Sun. Oct. 23rd: Brookmeade Welcomes Speakers from Nashville International Center for Empowerment

“How to help Immigrants and Refugees in Nashville”

In recent years, Nashville has become the home of many immigrants and refugees from around the world. The Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) is one of several organizations that works with this growing population. The staff of NICE helps immigrants and refugees learn English, obtain employment, and work toward self-sufficiency. On Sunday, October 23, Ashley Coleman and Erin Bean will visit Brookmeade and share about our immigrant and refugee neighbors, the work of NICE, and the ways that we can welcome and help these folks make Nashville their home.  Please stay after the coffee fellowship (from 12:00 to 1:00) to learn more about Nashville’s newest arrivals. Childcare will be provided.

Ashley Coleman, the Adult Education Coordinator, was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  She received her Bachelors of Arts in Latin American Studies and Political Science from Tulane University in 2010.  Following graduation, she traveled to Porto Alegre, Brazil where she taught adults English for two years. This experience, coupled with ELL teaching stints in Nicaragua and domestically in Atlanta and New Orleans, collectively solidified a strong, professional interest in working with adult English language learners.  Prior to joining the NICE staff full time in January 2014, Ashley served as the ESL Site Coordinator for Glencliff High School and taught the Pre-GED and Computer Literacy course. Ashley recently completed her Masters of TESOL program at the University of Southern California with the objective of further strengthening her instructional practices for NICE clients and their teachers.

Erin Bean was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and secondary teacher certification from Hanover College in 2011.  In 2015, she received her Master’s Degree in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from Indiana University, and certification to teach ESL/EFL. During her graduate studies, Erin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Kyrgyz Republic where she taught English language classes to adults and university students. She also trained volunteers and local educators in current EFL teaching practices. Upon returning to the United States, Erin became an instructor at an intensive academic English language school for adult English language learners in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  As the Adult Education Specialist, Erin serves to support the mission and goals of NICE and the Adult Education Program.

Sun. Oct. 2nd: Rise & Shine: All Ages Sunday School!

Learning Community for all ages…Come join us for Rise and Shine Sunday School on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15 am. This is a time for folks of all ages to come together to learn, share, and grow through activities.

Sunday, October 2nd

This week’s hands-on faith lesson is “Bread of Life.” We will make the bread for World Communion Sunday. How is that possible? Come and see!

 

*Since we are now holding Sunday School before the service, kids above kindergarten age are invited to worship with us at the 10:30 am service. Remember to grab a kid’s worship activity bag from the front foyer!

Sunday, Oct. 2nd: Neighbors in Need UCC Offering

The Neighbors in Need offering, which we will receive on October 2nd, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. See the poster in the hallway that says “This we believe… no child should go to bed hungry.” Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries.  One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries. Neighbors in Need helps make another world possible and it needs your support.

Room in the Inn 2016-2017

Brookmeade will again be supporting the Room in the Inn program in Nashville by serving the homeless in our area this winter season. We will host seven men one Sunday a month and provide them with dinner Sunday evening, a warm bed for the night and breakfast on Monday morning. The dates this season will be Nov 27th & Dec 25th of 2016 and Jan 29th & Feb 26th of 2017.

We will need volunteers to:

  • Set up cots Sunday after Service (4-6 volunteers)
  • Stay overnight as Inn keepers (2 volunteers)
  • Drive Sunday evening to transport guests from the Room In The Inn Campus in Nashville to Brookmeade UCC  (2 volunteers)
  • Drive Monday morning to transport guests from Brookmeade UCC back to the RITI Campus  (2 volunteers)     (If anyone has a van with room for 7 passengers, only 1 driver would be needed)
  • Prepare and serve dinner for 7 guests (7) and 2+ volunteers on Sunday evening (2-4 volunteers)
  • Prepare bags lunches for our guests to have on Monday (1 volunteer or family)
  • Collect and launder linens and towels during the week after we host our guests (1-2 volunteers)

We have a sign-up sheets in the Fellowship hallway. Please direct any questions to Elvis or Mike.

Saturday, October 22: UPPER ROOM UCC FELLOWSHIP Fall Potluck Supper

A potluck supper gathering of our four Nashville-area UCC churches @ 6:00 PM at Howard Congregation Church (2802 Buchanan Street) to grow in prayer & communion with God and in fellowship with one another!  Special Guest Speaker from Atlanta:  Rev. June Boutwell, Designated Conference Minister,  Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ!  Evening’s Focus:  Psalm 73 in its entirety; in particular its powerful existential conclusion “But for me, it is Good to be near God”.  Bring family, friends and favorite casserole for great UCC fellowship & inspiration!  CHILDCARE PROVIDED

Tuesday, Sept 20: Book Group

The Book Group will meet on Tuesday,  September 20, 2016 at 10:00am.  The book to read is “Book of Ages: the life and opinions of Jane Franklin” (Sister to Ben Franklin). By Jill Lepore

If you are interested in knowing more please contact brookmeade@comcast.net or call 615-352-4702 for more information.