Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of May 22, 2024
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
Tonight’s prayer is adapted from the one used this past Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024. The idea for the prayer petition came from a worship resource for the Reformed Church of America.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
When we look at images from the news, we seem to be surrounded by a world of dry bones, a world of death and despair, a world where we lose hope in our governments and institutions; we lose hope in one another.
We pray for this world in need of your Word: for all the people in it . . . we are hurting and praying for the people in Gaza and for the people in Israel who have lost loved ones from the violence; those who are still being held hostage. We see divisions in Slovakia after assassination attempt and more destruction in Ukraine. It is tempting to give up hope of peace and to ask, “What is the use of prayer?”
O God who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
We just celebrated Armed Forces Day this past weekend. We remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our country and freedom. We pray for world leaders and the decisions they must make … we pray for our president and for other heads of state that the decisions they make will bring an end to violence.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by people with dried up lives, people unable to see your life past their tears. We think of those who are lonely, who are grieving. We all know of someone whose life is being dried up by addiction or financial worries. We pray for this world in need of your healing presence: for those who are imprisoned, those we are waiting to hear from medical tests, those who are waiting to hear about a job. We have friends and family in Houston and other places who are dealing with the aftermath of storms. Oh God, we pray that your breath would bring hope and healing.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
Those in the world would tell us that the church is dead; that we are nothing more than dry bones gathered together. We had a glorious day of worship this past Sunday. We celebrated Pentecost! May we, your church, be open to your breath! Just as Ezekiel heard rattling of bones coming to life, make us aware of the rattling we hear when children gather to learn bible stories, when youth gather to do service, when adults gather to serve a meal to the homeless. Do not allow us to be persuaded by those who say the church has no life, but give us the boldness to live fully into the life you call us.
We pray for the courage not just to follow you to death, but to follow you to the New Creation.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
Call us to follow in the footsteps of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who taught us when we pray to say:
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.
We pray for ….
- One who is having dental surgery next week; prayers there are no complications due to low platelets
- For an employee whose son was killed in a traffic accident Sunday morning; prayers for safe travels as they go to Colorado for service. Prayers for God’s peace as they grieve.
- For those who are grieving the loss of a pet
- Families who are celebrating graduations and other milestones; also prayers for whom this is difficult season.
- One who is learning a new day-to-day after the death of her mother
- One who has been hospitalized out of town but is now home; awaiting surgery
- A wife who is coming to the end of her earthly life; may she feel God’s peace as she enters eternal light.
- A couple who is waiting to hear about IVF procedures and results.
- A newborn who spent first few days in NICU; thankful she can go home. Continued prayers for strength. Prayers of thanksgiving for family!
We continue to pray for ……
- Family members who continue to deal with cancer … all the tests and new treatments and waiting and follow up appointments. May they feel God’s healing presence in the midst of it!
- Friends who are beginning the journey of “some type of dementia.” Prayers of thanksgiving for doctors who study our brains, for researchers who have developed better testing, for social workers, for loving family members, and helpers all around!
- Friends and family members who are going through a troubling time.
- Adult children trying to make good decisions about next steps in work and school and life!
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.
Senior Spotlight: Annabel Jumper
Featured, YouthSenior Spotlight: David Johnson
Featured, YouthSummer Update 2024
YouthWeekly Schedule:
Worship – Sundays, 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – Sundays, 9:45-10:45AM
Bible Study – Tuesdays, 12:00-1:30PM
Happy Summer!!
Can you believe that we are already here?! We are looking forward to a great summer of mission, growth, and fun together!
Our weekly newsletter will have a simplified format for June and July. Keep up to date with all of our upcoming events and projects!
Weekly Bible Study
We will meeting on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:30 PM beginning June 11. We’ll study the book of Colossians together each week!
Operation Backyard
This Friday and Saturday, we are working together to serve a local homeowner! We will begin at 7:30 AM to try and beat the heat. If you have signed up, you should have already received info from Jenny!
Additionally, some prep work will be done on the house on Thursday morning. If you are interested in helping in any capacity, let Jenny know!
We could use a couple of other adults with some construction experience to help with this project. Please contact Jenny if you are interested!
Rafting the Ocoee
This Sunday, our group is traveling to the Ocoee River for white-water rafting. If you are going on this trip, you should have already received an email. Be sure to complete the online waiver!
Youth Choir Reunion – July 28
If you sang in the Youth Choir under Tim Ward’s direction (2009-10 school year through present), you’re invited to come & sing on Sunday, July 28! Join us for the 8:30 service as we sing together and honor Tim on his last Sunday at Church Street. There will also be a reception following 11:00 AM Worship!
MAD Info
Be on the lookout for important MAD in the City information coming your way in the weeks ahead! There are lots of logistics to pull off a mission project like this, so we need lots of hands. Stay tuned!
Wesley House Project – Thursday, 9:00 AM
Church Street Missions are helping with classroom clean-ups tomorrow at Wesley House from 9:00AM-1:30PM. If you are interested, bring a water bottle and come in clothes you don’t mind messing up. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Catherine – cnance@churchstreetumc.org
Senior Spotlight: Elizabeth Walker
Featured, YouthSenior Spotlight: Claire Holladay
Featured, YouthWeekly Prayer – May 22, 2024
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of May 22, 2024
Written by Rev. Catherine Nance
Tonight’s prayer is adapted from the one used this past Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024. The idea for the prayer petition came from a worship resource for the Reformed Church of America.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
When we look at images from the news, we seem to be surrounded by a world of dry bones, a world of death and despair, a world where we lose hope in our governments and institutions; we lose hope in one another.
We pray for this world in need of your Word: for all the people in it . . . we are hurting and praying for the people in Gaza and for the people in Israel who have lost loved ones from the violence; those who are still being held hostage. We see divisions in Slovakia after assassination attempt and more destruction in Ukraine. It is tempting to give up hope of peace and to ask, “What is the use of prayer?”
O God who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
We just celebrated Armed Forces Day this past weekend. We remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our country and freedom. We pray for world leaders and the decisions they must make … we pray for our president and for other heads of state that the decisions they make will bring an end to violence.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by people with dried up lives, people unable to see your life past their tears. We think of those who are lonely, who are grieving. We all know of someone whose life is being dried up by addiction or financial worries. We pray for this world in need of your healing presence: for those who are imprisoned, those we are waiting to hear from medical tests, those who are waiting to hear about a job. We have friends and family in Houston and other places who are dealing with the aftermath of storms. Oh God, we pray that your breath would bring hope and healing.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
Those in the world would tell us that the church is dead; that we are nothing more than dry bones gathered together. We had a glorious day of worship this past Sunday. We celebrated Pentecost! May we, your church, be open to your breath! Just as Ezekiel heard rattling of bones coming to life, make us aware of the rattling we hear when children gather to learn bible stories, when youth gather to do service, when adults gather to serve a meal to the homeless. Do not allow us to be persuaded by those who say the church has no life, but give us the boldness to live fully into the life you call us.
We pray for the courage not just to follow you to death, but to follow you to the New Creation.
O God, who always listens to us, who breathes new life into us, call us forward to resurrection.
Call us to follow in the footsteps of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who taught us when we pray to say:
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.
We pray for ….
We continue to pray for ……
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Senior Spotlight: Luke McCluskey
Featured, YouthSenior Spotlight: Ainsley Lamar
Featured, YouthWeekly Prayer – May 15, 2024
UncategorizedWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of May 15, 2024
Written by David Martin, Church Street member
Tonight’s prayer is one that church member, David Martin, wrote and shared with Pastor Catherine recently. This is a prayer that he offers each morning. Perhaps it could be your morning prayer as well.
Magnificent Creator and Lord of All!
All that I am I lay at your feet.
To serve you is my greatest desire.
Light my path and protect my way so that I may be found faithful.
Let my actions always be a gesture of gratitude for your goodness.
Let my eyes always be fixed on your splendor especially when the gloom of darkness feels imminent.
Let me live today knowing that you hold tomorrow.
Let the light of your Grace radiate from deep within me, transforming lives – revealing your glory!
Let my life be a celebration of your sacrifice and victory at the cross.
Let me be in Christ!
Magnificent creator and Lord of All!
All that I am I lay at your feet.
In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
We pray for ….
We continue to pray for ……
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….
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.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – May 8, 2024
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of May 8, 2024
Written by Steve Richardson
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come: Open our minds and hearts to sensing your closeness as you hear our prayers.
We’re thankful for the sphere of your creation we call Earth, for its resources and social communities. Yet it can be a hostile place. The unexpected lurks in every future. Even on this evening, we’re bracing against threats of severe, potentially damaging weather. Protect and shield us, God. Strengthen our faith, ignite our hope, and bolster our confidence that you will continue to guide and steady us through our adversities.
As we turn to you as our source for hope, embolden us with wisdom and the spiritual gifts to be peacemakers wherever there is unrest; to be healers wherever there is disease and brokenness; to be mediators wherever there is separation and mistrust; to be givers wherever there is scarcity; to be caretakers wherever there is fragility; to be comforters wherever there is mourning; to be voices of calm wherever there is angst or anxiety; to be uniters wherever there is exclusion; to be instruments of your love wherever there is rejection, hurt, despair or loneliness.
You’ve shown us your omnipotence in many ways, including the remarkable ascension of the risen Christ from Earth to the heavenly realm. We commemorate that glorious act of salvation tomorrow. And in doing so, we pray we remain mindful of your promise to abide with us now and every moment for eternity. Thank you, God, for this gift that’s too vast to fully comprehend.
A few days later, we celebrate Mother’s Day. The day set for this is cultural, yet the significance is Biblical and sacred, as directed by you, holy Yahweh, in your 5th commandment. Thank you for the love, fostering and nurturement given us by our mothers, as well as lineages of the mothers before them in ages past.
Thank you for Church Street United Methodist Church. Thank you for its clergy, staff, and volunteers in mission, teaching and leadership. Thank you for its transformational work in the Knoxville community and beyond. Thank you for granting each of us the opportunity to be a part of this church.
Merciful God, also hear these needs and prayers of others in our church community. Surround each person with your loving embrace and comfort…
We pray for ….
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for ….
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.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.