September 19, 2019
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in God's word is my hope. [Psalm 130:5]
Dear Friends,
I want to thank you all for your generousity in donating to Rise Against Hunger. We have exceeded our goal. The extra funds will be used to bag more food.
On Sunday, our preacher will be Rev. Stacy Rector. Stacy has been with us many times before. Her sermon, Blessed Limping will look at the account of Jacob wrestling the angel and paying a price for that. I have taken a week of study leave to work on papers and projects due for my Doctor of Ministry program. I'm nearing the end.
In Christ,
The prayers and sympathy of the congregation are extended to Wayne and Sandra Patton on the death of Wayne’s sister, Betty Marie Pryor, who died on September 15 in Watertown.
Please consider a donation for the purchase of plants and greenery for the Atrium. The Renovation Committee continues its work to beautify this space. Mark your donation "For Atrium." Planting will commence once the weather cools.
 The
VanGoes will visit the historic
Belle Meade Plantation on
Thursday September 26 for an hour-long tour that includes the mansion, horse stables, slave quarters, plus a wine tasting. Following the tour, lunch will be served at the Harding House. We will depart from the church at 9:30 a.m. The cost of the tour is $18 (does not include lunch). If you would like to participate, contact the church office by Tuesday, September 24.
The frozen cookie dough you ordered from Cal has arrived and has been placed in the freezer in the fellowship hall.
As is our tradition, our church will again play Santa to 12 senior citizens through Wilson County's Senior Citizens Awareness Network (SCAN).
SCAN is a nonprofit organization that reaches out to the county’s elderly population and addresses the needs of isolated, lonely, at risk, and financially challenged seniors.
If you would like to sponsor a senior this Christmas, please contact Catherine Hanson at chanson457@yahoo.com.
In early November, you will be given an individual Wish List for one of the seniors and we will set up collection boxes in the back hall as we have in previous years.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with partners in the Bahamas to respond to immediate needs and is monitoring Hurricane Dorian as it heads along the Atlantic coast in the U.S. PDA urges your support for the people affected by this catastrophic event. GIVE. ACT. PRAY.
1. Volunteers signed up: 50 (need at least 50)
2. Money raised: $4270 (GOAL EXCEEDED!!!)
Thanks to your selfless generosity, FPC has reached and exceeded its goal to raise $3400 for our Rise Against Hunger food packaging event. You have donated $4270! Thank you so much. We still need commitments from volunteers, especially kids. There is a job for everyone.
And it is fun! We will also need some people to arrive an hour early that day to help unload the truck. If you can do that, please let us know.
We will package 10,000 meal bags (for 60,000 meals).
Several people in our congregation have expressed interest in participating in
the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee's Medical Mission Trip to Guatemala on March 7-14, 2020. Non-medically trained people are needed for the mission. The trip includes a day at the Mayan ruins of
Tikal.
For more information contact Sherard Edington.
Click
here
for extensive details about this trip.
Compassionate Hands (Wilson Co.'s homeless ministry) will hold a fundraiser
Chili Cookoff on Saturday, September 28 from 5 to 7 pm at Lebanon First United Methodist Church. Tickets are available from Kristy in the church office. To enter your chili into the contest click
here for registration information.
FPC has two ongoing collections benefiting the following organizations:
1. Wilson County Schools Family Resource Center. We collect food and personal hygiene items for students whose families are struggling.
Donations can be left in the plastic tub in the back hallway.
2. Wilson County Community Help Center.
Monetary donations are used to purchase food items for the Help Center.
Write Help Center on your check.
Sunday September 22
10:45 am - Congregational Meeting
Thursday September 26
VanGoes to Belle Meade Plantation
Saturday September 28
9:00 am - Rise Against Hunger Food Packaging Event
Sunday October 6
World Communion Sunday
9:45 am - All-Church Breakfast
Sunday October 20
4:00 pm - Bachtober Organ Concert
Saturday October 26
9:00 am - Annex Fall Clean-Up
Sunday December 8
Keyboards at Christmas
An archive of sermons and bulletins (audio and text) can be viewed here.
Scripture - Genesis 32:22-31
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me."
27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."
28 Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed."
29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved."
31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.
Prayer of Confession
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. Amen.
Click here to watch J.D. play the Kilgen Organ Recital at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on May 26.
Chaconne in F minor - Johann Pachelbel
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me - arr. John E. Gould
Fugue in C - Johann Pachelbel
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