Clark Memorial United Methodist ChurchA community sharing God's love through learning, worship, witness and service

This Issue Hildreth inauguration...p.1

Jacob's Ladder...p.1The "Write" Reverend...p.1

From the Editor... p.2UMC General Conference...p.2

Clark Spotlight ... p.2Community Corner...p.3

Prayer List...p.3B'days April...p.3

Lectionary...p.3Bible Trivia...p.3

April Calendar...p.4Announcements...p.4

Rehearsal Schedule...p.4

Volume 14Issue #4APRIL 2016

THE CONNECTIONTHE CONNECTION

Phone: 615-329-4464Fax: 615-321-0975Email:clarkmemunited@gmail.comweb: www.ClarkUMCNashville.org

JACOB’S LADDERJacob found God’s grace while traveling alone in the

desert. In spite of the misgivings of his previous life, God came to him full of promises he did not deserve. His vision of the stairway to heaven looked forward to Jesus, who himself is the bridge between heaven and earth. Many of us, like Jacob, are on the high rungs of the ladder in the grace of God, yet, we find ourselves on the low rungs of spiritual giving. Is there a great distance on the ladder between God’s grace and our spiritual giving? Should there be?

Submitted by Dr. C.O. Atchison, Chair of Stewardship

The "Write" Rev

Looking back, I don’t know how I missed it; but you know the saying about pastors who a t t e m p t t o m i n i s t e r t o themselves! Anyway, my personal Lenten commitment was to write a 40-day study for the congregation and send it out weekly. But about day 25, I got stuck. I could not make myself do it. I diagnosed it as “writer’s block.” It was not until our Sunday School discussion focused on the links between depression and burnout that the light came on. We talked about the experiences of the prophet Elijah in I Kings 19:1-15, our own experiences, and the impact o f y o u n g M a s t e r R o b e r t Anderson’s funeral on each of us. But I had not talked with anybody about my stuff, or considered the fact that other people might be having some of the same struggles, at the same time, stemming from similar, if not identical, events! Through our sharing, we ministered to each other. Imagine, a class of fellow disciples sharing the biblical story and their stories, using them as lens to view our world and how God is moving in it!

That’s Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience! Come join us!

Pastor Herbert

On Saturday, April 16, 2016 Meharry Medical College will install the 12th President, James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D. The investiture will take place at the Temple Church at 10 a.m. Later that evening t h e r e w i l l b e a n Inauguration Scholarship Gala at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel at 6 p.m.

This historic occasion will be celebrated with a week of events (April 10 – 16) highlighting Meharry's history, mission, and commitment to training health care professionals to go out and serve.See a complete list of events: www.eventbrite.com inauguration week 2016

Inauguration activities...

Please visit the website for a plethora of activities in April 2016!

The Connection~APRIL 2016 p. 2

From the Editor...

Let it rain, let it pour

Not only does "April showers bring May flowers," spring weather brings on so many more activities. We really have to plan our time in order to be supportive to as much as possible by our presence and participation. If we are not able to suport in one way, it is good to find other ways of supporting. We can no longer say, "There ' s nothing to do in Nashville." So let it rain! Let it pour. It keeps us active and that's always good for the soul.

You caught me at the 'write' time!Wanda Clay

In May the United Methodist Women will celebrate Women's Day! There are a few scheduled events coming up that will lead up to the day of celebration on May 15th.

T h e m e : " G ro w i n g i n Blessedness...Reflections of God's Stories" 1Cor.-13:12

April 23-UMW meeting at 10 am and Praise Brunch to follow from 12noon-2pm

All ladies are invited to kick off a celebration for Women's Day and learn more about the activities... Captain's Sundays; Seven Women/Seven Days of Intentional Prayer, "Sharing Your Reflection"...

M a y 1 4 - U M W D i s t r i c t collaborative effort at Bethlehem Center from 10am-2pm Selected colores...What does it mean?

green-growth, healingpurple-royalty, spirituality, mysterygold-wealth, prosperity, value

Let's celebrate...Women's Day!

The Rev. Betty Lewis retires...

CLARK SPOTLIGHTCaught Ya...

As Room In The Inn comes to a hiatus, we caught some of our youth preparing the lunches for the next day as they waited for the ohers to come set up for hosting that night!

Thanks to EVERYONE who hosted during the RITI season. Janice Johnson holds an Easter Egg Hunt for her

great grandbaby, great nieces, and nephews "What a great day!"

Congratulations Maxine Chandler-Augusteon your new position!

Program Coordinator Meharry Community Wellness Center Meharry Infectious Disease Clinic

2016 GENERAL CONFERENCE CONVENES IN PORTLAND, OREGON

“Therefore Go” (Matthew 28: 19-20) is the theme for the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The conference will meet in Portland, Oregon May 7-20, 2016.The General Conference is the highest legislative body of The United Methodist Church and meets every four years. During this time, the elected delegates make decisions about the Church, its direction and policies, and changes in the Book of Discipline. The General Conference is the only entity that speaks for the denomination. All bishops of the church--active and retired in the United States and worldwide--attend but do not vote. Some of the major issues facing delegates include:

General Church RestructureA New Global Health InitiativeChanges in local church structureLimited tenure of bishops (currently serve for life)A range of clergy matters

Proceedings of the General Conference can be followed on the General Conference website at http://gc2106.7mc or umc.org//gc2016Entire report on website www.clarkumcnashville.org

Submitted by Marilyn Magee-Talbert

APRIL2nd Gayle Houston

Kaye ChavisJohnathan LeeperJames Croom

3rd Marilyn Talbert4th Lavoneia Steele

Dianne Brown6th Katherine Chavis

Sorena Street7th Keyonna McKinney9th Pat Sharpe

Ira D. Thompson, Jr.Victor DavisShannell Brown

12th George Howard, Jr.Zachary Jones

13th Susanne Tropez-Sims14th George Fredericks16th Deborah Freeman17th Helen Houston18th Elizabeth Williams19th Sharon Smith

Rosie PhelpsYolanda Wiggins

20th Tommie Morton-Young22nd Penne Leeper23rd Zachary Pope24th Felicia Holcomb27th Carlo Dade

Derek Fleming29th Cheryl Seay

Jada Carroll30th Dorothy Smith

The Connection~APRIL 2016 p. 3

April Bible Explorer: Who supported Paul on his visit to Jerusalem after his conversion?

Submitted by Grace Brady

Lectionary Scriptures (Easter)

April 3-Acts 5: 27-32, John 20:19-31, Psalm 118:14-29 (150), Revelation 1:4-8April 10-Acts 9:1-6, Psalm 30, John 21:1-19, Revelation 5:11-14April 17-Acts 9:36-43, John 10:22-30, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17April 24-Acts 11:1-18, John 13:31-35, Psalm 148, Revelation 21:1-6

Submitted by Grace Brady

"Let Christ's teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God's praises with joyful

hearts." Colossians 3:16 --Be Encouraged! Submitted by Jethro B. Smith

Dr. Darlene AndersonMs. Wanda Benford

Ms. Grace Brady*Dr. & Mrs. James Brown, Sr.

Mr. Timothy CarrollMrs. Sarah Chavis

Mrs. Katherine ChavisMrs. Thelma ClantonMrs. Sondra DadeMrs. Deloris Dowell

Mrs. Lena Pearl FarrellMr. Henry Fitzhugh

Mrs. Elizabeth Frierson*Mrs. Ruth Gadsden

Ms. Ebony Harris*Ms. Sandra HaydenMr. Anthony Hall, Jr.Mr. Thomas HicksDr. Helen Houston

Ms. Charlene JacksonMr. Zachary JonesDr. Harold JordanMrs. Michelle Lee

Mr. Calvin McCutcheonMrs. Linda Parker

Mr. Lee PenningtonMrs. V. Ernestyne Potts

Mr. David PruittMs. Tiffinea Reid-Breaux

Mr. James RobertsMr. Edward SadlerDr. C. Pat Sharpe

Ms. Dorinda SheffieldRev. Richard Stewart, Sr.

Mr. Edward TempleMr. William R. ThompsonRev. Billie Westmoreland

Mr. James White~~~~~~~~~~

*Nursing Home/Assisted LivingPray for others listed in the

Sunday bulletin

Hanging of the GreensCONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE...

O n e t r e e is the Christmon Tree that is decorated with t h e h a n d m a d e Christian symbols that are only white with gold decorations of beads, ribbon, glitter and other materials. If t h e s y m b o l s a r e in other colors, it is a Christmas Tree.

A n d , a n additional tree is decorated in honor of those who have experienced or know of family, or friends who have experienced life threatening diseases such as HIV / AIDS and Cancer.

The windows are decorated with holy symbols of Christmas, the four large wreaths will hang high with crosses that represent hope, help, healing and hospitality, and poinsettias will be added later as they are ordered. ~Wanda Clay

Announcements for Sunday bulletin and overhead

projector are due prior to 12 noon on Wednesdays!

Deadline for MAY newsletter is April 15th!

Connection submissions: connectitmmr@gmail.com or leave in the Newsletter box. Items that do not

appear in the current issue will be in upcoming issues.

Submissions must be under 200 words.

Meharry Medical College HCOP

Applications for the Meharry Medical College HCOP sponsored Ob/Gyn Summer Mentorship Program are now available online. The Health Careers Opportunities Program (HCOP) was founded in 1998 as a way to promote interest in medical professions to Nashville area economically challenged students. The program runs from 8:30am-3:30pm June 13 to July 22, 2016 on the Meharry campus.

This six-week program has a curriculum designed to introduce metro Nashville high school students (rising juniors and seniors ONLY) to the healthcare field by pairing them with physicians, residents and nursing staff in clinical settings.

Although this is an Ob/Gyn sponsored program, physicians from eight departments of Nashville General Hospital and Meharry Medical College take time to show the mentees what they do daily. The application deadline is May 6.   To apply for this highly-competitive program, go to

www.mmc.edu/education/som/educationprograms/hcop.html.

There is a one-day conference on April 22 in Nashville on how faith communities can better include and s u p p o r t i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h intellectual and developmental disabilities. This event will bring together faith community members and leaders, people with disabilities and their families, disability service providers and advocates, and many others for a day of inspiring speakers, practical learning, and networking. We encourage you to sign up and register if you are interested in this topic, and please pass along the information to others in your community.

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PaidNashville,TN

PERMIT#1765

THE CONNECTIONClark Memorial United Methodist Church1014 14th Ave. N.Nashville, TN 37208-3099

APRIL CALENDAR

4th Church Council mtg @ 5:30pm7th Health Welfare & Prevention mtg @ 5:30pm9th Good Samaritans mtg @ 9 am10th "Walk" to Meharry following 10:45am service with

Meharry Chaplain, Rev. R. Kimbrough, preaching

12th Stewardship mtg @ 4:30pm14th Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Concert

@ 7 pm18th Committee On Finance mtg @ 10 am21st Board of Trustees mtg @ 5:30pm23rd UMM mtg @ 10am

UMW mtg @ 10amUMW Praise Brunch @ 11am

28th Staff Parish Relations mtg @ 5:30pm30th Worship & Celebration mtg @9am

5,12, 19, 26 Prayer Support @ 5 pm Liturgical Dance @ 5:30 pm6, 13, 20, 27 Morning Manna @ 7 am Lectionary Bible Study @ 10 am

Bible Study @ 6 pm

ANNOUNCEMENTSMobile food truck (Reach 2020) suspended until further notice

May 15th Women's Day celebration!July 18-22 Vacation Bible School; July 29th UMC Fish Fry

July 31st Church picnic

IN SYMPATHYThe Clark family extends deepest condolences to members in the loss of their loved ones...Heath & W. Clay family; Sam & Gayle Houston; Jean Howard & family; McDaniel, Dowell, Campbell & Anthony family

150 years!Homecoming October 2015

Choir/Music RehearsalsMale Ensemble Wednesdays @ 6 pmSanctuary Choir Wednesdays @ 7 pmAgape Singers Thursdays @ 6:30 pmHand Bells Saturdays @ 10 amYouth Choir Saturdays @ 11:30 amImani Choir Saturdays @ 2 pm

It's Newsworthy!We want to highlight

Clark's youth, adults,

ministries and businesses.

Submit information to the

editor if someone is having

a dance/music recital,

receives an award of

recognition, a new

position, etc.

Note:

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Pastoral TeamRev. Dr. Herbert L. Lester, Jr.- Senior PastorRev. Elizabeth Williams, Associate PastorRev. Richard Stewart, Pastoral Care

Support TeamJanice Woodard, Council ChairMarilyn M. Talbert, Spiritual Formation CoordinatorGeorge A. Breaux, Worship CoordinatorRebecca Lytle Hall, Lay Leader

"The Connection"Wanda Clay, EditorHelen Houston Carrell HortonVivian Fielder Rosie PhelpsJanice Johnson, Adm. and Pastor's Asst.Edna McDaniel, Church Secretary

Voting Right Restoration Clinic

For Ex OffendersApril 30th - 9am-2pmGoodwill Industries Career Solution Center, 937 Herman StreetSponsored by Music City Links, Inc. For more information 615-513-3058

Submitted by Carla Fox