Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Sunday, March 28, Evening
By Verna Mclain, April 8, 1979
Were You In The Crowd?
Read Luke 19:28-38
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the eyes of all were fixed upon him. The crowds sang his praises but as we come close up to the people, who do we see?
We see the Believers. The ones who haven’t always understood him but who have followed him in faith. Some of these believers will deny their faith in him before the end of the week.
We see those recently healed by Jesus. They are rejoicing that they can now see and hear and walk and run. He has made them whole.
We see the Doubters. Those who still question this humble man riding on a donkey. They want to believe – they want meaning to their lives but is it worth the risk?
We see the Pharisees – those men of the world who can always be found in church every time the door opens but yet who have no open heart to those who are not like them – who don’t dress like them or talk like them.
We see the Outcasts – those people of society that no one cares for – no one even notices. And yet Jesus always noticed – He always stopped to talk to these kind – to show them the direction in life to take.
We see the Children – they sing, they laugh, they carry palm branches and happy hearts. They are willing to follow this Jesus because he has given them a place of importance in the world.
We see the Women – those loyal followers of Jesus – Mary, Martha, and others who stay with him to the end. The ones to whom he first appears after the Resurrection. Many of these women had no place in the world before Jesus gave them status.
And who are the others – You – Me – But which one are we?
The Doubters – the Believers – The Outcasts.
Do we live our lives in the shadow of Jesus who rode into Jerusalem
that Palm Sunday long ago? Can we move from doubter to believer this week?
Jesus might ride into Knoxville today but would we see him or would we be too
busy with our own problems and cares?
Would we even recognize him if he signed the visitors card in our church?
Prayer
Dear God, open our eyes to see your truth, open our hearts to receive your love and open our hearts so that we can loudly proclaim, Hosanna! Amen.
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All are welcome at Church Street! We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We welcome and celebrate the gifts God has given to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation. We respect diversity of opinion and expressions of Christian faith. We believe God loves everyone unconditionally! As God loves us, so let us love and serve in the name of Christ.
Affirmation of Faith
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Wednesday, March 31, Morning
By Laura Still, April 20, 2019
Affirmation of Faith
Read John 13:1
“Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
If you begin a sentence with who, what, where, or why, then the sentence should end in a question mark. We all learn that. During the season of Lent, there are many questions we ask. Why did Jesus have to die? Why did Jesus pray? Let this cup pass? What happened to Jesus’ body? Did Jesus always know he was going to be crucified? Why did Jesus cry out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ These are questions asked in every Lenten study I have been a part of, and I have attempted to answer questions to the best of my ability in sermons and in lessons.
One of the first Lenten hymns I remember learning is “What Wondrous Love Is This” (#292 in the United Methodist Hymnal). It was just a decade or so ago that I paid attention to the missing question mark! The title is not a question but an exclamatory sentence! An affirmation.
What wondrous love is this!
This discovery coincided with my own spiritual growth and understanding. I had worked so hard to explain all the different atonement theories and make sense of the crucifixion. I wanted to be able to answer satisfactorily the questions people would ask in studies.
There is a freedom to accept God’s love and grace when we can exclaim, ‘What wondrous love is this!’ I encourage asking questions and I know full well that is an important and necessary part of our spiritual development. But, at some point, it became more important to me to be embraced by God’s love than being able to explain it.
What wondrous love is this!
Prayer
O God beyond all reason yet so accessible, we thank you that you love us and call us into a new understanding of life through your love. Amen.
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Among Us
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Wednesday, March 31, Morning
By Laura Still, April 20, 2019
Among Us
Read John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
I confess this is my favorite verse of the Gospel, but I am still finding out what it means. When I was young, I daydreamed about what it would be like to be one of the people who met Jesus during his three years of ministry on earth. Surely if I had actually seen him, in the flesh, all my questions and doubts would disappear and I would have become one of the disciples, leaving everything behind to follow him.
However, as a teenager and young adult, my certainty faded as all the complications of the living damaged my self-confidence, and failures ate away my faith. How could I follow Jesus in a world that pulled me apart? There was no sudden blinding light for me, but there were tiny flashes: kind words, laughter, the soaring trill of birds at the moment of twilight. Little sparks sent to remind me he did not leave us alone; he promised he would always be with us. In the gray winter days, the sun is hidden, but we can feel it above the clouds. Lent comes to remind us the Spirit is with us every day, still among us, still full of grace and truth.
Prayer
Dear Lord, give us eyes to see your light when it is hidden and hearts to feel your presence within us. Let us be led by your Holy Spirit in all we do.
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Evening Prayer – March 30
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Prayers for the Church Street Family
March 30, 2021
Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade
Here in the shadowed silence, our thoughts turn to you, Blessed Lord. Another day of grandeur you have provided out of your own benevolence. There were moments when we were speechless when we beheld the spring glory. And even if we passed by the marvels of the daylight, Brother Moon, round as a saucer, has kept watch from his chosen corner these first evenings of Holy Week. We praise you for your visible presence, Unfailing Friend, though we long to be those who live by faith alone and not by sight.
Anointed One, in your final days in this realm, we member how Mary stole soundlessly into the home of Simon, and how, out of her deep love for you, she poured the costly ointment upon your feet at suppertime. Hers was an extravagant gesture of risk, yet she boldly demonstrated where her devotion lay. Her courageous actions are a template for the cost of discipleship. As we move through these sacred days, may we be bold enough to ask ourselves if we would give up our most precious possessions, our status, our independence and control to follow our Savior. We pray that our private meditations this hallowed week might lead us to answer with candor and humility, and that our communal worship services might be counted as fragrant offerings to you.
Gracious Lord, as you touched so many with your grace during your final days of your earthly walk, we ask that you would ease the hearts of those who suffer this day, and particularly accept the gratitude and the concerns and offered by members of our church family:
As we close our day, we thank you, Most Holy God, for gathering us into a beloved community, for in your wisdom, you knew we would need one another as we traveled this long Lenten journey. Cast your warm moonlight over us as we rest this night, anointing us with its creamy glow. We would be made whole for Christ’s sake, and we offer these prayers in his name, praying as he taught us:
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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The Love of God
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Tuesday, March 30, Evening
By Nancy Thompson, April 16, 2019
The Love of God
Read Hebrews 13:13
You may remember the story of the “The Three Trees” accredited to folklore of long ago. Three trees grew up together on a hillside. They often shared their dreams of what they wanted to be when they were grown.
The first wanted to be a beautiful decorative treasure box in which to hold precious and priceless treasures and jewels of the king. He was made into a manger from which animals would be fed. The manger became a crib which held the Christ child – the most precious treasure ever to be known.
The second wanted to be a huge ocean craft on which he would carry many people across the seas to see God’s creation. He was crafted into a small fishing boat which carried Jesus as He taught His disciples. It held them as they rested and slept, and from which Christ calmed a dangerous storm.
The dream of the third tree was to grow to be the tallest, strongest and largest tree in the forest so he could stand erect and daily point people to God. The woodsmen came and downed the third tree and sawed it into two large square type logs with which they formed a cross. It was from this tree that our Savior was hung as the painful crown of thorns was placed on His head and the dreaded swords pierced His side until He said, “It is finished”. This tree has pointed people to Christ through the centuries.
Christ gave His perfect life on the cruel cross for us – for you and me. This realization comes particularly close during communion when the server hands us the bread and says, this is Christ’s body given for you – followed by the juice and the server says, this is Christ’s blood shed for you.
“…the love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell…”
Hymn by Frederick M. Lehman
Prayer
Oh God, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for the faith with which to believe, for your love which we witness and feel every day, and for the hope of eternal life. Amen.
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Why Must Jesus Die?
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Tuesday, March 30, Morning
By Dr. Charles Wender, March 30, 2018
Why Must Jesus Die?
Read Genesis 15:6-18
Jesus, Paul and Peter assure us that the Bible is the word of God written and spoken by human authors chosen by God. In the last analysis, however, some of that which is recorded has more to teach us than other parts. The early chapters of Genesis are most informative dealing with creation, mankind’s fall, and the emergence of Abraham. God witnessed to Abraham. Abraham’s belief in the nature and character of God resulted in his being declared righteous.
Abram, as he was first named, sought reassurance and God enacted a covenant with mankind with Abraham as its representative. This describes the blood path covenant that requires a perfect walking of this path without a breach of the law; God in symbolic fashion walks the path as both a fire pot and a torch. Abraham recognizes that he is unable to walk this path without suffering, bleeding, and dying. This is delayed-action fulfillment until one of his descendants is compelled to walk this path.
The understanding of this ancient covenant brings clarity to our understanding of Good Friday and Easter. Fulfilled prophecy makes it clear that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Messiah. It is Jesus the son of Abraham, fully human, but also fully God, who comes to walk the blood path for those who have violated God’s covenant. The sinner can take advantage of Jesus’ willingness to die in the sinner’s place provided he or she grieves their sin, confesses such and willingly picks up their own cross and follows Jesus’ direction. Despite the many other attempts of worship of other supposed saviors, Jesus is the only one who can take us into the presence of God in eternity.
Prayer
Holy and Righteous God, we bow before you knowing the magnitude of your love for us. Amen.
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Evening Prayer – March 29
prayer for todayBINDING SOUL AND SOURCE
Prayers for the Church Street Family
March 29, 2021
Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade
Evening Presence, you slip in so quietly we sometimes miss your deepening footprints across the sky. Indeed, it is difficult to bid farewell to a day of sunshine and glory, so reflective of your own essence, O Holy One. Scripture tells us that one day whispers its secrets to the next, and perhaps those secrets are carried by the night breezes over the mountain of darkness, and into the hands of the awaiting patient dawn. Constant One, your message of grace goes out through all the earth and you come to us again and again. May we become wise enough to watch and to wait.
At eventide this Holy Monday, we set aside the buzzing of the world and turn our thoughts to you, O Christ, remembering the lonely journey you chose to take out of your immense love for all people. The cheering of the palm-waving crowd had already stilled by the time you took those first steps through Jerusalem’s gates. We marvel at the depth of your courage and your compassion. And soon enough we stragglers would learn the truth you carried inside yourself: that weakness and vulnerability form the solid base for spiritual strength.
Day to day and night to night you bring us mercy and hope, Loving Lord. Even today, when our vanities got in the way, you penetrated them to touch our souls. Especially we remember these particular graces you made possible. . . . . . . . . .
Scatter away all those false expectations we have of you, that we might open ourselves to whatever you have to teach us. Through heartbreak and remorse, through calamity and even death, rich lessons are to be learned; and it is you, Invigorating God, who waits to breathe new life into us. Breathe upon all these souls, we pray, who find themselves at a crossroads. Breathe upon all who place their praises at your feet:
As we take our rest, Blessed Cup of Mercy, bathe us with forgiveness and pour out peaceful rest upon us. The coming days of your passion will be heavy, but your showers of mercy will restore our strength. And when morning comes, we will seek you early and serve you in the name of our Savior, who taught us to pray:
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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God’s Marvelous Alarm Clock
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Monday, March 29, Evening
By Kathryn and Sidney H. Everett, February, 1981
God’s Marvelous Alarm Clock
Read Romans 8:11
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf of springtime.” – Martin Luther
If you have been wandering in your yard, even as early as December, you have seen a wondrous calendar at work. Daffodils were peeping out; just a tip perhaps, but they were there. Looking further you saw Crocuses, Hyacinth and early Tulips.
Regardless of the weather, all of them have a date to keep, even through the ravages of snow and ice.
The countdown to Spring is underway.
Just what is the “magic” that brings on this beauty regardless of the weather? Light.
For years it was believed that the return of warm weather was the magic trigger. But heat is not dependable, as evidenced by the many changes of weather all through the season.
Bulbs planted in the Fall are seemingly dead, but through the combined magic of light and rain a wondrous resurrection takes place.
This resurgence of breath-taking beauty strengthens our hope and faith in the resurrection of our Lord and in our own resurrection.
Prayer
Because of the beauty and abundance of Thy good earth, oh, God, may we have a rebirth both spiritually and physically this season. Amen.
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Spring Cleaning
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Monday, March 29, Morning
By John Eldridge, April 15, 2019
Spring Cleaning
Read John 15:1-4
One tradition my parents observed every year was spring cleaning. Although the labor fell mostly upon my mother’s shoulders, everything in the house got a cleaning sometime before Easter: every window was washed, every floor scrubbed, all the curtains went to the dry cleaners, all the silver was polished, every nook and cranny got a dusting, and every cobweb was removed.
Although the spring cleaning ritual mostly died out with the passing of my parents’ generation, we can still practice spring cleaning, albeit in a different way: spiritually. Spring cleaning is an apt analogy for Lent. For in Lent, we are called to take a good look at ourselves. What parts of ourselves need a good cleaning? Are there cobwebs that need to be removed? Are there stains on our soul that need to see the light of day and be addressed? Does the window to our hearts need some Windex so that love from our hearts can get through to our neighbors? Does our kindness barometer need polishing so we can better practice being kind? Is there anger and resentment that needs to be swept away? Does our attention to prayer need dusting off, so our communication with God can be better?
Yes, it is time for a spiritual spring cleaning, but as my mother used to say: “You can’t clean what you don’t see.” “Look,” she would say, “and you will see the dirt you missed.” Lent provides that time to look within and make ourselves the persons God calls us to be.
Prayer
Lord, give us the strength and courage to do a spiritual spring cleaning. Amen.
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Were You In The Crowd?
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Sunday, March 28, Evening
By Verna Mclain, April 8, 1979
Were You In The Crowd?
Read Luke 19:28-38
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the eyes of all were fixed upon him. The crowds sang his praises but as we come close up to the people, who do we see?
We see the Believers. The ones who haven’t always understood him but who have followed him in faith. Some of these believers will deny their faith in him before the end of the week.
We see those recently healed by Jesus. They are rejoicing that they can now see and hear and walk and run. He has made them whole.
We see the Doubters. Those who still question this humble man riding on a donkey. They want to believe – they want meaning to their lives but is it worth the risk?
We see the Pharisees – those men of the world who can always be found in church every time the door opens but yet who have no open heart to those who are not like them – who don’t dress like them or talk like them.
We see the Outcasts – those people of society that no one cares for – no one even notices. And yet Jesus always noticed – He always stopped to talk to these kind – to show them the direction in life to take.
We see the Children – they sing, they laugh, they carry palm branches and happy hearts. They are willing to follow this Jesus because he has given them a place of importance in the world.
We see the Women – those loyal followers of Jesus – Mary, Martha, and others who stay with him to the end. The ones to whom he first appears after the Resurrection. Many of these women had no place in the world before Jesus gave them status.
And who are the others – You – Me – But which one are we?
The Doubters – the Believers – The Outcasts.
Do we live our lives in the shadow of Jesus who rode into Jerusalem
that Palm Sunday long ago? Can we move from doubter to believer this week?
Jesus might ride into Knoxville today but would we see him or would we be too
busy with our own problems and cares?
Would we even recognize him if he signed the visitors card in our church?
Prayer
Dear God, open our eyes to see your truth, open our hearts to receive your love and open our hearts so that we can loudly proclaim, Hosanna! Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
The Crowd
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Sunday, March 28, Morning
By Mrs. Katherine R. Luton, March 30, 1977
The Crowd
Read Matthew 16:24
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Always He feared you;
For you knew Him only as the man of loaves and fishes,
The man who did marvelous things. He who raised Lazarus,
Healed the lame, and made the blind to see,
Fleeing from you, He sought the solace of the garden.
He must have known that you would cry, “Release unto us Barabbas!”
And fling your cruel words at Him as He climbed to the Golgotha alone.
Perhaps He knew that some day you would build creeds about Him,
And lose Him in massive structures of stone,
With costly windows, dignified ritual, and eloquent preachers;
While outside He waited …
Sad … and alone.
-Irene McKeighan
May we ask ourselves during this Lenten Season, “Are we a part of the crowd?” We have read and believed the stories about Jesus recorded in our Bibles. Had we been present at the time of the trial would we have voted against the crowd? How easy it is to accept the creeds about Him when there is no sacrifice! How easy it is to pride ourselves for being members of a beautiful church! How we enjoy stimulating sermons and beautiful music! All the time our Christ is waiting outside sad and alone because we have never truly followed his commandment —“deny thyself and take up thy cross and follow Me.”
Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, give us the strength in this day not to be content with things as we find them, but inspire us to be true followers of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. This is the only way that His way may be known on this earth. Amen.
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