TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW December 28, 2007

In this issue of THE REVIEW
1. Epiphany Prayer from The Book of Worship
2. More Than a Shawl for Christmas
3. West Nashville United Methodist Church Reaches out to immigrant neighbors
4. Tadpoles, Frogs, Yumps , A Major Part of Church Renewal at Nolensville First UMC
5. Pastor experiences racial threats, cross burning.
6. 61st Avenue United Methodist Church Sheltered Reality Drumming Program,
7. Unleashing IRA Potential for the Church and Its Ministries. Dr. Vin Walkup presents some insights
8. Just One, meditation by evangelist Cinde Lucas
9. I Have Been Rewarded with New Friends in Christ at New Chapel UMC,-- Pastor Kevin Marston shares his thoughts on being appointed to a congregation with a vibrant Hispanic ministry.

___________________________


Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls,





you brought the nations to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the nations;
Through him who is the true light and the bright and morning star,
Even Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.


Latin Sacramentary, 5th-7th Century, The United Methodist Book of Worship #297





More Than a Shawl for Christmas

l. to r. in the photo: Rev. Carole Modlin, Allene Tandy, Mary Ann Matthews

Ninety-two years ago, Johnny B. and Lula Perry were blessed with their own special gift on Christmas Day…a precious daughter whom they named Allene.

Born in Alabama, she and her parents packed up their wagon with everything they owned and headed for Tennessee when Allene was not quite three years old. She remembers that just before crossing the state line, “We got out of the wagon, and Mama spread a picnic lunch on the ground by the roadside.” Her father gathered Allene, an only child at the time, into his arms and prayed, asking God to bless their life in this “new land of promise” to which they were headed.

When Pleasant Grove United Methodist Women attended the Pulaski District 2006 Fall Meeting at Prospect UMC, there were three prayer shawls which had been given to the Pulaski District UMW*. Immediately Allene’s name was mentioned as someone who might like to have one. The wool shawl went home with a Pleasant Grove UMW member who lined it with soft material and put pockets on the front… “for tissue or about anything else,” Allene said. Allene’s cousin, Mary Ann Matthews, and Carole Modlin, pastor of Summertown UMC, later presented the shawl to her. At that time, she was living in Magnolia Manor in Lawrenceburg. She still enjoys wrapping herself in the comfort of her shawl, and often expresses her thanks for it.

“To know Allene is to know a master gardener,” Mary Ann says. “She can almost make an old dry stick bloom.” She remembers when Allene’s house was always surrounded by a bounty of beautiful botanicals. Although Allene no longer tends her outdoor flowers, her green thumb touches an array of hale and hearty indoor plants in her assisted living apartment at Bowling Green Retirement Village, KY. Mary Ann tells that “when she was younger, Allene was a strong, active woman who worked along side her husband, tackling almost any task on their farm—jobs that normally were designated to men.”

Allene is not one to let her keen mind become idle, either. She still is an avid reader, and in her early 70s, she took a horticulture class along side one of her grandsons. She also has been an active member of several community organizations, and is a life-long member of Pleasant Grove UMC and UMW in Lawrenceburg.

Allene and her husband, Herbert Tandy, reared not only their own two daughters, but helped with the upbringing of their grandsons, and she is pleased to have a great-granddaughter who carries her namesake.

Yes, Christmas has always been a special day for Allene. It offers a day of double celebration for her and for her friends and family…that is, her own birth and the birth of the Savior whom she loves and has served all these years. Happy Birthday, Allene, and Merry Christmas!

*Prayer shawls came from the United Methodist Women National Assembly where they were prayed over before being distributed to the districts.


West Nashville United Methodist Church Reaches out to immigrant neighbors

Laura Feliciano (left) and Angela Flanagan work with church volunteers to meet one of the goals for the Spanish language program—“Help to heal people who have been spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially wounded—and to do so through a loving and caring discipleship.”

It’s been a long time! Given hurdles placed in the way one wouldn’t blame West Nashville UMC for giving up, but a look at the old neighborhood convinced them to continue trying to launch an Hispanic congregation.

West Nashville United Methodist Church was one of the Churches established when the West Nashville Community was laid out around 1889. Through the years it has been strongly involved with the community—everything from special community meals every Thursday night of the year (including holiday Thursdays such as Thanksgiving) to providing meeting space for community groups. When the neighborhood began to change and the number of immigrants increased dramatically, West Nashville UMC continued its involvement with the community – this time a changing community featuring language and culture from around the world. Many of the newcomers were Hispanic with the largest number coming from Mexico.

During English as a second language (ESL) classes Angela Flanagan works with children of the participants.

For over a year the congregation sought to enrich its ministries with special Spanish language programs, and a search was begun to find the right person to head up the ministry to Hispanics. Finally, after a wait of more than a year, District Superintendent John Collett and Bishop Wills found and appointed a person to serve part-time in West Nashville’s Hispanic ministry, Laura Feliciano. Feliciano, who also works for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, was open to the new opportunity for ministry. A native of Puerto Rico, she has been a member of Hamilton United Methodist Church and before that attended the Hispanic Fellowship when it met at Arlington United Methodist Church. She is a certified Lay Speaking Minister and is seeking certification as a candidate for ministry.

Certified ESL teacher Rebecca Rutledge


To assist with seed money for the Hispanic Ministry program, West Nashville UMC applied for and received a Congregational Development Grant from the Tennessee Annual Conference New Church Development and Hispanic Ministries Committees. The grant was given partially based on the commitment of the West Nashville congregation and partially due to a sociometric study of the west Nashville area, where the Hispanic community has grown substantially in recent years, and is most likely to continue rapid growth over the next few years.

The Hispanic ministry started with Sunday worship in Spanish at 2:00 p.m. each Sunday using the church’s chapel. Each Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the church hosts a free English-as-a-Second language class with Rebecca Rutledge as teacher. Laura Feliciano and Angela Flanagan, an intern from the Vanderbilt Divinity School, provide child care during class. After a 5:30 p.m. snack the children study Bible stories and learn songs to be performed during the weekly Hispanic worship service.

.Rosita Mayorga, (2nd from the left), representing the national Methodist Hispanic organization, welcomed West Nashville’s new Ministry

On November 25, Rev. Rosita Mayorga, secretary of Methodist MARCHA (Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa de Hispano-Americanos) visited West Nashville United Methodist Church, gave a warm greeting to the new Hispanic ministry, and pledged MARCHA’s support. Rev. Mayorga is the pastor El Buen Samaritano United Methodist Church in Waukesha, the Wisconsin Annual Conference.

To say that Laura Feliciano is excited about the new Hispanic Ministry is an understatement, and probably the thing that motivates both she and intern Angela Flanagan the most is the response of the congregation. “We keep getting asked ‘what do you need for the ministry?’ or ‘how can we help more?’” they both note. There is also enthusiasm that West Nashville UMC is not made up of two congregations—“it is a single congregation,” says Feliciano, “we are not an Anglo congregation and an Hispanic congregation, we are, in fact, a multi-lingual church..” The congregation had been ethnically diverse even before the start of the Hispanic ministry, with membership including several second generation Hispanic families as well as African American families. The congregation even works with the nearby Global Education Center to celebrate cultural diversity. “Just last week,” adds Pastor Dennis Meaker, “we participated in the Center’s program which featured Hindu dance, Mexican folk dance and African drumming.

There is a sense that a real team has emerged including pastor Meaker, Director of Community Ministries Sherry Woolsey, a gifted and certified ESL teacher Rebecca Rutledge as well as Feliciano and Flanigan. “It’s always good to have qualified people available,” Meaker says , “and, when they come together at the same time in the place where they are most needed, there is a powerful sense that this effort has God’s Blessings. We are very encouraged.”

Vandy intern Flanigan, fluent in Spanish, has a gift of working with children, and shakes her head in wonder at all that has happened in two months. “I couldn’t have planned a better internship placement—helping to start a new program like this.”

There is no telling what the future will hold, but additional programs are already being proposed. Feliciano feels strongly that ultimately the congregation must offer tutoring services for the children. There is talk of an additional Spanish language time of worship, bible study, and prayer—possibly on Thursday evening; and some special joint services between the Anglo and Hispanic worshippers. The team has also been in contact with an individual who has a background in classical and sacred dance—so there may be a sacred dance group emerging involving both the Anglo and Hispanic young people.

You’ll probably not leave an interview with Laura Feliciano without her reminding you that September 15th through October 15th of each year is National Hispanic Heritage Month. It is her hope that every congregation of the United Methodist Church will celebrate the month in some special way.

Part One (to be continued)
Tadpoles, Frogs, Yumps , A Major Part of Church Renewal at Nolensville First UMC

Nolensville First UMC is know as the church with the red steeple and is a town landmark

New Church Development studied congregations around the world in a variety of contexts. The goal was to discern common areas of congregational life that crossed all racial, ethnic, and contextual lines. The research identified eight common areas of congregational life.

The second of the eight essential quality characteristics is “Gift-Based Ministry. When Christians serve in their area of their spiritual gifts, they generally function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus ordinary people can accomplish the extraordinary?” What is measured? To what extent are the tasks in our church distributed according the spiritual gifts of individual Christians?

In the spring of 2007 Nolensville First United Methodist, with Loyd Mabry as its guide, took the New Church Development Assessment survey. Upon completion of the church wide survey, it seemed obvious to church leadership that they needed to make a priority of the area related to passion for ministry—the second essential, deepening spiritual gifts.

Pastor Sandy Shawhan (right) and Children’s Ministry Director Carol DeMumbrum

During the summer a small task group was developed to study about their gifts together, and then to guide the church in developing a short program to teach about gifts and to help each person better discern their gifts and find ministries to use those gifts. To date the small group has learned about their gifts and is in the process of formulating a strategic plan to implement deepening of spiritual gifts throughout all areas of the church.

In conjunction with this study the congregation is also in the process of re-designing the administrative body (Council of Stewards) from one that focuses on reporting the past into a leadership body that provides vision and direction for the guidance of the church in its focus and mission for our community.

This January First UMC will begin the reforming of its council with a gifts study and then a process of listening and design of a vision and direction for the church.

“Our goal,” notes pastor Sandy Shawhan, “in this whole process is to become a church united by its vision for the future. Within the process we will also become stronger in making and training disciples through a gift based ministry program.

Nolensville First United Methodist Church is an historic congregation, and the church building with its red steeple is a landmark in the Nolensville Community. It wasn’t too many years ago that Nolensville was the hub of a thriving dairy industry and was surrounded by farms and the familiar sight of grazing dairy cattle. In 2007 most of the farms are gone, and the city of Nolensville is one of the fasting growing communities in Tennessee. Just in the area of children’s ministry it is obvious that the church’s focus on “Gift-Based Ministry” has unleashed a great deal of creativity: Children’s ministry focuses on experiential learning through the Live B.I.G. curriculum. The children are divided into three groups: kids from infant to 3-years-old are the “Tadpoles”; Children from 3 ½ years of age through 3rd grade are the F.R.O.G.S (acronym for “Fully Rely on God”); and 4th-5th graders are the “Y.u.m.p.s, an acronym for “Young United Methodist Persons.” Fun, devotional time, and learning are mixed together—but there is a strong outreach component for all children.

“With a growing Nolensville community,” says Children’s Director Carol DeMumbrum, “the children wanted to welcome new neighbors with welcome bags. Thirty bags of useful items and information were created and taken out to newcomers.”

Helping others was a major theme as children along with their families, served dinner and prepared lunches for the homeless men spending the night at the church as part of Room in the Inn. Over $1600 was collected for the Annual Conference Children of Kamina offering in 2007, and the children visited Ronald McDonald House of Nashville, taking with them aluminum soda pop tabs (sale of the tabs is a major fund raiser for Ronald McDonald House).

“Ones for the One” collection site reminds church families to bring a dollar to support the congregation’s outreach and children’s missions

Through “Ones for the One” fund the children and the church are able to reach out to children in the community and beyond. Each Sunday church families are asked to bring a dollar to support our outreach and children’s missions. This year the congregation supported a child named Samuel through Compassion International. Nolensville children are enjoying writing and receiving pictures and letters from Samuel.

Nolensville First United Methodist also sponsors the Jacob’s Ladder Pre-School for 3-5 year olds. This non-profit cooperative preschool continues to increase in enrollment and has increased in size to 47 children.

As an evangelistic outreach of the church, Jacob’s Ladder continues to introduce children and their families to the love of Jesus Christ. All aspects of the curriculum reflect God’s gift of creation and desire to be in relationship with His people. Participating families and staff take part in other aspects of the church program such as VBS, mission events, and children’s program.

Next Month: The Bloomery and other Nolensville First UMC programs


Pastor experiences racial threats, cross burning
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Dec. 13, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)

The Rev. Robert Utley is recovering from a heart attack after finding a burning wooden cross and noose on his front porch Dec. 10.

The Rev. Robert Utley

Utley, a resident of Nashville and pastor of Clark United Methodist Church, McMinnville, Tenn., reported hearing someone banging on his door shortly after midnight. When he investigated, he found a small wooden cross on a stack of newspapers burning on his porch. On his gutter a thin white rope had been tied into a noose.

The Rev. Daniel M. Hayes, a close friend and mentor, said the shock of the incident sent Utley to the hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered a small heart attack. Hayes is pastor of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tenn.

Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Nashville Metro Police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said a note left at the scene contained "threats of a racial nature" toward Utley and a co-worker. Utley is a supervisor at Caremark, a pharmaceutical services provider.

"There is some thought that the incident may be related to his work (at Caremark), but that is still under investigation," Mumford said.

Hayes said he also thought the incident was related to Utley's job at Caremark. "He and a couple of other people at work received white envelopes containing white powder a month ago," he said.

Hayes describes Utley as a "very generous, very giving man."

"We decry any form of racism and violence against other people," said Bishop Richard Wills Jr., episcopal leader of the Memphis and Tennessee Annual (regional) Conferences.

"I have a zero tolerance for racism or gender bias against any of our churches or any of our people. This act was so blatant and easy to see. My experience is that racism is still around but has grown more subtle and harder to identify," he added.

"This is a terrible thing to be happening in this day and time," Hayes said. "We have to look at different ways of venting our frustrations and not through hatred and not through any means of sending messages of this nature. This kind of thing is not of God and is not something God's people will tolerate."

Bishop Richard J. Wills

Wills noted that several superintendents and laity in leadership roles will be at Lake Junaluska, N.C., this weekend for a training event on diversity.

"We are trying to make sure all people in leadership are aware of the importance and values of diversity and those forces which try to block our efforts to be God's people in an imperfect world."

* Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.


61st Avenue United Methodist Church Sheltered Reality Drumming Program

The 61st Avenue Sheltered Reality Drummers

Scott Frech is a member of Brentwood United Methodist Church, and is part of the Family Covenant Sunday School Class that supports the ministry of 61st Avenue United Methodist Church with resources and volunteers. In his role as volunteer at 61st Avenue UMC Frech arranged for two friends, percussionists from Iowa, to give a performance at the church. The percussionists-- Steve Schlosser and Jordan Fratt--were so impressed with the neighborhood programs at 61st Avenue they felt that this would be an ideal spot to begin a Nashville section of a National Program—a program that blends music and drumming with what is basically a religious message. The primary message is that we can all succeed if we:

• Take a chance
  
• Never give up.


• Believe in ourselves.


• Are willing to do whatever it takes
  
• Believe in God
  

With involvement from young people (and a few adults) in the 61st Avenue neighborhood, the Sheltered Reality Drumming Program was launched. The program now numbers some seventeen drummers (ages 7years and up) Nita Haywood, 61st Avenue Children and Youth Director is amazed at the changes she sees in those who participate in the program: “It is awesome to see the growth in the children as they learn how to vent frustrations through drumming. It is loud, meaningful, takes dedication and practice to learn the various drum routines. Together the children and adults absorb a valuable sense of hope through the lessons and are able to implement the guidelines for successful living into their daily existence. Everyone is also encouraged to make a difference in the community through outreach and mission opportunities.

The Sheltered Reality Drummers practice twice per month not counting any performances that might be scheduled. Each practice runs for 2 ½ hours. One practice is locally run by Scott Frech, the Brentwood volunteer who originally brought the two talented percussionists to 61st Avenue UMC. The second practice is handled by either Steve Schlosser or Jordan Fratt from the national Sheltered Reality program headquartered in West Branch, Iowa. Schlosser and Fratt’s original performance at 61st Avenue has had a definite impact on many neighborhood families –through an increased love of music and a number of young drummers who have grown in self-esteem.

If you would like further information about the program contact Nita Haywood, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, 61st Avenue United Methodist Church, 6018 New York Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209. 615-292-7184


Unleashing IRA Potential for the Church and Its Ministries

Dr. Vincent (Vin) Walkup, President of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation reminds you that the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007, allows person 70½ and older to give directly from a traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account to a church and/or charitable ministry. How can a person unleash this potential? This may be done, with consultation from the administrator of the IRA, an accountant or other professional advisor, by transferring the amount that is required to be withdrawn this year (or any other amount up to a total of $100,000) to the church, the ministry, or institution.

Dr. Vin Walkup

Gifts must fully qualify for the charitable deduction and generally may not be made to a private family foundation or advised fund. Also, they cannot be used to fund a charitable remainder trust or gift annuity and still qualify for the tax-free status of the gift.

Are there any special procedures? Yes. It is important that tax-free gifts not be withdrawn by the individual, but instead be distributed directly to the church, ministry, and/or institution. We suggest that the individual check with the administrator of the IRA or other advisors for more information.

If a person directs a portion of an IRA or other retirement assets to his/her church, to ministries, or institutions related to the church, as part of an estate plan, will that help save taxes? Yes. Funds remaining in retirement accounts at death are considered part of an estate for federal tax purposes and could be subject to estate taxes. Unlike most other assets left to heirs, retirement funds that remain after estate taxes will also be subject to income taxes. Many well-advised people will choose to avoid this “double-taxation” by funding charitable gifts with such funds. Once again, your Foundation recommends that you check with your financial advisors to see the best ways in which you can maximize your estate giving and minimize the taxes your estate and heirs will pay.

The purpose of sharing this is to provide general gift, estate and financial planning information. This is not intended to provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice. You may contact Vin Walkup at the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation, 304 S. Perimeter Park Dr., Suite 3, Nashville, Tennessee, 37211, (615)259-2008, or by email at vwalkup@nashaumf.org. He continues to be available for stewardship programs, general gift-planning seminars and to work with individuals and their advisors to discern ways to extend the love of Christ across time.


Just One
By Cinde Lucas*

James 1:27 says that pure religion is to reach out to the homeless and loveless, in their plight and for us to keep ourselves unspotted from the influences of the world. While this verse is used most often in reference to orphans and widows, I prefer the Message version of this verse, homeless and loveless. In our efforts to evangelize the world, we must be careful not to overlook the homeless and the loveless in our own families and communities.

Cinde Lucas shares her testimony in song during the Laity Luncheon, 2007 Tennessee Annual Conference

The word homeless (orphans) can also mean one who is without a teacher or leader. The homeless and loveless are those that are stranded, abandoned and forgotten, much like the victim that the Good Samaritan happened upon in Luke 10. This story reminds us that if we're not careful, our religion can cause us to overlook people. The Priest and the Levite, both of whom represent the religious community, couldn't fathom helping this guy who had been beaten, robbed and left for dead. They deliberately turned their eyes away, because their hearts were calloused and unloving. But the Samaritan, who understood what it was like to be rejected and forgotten, had compassion for the man. He went to where he was, bandaged his wounds, and took him to an inn. The Love of God should compel us to reach out to those that have fallen victim to evil influences of this world, not turn away from them. This may mean ministering to them BEFORE they come to church.

All along the paths of our daily lives, we meet and see people that have experienced the cold blows of life. We blame the government and poor upbringing, but the truth is that the CHURCH is called and anointed to reach out to them and teach them God's way. We become doers of the word when we DO IT, not when we study it! We seem to be willing to go to Africa and other countries, which indeed we should. But I wonder what would happen if we'd just look for the ONE on the side of road that God wants us to become personally involved with? I wonder what impact we could have if every Christian became a living example to JUST ONE?

Jesus said in Matthew 25 that when we reached out in love to ONE of the least, we were in essence reaching out to Him. True discipleship is coming alongside someone, meeting them where they are, and sharing our lives with them. Jesus was only in close relationship with a handful of men and women. His willingness to be in close relationship with them and teach them His ways empowered them to become His followers after His death. Most of us are not called to minister to hundreds. But we are all called to minister to ONE and that one may be right in our own back yard. Maybe it's a family member or a coworker. Perhaps it's a teenager that needs a mentor. I'm thankful for those that God brought to my rescue. My heart's cry is that the Church will open her eyes and see the homeless and loveless and begin to minister to JUST ONE!

I want to encourage you to be on the look out for those that are stranded and abandoned; the homeless and loveless. Don't be like the Priest and Levite who turned their heads and went the other way. Step out in faith, reach out in love, and allow the compassion of God to touch them through you. The greatest reward you will ever receive comes when you abandon yourself and reach out to JUST ONE!

Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes to see the one that You would have me reach out to. Use me to speak a word of encouragement that will lift their spirit and brighten their day. I ask You to empower me with Your heart of compassion to reach out in love. Guard me against judgment and criticism. Help me to be a DOER of Your Word to Just One today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
*Cinde Lucas is an singer, song writer, and evangelist. She ministers through Cinde Lucas Overflow Ministries. Find out more about her through the website http:llwww.cindelucas.com



I Have Been Rewarded with New Friends in Christ at New Chapel UMC
By The Rev. C. Kevin Marston

In 2006, I was appointed to New Chapel United Methodist Church in Springfield. Like most pastors, I began to explore what I could about the community and the church. Meeting with the PPR, I learned about the church, its worship styles, projects, programming, and ministries. Most of the activities and ministries were familiar, except Hispanic Ministry. This would be a new experience for me.

Rev. C. Kevin Marston (back) and Joyce McAllister (front center)

The ministry had been the vision of church member Joyce McAllister, a community translator and advocate. The ministry was nurtured into being under the leadership of Rev. Paul Purdue, New Chapel’s former pastor. New Chapel began this ministry in 2004 as a language class for adults and mentoring for school age children, with childcare for pre-school age children. In the first year our Hispanic neighbors participated in VBS and shared in a baby shower.

Recently, I was asked, “What does Hispanic Ministry at New Chapel mean to me?” I have pondered this question quite a bit. For me the answer is reward. I have been rewarded with new friends in Christ. I have been rewarded emotionally and spiritually.

The program remains similar to the original intent. One afternoon a week we meet after school. While Joyce teaches the parents language skills, I and a handful of volunteers help with homework, play games, color, and eat snacks with the kids. This is certainly a reward in a busy weekly personal schedule.

Pastor Marston is one of a handful of volunteers working with children while the parents are involved in the ESL class.

I am also rewarded when I visit the local elementary school and get hugs from the kids. When the parents and I meet in the area businesses, I visit with my new friends and share a special bond.

One my greatest rewards came during Advent of 2006. On the third Sunday of Advent we adapted the “Las Posadas” service from The United Methodist Book of Worship (#266). That day we celebrated as a true representation of the Body of Christ. Between our worship services we ate both Anglo and Hispanic traditional treats and enjoyed the children bursting a Piñata.

The reward which stands strongest in my memory was the closing prayer of the service. My prayer was translated by my 8 yr old friend, Alan. In that prayer, my knowledge of how the Lord hears prayers in all languages became very real.

I could wax theologically and quote scriptures such as Deuteronomy 10:19 “show your love…” But each week at Hispanic Ministry I am transported back to the Sunday School song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. I am reminded Jesus truly loves us all and calls us to live in this reward of love.

Grace and Peace
C. Kevin Marston