The Keeper's Log October 2026

East Brentwood

Presbyterian Church USA

This month's theme

Be the Beacon

"I have held many things in my hand, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess."

- Martin Luther

Mark your calendar

Dates to remember

Oct 11 - 25

Thanks-for-Giving Challenge food drive

Oct 12 - 16

EBCA closed for Fall Break

Sun, Oct 18

Youth Group · 11 AM · EBPC Youth Room

Sun, Oct 25

Mission & Outreach Sunday - count, sort and pack for Nueva Vida during worship

Tue, Oct 27

Ladies Open Seat Club at the GRACE Table

Thu, Oct 29

EBCA Open House 5:00-5:25 PM, then Fall Fest 5:30-7:00 PM · Ducks for Ducts Race

Sun, Nov 8

Be the Beacon · "Crazy For You" matinee outing, 2 PM

Sat, Nov 14

"Rewriting the Narrative" fall forum · 9 AM - Noon · Second Presbyterian, Nashville

Sun, Nov 22

Youth Group Friendsgiving · 11-11:30 AM

Sun, Nov 29

Sonshine Service · 11:15 AM

See all events

Community Engagement

Mission & Outreach

October 11 - 25

Thanks-for-Giving Challenge

Hey friends - we're kicking off our Thanks-for-Giving Challenge, and I'm really excited about this one. From October 11 through October 25, we're collecting food to support families in our community. Then on Mission & Outreach Sunday, our whole church family will jump in during worship to count, sort, and pack everything for Nueva Vida so they're ready to welcome families ahead of Thanksgiving.

If you've been around East Brentwood for any amount of time, you know this is who we are. We're a lighthouse church - the kind that shines its light out there, not just in here. Room In The Inn, Glenview Elementary, Grace Table, Nueva Vida… we show up for people who may never walk through our doors, and that's exactly the point. Mission isn't a project for us. It's our identity.

And this food drive is one more way we get to live that out. We want families walking into the food bank in November to find shelves full and hearts lifted - and your generosity is what makes that happen. Every can, every box, every step of giving holds someone up.

Scan the QR code for collection instructions and drop-off details. It's a little different than our usual drives, but still super simple.

Thank you in advance for being the steady, faithful light our community can count on. Let's fill those shelves together.

Thanks-for-Giving Challenge flyer, October 11–25, with QR code for collection instructions

More ways to shine your light

Nueva Vida volunteer opportunity: Food Bank Support, Tuesdays 5:30–7:30 PM and Saturdays 12–3 PM

Nueva Vida Food Bank Support

Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 PM and Saturdays 12-3 PM. Email vanessa@nourishfoodbanks.org to sign up.

Room In The Inn: volunteers needed to serve lunch, third Friday each month 11:30 AM–1:30 PM; teens 13 and up can volunteer with an adult

Serve lunch at Room In The Inn

Third Friday of each month, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. Teens 13 and up can volunteer with an adult. Contact Erin Morrow at (615) 275-7518 to sign up.

Gather and Grow fall small group gatherings flyer with QR codes for each group

Gather & Grow small groups

Connect, learn, serve. Our fall small group semester is underway - just scan a group's code and you're in!

Welcome Circle

2nd Sunday, after service. A relaxed, hour-long gathering to meet others, hear the story and mission of EBPC, and find your place here.

Youth, Children & Family Ministry

Children & Families

Connection, fun, and faith-filled moments all season long. See what's coming up for youth & families at EBPC!

Sunday, October 18 · 11 AM · EBPC Youth Room

Youth Group

We invite all youth to join us for a time of connection, fun, and conversation. Each month we will get together for games, bonding activities, and guided discussions that will help our youth to grow in friendship, confidence, and faith. It will be a great space to unwind, build community, and explore real-life topics in a supportive environment. Snacks provided - questions? Contact Kayla or Bradley.

Communion Sunday · 9:30 AM · Prayerground

Coffee & Communion

Join us before worship for a time of connection, conversation, and community. We'll have pastries, fruit, and hot coffee waiting - just bring yourself and a heart ready to connect. Let's keep building something beautiful together. Now more than ever, let's be all in community.

Coffee and Communion flyer: 9:30 AM in the Prayerground, pastries, fruit and hot coffee or tea

Thursday, October 29 · 5:30-7 PM

EBCA Fall Fest

Fall Fest is almost here, and we're looking for 2-3 families to help make Fall Fest extra fun! If you'd like to decorate your trunk and hand out candy on October 29th from 5:30-7 pm, we'd love to have you. If you can not join us, you can still donate candy. Kids love visiting each trunk, and it's a great way to bring our communities together.

Volunteer with our children & youth

Love seeing children and teens grow in faith? Come be part of the team that makes it happen. Volunteer with our Youth, Children & Family Ministry and help create spaces where faith feels like home. For more information, contact Kayla at kayla@ebpctn.org, or scan the code to sign up.

Want to volunteer with our children and youth? Sign up here — QR code

Children, Youth and Family upcoming events: Youth Group Sept 13 and Oct 18, Glenview School Drive Sept 1–27, EBCA Fall Fest in October, Youth Group Friendsgiving Nov 22, Sonshine Service Nov 29

A ministry of hope, healing & recovery

The GRACE Table

We all carry stories about who we are, what has happened to us, and what those experiences mean. Our lives are made up of experiences, relationships, choices, losses, joys, and questions, but no single chapter tells the whole story. No single experience, be it loss, failure, trauma, success, addiction, or change, defines us.

In October at the GRACE Table, our theme is "Meaning: Holding One's Story Without Over-Identifying." We will explore the topic "narrative identity": how the stories we tell about ourselves shape us, and how we can honor those stories without becoming trapped by them. What does it mean to live without fixed conclusions?

The GRACE Table flyer: Meaning — Holding One's Story Without Over-Identifying

Takeaways from our two October sessions

Practical ways to recognize the stories we tell about ourselves.
Separating experiences from identity.
Making room for more than one truth at a time.
Developing a comfort level with parts of life that remain unresolved.
Identifying ways we can open space for greater self-understanding, possibility and growth.
The ability to witness one another without analyzing, advising, or trying to fix them.
Learning practices for holding our stories with greater compassion.
Listening more deeply to the stories of others.
Becoming more comfortable with uncertainty and change.

The story is real. The meaning may still be unfolding. And the next chapter has not yet been written.

Tuesday, October 27

Ladies Open Seat at the GRACE Table

We look forward to welcoming our Ladies Open Seat Club guests on October 27th as they have the opportunity to learn more about this community outreach ministry.

September Ladies Open Seat recap: making luminaries, with thanks to Melodie Grace

September recap: we had so much fun making our own luminaries! A huge thank you to Melodie Grace for teaching us.

Mental health & recovery outreach

Breaking the Silence

You Are Not Alone: Songwriting Kickoff Recap

What a beautiful night! Our You Are Not Alone songwriting kickoff brought together so many hearts, stories, and community partners in one room. It was powerful to see people connecting, sharing, and finding encouragement through music and conversation.

Our very own Breaking The Silence ministry was grateful to partner with the Williamson Prevention Coalition as we welcomed community organizations who show up for our neighbors every single day. Seeing everyone come together - artists, advocates, recovery partners, volunteers - was such a reminder of what can happen when we link arms for the sake of hope and healing.

Some folks found new resources for their recovery journey, others discovered ways to serve, and many simply felt seen and supported. Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their gifts, and helped make this kickoff so meaningful. We truly are not alone in this work. More to come - this is just the beginning.

You Are Not Alone recap photo collage from the songwriting kickoff

You Are Not Alone Song Contest flyer with details and entry QR code

Now open · through January 31

Statewide Song Contest

Our "You Are Not Alone" statewide Song Contest kicked off on September 29th and will run through January 31st. The Top 10 Finalists will perform live on March 30th. More details to follow. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make the event happen!

Saturday, November 14 · 9 AM - Noon · Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville

Rewriting the Narrative: Unpacking the Past and Taking Ownership of Your Present

The Breaking the Silence ministry is collaborating with the Vox Grata Women's Choir to create community engagement events leading up to their May 21st premiere of their original musical composition, "Through the Door: Voices of Addiction, Loss and Hope." This fall forum features keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Loyd and an impressive panel of professionals delving into the origins of SUD from childhood, through the teenage years and into adulthood. Please see the flyer for the registration link.

Vox Grata forum flyer: Rewriting the Narrative, November 14, 2026, 9 AM–noon, with speakers and registration QR code

Vox Grata Women's Choir: Through the Door — Voices of Addiction, Loss and Hope, 2026–2027

Music · Sunday, November 8 · 2 PM

Lunch, laughs & live theater

Attention all theater lovers! We are planning another EBPC outing to see Belmont Musical Theater's fall production of "Crazy For You"! If you enjoy Gershwin music and tap dancing, this is the show for you!

Let Becky or Nate know if you're interested and we'll buy a group of tickets for the 2pm matinee on Sunday, November 8th. We'll plan to grab some lunch beforehand as well! Church service, lunch with friends, and a show - it's the perfect Sunday. Join us!

Lunch, Laughs and Live Theater: Crazy For You, November 8 at 2 PM, with registration QR code

Our preschool

EBCA News

Now enrolling

We have limited openings in our 2 & 3 year old programs.

Fall Break

EBCA will be closed October 12-16.

Open House

Thursday, October 29, 5:00-5:25 PM.

Fall Fest

Thursday, October 29, 5:30-7:00 PM.

Stewardship

Where our giving stands

Ducks for Ducts$1,665 of $13,000

Be the Beacon$20,135 of $250,000 annualized

Help our programs continue to live and thrive. Please consider increasing your giving, or support Ducks for Ducts by sponsoring a duck.

Check it out

The EBPC app & website

Visit ebpctn.org.