The Contributor, December 6. 2023

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IN THE ISSUE 3

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Vendor Spotlight

Questions & Answers

Vendor Writing

Mr. Mysterio's Hoboscopes

"He’s taught us so much, and I only hope he can feel some love reflected back to him through the piece."

We sat down with Rebecca King, executive director of the Nashville Predators Foundation. to learn more about the organization.

Contributor vendors write in this issue about customers, movies, and spending the holidays without devices.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a certified reindeer registrar or a trained elf. More at mrmysterio.com.

Contributor Board

Kerry Graham, Chair • Amber DuVentre, Chair Elect • Christine Doeg , Secretary • Cathy

Jennings • Demetria Kalodimos • Jerome Moore • O. Wade Nelson, Jr. • Waddell Wright • Robin Kimbrough-Hayes • Jim Shulman • Tom Wills • Drew Morris

Contributors This Issue Amanda Haggard • Linda Bailey • Judith Tackett • Mr. Mysterio • Norma B. • Lisa A. • Maurice B. • Howard P. • Chris Scott Fieselman • Michael G. • Wendell J. • Daniel H. • Sharon H.

Contributor Volunteers Christine Doeg • Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Laura Birdsall • Marissa Young • Matthew Murrow • Gisselly Mazariegos • Tyler Samuel • Jamie Dore • Russ Heldman Cathy Jennings Executive Director

HOW TO PAY A VENDOR WITH VENMO Any vendor of The Contributor can accept VENMO as payment.

Technology is a barrier to those experiencing homelessness. Many of our vendors don’t have phones or bank accounts, or use online commerce. Thus we simplified the VENMO process by using one account for all vendors. This means YOU MUST IDENTIFY YOUR VENDOR when using VENMO. Here is the skinny on how to do it right. #1 You must have a VENMO account.

Sign up at www.venmo.com if you haven’t already. #2 SCAN THE SQUARE QR CODE in the top left corner of the cover of this paper using your phone or tablet camera. Then press the button that appears once it has been recognized. #3 CLICK the blue “Pay or Request” button on the screen with The Contributor yellow and black logo. #4 TYPE in the amount you wish to pay.

The paper costs $2. Tips are welcomed.

Vendors get all the money you send and can pick it up the next business day at our office. #5 Most importantly, TYPE YOUR VENDOR’S NAME AND BADGE # in the “What’s this for?” box. Then hit the PAY button. Their name and 4 digit badge #

should be written on the front cover of the paper below the QR code. You must identify them to insure they will get the money. First name, last initial and 4 digit badge # will ensure that a vendor with a similar name doesn’t get confused for your vendor. You can also leave feedback in this field. But always identify the vendor. If they didn’t write their name or badge # on the cover of this paper, please describe where they were and what they looked like. This usually can identify them. #6 HIT THE PAY BUTTON. #7 The FIRST TIME you pay anyone using VENMO you will be asked to enter the last 4 digits of their phone number. Type 6829 in this field. Our phone number is (615) 829-6829. Or, you can scroll down and skip this step. (VENMO wants to protect you from sending money to the wrong person with a similar name. The next time you pay a vendor using our account, you won’t be asked to verify again.)

#8 ALWAYS TAKE THE PAPER HOME WITH YOU. When vendors sell out, the satisfaction of having a business that sells out its products begins to sink in! Vendors who sell out, come back to our office to buy more.

This helps our vendors meet their sales goals. And, it is there that we can meet with them, give them their VENMO payments or mail and work on solving their barriers to housing and life’s goals. #9 Friend us on VENMO and leave feedback. Open the app and click on “Me” at the bottom. Then select “Transactions” to see your payments. Click on the payment to The Contributor in your transaction list and then click on our icon at the top of the screen to see all of those transactions between us. On this page you can “Friend” us and click on the speech bubble icons of all your payments to leave feedback on your experience. Constructive feedback and praise help encourage our vendors to do their best.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Tom Wills Director of Vendor Operations Carli Tharp SNAP Specialist Ree Cheers SOAR Manager Andrew Terry IV SOAR Referral Specialist Rachel Ternes Housing Navigator Andreos Chunaco Housing Navigator Holly Bowman Director of Development Esther Mwandiko Kitenge Engagement Specialist Jesse Call Operations Consultant Raven Nye Director of Housing Initiatives Justin Wagner Resource Coordinator & Reporter Barbara Womack Advertising Manager Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors Chelsea Jackson Vendor Office Manager Andrew Krinks Editor Emeritus Will Connelly, Tasha F. Lemley, Steven Samra, and Tom Wills Contributor Co-Founders Editorials and features in The Contributor are the perspectives of the authors. Submissions of news, opinion, fiction, art and poetry are welcomed.

The Contributor reserves the right to edit any submissions. The Contributor cannot and will not endorse any political candidate.

Submissions may be emailed to: editorial@thecontributor.org Requests to volunteer, donate, or purchase subscriptions can be emailed to: info@thecontributor.org Please email advertising requests to: advertising@thecontributor.org

The Contributor P.O. Box 332023, Nashville, TN 37203 Vendor Office: 615.829.6829

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PAGE 2 | December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Copyright © 2018 The Contributor, Inc. All rights reserved.

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

Vendor William B. Inspires Friendship and Art

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

First, it was his playing spoons that drew Blythe Colvin to purchase a newspaper from Contributor vendor William B. And it was his stories and friendship that kept her coming back.

Colvin moved to Nashville from Minneapolis for school and met her partner Hayden, who shares her passion for community support.

“We would always make sure to buy the Contributor, keep Gatorade on hand to give out to the vendors in the heat and do what small things we could to support our community,” Colvin said. “We were honestly so intrigued by William's spoon playing that one day we decided to ask him if

he wanted anything from the store, he said ‘Dr. Pepper!’ so we got him one, and circled back around to chat with him about his music and his life. Our friendship has progressed gradually from there by occasionally attending church with him, getting Jersey Mikes with him, and sometimes he will even wheel over to our side of town for a cup of tea. Our cats love him too.”

Colvin was drawn to William and his amazing life stories. One of her favorites is that William likes to tell of a near-death experience he had where he envisioned an angel of God telling him that he wasn't done on Earth. When he came back to

consciousness, he told her he was inspired to live fully by love. He had horns tattooed on his scalp, and ended up covering them in angel wings instead to represent that experience and transformation.

“We always say he's like a cat — the man definitely has nine lives,” Colvin said. “Probably more.”

William said the friendship came naturally because he likes to talk and Blythe and her partner, Hayden, like to listen.

“She parked her car near the bank and I was sitting there playing,” William said. “I saw her come in and I said ‘Do you want to buy a paper or do you want to talk or

what?’ You know me. I’m rarely at a loss for words. And she said, ‘Well, are you hungry?’”

Colvin, who is an artist and graphic designer, decided she wanted to paint William and give him the work as a gift for his birthday this fall.

William had been to her art studio and knew she was an artist — always showing a lot of interest and then one day commenting that he’d love to have some of her work one day. He later mentioned his birthday was coming up and she thought it was the perfect time to act.

“He’s taught us so much, and I only hope he can feel some love reflected back to him through the

piece,” Colvin said.

She told him she was creating it, and William said he was anticipating the final product. When he saw it, he was delighted.

“Wow! That’s me. That’s definitely me,” he said.

William says the painting is hanging at Room In The Inn right now and that he plans to will it to his sister when he passes. He says he even takes a little credit for encouraging Blythe and Hayden’s relationship.

“It feels good to have a painting of me done by a person I’ve known for a little over a year now,” William said.

“And I feel by getting them together I made two people happy.”

We’re participating in NewsMatch, a national matching-gift campaign that drives donations to nonprofit newsrooms.

Through Dec. 31, NewsMatch will match your donation, inluding new monthly donations, x12!

Scan to donate>>

Donate Here: www.thecontributor.org/donate December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ROOTS OF OUR MUSIC

OPEN NOW

Photos courtesy of Tennessee State Library & Archives and Library of Congress

FREE ADMISSION 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

615.741.2692 TNMuseum.org

PAGE 4 | December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Need help? Call 833-837-HOME or scan the QR code for more information.

(833) 837-HOME

(615) 701-7957

This information is only for Davidson County. The information provided here does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please call a private attorney or call your local Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands office at 1-800-238-1443 or the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association at 1-615-701-7957. Revised 9/23.

December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

FEATURE

Q&A with The Predators Foundation

BY J UDITH TACKE T T

On May 17, The Contributor participated in this year’s Helper Grant Award Ceremony at Bridgestone Arena. The Contributor was invited to accept a grant from the Predators Foundation that would help families with transportation. While The Contributor is not a family provider, we increasingly are approached by parents who are seeking immediate access to income or want to supplement their income as they transition out of homelessness. In addition, many people living on the streets have kids who are not with them.

They’re parents who try their best to get back on their feet and reunite with their children.

We sat down with Rebecca King, vice president of community relations and executive director of the Nashville Predators Foundation to learn more about the organization and its approach to community giving.

Could you give us a brief overview of the Predators Foundation?

The Predators Foundation is housed under the Nashville Predators organization, and we raise money for youth and families. We spend our whole year raising the money through events and auctions that then goes into our grants program. This enables us to fund organizations in our community through our grant cycle.

In addition to the grant cycle, our foundation has a pediatric cancer fund. We build a playground every year with KaBOOM! We contribute $100,000 a year to the AMEND Together program to teach young men how to be good men. It’s part of the YWCA and its domestic violence program. And then we do a lot of programming with our players. We figure out where their passions are and what they’re interested in, and we create programs that bring awareness and financial gain to these nonprofits to help them do the great work that they’re doing.

The Contributor is a 2023 recipient of the Helper Grants. What are the Helper Grants and how big has your contribution been to the community through the Helper Grants?

Our grants program is our largest annual allocation to the nonprofit community. We have one grant cycle. Last May we distributed $800,000 in one day. We had 172 nonprofits show up and collect a check. We, as an organization, decided we don’t know what’s best for kids in schools, for example. But we should raise money and then help organizations that are helping kids in schools. We can be that mechanism to fundraise, and so we do that through the grants program. Our former president of the Preds Foundation, his name is Gerry Helper. He recently retired. His name is so appropriate for the program that we renamed it Helper Grants, after him. He has been with the organization since inception and started the foundation.

Other than providing support dollars, what type of collaborations do you like to

enter with nonprofit organizations?

We have a variety [of collaborations], and again, a lot of them spur from the interest of our players. We have one player really interested in animal rescue and so, every year, we help him raise money through Wags and Walks Nashville through creating a dog club and through having our fans support the cause that he’s passionate about. We have a close partnership with children’s hospital, and we annually raise money for their pediatric cancer fund. We’ve been doing that since 2013. That was started by two of our players, Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, who are both no longer playing. We wanted to create a legacy program. When they were done playing hockey this kept on going, creating amazing things in the community because of them and because of their desire to help and give back to the community. We have hundreds of partnerships, but I think those are two of our big ones.

How much do the Predators players get involved with the Foundation?

We always say, if you want to be an employee of the Nashville Predators or even if you want to be a player of the Nashville Predators, you have to be a part of the community. It’s who we are. It’s part of the DNA and fiber as an employee. When new players come in or when players come up from the minor league, we meet with them and figure out where their interests are because if we try to align them with something that’s not really a passion project for them, it’s not going to be as successful.

We have one player who is no longer with the Preds, but his program continues – P. K. Subban. He wanted to create a program that brought together youth and police officers and so we created the Blue-line Buddies. At every home game we have a police officer and their guest meet up with a “Big” and a “Little” from Big Brothers Big Sisters. They get to meet a player before the game; they’re given a T-shirt and some goodies; they get to go eat dinner together and have conversation and then they go and watch the hockey game together. They show up as strangers and then they leave as friends and usually keep in touch after the game. P.K. hasn’t played here in probably three to four years, but it was so well received by the police officers and also the youth organizations that we partnered with that it was something we wanted to continue. It also created a legacy for P.K. when he recently retired. He can look back and see that this program is still going on thanks to his involvement when he was a player here.

We have several players who adopt kids at Christmas, deliver turkeys, and some guys spend a lot of money and donate that way.

Other players give a lot of their time. They love to go to the children’s hospital or go to youth hockey clinics and inspire new young hockey players. All of our guys do something, it just depends on where their interests are.

We at The Contributor were really excited to receive a grant from The Predators Foundation this year for the first time…

Reading your grant, you would not think The Contributor would really make sense with

PAGE 6 | December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

[our focus on] families. But we always tell nonprofits that inquire about applying for grants is that it’s not their mission that we read. It’s how they want to spend the money. If the money [they request] then ties back to helping kids and parents, then there is this opportunity.

What else would you like for Nashvillians to know about the work at the Predators Foundation?

The important thing we’d like for people to know is that we’re not given money at the start of the year and then spend the rest of the year distributing it. We put on fundraisers like every other organization. We have a golf tournament; we have a clay shoot; we have a bowling tournament; we have a gala; we have a wine tasting; we have a beer festival; we have a fishing tournament. So all of these events engage our fans, engage the community, and through those events is how we raise the money that we distribute. We are very careful who we give it to, because we work so hard to raise it and put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into these events and fundraisers.

Our grant cycle is open. It opened Oct. 2 and closes in January. We welcome interested organizations to apply.

When people reach out to us and want to do all these things with us, we always tell them, the first way for us to be introduced to what you do is through the grant program because we get so much valuable information from the application. And then from there, the relationship starts. Some organizations we’ve done so many things with are because of that very first step and partnering with us.

VENDOR WRITING

Customers Who Show Concern By Giving Things Wanted and Needed

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

People show genuine care and concern in a variety of ways. All too often those who need help themselves are the first to take the time to offer a prayer in my behalf, then request that I say a prayer for them. All I can say is, ask and you shall receive!

Others notice I admire something they have and they’ll just bring it to me out of the blue. (It’s happens A LOT particularly with clothing.) People will often take off a hat, a jacket, or gloves I like and give it to me on the spot.

Hazel, who I referred to as ‘the hat lady’ before I knew her name, because she has a hat for EVERY oc-

casion. I’ll bet her collection would rival the late Thelma Harper.

She brought me one that I’d been admiring for some time, and it even matched the outfit I was planning to wear the following day! (I’d picked it out beforehand!) How cool is that?

On another occasion, I complimented a lady’s pretty blue cane saying it would match my outfit.

Though she didn’t want to be identified by name for this article, she proceeded to hand it right out the window and give it to me!

I thanked her and asked: Don’t YOU need it? She said, “consider it a gift from Jesus!”

I have received many requests for prayers and I also have many offered up in my behalf Here are a few examples: Nervous about one of my first outings in Antioch, Katie offered a nice prayer in my behalf to get me going.

Harolyn stopped traffic in her minivan and said a prayer that someone would buy ALL my papers so I could go home.

I thanked her and assured her that each day I do what I can, and God gives me what HE wants me to have, and I need to be content with that!

Tyler who just moved here from Lubbock, Texas, stopped and asked if he could pray for me.

There’s no such thing as too many prayers, right? He admitted he wasn’t familiar with paper. Well, rest assured, he is now!

On another occasion, Erica, who has stopped for me a few times before, came to visit and saw my chair but not me.

She took the time to park her car and check the restaurants in the strip mall. When she still didn’t find me, she started walking up the sidewalk and we met in the middle.

I commended her determination

and was flattered that she took the time to look for me so diligently.

I’d also like to thank ALL those who look forward to reading my stories in the paper.

I love it when ‘real people’ can relate to the stories I write, like Steve who got out of his truck and came over for a visit telling me he could relate to a previous story I’d written entitled ‘The Storage Unit of My Life,’ because he’s lost EVERYTHING he’s had in them three times!

Finally, I’d like to send out a BIG thank you to ALL those who look out for me no matter where I am!

Thanks for caring!

Your Slow Travel Holiday Challenge

BY LISA A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

In the Oct. 25 edition of The Contributor, I suggested that an entire exciting vacation could be had by walking out your door with a daypack, a coat and a bank card while avoiding the use of the combustion engine.

Why even try this? Because our cars combined with the Internet are controlling us. They are meant to be servants… not masters.

I am in good company. Chris Moody, a new father and professor in Boone, N.C., was published in the “One Story to Read Today” newsletter, re-published in The Atlantic.

And yes, I found the story in the online version of The Atlantic.

Other resources include Arthur C. Brooks's article titled, “How to Break a Phone Addiction.”

The Internet is my sometimes tool. Never my master.

Living in a tent during the pandemic kept me from relying on the Internet. If I was lost in Nashville (due to the rapidly changing skyline) I simply had to travel to the next street sign and search my memory of street layout.

It was a marvelous surprise to find the new-to-me 28th Ave. connector, which was long delayed due to racist policies.

Vending The Contributor is riskiest when all my potential customers are glued to their phone. Therefore I wear bright yellow and wave to oncoming people before they stop. Long before the stop because many people are able to calculate the distance

between them and the next car and start looking down before they even come to a stop!

Am I that friendly?

Yes. Plus, it’s a surprise connection for the driver. They are pulled out of their isolated bubble — even if for a fraction of a second. Win/ Win. On to the Challenge, should we choose to accept it.

Options: • Leave a day early. Lock all devices in the trunk. Take the Blue Highways. Stop in at local shops and eateries along the way. Ask a stranger a question.

• If you are receiving guests, plan the time so that everyone can walk or perhaps bus to a location together. Make a map of

your immediate neighborhood and find something interesting to do. If you’re in the burbs, maybe it’s just walking around greeting your neighbors. You might want to try greeting them ahead of time, so they’re not taken completely by surprise!

In other words, start walking around your neighborhood now. ;) • Skip the gifts for the over 14 crowd. Have everyone put their devices in a basket and leave them there. Have everyone tell a story.

• When going out, you may want to print out a paper map and bus schedules. A wonderful teaching opportunity for the under

Dear Mom & Dad

BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I want to take this time to thank our almighty creator God for choosing you two to be the vessels that He chose to bring about the gift of my manifestation of existence. I want to assure you that you've done the best teamwork possible and by y'all working together, you succeeded in the fulfillment of my presence. Now through experience being the best teacher of all times, I must also thank y'all individually for all the survival techniques of your history of vim which I've been able to pick up and use resourcefully. And with the acknowledgment that there are positive and negative aspects in every circumstance and situation

of vitality, I also want to reassure you that I fully take responsibility for my choices—sometimes lol.

I seriously know that I've come to find some loophole, blaming others for my mishaps and my misbehavior but that's only because I've yet to receive the self-experience acceptance.

I've been too busy striving to fulfill the stages of enjoyment instead of realizing that within every stage of living comes responsibilities. In the differences between ages and lifestyles within the eras comes a long line of operations and procedures where vigorous intent and stamina are required. That's where I'm truly grateful for the times that you shared or were absent in my life because that

is what gave me strength to become the person I am today.

The human being I am today is one who still strives to accept the various changes within the different and difficult concepts of society. As I participate in the relay of this rim of existence, carrying the baton that was handed to me at my birth that still running with, I am remaining headstrong in my lane. I am striving to balance my choices and actions with how I react and respond to the ventures of life as I am approached by them.

Once again I first give honor to our almighty creator God, and then I also thank you two Mom and Dad for the creation of me.

December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

30 crowd.

• Go to hear music, a play or to a shelter serving a Holiday meal.

Eat with folks, then help clean up. Take the bus home and talk about it with your family.

• Look up the history of your neighborhood. Take everyone on a walking tour.

• Are you flying somewhere?

Make an effort to get to know one local person. Give them something they really need as you are leaving. Commit to planting a hundred trees this year. If appropriate, a few large bamboo stands will also suffice.

My prediction? The happiest Holiday in your history.

Poem

BY HOWARD P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I Stand here, trying to sell my paper For all those to see, The one thing that really gets to me, Is the people who turned their heads And pretend not to see Me standing here selling my paper, For people to see I think that Bob Dylan said it best in his song Blowin’ in the Wind: “How many times can a man turn his head, And pretend that he just doesn’t see The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind.”

For those who do see me standing here selling my paper, it is my hope that you see Me trying to sell my papers For all those to see.

For this is a poem by me, Howard Pardee.

Nashville

First Church of the Nazarene

Join us for Christmas Worship in the heart of East Nashville!

December 10

10:15am Choir Christmas Musical “A Glorious Christmas”

December 17

10:15am Christmas Worship

December 24

10:15am Christmas Eve Worship Candlelight Communion

Special Seasonal Event Nashville Community Gospel Choir 7:30pm, December 8th.

Scan QR Code to purchase tickets.

510 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206 www.nfcn.org

PAGE 8 | December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

PIECES OF POETRY – 13

Homeless Camp Conversation 1

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman We welcome with Open Arms.

Strangers from other nations.

While we hurt and we harm.

Our own homeless population.

Ready to get rid of another homeless camp?

And just where do you intend to put them?

Such a repetitive situation…

I’m just so damn tired and I can’t just stand by.

And simply try to be silent and patient.

Because… “Justice for All” Is not just a statement, Of an Out-Dated, Over-Rated, Recommendation.

Too easy for the people, In power to simply, Leave out of the Equation.

Homeless Camps are a Blatant, Vagrant, Infestation, Of an Endless, Pan-Handler, Beggar, Invasion.

The source of such Frustration, And so much Aggravation.

Where those who know only, Lonely Desperation and Isolation, Are trapped in a Melting-Pot of, Drugs, Dire-Straits and Desperation.

They deserve Extermination and Eradication.

The matter is considered closed, And not open to arbitration, End of Conversation…

Homeless Camp Conversation 2

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman And… So it begins with an Informal, In-Depth Investigation.

After all… They’re City Government, They don’t need an Invitation.

Do you want to know who’s living there?

Start giving out Tickets and Warning Citations.

And informing them that all of their, Personal Possessions will be Subject to Confiscation.

When the time comes to finally, Address the Mess and limit access to this location.

So now is the time to make preparation, To find another somewhat, safe destination.

Because no Government Official, Wants their local constituents, Complaining they’re being Complacent.

Yes… Housing is a Human Right, But Survival’s a Violation.

Garbage Collection and Sanitation, Should be addressed regularly, Not just on occasion.

If the goal is supposed to be Co-Habitation, Why such a One-Sided Conversation?

Eagles Nest

Excerpt from: “Lessons Learned from Wisdom’s Words” Written by Chirs Scott Fieselman Music arranged and produced by Emmy Award-winning Music Arranger Dave Porter on the CD “Familiar Lullabies” Produced by Chirs Scott Fieselman I’ve lived among the ones, With nothing left to lose.

Not because of what they’ve done.

Not the life they choose.

Nowhere left to run, And don’t know what to do.

Can’t get out from under it, Wondering what’s the use?

They need an Eagles Nest.

Find peace and find some rest.

The helpless and the homeless, Need a place to lay their heads.

Shelter from the storm, Somewhere safe, someplace warm.

Is that too much to ask?

They need an Eagles Nest.

Now you can say, “It’s not my problem.”

Leave it for someone else.

The lost and the forgotten, That cannot help themselves.

It’s not about a handout, It’s a hand up, for those who’ve fell.

Society, inevitably, will benefit as well.

They need an Eagles Nest.

Find peace and find some rest.

The helpless and the homeless, Need a place to lay their heads.

Shelter from the storm, Somewhere safe, someplace warm.

Is that too much to ask?

They need an Eagles Nest.

Thursday, Dec. 7th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Benefiting homeless ministries outreach The $15 ticket includes: • Waffles, along with grits, a choice of Hattie B’s Chicken or Puckett’s country bacon, choice of Frothy Monkey Coffee or spiced tea • A free guided tour of the church’s beautiful historic Egyptian Revival sanctuary • The opportunity to shop at the church’s gift shop which includes homemade bake goods and other holiday merchandise • A chance to bid on wonderful items at the Silent Auction Purchase tickets online at: dpchurch.com Tickets will increase to $20 the day of the event.

Free parking for patrons at Nissan Stadium Lot B and shuttle service provided by Old Town Trolley Event takes place at the Fellowship Hall at Downtown Presbyterian Church 154 Rep. John Lewis Way N. Event Sponsors:

December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886–1945), the editor of the following selections, is today probably the third most famous of the famous Inklings literary group of Oxford, England, which existed in the middle of the 20th century, and which included among its ranks the better-known and longer-lived Oxford Dons J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. First published in 1941, this series of profound quotations, encompassing all walks of life, follows the sequence of the themes and Bible readings anciently appointed for contemplation throughout the church's year. It is hoped that the readings reproduced here will prove beneficial for any who read them, whatever their place in life's journey. — Matthew Carver

First Sunday in Advent GOD is intelligible light.

Aquinas: Summa Theologica.

GOD is that which demands absolute love.

Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling.

THE beginning is faith, the end is love. And the two blending in unity are God, and all else follows on these, ending in perfect goodness.

St Ignatius: Epistle to the Ephesians.

A NOBLE lover does not rest in the gift, but in Me above all gifts.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation of Christ.

CONSOLE thyself, thou wouldst not seek Me, if thou hadst not found Me. Pascal: Pensées.

HOW admirable is thy Justice, O thou First Mover! Thou hast not willed that any power should lack the processes or qualities necessary for its results!

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks.

1st Monday in Advent GOD is Love; and He cannot deny Himself.

Doctrine in the Church of England, Report of the Commission.

WHEN God was made man, the innermost heart of the Godhead was put into man.

Eckhart: Sayings.

FROM all bodies together, we cannot obtain one little thought; this is impossible, and of another order. From all bodies and minds, we cannot produce a feeling of true charity; this is impossible, and of another super- natural order.

Pascal: Pensées.

1st Tuesday in Advent THE will to all goodness, which is God Himself, began to display itself in a new way, when it first gave birth to creatures. The same will to all goodness began to manifest itself in another new way, when it became patience and compassion towards fallen creatures.

But neither of these ways are the beginning of any new tempers or qualities in God, but only new and occasional manifestations of that true eternal will to all goodness which always was and always will be in the same fulness of infinity in God. William Law: The Spirit of Love.

1st Wednesday in Advent THE years a.d. 1–30 are the era of revelation and disclosure; the era, which is shown by the reference to David, sets forth the new and strange and divine definition of all time. The particularity of the years a.d. 1–30 is dis- solved by this divine definition, because it makes every epoch a potential field of revelation and disclosure.

Barth: Epistle to the Romans.

WHAT was the purpose of the Incarnation but this—that the flesh which had sinned could be redeemed by itself?

St Ambrose: On the Incarnation.

1st Thursday in Advent THOU hast united, O Lord, thy divinity with our humanity and our humanity with thy divinity, thy life with our mortality and our mortality with thy life. Thou hast received what was ours and given unto us what was thine.

Syrian Liturgy of St James.

O make this heart rejoice, or ache; Decide this doubt for me; And if it be not broken, break, And heal it if it be.

Cowper: Olney Hymns.

1st Friday in Advent

2nd Thursday in Advent

RELIGION is the possibility of the removal of every ground of confidence except confidence in God alone.

Barth: Epistle to the Romans.

. . . WHEN a soul is truly troubled about the mighty burden of his stony heart interposed, hindering him from coming to Christ; I say, when he is seriously and sincerely solicitious about that impediment, such desiring is a doing, such wishing is a working. Do thou but take care it may be removed, and God will take order it shall be removed.

Thomas Fuller: A Wounded Conscience.

NOTHING burneth in hell but self-will. Therefore it hath been said, Put off thine own will, and there will be no more hell.

Theologia Germanica.

1st Saturday in Advent A CERTAIN brother asked an old man, saying, “What shall I do because of my negligence?” The old man said unto him, “If thou wilt root out this small plant, which is negligence, a great forest will come into being.”

The Paradise of the Fathers.

EVEN the things which you do after the flesh are spiritual. For you do all things in Jesus Christ.

St Ignatius: The Epistle to the Ephesians.

YOU will never be younger; if not done soon it [the work] will never be done, to the end of all eternity . . . You may indeed excuse yourself and see reasons why the work should not have been done, but it will not have been done.

Gerard Hopkins: Letters.

THOU, O God, dost sell us all good things at the price of labour.

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks.

2nd Friday in Advent WE are further required by this consideration of Christ crucified to work out our own salvation; for God himself, so exalted (and so far removed and strange unto us), did use such diligence in obtaining our redemption and salvation that it is our bounden duty to take heed for ourselves and our salvation and to further the will of God, showing penitence for out sins.

Angela of Foligno: The Book of Divine Consolations.

COME and come strong, To our conspiracy of spacious song.

Crashaw: Hymn to the Name of Jesus.

Second Sunday in Advent

2nd Saturday in Advent

WHAT, then, is God? As regards the universe, He is the final end; in respect of election, He is salvation; as regards Himself, He is self-knowledge. What is God? He is almighty will moved by loving-kindness, virtue, eternal light, incommunicable reason, highest blessedness; He is the creator of minds to enjoy Himself; He endows them with life to perceive Him, disposes them to long for Him, enlarges them to receive Him, justifies them to be worthy of Him, fires them with zeal, fertilizes them that they may bear fruit, guides them into sweet reasonableness, moulds them into lovingkindness, regulates them for wisdom, strengthens them for virtue, visits them for consolation, illuminates them for knowledge, preserves them for immortality, fills them for happiness, is about their path for safety.

St Bernard: On Consideration.

THIS therefore is a certain truth that hell and death, curse and misery can never cease or be removed from the creation till the will of the creature is again as it came from God and is only a Spirit of Love that wills nothing but goodness. All the whole fallen creation, stand it never so long, must groan and travail in pain, this must be its purgatory till every contrariety to the divine will is entirely taken from every creature. Which is only saying, that all the powers and properties of nature are a misery to themselves, can only work in disquiet and wrath till the birth of the Son of God brings them under the dominion and power of the Spirit of Love.

William Law: The Spirit of Love.

2nd Monday in Advent IN every soul, even that of the greatest sinner in the world, God dwells, and is substantially present. This way of union or presence of God, in the order of nature, subsists between Him and all His creatures.

St John of the Cross: Ascent of Mount Carmel.

BY love all God’s chosen have been made perfect; nothing is well pleasing to God without love.

St Clement: Epistles.

Third Sunday in Advent HERE is opened to us the true reason of the whole process of our Saviour's incarnation, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. It was because fallen man was to go through all these stages as necessary parts of his return to God; and therefore, if man was to go out of his fallen state there must be a son of this fallen man, who, as head and fountain of this whole race, could do all this, could go back through all these gates and so make it possible for all the individuals of human nature, as being born of Him, to inherit His conquering nature and follow Him though all these passages to eternal life. And thus we see, in the strongest and clearest light, both why and how the holy Jesus is become our great Redeemer.

William Law: An Appeal.

2nd Tuesday in Advent

3rd Monday in Advent

GOD is in all things as being, as activity, as power. But he is procreative in the soul alone for though every creature is a vestige of God, the soul is the natural image of God. This image is perfected and adorned in this birth. No creature but the soul is susceptible to this birth, this act.

Eckhart: Sermons and Collations II.

OUR relation to God is unrighteous. Secretly we are ourselves masters in this relationship. We are not concerned with God but with our own requirements, to which God must adjust Himself.

Our arrogance demands that, in addition to everything else, some super-world should also be known and accessible to us. Our conduct calls for some deeper sanction, some approbation and remuneration from another world. Our well-regulated, pleasurable life longs for some hours of devotion, some prolongation into infinity.

And so, when we set God upon the throne of the world, we mean

by God ourselves. In 'believing' on Him, we justify, enjoy and adore ourselves.

Barth: Epistle to the Romans.

GRACE is indeed needed to turn a man into a saint; and he who doubts it does not know what a man or a saint is.

Pascal: Pensées.

2nd Wednesday in Advent FAITH, therefore, is never identical with 'piety', however pure and however delicate. In so far as 'piety' is a sign of the occurrence of faith, it is so as the dissolution of all other concrete things and supremely as the dissolution of itself. Faith lives of its own, because it lives of God. Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

ALL faith consists in Jesus Christ and in Adam, and all morality in lust and in grace.

Pascal: Pensées.

3rd Tuesday in Advent HE enters by the door, who enters by Christ, who imitates the suffering of Christ, who is acquainted with the humility of Christ, so as to feel and know, that if God became man for us, man should not think himself God, but man. He who being man wishes to appear God, does not imitate Him, who being God, became man.

Thou art bid to think less of thyself than thou art, but to know what thou art.

St Augustine: On the Word.

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PAGE 10 | December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

HOBOSCOPES SAGITTA R IUS

What’s that smell, Sagittarius? It’s so nostalgic and seasonal. Like maybe some kind of… chestnuts? But they’re roasting on… I wanna say… an open fire? Yeah, that’s what it is, Sagittarius. I’m pretty sure the holidays are all the way here. Don’t worry if you don’t feel it yet. Just take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth and lean into the moment exactly as it is. If you don’t feel the way you wish you did just feel the way you feel.

CAPRICORN

If you’re looking for the ultimate Capricorn Holiday Gift Guide, you’ve come to the right place! Every Capricorn just needs four things this holiday season! First, a festive novelty mug! They’ll love it! Second, a warm pair of seasonal socks! So cozy! Third, a full and deep understanding that their worth comes from their inherent humanity, not from any of their accomplishments, knowledge or perceived relative attractiveness. They are complete just as they are. Fourth, get that Capricorn some artisanal chocolate truffles! Now they’ve really got it all! (Don’t skimp on the third one.)

AQUA RIUS

Remember that night your brother picked us up from the last football game of the season and we got in the car all bundled up and he was playing the NSYNC Christmas album super loud and we were in the backseat and the heat was turned up to full blast. About 10 minutes down the road I got all freaked out because I was suddenly way too hot and I couldn’t get my coat off, but when I tried to get you to help I realized you were already asleep. Anyway, Aquarius, I hope you get some rest like that this week. I hope you find a place where you’re so comfortable and taken care of and warm that none of the rest of all this matters.

PISCES

GEMINI

And now we enter the season of the Apple Tree Man. In English folklore, the spirit of the Apple Tree Man lived inside the oldest tree in the orchard. Sometimes the Apple Tree Man gave true believers gold on Christmas Eve. Sometimes he persuaded stray cats to stay out of harm’s way. But we don’t talk about the Apple Tree Man much these days. He doesn’t have a stop-motion holiday special or a song. I wonder, Gemini, what will the myth of you be someday. What stories will stick and which ones will be lost to time? Live toward the ones you hope they tell in future orchards.

CANCER

Has anybody ever done a full retelling of It’s a Wonderful Life from Mary Bailey's perspective? Probably so. Maybe in that version she is given one Christmas wish and after thinking it over, she decides that instead of being an overworked mother of four with an emotionally unstable husband, she’d like to be an independent woman who runs the town library and gets to read whatever she wants all day. But everytime a librarian gives up her dreams. And it’s back to a full house and Auld Lang Syne. Be the Mary Bailey you wish to see, Cancer. Keep that library open all night if you want.

LEO

Did you put peppermint in this hot chocolate, Leo? Oh, that’s really nice. It aerates my sinuses, warms my throat, and sweetens my tongue all at the same time. Could I have one more cup? Oh, and while you’re up don’t forget to free yourself from the burden of your past. Look into your memories and let go of the shame you’re holding onto. Turn your regret into positive action. Defeat your inner critic not by avoidance but by a robust and honest dialogue. And if you could put a little extra whipped cream on top that would be nice, too.

Alright, Pisces, let’s do this. All the Ghosts that visit Ebeneezer Scrooge – Ranked! At number four, I’m gonna have to say The Ghost of Christmas Present. He basically just makes you invisible while you go around town. (Good jump-scare from those creepy kids in his robe, though.) At number three, I put The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

Scary, sure. And he does leave Scrooge a transformed sobbing wreck, but he’s got zero dialogue. Coming in at number two, it’s The Ghost Of Christmas Past. Just the classic Christmas ghost by any measure. And at number one, it’s gotta be Jake Marley! The undead Christmas greatest! Anyway, Pisces, this is a great week to remember that not everything should be a competition.

VIRGO

ARIES

I don’t usually buy a Christmas tree. But this year I thought it would be nice. So I picked up a respectable 4-footer outside the grocery store and brought it home.

And as it stands there in the corner all bare and disapproving, I realize I have nothing to hang on it. No lights, no stars, no twinkly balls. I’ve just got this plain old tree soaking in a pan of water until it slowly dies in my living room. It reminds me of you, Libra. Not because of your shared fate or your similar lack of adornment, but because you’re just standing there waiting for somebody else to make things right for you. Unlike the tree, I think you’ve got a good shot of fixing it yourself.

There’s a little Christmas Elf sitting on my mantle. I’m not sure when he showed up or how he got there. But I have an intense feeling that he’s judging me. Everything I do I feel like it’s not quite right. Like when I clink the spoon in my cereal bowl too loud or forget to scoot the chair back in at the table. Honestly, Aries, I felt this way before the elf showed up. Like everything I do is not as good as it should be. Do you know what I mean? It’s hard to feel like you’re getting it right. I think that’s because “getting it right” is a totally made up thing. You’re here.

You’re alive. You’ve made it this far. I think everything you do is worth celebrating. Forget that weird little elf.

TAURUS

Did you sign up for the office secret santa yet, Taurus?

Last year I signed up too late and I ended up having to get a gift for myself. It wasn’t so bad, I guess. I do like gummy worms. It makes me think, Taurus, maybe we should skip the drawing altogether this year and just get ourselves the thing we want. Something that makes you feel a little more taken care of. Something that makes you feel warm and steady. But if you do sign up and if you get my name, I do like gummy worms.

VENDOR WRITING

When I was old enough, my mother took me aside and said “do you want to know the truth about Santa Claus.” I knew she was sincerely asking and that if I said “yes” I could never go back. Still, I nodded. “At the top of the highest hill,” she told me, “lives a tired old fire-wizard who hates children…”

You know the rest, Virgo. The sad and whistling snowman.

The empty basket and the crow. The battle for Kar-Dux. All the holiday tales we grew up with. We still tell the old stories, Virgo, and it doesn’t matter if they’re historically accurate. We tell them because they’re true and it’s what we’re made out of.

LIBRA

Lisa Wolfe of Living For Everything, L4E. Artwork by Wendell J., Contributor Vendor.

Michael G’s Movie Reviews

BY MICHAEL G., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Double Feature: Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Both movies are classics now and they are so funny the first time you watch them and they're still funny the 50th time that you watch them.

Gremlins (1984) Now, if you like horror movies and Christmas movies, then this movie is for you. It's got comedy, romance and horror.

SCORPIO

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen?

That’s crazy! I went to high school with them. Where did you meet? Were you in their pottery class? That’s right!

They used to talk about you all the time, Scorpio. I was actually supposed to be in that class too but I missed registration by a day. Isn’t it weird all the lives we could have had if we’d just made slightly different decisions? Isn’t it weird all the people we wouldn’t know if we hadn’t ended up in that room? Anyway, Scorpio, I think you’re just where you’re supposed to be. Tell Prancer I said “hey!”

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a certified reindeer registrar or a trained elf. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

Now if you like the classics, these are the four of the top-rated classic movies that you should watch.

A Christmas Carol Any year will do.

It's a Wonderful Life & Miracle on 34th Street Both are classic Christmas movies.

Scrooged Last but not least is the 1988 movie Scrooged with Bill Murray. This is just an up-to-date "A Christmas Carol" type moivie. But it's funny and good.

So enjoy these movies on Christmas or anytime.

December 6 - 20, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11