10/14/20 451 Hogan Road, Nashville TN 37220phone: 615-832-2897 website: www.crievewoodumc.org  join us at the churchSaturday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. faith and film series Please bring your own seating, blanket, or chair. The church will provide popcorn from the Pop Cart owned and operated by Arya and Chloe Locklayer. Pastor’s Pen It’s hard to believe, but we are approaching the end of 2020. I think we can all agree that this year has been different than previous years and not what we expected. As we begin the process of saying goodbye to 2020, my mind is already on 2021. Specifically, we are beginning the nominations process for leadership positions in the life of the church. My hope is to open up this process and invite broader participation from across the congregation. I have created a Servant Leadership Interest Form for anyone and everyone in the church to fill out. If you’re wondering whether or not we would want you to fill it out, the answer is a resounding YES! One of the images that Paul uses in the New Testament for the church is a body with many parts – and the body only functions well when each member is doing their part. I would love for you to take a few minutes to let us know how you might be willing to serve in the church during the next year to further God’s work and mission in the world. Many of the roles and positions are self-explanatory, but for some of those which aren’t, here are links to guides from the Kentucky Conferenceand the Iowa Conference that provide some additional information. If you have questions or want to discuss a role or position with me, please do reach out. When we all respond to God’s call to serve and offer our time, talents, and treasure, I believe God can do amazing things! Pastor John Servant Leadership Interest Form Missions AIM Mission to Mountain Top The annual CUMC adult fall mission trip to Mountain T.O.P. is scheduled this week, October 15-18. Please add the mission team to your prayer list seeking God’s blessings and protection for the volunteers and those they serve. Advent Project SuppliesLooking ahead to Advent, we want to offer the congregation an opportunity to contribute to Advent baskets for our families with children. The following items are needed and can be left in the Education Office. Cake mix Frosting Muffin mix (packets of Pillsbury muffin mix are fine) Hot chocolate packets Candy canes Battery operated tea lights Gallon size Ziplocs Quart size Ziplocs Glue sticks Bible StudiesTuesday Bible Study continues to meet in the Builders Classroom with all safety precautions in place. The group gathers on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and is currently discussing the book Stories Jesus Told: How to Read a Parable by Greg Carey. The evening online Bible study led by Pastor John continues through October. This virtual study on the Sermon on the Mount can be accessed on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. through Zoom. Click this link (https://zoom.us/j/97855570881) or use the Meeting ID: 978 5557 0881 to attend.  Fall WorshipWeather permitting the congregation will continue to meet Sunday mornings for an outdoor in person worship service at 9:30 a.m. The COVID Task Force has given us the option to worship in the sanctuary if the weather is inclement. All safety guidelines should be followed whether inside or outside. They are listed below this article for your review. Worship services will also be livestreamed at 9:30 a.m. through Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/CrievewoodUMC/ for those who cannot worship in person. If for some reason the livestreaming of the service does not work, the service will be recorded and posted on Facebook as soon as we can on Sunday morning.Except for the first Sunday of each month, children age three years old to those who are in second grade will have the option to attend Kids’ Worship. Worship packets will be available for grades 3-6. Crievewood United Methodist Church COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines Crievewood respectfully requests that all members and visitors of Crievewood United Methodist Church follow all national and local guidelines to protect against the spread of COVID-19, including adhering to the following at all times when on Crievewood’s property: *Please socially distance by maintaining a distance of at least six feet between you and all other people who are not part of your immediate family. *Masks must be worn at all times (unless age 2 or younger or with a medical exemption, such as a diagnosis of asthma). *Do not enter into the Church building or remain on the property of Crievewood United Methodist Church if you have any of the following symptoms or have been in close contact with any person known to have any of these symptoms in the past 14 days or who has been told they have COVID-19. Fever or chills (100.4 or greater) Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea *Spaces need to be cleaned thoroughly after group use. This goes for the sanctuary, classrooms, restrooms, etc.  Oct. 14 – Mary Ann Jetton and Ken PinkstonOct. 15 – Henry Trump Oct. 17 – Tommy Stevens Oct. 21 – Connor Boyce and Andy Cate Oct. 23 – Amy Freck and Maya McCulloch Oct. 24 – Jerry Ethridge Oct. 26 – Crosby Cherry Oct. 28 – Virginia Chilton and Rosa Jennette If you have a birthday between October 14 and October 28 and it does not appear in the list above, then it is not in our database. We would like to celebrate with you. If your birthday does not appear, please notify the church office at 615-832-2897.Finance Committee Report on Crievewood’s Renovation Ten years after the initial planning of CUMC’s $1.45 million renovation project, the church’s debt will soon be off the books. We have been blessed with a variety of funding sources, including $266,000 from the estates of several longtime, faithful members. Their gifts saved Crievewood substantial interest costs on a $500,000 loan that now is nearly paid off. Construction began in 2013 and was much-needed: new bathrooms upstairs and downstairs, a new air-conditioning system, an elevator, new flooring, an upstairs kitchen and janitor’s closet, and a covered drop-off and pick-up area for both child care and church use. We also lowered the ceiling in the upstairs hall, replaced the ceiling in fellowship hall, rewired the building according to codes, repaved the parking lot, and removed the old boiler system. We were fortunate to have more than $39,000 in our capital improvement fund at the outset, and we were able to move another $74,000 or so to capital improvement from other funds. We received $294,000 from the sale of the Manley property. An initial pledge drive generated $563,000, and a more recent campaign brought in $104,000. Moreover, we received $125,000 from members who did not pledge. Additionally, the Tennessee Conference allocated $47,000 to Crievewood when the properties of several closed churches were sold. In addition to the $1,450,000 construction cost, we have paid $84,000 in bank fees and interest through August and repaid $434,000 of our loan. As of September 30, we owed $66,000 on the bank loan. But we have $43,000 in the capital improvement fund and $4,500 in outstanding pledges (on top of the $667,000 already received). This puts the debt below $19,000, a very manageable level. Because interest continues to accrue, we have kept money in the capital fund until we were able to pay off the debt. The Finance Committee will be presenting a plan to eliminate the debt in a comfortable, orderly manner. The $2,000 a month we are now receiving from Saint Mary’s of Bethany Church, which is sharing our building, will be applied to the capital reserve fund to be used not only toward the debt, but for ongoing infrastructure costs. Given the age of our church and parsonage, increased maintenance costs are inevitable. While Crievewood will always have funding needs, expected and unexpected, it’s great to be almost debt-free, thanks to prayers, hard work, gifts, and bequests. We are always willing to answer any questions about this or any other budget matter. Steve Curry, Finance Chair Joe Buffler, Treasurer Charge Conference Charge Conference 2020 has been scheduled for Sunday, November 22nd at 4:00 p.m. A decision has not yet been made whether the conference will be virtual or in person. If you have forms to complete for this year’s charge conference, please have them finished and into the office by November 8.Still looking for more information? Below are links that may help. UM NewsCUMC Online GivingLink to the Prayer ListLive Stream Worship Sundays @ 10:45 a.m.Most gracious God, thank you for all the gifts you have bestowed on Crievewood United Methodist Church over the generations. By your Holy Spirit, grant us the grace that welcomes all of your children. Make us a community that reflects the full diversity of Christ’s body. Help us grow to love one another as You love us. Empower us to reveal Christ through worship and service. In your holy name we pray. Amen.Copyright © 2020 Crievewood United Methodist Church, All rights reserved. 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