Our Learn & Grow adult Sunday school class returns Sunday, September 6th at 9:15 am with a new discussion led by the book Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang. Reading along is suggested, but not necessary, to participate in class discussions.  

“For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren’t actually on the side of Jesus—and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting—literally—in bad faith?

Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang finally offers the answers. In this informative, perspective-shifting book, Fugelsang takes readers through common fundamentalist arguments on abor­tion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more—exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and deeply inappropriate humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow.

But Fugelsang’s message is about more than just taking down hypocrites. It’s about fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity. Told with Fugelsang’s trademark blend of radical honesty, comedy, and deep political and religious knowledge, Separation of Church and Hate is the book every American needs today. It’s a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone of any faith who’s sick of religion being used as a cloaking device for hate.”

We have scheduled an indoor organizing day on Saturday, August 8th, and an outdoor gardening and maintenance day on Saturday, September 12th. We hope you will join us for the important work of keeping our space clean, and preparing our property for the upcoming winter months. We will meet from 9 am to 12 pm both days, with the option for going out to lunch afterwards for anyone who is available! 

Our next COW Offering (collected on the first Sunday every month) is Sunday, 8/2! “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 online via Tithe.ly (choose COW Offering in drop down menu). Thank you for your generosity!

Join our Project CURE Volunteer Group Saturday, August 1st from 9:30 – 11:30 am! Our monthly volunteer group meets every first Saturday of the month. We help sort medical supplies 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.

This year’s Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness walk to Support AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) is Saturday, September 19th at Centennial Park. Check in starts at 10:00, and the event starts at 11:00. Our team is called “All are Welcome” – you can join our team or donate to the fundraiser by clicking HERE, or scanning the QR code above. Thank you for supporting this important organization!

Join our Project CURE Volunteer Group Saturday, July 11th from 9:30 – 11:30 am! Our monthly volunteer group will be meeting on the 2nd Saturday of July instead of the first due to the holiday. We help sort medical supplies 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 next COW Offering (collected on the first Sunday every month) is Sunday 7/5! “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!

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.