Our next trip to the Project CURE Warehouse is scheduled for Saturday, January 6th from 9:30 am – 12 pm. We will be sorting medical supplies. Newcomers are very welcome! For planning reasons we need a head count for our group prior to volunteering. Please RSVP to the church office ASAP if you plan to attend. Thanks and see you there!
Brookmeade will be collecting for the UCC Christmas Fund Offering on Sunday, December 24th! The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.
United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. Thank you!
Click HERE to watch a video about the impact your donation can make!
Michele Lambert is returning to host another Art Class at Brookmeade this winter, starting Thursday, January 25th and continuing for 4 weeks! The cost will once again be $80 for all 4 sessions (materials provided). In this class we will be exploring an “everything but the kitchen sink” style of mixed media. The artwork example from Michele (see above) shows this technique with a stacked experimental piece unified by pencil work, colored pencils, paint and printmaking.” To learn more about the class and sign up, please contact the church office!
Our Worship and Gathering Team would like to welcome you to join us for our special Family Friendly Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve (December 24) at 5:00 pm. All are welcome, and we hope you will feel like you can belong here. Our service will include readings and Christmas hymns, a story for children, and candlelight. We will hear a message of hope and encourage a connection to experiences of authentic joy, while holding space for what is challenging in this holiday season. Join us in person.
On Thursday, December 21st, the longest time of darkness during the year, the winter solstice, we will share a Longest Night service at Brookmeade. At 6:30 pm we will gather in the sanctuary for a service of reflection and contemplation. In a season where the focus is joy and celebration (even as we wait), most of us struggle this time of year with something. This is the service where we acknowledge that we are not alone in our need for some relief from the peer pressure to “rejoice” and instead have some time just to be, to feel, to lament. Come, join us as we experience the darkness and find that hope exists there too. All are encouraged to attend, and anyone is welcome.
Tues. Dec. 12th: Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert benefiting Room in the Inn
This wonderful concert on Tues. 12/12 at 7 pm benefits the Room In The Inn ministry. The concert is held at Christ Church Cathedral. It is always a joyous celebration with Nashville’s best musicians and singers and this year will remember Father Charles Strobel, founder of RITI. Show is free but donations are suggested! Donate at www.nashvilleunlimitedchristmas.org
Sat. Dec. 16th: 2023 Annual Homeless Memorial
Open Table Nashville: The 2023 Annual Homeless Memorial will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 16 at Riverfront Park by the Tara Cole Memorial bench on 1st Ave. and Broadway. They are also planning to live-stream this memorial on the event page. They will read the names of people who have died this year, as well as share poetry, prayer and remarks. At the closing of the ceremony there will be time to walk along the river and place flowers in the water. Light breakfast and coffee will be served. All are invited to join. More information.
Sun. Dec. 17th: Howard Congregational Christmas Concert
You are Invited! Howard Congregational UCC Presents: “What a Wonderful Child!” A Christmas Concert. Sunday, December 17th at 5 pm, then stay for refreshments and fellowship following the concert. Howard is located at 2802 Buchanan St. Nashville, TN 37208.
This year we continue our tradition of supporting the Last Minute Toy Store which provides Christmas gifts for families in need. We are currently accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys, and other age-appropriate gifts in the $10 – $25 price range for newborn to 18 yrs of age (please avoid toys that require batteries). Guidelines for Teen Gifts (ages 12-18): Gift cards, valued between $15 – $20, are a great idea! Here are a few stores that are a hit: Bath & Body Works, Walmart, Old Navy, Target, Game Stop, Books-A-Million, Amazon. If you prefer to buy specific items, here are some ideas: remote control drones, blue tooth speakers, karaoke machines, headphones, tool kits, make-up kits, shavers or trimmers, make up mirrors, purses, shoulder bags, curling irons or journals. Please bring donations to the church by Friday, December 15th. The Mission & Outreach Team is also accepting donations of Gift cards this Holiday season to help folks in our community afford gas and groceries. We will be accepting donations of gift cards to stores like Kroger and Walmart for that purpose. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season!
– The M&O Team
This winter season Brookmeade is happy to provide beds, meals and warm place for folks in need! Our next date for Room in the Inn will be Friday, December 15th. Here is a list of ways you can help!
Set Up of Cots in Hallway
Drivers–2 to 3 Pick Up at RITI Campus on Friday at 5-5:30 PM
2 Overnight Hosts
Dinner (A team Coordinator and a team)
7-8 Sack Lunches
Breakfast
Drivers–2 to 3 (6 am pick up at Brookmeade to take the participants back to RITI Campus)
Laundry Pick Up
Cot Breakdown
Our upcoming dates to host will be on Friday evenings for the next several months. Please put these dates on the calendar and decide how you and your family and friends can help:
January 19, February 16. Contact the church office to learn more.
We have sign up sheets in the church office or check your weekly email for a link to sign up online!
First Sundays of the month we collect our COW (“Contribute Our Wealth”) Offering. Monetary donations are split between Second Harvest of Middle TN and Heifer International. You can also bring canned goods on Sunday morning to donate to Second Harvest. Please designate your check for COW Offering or if you give online you can choose COW offering on the drop-down menu on Tithe.ly. Thank you for supporting these important organizations and helping Brookmeade fight hunger!
Our next trip to the Project CURE Warehouse (2300 Clifton Ave.) is scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd from 9:30 am – 12 pm. We will be sorting medical supplies. Newcomers are very welcome! For planning reasons we need a head count for our group prior to volunteering. Please RSVP to the church office ASAP if you plan to attend. Thanks and see you there!
brookmeadeucc.org 