Blog

Last week, ten excited youth and three brave adults packed up and drove to the University of Tennessee, where they participated in a week of youth camp called UniDiversity. This year, twenty-four churches and 462 participants gathered together to focus on the theme “It’s Complicated.” This theme was all about relationships, and we focused on the relationship between Peter and Jesus as we talked about trust, influence, pain, and purpose. Youth and adults alike wrestled with being vulnerable and accepting of others; they began to unpack how we are always in relationship with other people, and how we as Christians should treat others and be treated in those relationships; we talked about how we are influenced by those around us, and how we can work to be positive influences in the world; and we found ways to think about how we have been hurt in relationships, and hurt others, and how we can pick ourselves up with God’s help. It was a transformative and challenging week for everyone.

The title of this article speaks to the larger picture of UniDiversity. During the day, youth are mixed together into different groups. Often during the day, you would hear chaperones asking one another “Have you seen…?” Because for most of the day, youth were all over the place, building relationships with others; forming community. And we didn’t see each other a whole lot. But that was because youth were putting into action what we were focusing on this week- they were building relationships with one another. Between bible study, seminars, and electives, our youth were out meeting new folks and reconnecting with friends made last year. That’s a benefit of UniDiversity- since it only happens for one week in the summer, and many of the same churches return year after year, we are able to reunite with friends they haven’t seen since last year. The UniDiversity family is one of the strongest and most genuine I have ever encountered. And for that I am grateful.

As we return home, we return as a group who has been challenged to look at relationships differently. We are finding ways to be the presence of Christ in the world to all we cross paths with. On our last night at camp, we each offered a sentence prayer with the prompt “God, as I return home, help me to…” Each youth and adult based their prayer off something that touched them this past week. While all the prayers were meaningful and important, one prayer summed up the week: “God, as I return home, help me to love others, even when I don’t feel like loving them.” That’s the Gospel, friends. That’s what we are called to do in this world filled with meaningful, challenging, complicated relationships. So go- serving the complicated and mysterious God, and knowing that you have been equipped with the tools to navigate the world.

Rev. Kristen Koger

Pastoral Resident

The Food Pantry and Clothes Closet Ministry provides food and clothing to families in our neighborhood.  The pantry and clothes closet are open every Thursday from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.  Food is distributed and the clothes closet is open for all to shop.  This is also a place where people can come to share their experiences and situations, and sometimes to just fellowship and talk or have prayer.  It is funded by contributions made to the Fellowship Fund and Food Pantry Fund and from time to time grants.

Food pantry and clothes closet are staffed by dedicated volunteers.

In 2014, we distributed 2,503 bags of groceries to 650 families, including 70 homeless persons.  Some came only once and some every month.  On average a family came between 3 and 4 times a year.  There were 261 families who visited the food pantry for the first time in 2014.  We distributed over 50,000 pounds of food (25 tons) this year – an increase of 6% over 2013.  We strive to provide well-packed bags of food each week.

This year about 75% of food we distribute comes from the USDA program.  The Food Bank makes an allotment of food based on number of families served.  USDA food is picked up on the first Wednesday of each month.  One week we picked up almost 4,000 pounds of food.  Each week, a steady number of neighbors visit the clothes closet as the word spreads about this ministry.  Consequently, we always need your clothing and shoes, particularly for men.  Thank you to everyone who donated clothes and toiletries this past year.

If you visit us on any Thursday, do not be surprised if you hear laughter, for it truly is a fun working environment.  Every week people tell us what a great thing this church is doing and how much they appreciate what we do and the way they are treated.  I think that is what this ministry is about – whether it is getting food, clothing, or just having someone listen.  We want people to feel better after coming here.  I find every year that the people who serve in this ministry do so because they want to help others.  We are still here because there is still a need and because we have people willing to help address the need.

A little history:

The food pantry started around 1978 by collecting food from the congregation and distributing to people who came to the church.  It was actually stored in a pantry.

In 1998 (first year we started keeping statistics) the food pantry began participating in the USDA program. The first year the monthly average was 19 families and 27 bags of food distributed.  In 2014 monthly average was 185 families and 209 bags.

In the first 5 years we had about 540 families visit the food pantry.  As of December, 2014 that number has grown to 3,682.

The clothes closet began in 1978, and in 1998 it was operating in a 10 ½ by 22 foot room, about 230 square feet.  We have expanded the clothes closet space to almost 1,400 square feet.

It is hard to believe that this time last year, I was writing my first Quartlery Business Report! Man, how time has flown! Since we last met in April, I have completed my master’s degree, moved houses, adopted a dog, finished an internship, begun a residency, and continued to live into this wildly wonderful calling.

As my internship came to an end in the end of April, I had the opportunity to lead my first funeral. My best friend’s grandfather passed away, and I was honored to be asked to officiate. Not only was this my first funeral, but the funeral was held at the church I grew up in in North Carolina. Many of the people sitting in the pews watched me grow up, but they had not seen me in a decade, let alone in a clergy robe. It was a surreal but extremely humbling experience. There have been a handful of times when I have felt completely confident in my calling while at the same time stepping completely out on faith and trusting the God will lead and be present in the moment; this funeral is one of those times. I am confident that I would have been much more nervous leading this funeral had I not been given the opportunity to participate in the funeral process while interning at Tabernacle.

The first three months of my residency have been extremely filled and fulfilling. I’ve been preparing for the flexibility that summer demands. I co-directed Vacation Bible School alongside Megan Strollo, and it was a wonderful week! I will also have the opportunity to return to UniDiversity with a group of youth this month, and am looking forward to spending time with this great group of youth we are taking. My summer travels will wrap up as I head to CLUE Camp at Metro Baptist Church. In the moments I have left this summer, I will spend it gearing up for the fall with some teacher trainings and looking at our children and family ministries and how we can continue to provide stellar care for the youngest among us.

If I had to come up with one word to describe the last quarter, it would be “preparation.” Personally, I prepared for some pretty big transitions in my own life as chapters ended and new ones began. I said goodbye to the comforts and routine of education and prepared for a different routine that comes with full-time work. I said goodbye to being okay with staying in my comfort zone and prepared to be stretched and changed in this line of work.

I also feel as if our church is in a season of preparation. Over the last twelve months, the air has changed in the hallways; the energy is different in the building. And it’s exciting! Big things are happening in this little church that could. As we continue to live into what it means to be Tabernacle, but more importantly, what it means to be Church, I am praying that the Spirit moves through each of us as individuals and as the Church. I am praying that we are all open to the ways that we can be a part of the holy work God has intended for this family on the corner of Grove and Meadow.

Grace and peace,

Kristen Koger, Pastoral Resident

As I am writing this I am sitting a lodge at Eagle Eryie with a group of 18 teens and children and two of the best chaperones ever, John Burgess and Laura Severns.  The children’s music program is a center part of the Tabernacle music ministry.  Helen Davidson and Judy Fiske lead the preschool children.   They finished their season in May.  This year the school age children were led by Judy Fiske and Graham Grinnell in conjunction with the Godly Play program.  They also finished their season in May.   Eighteen children and youth are attending Music and Worship Arts Camp at Eagle Eyrie.  Earlier this summer four youth, Waysnah Htoo, Monica Iang, Paul Lian and Kekoa Burgess attended Animate Worship Camp at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.  The youth will be participating in a worship study being conducted by Samford and will also attend this camp next year.

Our Sanctuary Choir has been busy preparing music for the weekly worship services.  This spring we have included the children in several of the anthems we have sung.  This summer the choir is participating in an “All-age Choir” that is open to anyone who can read on a second grade level.  There is also an adult handbell choir that is meeting during the Sunday School hour in July.  We have also enjoyed the music of the Karen and Lisu choirs in worship.

April, May and June are an important time for the worship arts people in our congregation.  The Lenten crown of thorns was turned into a crown of victory over death, the cords of color used in the Lenten installation became connecting cords between an open door and the world outside of the church building.   When Pentecost arrived we made about 100 origami doves of all sizes and hung them in the center of the sanctuary surrounded by the batik fabric that we made in 2008.   It was a fun use of an old project.

We are looking forward to the remainder of the summer.  Pictures will be added to the sanctuary walls of activities showing how God is moving in the life of Tabernacle.  There will be an Open Mic night tonight, July 19^th.   Intergenerational Choir will continue in July—there is rehearsal tomorrow, July 20^th.  Music is being chosen for Christmas that is coming very soon!

Thank a musician for the worship music and plan to join us for a rehearsal, worship or a performance.

Judy

Please make every effort to attend our church quarterly business meeting on Sunday, July 19^th.  One of the agenda items for that meeting is an update from the Construction & Renovation Committee.  Nelson Melton and Bill Welstead will provide highlights of findings in the analyses of the Williams Building structure and city code requirements that apply to architectural drawings for our renovation plans, as well as an update about demolition permits for the row houses.  You will also hear a summary of where we stand in our fundraising campaign in their presentation.

The Construction & Renovation Committee wants to ensure that the Tabernacle congregation is aware of the information being used to make decisions as we move towards our next phases of construction.  We also want to keep our members updated regarding the cost of what is being planned, including our efforts towards cost containment.  Your attendance at meetings such as the church business meeting is key to our success in keeping you informed.  We sincerely appreciate your interest and your participation in this vital project!

We look forward to seeing you on the 19^th!