Lent Devotional – What Would Jesus Do?

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Monday, April 14

By: Pat Freeland

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

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Do you remember when WWJD bracelets were popular? As Christians, any prompt is useful that makes us ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” During Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus was not the savior people expected: He did not exercise power as people envisioned. Christians have wrestled with questions regarding power and religion’s role in politics for centuries.

David French, author, columnist, and teacher at Nashville’s Lipscomb College, argues that the story of Easter weekend rebukes the idea that Christians should prioritize gaining and wielding political power. Despite Roman oppression, Jesus showed little interest in politics. Instead, he spoke of compassion, pronounced that the first would become last, and told Peter to put down his sword when he attempted to stop Jesus’ arrest.

The desire to hold power, through violence, if necessary — has been at war with the message of Christ ever since. Some argue that political power is the only way to produce God’s kingdom and justice. However, Christian engagement should be distinct from the world’s approach to morality and politics. Jesus told us to “Love Your Enemies.” If we follow Jesus, we are to fight injustice while embracing the fruits of the Spirit: kindness, peace, patience, and gentleness. That is the message of Easter.

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Prayer

We pray to bring hope and justice to a world needing your love. Change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope. Amen

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Lent Devotional – Beech Trees

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Thursday, April 10

By: John Eldridge

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

The woods behind our house are full of beech trees. They are the trees that do not shed their leaves until the new growth in the spring pushes the tender leaf out and, in the process, pushes out the old papery leaves as well.

The beech’s contribution to Lent is just this: we are like these old paper-thin leaves on the trees, awaiting the spring which will push our new growth out and let us become like these shiny new beech leaves that come in the spring.

Lent tells us that when something dies, something is born – just like the beech leaves. Death in the fall and rebirth in the spring, and the cycle continues on and on, the rhythm of life.

Prayer

Help me to become a new person this Lent.

Amen.

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Weekly Prayer – April 9, 2025

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of April 9, 2025

Written by Steve Richardson

God in heaven and in our midst: As our Creator, you hear the rhythms of our heartbeats. You feel the trickling of our tears. You know the ebbs and flows of our souls – – sometimes restless, sometimes joyful, sometimes placid. You, gracious God, are always with us. Thank you for this.

Strengthen us with your grace when we pray. Align our minds with your omniscience as we seek, praise and strive to deepen our relationship with you.

Strengthen us with your grace when we wait. As you surely must know, God, our cultural and social pressures make waiting so difficult. Yet, we’ve learned before that it’s in waiting that we often find wisdom and insight; we discover new ideas and new solutions to problems plaguing us; and we become better aware of your will and hopes for us.

Strengthen us with your grace when we act. Lead us to being kingdom-builders thorough actions of love, generosity, compassion, caregiving, kindness, justice and respect.

Strengthen us with your grace when we speak. Although actions can speak louder than words, words do matter. Thank you for inspired Proverbs such as the one that says, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Strengthen us with your grace when we listen. The many, varied voices and message sources clamoring for our attention in our techno-centric world can be confusing, sometimes contradictory. Attune us to your truths. As Paul taught, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Strengthen us with your grace when we care. Hearten us especially when we care for those who cannot easily care back. In our caring, help us to be more willing to accept tasks that may not always be pleasant or desirable or easy, but bolster the physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance of persons in need.

The days of Holy Week are near. When we awake each day, Lord, enter our consciousness, and may we greet you with praise and hosannas. When we journey through each day, may we follow and reflect the examples of love demonstrated by Jesus, despite the fate he knew ahead of him. When we wind down at the close of each day, lead us to prayer and connection with you. When we confront adversity, renew our assurance that in you – – and through you – – there is always hope, wisdom, strength and your peace that’s beyond our understanding.

And now, God of Grace, hear these needs and prayers of others in our congregation. Embrace all represented here with your loving presence and comfort…

We pray for….

  • A friend’s mother is having surgery later this month.
  • A member’s aunt in Nebraska; under hospice care.
  • A member’s sister who has cancer.
  • Increased wisdom as a Sunday School class as we study Old Testament scriptures.
  • All of those who are experiencing ‘compassion fatigue.’ May they not judge themselves for taking care of their own needs!
  • Friends and family going through a difficult time.
  • A member who continues to be a witness to God’s love even as they deal with cancer.
  • A member who offers prayers on behalf of a friend who is dealing with major loss and heartache in her family … death of a brother in motorcycle accident, diagnosis of cancer in husband. They have three children.
  • Peace.
  • A member who will be having surgery next Friday to remove gall bladder.
  • Those in our family/community who still must struggle with the subtle racism that can be so painful.

We continue to pray for…

  • A wife grieving the death of her husband while she recovers from surgery in rehab
  • A father who is following up with physician after severe chest pains; prayers for his children.
  • Family members/friends who are dealing with addiction issues and dealing with the legal system. 
  • A member recovering from an infection and patiently waiting for surgery; thankful for all of the prayers.
  • A mother dealing with a recent diagnosis and waiting on further testing.
  • Those who are receiving chemo and/or radiation treatments.
  • Family members who are trying to balance caregiving and work and family responsibilities.
  • Those who are impacted by homelessness.
  • So many who are dealing with Alzheimers and how best to care for family members. Praying for strength!

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for…

  • A member discharged from hospital and receiving rehab/PT outpatient. Prayers for continued healing!
  • For a member’s smooth transition to memory care unit. Spouse gives thanks for the good care he is receiving.
  • Successful surgery for a niece
  • One who has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation. Looking forward to graduation!
  • The joy pets bring us; such loss when they are gone.

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?

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Lent Devotional – Embracing Divine Interruptions

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Monday, April 7

By: Julie Massie

She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked.

Luke 8:44-45

We live in a world where interruptions are incessant. Through social media, advertising, emails, pop-up notifications, children, coworkers, and a billion other things, we are barraged with interruptions. Jesus was constantly interrupted as well, just in different ways than we are today. In this passage, Luke describes an unexpected interruption which stopped Jesus in his tracks. An unnamed woman, desperate for healing, had reached out and touched his cloak.

As the crowds pressed in around him on his way to heal a dying child, He could have continued walking, but he turned, looked for her, and acknowledged her in a deeply personal way.

Jesus was never too busy for interruptions. Whether it was children clamoring for his attention (Mark 10:13-16), a blind man crying out from the roadside (Luke 18:35-43), or a tax collector hiding in a tree (Luke 19:1-10), he never ignored the people seeking him. His interruptions were often his greatest ministry moments.

In contrast, we tend to see interruptions as inconveniences. A child needing attention when we’re in the middle of something important, a coworker stopping by with a problem just as we’re about to leave, an unexpected phone call when we’re too tired to talk – these moments can leave us exasperated and curt.

But what if, instead of resisting interruptions, we saw them as opportunities for God to work through us?

Lent is a season where Christ-followers slow down, sacrifice, and remember the journey Jesus embarked upon to the cross. What if part of our spiritual practice during this season was to welcome those interruptions we so often find annoying? To pause, be present, and even see them as divine appointments rather than disruptions?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this season of Lent where I can slow down and remember the sacrifices that you made on my behalf. Help me resist the urge to ignore the interruptions and practice patience and presence with the people seeking my attention. Teach me to embrace your divine interruptions in my daily life, even when it is inconvenient. In your name I pray, Amen.

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Lent Devotional – Restoration and Renewal

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Thursday, April 3

By: Rev. Tim Best

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then it was said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like the watercourses in the Negeb.

May those who sow in tears

reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

carrying their sheaves.

Psalm 126

Restoration and renewal are powerful images. We find inspiration in visualizing dry lands being refreshed by rains and flowing rivers. In times of drought, we are particularly mindful of our need for rain. In the season of planting, we know our need for growth and harvest. Where are the dry places in your life? Where do we need new growth and an abundant harvest? This is the whole point of Lent. Our need is made obvious, and we can speak honestly about the state of our spirits, as we look with anticipation towards Easter.

            As I read the words of Psalm 126, I think about all of the challenges in my own life over the past year. I am reminded of moments of deep sadness and grief, and moments of weariness and despair. I can close my eyes and imagine standing in the pulpit and looking out upon the congregation. I see your faces. I think of the weeping and suffering encountered by so many within our congregation. I think of the grace that enables us to “go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing.” Getting up and doing something in service to God is a great achievement some days. To plant seeds that could grow into hope in the midst of pain is an act of trust.

            Easter doesn’t just come to those able to wear bright emotions and smiles that match the pastel colors of outfits on sale at Belk right now. Easter comes to us in our suffering and sadness. It renews the heavy heart. In the midst of the pain of grief and loss comes the promise of new life, of resurrection. Hope comes to us in our season of need. In the final days of Lent, may God speak words of comfort and words of hope into our lives. May we trust that the God who brought back Jesus from the dead will bring new life to us.

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Weekly Prayer – April 2, 2025

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of April 2, 2025

Written by Rev. Catherine Nance

O God of Purple, 

We probably need to confess that we are growing weary of the purple colors in the Nave reminding us it is Lent. We have confessed, we have journeyed, we have given up and given more, and we are tired. We know that purple is the color of penitence. We are sorry. We are sorry for the helpless feelings we have when we see people in the world hurting; we are sorry for the inadequacies we feel when neighbors are asking for help. We know that you suffer for us and with us, O God of purple and God of the cross. 

O God of Purple, we are reminded that the deep color is also one signifying royalty. There are leaders and celebrities around us who would like to be called “King,” but you are our only king. King of kings and Lord of lords! We sang it back during Christmas. We are ready to sing it again, O God. We want a strong and powerful king who will swoop in and make things right. At least, make them how we think they should be. So much feels wrong right now. We must confess, when we see a king on the cross and not on a throne, we sometimes wonder, what kind of kingdom are you leading us to? Forgive us for thinking royalty always means wealth. May we seek your kingdom, O God, and truly trust in your leading. 

O God of Purple, as crocus and irises bloom you remind us that there is new life. That what once seemed like hopelessness and despair suddenly reaches towards the light – slowly and deliberately – and purple brings us joy and hope. O God of Purple, may we stand in the splendor and beauty of your creation, and reclaim, remember what we know.  God of Purple and God of Lent, you have made all of the colors and you receive all of our prayers, whether they are in dark hues or pastels, whether they feel heavy in our hearts or light. Thank you for hearing our prayers and for giving us hope. 

It is in that hope that we offer the prayers for your world and these concerns and thanksgivings from our church family …..

We pray for…

  • A member who is in rehab after having two strokes
  • A mom who seeks wisdom in raising young adults
  • A wife grieving the death of her husband while she recovers from surgery in rehab
  • A member who is working on getting stronger at rehab; hopes to go home soon!
  • All of those who are experiencing ‘compassion fatigue.’ May they not judge themselves for taking care of their own needs!
  • A friend who received notice about her department being shut down at work.
  • A member recovering from an infection and patiently waiting for surgery; thankful for all of the prayers.
  • A mother dealing with a recent diagnosis and waiting on further testing.
  • A friend who has cancer; pray that tumor will shrink so that surgery can be performed; prayers for her husband to have strength through all of this.
  • Friends and family going through a difficult time.
  • A father who is following up with physician after severe chest pains; prayers for his children.
  • A friend who had to have her beloved dog put to sleep; this adds to grief already there. May she be comforted by love of family and friends.
  • A member who fell; is back at assisted living but dealing with missing being at church.
  • A member who continues to be a witness to God’s love even as they deal with cancer.

We continue to pray for….

  • An infant who has had three successful surgeries; continued prayers for healing.
  • Family members/friends who are dealing with addiction issues and dealing with the legal system. 
  • Those who are receiving chemo and/or radiation treatments.
  • Family members who are trying to balance caregiving and work and family responsibilities.
  • Those who are impacted by homelessness.
  • So many who are dealing with Alzheimers and how best to care for family members. Praying for strength!

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?

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Lent Devotional – Loving Relentlessly

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Monday, March 31

By:Pat Bellingrath

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

1 Corinthians 13

As I journey through Lent, I am especially aware of the despair and heartache we are encountering at almost every turn. Anger and sadness have been my constant companions. Using Lent as a time for personal reflection has been difficult for me as I see decisions and policies being made that directly affect my family members, close friends, and those I call sisters and brothers. I was reading a meditation by Diana Butler Bass recently, and she wrote of “loving relentlessly”. My heart has been heavy with a mix of emotions, but I have been thinking of how I might “love relentlessly”. What would that look like for me? I am using my time during Lent to figure out how to love in spite of, in place of, in defiance of. My power will be to love because the power of good and the power of love can be relentless.

Easter awaits us in all its hope and light and beauty. We are the people of God, and so we are the people of love. I will continue to do whatever I can to follow the gospel of Christ and to love my neighbors. I will be a light for others wherever I can. I will be an example of compassion and inclusion, and I will keep my eyes on Jesus. I will put my hands into doing work in small ways: feeding people, supporting others, lifting voices, creating spaces, writing letters, praying for my enemies, holding those who are hurting, reading books to my grandchildren, and singing hymns of praise. I will honor and celebrate those who are Kin-dom builders. I will always stand on the side of justice and with those who have been marginalized. Love outlasts, endures, heals, transforms, and never ceases.

In other words, I will fill my days with loving relentlessly.

Prayer

Lord, fill my heart with love and my days with the vision of your Kin-dom here on earth. May my love for you be evident in all that I do and all that I say. Amen.

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Lent Devotional – Hymns of the Passion

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Thursday, March 27

By: Nancy Carmon

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17:1-5

While I was in Reykjavik, Iceland. I visited a beautiful church—Hallgrimskirkja. It’s quite unique. Iceland is a Christian, largely Lutheran country. I found a book of poetry written in the 1600’s and translated into English called Hymns of the Passion. The Icelandic people love this poetry and use it extensively on many occasions. The poems are even put to music for hymns and read daily during Lent on the National Radio System.

Christ Goes to the Garden

Up, up, my soul, and all my flesh!

Up, up, my heart, and sing afresh.

My thoughts and tongue help me find words

To preach the passion of our Lord.

At last grief pierces me within

How little my devotion is!

That Christ is cursed in my own place

Yet rarely I recall his grace.

Jesus, your Spirit, grant to me.

So all may to your glory be

Sung, written, spoken, all I do

So others may be nourished too!

Prayer

May words awaken our souls that we experience the wonder of Easter anew. Amen

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Weekly Prayer – March 26, 2025

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Weekly Prayers for the Church Street Family

Week of March 26, 2025

Written by Rev. Catherine Nance

We give you thanks for sunshine, O God of Light!
It was good to stand in the sunshine for a moment this afternoon.
The warmth was reassuring, even with the chilly breeze.
We confess that we let the noise and darkness of the news set the tone for our day instead of the joy and light of your love.
Help us to stand firm when others are creating chaos. Help us to take deep breaths when others are promoting panic.
During these days of Lent, we need your strength and guidance to focus on the routine of our spiritual disciplines: pausing to pray, reading a Psalm, singing a hymn, reciting a creed. We are grateful for words to speak and sing and pray; we are grateful for words that offer Truth, Light, and Love.
Knowing that there are others joining us in prayer gives us a sense of unity in your spirit. We can close our eyes and imagine others who sit near us on the pews at church or think of the names we see on the Rejoice chat; we read names of ‘people to contact’ in the newsletter. We think of people in our Sunday School classes; imagine the faces of choir members. Thank you, O God, for this cloud of witnesses! People we imagine praying along with us. Praying for us.
May your church be a model of reconciliation in a world that seems bent on splitting apart. May the way we love each other and pray for one another be a source of assurance that your grace and your will make a difference in our world.
Sometimes we feel hopeless when we think about ‘the world’ or ‘our country.’ May we find hope in the relationships we have right around us and may that bring us stability. We do pray for the needs of the whole world … Gaza, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, and other faraway places. We do pray for our country … the fires in North and South Carolina, people who are losing their jobs due to federal cuts, children who are hungry and do not have a safe place to live. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers. We do pray for all of these people, O God, but sometimes we feel helpless. We thank you for a church family who is praying for us and for whom we can pray. This intercessory prayer is another discipline that helps our spirit stay grounded in you. And instead of feeling hopeless, we feel peace; instead of feeling helpless, we feel engaged. So, hear us as we pray for others …

We pray for…

  • A member has had a mini-stroke; prayers for strength as he monitors his health in coming weeks.
  • A best friend who has terminal cancer and is in pain.
  • A daughter in the death of her father who died after a long illness. Thankful for support of family.
  • Those who are grieving.
  • A member whose husband’s funeral was this week. May she be comforted by precious memories.
  • A recent widow who is in rehab after surgery. Prayers she can gain strength and healing in spite of grief. 
  • Senior adults who are fearful about ‘benefits’ and other things they are hearing on the news. 

We continue to pray for…

  • An infant who has had three successful surgeries; continued prayers for healing.
  • A young wife and her two children after the unexpected death of her husband due to heart attack; prayers for the other young adults who are supporting them.
  • A good friend who has been diagnosed with very aggressive breast cancer. We pray for a successful surgery and for healing.
  • Family members/friends who are dealing with addiction issues and dealing with the legal system. 
  • Those who are receiving chemo and/or radiation treatments.
  • Family members who are trying to balance caregiving and work and family responsibilities.
  • Those who are impacted by homelessness.
  • So many who are dealing with Alzheimers and how best to care for family members. Praying for strength!

We offer prayers of thanksgiving for…

  • Families able to move into their home after Helene.
  • The birth of a third granddaughter!
  • A clear CT scan!
  • The birth of a grandson
  • Cancer treatments that are working!

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?

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Lent Devotional – Spiritual Fasting for Lent

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Monday, March 24

By: David Lineberger

Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Joel 2:12-13

Strictly speaking, fasting refers to abstaining from food for a period of time, usually one day from sunrise to sunset. Christians have expanded this concept to include giving up things other than food, something that gives you pleasure and therefore something you will miss, to help you focus on God. It has been said that “anytime we share what we have, or what we have been blessed with by God, we are truly fasting.”

As a diabetic 80-year-old, my life pretty much defines giving up many things I enjoy! Strict dietary requirements exclude most all the sweeter foods I would love to eat. My physical condition and age eliminate many of the hobbies and activities I used to enjoy. As a result, however, I am free to concentrate on those spiritual things which help me focus on God and His abundant blessings. I have time to read, and this now includes reading the New Testament translated directly from the Aramaic language spoken by Jesus Christ. New insights are enjoyed almost daily. I have time to research the best use of our donations to local and national charities. I can shop for items needed by our church’s mission projects and local schools. I have time to spend with those who need a helping hand or just a listening ear. In all of these, the blessings of God are made more evident and more meaningful to me. Spiritual fasting is a tangible way to deny ourselves and to declare before God that we know it’s all about Him, and not about us. Sharing blessings is appreciating anew our blessings and recounting anew how very many we have been given by our gracious God.

Spiritual fasting is waking up each day with thanks to God for yet another day to share His love and another day to experience His blessings. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Dear God, who gives us so much, help us to intentionally focus on our blessings and make it our mission in life to share these with all who are in need. Give us the will and desire to be a blessing to those who cross our path. Amen.

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