Evening Prayer – March 22

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Prayers for the Church Street Family

March 22, 2021

Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade

Song of the Late Hours, you bid us set aside the tools of our trade and enter the holy space at dusk.  As the sun heads for its bedroom, we turn our ears to your melody that plays in the distance, for it promises to open the door of truth. . . . . . . . . . .

Ever Present One, often during the daytime we can keep our pain at bay. After all, we are well-practiced in movement and busy-ness, and there are myriads of projects that can hold our attention. At day’s end, however, we come home to ourselves, the real ”us” that we generally hold at bay. Meet us here, Lord, for some of us are facing grave challenges.  Some of us are losing hope, some of us feel like giving up. Meet us here in our alone-ness, showing us in some way that your hand is upon our shoulders, instilling us with a strength that is beyond ourselves . . . . . . . . . .  And in that strength, may we remember that even birds with broken wings can learn to fly again.

Lord, you have forgiven far more than we will ever acknowledge, and you have wiped clean that slate of our misdeeds of old. And though we have earnestly tried to keep to your paved covenant road of Lent, we again confess that we have frequently found ourselves detained in the potholes of our own making.  Bend close, that we might even now reveal our most recent blunders . . . . . . . . . . We see you just ahead, Jesus, gesturing for us to pull ourselves out of the ruts, to dust off the clinging debris, and to re-join our fellow travelers who keep to more level ground. Steady our steps, we pray, for we do not wish to disappoint you when you meet your own hour of need.

So immense is your flow of grace that our thanksgivings can never enumerate the favors you send our way; but we extend our honor to you, O Breath of Benevolence, for the ways you have lifted our spirits in recent days . . . . . . . . . . . And receive also the praises from members of our own church family, as well as our pleas for holy assistance:

  • Gratitude: Teenage grandchild home from hospital
  • Prayers appreciated: Healthy grandchild born Saturday
  • Thankful: Mother in Texas released from hospital
  • Four send thanks for church’s help in acquiring virus vaccinations
  • Member grateful for generous financial gift
  • Clarity of vision for one in deliberation
  • Wife celebrates visitation with ill husband in rehab
  • Comfort for hospitalized member
  • Family surrounding mother in hospice care
  • Family mourning death of cherished mother
  • Husband with MS, relief for breathing issues
  • Correct diagnosis and treatment for one with lymphoma
  • Proper diagnosis of a 6-year-old’s seizures
  • Progress of elderly mother recovering in rehab
  • Comfort for one recovering from knee malady
  • Member healing from heart surgery
  • Prayers for those grappling with addiction
  • Healing grace for three in cancer treatment

Settle us down for the night as we leave all our insecurities in your capable hands, Gentle Savior, for we know that even in the precariousness of our world, your love and wisdom are sufficient. Soothe us now, and all whom we love, with your penetrating peace; and may we slumber in the divine assurance of Christ who said: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”:

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 Constant Love of Christ

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Monday, March 22

By Charles E. Naff, February 17, 1978

The Constant Love of Christ

Read: Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever.”

Recently, I observed a bumper-sticker which read, “Jesus Christ is coming again soon and boy is He mad.”

As Christians, we believe in the second coming, but is Jesus Christ really angry with us? Maybe at times He isn’t very well pleased, but the Bible tells us He is always a loving Lord. He loved us so much He gave His life that we could have eternal life – it is ours for the asking.

At this lovely time of the year when we celebrate perhaps the greatest day of all, let us be forever mindful of the great sacrifice made by our loving God.

Prayer

Lord, as we go about our daily lives, keep us mindful of thy great love. Teach us ever to share that love with one another. Amen.

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He Will Take Your Guilt Away

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 21, Evening

By Ann Dooley Parsons, April 12, 1979

He Will Take Your Guilt Away

Read Isaiah 53:4-6

In Isaiah 53, we see a striking description of the suffering Christ. But doesn’t this also depict humanity in its sin? Look at the words — sorrows, griefs, transgressions, iniquities and lastly: “All we like sheep have gone astray.”

This adds up to one fact: each of us has a flaw, a blemish or several. Think of yourself or those you know and love – your friends, your relatives or your immediate family. There is something imperfect about each one of us. We aren’t willing to do our share, we lose our tempers, we’re selfish, we gossip, we’re too easy or not easy enough, we’re greedy. We too have fallen short – we too have turned to our own ways – we too have gone astray.

These flaws we have create guilt feelings and because of guilt we lose our peace of mind. Somehow the joy gets rendered out of life because of these flaws.

Is there any hope? Isaiah 53 tells us there is all the hope in the world. Truly we have gone astray, but remember that there is the Lamb of God who has not. Jesus Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He Will Take Away Our Guilt.

Once again read Isaiah 53 and notice the plural. ALL have gone astray and ALL have been forgiven. But don’t be misled by the plural. Each one of us must believe, each one of us must accept to receive the blessed healing.

In the words of a beautiful and familiar hymn …

Prayer

Come ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish, Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. Amen.

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O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 21, Morning

By Betty Craig, April 14, 1976

O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Many individuals make tremendous impacts upon our lives. Often it is not until their death that we, through reminiscence, begin to fully realize what they meant to us and others through the types of lives they lived — their beliefs, dedication and commitments.

During the years 1957-62, Robert H. Hamill served as pastor of Wesley Foundation at the University of Wisconsin. We knew Bob, and his beliefs, dedication and commitment affected our lives. From the University of Wisconsin, Bob went on to serve as Dean of the Chapel of Boston University School of Theology. His writing, preaching and teaching affected many individuals. His death in February 1975 caused us to reflect upon the impact of his life. Although Bob surely will be missed by many, he will, more importantly, be remembered with joy by many. He was a man of compassion and vision; he lived his Christian beliefs with zeal and intensity. With thanksgiving he will be remembered in death as in life, as Bob himself said, “the demand of death is that I turn from the past to the future, and decide all over again what my life is all about.  Death intensifies my living and sends me back to all that is basic and elemental, and I find it good, very good.” And Bob’s life was very, very good.

The days of Lent cause us to focus on another very, very good life — that of Jesus Christ — a son given for the sins of the world. A man who neither asked for, nor needed, any worldly goods; one who believed in turning from the past to the future; one who knew what his life was all about; a life shared with others.

What a tribute to have said of one’s life: “It was very, very good!”.

Prayer

We are thankful for your Son and for the many individuals who affect our lives daily. Open our eyes that we may see them as you do. Open our lives that we may turn from the past to the future and thereby determine what our lives are all about. Amen and Amen.

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Life Within You and Me

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Saturday, March 20

By Mrs. Mamie Lee Finger, Jr., February 19, 1978

Life Within You and Me

Read: John 1-17

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. …He came to bear witness to the light,… that all might believe. …And the Word became flesh…full of grace and truth. …From his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.”

With the coming of the movie, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, I went back to Hannah Greene’s original written words. Again, I was moved by the reflective and deep thoughts of this young out-patient from the hospital:

“Over the text of John Stainer’s ‘Seven-Fold Amen’, she looked out into the congregation on

Sunday and wondered if they ever thanked God for the light in their minds, for friends, for cold

and pain responsive to the laws of nature, for enough depth of insight into these laws to have

expectation, again for friends, for the days and nights that follow one another in stately rhythm,

for the sparks that fly upward, for friends . . .

Did they know how beautiful and enviable their lives were? She realized more and more that

her few spare hour pastimes provided too little in which to test and exercise her fragile ‘Yes’

to a newborn reality.”

I began to wonder – do we actually test, or exercise, our sometimes fragile YES to reality, which can be newborn for us each day?

 

DO WE?

CAN WE?

WILL WE?

Prayer

Thank you, God, for the gifts of our life – for the light in our minds – for friends, for the expectations of living. May we be transmitters of life, agents of Your activity, facilitators of living fully. With Faith and in hope, may we break open and see the world of opportunity that is ours as we ourselves are open. Then, through Grace and Truth and Light, may we lay claim to our greatest potential, Christ within us. Amen.

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There is Life!

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Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, March 19

By Rev. Eldon A. Moore, February, 1981

There is Life!

Read: Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

It will be our hope for a better tomorrow that will keep us going today. Our faith is one of hope. In the New Testament world, God in Christ gave hope to a world which had no hope, and in today’s world we still have this same hope.

Ours is a faith that tells us no man need despair, for God is good and merciful, and active in the affairs of each of us. We don’t always have to accept situations as they are. We can help create circumstances and not merely adjust to them. Creativity is a God-given capacity. Man creates his own hopes, but God fulfills them. God is working his purposes in each of us. He will change us, discipline us, save us from futility. His steadfast love endures. Such an attitude of hope will not fail us. It is like a true compass to guide us.

Not too many days ago, while I was raking long fallen leaves in our backyard on a cold dismal day, and pondering the troubles of the world-what should appear from under the decaying leaves, but a tender green fern to remind me that no one should give in to despair or hopelessness.

There is life! There is light! There is hope! Yea, wait for the Lord!

Prayer

Dear God, help us to find new meaning in our faith as we put our trust and our hope in Thee. We praise Thee that Lent is a time that renews the vision of our life in Christ, our hope, and our joy. Amen.    

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Evening Prayer – March 18

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Prayers for the Church Street Family

March 18, 2021

Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade

We gaze upward, O God, as did all the ancient ones, pondering your movement and mystery. The heavens have preached a silent sermon of benevolence all day and the night winds are whispering grace. There is glory in the intricate weaving of the undulating clouds and power in the galaxies beyond our imagination. No words can capture your essence, Mighty Creator; we can only stare in astonishment and kneel in awe.

Accept our praise this evening, Mysterious One, for all the ways in which you have blessed us in these hours just passed:  . . . . . . . . . .  We must confess we have put ourselves first again, so we come seeking pardon for the ways we have erred and fallen short of our best intentions: . . . . . . . . . . Even after all this time, Blessed Redeemer, we still have trouble identifying our own stumbling blocks.  In your mercy, remove all those inner barriers that hold us back from becoming the disciples you desire for your kingdom. And though we may have blithely passed them by today, we pray tomorrow will bring us other chances to become Jesus for those disillusioned ones you send our way.

Beloved Parent, we wonder how you attend to so many children calling your name. Maybe it’s not for us to know, but whenever we cry out, we feel you recognize our individual voices. Accept the gratitude from your children at Church Street who have been touched by your readiness to draw close. Soothe the brows of the hurting ones this night with your hand of healing, we pray, and bend low as we again share the secret longings of our own hearts:

  • Gratitude: 7th grandson expected next week
  • Five express thanks for church’s help in securing vaccine
  • Prayers appreciated: One’s depression is easing
  • Thanksgiving for a grandson’s visit
  • Celebration of two recently ordained clergy
  • Thankful for final chemo treatment yesterday
  • Family grateful infant’s heart in normal function
  • Comfort for hospitalized member
  • Prayers for safe birth of grandchild
  • Husband with MS, relief for breathing issues
  • Comfort an peace for member awaiting treatment plan
  • Proper diagnosis of a 6-year-old’s seizures
  • Rest and recovery for two following oral surgery
  • Member healing from heart surgery
  • Adult son in need of rehab for addiction
  • Comfort for beloved mother in hospice care
  • Reduced side effects for three having chemo this week

In returning and rest, Lord, may we know the security of our salvation. Hold us this night, and all whom we love, in your peaceful womb of grace, where we hear only the reassuring heartbeat of your Loving Son, 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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Senior Spotlight: Mary Kate Holladay

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One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors.  And this year, we’re a special Senior Spotlight series on our blog.  Our seniors answered interview questions earlier this spring and it has been so much fun learning their answers! Check back in each week to get to know our seniors better and help to cheer them on as they wrap up high school and prepare for their next steps!

Meet Mary Kate Holladay!

What high school are you graduating from?
West High School
What are your plans for next year?
Attend college (undecided as of now)
What is your favorite bible verse?
“I can do all things through who Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
If you could choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chicken minis from Chick-fil-a
If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t take the little moments for granted- life is very precious and you should cherish it.
What are your top 3 favorite movies?
Titanic, 10 Things I Hate About You, Sound of Music
What is your favorite Church Street memory?
Getting the opportunity to start off my summer by traveling to a new place, singing to unfamiliar people, and growing closer with those around me in the youth choir.
What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?
To step out of my comfort zone and experience new things that will help me grow as a person.
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The Loss of Power

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Thursday, March 18

By Carl M. Bennett, March 17, 1979

The Loss of Power

Read: 1 Chronicles 29:12

On a recent winter morning, I drove to the campus of one of our Holston Conference Colleges where I am Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In mid-afternoon of the day before my visit, the entire area experienced a cold rain which was accompanied by freezing wind. The combination of these two forces of nature caused trees and their limbs to be covered with thick layers of ice.

When I reached the campus, the weight of the ice had already caused many tree limbs to break and fall to the ground. Trees that had not broken were leaning toward the ground. An Executive Committee Meeting was just getting ready to start in the library when all of the lights in the building went out. A tree limb broke at that moment, fell across the electric wires leading to the library and pulled the wires loose from the source of the electric power.

The power for our lives comes from God. The strength for our bodies comes from God. So long as we hold God’s hand we can receive the power to do great things, bring honor to our families and our associates and ourselves. Riches, whatever we conceive them to be, are possible through God’s powerful hand.

At times, when we have experiences that are difficult, unpleasant and unrewarding, we may feel that everything is against us. At such times we may have doubts not only about ourselves but about our connection with God. We may feel a loss of power.

When these things happen we need only stop and reassure ourselves that nothing can separate us from the love of God. All we need to do is reach out in prayer in order to find that God’s hand, with his strength and power, is always within reach. Then we will know that the connection has not been broken.

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the strengths in our lives. We pray that we may never forget that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.         

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Evening Prayer – March 17

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Prayers for the Church Street Family

March 17, 2021

Rev. Dr. Jan Buxton Wade

Daylight lengthens and trails of today’s clouds have not yet yielded to dusk.  Their filmy luster forms a fine pillow for the crusty mountain tops. Settle us down, too, Lord, as we set aside our daily tasks; and let us keep company with the soothing silence and your love that never fades. There were times this day when our energy waned, when we doubted ourselves, and when our fears almost got the best of us, especially when . . . . . . . . . . And then somehow, not of our own volition, our fears melted and situations turned in our favor.  Again, it was your intervening grace that moved before us, gently unraveling all the testy obstacles that bound us.  We now bow in reverent silence, offering our praise. . . . . . . . .

Steadfast Friend, you called us to be your disciples and we pledged to follow wherever you chose to lead us.  In our joyful acceptance, we thought we could easily leave our doubts and insecurities, our prejudices and pride, our bitterness and grudges behind us. Little did we know they would be cropping up to mock us at every corner. Self-denial and humility, it appears, have joined forces to become a lifetime struggle. You assure us that you are in the struggle with us, Lord, and that you are pleased with the small progress we have made in learning to live as Jesus.  Maybe, when our steps are completely unreliable, you won’t even mind carrying us the rest of the way to the kingdom.

We do rejoice that your patience never grows thin and that we might ever express our daily cares to you, no matter how massive or inconsequential they may seem. You, O Merciful One, are always ready to receive our petitions and handle them with reverence; so we lay our gratitude at your feet and also our personal pleas, that you might mold them to bring glory to your name:

  • Gratitude: Willing volunteers to assist in worship
  • Prayers appreciated: Youngster with head injury has returned to school
  • Thanksgiving: Sister in rehab is progressing
  • Two at-risk persons grateful for church’s help in procuring vaccine
  • Couple celebrate the birth of baby girl yesterday
  • Grateful for prayers: A new home will soon be possible
  • Member celebrates the end of long-term chemo
  • Comfort for an uncle in very diminished health
  • Prayers for safe birth of grandchild
  • Husband with MS, relief for breathing issues
  • Solace for family in husband’s untimely death
  • Grace for friend awaiting treatment plan
  • Proper diagnosis of a 6-year-old’s seizures
  • Guidance and support for friend divorcing
  • Rest and recovery for one following throat surgery
  • One recovering from tongue malignancy
  • Member healing from heart surgery
  • Three having chemo this week, for reduced side effects

We lie down as privileged people, Silent Keeper, for you have forgiven us and have received our earnest prayers. Blanket us, we pray, and all whom we love, with your stole of reconciliation, that even our dreams are in accord with your own.

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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