Seeing God at Night

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, December 4, Second Sunday of Advent

By Rev. Catherine Nance, Senior Pastor

Seeing God at Night

Read: Psalm 92:2 KJV

“To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness  every night …”

It is good to give thanks to the Lord … to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night!

There are startling moments for us when we stretch, yawn, look out the window and say, “Whew! I’m ready for bed! What time is it?” The dark sky and the cooler temperature coax us into thinking it is time to get under the covers.

Yawn. Look at the clock. Oh my goodness! It’s just … too-early-for-bed o’clock!

We want to sleep; we thought we were tired. But we have two or three more hours until our regular bedtime! What to do with all this extra time?

Instead of cursing the darkness, we can see it as a gift. Instead of scrolling through social media or flipping through channels, put on a coat and go outside. Turn off the outside lights. Look up at the sky. Remember what you learned in school about the stars always being ‘out,’ just not always visible. Think about the phases of the moon, say the names of the planets aloud. Perhaps breathe in a little deeper and do your stretching outside. As you wait for bedtime, be thankful for the darkness. Creation began in darkness for the first words of Creation were, “Let there be light.” What was Mother God imagining and thinking before birthing creation? What was Father God hoping and dreaming before speaking light? Give thanks for the darkness and take the extra time to draw near to the One who is Drawing Near to us!

Come, Lord Jesus!

Prayer

O God of the Darkness, may our imaginations and hearts think of your presence even when we cannot see. Thank you for nighttime rest and for nighttime meditations. Amen.

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Shadows and Starlight

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Saturday, December 3

By Fran Wheeler

Shadow and Starlight

Read: Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

Christmas sometimes feels unreal. Around us we see people who are excited, laughing, and celebrating. Mall music proclaims, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” And we play along, often with tired smiles and over-crowded calendars. But sometimes we wonder how we can even survive a joyful holiday in all the darkness surrounding us.

But a close look at scripture reveals a story filled with light and glory, but also tempered by fear and loss. Amid miraculous moments lie circumstances as difficult and heartbreaking as we can imagine. What do we do with this paradox? 

To preserve the miraculous, we tend to ignore the shadows within the Christmas story. Bright angels mask the fears of a young girl and man whose dreams are shattered. The heavenly joy Mary shared with Elizabeth makes it easy to forget the new somber reality of her life. The great star, singing angels, adoring shepherds, and amazing Magi help us forget that the baby was born far from home and family. Even when he is presented to the Lord, the prophet speaks frightening words: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” As the story winds down, King Herod sends other baby boys to their deaths, so Mary and Joseph can’t even go back home, but must flee to Egypt. 

In spite of the exciting and beautiful moments, Mary indeed had much to ponder in her heart.

What is the lesson for us? Even as darkness overshadows the miraculous story with sadness, we can focus our gaze upon the light that shines through. Because Jesus arose, his words ring loud and clear, bringing the desperately needed message of hope. Because of his words, we know that even in our darkness, the light is coming.

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 NIV

Prayer

Father, as we celebrate, help us to recognize and give thanks for the sacrifices made on our behalf and walk in the everlasting light brought to us by Christ.

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Feeling Stumpy?

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, December 2

By Laura Still

Feeling Stumpy?

​​Read: Isaiah 11:1-2

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit.”

The word stump can be jarring—it has a quality of sounding short and hard, something cut off and useless. Describing anything as stumpy is not usually meant to be flattering. But stumps are considered tough, and anyone who has ever had to dig up even a small one will agree. They might look dried out and dead, but the attached roots often go deep and spread out wider than the canopy of the tree before it was cut. Maybe those stumps aren’t quite extinct after all. 

As a kid I only thought of stumps as a handy place to sit and rest when playing outside, or use as a table for an imaginary meal. If you had asked me, I would have said they were dead, and couldn’t grow again. In the last four years I’ve learned a lot more about trees however, both from reading and working with plants. I’ve seen the stump of a pine tree cut to the ground send out a fountain of delicate green fronds trying to regrow. Trees don’t give up easily and stumps aren’t as dead as I thought. 

So this image of the stump of Jesse is clearer to me now. It reminds me there is always more to learn, more to be, more to hope. Maybe I feel small, old, and cut off some days—kind of stumpy. It’s easy to get lonely and feel unneeded as we get older. Isaiah’s words call out to me to remind me I have roots, reaching deep and wide to find nourishment and connection that lead us to the regenerative power of God. Jesus came to challenge us to see ourselves differently, not as cut down or used-up, but capable of new growth, even transformation. 

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him,

 the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

 the Spirit of counsel and of might,

 the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” 

Prayer

Creator God, help us see ourselves as people of hope, capable of learning and growing closer to you at every age. In the season of hope, may we be open and ready to let your power change us and make us new. Amen.

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Wake Up! Be Alert!

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Thursday, December 1

By Suzanne Matheny

Wake Up! Be Alert!

Read: Isaiah 2:4-5; Romans 13:11-14

“Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11b, NLT)

Advent is apocalyptic. When we hear the word “apocalyptic,” our 21st century ears often hear destruction and violence thanks to the popularity of sci-fi fictional media featuring the collapse of civilization and God’s punishment of the wicked. Instead, a truer understanding of the word “apocalypse” comes from its ancient Greek origination, meaning simply “revelation” or “disclosure.”

In the midst of this season’s festivities and celebrations, Christians are focused on the “revealing” of the coming of God into the world in the Christ child, named Jesus. We marvel at the story of Jesus’s birth as told in the New Testament gospels; but both the Old and New Testament scriptures also speak of the Advent of the Lord in myriad daily ways and ultimately when our eternal communion with God will be fulfilled. Jesus’s exhortation to his disciples to wake up and stay awake extends to us Christ-followers. Isaiah assures us that God will bring a welcomed peace among all nations and calls us to “walk in the light of the Lord” as we await God’s revelation and salvation. Paul echoes Jesus’s and Isaiah’s admonitions to wake up and to “put on the shining armor of right living,” or as one commentator* has said, “be alert to what God is doing in the world, and live in accordance with God’s coming salvation.” We do not know the hour or day of God’s revelation; but in the coming of God’s Son, we hear the call to wake up and be alert!

Prayer

God, even as you reveal yourself daily and in so many varying ways, sometimes we become complacent and fall asleep. May this season of Advent be a wake up call. May we be ever alert and ready to rejoice in your salvation.

*Susan Grove Eastman, Associate Research Professor Emerita of New Testament Duke Divinity School

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Weekly Prayer – November 30, 2022

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of November 30, 2022

Rev. Catherine Nance 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

You have given us the gift of evening and daytime, O Lord; it is how we first measured time. 

Then we named the days and now we have given each day a title this season: 

Black Friday (which now lasts for weeks before Thanksgiving). Cyber Monday is when we shop online more than any other day of the year and then Giving Tuesday – sort of a repentance for the overindulging we’ve done.  

O Lord, we know that you are infinite and that you are Lord of our Life, but we feel a little more in control when we can mark time, name time, divide time into hours or minutes. We make plans for days and save the dates. We want to spend our time wisely, but also be productive, and also enjoy each moment. Oh! The expectations and burdens we place on ourselves! 

We do like a good plan! Our families and communities function better when we have our schedule and know what time events will start and end! But, remind us to pause, O God. In this season of Advent, you have called us to watch, to wait, to be prepared. As we ask, “what time is it?” may we pause to ask “how is God in this time?” When we ask ‘How much longer”, may you guide us to wonder how you are waiting with us. We do not wait well, Lord. You know this about us. 

So, our prayer this evening is for those who are waiting and wondering how much longer … 

How much longer before the doctor calls .. 

How much longer before that check shows up… 

How much longer before she says, “I’m sorry”…. 

How much longer before he is healed…. 

How much longer do we keep trying to get pregnant… 

How much longer do we have to live like this… 

How much longer before he comes home…? 

We offer prayers of thanksgiving, O God of the Nighttime and Daytime, that you are indeed with us in all time. You wait with us. You watch over us, and for us, and with us. Open our hearts and minds that we might notice you; may our spirits catch a glimpse of you as we wait. In this Advent season, we grapple with the circle – the wreath – the everlastingness of it all. Sometimes, we want straight lines and angles and turns and clear direction. Help us find solace and comfort in the circle. Love never ending. Your presence who has no ending or beginning. May that bring meaning to all of our time. 

We pray in the name of the one who has come, who is with us now, and who will come again. 

We pray for ….

  •  A member’s co-worker just diagnosed with bone cancer.
  • A Holston Conference pastor and wife whose 20-month old son died after a tragic accident. The funeral service will be at our church; prayers for Pastor Tim as he leads.
  • Those who are grieving … so many losses this past year
  • A daughter who is making choices for her mother about assisted living, follow-up rehab, etc. Such a maze to work through!
  • Church members who are dealing with physical health issues; may they feel close to God’s energizing spirit!
  • A colleague waiting on medical tests and a clear diagnosis
  • The families behind each of those Beacon of Hope “angel tree” names. Praying for happy memories for each of the families and that they feel hopeful in the coming year!
  • Church members who have Covid; thankful for mild cases. Hoping for all to stay well!
  • A member’s friend who is having surgery this week
  • A son who works out of state who is having problems with back
  • A sister who is dealing with after effects of cancer treatments
  • A father who has Covid
  • A family situation … primary caretakers are moving away. Prayers for good decisions to be made about family members who need attention.

We continue to pray for ….

  • A niece in Los Angeles looking for a job
  • Two church members who are under hospice care; giving thanks for faith in God. Thankful for supportive families.
  • Those who are caregivers and those who are making difficult decisions
  • Those who are in rehabilitation after a fall and/or surgery
  • Those who are weary with chronic illnesses and those whose bodies are ‘wearing out.’
  • A member who is dealing with depression. We pray for so many who deal with depression – who want to be at church and with family, but just cannot make that happen.

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….

  • Healthy pre-natal check ups
  • The miracle of life through organ donation; we think especially of the lives of children who have renewed hope after the death of a 20-month old.
  • Emergency personnel – firefighters, police officers, EMTs, who respond when we call!

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

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Hope in a World of Chaos

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Wednesday, November 30

By David Lineberger

Hope in a World of Chaos

Read: Hebrews 10:23 NIV

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

What comes to your mind when you hear the word chaos? Lawlessness, confusion, disorder, and disarray are some words that might pop into your mind. We certainly live in times that could be defined using the word chaos. While many would agree that there has never been a time that was completely absent of chaos, our current political and environmental climates are acutely focused on events that could very well impact most of life today in a disastrous way. Even if we can solve our nation’s political divide, we are mindful that an even more ominous threat looms in our future with climate change. 

It is within this background that we Christians focus with renewed emphasis on the hope of the good that God brings to us all in the coming of Jesus into our hearts and minds, a hope that darkness will not prevail, but a light that will overcome it. We celebrate the arrival of God’s promise to us all, a promise of love, forgiveness, and hope for our relationship with Him, with each other, and for our joy throughout eternity. 

Some Christian traditions refer to the Advent candle of hope as the prophet’s candle. It symbolizes the joyous expectation felt in anticipation of the birth of the Messiah as foretold by many prophets, especially Isaiah. 

In these times of fear of the unknown, of a world in chaos, we cling to the one unfailing hope that is sure, that of the promise of God’s love revealed to us in the birth of our savior, the Messiah, who is God with us!

Prayer

Lord of the universe, we lay down our fears and concerns of a chaotic world at your feet, knowing that your love for us can and will overcome anything that tries to overpower us. Give us the hope and peace we celebrate in your Son, the child born in Bethlehem. Amen.

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December Update

Sunday Schedule: 
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM ($5 dinner)

Christmas Eve & Christmas

Join us for worship!

Saturday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve

  • 12 Noon: Traditional Candlelight Communion service with soloist
  • 3 pm: Family Service geared toward families with small children
  • 7 pm: Online Worship Premiere (service available for viewing any time after 7 pm premiere)
  • 5:30 and 10:30 pm: Traditional Candlelight Communion service, prelude featuring a prelude by the Parish Adult Choir (nursery for young children will be available at the 5:30 pm service only)

Sunday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

  • 11 a.m. worship service only (no 8:30 service and no Sunday School)

REZ 2023

Each year, an event is held for Holston Conference Youth called Resurrection. Our group enjoys time together in a cabin in Pigeon Forge and attends worship sessions throughout the weekend.

This year’s theme is One Faith, One Hope, One Lord. And we’re looking forward to this weekend away. Here are our details:

Earlybird: Due December 4 – $115
Regular: Due December 23 (EXTENDED) – $135
Event Date: January 20-22, 2023
Location: LeConte Convention Center | Pigeon Forge, TN
Lodging: King of the Mountain Lodge | Hearthside Cabin Rentals

Use the links to register with our group and learn more about Resurrection!

REZ23 Registration

Resurrection Website

High School Prayer Breakfast

This year, we are going to rotate locations of our High School Prayer Breakfast. Hopefully, this will allow more students to participate! We will begin after Labor Day. The first two dates & locations are:

  • December 6, Chick-fil-A West Hills, 7:15 AM
  • December 13, Panera Fountain City, 7:20 AM

If you are interested in a prayer breakfast near your neighborhood, let Jenny know!

Parent Sign-Ups

Meal Sign-Ups: Each Sunday, we serve our students breakfast and lunch. We ask families to volunteer to help make these meals happen! The sign-ups are below. If every family signs up for one breakfast and one dinner each, we will have nearly every week covered!

Breakfast Sign-Up

Dinner Sign-Up

Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!

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Christmas Pandemonium

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Tuesday, November 29

By Barry Christmas, Congregational Care

Christmas Pandemonium

Read Galatians 6:2 NIV

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

When planning Christmas gatherings around a loved one with memory issues, it is better to skip the “Twelve Days of Christmas” and focus on “Silent Night”.  

Holidays can be a stressful time for all of us, but most especially for our family members with dementia. A room filled with laughter and voices, children running and squealing with excitement, festive holiday music playing in the background and the family dogs underfoot can be overwhelming for those who are cognitively challenged. Such a chaotic atmosphere is more than they are able to process and quickly becomes intolerable for them. They are unable to recognize some people’s faces, and struggle to remember the names of those who look familiar. They may lovingly embrace one of their grandchildren, but fail to recall their name. All of this confusion makes them want to retreat to another room and be alone.

Keep celebrations simple and on a small scale. Consider having several intimate gatherings with close relatives instead of one big party with the whole family. The grandchildren can benefit too by having their own special one-on-one time with grandma and grandpa. And if your loved one is unable to recall names, consider having everyone wear a festive name tag at all of your holiday gatherings. This will help put your loved one at ease, instead of reminding them of their worrisome memory lapses.

Unfortunately, more and more families are seeing their aging relatives develop dementia. We pray every day that the Lord will help us find the cause and a cure. In the meantime, hold your loved ones close to you and remind them you will always be there for them (even when they no longer recognize who you are).

Prayer

Dear Jesus, during this happy season of family gatherings to celebrate your birth, bless all who are caregivers and their loved ones with dementia. May they enjoy their time together, and make new and lasting memories. Amen.  

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Are Your Prepared?

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Monday, November 28

By Ann Reego

Are You Prepared?

Read Matthew 3:3

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, and make straight paths for him.’”

It seems that once October appeared on our calendars, the holidays just blended together into one changing grocery aisle – from orange and black candy with lots of chocolate, to shelves filled with canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce, and now to red and green in every kind of candy imaginable. The elections are over and the commercials have abandoned politicians for ads for toys, colognes, bikes and sweaters; all proclaiming great prices and “once in a lifetime” sales.

The dictionary defines Advent as arrival, appearance, emergence, materialization, surfacing, occurrence, dawn, origin, birth, rise, development, approach, coming, looming, nearing, and advance. With the antonyms being departure or disappearance.  

With the emergence of the holidays in October, and the arrival of fall, the earth develops from green to vibrant colors of red and gold, an occurrence of nature because of cooler, longer nights.  Every dawn brings new and stunning views. We enjoy rides into the mountains, and the advancing cooler days and colder nights make us head to the fire pits for s’mores.  

And now most of the trees are bare and in the approaching days we see that winter is looming and the green on our lawns will not surface until Lent or Easter. We have developed a materialized culture that is easy to join as Christmas Day draws near and makes many forget the origin of the holiday. Let us look more to the coming appearance of the Christ Child, who gave rise to our faith. His birth changed the world and He will never depart us or disappear.  

During Advent, Church Street UMC gives us many opportunities to deepen our faith. I hope you will take advantage of these events and your hearts will fill with the true meaning of the season. 

Prayer

Oh gracious Savior, we are prone to becoming caught up in the ways of man. Help us to savor and appreciate this Advent season. Bring us to Christmas Eve, eagerly awaiting your birth. In your name, Amen.  

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When There are No Words

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Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, November 27

By Rev. Andy Ferguson

When There are No Words

Read Luke 1:5-23

The Christmas story as told by Luke actually begins before the angel visited Mary to promise that she would bear a child. It began months earlier in the Temple. A country preacher, Zechariah, had been chosen to enter the Holy of Holies at the time of incense – a once in a lifetime moment for him.

Inside he met Gabriel, who came with a promise for Zechariah and all Israel. Zechariah’s response to this wonderful news was a clumsy, “Huh?” This did not sit well with the Angel, so he struck Zechariah unable to speak until his promised child should be born.

Imagine the scene: Zechariah comes out of the Holy of Holies. His eyes are wide but he is unable to speak. He gestures; he shrugs; he points. But no explanation comes out.

Years ago, I was the preacher at Camp Wesley Woods for a communion service. Unfortunately, laryngitis had taken over and my voice was fading fast. I was the only pastor around, and the plan called for Holy Communion. When it was time for the communion liturgy, my voice was gone. What could I do?

With no backup plan in sight, I stepped to the communion table and acted it out – no words. Like Zechariah, I gestured; I shrugged; I pointed. Then, I broke the bread, lifted the cup, and offered it to all who were present.

I have always connected my mime-communion with Zechariah’s silence and gesturing before his long-ago congregation. The Christmas Story began that day without words. The angel’s promise to Zechariah was shared without explanations or fancy prophecies. The best part is that people got it – at least part of it. They understood that God had visited during their hour of prayer. They understood that God was coming close and that great events were unfolding.

This is the message of Christmas in this troubled year 2022. We read plenty of words; the speeches never end. But long ago in events unspoken, the Good News unfolded. God has visited. God is coming close and in God’s coming great events are underway. This is the promise of Christmas. 

Prayer

Hush my chattering, Lord. Teach me to watch for your Christmas coming with my kneeling knees, my outstretched hands, my believing eyes. Amen.

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