Project CURE is scheduled for Saturday, November 4^th, 9 am – 12 pm (2300 Clifton Ave, 37209). We will be sorting medical supplies to be sent to hospitals in developing countries. Everyone is welcome, including newcomers! See you there!

Diary of a Trip to Washington DC: The March for Civility

Before the Trip

“So do you think you are going to change the Nazis’ minds by going to the peace rally?” someone asks me? No, that is not why I am going by Greyhound to the March for Civility in Washington DC. I don’t expect to change the mind of any Nazi or any White Supremacist. But I do expect to be one of the many who come together to dwarf them – dwarf their numbers, dwarf their message, dwarf their power. I want to be part of that. I want to see it, feel it, be it. I don’t want to follow it on the net, look at it through a phone, or text people somewhere else while I am there.

On Route

I am now on the bus between Louisville and Cincinnati. I have my see-through security compliant backpack, a bag of sandwiches, chips and cookies, and my bed pillow. My poster is in the bottom of the bus, wrapped in a garbage bag. So far, I have witnessed two disruptive altercations, one at the Nashville bus station and one in the bus in the seat in front of me. I have also grabbed the foot of the man in the seat behind me while looking for my flashlight on the floor.

The March

At 4:50 am, having arrived at the DC station, I am shaken awake by the bus driver. I look up and see that the bus is empty. Embarrassed, I get off in a hurry and grab my poster, left by the curb. I have plenty of time to get to the March for Civility site so I arrive early. I find that the rally is very small. I am disappointed. It will not make CNN. But the message delivered there is powerful, and not at all the message I had been carrying with me in my mind. There is a long line of speakers, led by Ken Nwadike of the Free Hugs Project, and each person touches on the same point. Ganging up on the “other side” is not what we should be doing. We need to communicate with the other side. We need to counter the prevailing trend in our society to associate only with those “like us.”

Ken advises us to seek out someone who disagrees with us and talk to that person. We are asked to cultivate “unlikely friendships.” Most importantly, we are to treat everyone kindly so that we can disagree within the context of human relationships, because when groups stop speaking, that is when violence erupts. I fear that all this will be a lot harder than ganging up.

After the speeches we start marching with signs and flags of all the states, and chanting “Love not hate,” and singing “Imagine” by the Beatles. Except I am not singing because I am crying.

My plan was to toss my sign in the trash can at the end of the march. The poster is big and awkward and I won’t be needing it anymore. But I can’t do it. I lug the sign three miles back to the bus.

Joanne Ball

Brookmeade Member

Please come to celebrate the ministry and friendship of Rev. Sharon Temple on Sunday, September 24^th.  Sharon has shared her wisdom and insight, her inspiration and vision, her good humor and straight talk with Brookmeade for the past 23 months.  It is with hearts sad for our loss, but thankful for the time we have shared, that we come together to send her on her way to retirement and time with family in Austin, TX.  Join us for a litany of farewell followed by a special coffee fellowship as she ends her ministry at Brookmeade.

Please join us to celebrate and welcome the new pastors of Brookmeade Congregational Church UCC!  On Oct 1^st we will share together in worship and have a special coffee fellowship after the service.  We are thrilled to have this new team with us. Rev. Diane Tugel, our lead pastor, Sarah Kientz, our student pastor, and Margaret Ernst our student intern are already off and running and are contributing to the life of Brookmeade.  Come and meet these energetic and delightful people who are going to walk with us as we discover new ways to be the church.

Continue reading below to find out more about our new staff.

About Our New Staff

Sarah Kientz, Lead Student Pastor

Margaret Ernst, Associate Student Pastor

Margaret Ernst in the process of seeking ordination in the UCC through the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference.  Hailing originally from Connecticut and New Jersey, Margaret was formed enormously in a spiritual and social sense by her years doing faith-rooted community organizing and interning at a UCC church in downtown Philadelphia, just blocks from the Liberty Bell.  Now, Margaret deeply appreciates living in and learning from the South as she enters her third year in the MDiv program at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  She finds her ministry in the sacred work of supporting others to become leaders in creating the communities they dream of in order to follow Jesus’ risky, challenging gospel of love.  She recently got married to her beloved partner and friend Michael, and keeps singing and laughing at all costs. She is so excited to meet you all and to join in the worship, community, and educational life of Brookmeade this year.

Diane Tugel, Supervising Pastor

Diane is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ.  She is Certified as a Clinical Educator with the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and she is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains.  She holds a Doctorate of Ministry degree and has served in the parish, hospital, and hospice settings.  Diane is married with two adult children. She and her family moved to the Nashville area in January of 2017 to begin her work with the Nashville/St. Thomas CPE Partnership.  Besides her family and work, Diane enjoys boating, reading, golfing, and being in the outdoors.

New Staff Signing their Covenants with Brookmeade: Sunday, August 27th, 2017