Come visit our booth at the Nashville Pride Festival! We will be there 11 am to 8 pm along with the Circle Community Church to share God’s love, spread the word about Nashville’s open and affirming UCC congregations, and hand out some fun giveaways to festival goers! We can’t wait to celebrate Pride with you all!

“Dale Everette Bilbrey, 83, passed away on June 10, 2026. Born on October 17, 1942, in Jackson, TN, he was the beloved son of William and Martha (Scott) Bilbrey, both of whom preceded him in death.

A devoted member of Brookmeade Congregation at UCC Church and a lifetime member of Highland Chapel Union Church, Dale lived a life defined by compassion for his family, his church, a thirst for knowledge, and his gentle love and service to his fellow man.

Dale graduated from Greenbrier High School in 1960, then completed his BA degree in 1965 from Bethel University in McKenzie, TN.

He continued his “inner calling” when he entered Vanderbilt Divinity School in the fall of 1965; proceeded to Princeton Theological Seminary from 1966–67; and returned to Vanderbilt, where he earned his M.Div. in 1969. After his ordination in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Dale worked as a rural pastor in Kentucky for four years and as a Rehabilitation Counselor.

He returned to Peabody College and received his degree in Library Science in 1978. As a member of the Graduate School staff of Scarritt College from 1981–1989, Dale often volunteered at The Upper Room, a global interdenominational Christian ministry and publishing organization.

Equipped with his library degree, Dale then moved to Memphis, TN, to become Head Librarian at the Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he remained until 1999.

He next moved to the vocation in which he would serve for the remainder of his working years. He achieved his certification as a chaplain by working at a VA Trauma Center in Memphis and later at The Med until 2000. It was here that the doctors would call Dale to calm situations which occurred in this less-than-ideal environment.

Finally, so he could be a help to his father, who was ill at the time, he returned to Nashville and took the position of Hospice Chaplain for Gentiva Hospice Group and served there for over a decade. He had found his true calling.

He is survived by his sisters, Diane (John Bennett) Lewter and Jane Grissom; nephews, Robert Ben (Sara) and Matthew Lewter; great-niece, Sophia; and numerous cousins and dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to visitation on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 1150 Dickerson Road, Goodlettsville, TN 37072. Additional visitation will be held on June 23 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by the memorial service at noon, with graveside service and burial at 1:00 p.m.”

In preparation for this year’s Pride Festival, we will be having a Pride Prep Pizza Party on Sunday, June 21st at 11:30 am to make sure we have everything organized and ready to go for our booth at the event. We hope you can join us for this time of fellowship together! We are also seeking to borrow 2 large coolers and some power banks to use for fans on the day of the festival. Please contact the church office if you are able to provide these items. Thank you! 

Brookmeade is so excited to be running a pride booth again this year alongside the Circle community church! We would love to get you involved in this important aspect of our ministry and outreach to the community. The festival will be held Saturday, June 27th, with a march at 10 am and the festival from 11 am to 8 pm. We are signing up volunteers to cover shifts at our booth at these times: 11-1:30, 1:30-3, 3-5:30, 5:30-8. We are seeking 2 Brookmeade volunteers for each 2.5 hour shift. Please see the sign up sheet this Sunday or contact the church office (brookmeade@comcast.net) to claim a volunteer time slot. Volunteers will receive free entry to the festival. This is a fun way to get to know Nashville community members and non-profit organizations, hand out fun giveaways to festival goers, and spread the word about the open and affirming Nashville congregations. To learn more about the festival, click HERE. 

Our next COW Offering (collected on the first Sunday every month) is Sunday 6/7! “Contribute Our Wealth” benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN and Heifer International. Help Brookmeade fight hunger in the Nashville and wider world community by donating canned goods, cash or check, or donating via Tithe.ly (choose COW Offering in drop down menu). Thank you for your generosity!

Join our Project CURE Volunteer Group Saturday, June 6th from 9:30 – 11:30 am! We help sort medical supplies on the first Saturday of every month at the Project CURE warehouse (2309 Clifton Ave. 37209). These are surplus supplies that are sent to countries all around the world that need them. No training required to participate! Please RSVP to the church office if you plan to attend. Thank you for helping support this important ministry.

We are seeking volunteers weekly to help set up for Coffee Fellowship weekly after service. There is a sign up sheet located in the hallway, or you can contact the church office for more details. We will provide you with instructions and guidance as needed to help your experience go smoothly! Thanks for volunteering to make Brookmeade a welcoming space.

“The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ. As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.”

Brookmeade will be collecting the STC offering all through the month of May. You can bring a check (memo: STC offering) on Sunday mornings, or donate via Tithe.ly by scanning the QR code and designating “STC Offering” in the drop-down menu! Thank you for your generosity in supporting this important ministry of the UCC!

Our next COW Offering (collected on the first Sunday every month) is Sunday 5/3! “Contribute Our Wealth” benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN and Heifer International. Help Brookmeade fight hunger in the Nashville and wider world community by donating canned goods, cash or check, or donating via Tithe.ly (choose COW Offering in drop down menu). Thank you for your generosity!

Join our Project CURE Volunteer Group Saturday, May 2nd from 9:30 – 11:30 am! We help sort medical supplies on the first Saturday of every month at the Project CURE warehouse (2309 Clifton Ave. 37209). These are surplus supplies that are sent to countries all around the world that need them. No training required to participate! Please RSVP to the church office if you plan to attend. Thank you for helping support this important ministry.

Our Learn & Grow adult Sunday school class will resume meeting on Sunday, April 19th at 9:15 am to continue our Living the Questions study. “Living the Questions: An Introduction to Progressive Christianity” ~ this series is “for those who are yearning for something more than the shallow platitudes that too often pass for theology in our churches. It’s for those who are looking for a faith conversation that encourages questions and open dialogue.”

Upcoming Schedule:
Living the Questions ~ “Call to Covenant”:
April 19 A Kingdom without Walls
April 26 Social Justice: Realizing God’s Vision
May 3 Incarnation: Divinely Human
May 10 Prayer: Intimacy with God
May 17 Compassion: The Heart of Jesus’ Ministry
May 24 Creative Transformation
May 31 Embracing Mystery