Finding An Agent That’s Right For You Blakemore 4.0: Slow and Steady

The Blakemore 4.0 project has had a quiet summer, and the committee has been gathering infor-

mation that we will share at congregational meetings in September and October - watch the

bulletin and newsletter for specific dates.

A major piece of that information is the report from the Building Committee (a.k.a Trustees) on

the space and general programming needs of a new church. That group - led by Cavit Cheshier -

has done extensive, inclusive research on the desires and needs of the congregation for a more

efficient, flexible, sustainable church. We look forward to delivering that information soon -- it

will mark another milestone (#6, specifically) in the 20+ step process defined by the UMCBook

of Discipline for a situation like this.

The Blakemore 4.0 Committee has also been developing a framework to evaluate potential real-

estate representatives and the outline of a transaction. We expect to be able to select a firm to

market the property and represent our interests in October - at which point, we will have another

congregational meeting to determine our direction.

There is substantial documentation of the process online, and if you are interested in having

printed copies, please let me know, or contact Steffie in the office. In the meantime, remember

that we have a church right now that needs to grow to sustain itself, regardless of what happens

with the property -- it's right to invite!

Shalom,

Jody Lentz, Chair, Blakemore 4.0 committee -- John Schnick, Jennifer & Joe Meko, Mike

Eatherly, Cavit Cheshier, Kristi Walker, Scott Brewer, Beth Tippens

For all the latest on 4.0: http://jody.populr.me/blakemore-4-update

3601 West End Avenue

Nashville, TN 37205

(615) 297-6519

WWW.BLAKEMOREUMC.ORG

in this issue >>>

The Doctor’s Note

Youth and Children in Fall

Fall Worship Arts

4.0 Update

thoughts... final

The Doctor’s Note

Trust. Who does that anymore? It seems so naïve to trust any-

one. Trust a politician? No way – he just wants your vote. Trust

your doctor? Maybe, but check online first. Trust a pastor? You

must be joking. How about your parents? What about believing

your children? What about trusting yourself? Have you read the

fine print?

Have we become so cynical that trust is im-

possible? Not yet, but we live increasingly in

a cynical and distrustful age. Oh, only if God

would make all things new! Indeed! How-

ever, it is not enough to believe that God is

going make all things new without our par-

ticipating in that renewal. Can God help us

be more trusting of each other? Yes. Will

God do so if we are not willing to be more

trusting? Unlikely.

The apocryphal text Wisdom of Solomon offers some insight on

this matter. “Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth, think of

the Lord in goodness and seek him with sincerity of heart; be-

cause he is found by those who do not put him to the test, and

manifests himself to those who trust him…For a holy and disci-

plined spirit will flee from deceit, and will leave foolish

thoughts behind” (Wisdom 1:1-2, 5a). Flee from deceit! God is

manifest to those who trust!

Just like love, trust must be earned. Not earned in a transac-

tional way, but earned as a matter of spiritual presence, ac-

countability, and faithfulness. Do what you say you are go-

ing to do. Make a vow and keep it. Let your yes be yes and

your no be no. Each one of us, should we desire to live in a

renewed world need to be willing to trust, to have faith, and

not permit the inevitable wounding that

occurs when people take advantage of

our trust to guide our lives.

Proverbs draws a connection between

wisdom, faithfulness, and trust. The one

who is wise is trustworthy, faithful, and

true. These wise ones can stand against

mountains and armies: “One wise per-

son went up against a city of warriors

and brought down the stronghold in

which they trusted.” A well-tended, meticulously nurtured

life will bring you great joy and fortitude for life. Trust is a

key ingredient.

Peace,

Dr. Matthew Charlton

Monthly Edition

September 2014

Blakemore Staff

Pastor:

Matthew Charlton

(matt@blakemoreumc.org)

Minister to Families:

Gracie Dugan

(gracie@blakemoreumc.org)

Music Director:

Beth Holzemer

(beth@blakemoreumc.org)

Administrative Assistant:

Steffie Misner

(steffie@blakemoreumc.org)

Maintenance:

David Hardy

(615) 297-6519

An array of worship arts options are open to interested participants as the Worship Committee makes plans for the Fall season of

celebration, prayer and praise.

Chancel Choir: provides choral music and congregational song leadership most Sundays of the year. Open to everyone

grades 7-adult. We rehearse 7:30-8:30 Wednesday evenings there is no attendance requirement or prior experience neces-

sary.

Grace Note Handbells: provide occasional music for worship throughout the year. We will participate in the annual Epiph-

any Ring (Jan. 2015) with several other handbell choirs in our area. No experience required, but familiarity with mu-

sic notation is recommended. Rehearsals Wednesdays, 6:30 in the sanctuary and we always take a summer break.

Sanctuary Band: accompanies many of our contemporary worship songs as well as occasional choir and solo numbers. The band frequently adds spe-

cial music on its own to services. Primarily guitars and percussion, the band welcomes ideas for including other instruments as well.

Childrens' Choirs: preschool and elementary school groups that include music as a part of Wednesday night programming and Sunday School. A cur-

rent need exists for adult leadership for the annual Children's Christmas musical! Tentatively scheduled for Dec. 14. Speak to Beth Holzemer or Gracie

Dugan if you want to know more.

Blakemore Shakemores: Easy-to-Ring, no experience necessary "handbell" experience for kids of all ages (which means adults, too!) No rehearsals re-

quired for these ad hoc performances.

Leaven and Light: dramatic reading and chancel drama group. We rehearse as needed and different combinations of participants

are used for each presentation. Open to everyone.

Banner Making: gifted stitching artists who collaborate on special decorative banner making as requested.

Hanging of the Green Decor: our annual Hanging of the Green (aka. the "H.O.G.") in preparation for the Advent and Christmas

season. Many hands are needed for dressing our house of worship. Open to all.

Altar Guild: provide extra help with altar flowers, displays, banners, etc. inside the sanctuary. Open to all.

Keyboards: to offer musical praise or accompany the choir.

(insert your idea here): express your desire to explore other worship art forms with the Worship committee or Beth Holzemer (beth@blakemoreumc.org)

Youth Fall/Winter Events:

The youth group had a wonderful summer and are looking for-

ward to fall fun! We are currently engaged in a justice series on

Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights which is challenging us

to examine injustice around the world and weigh what God’s call

for justice means for our church and our lives.

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming events:

September 19: Roller Skating at Brentwood Bowl (6:30-10:00

pm)

October 5: No Youth Group (Fall Break)

October 18: Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Carving at TBD (2-8

pm)

October 24-26: Family Retreat at Beersheba

November 1: Hiking with Matt at Buggy Top Cave (8:30 am-

5:30 pm)

November 2: Baking FA Pumpkin Bread (12-2pm)

November ?: Outreach Project with Bethlehem Centers (TBD)

December 12: Christmas Shopping at Opry Mills/Lights at

Opryland Hotel (6-10 pm)

December 14: Last Minute Toy Store Shopping/Blair Christ-

mas Concert (12-4 pm)

December 20: Working at Last Minute Toy store (Tentative

date/time)

December 21: No Youth Group

(Christmas)

Nashville District Missional Strategy Team

Following dinner on Wednesday night, September 3, Steve Tippens will discuss the work of the Nashville District Missional

Strategy Team, on which he serves. The team was formed in 2013 by District Superintendent Rev. Harriet Bryan to help her

develop and carry forward a vision and plan for United Methodism’s presence in Nashville which recognizes a dramatically

changed landscape for mission and ministry in the Nashville urban area. Out of this has come a re-visioning of UM ministry in

Nashville, expressed in the following statement of the team’s understanding of God’s vision of a preferred future: Churches in

the Nashville District will so know and love their communities that barriers are broken down, collaboration and partnerships

are the norm, and hope and healing flow freely.

Steve will share the context document developed by the team noting major factors calling for a new vision as well as strategies

being considered for achieving the vision. He will also respond to your questions about the team’s work and its relationship to

Blakemore 4.0. All are invited.

Children’s Article

We will be celebrating Children’s Sabbath on Sunday, September 28th. Our mission

focus for Children’s Sabbath this year will be Imagine No Malaria. Imagine No Ma-laria is an initiative of the United Methodist Church to raise 75 million dollars to eradi-cate malaria in Africa. The UMC has current raised 82% of this goal. In partnership with the global UMC, Bishop McAlilly has challenged the TN and Memphis Annual Conferences to raise 1 million dollars by the start of the 2015 Annual Conference. Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of the people of the United Methodist

Church, putting our faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa. Unlike many other diseases that are awaiting a cure, malaria was eliminated in the U.S. in the 1950s. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to kill a person every 60 seconds. But there is hope! Imagine No Malaria is part of a global partnership and together with our partners, our generation can beat malaria once and for all. We will be collecting donations at Children’s Sabbath to help end malaria in Africa. Please begin praying about how God might be calling you to give so that the end of malaria in Africa is no longer a dream but a reality. For more information, please visit http://imaginenomalaria.org/ or http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/united-methodists-

celebrate-milestones-for-imagine-no-malaria

Programs Fall/Winter 2014

August 27 – Bethlehem Center, Korey Kemper

September:

3 – The Nashville District Strategy Team. Presentation by

Steve Tippens

10 – Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors. Introduction by

Cheryl Williams. Presentation by Morgan Stafford

17 – Interfaith Dental Clinic. Presentation by Jeff McCor-

mick

24 – Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life – Led by Steve

Tippens

October:

1 – Compassionate Life

8 – No WNF – Metro Fall Break

15 – Compassionate Life

22 – Compassionate Life

29 – Trunk or Treat & Compassionate Life

November

5 – Compassionate Life

12 – Compassionate Life

19 – Compassionate Life

26 – No WNF – Thanksgiving

December:

3 – Compassionate Life

10 – Compassionate Life

17 – Caroling & Cookies – possible presentation on Thistle

Farms

24 – Christmas Eve

Family Service, 4pm

Candlelight Service, 11:00 p.m.

31 – New Year’s Eve