Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Vacation Bible School—Lights, Camera, Action!

Welcome To Eastwood Christian Church

Eastwood Christian Church is a community of people brought together and transformed by God's love. In remembrance of Christ Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we seek to respond to Christ's call to discipleship. Currently, the church is joyfully growing and enjoying the resurgence of community life in East Nashville. We are enjoying wonderful music, growing fellowship, and a vibrant children's ministry (including a wonderful nursery). We continue to be committed to outreach ministries to serve our neighbors.

We'd love to have you join us on our mission. At Eastwood Christian Church, our congregational vision is to be:

• A gathering that welcomes and values all people.
• A fellowship whose life and witness express true community.
• A community that is faithful and growing.
• A congregation challenging one another to learn and grow in Christian discipleship.
• A body where everyone uses their gifts for God's ministry.
• An assembly grounded in a rich history and Disciples tradition.
• A church with a passion for justice.
• A people of joy, love, hope and peace.

Annual Church Yard Sale On Saturday, October 10

If you haven't yet, you can still bring your items anytime and place in the back hallway of the sanctuary.

This is not required, BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP if most, of not all, of your items are priced. Again, if they are not priced we will do the pricing.

Questions can be directed to Bob Frech or Bill Ivie.

Thoughts From Jay - October 8, 2009

"Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?"—Job 2:10

Greetings, my friends:

Life happens. Sometimes it happens the way we want, sometimes it doesn't. The way we respond to life says a lot about who we are, what we believe. When life is good, are we grateful? Do we express thanks? Do we celebrate by giving to others, trying to share our joy" And when life is hard, do we give up? Do we whine and complain? Do we grit our teeth and keep going?

The book of Job is out Old Testament reading for October, and Job wrestles with the question of how to respond to the vicissitudes of life. When life is good, Job is thankful and upright. So, when life turns bad, Job doesn't feel it's right to whine or complain. Thus, people talk about "the patience of job."

Finally, though things get really bad, and Job explodes, "Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?" Job ran out of patience and cried out his frustration with God. The lesson here may be we all have our limits. Or maybe, we should let off a little steam every now and then so the pressure doesn't build up. Or maybe better, we don't have to be perfect. Even Job, renowned for his patience, couldn't take it any longer. We don't have to be perfect. We strive to be grateful. We strive to put on a good face even when life is hard. But we don't have to be perfect.

Peace & blessings to all of you.

Pastor Jay

Grand Opening Of Eastwood Seminary

September 6, 2009 will be the Grand Opening of Eastwood Seminary. Eastwood Seminary will host 4-week courses for adults in exploring various aspects of Bible and Christian life. Our first course, held in September, will be ES101: Introduction to Christian History taught by Pastor Jay.

We will explore the origins of Christianity and its development through Early Christianity, the conversion of Constantine and the Catholic tradition, the Protestant Reformation, and the development of our tradition: the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

ES101 is designed both for those new to Christianity and for those who want to have a better grasp of how Christianity got to be what it is today. There will be no texts to buy, no cost for the class, light homework (reading a few handouts), and no prerequisite.

Contact Pastor Jay if you'd  like to register for the class or know more about it.

Thoughts From Jay - August 20, 2009

Sometimes the Apostle Paul sounds like a football coach giving a pep talk, or a military officer giving commands to his troops.

"Take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand... to stand firm."

In some ways, these are funny images for a Christian leader to use—images that talk about fighting, standing firm, being armed and ready to do battle against the enemy. You expect such phrases in a locker room or on a battlefield, but not so much in a gathering that follows the Prince of Peace.

All Church Picnic/Day, Saturday August 22

This Saturday, August 22 is our All Church Picnic Day at Bethany Hills, our church campground in Kingston Springs. Directions are available at the Tennessee Disciples website.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

ARRIVAL: Arrive anytime you like on Saturday. We are shooting for about 10:00 a.m.. A few families are staying over Friday night, so you won’t arrive on Saturday morning to an empty campground no matter how early you arrive.

BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH! We'll cater/provide dinner (either pizza or BBQ) and eat at about 6:00 p.m. Bring a few dollars to chip in for dinner, and if you feel like it (not required) bring a dessert to share. (Fridge & freezer space are available.)

CLOSING WORSHIP is at 7:00 p.m. or so at the lakeside chapel. You can be headed home by 8:00 p.m. or so.

SWIMMING POOL WILL BE OPEN—so come ready to swim. You can also fish, play ball, play ping pong, shoot basketballs over/under the rafters, sit & knit on the lodge porch in rocking chairs, play guitars or board games (bring anything you want to do).

PLEASE EMAIL ME (jay_ecc (at) bellsouth.net) and let me know if you are coming and how many to expect for dinner. We don't want to waste food by overbuying, nor do we want to run short. Also feel free to put in your vote for BBQ or Pizza—that will help us decide.   

Peace,

Jay

Thoughts From Jay: July 22, 2009

Greetings My Friends:

Balance. "Balance" is a popular word these days—in part we because we often seem to be OUT of balance. Some of us work too hard. Some of us play too hard. Some of us exercise too little or spend too much. Finding balance is important in life—and always has been.

Jesus had sent his disciples into the mission field, asking them to go teach and heal in his name. They went. They taught. They healed. And, they came back exhausted. Jesus took one look at them and said, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."

Thoughts From Jay - June 17, 2009

I think I'm going through Vacation Bible School withdrawal, or VBSW Syndrome. I had so much fun last week—it's hard to know what to do next! Most of the time, when I've been planning a big event for a long time, it's kind of a relief when it's over. But on the last day of VBS I looked around the thought, "I wish this could keep going."

I am so proud of our congregation. A few months ago I said I wanted this to be an all-church project. Over 50 people ended up involved in some way or another—children attending, adults teaching and leading, people helping behind the scenes to make things happen. Already people are asking, "Can we do this again next year?"

More News About Vacation Bible School

We continue to plan for Vacation Bible School which is scheduled for June 7-10. We are looking for people to help in the following areas:

• Someone to run the video camera during VBS 
• Help set up technology BEFORE VBS 
• Help decorate on Saturday, June 6 at 9:00 a.m. 
• Help with cookout on June 7 (5:00 p.m. eating time) 
• A number of other smaller jobs. 

If you are able and interested, please let Pastor Jay know. We are also looking for cool props that have to do with LIGHTS and with MOVIE THEMES—posters, movie studio stuff, etc. Please let Pastor Jay know if you have something you could loan to us, and bring it in anytime in the next week or so.

Orientation For Death Row Visitors

The following is a letter from Susan McBride with information for those who would like to participate in visitation to death row inmates. If you are interested, please contact Susan ASAP.

There will be a visitor on death row orientation June 20, 2009 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution from 9-12 that morning. This will include a tour of the living quarters inside death row.

If you are interested in being a visitor to someone in Tennessee

who is death sentenced this is a good time to ask questions and visit the prison before making the decision. You are by no means obligated should you attend the orientation.

If you are interested you must contact me quickly. Names must be handed in a week prior to the orientation. I need the legal name that matches your photo ID (driver’s license or other valid identifier) you will need to have with you to get inside the prison.   You must be at least 21 and have no felony convictions.

Details regarding how to get to the prison, what to wear, and what to bring, will be sent in a later message. To be added to the list of those interested send your contact information to mcbrides(at)tnpcdo.net. Include your legal name, email address and phone number.    

Susan H. McBride

Mitigation Director

Office of Post Conviction Defender

Vacation Bible School Starts Soon - Volunteers Needed

Vacation Bible School 2009 is just around the corner: June 7-10. To date we have 29 children pre-registered.

Songs, curriculum, crafts, decorations, registration plans, meals are all well underway. Please contact Pastor Jay, Elizabeth Brown, Julie Duemler or Gina Waters if you would like to help in any way. We will need extra bodies June 6 to help set up and June 7-10 to welcome and host.