The "Write" Rev

I’ve been wrestling this week with our gospel lesson for the third Sunday in Lent from Luke 13:1-9. In this text, Jesus is asked about Galileans who came to Jerusalem to protest a breach of public trust by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The city needs new water works. Pilate takes the money to finance this project from the temple treasury. Some people are upset at this. In their eyes, this is money that belongs to God. As far as Pilate is concerned, it’s money that will pay for a project everybody agrees is needed. Pilate sends soldiers dressed as civilians and armed with clubs instead of swords to disrupt the demonstration and they beat a number of people to death. Then a tower used to help build the new aqueduct collapses and kills 18 people. Jesus is asked what he thinks. Jesus says that there is no relationship between tragedy and God’s judgement. Life happens. Don’t waste time. It could be you. The passage ends with the parable of the barren fig tree that’s rescued and given one more year to bear fruit. Are we wasting time or bearing fruit?

Pastor Herbert

Submitted for April 2019

Atchison Academy...p.1 Farewell Dr. Corry...p.1

The 'Write' Rev...p.1Clark Black History...p.2

From the Editor... p.2Clark Spotlight... p.2

Prayer List...p.3Announcements...p.3

B'days APRIL/MAY...p.3 Lectionary/Bible Trivia...p.3

In Sympathy... p.3Rehearsal Schedule...p.4April/May Calendar...p.4

Phone: 615-329-4464Fax: 615-321-0975Email:clarkmemunited@gmail.comweb: www.ClarkUMCNashville.org

Volume 17Issue #4, #5APRIL/MAY 2019

THE CONNECTIONTHE CONNECTIONA community sharing God's love through learning, worship, witness and service

Welcome new members! We welcome Ann Burrus (left) and James William Atkins

(right) from Clarksville, TN who were "called" to serve here at Clark.

Voter Registration!In an effort to maintain our civic duties, Clark Memorial invites any individual who is NOT registered to vote to complete a Voter Registration form. We will accept signed registrations and turn them in to the Election Commission. If you are a registered voter and know of someone who is not, we ask that you encourage those individuals and inform them of the importance of making their voice be heard through voting.

April����������� ������������������  

brings...

...May����������� ������������������  Flowers!

April Showers...May FlowersDr. Calvin O. Atchison Academy begins in June!Preparations for the Dr. Ca lv in O . A tch i son Academy are currently being made to welcome the students for the 2nd year of the summer academy. Teachers and s t u d e n t s a r e b e i n g positioned for another s u c c e s s f u l y e a r o f reading academia. How can you help? Support is welcomed at all levels...Fiancially, the program is accepting contributions at any time. If hte goal is reached for this year, the monies will carry for the "seed" money next year. Readers are currently beging asked to sign up for the monring read to the student scholars. Feel free to call the church office for any additonal support that may be helpful, such as supplies.

A special recognition and farewell to Rev. Dr. John G. CorryAs former pastor of Clark

Memorial United Methodist Church, it is with great sadness that we bid a final farewell to the Rev. Dr. John G. Corry.

We do celebrate his life as he leaves a great legacy in the United Methodist Church. Dr. Corry often visited Clark in these latter years eventhough he was no longer the pastor. And, it was always a pleasure to see him.

June 10- July 19, 2019

Congratulations Aumari!

The Connection~APRIL/MAY 2019 p. 2

The Rev. Betty Lewis retires...

From the Editor . . . A look back...

Voices of Clark Women on Women's DayFront l-r: Sandra Glenn-Burnett (director), Hadley Pride, Theresa Bledsoe, Wanda Clay, Paula Chavis, 2nd row l-r: Geraldine Heath, Delois Dowell, Ta'Kensnia Dowell, Jojuan Pride, Newtonia Coleman, Queen Douglas; back row l-r: Lori McKinney, Evelynn McKinney and Cynthia Kirk

NOTES from the Choir Loft

by Paula Holms, Music Director

Let it rain!If it were not for the rainy days, we

wouldn’t know how marvelous it is to feel the sunshine!

Cloudy days, rainy days, stormy days…sunshine!

Don’t worry. The scriptures say that “Joy comes in the morning.”

While this issue of The Connection is a combination of last month and the present month, it happened in the mix of the old adage, “April showers bring May flowers.” April used to be the month noted for lots of rain. That rain would help to condition the soil for planting, thus, creating beautiful flowers in the month of May. I would also venture to say that a plentiful harvest was also received after such rain.

So yes, let it rain! For when the rain falls in the form of difficult times and unhappy or uncomfortable days, it is conditioning our lives for the beauty to come. Into every life, some rain must fall. Sometimes there are even days that have devastating [weather] conditions such as floods, tornadoes... These such days are a TOTAL cleansing! They may require restructuring, remodeling and often replacement.…but then “joy comes in the morning.”

Thank you for continuing to read the Connection. While things are always changing, I look forward to the sunshine and the beauty that is to follow.

Wanda Clay" You caught me at the 'Write' time!"

RETIRED...Pam Turner Theresa Bledsoe

Easter Egg Hunt...Clark Youth

Thank you participants of Room In The Inn

Harriet Rogers, ChairPrincilla Morris, Co-Chair

Ministry/HostsUnited Methodist Men/Melvin KirkMission & Service /Gayle Houston

Nurture & Membership Care/Vivian FielderRogers Family/Harriet Rogers

Evans Morris Family & Friends/Princilla MorrisHonorary Rod Bronaugh/ Thurman McClinton

Alpha Phi Alpha in Honor of George Breaux/A. VenzenYouth Ministry/Kim Jones & Freda Fielder

Family & Friends/Constance WadeHardin Family/Tracey Hardin

Family & Friends Wesley Foundation/Rebecca HallChristian Education/Susanne Tropez-Sims

Family & Friends/Elizabeth WilliamsAgape Singers of Nashville/Paula Chavis

Family of Geraldine Heath in memory/Wanda ClayWoodard Family & Friends/Janice Woodard

United Methodist Women/Newtonia Coleman

Certificate and trophy from the Junior Grizzlies Basketball Team (left) and AAU Basketball team (right).

Baby Tristen resides in Memphis, TN with his mother,Ivory Pillow.He finally leaves the hospital in February after his birth in December 2018.Mom and baby are doing well!

Submitted by his grandparents, Robert and Constance Wade

CLARK SPOTLIGHT

ANNOUNCEMENTSClark Nursery available

during worship on the 2nd floor for

children ages 4 yrs to 6 yrs old.

~~~

IN SYMPATHYThe Clark family extends deepest condolences to members in the loss of their loved ones.Turner family; Hardin ffamily; Anderson family

Frank AllenGrace Brady

James and Birdie BrownThelma ClantonWilliam Douglas Lena Pearl Farrell

Vivian FielderAnthony Hall, Jr.Sandra HaydenSam HoustonHarold Jordan

James OteyErnestyne Potts

Georgianna PriddyC. Pat SharpeLinda Starling

Thom Starling, IIISorena StreetIra Thompson

Willliam ThompsonWilla Taylor

Ludye WallaceBillie J. Westmoreland

TheConnection.Clark@gmail.com

The Connection~APRIL/MAY 2019 p. 3

Please consult the church office to add names to the prayer list.

May 5-21:1-19; Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14May 12-Acts 9:36-43; John 10:22-30; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17May 19; Acts 11:1-18; John 13:31-35; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6May 26; Acts 16:9-15; John 14:23-29 or 5:1-9; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

May Bible Explorer: Why was Peter called to the disciple Tabitha’s home?April Bible Explorer: Who was put to the task of helping Jesus to carry his cross? Simon from Cyrene. (Luke 23:26)

Submitted by Grace Brady

2nd Gayle HoustonKaye ChavisJohnathan LeeperJames Croom

3rd Marilyn Talbert4th Lavoneia Steele

Dianne Brown6th Sorena Street9th Pat Sharpe

Ira D. Thompson, Jr.Victor DavisShannell Brown

12th Zachary Jones13th Susanne Tropez-Sims16th Deborah Freeman17th Helen Houston18th Elizabeth Williams19th Sharon Smith

Rosie Phelps22nd Penne Leeper23rd Zachary Pope24th Felicia Holcomb27th Carlo Dade

Derek Fleming29th Cheryl Seay

Jada CarrollWilliam C. Kelley

30th Dorothy Smith

Announcements for Sunday bulletin and overhead projector are due prior to 12 noon on Wednesdays!

Deadline for JUNE newsletter is MAY 15th! Don't see your submission this month? ...read next month.

Submissions must be under 200 words.Connection submissions:

2nd Kimberly Murray3rd Steven Hampton, Sr.

Lori McKinney5th Randy Hipps7th Calvin McCutcheon8th Alice Croom9th William R. Thompson10th Dakarai Williams11th Tiffany Carroll13th A. Johnathan Starling14th Robyn Mays15th Steve Thompson16th Sarah Chavis18th Bill Hipps19th James Potts

Melvin Gill21st Laiandrea Stewart Phillips22nd Ernystyne Potts

Charlette Goodin24th Harold Jordan, Sr.27th Taj Kirk28th Cornell Lane

Layla Mays30th Joan Butler31st Eddie Gray, III

Matthew Kirk

April 7-John 12:1-8, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14April 14-Luke 19:28-40 Liturgy of the passion, Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-19, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11April 21-John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26April 28-Acts 5:27-32, John 20:19-31, Psalm 118:14-29, (Psalm 150), Revelation 5:11-14

April Bible Explorer: Who was put to the task of helping Jesus to carry his cross?

March Bible Explorer: What instructions were given the Israelites for when they had taken and settled in the land the Lord was giving them? They were to take the first portion of their produce before the priest (as before the Lord) bow down; (then) Celebrate all the good things the Lord had done for them. (Deuteronomy 26:6-11)

Lectionary Scriptures(Lent, Easter)

MAY

Happy Birthday

MAY Lectionary Scriptures(Lent, Easter)

Happy Birthday

APRIL

Submitted by Grace Brady

2019 APRIL CALENDAR 1st Church Council mtg @ 5:30 pm14th Youth Ministries mtg @ 12:30 pm

PALM SUNDAY15th TAX DAY

Committee on Finance mtg @ 5:30 pm20th Nurture & Membership Care mtg @ 11 am21st EASTER SUNDAY

Community Ministries mtg @ 12:30 pm25th Staff Parish Relations mtg @ 5:30 pm27th UMW General mtg @ 10 am

UMM General mtg @ 10 am28th BRIGHT SUNDAY!

7,14,21,28 ..................... Sunday worship @ 10 am .....................2,9,16,23,30 ........ Prayer Support Group mtg @ 5 pm .......

3,10,17,24 ....... Mid-day/Mid week Service @ 12 NOON ........"Bread, Bible & Books" Bible Study @ 6 pm

Non ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PaidNashville,TN

PERMIT#1765

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Pastoral Team: Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Lester, Jr., Senior Pastor;Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Williams, Associate Pastor; Rev. Richard Stewart, Pastoral CareSupport Team: Grace Brady, Church Council ChairMarilyn M. Talbert, Spiritual Formation Coordinator ;Rebecca Lytle Hall, Lay Leader"The Connection": Wanda Clay, Editor; Helen Houston; Vivian Fielder; Rosie Phelps; Janice Johnson, Adm. and Pastor's Asst.;Edna McDaniel, Church Secretary

Choir/Music Rehearsals Male Chorus Wednesdays @ 6:00-7:30 pmSanctuary Choir Wednesdays @ 7-8:30 pmUnity Chorus Thursdays @ 7-8:30 pmVoices of Clark Wed. before 1st Sunday 7-8:30 pmHand Bells Saturdays @ 10 amYouth Choir Saturdays @ 11:30 amQuestions contact Paula Holmes615-496-3903/pyholmes@aol.com

It's Newsworthy!We want to highlight

Clark's youth, adults,

ministries and businesses.

Submit information to the

editor if someone is having

a dance/music recital,

receives an award of

recognition, a new

position, etc.

THE CONNECTIONClark Memorial United Methodist Church1014 14th Ave. N.Nashville, TN 37208-3099

April����������� ������������������  Showers

brings...

...May����������� ������������������  Flowers!

BE ENCOURAGED...

Be where you are celebrated and not just tolerated!

The loss may be that of the one who is not appreciative of

what you are worth.

2019 MAY CALENDAR 6th Church Council mtg @ 5:30 pm11th Christina Education mtg @10am12th MOTHERS'S DAY19th Community Ministries mtg @ 12:30pm20th Committee on Finance mtg @ 5:30 pm23rd SPRC mtg @ 5:30 pm25th UMW mtg @ 10 am

UMM mtg @ 10 am27th MEMORIAL DAY-Church office closed

5,12,19,26 7,14,21,28 1,8,15,22,29