April 10, 2013 • Volume 28, No. 07

If there is a more timely andtimeless word in the Bible, amore important message for usto heed than Psalm 90:12offers, I would be hard pressedto find it. “So teach us tonumber our days, that we mayapply our hearts untowisdom.” The Psalmist says that

“The days of our years are three score and ten; and if byreason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is therestrength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we flyaway.” The Psalmist was reflecting upon the fleeting natureof life itself. The unpredictability of life is something noone who is at all thinking can deny. On Easter day I readonce again the blessed list of names of those who havedied within our church family during the last year. Someof them died having lived a long life. Others, from myperspective, left this world too soon. “We know not whata day may bring forth, but only that the hour for servingYou is always at hand,” says the old prayer of the Church.

I often think of Fyodor Dostoyevski’s central character,a prince named Myshkin, whose acquaintance standsunder a death sentence in one of his incomparable novels.Myshkin dwells on the experience of this man who wasled out of his prison cell to a scaffold where he is to beshot. Then at the last moment, in Dostoyevski’s tale, thesentence is commuted. During what he imagined to bethe last minutes of his life, he kept thinking, “What if Iwere not to die! What if I could go back to life — whatan eternity! And it all would be mine! I would turn everyminute into a whole age; I would not let anything be lost.I would count every minute as it passed, I would notwaste one.”

Life is a precious treasure to us no less than toMyshkin’s unfortunate friend. This is precisely because ourdays are given — and numbered — by God, and ourwhole life is held in the Lord’s benevolent hands from dayto day. So to ask God to “teach us to number our days” isto ask the Lord to show us how to live life according toHis intentions. John Calvin’s dedication to live life thisway was captured in a well-known pictorial symbol. Anextended hand is holding a human heart, and along withit is this Latin inscription: Cor Meum Tibi Offero DominePrompte et Sincere — “I offer my heart to Thee, Lord,promptly and sincerely.” That is the fitting response ofevery man or woman who has been given by God a heartof wisdom. A wise heart is one that is aflame with dailydevotion to Christ. A wise heart is a humble heart thatresolves to live faithfully every day that is given by God tolive. Coupled with Calvin’s symbol was his lifelong motto:“Seize the day before the face of God.” No other rule oflife expresses any more aptly the wisdom of a heart thatloves God. We learn to number our days aright by makingevery day count.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked, “We ask forlong life, but ’tis deep life or grand moments that signify.Let the measure of time be spiritual, not mechanical.”What matters most is not how long or how comfortableour life has been, but whether we have found the wisdomto live every day as if it could be our last. Teach us tonumber our days!

With Love and Prayers,

Todd JonesPastor

My Dear Friends,

First Presbyterian Church

published bi-weekly for the members and friends of the church

First Edition

The Mission of First Presbyterian Church, NashvilleTo know Christ, to make Him known and to exhibit His love

through worship, education and service.

Sympathy

SUNDAY

APRIL 21, 2013

Sermon“Life is Stronger

Than Death”

Scripture ReadingsEzekiel 37:1-14

Acts 9:36-43

Todd JonesPastor

SUNDAY

APRIL 14, 2013

Sermon“Joy Cometh in the

Morning”

Scripture ReadingsPsalm 30

John 21:1-14

Todd JonesPastor

A Personal RequestFirst Presbyterian Church has a life-long member who is

under fifty and a parent who is in need of the donation of akidney. No suitable family member donor will work, so thisindividual is in need of some generous soul who coulddonate a kidney. Please contact Todd Jones or some otherpastor (383-1815) if you have any interest.

Two Volunteer Opportunitiesto Serve the Homeless

Lunch Ministry Outreach — FPCprovides volunteers to serve lunch toNashville’s homeless in the downtown areaon the second Wednesday of each month atthe Downtown Presbyterian Church (cornerof 5th Avenue North and Church Street)from 11:30 A.M.-1:15 P.M.Volunteers are

needed for June 12, July 10, August 14 and September 11.Parking is free at surface lot across from church. If you wishto be a standing volunteer or serve during any one of theupcoming months, please contact Patricia Heim (298-9593or adultmissions@fpcnashville.org).

Dinner for Residents at Safe Haven Family ShelterLooking for a volunteer opportunity to share with yourfamily, a group of families or a group of friends? ContactMary Earthman (665-8845 or mearthman@bellsouth.net) tosign up to provide dinner on Monday,June 3, August 5 and October 7 for 10-25residents of the only shelter servinghomeless families in Nashville. The shelteris located at 1234 3rd Avenue South.

The First Presbyterian Church familyextends prayers and sympathy to thefollowing people and to other membersof their family during their time of loss.

Sympathy to friends and family ofEdna Louise Threlkeld Scales, who died March 18.

John Ridenour on the death of his mother,Jessie Evelyn Wilson Ridenour, who died March 23.Sympathy to Wilson Ridenour.

Chip & Beth Throckmorton and Karen & CharlesGallagher on the death of Chip & Karen’s father,Raymond T. Throckmorton, Jr. who died March 23.Sympathy to James & Lizzy Throckmorton, Christina &Dan Gallagher Claxton and Jack Claxton.

Beverly Vincent on the death of her daughter, ValerieLouise Vincent, who died March 24. Sympathy to Rick& Melody Vincent and Alexander & Harrison Vincent.

Judy & Frank Eichman on the death of Judy’s mother,Mary West Dennis, who died March 25.

Weeza & Don Swain on the death of Weeza’s aunt,Ella Benz, who died March 29. Sympathy to Anne &Alex Miklos & Nathan Swain.

If any member of the church desires the Christian supportof a Stephen Minister, call Sandra Randleman at 298-9502.Stephen Ministers are trained lay ministers of the church.

Can’t make it to Antiques Roadshow? Then dust off yourtreasures and bring them to First Friends’ event onThursday, May 9, 9:00 A.M. to noon, with our ownBerenice Denton of “Berenice Denton Estate Sales,” doingthe appraising. Items of art, silver, china, glass, furniture,most anything old, except jewelry will be appropriate.There will be a $5 charge per item. The event will be inCourtenay Hall. You don’t even have to be old toparticipate; it is open to everyone. However, this event is apart of celebrating “Older Adult Week” in the PresbyterianChurch, USA.

Your Help is Needed: Collection is Going on Now!Have your registered your child or grandchild for Vacation Bible School or Mission Camp?

During the week of June 24-27, First Presbyterian Church will be the gathering place forchurch and community children ages 4 (by January 1, 2013) through entering 6th grade.Children will focus on the Scripture passage that we often call the Golden Rule: “Ineverything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and theprophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Children will explore what it means to be a neighbor to people near us and far away.Mission and serving others will be the way of life that week as children in our preschool andyounger elementary grades create art, prepare manna bags, bake cookies and prepare gifts, all tobe given to others to cheer them and provide needed supplies. Our Mission Campers, grades4-6 will be doing hands-on serving at several agencies in Nashville.

Before Vacation Bible School begins, we are collecting items that will be bagged for use atRoom In The Inn. A collection basket is located at the Children’s Welcome Desk. You can drop

off any of the items listed below during the week or on Sunday.

If you have questions about VBS, contact Tina Rose (298-9534 or trose@fpcnashville.org).

Small Combs • New White Socks • ChapStick • Trial Size Toothpaste • Shampoo • Body WashIndividually Wrapped Toothbrushes and Facial Tissue • Small Packages of Band-Aids • Soaps

The pass is $175 for a family up to six.Two guests per family allowed per visit.

Additional guests are $35 per visit.

HOURS:

Monday-Friday, 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.,Saturday, 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Sunday, noon to 4:00 P.M.

Opens Memorial Day weekend.

First FriendsApril Events

Thursday, April 18,Luncheon/Program:David Meador, National Champion of the Blind GolfAssociation, will be our guest speaker. David lost hiseyesight in an automobile accident during hisfreshman year of college. He went on to earn hisundergraduate degree at Southern Illinois and hismasters at Loyola. Lunch ($6) is served at noon inCourtenay Hall. Our Youth Director Brandon VanPernis will give the devotional, followed by ourspeaker about 12:45 P.M. Reservations for lunchshould be made by April 15. Anyone is welcome tocome hear the speaker even if you can’t make lunch.

Sunday, April 21, Lunch at 12:00 P.M.: We willreturn to Fontanel, the home of Barbara Mandrell, toCafé Fontanella. (Remember when it was “Country”and we loved it?) Now it is an Italian restaurant, butthey still have traditional brunch items on Sundays.RSVP by April 19.

Travellers Rest, Monday, April 15, 9:45 A.M.:This is our reciprocal visit with Brian Allison, curatorof Travellers Rest who shared his vast knowledgeabout the Civil War at our January First Friendsmeeting. Admission is $8. RSVP April 12.

Please Note: The Chicago trip (May 27-31) hasmore than enough travelers for the trip to make.However, there are seats available on the bus forothers to join us. In addition, partial scholarships areavailable from our newly established Older AdultTravel Scholarship Fund. See Brenda Geise forinformation. Make all reservations with Ginny Tindle(383-1815 or gtindle@fpcnashville.org).

Meals for Green Hills Green Hills Mobile Meals needs volunteer drivers.

FPC is responsible for one of the five routes served bythe program. Route threeis now delivering sixmeals each day.

You may volunteer asa regular driver (oneweekday a month) or as asubstitute driver. The

meal delivery takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Meals arepicked up at Calvary United Methodist Church,Hillsboro Road, between 9:30 and 10:00 A.M. onweekdays. Please call Carolyn Gustafson (373-0455)with questions or to volunteer.

Kenya & Rwanda July 2013Dates: July 17-August 2Cost: $5,000; $1,500 deposit due NOW; requires vaccinations.Brief Details: Construction on churches in both countriesas well as visits to mission projects supported by FPCNashville; Kenyan safari included; children must be age 12 toparticipate; limit of 15 FPC members; spaces reserved whenfull deposit paid.Trip Leaders: Dr. Bob LaGrone & Sandra Randleman

Dominican Republic November 2013Dates: November 2-8Cost: $1,400 (est.); $800 deposit due June 1; requiresvaccinations.Brief Details: Medical personnel offer family practicemedicine, surgery, dental care or eye care in clinics or in thefield depending on team member expertise; non-medicalparticipants needed to assist in processing patients.Trip Leaders: Dr. Jim Cato and Dr. Betsy Triggs

Questions?Contact Patricia Heim in the Missions Office (298-9593 or

pheim@fpcnashville.org) if you are interested in learning moreor would like an application form for a mission trip. Onlineregistration for trips is available from the Register/Give link

on the church homepage (www.fpcnashville.org).

Scholarship Assistance is available to FPC membersfor all FPC-sponsored trips by contacting Sandra

(298-9502 or srandleman@fpcnashville.org).

Read about missions at FPC online — mission trips abroad,local mission opportunities, stories, pictures and more.

Visit http://missions.fpcnashville.org

Did you Know … $820,500 of the church’s total mission budget of$1,157,500 is given to organizations serving others right here inNashville and our immediate area? That means 70% of all missionallocations stay right here in Middle Tennessee. Did you know that

$100,000 of the annual mission budget ishelping to create a new Presbyteriancommunity of faith in Hendersonville, TNled by Amy and Keith Gunter? Did youknow that your mission giving issupporting projects and people in morethan 15 different nations across the globe?Learn more at missions.fpcnashville.org.

Haitians Still Struggle From 2010 Earthquake

“Hey, you! Hey, you!” Children’s voices follow our tap-taps as we drive over “sleeping policemen” (monster speedbumps that are the primary means of traffic control on pavedroads in Haiti) and turn onto Rue David, the street wherewe will live for the next 5 days. Rue David is a narrow, dustylane of giant potholes, teeming with life. Small stores, the sizeof packing crates, line the way. People of all sizes areeverywhere. We pass the gate to the Doctors WithoutBorders compound. During the daylight hours, there’s alwaysa line waiting for medical care. After sundown, people stillwander about, often sitting at makeshift tables lighted bycandles right against the edge of the street. When we turninto the metal gate of Escole Le Chretienne Des Freres Unis,the chaos of daily life outside the compound wall gives wayto calm, orderly activity.

At the time of our Saturday arrival, the courtyard is emptyand quiet, until the church choir and musicians arrive forone last practice. Sunday morning, beginning as early as 6:00A.M., the compound begins to fill with families coming toworship. Early each weekday morning, children fill thecompound. Standing in rows before their teachers, the youngstudents sing, pray, pledge allegiance to their country’s flag,and hear announcements and encouragements from theheadmistress, Madame Jacqueline Dorleans. These are thechildren from the slums that surround the compound. Someare still living in tents or makeshift shelters. Very few haveenough of anything. At school they will receive a heartymeal, vitamins, medical care and an education. Because only20% of school age children have access to an education inthis poor and disaster-damaged country, school is a privilegethat is not taken lightly. Parents bring the children to school,some walking or riding a bicycle several miles each day.Fathers carry smaller children on their shoulders to keepthem out of the dust and mud of Rue David, and wipe theirshoes clean before leaving them for the school day. Thestudents must come to school in clean, tidy uniforms. Eachwears a backpack with books and assignments. Older

children look after their younger siblings. Children, beingchildren, there is noise and laughter and movement, but thereis also order and intensity of purpose.

Inside this compound in Blanchard, there is a church, aclinic, the elementary school (pre-k – grade 6), an adult/vocational education program with a computer lab andsewing room and a guesthouse for visiting mission teams likeours. Clean water, through a Living Waters for the Worldpurification system, is dispensed each morning to anyone inthe neighborhood who brings a container. This is a specialplace — a place of prayer and promise for people livingdifficult and complex lives of poverty and want. This is acommunity center that offers hope for the future and respitefrom the stresses of the present. This special place is fundedby Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM), our hosts.

This February mission trip to Haiti was the fourthsponsored by First Presbyterian Church, the first being inOctober after the January 2010 earthquake that devastatedthe small island nation. Michael Baron, Mike Crout, WarnerMcNeilly, Susan Doughty Otto, David Otto, Bruce Ramsdenand Mike Sowers joined a group of fourteen from SignalMountain Presbyterian, which included several doctors, twodentists and two nurses. The medical team spent their days atthe Cité Soleil compound, setting up shop in a new clinic,built through an HOM partnership with Samaritan’s Purse.(Previous FPC mission teams had worked on this project andit was good to see it in use on this visit!) The rest of thegroup did construction work at the Repatriote compound,where the church was toppled by the quake. Repatriote is acommunity in the Menelaus area outside Port-au-Prince.When the Dominican Republic began to expel Haitianrefugees in 2004, it was set aside as a place where they couldfind affordable land for homes.

For more of this story, visit our website atmissions.fpcnashville.org/files/2013/03/haiti-2013.pdf.

Written by Susan Doughty Otto

PastoralCounseling Center

Renewal House

H.U.G.G.S., Inc.

Downtown PresbyterianChurch Feeding Ministry

Miriam’s Promise

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT®

FOR HEALTHY LIVINGFOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Dominican Republic

Hendersonville New ChurchDevelopment

Did you Know?$820,500 of our total mission budget

of $1,157,500 is given to organizations servingothers in Nashville and our immediate area?

That means 70% of all mission allocations stay here inMiddle Tennessee. Did you know that $100,000 of the

annual mission budget is helping to create a newPresbyterian Church in Hendersonville, led by Amy and

Keith Gunter? Did you know that your giving issupporting projects and people in more than 15different nations across the globe? Learn more

at missions.fpcnashville.org.

Living Out The Great Commissionat First Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian StudentFellowship – Nashville

Presbyterian StudentFellowship – MTSU

Faith & Stan De LaCour – Japan

Pakistan

Seminario EvangelicoTeologico – Cuba

Society of St. Andrew

Presbytery of Middle TN

The Presbyterian Church of East AfricaThe Presbyterian University of East AfricaSunday School CurriculumDevelopment - Rwanda

CPAJ (Centre Presbytérien d’ Amourdes Jeunes) - Rwanda

Hands in Service – UgandaHannah Ministries Tumurere – UgandaThe Presbyterian Church of RwandaKamwenge Secondary VocationalSchool – Uganda

Crisis Nurseries – ZambiaDora E. Valentin ReformedPresbyterian Church - Cuba

Andrew’s Memorial UnitedChurch – Jamaica

Poor Children’s Assistance Project – HaitiSeminarian SupportYouth Missions

Preston TaylorMinistries

Reconciliation, Inc.

Youth ConferenceMinistries/Son

Servants

Rev. John McCallTaiwan

Linda & Stu RossKenya

Ellen & Alan SmithEastern Europe

Sebber Banda &Nedson ZuluMozambique

Uganda

Additional Missions:

Bibles for Oak HillSchool 6th Graders

Center for YouthMinistry Training

Non Profit OrgU S Postage

P A I DNashville, TNPermit No. 27

Dated church materialPlease deliver by April 13, 2013

4815 Franklin Pike ■ Nashville, TN 37220

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

First Presbyterian Church4815 Franklin PikeNashville, Tennessee 37220www.fpcnashville.org

PastorsTodd JonesPastor

Sam CooperExecutive Pastor

Mark DeVriesAssociate Pastor to Youth& Their Families

Catherine FosterAssociate Pastor forYoung Adult Ministry

Stuart GordonAssociate Pastor for Discipleship

Keith GunterAssociate Pastor for NewChurch Development

Sandra RandlemanAssociate Pastor forCongregational Care & Mission

Program StaffNicholas Bergin Organist

Raphael BundageDirector of Music

Karen FittsNursery Coordinator

Brenda GeiseOlder Adult MinistryCoordinator

Letitia GreenDirector of Recreation

Susan KirbyWorship Coordinator

Carol McClureDirector of Children & Youth Choirs

Deb O’BrienDirector of Children’s Ministry

Rhonda SwansonAssistant Organist

Brandon Van PernisDirector of Youth Ministries

Amelia WatsonCoordinator of Parish Ministry

SchoolsJennifer HinoteHead of School, Oak Hill School

Brenda LutzDirector, FPC Early Preschool

AdministrationCindy BozmanFinance Manager

Lynn ElliottPastor’s Assistant

Zonia NunleyProperty Manager

Shannon ParsonsCommunications Coordinator

Carl WomackFood Service Director

Youth Happenings

Sunday SchoolApril 14 & April 21: Grades 7-12 will

meet in The Gathering Place at 9:40 A.M.We will then split into grade level classes.

Save The Date, April 29: SeniorBanquet — Seniors…we want to celebrateyou and your families! You don’t want tomiss out on this. More details to come!

New Orleans Mission Trip (June 16-21; Rising 9th and 12th grade): Joinyour friends for a week of missions in theunique southern city of New Orleans, richwith American South, European andCaribbean influences. Though HurricaneKatrina was five years ago, residents are stillfighting their way back from its devastation.During our time there, we’ll do a variety ofwork such as demolition, rebuilding,outdoor yard and park cleanup andrelational work with adults and children.

Throughout the week, we’ll also enjoy someof the sights, foods and opportunities thatmake New Orleans the special place it is.Register online or contact Millie(mledbetter@fpcnashville.org or 298-9570).

Great Escape (June 10-25; Rising 7thand 8th grade): Lee University in Cleveland,Tennessee, is the location for the Junior HighGreat Escape — the oldest middle schoolyouth conference in the country. During theweek on campus, rising 7th and 8th graderswill enjoy outdoor games and activities, funand engaging speakers, worship, great musicand self reflection before spending a dayrafting the Ocoee River on the way back toNashville. Register online or contact Millie!

Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 A.M.services in the sanctuary every Sundaymorning, and the 5:30 P.M. evening servicein The Gathering Place. Families, please join usat one of these worship services each Sunday.

Youth Newsletter: If your family isn’treceiving the monthly Youth Newsletter inyour email, please let Millie know.

sunday evening worship at fpcThe Gathering Place @ 5:3O p.m.