbyErnestHeard

UpperRoom–1/5&1/12–ReflectionsontheNew

YearledbyChuckLukehart1/19&1/26–ProgramsbyArt

Echerd

WOW–“Faithfulness”fromtheFruitoftheSpiritBibleStudiesbyJacalynEyreledbyclassmembers

YoungAdults-FollowingJesus:thelifeandministryofJesusChrist

Memorials and HonorariaGiftsweremadetotheEndowmentFundinmemoryofMarion"Rocky"Moorby:

Bill,JanetandCarlyWarfieldDr.andMrs.WilliamA.Shell,Jr.

LauraandPeteZabaskiAllanandNancyBailey

BarryandWentworthCaldwellGloucesterSquareCooperativeCorp.

Mr.andMrs.MichaelKaneJohnandMarthaPhippsSkipperandNancyPhipps

GeorgeTomlin

Joy• CongratulationstoAustinLucas

&LindsayCusterwhoweremar-riedonDec.27,2013.

• CongratulationstoTripandMa-ribethNicholson on the birth oftheirson,Levi.

Spire NewsAsweevaluatethecommunicationneedsofBelleMeadeUMC,weareseekingnewwaystospreadinformationandnewstoourcongregationandcommunity.Inthecomingmonths,wewillbeofferingatext-alertservicewhichwillallowsub-scriberstoreceiveinformationattheirfingertipsaboutchurchevents,changestoschedules,andwaystobecomemoreinvolvedinthelifeofthechurch.Weareresearchingvisualcommunicationsforimmediateimpactaroundthechurch(flexiblesignagethatischangedperiodicallytoadvertisechurchinformationtoallwhovisitorregularlyattend).BelleMeadeeventsarenowbeingsharedwithourneighborhoodthroughtheHillwoodlistserv.Inanefforttostretchourcommunicationsbudgetandreduceredundancy,weare trying somethingnewwithThe Spire, aswell.Beginningwith this issue,The Spirewillbemailedtwicemonthly,ratherthaneveryweek.Thiswillsaveover$600.00permonth.Wewillstillcommunicatethroughweeklyemailsandbulletinannouncements.ThischangemeansthateachnewsletterwillcontainNEWS,ratherthanrepeatingannouncementsoverseveralweeks.Thedeadlineforsubmitting information for thenexteditionofThe Spire isnoonThursday,January16.Inconjunctionwiththeseefforts,thewebsiteandfacebookpagewillbeupdatedweekly(ifnotmoreoften),allowingustocommunicateinamoretime-sensitivemanner.Ifyouhavequestions,ideadorwouldliketovolunteertohelpwithcommunica-tionatBelleMeade,pleasecontactAnnaMargaretMilleratannamargaret@bellemeadeumc.orgorbycallingthechurchofficeat352-6210.Wewouldlovetohearfromyouabouthowwecanenhancetwo-waycommunicationandef-fectivelyspreadthewordamongourselvesandourneighbors.IamdelightedtobeapartoftheBelleMeadeteamandamsoexcitedtoseewhatthefutureholdsforthischurchaswereachourcommunityandworldwithChrist'slove!God'sPeace,AnnaMargaretMiller,CommunicationsAdministrator

The SpirePrayer

ConcernsThechurchprayerlistcannotbeincludedonourwebsiteduetoprivacyissues.Youcanfindthelistinthechurchbulletin

orinthee-mailnewsletter.Ifyouwouldlike

toreceivethenewsletterbye-mailpleasecontactthe

CommunicationsAdministrator,AnnaMargaretMiller,at

thechurchofficeat352-6210orsignupat

thechurchwebsite,www.bellemeadeumc.org,

underthenewsletterandeventspage.

Acolyte and Crucifer Schedule

Date Acolyte Crucifer

Jan 12 Joseph Hinchman Lauren Jolly Jan 19 Emily Carro Kang Huh Jan 26 Leigh Ann Schmidt Alex Jolly

Worship This Sunday

8:30 am Worship in the Chapel8:45 am Communion in the Sanctuary

9:15 am - 10:15 am Sunday School for all ages10:30 am - Worship in the SanctuaryPreaching: Rev. Tom Gildemeister

Belle Meade United Methodist Church121 Davidson Road, Nashville, TN 37205www.bellemeadeumc.org(615) 352 - 6210

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