Prayer for Today – March 23

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 23, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure. May your Holy Breath remind us of your abiding guidance, we pray. You sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Guide, to model for us the way of love. Grant us grace to follow your Son’s example of honoring both your creation and our neighbors. All are sacred in your sight, O Love Incarnate, so quiet our harsh voices of criticism when others are doing the best they can. Quell our impulse to find fault and place blame when we are inconvenienced by detours of illness, stymied social interaction, and altered schedules. There are mercies yet to be unearthed in this precarious time; give us purity of heart to discover them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Breathe on me, Breath of God; fill me with life anew. We remember the hasty words that cannot be erased, the complaints uttered so often. Forgive these and other missteps, especially . . .

Also receive these offers of gratitude for your mercies which have come without asking . . .

Mend us, we pray, and redirect us toward your path of renewal.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.      

We also lift up to your arms these particular petitions on the hearts of our church family:

  • A beloved brother, an ill pastor awaiting results of test for COVID-19
  • A friend of decades who received disturbing news of a malignancy
  • All in our community who have lost their jobs
  • Thanksgiving for our youth who have hearts for caring service
  • That a nephew may enter rehabilitation for his drug addiction
  • Gratitude for all who are reaching out to others who are in need
  • A loving daughter – anxious about her father’s increasing confusion
  • Homeless & indigents in Knoxville & for those who minister to them

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Breathe on me Breath of God, so I shall never die. We know that you have heard these cries of our hearts this day, and that your Holy Breath will strengthen us to stand straight and walk by faith. We depend upon you to shepherd us along that road to your eternal kingdom:

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 request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

Join us for LIVE Devotions each Monday and Thursday at NOON on Facebook!

Go to Facebook.com/CSUMCKnoxville at NOON for a greeting, scripture, a short message and prayer each Monday and Thursday. You’ll have a chance to interact, send prayer requests, and just connect for a few minutes a few times each week with your church family. See you there!

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Prayer for Today – March 22

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 22, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Great Observer of the Universe, we remember that Jesus said your eye notes each time a sparrow falls to the ground. And so we are confident that you know the travails and worries that afflict each of us. There are losses we have already experienced, and there are losses yet to be borne. Still truly, our pain is your pain. In the quiet of these moments, may we feel your gaze upon us and sense your ready compassion. May we come to know you as the Great Physician who places your healing warmth within our troubled hearts.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

O Giver of Grace, in this time of limitation, there are those among us who feel we should be doing more to help our neighbors. We feel guilty because we are not useful. But calm our need to be actively productive, and help us to know you will lead us to action when the time is right. And also remind us that no prayer we utter is ever wasted; our daily petitions are also a means of service.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

This day we offer our personal thanksgivings . . .
And also we name those thoughts and actions that fill us with regret . . .
Wash us & accept us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We also lift up to your throne of grace these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Prayers for a member stationed aboard ship in the Arabian Sea (USN)
  • Relief of anxiety of member (expectant mother) living in NYC, that hospitals may be safe & open at the time of her delivery
  • Safety for a daughter who just returned to China for work
  • Gratitude- a daughter & family’s safe return from a trip outside U.S.
  • All in Middle TN dealing with both tornado recovery & virus threat
  • Protection for all who work on the front lines to combat COVID-19
  • Small business owners & workforce suffering great economic stress

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Remind us that the Lord walks with us; and that nothing in all creation, either what we have done or left undone, can ever separate us from the love of God, made known to us in Jesus Christ, 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.

 

Have a prayer request?

Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

Join us for LIVE Devotions each Monday and Thursday at NOON on Facebook!

Go to Facebook.com/CSUMCKnoxville at NOON for a greeting, scripture, a short message and prayer each Monday and Thursday. You’ll have a chance to interact, send prayer requests, and just connect for a few minutes a few times each week with your church family. See you there!

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Prayer for Today – March 21

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 21, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Master of Time, we confess that we spend our days anxiously fretting about what tomorrow will bring; yet in truth, anxiety is the invader of the future. We cannot know what the future holds, but the Great Shepherd takes every step with us. In these present hours we are given, let us pause to breathe and ponder the gifts all around us: the neighbor who calls to check on us; the church member who lets us know he is praying for our safety; the lady wearing protective gloves who brings nourishing food to our car window; the researchers working overtime to provide a vaccine; the pharmacist who calmly answers our questions; the friends who express their love. In the quiet of the present, may we breathe in holy peace and breathe out gratitude.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

During this restless week, we have truly received personal blessings. These we acknowledge now in these moments . . .

And we also confess those thoughts and deeds that have wounded ourselves and others . . .

Forgive us, we pray, and free us for joyful obedience.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We now lift up this day to your mercy these situations most recently expressed by our church family:

  • Protection for all who must travel today
  • Thanksgiving for a sister whose cancer tests were negative
  • A diabetic sister & her husband with cancer; for wisdom & healing
  • Bereaved family members who bid farewell to a cherished son today & for his fiancée; for Pastor Palmer as she leads the memorial service
  • For results of a recent COVID-19 test to be negative
  • Safety for all healthcare & sanitation workers & their concerned families

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

O Lord, you are our Shepherd; some day we know that you will lead us once again to green pastures, and we shall also rest beside the cool waters.

Until then, hear these ancient words which continue to seal our faith in you:

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 request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

 

Join us for Online Worship this Sunday!

Go to ChurchStreetUMC.org/Connect at 10 am (or later) on Sunday and enjoy greetings, prayer, scripture, homily, children’s moment, and beautiful music as we celebrate our loving God.

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March 20: Church Street’s Response to COVID-19

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15

As a body of Christ, we are thankful and fortunate to have resources to continue our worship and work for the Lord, to have dedicated and prayerful members and staff to visit (limited) and call our most vulnerable, and to have so many arms that reach out into the community, even in times of crisis and uncertainty, to care for our neighbors who are hurting.

Church Street wants to stay connected with you and through you in new and creative ways during this time of social distancing and protecting ourselves and each other. Holston Conference Bishop Dindy Taylor issued a letter on March 18 that churches in the conference shall suspend all gatherings until further notice; therefore Church Street’s worship gatherings, Sunday School classes, and all other in-person meetings, activities, and events have been suspended indefinitely.

We are planning ahead for weeks, possibly months, apart and are happy to share the schedule below of how to connect with Church Street (this is evolving):

+ Worship will be shared each Sunday at 10 am online. These sessions, recorded each Thursday with individuals separately to adhere to social distancing guidelines, will honor our Sunday worship services as much as possible, with greetings, music, scripture, children’s moments, homily, prayer, and benediction all included. These will “premiere” on Sundays at 10 am on the Church Street Facebook Page and our website. Due to the visiting restrictions at WVLT, Rejoice! at 8 AM on Sundays will, for the foreseeable future, be previously aired content.

+ Devotion LIVE at Noon, each Monday & Thursday. These short scripture / homily messages will be shared each Monday and Thursday via our Facebook page using Facebook Live. To view, either tune in at noon on those days live and participate in the comments section, OR you can access the video after it has “aired” live using the links on our Connect webpage: https://churchstreetumc.org/connect. All you need is a prayerful heart, about 5-10 minutes, and an Internet connection.

+ Daily Prayer Guide. Pastor Jan is putting together beautiful daily prayers that help us connect to and pray for those amongst us who have joys and concerns. These prayers are sent to our Messenger email list each morning, and they are also posted to the webpage above and to our Facebook page.

If you do not have easy access to our online offerings, please contact communications@churchstreetumc.org so that we may help you receive a hard copy disc.

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Prayer for Today – March 20

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 20, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

Holy and Glorious Creator, the beauty you have sent to us is often too much to absorb. The green and flowering landscape of spring takes our breath away. And we are blessed in so very many ways. We have access to warm water for bathing, cool water to quench our thirst, safe homes, food and clothing, technology to help us connect with family and friends, freedom to speak out, and freedom to worship our Lord. Forgive us, we pray, when we focus on our present inconveniences. Help us remember that our gifts come, not because we have earned them, but because you are the God of Benevolence. You intend, in turn, that we also become a people of grace. During these uneasy days of confinement, assist us in living lives that pour out mercy and  kindness upon others in whatever ways we can.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

This day we offer our personal thanksgivings . . .and also we name those thoughts and actions that fill us with regret . .  . Bind us and heal us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day to your arms of mercy these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Relief for a faithful member enduring great pain due to a malignancy
  • A friend recovering from knee replacement, that all may progress well
  • Those who worry about their loved ones isolated in nursing facilities
  • A family experiencing increasing distress as their business declines
  • All whose incomes are in jeopardy due to the economic strain
  • Constructive activities for young people confined to their homes

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

Constant Friend, look with favor upon each one who calls upon your name in this hour, for we know you hear even the smallest prayer said in earnest. Renew our waning spirits as we again offer these words of our Savior:

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 request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

 

Join us for Online Worship this Sunday!

Go to ChurchStreetUMC.org/Connect at 10 am (or later) on Sunday and enjoy greetings, prayer, scripture, homily, children’s moment, and beautiful music as we celebrate our loving God.

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Prayer for Today – March 19

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 19, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Believer in Humankind, the green earth outside our windows speaks of your hand of creation and re-creation. Even within the solemnity of Lent, blossoms, berries, and birds in flight paint the vivid story of your renewing grace. How welcome are these signs of eternal hope! Still, there are those among us whose burdens prevent their gazing upon your spring. Attend especially, we pray, to those who battle illness, those who care for the sick in mind and body, those who are overwhelmed with work, family, or financial pressures, the unemployed, those who cringe behind locked doors, and for all of us who are lost in one way or another. Help us to find our way back to our pure faith of former times, we pray, for indeed, you do believe in us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lay before you this day these petitions on behalf of our church family:

  • Thanksgiving for a sister’s successful colon surgery yesterday
  • Safety for caregivers who work in nursing & retirement homes
  • Gratitude for all who serve our Soup Kitchen guests today
  • A longtime companion undergoing painful cancer treatments this week
  • Friends grieving a dear friend’s death; he succumbed to cancer Monday
  • Guidance for all whose weddings are being postponed due to COVID-19
  • Wisdom for government officials making decisions to protect the health of populations across the globe

Hear now as we recall those wonders you have brought about in our individual lives in recent days . . . . . . . .

and accept our confessions for our private misdeeds and regrets . . . . . . . .

Forgive us and free us for Christ’s sake.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Great Protector, let all our prayers join with all those offered to you around the globe this day; and may they be received by the whole company of heaven, and especially by 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.

 

Have a prayer request?

Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

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Prayer for Today – March 18

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 18, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Master of Life, the ground beneath us seems to be shifting these days and we strive to regain our footing. Just when we think everything is under control, we feel ourselves slipping again, inch by inch. How unsettling it is when answers come so slowly. Still, we remember our Lord Jesus lived courageously in a time of great danger and uncertainty. He remained the calm amid the storm. Grant, O Holy One, that we might also reflect such inner calm that comes from our trust in you. For we know in our hearts that nothing can separate us from your love. And this day, may we practice courage by reciting the words of the psalmist who sang:

The Lord our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea. . . The Lord of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge! (Ps 46:1,2, 11)

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day to your holy gaze these particular situations expressed by our church family:

  • Gratitude from a member who recovers from successful surgery
  • A mother who worries about an ill adult son in California
  • Healing for a father grieving his broken marriage
  • All who are devising plans to help the needy in our community
  • Protection for healthcare workers who risk their lives to help others
  • Thanksgiving for safe travel of family members returning home

Hear now our private confessions and concerns . . . . . . . .

and also our praises for the joys you have brought about in our lives . . . . . . . .

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Receive our prayers this day, O Eternal One, for you indeed are our Source and Center; and all these we offer in the name of our Lord Jesus, 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.

 

Have a prayer request?

Submit your request confidentially online, and our prayer team will be in prayer with and for you.

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Prayer for Today – March 17

BINDING SOUL AND SOURCE

Daily Prayers of the Church Street family

March 17, 2020

Pastor Jan

 

O Holy Mystery, the prophets tell us that you search for us. And we long for you as well. We search for you, yet you often seem hidden and elusive. Perchance you know that we have sought you in unlikely places. We wait for lightning to flash when we are most in need. We fashion harried schedules, then expect to hear your booming voice break in upon our crowded lives. In this Lenten Season, and particularly in this time of inordinate stress, help us to learn that you are with us already. You abide in the shadows of our souls, and you live within the very beating of our hearts. Amid the cacophony of voices around us and our frantic pace to remain safe, may we become still and know that you are God – ever loving and ever faithful.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.    

We lift up this day these particular friends in our church family who have asked to be remembered:

  • a young woman whose fiancé tragically perished in a fire
  • a member who sits by her dying father’s bedside
  • three women who have been widowed in recent weeks
  • our homeless friends in need of food and shelter
  • an adult son in desperate search of work

Hear now our private confessions and concerns . . . . . . . .

and also our praises for the joys you have brought about in our lives . . . . . . . .

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

These petitions we offer this day, remembering the Son who loves us more deeply than we can understand, and it is in his name we make our prayer:

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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Covid-19 Plan and Youth Ministry

Youth and families,

As you know, Church Street events as well as the activities of many schools and businesses have come to a screeching halt in response to the spread of the coronavirus. There are so many aspects of this that are challenging, and I imagine that you, like I, might be battling with fear, frustration, and fatigue. (I didn’t mean for that alliteration to happen, but sometimes life is just works out that way.)

I want to share with you our preliminary plans and hopes for moving forward. While our opportunities to meet together as a group in the coming days are uncertain, I am hopeful for some creative and unconventional ways for us to participate with one another as the body of Christ. Below are some things you can look forward to from us:

  • Digital NightLife – I am currently researching the best ways for this to happen. We use some software such as Zoom or Google Classroom to create a remote space to be together.  More to come!
  • Regular Blog Posts – We will have more content than usual going out in this space to provide our students & their families with resources during these trying times. And if you are a student who would like to contribute to these posts, please let me know!
  • Resources – I will be working to share links and digital downloads of various resources for our families to use at home. These could include links to videos, song titles, downloadable art prints, prayers, scripture reading, or liturgy. The options are endless!
  • Service Opportunities – I am working to compile a list of local organizations who need specific support during this time.  There will be a variety of options so that you can choose an action that is most fitting for your family.

A note to graduating seniors:

I am so sorry that this has uprooted many of your plans and hopes for the end of your high school career. We don’t know what is coming down the pike, but I do know how valuable our senior traditions are each year.  While I can’t provide you with specific dates or action plans at this time, please know that I am working diligently to ensure you get to experience your rights of passage in some way, shape, or form.  Also, you are so loved.  None of us are going to let this time of your lives pass by without adequate celebration.  Great – now I have tears in my eyes thinking about you.  I am sure no one is shocked.  Suffice to say, I am going to do everything I can to make this special and meaningful for you.

Words for Reflection

As we close, I want to provide you with some Scripture, a quote, and a prayer. If these are at all helpful, please use them. Start a group text with some friends or with your NightLife small group. Talk about them around the dinner table. Use them to do your own quiet time. Take these words to heart and know that you are never alone.

In John chapter 10, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees after performing a miracle. During this talk, He spends time using farming metaphors and shares one of His “I Am” sayings – I am the Good Shepherd. In verse 10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” We have the offering of abundant life in Christ. And while these days might make you feel anxious or upset, my hope is that we cling to the Promise that Jesus is with us. I am working hard to strike a balance between appropriate precautions and unnecessary fear, and trusting in Jesus is making all the difference.

I have shared the following quote in several places over the past few days, but these are words that are giving me such comfort and encouragement.

“I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights.  I live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God.  The kingdom is not in trouble and neither am I.” – James Bryan Smith

Prayer for Uncertainty

Holy God, we believe that You are in our midst even when your hearts are troubled and our minds race with anxious thoughts. Calm our fears and remind us that You are our Refuge and Strength. We ask You to be a source of Light and Peace. Shine in the darkness. Send your Spirit to offer Hope. Teach us how to trust in You.

Amen

Friends, I want to be accessible to you during these hards days. Please let me know if there is anything I can do during this season to provide support to you. And if you have anything you think the group might like to hear about, just let me know!

All my love,

Jenny

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Church Street’s Response to COVID-19

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Dear Church Street Family and Friends,

We are living in an uncertain time, but we can be very certain of God’s love for us all. Our clergy, staff, and Parish Health Ministry Team (PHMT) are continuing to monitor the increased number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and locally. As of today, there has been one identified case in Knox County.

As we have monitored the spread of this disease, we have considered both the size of our corporate worship and the vulnerability of many of our members to COVID-19. Today, Holston Conference Bishop Virginia “Dindy” Taylor shared the following with the Conference:

 “…I strongly urge the churches of Holston Conference to suspend worship and large-group gatherings beginning today for the next two weeks.”

(read the entire letter here)

Thus, Church Street will suspend all large group gatherings, including Sunday worship and Sunday School, beginning Sunday, March 15 until Tuesday, March 31, and church leaders will re-evaluate and communicate next steps no later than March 31. All events, activities, and meetings are also canceled through March 31.

 

Here are some additional details:

  • “Attending” Worship: You can watch Rejoice! on WVLT each Sunday morning at 8 am. Clergy are working on ways to continue to share scripture and a homily or sermon through video. Please watch for further communication so that you can connect with the Word.
  • Staff: Church staff will still be working at the church at their discretion (otherwise, they will work remotely). Our custodial staff will use this time to do some deep cleaning of our space. The church will be closed, however, to any non-staff persons.
  • Outreach Ministries and Missions: All of our populations served by our missions will continue to be served in amended ways, and each outreach ministry will enact plans to protect both those serving and those served. This, too, is fluid and may change. Contact Rev. Cantler if you have questions.
  • Offering: The operations of the church move on! If you choose, you may still mail your offering to the church – staff will be on site. This might be a good time to set up your online giving. It’s simple – you may go to the Give section of our website, linked here, or download the Give Plus App.

Rest assured, we will continue to provide updates and communicate from the church when needed, and we will re-evaluate and communicate our next steps with you through as many channels as possible.

 

We offer this prayer for you to use at home or with family, as we continue to move through these uncertain times:

Lord God, hold those who have contracted this virus and their loved ones in your mighty hands, as well as those who are in vulnerable populations. We pray for our health care workers around the world who are exposed and working tirelessly to treat and care for our brothers and sisters. We pray, too, for all the leaders of governments, organizations, businesses, and service providers of all kinds who are making hard decisions with serious repercussions in all directions. And Lord, we look forward to the time when we will worship together again at Church Street, having moved through this uncertain time hand-in-hand with you. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.

 

Sending you and your family prayers of hope and healing, and assurance of God’s love for us all.

Your Church Street Family

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