Dear Church Family, This week's e-note covers the following three topics: Starting to Feel at Home A Great Opportunity Thanks to our Music Team Starting to Feel at Home: Many of you know that before coming to Brentwood, I served for a decade at First UMC in Lebanon, Tennessee. Those ten years were among the best years of my life. I dearly loved the church and community and had an almost idyllic life there. Moving to a new community, a new culture, and a new congregation after living in a decade-long comfort zone proved extremely challenging. The first few months at BUMC were disorienting in many ways. I could relate to Dorothy's words in The Wizard of Oz, "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore!" But five months have now passed. The fog of those first few months has cleared. I have a much better understanding of our church and community. I'm building strong relationships with lay members and staff members. I'm receiving enormous positive affirmation from the congregation. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable. In spite of major challenges ahead of us, I'm extremely optimistic about our future. And most important, I'm beginning to feel a strong sense of pastoral love, affection and
appreciation for the good people of Brentwood United Methodist Church. In short, I'm starting to feel at home. So during this season of Advent and Christmas, my heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity to serve this wonderful church. And as we face a New Year, my heart is full of expectation about what God is going to do with us in 2012 and beyond. It truly is a joy and privilege to be your pastor. A Great Opportunity: The next two weeks provide our congregation with excellent opportunities to invite people to BUMC. Large numbers of unchurched people are willing to visit a church, especially at Christmas, if only they receive an invitation. So please go out of your way to invite folks to church this weekend, December 17th and 18th. We will focus on a God of real life, a God who "became flesh" (John 1). That same evening you can invite people to attend our annual "Festival of Carols" at 7 p.m. And the following Saturday-Christmas Eve-is perhaps the best opportunity of the entire year to invite people to BUMC. We'll host five on-campus Christmas Eve Communion/Candlelight services at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11 p.m. Two overflow services with live music and worship leaders will be offered at 4 and 6 p.m. in the chapel. We'll also host Christmas Eve services at Trinity UMC at 6 p.m. and Harvest Hands at 8 p.m. And on December 23rd at 6 p.m., we will host a Warehouse Christmas Service for homeless people at Rocketown (601 4th Ave. South) in downtown Nashville. So spread the good news and invite everyone you know to these special worship events over the next two weeks. Thanks to our Music Team: A special thanks to our 5th and 6th grade Alleluia Choir for their joyful presentation of the "Light of the World" musical at the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services last Sunday. Thanks also for the Awakening music team who led us in beautiful Advent and Christmas music. I also want to thank our brand new "Joysound" Orchestra for playing on Sunday. You
did a great job! We look forward to hearing you play again soon. If you play an instrument and would like information about joining the Joysound Orchestra, please contact our director, Patsy Wade, at pwade@bumc.net or 615-351-4239. Finally, it was good to receive Cade Akridge, Avery Chaffin, Colin Fitz, Noelle Harris, and Rex Williams as new members. Welcome to our church family. In Christ's Love and Service, Martin