If you would like to know more about Brookmeade . . .
If you are curious about what it means to be United Church of Christ . . .
If you are interested in church membership at Brookmeade . . .
If you’ve been a member for awhile and would like to meet some new friends . . .
. . . You are invited an informal gathering and informational meeting on Saturday, June 17th from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at Brookmeade. Please RSVP to the church office (brookmeade@comcast.net). ALL ARE WELCOME!
“Baseball Anyone?”
Several members are planning to go see the Sounds play on June 16th. The game begins at 7:05. We plan to meet outside the park at a gate (to be decided) at 6:00 and get cheap tickets in the same section. Food and beverages are available for all tastes inside the park. Come join us. Bring your glove and we’ll have some fun! Did I mention that there are fireworks after the game? The kids will love it. Either signup at church or call the Church office so we’ll be able to give you the gate number and any other details.
-Community Life Team
“Widening the Welcome”
The Worship & Gathering Team invites you to a special meeting…
Did you know that people decide in the first 4-8 minutes if a church feels safe enough to come back? Our Sunday morning greeters are present and ready to help new friends experience Brookmeade as a safe and welcoming congregation. After church at 11:45 am on Sunday June 11th, we will meet to make plans to widen our welcome. This is for current greeters and anyone who would like be part of Brookmeade’s ministry of extravagant welcome.
The Mission and Outreach Team invites you to come to Learn & Grow on Sunday, June 11th, at 9:15 a.m. On that day, a representative from Raise the Roof Academy will be here to share about their ministry to the people of Uganda. Raise the Roof Academy is based in Nashville, but it operates a school in Uganda. Raise the Roof Academy is educating the children of Uganda seeking to cultivate a culture of learning and offering God’s love through empowerment opportunities. The Mission and Outreach Team has voted to sponsor a child for a year. Come and learn about this ministry that you are supporting.
The 1st Sunday of each month is COW Sunday. We ask everyone bring in non-perishable food items. We will bring the groceries to Second Harvest Food Bank. We also take up a monetary collection which is split between Second Harvest Food Bank and Heifer International. Brookmeade doing a small part to alleviate hunger!
Our next trip to Project CURE is scheduled for Saturday, June 3rd, 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!
In September 1945, Joe O’Donnell was a 23 year old Marine Crops photographer in Japan, then under American occupation. His orders were to document the aftermath of U.S. bombing raids in Japanese cities, including not only Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but also cities such as Sasebo, one of more than 60 Japanese cities firebombed before the atomic blasts. “The people I met,” he recalled, “the suffering I witnessed, and the scenes of incredible devastation taken by my camera caused me to question every belief I had previously held about my so-called enemies.” In addition to the official photographs he turned over to his superiors, O’Donnell recorded some 300 images for himself, but following his discharge from the marines he could not bear to look at them. He put the negatives in a trunk that remained unopened until 1989, when he finally felt compelled to confront once more what he had seen through his lens during his 7 months in post-war Japan. Joe’s photographs were exhibited in Europe and Japan during the 1990’s and first published in book form in 1995. We hope this exhibit will help you understand and spread Joe’s message for peace. The Book Japan 1945 which features these photographs and more is available for purchase.
“Peace is the future. Without peace there will be no future.” – Joe O’Donnell
Join us Sunday, June 4th as we welcome the Park Ridge Community Church Choir. The Angeli Choir, directed by Sasha Gerritson, is a vocal group made up of young women ages 12-18, who are from Park Ridge Community Church and surrounding community, of Park Ridge, Illinois. They rehearse each week for 2-3 hours, sing regularly in worship as well as at outreach events, senior centers, and charity functions. The choir has 35 members, but today 15 are here to sing God’s praises at Brookmeade.
Strengthen the Church (STC) is a special mission offering to reimagine and build the future of the UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels, STC largely supports youth ministries and full-time leaders for new churches in parts of the country where the UCC voice has not been heard.
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 on Sunday, June 11th.
Brookmeade has been participating in the Nashville Pride Fest for approximately 20 years. This year is no different. We once again have been approved to have a table and tent at the Fest on June 24th & 25th. Yes, they have extended the Fest to include Sunday. This means we will need volunteers for both days to hand out information about Brookmeade, answer lots of questions about Brookmeade and the UCC community. It’s an interesting fun day meeting people from around the county and beyond. One year I talked with two men from San Francisco who were visiting family and came to check out the Fest. They were very impressed with what they saw and also with what they learned about our Church. You too can be part of this experience. Mark your calendars for June 24th or 25th to help volunteer at our table! A sign-up sheet is on the Community Life Board for two hour slots.
Thanks,
Community Life Team and Mission & Outreach Team
brookmeadeucc.org 