Our winter Woodmont Social is Saturday, Feb. 18, at Martin's BBQ downtown

Join us for our second Woodmont Social, coming up on Saturday, Feb. 18! This is a churchwide, all ages, fellowship event that you do not want to miss. We will be in a private, upstairs lounge at Martin's BBQ downtown Nashville, with catering, live music, and great Woodmont company. Reach out with any questions and your RSVP to moriah@woodmontcc.org or sign up at woodmontchristian.org/social. Can't wait to see you there!

Final picture day is next Sunday, Feb. 5

If you haven't had your photo taken for our 2023 church directory, you'll have one final chance on Sunday, Feb. 5! Our photographer will be set up in the Gathering Hall one last time, so be sure to stop by with your family before or after service.

Can't make it Feb. 5? Submit your family photo to info@woodmontcc.org

If you can't make it to our final picture day, then you're invited to submit a family photo to info@woodmontcc.org over the next two weeks to be included in our directory. Please include first and last names for yourself and everyone else pictured in the photo!

Last chance to sign up for a spring "Dinners for 8" group!

It’s incredible how much the Bible talks about food! It’s almost as if God wants us to share a meal together!

Sign up now for “Dinners for 8” at Woodmont! Meet over dinner with some amazing people from our church once a month in February, March, April, & May.

Here’s how it works! Give us your name and contact info and we’ll group you with eight “Woodmonters.” You’ll meet eight new people you may have never met before, with whom you can share your story and get to know better - the kind of people who could very well become your friends for life! You can meet at someone’s home, a favorite restaurant, or a fun location like a park and bring potluck. It's your choice!

Fill out this registration form and we will help you find your "Dinners for Eight" group. This Friday, Jan. 27, we’ll let you know the group you’re in with some suggestions on your first meeting!

For more information or questions, email Jay Hutchens jayhutchens@woodmontcc.org

Superhero Sunday Jan. 29

Superhero Sunday is this Sunday, Jan. 29! Come dressed as your favorite superhero, princess, sports superstar, whoever you imagine a superhero to be and enjoy a pancake breakfast before Sunday school. We will welcome Karen Bacigalupo, the Principal of Fall-Hamilton Elementary as our superhero of the day. She will spend time talking with our elementary students during Sunday school and join us for our Children's Moment.

Father-Daughter Dance Feb. 5 

The Father-Daughter Dance is coming up on Sunday, Feb. 5, from 4 PM to 6 PM! Please let us know you are coming by clicking the link below. 

I was recently invited to serve as Chaplain of the Day for the Tennessee General Assembly to open their session. The thought that I shared with our state lawmakers before giving the prayer was this: only one thing can keep you from getting along, deliberating, debating, and working with each other to lead our state. That one thing is having contempt for each other.

Contempt has become a great spiritual challenge facing American society at this moment in history. Bill Haslam talks about this in his book Faithful Presence. Harvard professor Arthur Brooks puts it this way in his book Love Your Enemies: “Believing your foe is motivated by hate leads to something far worse: contempt. While anger seeks to bring someone back into the fold, contempt seeks to exile. It attempts to mock, shame, and permanently exclude from relationships by belittling, humiliating, and ignoring. While anger says, ‘I care about this,’ contempt says, ‘You disgust me and are beneath caring about.” Contempt quickly becomes toxic in relationships, marriages, businesses, families, and communities.

How did this happen? Civility and decency did not just disappear overnight. One answer is that as a society, we have been slowly losing our moral and spiritual center. Self-centeredness abounds. We have lost perspective on our common humanity. We have elected leaders who fan the flames of anger and contempt which causes us to think it is acceptable to behave that way. Political and ideological divides are nothing new. What’s new is the way we disagree and our inability to rationally discuss competing ideas in a civil manner.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks articulates it this way: “Something new is happening: the sense that the other side is less than fully human, that its supporters are not part of the same moral community as us, that somehow their sensibilities are alien and threatening, as if they were not the opposition in a political arena, but the enemy full stop.” Sacks talks about multiple factors that have played a role: deepening western individualism, expansion of the internet, toxic social media, and the expanding gap between the “haves and the have nots.” All of these factors are very real.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt made the following claim about Generation Z and social media: “When you look at Americans born after 1995, what you find is extraordinary high rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and fragility.” This is the generation that has grown up on screens and social media. Haidt calls this phenomenon “compare and despair.” It is a big part of what leads to contempt, envy, and social exclusion. Poor behavior online is often rewarded. This also fuels anger and outrage.

What’s the solution? We must acknowledge that we are all complicit and we have all played some role in getting to this point. Four important concepts come to mind.

First, our ongoing need for community. The pandemic and all the issues associated with it fractured and isolated our communities in ways never seen. We are still rebuilding. We need to be around each other more in real time and space and not just on a screen. Social media is not real life.

Secondly, authentic friendship: we must be intentional about becoming friends with people who see and experience the world differently. Every person’s life experience is unique and we cannot dictate to others how they should see and experience the world. We all have our own lens and background.

Third, morality. Part of living a moral life is listening to others and treating them with dignity and respect. Being religious is not a prerequisite to being moral.

Lastly, forgiveness. Cancel culture has lost sight of what it means to practice forgiveness. We are all flawed and imperfect creatures. We all say and do things that we regret. Our inability to forgive each other has become a major problem. Judging people by their worst moments or actions is simply unfair. We must learn to look for the good in each other, even when we disagree.

Welcome, new members!

Lauren & Mike Presley, joined Jan. 15

Samantha & Patrick Inglis, joined Jan. 20

"Living on Purpose" panel conversation tomorrow, Jan. 25

Join Jay Hutchens, Jerry Johnson (Missions Director, Woodmont), Susan Galeas (CEO, The Family Center), and Kevin Roberts (Director of Faith Relations, Habitat for Humanity) for a panel conversation on discovering your spiritual gifts and living into a larger missional calling! The group will share their own stories and discuss how we know our gifts and how those gifts can be used to serve others and make a difference in people’s lives!

PLUS! Be the first to preview a brand new video featuring some of Woodmont's key ministry leaders sharing about their call to ministry!

Dinner is at 5:30 PM in Drowota Hall and “Living on Purpose” begins at 6:15 PM in Carpenter Chapel.

New GriefShare group tomorrow

GriefShare is now at Woodmont and continues this Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6:00 PM in Room 107.

GriefShare is a 13-week program of ministry designed for anyone who is or has experienced the loss of a loved one. If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you’ve never faced before.

Join others on this journey of "moving from mourning to joy" for an evening of fellowship. Email Anne Stauffer at cottageinthewoods@gmail.com for more information.

DivorceCare group tomorrow

Led by Anne Stauffer and a team of highly-trained facilitators, our latest 13-week DivorceCare session continues tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6:00 PM in The Bay Room

Divorce, separation and relationship crisis bring about a complex set of emotions such as depression, anxiety, fear, anger, grief, loneliness, and more. Our Woodmont DivorceCare team knows firsthand because they've been there, and their doors are open to lead you through a 13-week healing process of education, recovery, and peer support.

You're encouraged (but not required!) to come to all of the classes and you may join in at any time to experience understanding and encouragement through honest discussion in a safe, confidential, and healing environment.

Click here to register for DivorceCare or email Anne Stauffer for more information at cottageinthewoods@gmail.com

Youth group

Jan. 22

Photos by Steve Lowry

"Starting Over" series continues Superhero Sunday, Jan. 29

"Being a Christian"

Clay Stauffer

Mark 10:41-45 & Romans 12:9-18

• 8:30 AM - Breakfast in Drowota Hall
• 9:30 AM – Informal service in the sanctuary with livestream
• 9:40 AM – The Bridge service in the chapel with livestream
• 11:00 AM – Traditional service in the sanctuary

I was lying in bed explaining to my 6-year-old daughter, Lucy, what her autoimmune disease is doing to her body and why we have to change medicines and be more careful now. When I told her some of the army inside of her was confused and attacking the wrong thing (her own body!), she let out a disgusted and irritated groan. “WHY?!? Why is my body doing this? Why do people even get sick?” I told her I had the same questions too, that I had lots of questions for God one day. And then she said, “Me too. Like, why are we even here? On earth? Nobody asked me if I wanted to come here! And why does the earth even exist in the first place and why…” Whew. The conversation went downhill faster than I could have ever imagined! But she is a 6-year-old watching other sick kids in the infusion lab at the hospital and she has questions. Me too. You too?

There are some questions without answers. Some experiences that test our faith and throw us into the darkness of doubt. Some moments where all we can whisper is why. This is not where I impart deeply theological or sage parenting advice on how to answer the why. This is just where I remind you that God can be found in the why. Like King David, we are invited to cry and curse and communicate every why under heaven in our conversations with God. Asking why is not a lack of faith, it’s actually a beautiful testament that you trust in God enough to bring your burdens to God. And Jesus invites it.

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

It’s there, after unloading the burden of my whys, spent and with no words left, that I have experienced the unexplainable, overwhelming tenderness of God. There are some questions that are simply met with the grace of God’s tender, loving, faithful presence. I told Lucy, “I don’t know why. But I do know this: every minute that we get to be on this earth is a minute that I get to love you. And that makes all the hard stuff worth it. Loving you is worth it.” That seemed to satisfy her soul for the moment. I don’t know why. But I know that in all of our whys we can know the love of God and the love of God’s people. And for me, that kind of love is worth it.  

"Virtual Ministry Fair" is now live at woodmontchristian.org

As a way to supplement our recent Mission Fair, we have created a "Virtual Ministry Fair" section on our website! Click the button below to get caught up with all of the ministries represented at Woodmont.

Pickleball group

Jan. 22

Photos by Steve Lowry

Interested in joining our pickleball group? Contact Jay Hutchens at jayhutchens@woodmontcc.org

Last week, I sat with our scripture text for Sunday, preparing for worship. Clay was preaching from Ephesians 4, and as I read and prayed through it, this line from verse 29 really stood out: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

 I remembered a children’s sermon I heard years ago which continues to instruct my thinking as a grown up. The lesson suggests we think about our words as toothpaste coming out of a tube. Once it’s out, it’s nearly impossible to get it back in the container! Sure, we can clean up a mess, and we can be forgiven for those times we lose our cool and run our mouths in unhelpful ways— but the point is, being mindful of what we say matters.

Yesterday, I shared this lesson as our communion meditation at The Bridge and brought along the cheapest tube of toothpaste I could find at Target with me to use as an object lesson. It’s a fun aside to note that the toothpaste was Crest Kids glitter toothpaste which twinkled cheerfully in the stage lighting in the chapel as I was squeezing the whole tube out onto a paper plate. 

Along with the bread and cup of communion, the people at The Bridge were invited to pick up a peppermint lifesaver to enjoy during the service as a reminder that coming to the Table of Christ offers each one of us a fresh start. 

By the end of worship, there was a noticeable minty-freshness in the air at The Bridge— a palpable reminder that God’s fresh start is offered to us again and again.

Watching our words and being intentional about building each other up in our conversations makes a noticeable difference in our families, friendships and communities. What parts of your life need a fresh start today? Bring those to the Holy One in prayer, trusting that your honesty will be met with love and compassion. 

Camp Rockmont informational meeting Feb.1

At Camp Rockmont, campers and staff work together to create an incredibly fun and meaningful Christian community in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Each summer, Rockmont serves over 1,400 boys from all over the U.S. and other countries. We partner with parents to invite young men to answer a universal call to adventure and discover things about themselves that require the kind of experience that only a quality boys summer camp can provide. We invite your son to be part of that journey!

If you are an:

• Interested camper (K-9th grade)
• Interested Counselor in Training (10th/11th grade)
• Interested Counselor wanting to help young men grow in their Christian walk (starting 12th grade, college & beyond) https://rockmont.com/staff/

This is a great place to spend a summer of adventure and build a lifetime of friendships.

Camp Rockmont www.rockmont.com

“I began my leadership and Christian journeys at Camp Rockmont,” Tom Woodard, Jr., counselor 1980-82. ”I’m now honored to serve as the Chairman of the Board of this amazingly beautiful, important place”

Meet our director, Austin Ashcraft, and join Woodmont/Rockmont campers like Clayton Stauffer, Thomas Woodard, Ben and John Crawford, and many others on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM and see why Camp Rockmont is for you. Bring your friends and neighbors!

Q2 Outreach Grants

Woodmont's Outreach Grants Committee met on Jan. 12 and awarded funds to the following organizations:

• Faith Family Medical Clinic
• Heart for Africa
• Nashville Anti-trafficking Coalition
• Project Connect Nashville
• Brightstone
• Rejoice School of Ballet
• Insight Counseling
• Justice Industries
• Autism Career Training Ctr.
• Minister’s Discretionary Fund       

Final week to submit leadership nominations! Email your nominations to Amber Moss at 

amber@woodmontcc.org

It is time for the congregation to begin nominating leaders for the next church year that begins July 1, 2023. We are accepting nominations for:

• 1 Treasurer – 2-year term

• 3 Board Members – 2-year term

• 7 Elders – 3-year term

• 30 Deacons – 3-year term

Nominations will be accepted through January 31. Please give thoughtful consideration to those who already exhibit leadership presence and are committed to Woodmont. Self-nominations are welcome if you have a strong desire to serve. 

This year we are submitting nominations directly to Amber Moss (amber@woodmontcc.org). When submitting nominations, please include the candidate’s name, position nominated for (Treasurer, Board, Elder, or Deacon), and your reason for nominating the candidate. All Woodmont members are invited to take part in this process and multiple people can be nominated.

VBS June 27-30!

Save the date! VBS is June 27 to 30, from 9 AM to 12 noon. VBS is for children from 4 years old through rising 5th grade. Registration will go out mid-April. 

Watch "Leading God's People in Mission" part 2

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Watch sermon "Guardrails With Others"

Church calendar

Sunday, Jan. 29

Superhero Sunday

8:30 AM Breakfast, Drowota Hall

9:30 AM 21st Century Class, Boardroom

9:30 AM Disciples Class, Room 105

10:45 AM Reflections Class, Room 200

10:45 AM Connections Class, Room 100

11:00 AM Points of View Class, Room 105

3:00 PM Pickleball, Drowota Hall

4:45 PM Jubilation Rehearsal, Choir Room

5:00 PM Youth Group, Carpenter Chapel

5:00 PM Leadership Woodmont, Campbell West

Monday, Jan. 30

3:00 PM "Geezers," Boardroom

Tuesday, Jan. 31

9:30 AM Women's Prayer Group, Boardroom

1:30 PM "WOW! Words of Wisdom" group, The Bay Room

6:30 PM Alateen (ages 12-19), South Hall

6:30 PM Parents Al-Anon Group, Room 105

8:00 PM AA Meeting, South Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 1

6:00 AM Men's Small Group, Room 107

7:00 AM Younger Men's Bible Study, Boardroom

8:00 AM "Original" Men's Bible Study, Room 105

5:00 PM Camp Rockmont information night, Drowota hall

5:30 PM Grace Notes Rehearsal, Kids' Commons

6:00 PM DivorceCare, The Bay Room

6:00 PM GriefShare, Room 107

6:15 PM JYF, Kids' Commons

6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, Feb. 2

9:30 AM Christian Women United Meeting, Room 105

10:00 AM Sit & Stitch, Gathering Hall

1:00 PM Mahjong Group, Gathering Hall

5:30 PM Handbells Rehearsal, Choir Room

6:30 PM Andra Moran Virtual Vespers, Zoom

6:30 PM Nar-Anon, Room 105

8:00 PM AA Meeting, South Hall 

Friday, Feb. 3

Room In The Inn

3:00 PM Pickleball, Drowota Hall

Saturday, Feb. 4

Room In The Inn

10:00 AM Al-Anon, Drowota Hall