The Bell Tower - Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church

The Bell Tower
January 2015
This past Christmas Eve service our three children lit the advent wreath at the late 11:00 p.m. service. Actually they did that at our very first late
service when they were much younger. We kept them up late, but Santa came anyway. We've been doing this a long time. We sometimes tell people
that we have only lived in Franklin for twenty-one years. That may sound like a lot to some, but when you get to serve in a church in the Franklin
historic district with those who can claim to be seventh generation Franklinites and Williamson Countians (if that's the way to put it), twenty-one
years doesn't seem so long. As many of you know, we moved here because of the opportunity in this church to do many things we love--preaching,
caring for folks, music. We moved here to be near family in Nashville. And, we moved here because it is a place where we would be, and have been,
happy for our children to grow up. Part of the joy of this place is having had our three children in the area schools, Liberty, Freedom (Intermediate
and Middle), and Centennial.
Our children were not always thrilled to say what we did for a living when they were students. One of them (guess which one) even told his class
that I was a police officer so as to avoid saying that I was "a preacher." I think they worried their friends would think they would try to convert them,
or something like that. We didn't teach them to do that. We taught them to keep an open mind and to learn from their teachers and also from others.
Some of those 'others' were people who didn't claim to be especially religious. Some were people who were adherents of other faiths--Jewish, Hindu,
Muslim. While we are not as diverse in this county as some other places, what diversity there was and is we have appreciated, and we wanted them
to as well.
I like to think this is a place others can appreciate as well. Recently I read of a director of the Muslim study center in Columbia who moved to Williamson County because he felt it would be a "safe environment" for his son to grow up. He should know. That center was torched in 2008 in a hate
crime by white supremacists making so-called Christian claims. I hope he's right about us, that ours is a safe environment for his son, and all of our
sons and daughters, because I'd like ours to be that kind of place, just as it has been for us and our children.
Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church is in a unique position to help make our community that kind of place, because of where we are, and because
of what we have the opportunity to say. Anyone who goes to our Christmas Eve services knows that we draw from the larger community. The earlier service, of course, is sort of a Bethlehem mayhem that maybe matches the sudden chorus of angels in the fields where shepherds kept their flocks
by night. The later one we appreciate also because it feels closer to that chance for wise ones to bow down in a quiet manger and offer gifts. We're
glad that people come to either service, and I imagine that many from the community who come may not even consider themselves especially religious, or may be of a different religion. But, we have never seen Christmas Eve as some kind of opportunity to convert people. We see it as a chance
to share in some good news--what we call gospel--about a child and savior who brings peace and good will and just might save us from all of our
world's warring ways.
It's important that we provide that good news in our community. Many words around us have little peace or good will in them. One area group paints
Muslim-Americans uniformly as a threat. Their so-called 'facts' are loosely drawn from internet declarations. They remind me of the careless portrayals of African-Americans in the deep south where I was raised, portraying them as threats to our way of life rather than fellow citizens who hope
for the same kinds of communities my family and I hope for. Those portrayals, and these more recent ones, were meant to create fear, fear of people
who are different from us. They are no more based in facts than the way some vigorous secularists portray us Christians as ignorant and intolerant, or
more to the point, they take isolated facts and certain segments of any religious community and pretend that's how we all are.
As someone who loves Franklin and as a Christian, I like to think we all can do better. I like to think we all want good communities. I like to think
we don't want to insist on our religious point of view in a way that makes those around us who think or believe differently feel uncomfortable. I
think we want to understand each other, not fear each other. The angels in our Christmas stories read at Christmas eve pointed us in the right direction, saying time and time again, "Fear not, I bring good news of great joy which shall be for all people." Fear not--Good news--Great joy--All people. That's a message that will always make ours a better community. I even think that's a message that will make us better Christians.
Reverend Will Berger
2014 Children’s
Christmas Program

Addy Mitchell, Brown Jewell, Tanner and
Harrison Welch all sang in the BGA Christmas
Choral program on December 8th…

Jonathan Warden sang and danced in the
Independence High School Christmas program
Choral program on December 11th…

Connie and Frank Brahan travelled to Virginia
to be present for son Bryan's Navy reenlistment ceremony…

Sydney Gleason is in France for the holidays…

David and Lucy Kells enjoyed a trip to Chicago
to see Cat Stevens...

Robert Smith and Karen Connolly visited
family in Virginia…

Taylor Zachry was seen on Conan O'Brien,
playing bass for Olivia Jean...
WELCOME to the HFPC
Session Class of 2017
Brent Andrews
Hal Moore, Jr.
Cindy Morelli
Lillian Stewart
Thank you for being willing to
serve in the life of our church.
PLEASE E-MAIL THE CHURCH OFFICE WITH
ANY ADDRESS CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS
[email protected]
To keep in our prayers:
Brian Lake
Lois Davis
Mary Ann Tate
Karen Hardin
Max Hendrix
Sympathy to the family of Rob Dreussi
on the death of his father, Joe.
“The eternal God is your dwelling
place and underneath are the
everlasting arms. “
Mark your Calendars!
The 2015 HFPC Women’s Retreat
Friday, March 20—Sunday March 22
Camp NaCoMe
Topic: “Love One Another”
MISSION
LAST
WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP
Last Wednesday fellowship for the month of January
will be on Wednesday, January 28th at 6:30 pm
Many thanks to all who contributed gifts to The Manger. This
was the 24th year that this program has been in operation, and
over 800 families had an opportunity to shop for loved
ones. Your gifts helped make it a success! Betsy Bond,
Christi Ensch and Mary Winton Hughes all volunteered at The
Manger and each had a very rewarding experience. The youth
delivered a Christmas basket to one of the families, rounding
out our participation.
The menu will be lasagna, salad, bread, and
assorted desserts.
The program will be led by Steve Young who will
share details of his trip to Cuba for Living Waters for
the World. Sarah Litton will lead the children in a
program on “Art and the Psalms.” Come join the fun!
January ART CRAWL
HFPC Memorial Hall
Friday, January 2nd
6-9 p.m.
BOOK CLUB
Everyone is invited to join us for discussion and
fellowship at 11:30 a.m. on January 27 .
“The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin
Meet at the home of June Warren
409 Boyd Mill Ave.
For more information contact
June Warren
615-794-7453 or [email protected]
The Presbyterian Women’s Bible Group will
meet Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 9:45 a.m.
in the church parlor.
The Bible Study topic for reflection and discussion will be based on 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10.
Study books are available in the parlor.
All ladies of the church are invited to join us for
coffee, refreshments, and fellowship.
Sewing Circle
Join us as you work on
any craft project and
enjoy the
company of others!
January 2nd at 10 am
January 16th at 10 am
A THANK YOU TO HFPC
Dear all, On Sunday January 4th, I've been invited to preach for my last time at Second Presbyterian Church and will receive a little goodbye from
them. The job as part-time interim parish associate (yes, that is what I was called), that was going to last for a year, actually has lasted one year and
nine months. It has been a rewarding time for me. Second is a unique congregation (as each congregation is), with great emphasis on inclusivity for
all persons regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, of disability, and in that sense many have found a comfortable home there.
But, Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church is also unique and welcoming and a place where people with many different outlooks on faith can gather
and worship. It has been my church home for 21 years, and it is my church home. I am so very grateful to the good people of this church who supported me in this unusual endeavor which had me away more or less one Sunday a month and preaching at Second. You've always shown interest and a
willingness for this to work. It has been a rewarding time, but a time that I'm ready to complete so I can be completely back at home with you. AND,
when thanking the congregation, I especially want to thank June Warren, my piano partner, and my organist/choir director substitute, for all of the
times she played in my absence. It is always great when I'm away to know that she and the choir will be 'just fine.'
Will Berger
YOUTH NEWS
HFPC youth in grades 5 through 12 enjoyed a fun Christmas party at the home of
Will Berger and Sally Hughes on December 14th.
Join us in January for more fun and fellowship!
January 11th, 5-7pm
January 18th , 5-7pm
Please contact Brittany Hanlin, our youth director, at 615-779-2757 or
[email protected] for more information.
Beginning Sunday,
January 11th, we will
have a “Singing, Ringing
and Rhythm” program for
children and youth, led by
Sarah Litton, who has been working with
our children on Last Wednesday Fellowship. Our time together will begin at 4:00
p.m. We will include children from K-4th
grade, but any interested youth are also
invited and will be given opportunities
appropriate to them. We’ll conclude
by 5:00 for youth group. “Singing,
Ringing and Rhythm” will meet second
and third Sundays at 4:00 prior to youth
group meetings.
Dickens of a Christmas at HFPC
Once again HFPC was the site for some
of the activities during the Dickens of a
Christmas festival December 13 and 14.
One special addition was our handbell
choir playing in front of our church on
Saturday morning. We managed to fill over an hour with music
and many listened and applauded (with occasional breaks for
coffee, donuts and just getting warm). Special challenges
were presented by police sirens indicating the beginning of the
festival and the steady ping of the walk/don't walk sign on the
corner, but they all braved it and are much appreciated.
Throughout the weekend, Janet and Hugh Tharpe provided the
Green Room for festival volunteers and made the entire place
smell wonderful with good food and hospitality. The festival
ended with a carol sing in our church sanctuary with a steady
stream of carols led by the pipe organ. "Let there Be Peace On
Earth" was the last song we sang, and the voices definitely
filled up the room even as the lights mysterious dimmed--a
special effect we can't explain. Thanks to John Fraser for
making the carol sing happen, to Hugh and Janet for the
Green Room, and to our Handbell Choir for playing so nicely.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU:
The Christian Education Committee would like to extend their thanks to the following individuals who
helped teach the 2014 Summer Sunday School for the children:
Kathleen Koontz
David Strickland
Cindy and Bill Morelli
Linda and George Mahathy
Lynne Welch
Tonya Young
Claudia Zanolini
Jackie Pennington
Mona Lee
Jeanne and L.T. Preston
HFPC 2015 APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET
Christian Education
VBS
Wonderful Wednesdays
Supplies
Materials/Curriculum
Youth Group Food
Youth Montreat Conference Registration
Montreat Van Rental
Montreat Housing
Montreat Supplies/Food
Total Christian Education
$150.00
$600.00
$300.00
$1,000.00
$200.00
$600.00
$700.00
$1,200.00
$300.00
$5,050.00
Congregational Life
Kitchen Supplies
Food Support
Miscellaneous
Member Care PW
Total Congregational Life
$1,000.00
$600.00
$200.00
$300.00
$2,100.00
Missions
Bridges
Living Waters
Graceworks
Meals on Wheels
Presbytery
Hard Bargain
Mercy Clinic
Pastoral Counseling
Mission Project (Committee Discretion)
Total Mission
$1,500.00
$1,300.00
$1,800.00
$900.00
$5,000.00
$1,000.00
$650.00
$650.00
$1,000.00
$13,800.00
Personnel
Office Expense:
Bookkeeping (Payroll Fees)
Equipment
Computer Maintenance
Copier Contract
Printing
Postage
Supplies
Telephone & e-fax
Workers' Compensation Insurance (previously under B&G)
Internet & Website
Subtotal Office Expenses
$1,350.00
$730.00
$300.00
$3,250.00
$1,000.00
$1,460.00
$1,500.00
$2,240.00
$1,211.00
$1,635.00
$14,676.00
Salaries:
Pastor Salaries - Sally
Pastor Salaries - Will
Office Assistant
Youth Director
Nursery Worker
Bookkeeper
Subtotal Salaries
$48,400.00
$19,215.00
$22,620.00
$3,500.00
$2,288.00
$1,850.00
$97,873.00
Benefits & Allowances:
Pension & Medical - Sally
Pension & Medical - Will
Housing
Mileage
Books - Continuting Education
Utilities Allowance
Employer Taxes
Subtotal Benefits & Allowances
Total Personnel
$27,900.00
$13,200.00
$10,200.00
$9,731.00
$3,060.00
$5,600.00
$9,000.00
$78,691.00
$191,240.00
Buildings and Grounds
Cleaning services
Cleaning supplies
Exterminator
ADS Security
Utilities
General Maintenance
Elevator
Licenses & Permits
Insurance
Lawn/Grounds Maintenance
Total Building & Grounds
$19,000.00
$400.00
$400.00
$600.00
$20,900.00
$11,000.00
$1,280.00
$150.00
$12,400.00
$5,280.00
$71,410.00
Worship
Worship supplies
Pulpit Substitutes
Music Substitutes
Concerts
Total Worship
$1,400.00
$1,400.00
$1,400.00
$800.00
$5,000.00
Total Operating Expenses
$288,600.00
Financial Update:
Here’s a summary of 2014 and a quick look at 2015. I’m pleased to report
that we’ve continued to maintain reasonable balances in both our operating
and capital accounts for the past year.
Our capital account currently has $33,500. This balance has been relatively
steady for the last 9 months, as we now receive regular contributions from
those who pledged to the 2014 capital campaign. We continue to make
$1,150 weekly payments against the debt we owe on our re-structured construction loan. Those payments favor reduction of the principal, though we
still do make interest payments. I want to maintain a robust balance in this
account so those weekly deductions simply become routine for us. But the
overall good (or perhaps ‘Great!’) news regarding the capital account is that
the principal on our loan will have been reduced by fully $100,000 in the very
near future. When we began planning the 2014 Capital Campaign last January, our principal balance was $619,000. Our current balance is $525,000.
This week our operating account has $130,000 in it, which does include funds
from the settlement of our insurance claim on the roof. I hope many of you
have had an opportunity to see the progress on the roof. The shingles themselves are distinctive, but I think you can already tell that the copper work, as
it is completed, will be a true highlight. The roof repair will be complete in
mid- to late-January, and at that time we will owe the contractor approximately $95,000, which I anticipate to be split between the operating account and
the Endowment Fund (approximately 2/3:1/3). I expect our operating account
balance to be close to $60,000 after that payment. I’m sure you can understand the desire of the Finance Committee – and the Session -- to continue to
maintain a healthy balance in the operating account for the near term.
The two accounts that the trustees oversee, the Endowment Fund and Organ
Fund, are separate from the routine bank accounts. The Organ fund covers
the cost of annual maintenance and regular parts replacement for the organ.
The Endowment can be used for many things, including significant repairs to
our church structure. In March, I gained Trustee and Session approval to use
Endowment funds for the final repairs to the parking lot behind the building.
And now, also in accordance with the terms of the endowment, we will use
some of those funds for improvements to the roof.
As you can see in the approved operating budget, our 2015 budget will be
$288,600. That is an increase of about $12,000 from 2014. A portion of that
increase was predicated upon the income we will receive from our renters in
the Annex and Frothy Monkey. But we also based some budget decisions
regarding the 2015 budget on equaling, or perhaps slightly building upon, the
Stewardship pledges we received in 2014. At this point, based on last year’s
final figures, we’ve received just about 2/3 of the total number of pledges and
just about 2/3 of the total amount in funds pledged. I know this is a tremendously busy time of year, but I’d like to encourage everyone who hasn't already done so to thoughtfully consider making a Stewardship pledge. We'll
gladly accept a note regarding your pledge until the first week of the New
Year, or, for those who wish, I'd be happy to receive your email pledge sent to
[email protected].
Last, I’m sure you are all interested to know about the interior repairs to the
sanctuary that will be done in coordination with the roof repair. The interior
work could not begin until a major portion of the roof was complete, so completing final repairs on the roof would not disturb any new work that was
being done directly under that. As I’m sure you understand, our use of the
sanctuary in the last two weeks was of primary importance, but we also had
two days of rain that kept the roofers off the job anyway. The interior contractor is prepared to begin on Monday, Dec 29. He should take about 2 full
work-weeks (please remember that the week of the 29 th has one more holiday
in it, so it will be a short work week). You will see signs of progress in the
sanctuary by Sunday, January 11 (and probably earlier, if you stop by).
Thanks all. Hope you’re having a blessed holiday season. If you have questions about the information contained in this note, please feel free to contact
[email protected]. We’d be glad to have your input.
Kindest regards,
Mike Ensch
Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church
Fifth Avenue and Main Street
P.O. Box 323
Franklin Tennessee 37065-0323
Return Service Requested
Serving Christ and neighbor at the crossroads!
January 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
New Year’s Day
2
Sewing 10-1
ART CRAWL/Memorial Hall
6-9
3
8
12:30 Art Class
9
10
16
Sewing 10-1
17
23
24
30
31
4 First Sunday Fellowship
8:30/11 Worship
9:45 Sunday School
12:30 Session Meeting
5
6
7
12:30 Art Class
6pm Bells
7:15 pm Choir
11 8:30/11 Worship
9:45 Sunday School
2-4 Recital
4-5 Youth Choir
5-7 Youth Group
12
13
14
12:30 Art Class
6pm Bells
7:15 pm Choir
15
12:30 Art Class
18
8:30/11 Worship
9:45 Sunday School
4-5 Youth Choir
5-7 Youth Group
19
Martin Luther King , Jr Day
20
9:45 PW Bible Study
21
12:30 Art Class
6:00 pm Bells
7:15 pm Choir
22
12:30 Art Class
5 8:30/11 Worship
9:45 Sunday School
Children’s Play Practice
26
27
Book club 11:30
28
12:30 Art Class
6:30 LWF
6pm Bells
7:30 pm Choir
5-8 Bridges
5-8 Bridges
5-8 Bridges
29
12:30 Art Class
5-8 Bridges