Donate to the Last Minute Toy Store

In Brookmeade tradition, this Christmas season we will be collecting toys for the “Last Minute Toy Store.” This project provides free gifts for children and teens whose families are unable to. They are looking for donations of new toys, stocking stuffers, books, games, sporting goods, and arts & crafts! Please donate toys UNWRAPPED. Brookmeade will be collecting gifts for the Last Minute Toy Store until Sunday, December 18th.

There are lots of ways to give! If you don’t want to bring toys to Brookmeade, you can also order items from the Amazon wish list and your gifts will be sent directly to the LMTS. For more information on other ways to donate please visit: https://www.lastminutetoystore.com/give/

Guidelines for Donations:

“Toy & Gift Card Donations

New, unwrapped toys, bikes and other age-appropriate gifts in the $10 – $25 price range are needed for newborn to 18 yrs of age.

Bicycle Donations

If you are donating bikes, please consider a helmet as well!

Important Notice About 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.”

Sat. Dec. 3rd: Project CURE Volunteer Group

Our next trip to the Project CURE Warehouse (2300 Clifton Ave.) is scheduled for Saturday, December 3rd from 9:30 am – 12 pm. We will be sorting medical supplies. Newcomers are very welcome! For planning reasons and to make sure we are COVID safe 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!

Sat. Nov. 26th: Hanging of the Green

Please join us Saturday, November 26th as we decorate our church building for the Advent Season starting at 10:00 am. We are asking folks who have access to fresh greenery such as pine sprigs, evergreen branches and magnolia leaves to bring those to decorate with. The Fellowship Team will be providing refreshments for us to enjoy! Come and help make our Church festive for the upcoming season!

New Nov/Dec Upper Room Devotionals

New UPPER ROOM daily devotionals for Nov-Dec are now available without cost in the foyer of the church for daily prayer and meditation on sacred scriptures. The UPPER ROOM is a great devotional aid for reflection as we enter the Thanksgiving and Advent seasons. If anyone needs a copy mailed to them, you are welcome to contact the church office.

Sunday, November 6th: COW Offering

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!

Sat. Nov. 5th: Project CURE Volunteer Group

Our next trip to the Project CURE Warehouse (2300 Clifton Ave.) is scheduled for Saturday, November 5th from 9:30 am – 12 pm. We will be sorting medical supplies. Newcomers are very welcome! For planning reasons and to make sure we are COVID safe 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!

Order Poinsettias by November 6th!

Every year, generous members order beautiful poinsettias to dedicate to loved ones and decorate our sanctuary for the holiday season. We are now accepting orders for 6 and 8 inch poinsettias in red or white. We ask folks to take their poinsettias home after the Christmas Eve service. You can find order forms in the front foyer or just contact the church office to place your order by Sunday, November 6th. 

Sunday, October 30th: Music Sharing Sunday – All Saint’s Day

Oct. 30th is our next 5th Sunday and we will be celebrating All Saints Day with remembrances and appreciations of Brookmeaders past and present. If you would like to share a brief story, reflection or appreciation of someone who has had impact on your spiritual life or our community, please let us know. We will allow ample time for sharing. For those who may be out of town or unable to attend on the 30th, please feel free to record a video that we can share during our time together. 

– Worship & Gathering Team

Hope for the Homeless

For many years, Brookmeade has enthusiastically supported the work of Room In The Inn here in Nashville, helping to provide food and shelter to those in need on our streets and in our community. Since the Covid pandemic, we have been unable to help with this ministry. We are trying this Winter to partner with our sister congregation, Holy Trinity Community Church UCC, in order to participate in this much needed service. We need to determine how many Brookmeaders can help out this Winter. The folks at RITI have said that their greatest need is congregations to host guests on Sunday and Monday evenings (We will determine which night based on availability of volunteers). Areas to help are in driving guests from downtown to Brookmeade, helping to prepare and serve an evening meal, preparing bag lunches for the next day, washing linens the following week, serving as an overnight host to our guests, and driving guests from Brookmeade to downtown in the morning. If you are able and interested in serving in any of these areas, please contact Mike R. or the church office so we can ascertain how we can best support this vital ministry in our city.

Mental Health Awareness Month & Suicide Prevention Walk

The month of October is Mental Health Awareness month and October 10th is World Mental Health Day. This is a great time to do some research and share resources with your community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has some videos, personal stories and facts you can review HERE. Find a list of programs, resources and hotlines from the Mental Health Awareness Association by clicking HERE. Click HERE to view a list of National Minority Mental Health Awareness resources and publications from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Please spread the word about the new mental health hotline number with friends and family. You can call the mental health hotline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you’d like to get more involved you can participate in the AFSP Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on Saturday, 10/29 @ 9 am at Centennial Park. Register for the Nashville Walk and/or show your support by donating through the “All Are Welcome Here” team by clicking HERE.