Upcoming Events

Sunday School Announcements
January 22, 2012

SECOND ANNUAL SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON -  All Belmont UMC senior adults, age 55 and older, will attend the 2nd annual senior adult luncheon on today, immediately following the 10:30 a.m. worship service.  The luncheon, held in the Community Center, will feature a delicious meal catered by the Copper Kettle, musical entertainment by David and Ned Henry, information about Belmont’s Senior Adult Council, a preview of some of the 2012 senior adventures, and a time to gather your suggestions for additional trips, events, and ideas.

PRAYER: HOLY CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD RETREAT - January 23-26, Scarritt-Bennett will offer an opportunity to set-aside time for exploration of the many ways to connect with God through a prayerful heart. Methods used will include, lectio divina with nature, the daily examen, imaginative prayer with Scripture, daily living in the presence of God, body awareness prayer, centering prayer and meditation. The retreat also delves into the significance of places of prayer, using art-making to hear God, and how we image God. It will be a time not only to pray, but also to investigate questions about prayer.For more information call 340-7557 or register online at http://conta.cc/sbprayer.

SANCTUARY UPDATES ARE BEGINNING! - Exciting things are starting to happen with the sanctuary improvements. There are three main items in the works:  new carpet for the aisles, a brand new sound system, and a major update and overhaul of our wonderful pipe organ. Work will begin the week of January 23 and will be completed by January 27. Be on the lookout for a sample display of the flooring material in the Iris Room foyer on Sundays leading up to the big makeover! A special thanks to the many Belmonters who are supporting this work through their generous contributions to the Capital Campaign.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT BELMONT (WNAB) FOR JANUARY 25 – Special program: Cyber safety for families, led by Heather Harriss and Chris allen, in the Community Center.  Schedule: 5:15-6:00 p.m., meal served in Community Center; 5:45-5:50 p.m., birthdays, children leave for program; 5:50-6:00 p.m., announcements, joys & concerns, and prayer; 5:45-6:00 p.m., infant/toddler childcare (Room 111); 6:00-7:00 p.m., programs. Reservation Reminder - All meal reservations, cancellations, or additions must be made by 9:00 a.m. on Monday. Because the church is obligated to pay the caterer for all reserved meals, please be prepared to pay for any meals that are not cancelled by the deadline. Thank you for helping us to be better stewards of the church’s resources. Make your reservations by calling the church at 383-0832 (ext. 49 after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends) or by signing the attendance registration pad during the Sunday morning worship services. Reservations may be made weekly, or you may request a permanent reservation. Menu: Grilled chicken with mushroom or meat marinara sauce served over penne pasta, Caesar salad, steamed broccoli, garlic bread, unsweet tea, and brownies. Vegetarian option: Veggie stir fry. Pricing:  children age 3 and under: FREE; children ages 4 through 6th grade:  $4; youth & adults: $8; seniors (70 and older): $6; family maximum: $28.  To find out more about WNAB, visit us on the web at belmontumc.org.

VISITOR ON DEATH ROW ORIENTATION POSTPONED - Due to changes in the prison administration with a new warden and chaplain, as well as a new TDOC commissioner, the protocol we have used for visitor on death row orientation (since 1975) has changed. Because the new people in charge want to handle things in a different way we need to postpone the January 28 orientation. A new date will be announced as soon as we have everything in order.

“WELCOME TO BELMONT!” A ONE-SESSION MONTHLY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS - On Sunday, January 29, from 9:15-10:15 a.m., there will be a special Sunday school session designed for visitors to learn about the mission, ministries,
and community of Belmont United Methodist Church. We will meet in the Iris Room, which is off the main foyer between the sanctuary and the Community Center. This will be an informal information session led by staff and lay leaders of the church community, and will take place on the last Sunday of each month. Our next session is scheduled for Sunday, February 26. No registration is needed! Please come with your questions. For more information, contact Rev. Pam Hawkins at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 383-0832.

CHARGE CONFERENCE/ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD MEETING - The first Charge Conference/Administrative Board meeting of the year will be on Sunday, January 29, following the 10:30 a.m. worship service, in the Community Center.  This will be an important meeting during which we will hear about ministries of the church and be presented with the 2012 budget to consider for approval in support of our programs and ministries. Please make your luncheon reservation before noon on Wed., January 25.  The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children; vegetarian option is available by request.

“THIS I KNOW” STUDY BEGINS JANUARY 29 - “This I Know” is a small-group resource created to encourage constructive conversation on the issue of homosexuality and Christianity. This multiweek study, beginning January 29, was developed as a companion to For the Bible Tells Me So, the award winning documentary that tells how five ordinary Christian families have coped with the realization of having a gay child. Understandably, many Christians shy away from this topic that has become controversial and divisive in many church communities. The goal of this study is to encourage learning, listening, and dialogue through study of scripture, history, social context, personal story, and theological reflection. For more information, contact Pam Hawkins at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website.

FIFTH MONDAY LUNCHEON - The next 5th Monday Luncheon will be held on Monday, January 30, at 11:30 a.m.. Our speaker will be Lisa Spencer, a meteorologist, from Channel 4. She will tell us all about her work. The cost of the luncheon will be $7.00.Please make reservations at the church by Friday January 27.

EDGEHILL UMC'S FREE STORE - Belmont UMC’s sister church Edgehill UMC has started a store at the church where everything is free,and everyone is welcome to give and receive. People are invited to come, shop, have coffee with neighbors, and bring items to donate. Store hours are Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. On Wednesday, February 1, Austin Sauerbreiat will present a program about the free store during WNAB. For more information about items needed, visit our website. If you would like to serve as a volunteer/host, contact Austin Sauerbreiat at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

FINDING THE PLACE OF YOUR RESURRECTION: A THREE-FOLD PATH TO DISCOVERING CREATIVE SPIRITUALITY - Creative Spirituality will be explored in a unique retreat to be held at Belmont in February 2012. The retreat will take place Friday, February 3, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday,February 4, from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Community Center.  The retreat will be led by Karla Kincannon and Belmont creative mentors Jerry Park, Fran Zinder, Millie Goodson, Sue Mather , and Amanda Mark.  Join us for creativity as self-discovery through collage, clay, card/bookmaking, pastel, and photography.  We will offer a non-threatening, creative environment where spirituality, not technique, is the focus. No experience is necessary and photographers must bring their own cameras.  The fee is $55 and includes supplies and lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, email Mary Beth at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS 2-WEEK SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM - On February 5 and 12, Dr. Cathy Fuchs will be leading Sunday school sessions in the Kairos class (Outreach Center Room 5) about homelessness and mental health issues. Anyone interested in joining the Kairos class for these sessions is welcome. We will meet from 9:15 – 10:15. Dr. Fuchs is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt Medical School. She has been on the faculty since 1998 and is the Division Director and Training Director for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She continues her clinical work with children and adolescents, is Vice Chair for Education in the Department, and teaches at Vanderbilt Medical School. Presently an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Cathy grew up at Belmont (Cathy van Eys)!

RED CROSS TO HOLD BLOOD DRIVE AT BELMONT UMC – on Sunday, February 5, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the Community Center. Please go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code:  BelmontUMC19 to schedule your appointment.

MALAWI V.I.M. 2012 - It is time to consider being part of the 2012 Malawi VIM team! The team will leave on April 9 and return April 24. We will not be constructing buildings but we will continue to build relationships. We will visit nursery schools, gardens, churches, and worship with our brothers and sisters in the Malawi United Methodist Church. For more information contact Sue or Herb Mather at 615-730-8945 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

THANK YOU –for delivering another Christmas Miracle Offering. You contributed over $25,000 and the Golden Triangle Summer Scholars will have full funding, including teachers, aids, curriculum materials, snacks, transportation, and admissions for educational field trips. Your generosity for our Golden Triangle youth will enable their academic potential to be boosted, their summers to be productive, and their eyes to be opened to new possibilities for career goals.

ENJOY MEETING NEW PEOPLE? - If so, here’s a perfect opportunity: Become a new member photographer! This job is not at all burdensome, offers a great opportunity to connect with new church members, and is actually fun! On average, you will be on duty one Sunday every other month. The only skill required is the ability to take a point-and-shoot photograph, something many of us do with our cell phones every day. The routine is simple. New member photographers meet the joining member or baptismal candidate in the Iris Room just prior to 10:30 service and snap a photograph with the church’s digital camera. If you would like to be a part of this important hospitality ministry, contact Richard Fulk (646-1712 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or Pam Hawkins (383-0832, ext. 24 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for more information.

GET INVOLVED WITH HOMEPLACE - How well do you know the ladies of Homeplace? Homeplace, Inc. provides a home for three adults with intellectual disabilities. As an outgrowth of the Ministry of Belmont United Methodist Church, Homeplace is steeped in the Christian commitment to meet the spiritual and temporal needs of its residents and to enhance their social, recreational, therapeutic, and vocational development. Jessie, Jennifer, and Ruby want to get to know you better! There are countless ways to spend time with the ladies. Please let us know if you'd ever like to go on a walk with the ladies, see a movie, go out to eat, do crafts or baking at the house, or just about anything! They have funds to pay for outings and want to make new friends! Please contact Jenny Redding at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 615-596-6346.

PRAYER REQUEST CARDS AVAILABLE– Prayer request cards are available in the pew racks and prayer room (behind  Ferguson Chapel).  Completed cards may be placed in the Sunday offering plates or the prayer request box in the prayer room. Your prayer requests will be shared with ministry staff, who will keep them in our daily prayers.   

BELMONT’S INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY - In the event of inclement weather please refer to the church’s inclement weather policy and check our website (www.belmontumc.org) often for updates, cancellations, and closings. Inclement Weather Policy for Belmont UMC: When Metro schools are closed on or at any time during the day on Wednesdays, Wednesday Night at Belmont (WNAB) will be automatically cancelled. All other church groups may meet at their own discretion for day and evening activities unless otherwise notified by the church office that the building is closed. Each group will be responsible for its own communications. The church will be open if feasible. Sunday School and worship services will always occur regardless of weather barring extreme and publicly unsafe conditions.


1/19/12