| 12/23/20 |
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| 451 Hogan Road, Nashville TN 37220 phone: 615-832-2897 website: www.crievewoodumc.org |
 Pastor’s PenOn Christmas Eve, we plan to gather in the parking lot (with masks and social distancing) around 4:45 to sing some Christmas carols to celebrate. We’ll conclude our time with the traditional lighting of candles and then singing “Silent Night.” Likewise, our 5:30 worship livestream will end with sharing the light of Christ and singing “Silent Night.” There is something almost magical – supernatural, at least – about that Christmas carol and its ability to invoke God’s presence with us. On Christmas Eve in 1914, Europe was still being ravaged by the first World War. Pope Benedict XV had called for a temporary armistice, but world leaders had ignored him. That night, as the two sides were huddled down in their respective trenches, the German soldiers started to sing “Stille Nacht.” When they finished, the British responded by singing “Silent Night.” Rather than trading volleys of shots, they traded volleys of song. In the morning, the soldiers from both sides laid down their arms and wandered into the no-man’s-land between trenches. They embraced, sang more carols, exchanged small gifts, played soccer, and set aside the things of war on Christmas Day. May the same power of God’s love and the Incarnation that inspired their truce bring you peace this Christmas. John Hill Christmas Memories A couple of the photos of Christmas past that were sent to the church by Dave McIntyre are posted below. Do you recognize anyone?   More Christmas Memories . . . . One of my favorite Christmas memories is of our last Christmas in the house we lived in for over 25 years. Mother and Daddy were downsizing. All of my sibling and I had moved out of the house 6-16 years prior, but as is often the case we left “stuff” behind. When we arrived home that Christmas the tree was loaded with wrapped presents, just like when we were little. As the unwrapping began it became apparent that Mother had lovingly wrapped everything we left behind: Legos, Overton Letter jacket, baseball cards, Nancy Drew books, match box cars, and much more. It was a wonderful way to clean out the house and relive past Christmas memories. ~ Sharon Ferrell On Christmas morning I like to get up at 7 am and wake my parents, though they don’t want to get up that early. 🙁 Then I open all my presents, eat French toast with the family, and go to church! It’s my favorite day of the year!!!!!~ Paisley Darrell Christmas Eve services are always such a blessing. My sister and her husband come and we are able to worship the birth of the Christ Child together. A very special way to continue the Advent journey! ~ Tandy Taylor When I was growing up, most of my extended family all lived in the same town – both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. For Christmas every year, my mom’s side of the family would get together to open gifts on Christmas Eve at my Nanny’s house. We would take turns, going from youngest to oldest. Afterwards, we would go to the Christmas Eve service at church. We would regather at Nanny’s house on Christmas morning after opening gifts at our own homes for breakfast and to open our stockings – 15 or so all hung in front of the fireplace. Then we would go to my Mammaw’s house for lunch and more gifts. Christmas was always a special time growing up to be with family. ~ John Hill Many years ago, I was asked to build a life size manger scene for our Youth Group at CUMC. This was a drive thru or park and visit situation for all of the church and proud parents. Lasted 10 days before to Christmas. We were all so proud and became closer to each other. That made my Christmas! Merry Christmas to all!☮️✝️❤️ ~ John Jetton The time my sister gave me a bible for Christmas. It was a very thoughtful gift. It is one that can be used often. ~ snecats@bellsouth.net My favorite is attending the Christmas Eve service and seeing all the candles lit by each one present as the church lights are dimmed. Then going to a friend’s house to share Christmas Eve with six of us. ~ Judy Simpson If I have the option, I always choose to attend the 11pm Christmas Eve service. There is something special about the peacefulness of that service. All the hustle of Christmas is finished and behind, and the meaning of Christmas is front and center. I was attending such a Christmas Eve service about a decade ago. The night was stormy, but the faithful gathered anyway stashing our umbrellas in the narthex as we entered. The service had just started when a clap of thunder was heard, and the electricity was gone. All that could be seen were the silhouettes of the vocalist and pastor revealed only by the light of the altar and Advent candles. While we could vaguely see our closest neighbor in the pew, we could sense that other beings were with us in the sanctuary. It was a reminder of what the first Christmas must have been like with perhaps only the stars or an oil lamp to attend the baby and mother and with the animals presence felt but not necessarily seen. A few of us had a small pocket flashlight that could be used to see the words in the hymnal, but most of the service was in darkness until those final candles were lit. The next Sunday service the congregation was in conversation about what happened on Christmas Eve, but what we were asking was whether all of our Christmas Eve services should be conducted that way. My wish this year is that your Christmas Eve service will be as meaningful. ~ Jan Bassett  On December 24th the sanctuary will be open for individuals to spend time in reflection from 8-10 a.m. and from 2-4 p.m. Please practice COVID safety protocols. A greeter will be in the narthex to insure that there are no more than 10 people gathered in the sanctuary at a given time.Then at 4:45 p.m. there will be a short in-person gathering in the upper parking lot to sing carols and share the light of Christ. Please dress for the weather. Our online Christmas Eve service will begin at 5:30 p.m. starting with an interval of musical meditation led by Caleb and Hailee. The service welcome and announcements will commence promptly at 5:40 p.m. You can access the livestreamed Christmas service at https://www.facebook.com/CrievewoodUMC/Ongoing Missions Giving Tree The CUMC Missions Team has set up the Methodist Mission Giving Tree in the church narthex. Operating similar to an angel tree, the Methodist Mission Giving Tree gives you the opportunity to choose a Methodist Mission to support through a financial gift by picking out an ornament from the Giving Tree. Each ornament will have a description of a specific Methodist Mission from around the world to tell you a bit about the organization and the amazing ministry they provide. Gifts may be made online through umcmission.org. Instructions for how to do this will be provided when you choose an ornament from the tree. Feel free to stop by the church weekdays during office hours to select an ornament from the Methodist Mission Giving Tree! The tree will remain in the narthex through January 1st. TP Sunday January 3rd is the next TP Sunday. You may bring toilet paper donations to the the narthex or drop them off during drive-up communion. Your gifts are always appreciated and greatly aid CCF’s mission to the homeless in Nashville. Norman Binkley Food Packs Our Crievewood Youth and Kids grades 3-6th will continue to create bags of food for children at Norman Binkley Elementary School throughout the school year. You can help collect the food donations to put in the gallon bags by supplying the following: canned fruits, vegetables, or beans, canned tuna fish, canned soups, boxes of rice, pasta, or mac n cheese, breakfast bars or protein bars, boxes of raisins, fruit cups, or applesauce. Donations can be brought to the church anytime. Crievewood Serves South End is in need of some extra hands on Tuesdays to help with their Food Program. Please click on this link to sign up for a volunteer slot https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4DAEA62DAAFF2-south  Crievewood, along with 17 other area churches, has partnered with the Center for Healthy Churches out of Belmont University to participate in Project Thrivewhich is designed to create opportunities for our church to reflect on our strengths and ministry focus, our unique context, and specific thriving traits. In 2021, we will have a series of 3 congregation-wide conversations to talk about the past, present, and future of Crievewood. Our Thrive Team will host these conversations, listen intently, and then work together to form an action plan and strategies to help our church thrive in the 21st century. The first of these conversations will be on Sunday, January 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Zoom. We want as many members of the Crievewood family to participate as possible from youth group age on up. We value your input, your stories, and your relationship with Crievewood and want to take as many perspectives into consideration as possible. We are asking everyone to use this form to RSVP with yes, no, or maybe for the conversation and to let us know via the same form if you need any help connecting via Zoom.  Any monetary gift that you wish to be counted as a 2020 contribution should be in the church office by December 31.If you have ordered boxed giving envelopes, they will be available in the narthex on December 28th.UMW Cookbooks The UMW thanks you for all your support and purchases of Sue Bean’s cookbook. If anyone would like to order additional copies, we have a master copy and will be happy to run off more cookbooks when preordered. I will not be able to have more cookbooks prior to Christmas, but if you email me at lauracbenson@aol.com, I will add your name to my list and make more copies as needed. The cookbooks are $10.00 per copy. Please make your checks out to Crievewood UMW or you may leave cash in an envelope in the church office. Once again, thank you for all your support. Laura C. Benson Thank YouThank you to our Crievewood family for all of the cards, prayers and kind words during the recent passing of my mom, Zelma Stroud. Love, Brenda and Keith Head  Dec. 23 – John StevensDec. 25 – Blake Leyers and Rebecca McCloud Dec. 28 – Braxton Booth, Kensington Fuller, and Morgan Morrison Dec. 29 – Karla McVey and Kinsley Woodard Dec. 31 – Delores Sternenberg Jan. 1 – Bobby McCloud and Adam Lewis Jan. 2 – Ruth Shular If you have a birthday between December 23 and January 5 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.Still looking for more information? Below are links that may help. UM NewsLink to the Prayer ListCUMC Online GivingLive 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.You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive the Crievewood United Methodist Church Newsletter. Our mailing address is: Crievewood United Methodist Church451 Hogan RoadNashville, Tn 37220 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |