Dear Franklin Table Nation,

It is hard to believe we are actually coming to the end of 2011! The Franklin Table has enjoyed a wonderful start as a non-profit and is engaged in many exciting adventures. As the Director I am privileged to live, work and serve among vibrant people groups, ministries and at risk communities in the City of Franklin and in Williamson and Davidson Counties.

As an example, I recently spoke at a 6am breakfast near Nolensville, TN. with members of the El Shaddia Church which was totally destroyed in the 2010 flood. Pastor Neil Paez of My Father's House a strong Hispanic Church in Franklin was the facilitator and interpreter. It was a great time of fellowship and my hope is that TFT will continue to come along side our many Hispanic brothers and sisters and congregations as we together build God's Kingdom in Middle Tennessee.

The racial reconciliation aspect of TFT will always be a major part of our work. The work of The Red Road and Charles Robinson has become an important aspect of TFT as we look forward to more time with our Native American friends.

We were also able to serve six economically challenged minority families this Thanksgiving providing support and food supplements from Mid-Cumberland and the food distribution ministry of Chris Whitney, Pastor of the Nashville Family Church in Franklin.

As you know we are deep into the Hard Bargain Mt. Hope Redevelopment, beginning work on our sixth house in the Hard Bargain neighborhood. One of the ministry's founders, Denny Denson's family is fulfilling their dream by building a beautiful home on Mt. Hope Street which would thrill our dear friend and mentor who went to be with the Lord several years ago. Denny would also have praised God to see Big John Murphy's house going up and being finished as the City and County celebrate a true community effort in rebuilding John's home after a devastating fire this summer.

New Hope Academy has had a fantastic fall with the Sheryl Crow concerts at the Franklin Theatre as well as conducting feasibility studies to explore all avenues and ways to best communicate the needs of this most special of community development initiatives. Please consider giving to New Hope Academy at this year's end.

Personally I am excited about doing more in the arts community with my song writing and performing. I will be traveling with Michael Card this spring and we are headed to Israel to shoot videos on Biblical Studies in the first of the year. We are also writing songs for a new recording and are exploring a Biblical understanding for Spiritual Friendship... meaning how we can live out 'Neighbor Love'... I was recently blessed to be with the Shield's family on their farm in West Tennessee as we celebrated the Lord last Sunday with a feast and table fellowship I haven't experienced in a quite a while!

I continue to support and work with the Empty Hands Fellowship and Synago Pastors Fellowship and am thrilled to announce a Christmas Eve Service at the West Harpeth Primitive Baptist Church under the Pastorate of long time friend and community developer Hewitt Sawyers. Also, the Fellowships are celebrating Christmas with a dinner at the Franklin Mercantile on December 13th. BTW...I will be performing a concert of original music at the Franklin Mercantile on December 22nd with my friend Scot Phegley. Join us...it will be a fun evening!

Finally, please continue to pray for my colleague and Administrative Assistant, Lisa Frazier. We are looking for a computer and printer for her to use as she sets up the office for TFT... all of which would be tax deductible if gifted.

Thanks to all of you for your financial gifts, your prayers for us and those we represent and your emotional support as we endeavor to start this new work. Obviously we cannot do anything without you!
 
Please consider a year end gift made payable to The Franklin Table... sent to our office at 959 Glass Street, Franklin, Tennessee 37064.
 
God's richest blessings to you and your families this Christmas season and deep love from The Franklin Table,
 
Scott
--
Rev. Scott Roley
Director, The Franklin Table
959 Glass Street
Franklin, TN 37064
615-642-7428

** If you would like to join our prayer team, send your request to lisa@scottroley.com **

Dear Nation of Family and Friends,

I am finishing the first month of rehabbing my new hip and all is going well... The future looks good and I seem to be right on track. With all that said, I still easily tire and can't quite concentrate on any topic for more than a few minutes... but some would say that sounds normal for me. I am thankful to Dr. Paul Thomas and his team for doing such a fantastic job on the replacement, I can already feel how much more stable I am and how greatly this will benefit my life. After thirty days I am reminded that like anything... time is a real healer.

As I was being put to sleep for the surgery I kept holding onto one thought and that was... because the Lord is in charge of everything, I am going to be alright and because of the good people working on me, I will be better very soon. Now as I look back on that moment I am better and all will be fine. A dear friend once told me... "We must learn to remember our future into our present" and that has stuck with me through my rehab time. I need to learn that because the Gospel is true... and God's Grace is sufficient for all our trials... we will make it through. Even the most drastic events and tragic ordeals are opportunities to learn to remember our future, which is that we are eternally safe in the arms of our Savior, into those present situations. This isn't some pie in the sky fatalism. It is the truth that our loving Heavenly Father is at work every moment of our lives and when the outlook is the bleakest or darkest that is when He is most present and powerful.

Remember our future as a Nation is eternal life without brokenness and tears... but also remember that to get there we will be broken and share many moments of sadness... today as I cry out from the pain of my deep surgery I will cry for you and the pain you are suffering. Stay close to Jesus... He is at work in all those who believe!

Deep love,
Scott

Will YOU be in Nashville on Saturday, June 18? William Mwizerwa, who serves as Pastor to our Middle TN Refugees, needs many of us to help with their big fun run event & fundraiser on June 18 to celebrate World Refugee Day - can YOU help?

Last year, they had a very successful event, and it was all possible because of the great volunteers that helped out!

If you can volunteer on June 18, please attend a volunteer meeting on June 11 @ 10:00am at the Brentwood office of African Leadership.

Continental breakfast will be provided. RSVP to william@africanleadershipinc.org - let's show our support!

William Mwizerwa
African Leadership
Refugee Ministry
P.O.Box 2888
Brentwood, TN 37024
Phone: 615-595-8238 X235
615-430-5609 Cell
www.Refugee-Ministry.com

"Looking to the needs of others honors Christ."

It has been a while since my last post.  The world has seen so much happen in such a short time.  OBL’s capture and death, the deadly outbreak of tornados unlike any in US history, the continual need to respond with love to earthquake victims still digging out in Japan and Haiti, the unfortunate miss-prediction of the end of the world and any number of other tragic moments that we are trying to put into perspective…  How all of this works in our struggle to believe and trust  God, who is good and leads us into righteousness, is sometimes difficult.

I recently read a British theologian who said there are two types of people… one type sees the trees swaying in the wind and realizes the unseen breeze is what moves the limbs.  The other types says the waving branches are what causes the wind to blow.  We often do not see the power behind the events we want and hope to make sense of and so at one point must collapse in faith on Christ and trust that our God is at work even in the most unusual ways… He does not prevent us from going through such trials, even to our own eventual death but He certainly saves us through these events promising they will ultimately Glorify Him!

I am praying for you, my loved ones, to move closer in faith to Jesus and rely on His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you… step outside and watch the trees blow and know the wind comes from Him and moves each mighty branch so that our hearts are stirred.

Deep love,

Scott