First Presbyterian Church, Lynnville, Tennessee

07/17/2023

Blackberry Festival Hit!

More than 100 people had their pictures taken in front of our angel wings mural last Saturday during the Blackberry Festival! Huzzah! We hope you were one of them but, if not, wander on over with a friend (or tripod) and have some fun with Lynnville's newest wall mural. God bless and stay cool during this warm spell!

07/15/2023

First Pres Angel Wing Mural Finished!

Our church's angel wing mural is finished, just in time for the annual Blackberry Festival on the 15th! Our talented friend Mel Hawthorne applied the final touches this week and our gift to Lynnville is complete. Be sure to come by and take your picture in front of them, and tell your friends about it, as well.

The theme scripture for the mural is Psalm 91:4 (NIV) -
"He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

God bless, and enjoy some blackberries tomorrow when you take your angel wing picture right here at our church!

02/18/2023

It's Saturday but Sunday's coming! Tomorrow is a special and poignant day. It is both Transfiguration Sunday and Mel and my last Sunday with the good people of FPC as we prepare to retire. I hope everyone can stay for the covered dish lunch afterwards and just hang out for a while, too.

The artwork for Transfiguration Sunday is by Earl Mott, from fineartamerica.com, and what I like about his visualization is that it reminds you right off of the burning bush on Sinai. I find that comforting and encouraging to encounter the God of Moses still speaking on mountains and burning a way into our lives with a fire that illuminates without destroying.

If you can't make it to worship IRL tomorrow, here is the bulletin for your assistance, and let's all cross our fingers that FB works better tomorrow on our broadcast than last week! - Pastor Blake

02/18/2023

02/13/2023

Happy Monday! I hope you're off to the start of a great week. - Pastor Blake

02/12/2023

It's Saturday night but Sunday is coming! Here is tomorrow's bulletin if you are unable to make worship. Don't forget that we have a covered dish lunch next Sunday as Mel and I share our last official Sunday together (not our last Sunday together, as we will be back, I promise!). And keep your fingers crossed that FB doesn't act up tomorrow and I am able to broadcast our scripture and sermon, which will come from Matthew 7:7-12. This is the culmination and summary of the Sermon on the Mount. Peace! - Pastor Blake

02/05/2023

Morning, again, friends! Well, FB Live shut down again unprompted. I will have to do some trouble shooting, I suspect. In the meantime, I encourage you to read the passage and think about what Jesus means when he wants us to taste like salt and shine like light. Take care - Blake

02/02/2023

Aw, rats. Punxsutawney Phil (or the guy holding him) saw his shadow today, so that apparently means six more weeks of winter. On the plus side, he is correct only 40% of the time so maybe shadow forecasting is not that accurate after all! Like all things that matter, who you trust counts. Have a good one! - Pastor Blake

01/28/2023

It's Saturday but Sunday's coming! Tomorrow we open the scriptures to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes. I hope to bring these blessings forward for all of us in a way that truly blesses Jesus' listeners, not spreads guilt and finger-pointing shame (we'll see how it goes!). If you can't make it to Church Street tomorrow, please join us here on FB and use our bulletin to help guide your worship. And remember that part of the Beatitudes is the point Jesus makes that the way things are is not the way things will always be. Peace! - Pastor Blake

01/14/2023

It's Saturday but Sunday's coming! Tomorrow we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, drawing from Matthew 3:13-4:4. Yes, we tip over into the first temptation of Jesus (hmm - could there be a connection? This preacher thinks so!). Enjoy the baptism humor and if you can't make it to Church Street tomorrow, please join us here on FB and use our bulletin to help guide your worship. Think on your own baptism and what it means to be a child of God. - Pastor Blake

01/07/2023

"When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11

I invite you to join us for Epiphany Sunday tomorrow, whether here on FB or in person on Church Street! I will connect the epiphanies from Matthew and Luke in a sermon I entitled "Two Epiphanies for the Price of One!" I know, I know - a little twee, but they each have something to show us. - Pastor Blake

01/04/2023

Epiphany Sunday falls this Sunday for us. In this case, an "epiphany" is a revealing of something that is already there. Our scripture is Matthew 2:1-12, the story of the magi visiting an unexpected family in Bethlehem, where they, in turn, become an unexpected message to the ages.

While researching online, I ran across this image of the Magellanic Cloud, part of our own Milky Way galaxy, as seen from New Zealand. Do you see what I see? Peace. - Pastor Blake