Dark, sparkling stars,
Bright lights,
The aroma of frankincense
A sweet, spicy, scent
Lifting our prayer to God.

Gritty sand
Help me move this rock.
Tasting the salt of the earth.
Thirsty, but thirsty for what?
Cool breeze washes away sadness.
More light, but where is that star?

A clock set for Kabul time
Already tomorrow morning there.
Cold and snowy in Kabul now.
I carry a soldier, now,
In my pocket,
But also in my heart.

A map with notes and prayer requests
Asking for Peace,
For people and places
With no sacred spaces.

Where is that star?

by Katelyn

Join us on Super Bowl Sunday for soup, salad, and all the fixings.  We are going to have several more meals on Sundays to raise money for Mountain T.O.P. and other mission work.  Many thanks for the support our congregation always shows our UMYF.

Purchase your Flamingo Insurance Now!  Join Club 52!

Friends, you do not want to be caught without this important protection.  These flamingos can strike without warning, and if this happens to you, you will need the professional services of the UMYF to remove these pesky, plastic pests. For $1.oo a week, or $52.00 a year, you can purchase this important piece of mind. We offer a complete package of flamingo removal services including removing the flamingos and, well, just that. If these terrible hot pink birds invade your yard, call the UMYF Flamingo Removal Professionals at 615-403-8455.  For our especially environmentally conscious customers, we will remove the flock to the ecosystem of your choice.

One of the stations in our sacred space invited our visitors to step out onto the kitchen porch, gaze at the stars, and thank God for the beauty of the earth.  Our visitors stood in the cold, on our back porch, and searched at the sky. Looking for a star.  The star. Most evenings, the sky was quite overcast.  It was hard to find any star, much less, follow one.

As the youth were setting up this station, three deer were grazing in the playground. The kids were thrilled to see these graceful creatures, always reminders that even in our highly developed city, peaceful, beautiful, wild animals might appear, always reminders that God is the Creator.  But it was hard to see the stars.  So it was not clear what we should do.

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AWAKEN TO AN

Come to Hickory Bend UMC
605 Stewarts Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214

Walk through a Sacred Space and into your own Epiphany.

Youth, children, babies, and adults are most welcome.

January 8-15, 2012
6:00-8:00 each evening

Spend a few minutes, an hour, a lifetime, or an eternity.
For more information call 615-403-8455.

Join us for Christmas at Hickory Bend UMC!

I have to admit that my New Year’s resolutions are not all that new.  This will sound familiar to my friends and my family:

I am going to get organized.
I am going to be on time.
I am going to eat healthfully.
I am going to exercise regularly.
I am going to be more responsible about money.
I am going to stop wearing goofy clothes.

Now, why do I think this year will be different?

Because something is different this year. more…

thinkBIG!

Join our UMYF group at Warmth in Winter!  WnW is the THE Tennessee Conference retreat for United Methodist Youth.  Great music, inspiring workshops, crazy dancing, and powerful worship.  Call Emalie for details 615-403-8455

Check it out on the official WnW website.

http://tnumcyouth.org/

This Christmas Eve, Summit Hospital will be almost empty.  The only people there will be patients in ICU, their families, a few families in maternity, and the faithful staff who work so hard to make sure they are given care. For several years, Hickory Bend has taken a holiday meal to Summit Hospital ICU on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Easter.  If you would like to be part of this ministry, speak to Jeannie, Gabby, or any of the Youth.  For more information, call 615-403-8455.

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